Tell How You Surprised Your Kids

[lclark0621]

Well we are heading back to Disney in just a few weeks!

We were supposed to be on a 6:30am flight out (which neither DH or I liked), so we were just planning on statying at the hotel at the airport the night before.

Well they changed our flight to a 6:00am flight, which for us is just not doable. So we were able to change to an 8:10am flight.

That means we get to stay at home the night before.

And that means our DS (4) wont know we are going the next day.

So I really would like to surprise him. We are leaving on a Friday & DS normally goes to school on Fridays.

I was thinking of waking him up & telling him it was time for school (though it will be earlier then normal, he wont know what time it is) & just not tell him we are going until we get to the airport.

 

[Melissa]

We took DD for her 9th bday, we picked her up after school. She thought we were going to the vet with the cat, I told her plans changed and we were meeting her Nanny in a town an hour away for dinner because Nanny couldn't come to her bday party on Saturday. (There was no party we would be at WDW) Then I suggested we play some cool WDW mad libs that I found to pass the time. I made the story up, so I asked for nouns verbs, exclamations like you do with those and wrote them in, then I read the "mad lib to DD. It was about a family who loved wdw and a girl who always wanted to spend her bday with Mickey. In the end it ended with " Surprise the _____ mom said we are on our way to the airport!" She was so excited it was worth all the work and secret keeping! That is the kind of surprise you never forget, good luck with yours.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

A few years back, we did a surprise trip for our kids. We told them Daddy had a convention out of town, and that the rest of us (kids and mom) would be going to visit Grandma. This explained why all of our bags were packed and loaded in the van. We said we were dropping off Daddy at the airport and then going to Grandma's. We took Daddy inside to "see him off" and then got out the video cameras. Our kids were around 3, 5 and 7. We taped them while we told them that Daddy did have a convention, but that it was in Disney World and we were all going! Oh, the looks on their faces! First, disbelief, and then ecstacy! That was such a fabulous trip, we did a split stay at the Poly and OKW and it was just a magical vacation.

 

[sl_underwood]

We are surprising our kiddos this year. They are 14, 11, and 4. We have told them their dad has to go to a conference and we will be tagging along. Our teen actually is begging to stay with a friend rather than go to a boring conference. I can only imagine how fun it will be when she finds out the truth. My hubby intends to keep it a surprise until they figure it out. For my middle child, it might be all the way to ME, lol. Now I just have to keep it a secret for the next 88 days. God give me strength!

 

[minkydog]

We are big campers so it was relativley easy. We told our kids,8, 10, & 16, that we were going camping. Loaded up the camper and left early in the morning. The kids didnt eve wake up until we had crossed into FLorida and they were excited that we were going camping there. It wasnt until we actually drove onto the WDW property that they began to "get it". We camped at Ft Wilderness for the week and it was a blast.

 

[maxtomsmom]

We finally figured out a way to surprise our two sons. DS6 loves to look for Hidden Mickeys (even in our own home ) So I thought about getting him a Hidden Mickey book, wrapping it and giving it to them a week before we go. When they open it and ask about, DH and I will casually tell them they will need it for our next trip in one week. We thought about telling them the day of, but we're not sure how they will truly handle it. Plus, we're going in April and they will need their shorts and tees, which are boxed in their closets. Typically in April we are not wearing those types of clothes just yet. I don't think I can sneak and do laundry when our laundry room is next to my older son's bedroom.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

We're going in May, and we are telling DNiece today!! We were going to wait until the day of, but she really likes the anticipation!! She started counting down for kindergarten on her first day of pre-k!!

This evening we're having a late Christmas. DNiece and her gramma (my aunt...DNiece is actually DSecondCousin...Haha!!) are coming over to do a gift exchange. We got DS and DNiece tons of presents, so we saved some to give throughout the year (Valentine's, etc.). We also had a stocking for DNiece we saved. The last present will be a big box. I'm getting 5 princess mylar balloons that will pop out when she opens it. They'll each have an envelope with a number attached (1-5). She'll have to put the envelopes in order and then open them up. 1 = We're, 2 = Going, 3 = To, 4 = Disney and 5 = World! She's just learning to read, so I can't wait to see her sound it out! There will also be a princess calendar in the box with countdown stickers.
We've told DS2, but he doesn't even know what WDW is!! Haha!! He just keeps telling me "We're going to Disney Werld!!" Haha!! Werld!
Have fun with your surprise!!

