To suprise or not to suprise, that is the ???

[Mom&RN]

Disney lovin teens. I want to be upfront and say I am a Mom and I hope you will help me. My son and I love Disney (I may actually love it a bit more than he does...). He is 15 and we live in Texas. We try to go almost every year but didn't think we could afford it this year because I am in grad school. I got a great military rate on room and tix and have booked us a four day weekend in the end of may (19-23). My question is this. I am planning on suprising him. Do I tell him a day or two before we leave so he can have a little anticipation time and do his own packing or do I go for ultimate suprise and pick him up from school on the 19th and just head to the airport, spilling the beans only when I must?? He and I are close but he is a teenager and I am NOT So, any help/input would be appreciated! btw - he loves Disney but doesn't really groove on planning the trips so I'm not torturing him by not telling him now. Thanks!!

 

[grandfloluver]

Wow! That's a toughie. I would wait until the day of right before you leave. It will be more memorable. For me, I can't sleep very well the night before,due to excitement, and this wouldn't be a problem if you did that. Either way you go with it will be fine though! Have a great time!

 

[Feathers]

When I was 16, my parents surprised me with a trip to DLR the night before, around 9PM. It actually made me panic more than anything because nobody had told my teachers and I fell behind on my schoolwork. I thought about it the whole trip, especially since it was the week of end-of-term tests.

I would contact his teachers to find out what is going on, and if there is something important, tell him a few days in advance. That is, if he has school around then, even if it is a weekend.

 

[Mom&RN]

I thought about it the whole trip, especially since it was the week of end-of-term tests.

He won't miss any school. For some weird reason he has a four day weekend that weekend - it was what got me thinking about doing a quick, cheap trip. I totally get where you are coming from - my son is a worrier also and I don't think he would do well with missing school with no warning.

I would wait until the day of right before you leave. It will be more memorable.

That is what I was thinking too!! I don't sleep well the night before I travel either!! I figure if I tell him the night before 1 - he can do his own packing, even if he is a guy he still can be picky about what he wears. 2 - he can brag at school and 3 - my husband (who won't be coming - he's not a Disney fan) thinks we should give Ben a day or two to get psyched.

Really appreciate your input!!!

 

[magicallyDisney001]

It all depends on your son. I personally love planning vacations, so if anyone tried to pull that on me, I would be really anxious about it and not enjoy it as much. You've mentioned that he's not big on planning, so as long as he doesn't have any homework or anything else planned for this weekend, I'd say that surprising him is a really good idea! I agree with telling him the morning of; it still has the surprise factor, and he can pack everything he wants to. Good luck!

 

[Taylor_moonwalker]

when i was about 8 or 9, my mom suprised me with a trip to Disney World and i will never ever forget it . she told me we were gonna go visit one of her friends and she gave me the option to take a "short cut" through Disney. well back then, i didnt know where anything was so of course i told her to do it. so we stopped at All Star Sports because my mom "had to go to the bathroom". then she "made plans for our next trip"then we went back to the car and she drove to our building. she started unloading the car and i was getting REALLY confused so my mom told us we were staying. i didn't beleive her until we started unpacking in the room . Since that, she hasn't been able to pull something like that because i sort of expect it lol. but i loved the suprise and i would if something like that happened again .i would tell him at the last second. maybe make up a story why u guys are going to Florida and suprise him when you get there

 

[Mom&RN]

So... theres no way I could get by with tricking him into thinking we were going somewhere else but I definately think I am going to keep it a suprise after getting all of your input. Thanks!!!

 

[DramaGirl]

Just in case you haven't officially made up your mind...

I'd say either go with what many people are saying, which is tell him the night before or don't tell him at all-

When I was... maybe 9 or 10, my parents surprised us with a trip to Disney World, but didn't tell us where we were going- I finally figured it out when I went through security and the guy checked my boarding pass and said something like "Ooh, Orlando, eh? I wonder where you could possibly be going." That's such a vivid memory for me, and I just loved finding out like that. It would obviously be different since he's so much older than that, but still fun

Have fun!

 

[Pink_Belle]

Never been surprised...and I don't think I ever want to be! I love planning and the suspense, but that's just my nature. If you think he'll be fine with it, go for it!! I love Dramagirl's story...but that won't happen to me, I suppose. My mom doesn't fly!

 

[dramaqueenemj22]

My cousin actually did this to her son last week. He loved the surprise but he's a worry so he thought something bad happened when his mom picked up at school. So like many people have said it really depends on your son. I would love if my mom did it too me like just picked me up and brought me to the airport. Good Luck!!!

 

[Mom&RN]

"Ooh, Orlando, eh? I wonder where you could possibly be going." That's such a vivid memory for me, and I just loved finding out like that. It would obviously be different since he's so much older than that, but still fun

I am really excited about suprising him. We have talked off and on for the past six months about the fact that we can't afford it this year and yet he will often say things like "when we go to Disney this year..." and I'll correct him and he'll say "oh yeah, I mean the next time we go". So, even though it will only be a short visit I think he'll be soooooo excited and I think the suprise will make it even more exciting.

I would love if my mom did it too me like just picked me up and brought me to the airport. Good Luck!!!

I am still tempted to not tell him until we are on the way to the airport. I'm going to have to think on this..... I think it would be so much fun to totally blow his mind like that

Thank you all for your great input. It really helps hearing from other teens. I know that what adults think is cool is not always actually cool, so thank you all very much!!!

 

[yamindie]

I am really excited about suprising him. We have talked off and on for the past six months about the fact that we can't afford it this year and yet he will often say things like "when we go to Disney this year..." and I'll correct him and he'll say "oh yeah, I mean the next time we go". So, even though it will only be a short visit I think he'll be soooooo excited and I think the suprise will make it even more exciting.



I am still tempted to not tell him until we are on the way to the airport. I'm going to have to think on this..... I think it would be so much fun to totally blow his mind like that

Thank you all for your great input. It really helps hearing from other teens. I know that what adults think is cool is not always actually cool, so thank you all very much!!!

im 14 and i would be upset if my parents surprised me on the way there. i would want to know a couple days ahead.

but idk thats just me

 

[Mom&RN]

OK, its sooooo hard to decide but after rereading all of your input (thanks for the most recent yamindie), I think I am going to tell him a day or two before we leave so he can have a couple of days to get excited, brag at school and also pack his own stuff. Thank you all for your inpt!!