To tell or not to tell?

[mousefan73]

part of the reason we book DCL is all the creative fun stuff we do pre-cruise. Making and printing door magnates, decorations etc... My DD got into that. And also if we did FEs she got into that process too.

 

[Kariyaffa]

I feel like with the way the last few years have been that my kids needed something to look forward to so as soon as I was fairly confident we would go (once my younger one was able to get vaxxed) we told them. They love checking the countdown and looking at new info about the Wish with me as it comes out.

My kids ask too many questions also so I would have to make up a whole bunch of lies about what we’d be doing in FL if I tried to surprise them at the port anyway.

No reason you can’t surprise them in advance if that’s what you want to do.

 

[cmph]

I could schedule the character call and reveal the surprise that way.

I wouldn't rely on the character call timing, FYI. We've tried, but it's been a bit of a fail. We planned a cruise as a Christmas gift, so I did a whole Santa-scavenger hunt thing. The kids went step by step and gathered the trip-related gifts and notes from Santa along the way. We got to the scheduled call time, and they had to just sit there and wait and wait. I knew it might not be exactly the time, but it was like 15, 20min late. Then the next cruise, my sister scheduled the call for Christmas as well, and it came early and went to her voicemail LOL.

Totally depends on your kids, but the next cruise after the Christmas gift one, DD was very much into door decorations and FE. That excitement trumped the Christmas surprise.

 

[NAB]

We kept it a secret years ago for the kids. It didn’t go well because they weren’t prepared for it. They were 7 and 10.

They like the build up and excitement before hand. Crossing the days off.

 

[laceltris3]

We made it a surprise but also let the kids get excited. Instead of telling them when I booked, our Elf on a Shelf Vixen brought the cruise and when he appeared when we got home from Thanksgiving. (I have everything ready, including a Disney tshirt and small gift and back then the cruise docs binder ready to go, but hidden and then when everyone is in the car, I 'forget' something and have to go back in and set it all up.) Still a fun surprise.

 

[MIndy S]

We go later this summer and just announced to the kids a couple days ago. They are 11 and 8. I know that they need the time to mentally prepare for a vacation like this, and like me, they enjoy the planning phase almost as much as the trip itself.

I printed out a summer calendar, with all of our activities on it. Then for our cruise week in August, I put DCL thumbnails for each day. They were really excited, and they have been marking off the days on the calendar.

 

[Carohs]

Thank you everyone, you've certainly given me a lot to consider! I know some people/kids don't do as well with surprises, but we've done smaller spontaneous surprises and our kiddos have always taken it well. We haven't participated in FE in the past, and we've been on the Wonder before, so I can't really anticipate much planning for this cruise. The reason I fell in love with cruising is because of how much less planning is needed than for a land vacation. I do love the surprise reveal idea, if I can come up with something creative.

 

[Breezer4]

We just told our kids last week that we are going at the end of July. They did a scavenger hunt around the house and the last clue led them to their construction paper countdown chain we use for vacations. Then Goofy “called” them about 5 minutes later. My kids love to plan and look forward to trips.

 

[mevelandry]

I've booked our third DCL vacation, and DH and I are super excited but haven't told the kids yet. Even more, it's the Very Merrytime! The first two cruises the kids were involved and marked the days off on the calendar and updated the countdown - super fun! This time I'm considering not letting them know in advance and just showing up at the port with packed luggage and surprising them. I think it'd be an amazing surprise and they'd have a priceless reaction. I just don't know if I can hold the secret. Any tips?

I'd add a twist: pretend we are all going away for the week-end, to a place they don't really care about (but don't hate enough to fake illness so they don't to go. LOL). Pack anything cruise related in another luggage (hidden). Place as many "false hints" as possible and make sure friends and other family members are playing along.

That would be fun.