To tell or not to tell the kids yet?

[excited mum]

Help!

I can't sleep through excitment as its 2 weeks until we spend Xmas at DLRP and I think its only just hit me. The thing is, my excitement has just made me wonder whether we are doing the right thing keeping it a secret from our little ones. They are only 3 and 5 and we were going to tell them at the airport that we were all going away for Xmas.

But now I am wondering if they (and myself) are missing out on the build up and excitement at the sheer prospect of going (not to mention the bribery potential).

What would you all do? keep it a surpise or tell them now? we are going 22nd to 27th December.

 

[Sarah Sarill]

Tell Tell Tell.

Seriously a tough decision as children of that age get overly excited and may not sleep, however IMHO you are missing out on the one of the best bits - talking about the rides, the journey, the hotel, them telling their friends and family etc.

For this family, the fun upto the trip is fab and prolongs the whole experience.

Whatever you decide you will have a real MAGICAL Christmastime.

 

[higgy66]

Oooohh Tough Call.

We're going this weekend and to be honest the girls have know from the start and we've enjoyed so many hours talking about who we're going to see, what we're going to do and the rides etc etc.

They're only 4 (just) and 3 (almost) and they totally understand it all.

However, if were actually going for Christmas I don't know what we'd have done.

Good luck

Janet
x

 

[Leanne1977]

The first time we went to DLP we told them on the Eurostar on the way there. It was lovely to see their little faces light up.

When we went to Florida in September we told them we were going and it was really great having the excitement build up.

We have just booked to go back to DLP in February and the kids dont know yet. I am planning on doing like a treasure hunt on Christmas Day which has little clues so they can get to the last clue and find out we are going.

I think you should tell them you are going.

 

[shaileytuff]

we are going next wednesday and dd4 doesn't even know

not going to tell her, just going to say we are going to see father xmas on train (we usually go to harrods) and that this year he is staying with some special friends a bit longer of a journey, am going to give her a tinkerbell and necklace to wear (that i brought in M&M) on the journey, but think she might guess when we get to ashford as we see eurostart quite a bit, living in kent, she knows its the train to mickey mouse land,

but hope that the look on her face will be worth the surprise, also don't think i could put up with the constant how many sleeps question!!

 

[NMM]

Maybe I'm just odd but I kind of like the "how many sleeps" question!

 

[Cinderella2004]

We surpised DD for her 7th birthday. Shes been many times (to WDW, not DLP) and we thought it would be fun planning the surpise out. It was. And she was surprised.

HOWEVER, I don't think I'd ever do it again. She is so much fun planning with, and I think that the anticipation of the trip makes it so much better. And as you said, the bribery potential is just unlimited!!!

Have a GREAT trip!!!! It won't be long now!!

 

[JoeSam]

I think I would tell. We surprised DS with 2 nights tacked on to a holiday in Holland this year, and his face when we got off at the station was a picture! However he's 6, and has been a good few times already. I don't know if this is your kids' first time, but if it is, it's really nice looking up rides on the internet, reading up with them, planning and preparing them for character meets etc., deciding which ride to do first.....etc.etc.....

 

[rachael]

I have the same dilema! We go on the 23rd til 26th and as yet my 2 girls 7 & 10 do not know we are going although my son 17 does. It is not our first trip but the first at christmas time. While I agree that the planning stage is exciting I would like to see them go wild when i finally tell them a few days before. We are planning to tell them on the thurs/fri before when we will have a christmas family night and give them their main presents (portable dvd players) and an invitation from Mickey to join him for christmas.
I dont know how ive managed to keep it from them, its been booked since september so only a few weeks to keep it to myself.

Rachael

 

[Cyrano]

When we went in November 2004 we kept it a surprise right till the morning we left. The troops at that time were DD7, DS4 and DD2. It was such a thrill that we'd do it again

 

[Cyrano]

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[jillrobinson]

Maybe I'm just odd but I kind of like the "how many sleeps" question!

