Telling the kids - on Christmas Day!

[storybookmum]

We've decided to keep our January/February trip a surprise for the kids till Christmas morning. They know we're going to Florida (Fort Myers) but don't know we're going to Disney.

I picked up a copy of Disney World for Kids 2009 for each of them this morning. We're going to do a scavenger hunt for them, with a copy of this at the end of the trail. I think they're going to lose their minds...it's been over four years since we've gone (or it will have been, I should say), and Meredith can't even remember the last trip anymore.

This is so much fun!

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

That will be exciting for them!! We are surprising our boys too, but it will be hard for them to understand that we aren't going until Feb. 28th. LOL!

 

[storybookmum]

Yes, I'm counting on my girls understanding, since they're older (and it's less of a wait, too, only a month and a few days). But I'm sure Meredith will start packing on Boxing Day!

 

[vcunning]

This Youtube video has circulated quite a bit.

So whatever you do, don't tell them you're going to Dick's house.



I think a Christmas day present is a great surprise!

 

[Whipperwhirl]

We are doing this also but we leave Christmas day - Im really excited about it. My plan to announce the surprise is very elaborate . . . My kids (DD9 and DS4) really enjoy a good prank so I think they will get a kick out of it!

All year long I have been planting the seed that wouldnt it be neat to get a pet skunk. DD9 laughs - considers it for a moment and then says but I dont think they would make a very good pet - what if they get scared. So Christmas morning my husband and I are going to announce that we are finally going to give them have wanted all year long - their pet skunk! My BIL is comming over with a pet carrier. He is going to make it look like its hard to control. Then when she goes to check out the carrier there wont be a live skunk but a webkinz skunk and a countdown calendar. The countdown calendar explains that we were only kidding and that instead of a skunk we would give her something she has really always wanted - A disney vacation! The only problem with the countdown calendar is it is all messed up - the numbers are wrong. She is basically going to rip off every page of the calendar trying to find out when we leave and the last page is Zero - we leave today!

With elaborate plans there is elaborate room for things to go wrong - like she may end up crying like in the video that she didnt get her pet skunk - but Im betting she will be happy with the webkinz and her disney vacation.

Good luck with your surprise! Whip

 

[storybookmum]

This Youtube video has circulated quite a bit.

The link didn't work, but I'm very curious!

We are doing this also but we leave Christmas day - Im really excited about it. My plan to announce the surprise is very elaborate . . . My kids (DD9 and DS4) really enjoy a good prank so I think they will get a kick out of it!

WOW, that is elaborate - and leaving Christmas Day with no warning - that's huge. I look forward to hearing her reaction!

 

[mommyofjoeyp]

What a great surprise!!!!! I wish I was better about keeping surprises. I think i bring up our Feb/Mar Disney trip daily to the kids!!!

 

[jtopp]

Last christmas, we surprised our children with a trip. We found a gift bag with a small digital recorder, and recorded the monorail warning ("please stand clear of the doors") on it, with park passes inside. When they asked when we were going, we told them as soon as they packed. The look on thier faces was priceless. Hope your surprise is just as much fun.

 

[vcunning]

Storybookmum,

Sorry about the broken link, here is the correct one.

There are many other videos that show some very excited kids. I think this one (and especially the way the adults react) looks like a vacation destined for failure.

 

[jzensky]

We are doing the surprise Christmas morning also, for a trip Feb 1-8th. I made a calendar through Snapfish that has disney pictures on the week we are going, we got our tickets which I will wrap and put in the box with the calendar, and a countdown chain in there also. My kids are 4, 6, and 8 and this will be our third trip! I am having a hard time keeping it a secret!

 

[vcunning]

We are doing the surprise Christmas morning also, for a trip Feb 1-8th. I made a calendar through Snapfish that has disney pictures on the week we are going, we got our tickets which I will wrap and put in the box with the calendar, and a countdown chain in there also. My kids are 4, 6, and 8 and this will be our third trip! I am having a hard time keeping it a secret!

The countdown chain is an awesome idea!

 

[storybookmum]

Storybookmum,

Sorry about the broken link, here is the correct one.

Wow, that was just sad. I don't know about anyone else, but I immediately thought that this was some kind of custody issue - they thought they were going to see their dad, or some father-figure. It just didn't seem like they were spoiled, more like they'd been shocked and betrayed.

I cannot for the life of me imagine who would choose to put that on YouTube. Too weird.

I think I can reliably state that my children will have a MUCH happier reaction!

 

[vcunning]

Wow, that was just sad. I don't know about anyone else, but I immediately thought that this was some kind of custody issue - they thought they were going to see their dad, or some father-figure. It just didn't seem like they were spoiled, more like they'd been shocked and betrayed.

I cannot for the life of me imagine who would choose to put that on YouTube. Too weird.

I think I can reliably state that my children will have a MUCH happier reaction!

I would suspect that most kids would. If I read "between the lines" on this, I heard them say they were almost there, in North Carolina. My guess is that they were driving all night with the kids (the little girl looked like she was in pajamas) and everyone was exhausted. I think the kids just didn't understand.

Good luck with your surprise. I'm sure your kids will love it. I surprise my DS9, DS2 and DW all the time with that kind of stuff.

 

[snookiedoodles]

i was going to surprise my kids for their birthdays in January for a Feb trip.

but....I can't wait!!!!

I am going to tell them for my birthday on the 25th of November.....my birthday present for them!!!!

My husband and I think that this is a good idea so they can help plan.

P.S. I have been keeping this secret since September!!! I am going to burst!!!

 

[Whipperwhirl]

Tell me about it - I made the decision to do this in March - Ive been holding it in all year long - I may actually burst when I tell them. Whip

 

[storybookmum]

Done! It was PERFECT. I wrote them a letter with a poem, inviting them to a treasure hunt, then DH wrote 8 clues that had them chasing all over the house and finally to our armoire. I had emptied it of our clothes last night and took out the shelf, and filled it with all things Disney. At the bottom, was a sign that read, Caroline and Meredith You Are Going to Disney World!

They were SO excited. It was wonderful.

Here are a couple of pictures.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/storybookmum/IMG_6740.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/storybookmum/IMG_6529.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/storybookmum/IMG_6530.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/storybookmum/IMG_6530.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/storybookmum/IMG_6745.jpg

 

[Figments Pal]

What a cute set-up of all the Disney paraphernalia! Excellent idea - you guys will have so much fun!