To surprise or not to surprise?

[thebrundogs]

Has anyone done both? Which did you prefer?

We are going on the Dream next August. Our DDs will be 3, 8, and 11. We did the same cruise in 2012 when the older two were 3 and 6. We have always included them in our vacation planning...its part of the excitement! Awhile ago ODD mentioned wanting to be surprised by a trip sometime, but she loves the planning too (she loved sitting down and planning out our WDW days this past spring).

We are going to spend a couple days at Universal before the cruise, so we'll tell them about that. We are contemplating keeping the cruise a surprise, though--just showing up at the port. Any suggestions?

 

[Mr. Drauer]

we surprised ours for spring break this year - told them we were heading to Miami Beach for a beach stay during spring break and that cruise prices were just too high. We didn't tell them until we actually pulled into the port. They are 8 and 12 - shocked them. 12 Year Old was actually disappointed at first that she was not going to Miami Beach, but their reaction was priceless. Great video forever.

 

[Talby]

I have done both. In 2013--after saving for nearly 7 very long years (newly single mom), I surprised my kids. They were in 9th and 5th grades and thought we were going to visit family in Arkansas all the way up until the morning of the trip. My daughter got tears in her eyes upon the reveal--she was so excited!! My son didn't believe me! He kept saying "mom...really?" It seemed like he was afraid to be excited about it in case I was "tricking" him again. I felt bad about that part. I realized after talking about it at length with him well after the fact, that he does NOT like really big surprises like that. He needs time to process things that are on a Disney vacation level. It was an amazing trip--just could not have been better--and we all had the time of our lives, so he obviously got over it. I still feel a twinge of guilt for not considering more thoughtfully how each of my kids would react to a surprise of that magnitude. At the time, I was truly surprised my son reacted the way he did. It wasn't HORRIBLE, just not the magical enthusiasm I had anticipated. Since then, I've read similar stories from other families of their kids not handling it as the parents thought they might, and others whose kids' reactions were precious and priceless.

This time, at 17 and 13, they have been involved every step of the way. It has been SO MUCH FUN having them involved in the planning process!! I just love talking about various restaurants and getting their input on Fast Passes, resort time, various events and tours, etc. Their input has been fantastic and valuable and is really making it feel like everyone is going to be able to do exactly what they want to do without me guessing what they would like best.

I think each (surprising versus being involved in planning) has its benefits and great things about it, but I honestly prefer my kids being involved, and that's simply what feels right for our family. All kids are different, of course, and all families are different. If yours are really into very big surprises, it can be great fun to go that route! Hope your vacation is full of fun and awesome memories no matter which way you decide to go with it.

 

[YayDisney]

When my kids were smaller (like until they were 6 or 7) we always surprised them. Always. We would pack for them and pick them up from school and just GO. They absolutely loved it and once our plans fell through at the last minute and no one was upset (well, of course DH and I were, but we spared the kids the disappointment cause they never knew). Our first cruise was on the Dream and they had no clue what we were doing until we got to the Port and they saw their ship. We had timed the Mickey call perfectly and put the call on the car speaker so they were hearing Mickey welcoming them, seeing the ship and almost passed out. It was magical for real and one of my favorite memories ever because they had NO idea that a Disney cruise was even on the radar.

Now, they are 10 and my DD in particular is a big planner like me. She also is at an age where she likes to pack her own stuff and get involved. I have included them in decisions about excursions and stuff for this upcoming cruise and I am glad we have. But I still routinely surprise them with plans. I love it and I know they do too. There is so much bad stuff in the world, and I love that they believe that in life spectacular things can happen at ANY time!

If you are asking for votes, I vote for keeping the cruise a surprise! It's good because you have already told them about Universal, so they know the kind of trip they will be on and they will pack accordingly and get to choose their travel things, but still you get a great surprise for them. If you do it, try to time the Mickey call for when you are arriving - its GREAT - have fun!

 

[poohs4me]

My Sister just surprised her kids and they were disappointed because they wanted to come visit my house instead. We told them they were coming to visit me but not where they assumed my house but I was at the port.

If they like to plan, I would tell them

 

[gotomu212]

I love surprising my son with trips! We still talk about how great it is and how he felt when he found out, etc.

That said I agree that you need to know your kids and if anyone will have a hard time being surprised, and I'd also agree that it might not be the YouTube worthy screaming/crying excitement since some people process stuff differently.

 

[Madame]

We are at Universal this August & are surprising our kids with a Fantasy cruise afterwards. We'll pack up & pretend we're headed home & I can't wait to see their faces when we arrive at PC! We've surprised them before though, so pretty sure it'll go well.

As long as they don't think they're headed somewhere else they might enjoy/be looking forward to, I say surprise them!

 

[YayDisney]

As long as they don't think they're headed somewhere else they might enjoy/be looking forward to, I say surprise them!

