Surprising your kids...need ideas!

[Frickles]

We are hitting the road to Disney tomorrow and we are giving this trip to our boys (6 & 4) as a Christmas gift! They have no idea we are going and we have not been there since my oldest was 2. I was wondering if any of you have surprised your children like this and if so, when did you tell them? I can't decided if I should tell them before we go or when we get there. I'm also looking for a unique way to tell them. Obviously I'm running out of time and need to decide soon! I've kept this secret since March and I can't believe I haven't come up with a solution yet!!!! I tried to post this earlier and I don't think it worked...but sorry if it is on here two times!

 

[disnut8]

When we took our then five year old granddaughter, we told her she was going to meet relatives in Florida. That much was true as she met her now step-greatgrandparents (and a few other relatives). We just didn't tell her it was going to be at Disney World. We drove and managed to distract her attention whenever a Disney sign or reference came up. We kept referring to things as "Chris' grandparents' house".

When we got within eyesight of the first purple sign, I turned around and said "Marlie, remember when I promised you someday I'd take you to Disney World". She said "yes". I said "today is the day, we are here". Just then the sign with Mickey, Donald and Goofy came up and she realized where she was. I thought her eyes would pop out of her head.

I'm assuming from your location you are driving. I'd wait until you are on the turnpike and see a sign saying the mileage to Orlando. Then say something like "hey, let's go there!"

 

[sunshineclarity]

In the morning you could have someone call and then tell them that was Mickey, and he says to come on down! Or you could buy something Disney and have it waiting in the car or on their bed......with a note from Mikey and the Gang telling them they'd like to see them.....I don't know! I'll be thinking for you!

 

[NashvilleTrio]

We're surprising our DS5 in January with a birthday trip, and we've decided to give him an early birthday gift for him to open the morning we're flying out. We plan to put a few Disney items in the gift such as his Mickey ears, Disney dollars, his autograph book, etc. and tell him at that moment that we're going to WDW!!! This idea may not work for you, but just wanted to share what we're planning. And remember, they'll be so excited no matter when you tell them!! Hope you have a great time!!

 

[Frickles]

Great ideas so far! Keep them coming! (I had not thought about the phone call from Mickey...that is really cute!) Yes, we are driving. We are in Georgia so I don't know if I want an 8 hour ride of excitement and 'when are we going to be there!' or if I want an 8 hour ride of 'where are we going and why are we in the car for so long!' Ahhhhh!!!!

 

[pezpam]

I told my daughter that we were going to visit my grandmother in Florida. That was true, but once we were on the airplane, I told her we were also spending several days at WDW. Her eyes flew wide open and she grinned frmo ear to ear for the rest of the flight and I was glad I'd made the trip a surprise. If I was driving - and could keep the giddy little secret, which was the hard part - I'd have tried to just pull up at the hotel and not told her before that.

 

[sunshineclarity]

When you're almost there, you could be like, Oh, BTW, Mickey said we should drop by, so we're going to WDW!!!

 

[BarbWB]

We surprised our kids in April with a trip. They never guessed a thing!! We told them they were going to see their cousins (who live in NJ) for Easter. They were 7, 5, 3, and 1.
They were completely clueless the whole way. We flew, so we let the flight attendants and our neighboring passengers in on the secret so no one blew it (direct flight to Orlando w/4 kids is pretty obvious where we're going!)
We thought they'd figure it out on the plane when they heard Orlando, but nope. Then, at the airport, it's pretty hard to miss that you're in WDW country, but again, nothing. Then at the rental car center, my oldest, who was 7 and could read very well, walked over to a Mickey statue and picked up a brochure to show me DisneyWorld, "for the next time we go." Then, all the way from the airport to WDW, there are about a jillion signs . . . no one caught on. The girls sat in the back of the minivan, just playing away. My 3 yo was the only one who even noticed the big arch as we drove on property. He said, "Look, a Mickey Mouse movie . . . can we go?" We said yes . . . no more questions.
Then, we had reservations at O'Hana first thing (we told them we were hungry, so we were going to dinner before we went to see their cousins). We drove to the Polynesian, and started walking in. Realizing that this looked weird for NJ, my 5 yo dd said, "Mom are we in Vermont?" (uhhhhh, no . . . not many palm trees in Vermont!!). We just said no. They were looking all around, but didn't figure it out.
Then, inside, the place was swamped. Everyone had Mickey ears, shirts, bags, etc. Clueless . . . Finally, after we sat down in the waiting area, ordered drinks and appetizers, I asked my husband if we should tell them yet. We finally said, okay kids, guess where we are? They said, "New Jersey?" No, Disney World!!! They totally did not believe us. They were laughing and happy, but still cautious. Finally, when we got into the restaurant and had a beautiful view of the castle, they started to believe us . . . .
It was so hilarious. I wish I could pull it off again!!!!

 

[Frickles]

barbwb that story is amazing! That makes me want to keep it a surprise. We are staying at Nick Hotels for one night as we go to SeaWorld, then it is off to the poly. Do you think the same effect would happen if we went to Down Town Disney? It has been so long since I've been there.

 

[BarbWB]

I think you could pull it off. Kids are so clueless and they just go along with whatever their parents do (it's kind of a frightening insight, actually). I've never been to downtown disney, but it would probably be the same thing.
For us, it was GREAT b/c they weren't too eager to get there and they weren't freaking out about getting there faster. Plus, it made it really fun for me and my husband!

 

[disnut8]

I think you could pull off going to Downtown Disney and then springing the surprise on them there. Just tell them you heard of this nice place to do some Christmas shopping. I wouldn't want the eight hours of driving (we live in Georgia too) with the "are we there yet". That drive is so boring anyway.

 

[Manon]

We are surprising our 3 kids with a Disney trip for new year and our twins b-day. The girls are going to be 6, and they will start the day with a breakfast at the Castle with Cindy!!!

But, before, we have to do a 28 hrs drive, we are from Quebec in Canada, so as much as I would love to keep the surprise, its impossible for us to drive that long without the "where are we going??" question.

Thats why I printed out a homemade invitation from Mickey, to join him and his friends at Disney for 10 days!! They will have it on Christmas morning!! :thewave:

 

[Frickles]

28 hours!! I thought my drive was bad! That sounds like an awesome idea too! I appreciate everyone's suggestions and I love hearing them so keep them coming!!!

 

[Manon]

Yes its a long way to go, but for us its the only way, because airfare for 5 is way to expensive (3500$ Can) in car with gas and food its about 600$ round trip!!!

So we really love Disney! Its a 28 hrs drive of love!!!

 

[rkmassa]

We didn't tell our kids anything except we were going on vacation. They had no idea until we drove up to the gate with the big Walt Disney sign on it. We had the video camera rolling. The look on their faces was priceless. I will always treasure that moment, and I can see it over and over on video. They were so surprised.

 

[DizzyFORDisney]

We drove for two days - told the kids we were going to a whale show. We went to Sea World for the day and then buckled the three kids into the car and said - "Okay let's go to Disney for a week - it's onlly ten minutes away"!! They were TOTALLY surprised!!
It was REALLY hard to keep the secret for 6 months!!
This time they know about it - we leave in 8 days!!

 

[cfewell]

Well I must say I wish I could have kept it a secret! We leave tomorrow and I let my son know the minute we started planning. He was so excited 7 months ago but now (even though we are leaving tomorrow) he just does not seem to interested. He is treating tonight like any other night and we leave in less then 12 hours to get on the plane LOL.
I wish I would have kept it a secret.... oh well LOL I am sure when we get there he will be all smiles. Kids are funny sometimes