Me too ! but then it's usually me that's asking

Whatever you decide to do I'm sure you'll all have a fab Christmas

 

[Raci]

I think if they've been to any of the Disney parks before I would make it a huge suprise for them and not tell them as they would already know what to expect.
However if it's their first trip I would tell them now and enjoy a couple of weeks planning, looking at pics etc. Making sure they know a little of what it will be like.

My daughter (7) was looking at a book at the library and found a pic of Main Street. Her reaction when I told her it was part of Disneyland caught me completely by suprise. She said it couldn't possibly be as there were too many people. It turned out she didn't think there would be any people at Disneyland only all the Disney characters walking around because thats where they live You gotta love kids! She didn't mind when I explained a little more (I had to tell her that all the people who go on holiday just visit the Disney characters playground's they don't get to go in their houses). Shes completely fine with the explanation but if I hadn't realised that was her expectation before we got there she might have been disapointed and that could have spoilt our trip. So I think on a first trip its good to make sure your children know what to expect as well as all the extra planning fun when you get to see their excitement build. I can't wait to tell my daughter over christmas that our trip is booked

 

[excited mum]

Thankyou all so much for your thoughts!

I don't think I can keep it a secret for much longer so maybe I'll go half-way and tell them in a weeks time. Then my next big decider is whether to have 'our proper xmas day' before or after our trip. We will endevour to take small items with us, but on a plane we are limited. Do you think they will mind or even notice?

 

[Sarah Sarill]

..... my next big decider is whether to have 'our proper xmas day' before or after our trip. We will endevour to take small items with us, but on a plane we are limited. Do you think they will mind or even notice?

Last year we flew with BMI baby and their customer services agent told us to pack any Xmas Pressies in our hand luggage. If you pack them in your case and its gets delayed or worst still lost.

We took her stocking to hang up and s few small key gifts and printed a letter from Santa to say that he had left a few more pressies at home for her. I then went stocking filler shopping in DV and packed the stocking with small things like chocolates, a bag & purse etc.

IMHO children need something to open on Christmas morning its just you are restricted on size. This year we are taking a Nintendo Lite ,some games and Mobile Phone. Bulk it out with Disney treats and she will be delighted.

PS : Dont forget something SMALL for the Hubby too.

Phew, sorry that was so long.

Gosh, am I getting excited or what - its only 15 more sleeps until we go - Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[BRobson]

It must be soooooooooo exciting to spend Christmas At Disneyland. My DH is not so keen to do this as he enjoys his traditional Christmas(Wife in the kitchen and him and the kids doing nothing ).Maybe once the kids are a bit bigger I can persuade him.At least he doesn't mind my whole Christmas tree being dedicated to all things Disney

 

[childminderjanet]

I booked our trip about 4 weeks ago as a last minute thing, I told my daughter yesterday on her 6th birthday that we were going to DisneyParis on 16th Dec, I thought she would go crazy but she didn't react much at all . I think she must have been in shock and needed a little time for it to sink in, as when she got back from school she was v v excited. I have found it sooo hard to keep my mouth shut about it, now we can spend every moment planning where we're going eat, what rides to go on first etc. We went at the beginning of December last year and had such a fantastic time, really hope the magic is there again. Anyway have a great trip whatever you decide
Janet xx

 

[excited mum]

PS : Dont forget something SMALL for the Hubby too.

Thanks for the reminder Sarah, I completely forgot about taking something for hubby! I'd better drop hints about taking something small for me too!

by the way.. we are going to tell them this weekend, thanks again everybody, I feel a huge weight being lifted (a nice weight if course).

 

[andy6326]

We took her stocking to hang up and s few small key gifts and printed a letter from Santa to say that he had left a few more pressies at home for her. I then went stocking filler shopping in DV and packed the stocking with small things like chocolates, a bag & purse etc.

We're doing something similar, taking stocking stuff and planning to buy some extra treats there. We've told DD she can choose our main present from us in the shops on Christmas Day.