Agree, this is key.

 

[Cali Cat]

I surprised my daughter with a cruise when she was 4 and she was so excited. The next cruise she knew from the beginning that we were going. To MY surprise, as we were driving to port I hear her say, "Mommy, why did you ruin my suprise?"

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

This thread reminds me of this video, LOL.

 

[BigredNole]

Yeah, surprises can go horribly wrong. We surprised our DD at school with a package from Princess Tiana. I was holding it and she walked out the school entrance. We told her it came in the mail with the card. She started reading the card inviting her to go to Disney World to see her. It went on to tell her to hurry because the flight leaves in 2 hours. She started screaming and crying in front of school. She did not want to go to Disney if she had to fly. We were in a bit of a rush because it was ~20 minutes to the airport and security is about another 20-30 minutes. We tossed her in the car and asked if she wanted a Happy Meal. She ate it on the way and still didn't want to go. My DW dropped us off (she was flying down 3 nights later). Still upset and not wanting to go, we got on the plane and I tried not having someone sit next to us with Miss Crabbyappleton. A nice older man sat with us because the plane was completely full. I had 2 drinks before the plane took off and fell asleep. The man and my daughter talked the whole way down. I apologized, but he had nothing of it. He said it was the most fun he had flying in a long time.

 

[Mrs Green]

This thread reminds me of this video, LOL.

That's hysterical!

 

[TrySomethingNew]

They are good ages for doing a surprise, esp since it's an add-on to what they already know. We've surprised kids with their first cruise (5&13) at Flying Fish night before cruise, so they got to process the idea. A few months later I surprised oldest with Universal trip (only her and I), by picking her up mid day at school after a spelling bee (so she was not suspicious why I was there) and then handed her a fun booklet about our flight/trip when I got her out to the car. Being 13 she was a bit overwhelmed, but happy. It is fun to do at least once for the experience and memories.

 

[mort1331]

Wow hope my surprise doesn't go like those kids. I am surprising the whole family, including my wife. \they all think we are going to drive to Vero beach and not do WDW next year, change it up. I have booked the cruise for March, and since we will stop at OKW for a night then drive to the coast, we pass the port and turn in. Hope no one cries or I might be overboard.

 

[YayDisney]

OMG @Disney Dad ADL that is awful! ha ha ha that poor mom! probably spent HOURS planning!

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

OMG @Disney Dad ADL that is awful! ha ha ha that poor mom! probably spent HOURS planning!

Don't worry, maybe this will make you feel better :

Edit: I suppose I should try to be useful rather than posting random videos, LOL. Based on my extensive YouTube research , I think as others have mentioned, the key is to trick them into thinking they are going someplace they really don't want to go to, then surprising them with Disney. Summer school is apparently an effective choice, but I do not recommend using Chattanooga (apparently kids love it!)

 

[YayDisney]

Don't worry, maybe this will make you feel better :

Edit: I suppose I should try to be useful rather than posting random videos, LOL. Based on my extensive YouTube research , I think as others have mentioned, the key is to trick them into thinking they are going someplace they really don't want to go to, then surprising them with Disney. Summer school is apparently an effective choice, but I do not recommend using Chattanooga (apparently kids love it!)

SOOOOO much better. That is a great video. The little boy in the front had major guilty face while they were talking about bad grades ha ha ha. And the spontaneous group hug at the end. Love this! Thanks for sharing

 

[MeliMel702]

If the kids like surprises I'd say go for it! I found out that mine really didn't care about surprises or Disney 2yrs ago when I took advantage of having to drive my Mom to LAX from Las Vegas. While my Mom was at the airport I had her call them right before boarding the plane and tell them that they were going to Disneyland the next three days. Their reaction was pretty disappointing. They did enjoy the trip and we have lots of wonderful memories. This time I am letting them plan our Disney Cruise with me. Still don't have the reaction I want but they seem to like the ideas I give them!

 

[thebrundogs]

Thank you all! I am leaning towards telling them that we are heading to the beach for a couple days after Universal. It's not technically a lie, and that way ODD can help pack her own clothes appropriately.

The 3 yr old is the wild card about a surprise...I don't know if she's old enough to "get it" without more preparation. We'll have to look at our old pictures while her sisters are at school or something.

 

[gayles]

I needed a good laugh ( the Chatanooga / did the trick) Last year we told the Grandboys 8 yrs & 10 yrs . We're going to Disney . You can set up a call / Goofy or Mickey will call your cell & tell you your going on a Disney Cruise . Well 10 yrs so excited. 8 yrs old Started Crying & was scared to go on a Ship . Then me the Grandma start crying ( worked over a year to make it all happen. Great ending we walk on " The Dream" 8 yrs old says ohhhh I thought we were going on a Pirate Ship . So now they beg to go again even longer Booked June 11,2017