Trying to surprise the kids with a Disney cruise...

[Mr. Drauer]

We did a surprise cruise for Spring Break this year. It is a little easier living in Orlando, though this one left out of Miami. DDs are 8 and 13, this was their 5th DCL cruise though. We said we were going to Miami Beach for a beach vacation - we didn't tell them till we pulled into the port and saw the ships. We had told them all year that the cruises were too expensive and we would be skipping this year, despite all the hints I had been dropping about having a 'Wonder'ful spring break, seeing famous TV stars, etc. Their first reaction was a mix of shock and disappointment. The 13 year old wanted to see celebrities in Miami Beach - as if we were going to be hanging out with all of the Disney Channel stars or something. They quickly came around. The hardest part was buying new dresses for the girls. DW had said we were going to have a nice dinner out in Miami Beach that would require dressing up, so they went with that without thinking twice. I guess I should be glad they are so trusting, especially a 13 year old girl. And this was the 2nd surprise cruise! We did a surprise Carnival 3 night with DW's family a few summers ago. It was easier to drive to the port saying we were going to have lunch at the Cocoa Beach pier, though they didn't seem to notice the 4 suitcases in the back of the minivan.

 

[cruizincathi]

We surprised our kids on our first Disney cruise. It was a little tricky since we flew in from Wisconsin. We just didn't let on the what we were doing. It was fun to watch them guess(landed in Atlanta and the oldest thought we were dragging them to a Packer game and then they saw the connection to Orlando and guessed the World). It will never forget their faces when we came up over a bridge and the Dream was in front of us in the distance. Their eyes opened wide and said, "are we going on THAT boat?" Priceless!!

The hardest part is packing for them. Teenage girls can be fussy about their outfits. After the cruise, they admitted they weren't particularly fond of some of my choices for them but they were so excited about the surprise and the cruise that they didn't complain.

Only you can know how much involvement your kids need. If they really don't have interest and won't be upset with your choices, don't tell them

 

[LoverDisney]

I am surprising my kids too. They know that we are going to Disney but not about the cruise beforehand. They won't find out until the bus arrives at the Port or they may figure it out since we are taking the Disney Cruise bus!

 

[BigredNole]

I would love to surprise my daughter, but she is too intelligent to get anything by her. None of us have passports. When I brought up the idea, she quickly jumped on the idea that we needed them for a cruise. The only surprise we can pull off is the when at this point.

 

[RACHEL_GB]

I am doing it too - I can't decide when to tell them. It is currently 60 days to go, we booked late so I've only had to keep quiet for 6 weeks so far, don't know how I've managed it

Although mine are little (9 & 5) and I have a cover story that we are going to Spain on hols (we are but on the Magic!), I want them to get excited with me a little bit (my OH is too cool for school to get excited over a holiday) and so I can't decide when to tell them. I am currently thinking 2 weeks before?

 

[ajo]

We've done several cruises and the most notice we've given the kids is 2 weeks (it was an after Christmas cruise) and the shortest is four hours before we got on the plane with the call from Mickey. We also did this with Disneyland. We told the kids we were going to the beach and then surprised them by going to the park instead.

It's been so fun to see their reaction each time. We find that they love the "surprise" no matter when we tell them and I've figured out that if I tell them at least 24-48 hours before, they can help pack!

 

[21stamps]

We once did a "Land & Sea" trip, but only told our kids about the "Land" part. As such, they were not suspicious when they saw us packing, boarding the pets, etc.

We did not tell them about the "Sea" part until we left WDW and stopped for breakfast in Cocoa Beach. Fortunately, they weren't paying attention to the road signs as we were driving there.

I'm doing the opposite. I haven't yet decided when- but eventually will do some kind of reveal for our cruise portion maybe a month or 2 prior. But- the WDW part will be a complete surprise!

 

[RACHEL_GB]

We've done several cruises and the most notice we've given the kids is 2 weeks (it was an after Christmas cruise) and the shortest is four hours before we got on the plane with the call from Mickey. We also did this with Disneyland. We told the kids we were going to the beach and then surprised them by going to the park instead.

It's been so fun to see their reaction each time. We find that they love the "surprise" no matter when we tell them and I've figured out that if I tell them at least 24-48 hours before, they can help pack!

Ha ha yes thats a good idea, I am trying to get them to pull their weight more! I think I will go for 2 weeks, just enough time to get excited

 

[melwill530]

We've never tried to surprise. I hope you aren't going somewhere that you need a passport or hope you already have them if so.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I like the call from Mickey to reveal the surprise.

 

[21stamps]

I like the call from Mickey to reveal the surprise.

This is what I'm planning on...as well as one of those huge mickey floor balloons holding a photo of the ship. I just don't know what time frame to tell him, I'd like for him to learn about where we are going, and don't know if 2 weeks is enough time, but 2 months may be almost cruel to make him wait. Maybe 30 days?

 

[RACHEL_GB]

We've never tried to surprise. I hope you aren't going somewhere that you need a passport or hope you already have them if so.

They've had them since they were babies, they are both on the second one, we needed them to be updated for Egypt last year - don't even get me started on that holiday!!

 

[LindyWebb]

I just booked a Dec 30 cruise. I am planning a Christmas reveal. I hope I last. I am scouring the boards for ideas for presents to reveal! I tried to surprise the kids a few years ago when we were going on a CC but my dad blew it! My daughter asked if she could go visit him on spring break and he said no you are going on a cruise! She started freaking! Not the surprise I was hoping for so I want this one to work!

 

[FigmentSpark]

You could start with a pair of sunglasses and flipflops in the stocking and then have each family member open a bag with a matching t-shirt, maybe with the cruise on it or your family name and also a card with a 'ticket' in it. If you last that long. Me... that'd end up being in their Halloween loot bags, no in with their next year's school supplies. I couldn't wait.

 

[Mrs Green]

We've never tried to surprise. I hope you aren't going somewhere that you need a passport or hope you already have them if so.

We are going to Alaska and my kids didn't have passports. They are 7 and just turned 3. The 7 year old was told we are going to Washington state and Canada for our summer vacation - which is all true - and explains the need for passport. The cruise will be revealed the morning of - which also happens to be her birthday.

 

[ajo]

I just booked a Dec 30 cruise. I am planning a Christmas reveal. I hope I last. I am scouring the boards for ideas for presents to reveal! I tried to surprise the kids a few years ago when we were going on a CC but my dad blew it! My daughter asked if she could go visit him on spring break and he said no you are going on a cruise! She started freaking! Not the surprise I was hoping for so I want this one to work!

We surprised the kids with a cruise one year for Christmas. I bought an ornament that is shaped like a cruise ship and had Disney Fantasy painted on the side with the year. On Christmas morning we told the kids our family present was hanging on the tree. It was really fun to watch them look at the tree and then figure out what the ornament meant.