Too much surprise?

[melindaandrob]

We've booked a trip for September and decided to keep it a surprise for the kids. Our original plan was to wake them in the morning and head for the airport. Now I'm wondering if this will be too much? A little overwhelming?
Has anyone surprised their children at the last minute? How did it go? Would you have done anything differently?

Thanks!
Melinda

ps the kids are dd 10, dd 8, and ds 5. They don't think we'll be able to go back to WDW for a couple of years. A.P's, I'll say no more

 

[CamColt]

While Im always touched by these stories of people surprising their kids, I have to say I wouldnt do it, just because I know how my DS is. He is a planner, he needs to know what to expect next, and any change in plans throws him for a loop(he gets that from me ). I know as much as I love going to WDW if someone surprised me last minute I would freak out...and not in a good way. DS 6, is the same way. Besides, I love the excitement of planning and having the kids get excited with me. The anticipation is just as much fun for us as the trip.
Now if you know that your kids can handle it and wouldnt mind not helping in the planning then by all means go for it. I do think those surprises are cool, just not if they happened to me, LOL!

 

[S. C.]

We have suprises for our GS 10yr when we get to WDW, he knows about the trip and cruise. (his first cruise....2nd disney trip)


We are suprising him with lunch in the castle.

Staying at AKL.

And the dolphin swim at Nassau.

 

[disneyag]

I think it depends on your kids. I surprised my DS a few years ago with a "Mom and Me" trip. He still talks about how cool a mom I was to do that.

My DS and DD and I are leaving this Thursday after school is out- and they don't know yet!!

I think the surprise element is great; however, if your kids don't react well to surprises, it might be a better idea to let them know at least a week in advance.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We did it last year. We told him the night before we left. We flew for this trip and were supposed to fly out at 6AM. When we told him the night before, we gave him his birthday card and said "Hope you have a good birthday because you're going to WDW." He wasn't excited or anything. So we asked him if he read it. He said he did. He knew we were going in Dec. Then we clarified it and told him we were also going the next day - he was very excited.

Well, we are doing it again. We have the FTP and are staying at the GF. We're not telling him until we pick him up at Summer Day Care the evening we leave.

 

[nhmomx2]

We leave June 22nd and our kids don't know yet! We are hoping to keep it that way as they are Disney Spoiled! This will be DS's 9th trip and he won't be 9 until August. This will be DD's 7th trip and she's 5. We took an extened family reunion type trip last year and told them we didn't have enough points (DVC Members) to go this year because we used them all on Daddy's family. Turns out my DH and I were having withdrawals so we borrowed points from a friend!!

We've already planted the seed that we'll probably be going to Kennebunkport for a few days when school gets out. We hope they don't figure it out until we get to the airport!!!

I'll let you know when we get back!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I think it might be a neat thing to do- depending on how well you think your children can take that (ie: if you have a child that wouldn't handle the "surprise" without planning ahead very well/etc).

Personally I can't keep a secret like that for long. LOL I just have to share my excitement and end up blabbing it out to the kids long before the trip! Ofcourse our first one was a surprise- because it was spur of the moment so even WE only knew 3 days ahead! But I couldn't even keep it a secret for 3 lousy days. LOL

As it stands now- they know about our next trip, but it's so far ahead and my kids (atleast the younger two) could forget by that time. LOL For the oldest, I'm unsure about our mom/daughter trip as of yet and since I'm not positive we'll do it- ofcourse I'm not saying a word. But when plans are positive, I'm going to TRY to keep it a secret- not only because she is older and I think she'd be thrilled with a surprise like that- but also because my son is probably going to be a wee-bit upset about it, atleast for a little while- so no sense upsetting him way ahead of time. LOL

 

[KimR]

I'll let you know because we are surprising our girls in two days. It's the last day of school and I'm keeping my oldest out for 'a series of appointments' for all three girls. Right before we walk out the door I'm telling them that their appointment isn't with Dr's so-and-so, it's with Minnie and Micky and Pluto and Goofy and Dumbo...etc.

I was hesitantabout surprising them; I was primarily unsure how my 11-year-old would react, so I kind of felt her out beforehand. I told her that I knew someone who was surprising her kids with a trip to WDW and DD went on and on about how awesome that would be - so I think she'll be fine with it. And my middle DD (5) does not handle anticipation well. She asks me at least 10 times a day 'how many days until Tyler's birthday party' 'how many days until I'm in kindergarten' 'how many days until my birthday'. As excited as I get, that drives me NUTS! And my youngest is only 2, so she just goes with the flow. I can't wait! I think they are going to be beside themselves with excitement because they think we are not going for 2 more years!