 

[hopare]

Last year I surprised my DD6 at Christmas. We were flying out mid january. I printed a map off of the Disney web site that lets you place little airplaine icons and Mickeys etc on the days that you want. I wrapped it in a box and put it under the tree. She was so excited and used the calendar to count down the days.
It was an extra special trip because at the time our children were DD6, DS2 and DD 6months. Last years trip was just me and DD6-Dad stayed home with the younger two.
Next week we all go toether this time!

 

[scouthawkk]

I surprised ds5 in October. He had a 4 day weekend off school, so I decided to take him on a trip. He did know we were going somewhere, hard to keep that secret, but he didn't know where. He was convinced we were making another trip to visit my family in Cleveland, Ohio. We had an early morning flight (7:10am) so I dressed him while he was still half asleep. DH dropped us off at the airport on his way to work. He didn't even notice that we were wearing matching Mickey shirts until we were standing in line to check our luggage. Still, no clue. He noticed the yellow magical express tag with the Mickey head on it, still, no real clue (maybe he figured I never took it off from our last trip?). Even when the person who checked our luggage asked him point blank if he was going to Disney, no clue! He just looked at her like she had three heads...but who can blame him, it wasn't even 6am yet...It wasn't until we were on the plane and getting ready to take off that it seemed to click, and he said "mommy, with all this Mickey stuff, I think we might be going to Disney World." My reply, "you think?" That's when he started getting excited..."you mean we're not going to Cleveland?" Nope, not even a chance! We had a great trip.

The only draw back to having surprised him, is that with the 12 day winter break, he thought we were going back again...another surprise trip. His exact words were "12 days off, YES! I knew it. A perfect time to go back to Disney!" He cried when I told him I was all surprised out...but he gets to help plan our big trip for this August. Back to being excited!

 

[mrsbert]

A few years back, we did a surprise trip for our kids. We told them Daddy had a convention out of town, and that the rest of us (kids and mom) would be going to visit Grandma. This explained why all of our bags were packed and loaded in the van. We said we were dropping off Daddy at the airport and then going to Grandma's. We took Daddy inside to "see him off" and then got out the video cameras. Our kids were around 3, 5 and 7. We taped them while we told them that Daddy did have a convention, but that it was in Disney World and we were all going! Oh, the looks on their faces! First, disbelief, and then ecstacy! That was such a fabulous trip, we did a split stay at the Poly and OKW and it was just a magical vacation.

Lucky'sMom, Thank you so much for this idea. We're leaving for WDW in 27 days and my boys don't have a clue. I couldn't figure out how to do it until I read your post. My DH is a police officer and he occasionally goes out of state for school. I'll tell the boys that since it's a long weekend (they get off Monday and Tuesday for Mardi Gras), we will tag along with Dad and leave on Saturday. Now I don't have to sneak packing the suitcases. Oh! This is such a lower stress level for me. Thank you, thank you.

 

[minkydog]

Last year we gave our kids*21, 14,12* a family trip to WDW for Chistmas. They knew they were going,but they didn't know where we were staying (we usually stay cheep wherever we go ) So i told them we had to pick up the tickets at the Poly. I even let them come inside while we "find out where we're staying" My kids are so gullible. They walked around taking in the experience,wide-eyed as a couple of bumpkins ,not even realizing what was up until I handed them their room keys. It was THE BEST family vacation ever. (Being upgraded to concierge prolly didnt hurt, either )

 

[RyJMom]

My 2 boys have a Bday 1 day apart. Feb 8th and 9th. Last year we did a scavenger hunt for them. My Husband really thought it out. We had clues all over the little town we live in. Friend at City Hall, butcher at grocery store, clerk at pharmacy and a sweet girl at Sonic really helped out. We picked them up from school and they had to tell us where to drive next based on the clue. The last clue at Sonic brought out with milkshakes led them home. They each had a box to open - inside it told them they were going to Disney and had trading pins, ponchos and fanny packs. They were thrilled!!! They both said it was the best Bday present ever. Our trip was not till April so they had a little while to wait. One of these Bdays I want to pick them up from school and head straight for the airport - I think that would be alot of fun!

Veronica