To tell or Not to tell..

[ariel326]

My son doesn't know we are going and we leave on Friday.
He knows what Disneyworld is, and knows that the Characters live there. He knows that his best friend went there and he saw pictures of what an awesome place it is. He has also seen me watching things on Youtube -so he definitely "gets it". He decided he could go when he was 4 (so we will be 6 months early LOL).

He does know that his dad leaves for Florida on Wednesday for Work. Dh travels a lot for work, so this is not uncommon.

On Friday I will surprise him with the fact that we are gong to visit Daddy in Florida and are going to get on an airplane. He already knows he is not going to daycare that day because I don't have school that day (I teach), so he is already prepared for not going to school.

But honestly he is going to freak out. He has always wanted to go and visit his dad when he travels and is desperate to go on an airplane. So that in its self will be an amazing surprise.

On Friday when DH picks up from the airport we will tell him we are going to WDW on Saturday. I have a letter from Mickey inviting him to the park that we will give him. This way he has a minute to adjust to going but it is still going to be a weekend full of surprises.

I am so excited!

 

[henry72]

For a first trip, I would say tell. But not for a LONG time....you are looking at 20 months of her asking about it. Maybe July 2015 bring it up to her and do a countdown.

I agree for a first trip (and at the age of 4), I wouldn't surprise her. She won't know what it is really (even with you prepping her with "one day"). She won't have that excited reaction that I think you want. I would save the surprise for another trip.

But as others have said, you know your child best. My DS needs time to process and plan. (Yep, a planner like his mom. ) He would melt down if we said get in the car now we are going to Disney World. He would be worried about who would take care of the dog and cats and packing his own stuff. Both kids already know about our trip in June. I like that they can get excited and help plan.

 

[lnuss1988]

I agree for a first trip (and at the age of 4), I wouldn't surprise her. She won't know what it is really (even with you prepping her with "one day"). She won't have that excited reaction that I think you want. I would save the surprise for another trip.

After reading a lot of these responses, I think that is what I am going to do. I already have a countdown calendar just have to print it out. I am going to keep talking to her about it, show her videos, try and find the Travel Channel specials on WDW. Once she is there and knows what WDW is, the surprise will be better for the 2nd trip.

 

[disneygrl704]

We are going for 7 days in August and staying in a LM room at AofA. It is killing me to keep this from DD7. She has been to Disney twice. We were just there last January and she asks me about once a week when we can go back. I want to surprise her once we are in the car a couple hours away. I know she will be excited but after reading some of the responses I don't know if I should tell her a couple days before. That's if I can keep the secret that long!!