Kim

 

[frannn]

They would look at my face and know the minute after I made the reservations. I do, however, like to pack their luggage myself, usually with all new surprises & clothes. This year, it will only be DH, me, and DD (who'll just be 1 yo), so everything will be a surprise to DD! I can't wait for the princess meals, first look at the castle, I could go on and on and on....

 

[Stephen's Mom]

We surprised our DS (4yr) on May 3. He spent the night at my mom and dad's and when they came to pick us up to take us to the airport he figured something was up when we started loading our suitcases in the car. He was pretty excited (especially since I had bought him a new rolling backpack and had packed it full of snacks and new markers, toys etc. for the plane ride). He got teary-eyed on the way to the airport though because he didn't get to say goodbye to our cats so I felt kind of bad about that as I never realized it would bother him that much. Other than that he was great. Oh, except he threw up as we were waiting to get off the plane in Minneapolis (I really should have packed a change of clothes for him and I!). The flight was fine and he doesn't get motion sickness so I think it might have just been too much excitement all at once. In retrospect, if we ever get to go again I think I would tell him a little earlier (but not too far in advance or he'd drive me nuts with all the waiting!).

 

[bigsis1970]

We have a wedding in KY ( Bowling green ) so i found great airfare from MHT to MCO - we will drive to the wedding and then drive back for vacation for a week.. Kids just think we are vacationing in KY for the week.. I did slip up last week said something to the effect of "I can't wait for vacation in warm sunny florida! " my DD 9 is all ears and was like HUH...... Florida??? I was like UGH>>>>>>>>>> i meant kentucky cause its hot there like florida! I have told them we will have to drive quite aways to get to KY .. I think my DD will figure it out when we get on the plane for MCO - My DS 6 won't till we tell him.. I think the biggest surprise in store is Friends of ours from here will be meeting us down there - we have requested adjoining rooms so we can knock on the door in between then have kids open and take pictures of each others kids seeing each other!!! ok rambling done.. Michelle

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Well, this will be the first time we are surprising them . . .Their last day of school is June 20th and we usually get them a little promotion gift . . .DS already got his (a new skateboard) and DD is getting DH's old cell phone with a cool purple faceplate but then I think we are going to hand them each an evelope with a copy of their airline ticket in it and have them open it . . .Our flight is leaving at 6pm that night and DH and I will be taking that day off so we can pack everyone . . .

It has been very hard keeping it a secret because all my planning has been done behind their backs . . .DH can't even openly discuss it . . .

Hopefully it'll go over well . . .DS will be more than excited . . .DD will probably freak out (she's not a airplane lover) but I will post how their reaction was . .and it'll be all on tape!

 

[BrerMom]

We've done it both ways. It was fun for DH and I to plan and sneak and surprise, but it was more fun for the whole family to do the planning together. For me, the anticipation/planning is more than half the fun of the trip and I want the kids to be able to share that from now on.

 

[jjohns]

Most trips we have simply told the kids about it a few weeks beforehand (to keep all of the 'when are we going' questions to a minimum, and to reduce the disruption in-school before the trip.

On one trip, we also just got in the car and went to the airport without telling the kids what we were doing. When we told them in the car, their excitement was underwhelming! Both of them were actually more disappointed about the things they would be missing at home! Of course, when we actually saw the WDW sign, *that* attitude was forgotten!! LOL.

It all depends on your kids, I would say. This time around, we're telling them early and letting them participate in the planning (any ideas on how to do that, anyone???). We'll see how well that goes...

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We surprised our son the first time he went (or tried).

He was almost 3 1/2 and we didn't want to listed to endless weeks of "is it time to go to Disney yet?", so we just made all the plans. Grandma, grandpa and favorite cousin were joining us. So, we borrowed the big van from friends, packed in secret (at night) and gave it a go. We picked him up in the van from daycare with grandma and grandpa with us.

We still weren't going to tell him where we were going because since we had an evening flight and he wouldn't get to see Mickey until the next day, we didn't plan to tell him until the next morning.

Well, when we picked him up, as we were leaving daycare he said "So-and-so said I am going to see Mickey, is that true?" One of the daycare teachers had blown the whole surprise. Needless to say I was a little irritated, but it wasn't a big deal and we all had a great time.

