The lull AFTER the planning storm - How to tell our kids?

[princess aurora]

Okay so we are officially, undeniably and finally booked, expressed, reserved, confirmed, grand gathered and ADRd. We are planned to the hilt with first, second and third draft itineraries.
Now I'm afraid we're in the lull that comes after all the planning and initial excitement. We have to wait for our trip. Heavy sigh! Well as the signs of spring continue to grow our trip will draw nearer. Never soon enough though and then in a blink it's all over once again.

One thing left to do...how to tell our kids. We talk about Disney ALL the time. Play Disney Scene it, The Magic Kingdom board game. My DD4 sees hidden Mickey's in her Cheerios. So me on this site or Disney site or talking about Disney is not at all unusual. They have caught us saying a few things but they always know we're going back, they just do not know when. How did you tell your kids? I need some ideas of how/when to let our kids know were going and the trip is actually booked (May 9- 16). I have two girls 4 & 7.

My girlfirend (the ones we are going with) actually thought of letting her kids know as they get picked up from day care the night they're leaving. The van is packed and away they go. Who can hold a secret that long but that's a good one.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I think that when we go next May, we are going to tell the kids like the night before because last time we went we told our then 3 year old months in advance and he didn't forget about it and kept asking. (he is very persistent and never forgets a thing) SO next year when we go, we are telling him the night before!! heehee

 

[la79al]

Last year we talked about going, got the kids excited about going someday and then told them on the way to the airport. I really don't recommend that. Next trip we are telling them about a month in advance. I want them to be able to help plan, pack and get excited. What we did last year was give them little clues (fans, towels, etc..) and let them guess. Their final clues were in the car on the way to the airport and were a princess dress and a kids guide to Disney World. Next trip we are giving them tickets or something like that for the little ones birthday.

 

[CAP Aircrew]

We are headed to the world of Magic this August and we'll be flying JetBlue. I ordered two miniature diecast airplanes from JetBlue's website and they will be wrapped up and put into their Easter Baskets.

If they haven't figured it out by then, we will be having an Easter Egg hunt later that day. I've filled several of the plastic eggs with Disney Dollars.

At that point, they better know!

A few weeks later they will also receive a postcard from Minnie and Mickey welcoming them back to Disneyworld.

I personally like to the let the kids know far ahead in advance and I would not be bothered at all if they asked every five minutes right up until departure time. Half the fun of the trip is the planning and I love to see the excitement in their eyes and make them as much a part of the process.

 

[MichelleChell]

I like the poster before me idea. Maybe do something in there Easter baskets. I have a almost 3 yr old and I told her we were going and I think that was a big mistake. Granted she is little and has no idea of time and days but she is driving me crazy about when we are going. She thinks it is any day now when she really has to wait a few months. That being said I also like the idea of telling them on the way to the airport.

Good Luck and tell us what you end up doing.

 

[LisaMaz]

We talk about Disney ALL the time. Play Disney Scene it, The Magic Kingdom board game. My DD4 sees hidden Mickey's in her Cheerios. So me on this site or Disney site or talking about Disney is not at all unusual. They have caught us saying a few things but they always know we're going back, they just do not know when. How did you tell your kids?

I cannot believe how much you sound like our family ha ha! We went in May also so for Easter we did a Egg hunt with clues in each plastic egg, a small plane, mickey, etc... We then watched the trip planning video after they figured it out to get even more excited!!! I'd say not to wait to tell them its so fun to plan all month we rented Disney movies and just imagine how fun the Magic Kingdom board game will be!! I also bought them Disney World for kids by kids book and they would make a checklist of their fav. rides. Oh and we also had a countdown poster. It was alot of fun.

I've heard someone say they put fortunes that said "I see a trip to Disney World in your future" in fortune cookies then slipped them to the waiter at a chinese restaurant. I like that idea if anyone else has ideas I'd love to hear them for our next trip! Good Luck I'd love to hear what you decide to do its so exciting!!!

 

[MommyBoo!]

I read where someone decorated a cake and served it for dessert. They wrote We're going to Disney World! and the dates on the cake.

 

[we-luv-mickey]

My girlfirend (the ones we are going with) actually thought of letting her kids know as they get picked up from day care the night they're leaving. The van is packed and away they go. Who can hold a secret that long but that's a good one.

I did this the first time we went to WDW. They knew we were going to go sometime but weren't sure when. I packed without the kids even knowing it. I picked them up from school on the last day with the car already packed and said "Guess what?, We going to DisneyWorld today". We hadn't even made it to the first redlight and my DD said "are we there yet?"