Thoughts on surprising the kids?

[JRDSC]

Hi Quoo,

I have done it as if it was a spontaneous decision made the day of departure. E.g. sitting around the breakfast table and playing a Disney song, or just holding up a Disney book and reading it... then I would say something like "Oh boy, I wish we could go to Disney World RIGHT NOW!".

My kids are about the same age as yours and they reply with something along the lines of "me too" or "can we go soon"?

Then I ask them "Well, should we go today?" and we head to the airport, ostensibly spontaneously.

Have only done it that way with them twice, which is maybe why (fortunately) they have not yet internalized a concept that we can just go to WDW on any random Tuesday. I think overusing the "spontaneous" WDW trip might be playing with fire.

But for the two times I have done it so far... the smiles were ear to ear.

Please update us on what you ultimately decided to do?

 

[Timbud2]

I’m surprising my kids 11 and 14 with their first trip. We were supposed to go last year but then we needed to cancel last minute. Luckily they had no idea so they weren’t disappointed. Since I’m the sole planner and packer for everything in my family, I’m not worried that they’ll be upset by the surprise.

 

[quoo]

Hi Quoo,

I have done it as if it was a spontaneous decision made the day of departure. E.g. sitting around the breakfast table and playing a Disney song, or just holding up a Disney book and reading it... then I would say something like "Oh boy, I wish we could go to Disney World RIGHT NOW!".

My kids are about the same age as yours and they reply with something along the lines of "me too" or "can we go soon"?

Then I ask them "Well, should we go today?" and we head to the airport, ostensibly spontaneously.

Have only done it that way with them twice, which is maybe why (fortunately) they have not yet internalized a concept that we can just go to WDW on any random Tuesday. I think overusing the "spontaneous" WDW trip might be playing with fire.

But for the two times I have done it so far... the smiles were ear to ear.

Please update us on what you ultimately decided to do?

Funny, I hadn't read your post but just last night we decided to take a very similar approach but we'll likely do it at dinner the night before, just be like, so should we go somewhere fun tomorrow since your babysitter is going back to college, so the kids have time to pack. Conveniently the day we leave is the day our summer sitter goes back to college.

 

[JRDSC]

Funny, I hadn't read your post but just last night we decided to take a very similar approach but we'll likely do it at dinner the night before, just be like, so should we go somewhere fun tomorrow since your babysitter is going back to college, so the kids have time to pack. Conveniently the day we leave is the day our summer sitter goes back to college.

That sounds like a fun plan.

Give us a readout on how it went if you get the chance!