Of course my DD has gone every year since she was 1 (also in utero), and she always knows in advance and never frets about it. So I think it depends on the child. They both know about our plans for the Disney Cruise in November.

One thing, you may want to wait until your plans are firm before you tell them. We made that mistake this time. Original plan, DL in February, 2004, changed to WDW in November this year, changed to DCL in November of this year, changed to DCL in November of this year plus 2 days at park, no wait maybe not any time in parks, wait, yes 2 days in park. My kids are like "just make up your mind mom!" (Smart kids!)

No matter what you do, have a great time!

 

[Camping Disney]

The only way to do a vacation is to keep every little secret a complete surprise until it happens!! You never have disappointed kids when plans go bad, if they never knew the plan to begin with!! We did a complete surprise with our kids last year and are doing it again this year. We "kidnapped" them at 4:30 in the morning, arrived at the airport, and always stayed one step ahead of them. We were able to get everyone in the airport and waiting area involved in the surprise. We even had the entire plane clapping for the kids when the pilot announced that they were going to WDW!! (for the whole story, just email me). Then, we were playing tricks all throughout out our 2 days at WDW...(never actually going into the parks on that trip). The ultimate, however, was their face when we ended up at the terminal, the bus driver told us he inadvertantly loaded our bags onto the ship and we would have to go inside to collect them. The ticket agent then told us we would have to go find our bags and leave the boat before it sailed....it goes on and on....needless to say...I love the thrill of really surprising my children!!

If you have the patience and a lot of forethought, you can really make this one of the most magical experiences of their life!!
Good Luck,
Michele

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I have not tried to surprise my kids (still a little young), but I inadvertantly helped a co-worker surprise her son. We had to go to a conference in Orlando, and my co-worker was a last minute sub for someone else who had to drop out. She was anxious about going becasue she is a single mom (her son was 13 or 14 at the time), and her mom wouldn't be able to care for him for a week easily. So I just suggested off the cuff that she bring her son with her. With that suggestion, she agreed to go to the conference, called her son's teachers to get is assignments, and got airline and WDW tickets for him.

We were scheduled to leave at 8 am Monday morning, and she "told" him about the trip on Sat afternoon. She had one of her sisters tape the whole thing. Apparently, he was upstairs, and his mom asked him to come down stairs because she had something she needed him to do. He came downstairs, and asked what needed to be done. She handed him the WDW tickets. Initially he thought they were fakes, but when he realized they were real, he got very excited. Then she told him that she needed him to pack because they were leaving Monday. According to her, he was packed about 30 minutes later! Our conference was deisgned so that we were finished by 2pm each day, so he spent the morning in the hotel room doing his assignments for the day, then the afternoon/evenings in WDW with his mom. They even stayed on an extra couple of days for more fun.

 

[mamamia]

I just booked our "surprise" trip to Disney today. I booked it for my DH's 40th birthday. He has no idea whatsoever. My 3 children (2, 10 & 8) will also be surprised - we were just there in November. I was so nervous. I booked the hotel with the thought that I could always cancel, but then suddenly there I was online booking our airline tickets which are non-refundable! I guess there's no turning back. When I woke up today I never would have imagined me doing something like this. I am so excited. I'm really glad I only have to wait until September. The last trip I booked 13 months ahead and the waiting got to be a little too much. I hope my DH has a good reaction. I was thinking of getting some help from some of his coworkers so we can pick him up from his office on the way to the airport. I was also going to have the limo take me to my children's schools to pick them up. I just keeep saying to myself "I can't believe I did that!"

 

[bigsis1970]

Go mamamia !!

Well in my previous post I said that friends were coming ( and they still are ) but the mom caved in on Monday ( 13 days to go ) and told her kids they were going on vacation to Disney but needed to keep a secret cause daddy isn't going - ok well least they don't know we are planning to be there UNTIL her hubby the next night says "don't worry about daddy not being there cause Michelle Meg and Kyle will be !@!! " Well my friend covered pretty well by say --- NO JOHN they will be in Kentucky.. - Well its now Friday and my kids havent' found out ( all the kids go to the same daycare and school - but not in same class )

Fingers crossed we leave next Thursday for the beginning of our vacation . Michelle

 

[Camping Disney]

WTG MAMAMIA!!!!!!!!

Go with the limo!!!!!! The kids will feel like millionaires and their expressions will be those that you will not ever forget!

Best of luck and keep the secrets going!!

I am having so much fun with all my secrets, I love the idea that other parent's are also into "tricking" their kids......gotta love all of that pixie dust!!!!

Michele