To surprise or not to surprise?

[Abatts]

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?

We just surprised our boys. We did 2 nights at Legoland and then a 4 night on the Dream. We didn't even tell them about Legoland until the night before we left. Then told them we were headed back home. As we came over the bridge and saw the Dream, we told them we were going. They were so surprised and happy for both parts of the trip!! We have always told them about previous vacations/cruises. However, the magic of the surprise was awesome! They had a great time at both places and never once said they wished they had known sooner.

 

[jahber]

I think what works best for us is that the kids know we are going on a cruise at some point, and so they are able to research the ship and plan activities and look forward to it, but they don't have the looooooong wait/countdown to the specific day. That kills them--especially the night before. So we say it will happen in September, they spend weeks trying to nail down the dates, and the time flies. Works for us.

 

[Babysaurs]

We are surprising our 2 kids 6 and 9 with our holiday to the USA from australia in october. Will be our first time to disneyland, disney cruise and WDW etc.
We were originally supposed to go last september but 5 days before we were due to fly out from oz i was diagnosed with cancer. Telling the kids our holiday wed been planning for 2 year was now cancelled and mummy has cancer was the worst conversation of my life.
Since then we have been secretly planning the holiday. We have told them we are going next year so they an still be involved in the planning etc. We will tell them the day before we fly out, not exactly sure how yet.
I finished treatment in June and had my 3rd surgery in less then a year only last week so atlesat this way should it have to be canceled again they are none the wiser. Fingers crossed this trip goes to plan this time!

 

[Sytrace]

We are surprising our 2 kids 6 and 9 with our holiday to the USA from australia in october. Will be our first time to disneyland, disney cruise and WDW etc.
We were originally supposed to go last september but 5 days before we were due to fly out from oz i was diagnosed with cancer. Telling the kids our holiday wed been planning for 2 year was now cancelled and mummy has cancer was the worst conversation of my life.
Since then we have been secretly planning the holiday. We have told them we are going next year so they an still be involved in the planning etc. We will tell them the day before we fly out, not exactly sure how yet.
I finished treatment in June and had my 3rd surgery in less then a year only last week so atlesat this way should it have to be canceled again they are none the wiser. Fingers crossed this trip goes to plan this time!

Sending prayers for a successful recovery and that you are able to take this trip. It sounds perfectly wonderful.

 

[cyclenut]

Surprises are great, but so is the planning and anticipation leading up to the big day. I like the idea of getting most things lined up and ensuring that the trip will, in fact, happen. Pick your date for the surprise but leave enough time for some planning. Our first family Disney cruise was so much fun when the kids were a part of choosing the things we were going to do and we all stayed up until midnight east coast time to book the excursions and shipboard dining. It was a really great experience. The anticipation really extended the vacation experience.

When we did our big Walt Disney World trip we also waited until we had all the arrangements pretty much in place and then we told them we were going to WDW for Christmas (last year). Our kids are all adults now so it was super important to give them enough time to make arrangements. Much like the cruise they all pitched in together to plan all the events and activities. Booking dining and just generally planning the whole trip. We talked about it for the few months leading up to the trip and we'll still be sharing years later.

Age of the kids really matters here, but if they are a planner they probably want to be a part of the planning for the trip. They'll want to know what excursions are available to them and pick which ones sound the most fun.

 

[FigmentSpark]

We are surprising our 2 kids 6 and 9 with our holiday to the USA from australia in october. Will be our first time to disneyland, disney cruise and WDW etc.
We were originally supposed to go last september but 5 days before we were due to fly out from oz i was diagnosed with cancer. Telling the kids our holiday wed been planning for 2 year was now cancelled and mummy has cancer was the worst conversation of my life.
Since then we have been secretly planning the holiday. We have told them we are going next year so they an still be involved in the planning etc. We will tell them the day before we fly out, not exactly sure how yet.
I finished treatment in June and had my 3rd surgery in less then a year only last week so at lesat this way should it have to be canceled again they are none the wiser. Fingers crossed this trip goes to plan this time!

I hope all goes well for you.

I think that's a great idea... to tell them you're going, but not when, so they are still surprised, but not uninvolved.

 

[Quellman]

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

Hopefully the 8 year old survived Pirate night!

 

[KingRichard]

So we always surprised our DD. Now she is 9 and is getting to smart, but this years was the best.

I think we let her in on the the first 3 day cruise, but didn't tell her about the B2B. lol

So we had to leave the ship and she says how come we are not packing(had to lie) and tell her Disney would do it.

Now we have to go back to terminal(again to smart). Why?

Getting our luggage.

Finally we spilled the beans after sitting there for 20 minutes!

Lots of people were laughing and clapping.

I'm sure she will think every cruise will now be a B2B?

Next one is NCL. I think she is going to be mad?