Title change - After 276 of KOTS - WE TOLD - YOUTUBE VIDEO ATTACHED (PG 2)

[PrincessasMommy]

Leaving this Saturday and the kids still don't know!!!
We are telling them Friday night when we have cake with our family for our oldest's 12th birthday!!!

We booked in January and I can't believe we were able to keep the secret this long!

Here's my KOTS thread...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1559845

We are driving to Buffalo Saturday morning, our flight is at 3, we are near Barrie, so I am thinking we should leave by 10 am??

 

[mymadelynn]

I'm near Barrie too. I've never been to the Buffalo airport but I think you will need to leave earier. I would try 8am. It took us 3 hours from south of Barrie to Niagra Falls, then you would need to leave and hour to get across the border and hour to get to the airport and all that stuff.

 

[grover]

they will love the suprise!
on one of our trips (ds was 9) we didn't tell him till the morning we left..
it was so much fun to wake him up by saying..
time to get up..guess what...we are going to disney world!

we video taped that moment!
have fun!

 

[NancyK]

I also think you should be leaving earlier. The bridges have been extremely busy on the weekends since our dollar has strengthened against the U.S. dollar. We flew out of Buffalo last month and we were in the security line for 45 minutes.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

So 8 am? Or even earlier?

 

[OntFamily]

Barrie to Fort Erie should take you about 2.5 hours (barring any significant traffic problems). Slightly less time if you take the 407 (plus this will minimize any potential traffic problems).
http://www.mapquest.com/directions/...1s=on&1z=&2pn=&2a=&2c=Fort+erie&2s=on&2z=&r=f


The border crossing may take up to an hour (@ Fort Erie). This is because you'll be crossing at mid day, which has the potential for the largest delays. A one hour delay, is probably the most you'll have at this crossing (usually at mid day on a weekend, the crossing delay is no more than 45 minutes, and usually closer to 30 minutes). Any other border crossing in the area will have longer delays (especially Queenston).


Once you cross the Fort Erie border, it'll take you about 15 - 20 minutes to get to the airport.


So, your total travel time will probably be about 3.5 hours. If you want to be at the airport an hour early (plenty of time for the Buffalo airport at mid day -- after going through security, you'll probably have 40 - 45 minutes to chill out), you should leave Barrie by 10:30am. Leaving between 9:30am and 10:00 will give you plenty of cushion.

At 2:00pm, on a Saturday, the average security wait time at Buffal airport ranges from 7 - 9 minutes.
http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/search?airport=BUF&state=NY&day=Saturday&time=14&submit=Submit+Query



Of course, this excludes any potential catastropic accident that, for example, closes the 400 southbound. But you can't plan for catastropic events....

 

[motherof4]

We flew from there last winter, and were from Barrie as well, I think 9am will give you the best amount of time. We left 6 hours before our flight, and was able to stop at McDonald's for lunch in Niagra falls, and also stop to get our twins running shoes as they wore there winter boots and didn't bring there running shoes that were sitting beside their carry on back pack at the front door We are also leaving Saturday , but unfourtunatley couldn't get cheap enough tickets out of buffalo and are flying out of Detroit for the first time. Not to sure when we need to leave either! We are thinking 9am for a 5:45pm flight, any suggestions anyone?

 

[murcor]

You are good to keep the secret that long! It will be a awesome surprise for the kids! Two years ago my plan was to keep it as a surprise until the day of....well, I burst about a week before

Sometime, I want to keep it that long!

 

[PrincessasMommy]

Thanks everyone!! DH & I decided that because of the ages of our girls and taking bathroom breaks into consideration, we will leave by 8am sharp and take the 407 too so I am hoping to be at the border by 11 ish, have lunch once over and then fly to florida!!!!

I know, I could never do this again!
It's like slow torture to me, packing, talking, DISing in secret!!

OntMom - Thanks for taking the time to write all of that, it's a HUGE help!

Momof4 - Detroit? Wow. This is our 1st time going to Buffalo and I thought that was a trek with our 4!
Wishing you a safe & uneventful drive! We'll see you there!

 

[michelle1]

We surprised our kids last summer and didn't tell them until we were at the airport...they thought our vacation was going to be at Darien Lake! We have actually surprised them twice and we were surprised they fell for it again but it made the trip more fun. We are also close to Barrie and we always give ourselves extra time, go straight towards the airport area and then go for a meal or shop...you never know what the QEW traffic will be like (or 400, 407) or the border so I'd rather be over the border with too much time to kill than feeling panicked that we might miss our flight. Have a great time!

 

[mymadelynn]

Wow theres so many from Barrie. Let me know how long the Detroit drive takes. The flights out of there are so much cheaper.

 

[Northern Mouse]

Have fun on your trip. We're flying out of Buffalo for the first time in December. I'd be curious to know how it goes for you. I can't keep a trip to Disney a secret that long I applaud you Our kids know our next three trips already.

 

[lizzyb]

Boy will they be surprised!

Have fun!

 

[GrannyEv]

Wow, that will be a great surprise for them. I'm not sure if I could keep it a secret. Have loads of fun.

Hugs
GrannyEv

 

[Disney_Mama]

I would leave by 8am at the latest. Better early than late. We kept our trip to Disney in November 2006 a secret from the kids too. It was soooooo hard. They found out at the border when they heard my husband whisper our plans to the border guard. Great surprise. Have a happy and safe trip.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

I would leave by 8am at the latest. Better early than late. We kept our trip to Disney in November 2006 a secret from the kids too. It was soooooo hard. They found out at the border when they heard my husband whisper our plans to the border guard. Great surprise. Have a happy and safe trip.

The original plan was to let them figure it out, but I was worried about crossing the border and me not catching their reaction so that's why we are telling tonight!!!

I have been keeping the secret for 276 days.....only 5 hours to go!!!!

 

[prekteacher]

I would not been able to keep it from my children till two days before we go . I am having a hard time waiting till christmas to till my children.

 

[perfectparanoia]

That has to be the best surprise ever! Can you be my mom?

 

[Disney_Mama]

Let us know how it went.

 

[Brianne&Sami'smom]

Your kids will love the surpirse. We surprised our daughter a couple of years ago and it made it so much more fun for all of us!!!