Tell me how you surprised your kids

[StarPM]

Warning...this is kinda long...

Ever since my DD was a little girl(she's now 10) her Daddy always told her "When we go to Disney for the first time a limo will take us to the airport." Everytime she saw a limo, she would always wonder if the "peoples" inside were going to see Mickey. On her 8th birthday we had the family (Mom, Dad, Nana and Pop-Pop, Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop, and Nana Gertie) over for the usual presents, cake and ice cream extravaganza. I was seated on the couch by the window, trying to not be to obvious while I watched out the window for the big stretch limo to pull up. DH and I had taken the day off to pack and take care of all the other things. I see the limo pull up and tell DD we need to go outside for one of her gifts. She gets outside, sees the limo, and has NO IDEA why its there. After a bit of prompting (what kind of car is it?, What did we always tell you about a limo?) she finally got it. However, she still didn't believe we were going until we got there and she saw the Spectromagic parade. I know we'll probably never beat that as a birthday suprise, but the look on her face will be forever etched in my Pooh loving heart.

 

[GaryWT]

Our first trip, we did not tell the kids. They were 9, 6 and 3. We packed their bags and had everything ready to go. We woke them the day we were leaving early but told them to get up and ready for school. While they were eating, we moved all the bags to the door and then the limo puled up. The driver rang the bell and stated he was here to take the children to the airport for a trip to Alaska. It was not until we were standing in line at the airport that the 9 year old realized we were in line for Orlando. It was a great trip.

This trip, we were planning a cruise when the little one, now 8 said he was not going anywhere until he went to Disney again so last month we planned our April trip.

Will Valentines Day here or Easter coming up, maybe you can put a gift together for them.

good luck.

 

[trola2]

I just surprised my kids last friday that we were leaving that very day. Although I didn't get to surprise them with my original plan, I did get balloons from a florist friend (3 character balloons and one large red heart shaped mylar that she had written on "Going to Disney World!".) Hubby went up to wake up the girls and brought them down. My mom was here and our pastor. (She's a close family friend) I said we've had a change in plans today. Girls were blinking and trying to wake up. Oldest kept saying, What? What is going on? and then we had them read the balloons. It took them a bit, but they finally got it. I made Mickey Icon pancakes and we all had breakfast and then got packed up. We weren't leaving until about 6 hours later so that was fine.

I had wanted to get Disney Dollars and give them their allowance in those, but our Disney Store was in the process of closing and it was too late to get any. Then a friend suggested having a florist put park maps inside a big balloon, or small Disney plush. My florist friend's balloon filling machine was broken, so that was out!

IT worked out really well. Usually we do a 100day count down chain and the kids are in on the planning, but not this time. They were thrilled that they just got to go. I also only planned one meal while we were there and we truly had no other agenda than to have fun and do whatever the kiddos wanted to do.

Good luck with what you decide!!

 

[Simba's Girl]

Don't know if this will help but it answers your question...

We kept it a secret from DD4 until the morning we left. We were meeting ILs there and when we woke her up in the morning we told her that we were going to see grandma and grandpa (hoping she would sleep a little more in the car-which she diddn't )

Anyway we get to Bradley and ask her if she knows where we were...she didn't (she's been to lots of airports and at the time she thought that EVERY airplane went to disney ). We park and get on the shuttle (with luggage), still nothing dosent know. Now we're finally standing in line for baggage claim and boarding passes and ask her, she has no clue! Finally we had to tell her in line she was so excited she jumped up and down!

I would do it the same way again...and will!

 

[HollyJoy]

...We've been talking about it and our 6 year old is very perceptive. She hears everything! LOL It's a wonder we keep Christmas presents a secret! Anyway, I'm thinking that once we lock in our reservations, I will try not to talk about when we're going with either of them in hopes that it will move to the back of their minds. I'm interested in seeing what others have done to surprise thier kids!

 

[LynnythePooh]

I'm sooooooo excited - tomorrow is the day DS's 10 & almost 7 find out about our spring break trip!

I've been planning for months - it will be our first visit to WDW! I went to DS and found carry on bags with Mickey cartoons all over them. Then visited AAA and found luggage tags - inside the tags I wrote, "you're going to Disney World" and put the tags inside the bags. I also added some Disney playing cards I found at Target and pins for trading. Boys are huge collectors so I think they'll enjoy this new hobbby.

I wrapped everything up and made Valentine cards with the verse " Roses are red, Violets are blue, open this box, Mom & Dad have a surprise for you!".

I can't wait to see their faces when they open up the boxes! It's going to be sooooo much fun.

Of course I have the vacation video and unofficial guides on hand for them to check out! I've already made many PS arrangements, but will let them decide where we go in each park.

This way I get the surprise factor and let the anticipation build! The hardest part has been no spilling the beans.

Boys need a pick up - we just got word DH is headed to Kuwait in July!

We are going to have so much fun - and most of it is thanks to all of you who work so hard to help newbies like me! Everyday I'm amazed with what I learn here at DIS! Thanks so much!

I have a question? What is the Hitching Ceremony?