We're Surprising Our Kids...

[TwinMom7]

DH and I planned this trip in April - just the two of us and our 4th visit to PO-Riverside. Well....he just found out yesterday that he has won a trip (through work) to the Virgin Islands in November (for the two of us).

So....today, I called the airline and booked two more seats for our upcoming Disney trip for our two youngest children (the only two we still have at home). We decided that since we're getting the adult only trip in November, we'd include them in our Florida vacation.

Now, here's the "kicker"....we haven't told them. They think that they're going to spend the week with their older sister and her husband and baby. So, next weekend I'll start packing and they'll think that the suitcase I'm packing for them is for their stay (2 miles away).

I haven't figured out how I'm going to tell them. Should I do it the night before...or wake them up at 5:00 a.m. and tell them then? Any suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated!! I know one thing is for sure....I'll cry when I see their faces!!

 

[JulesMom]

I would tell them the night before.

We surprised our kids with a trip last Christmas. We told them 2 days before we left. They were so surprised. I felt they needed time to pack the things they wanted.

We gave them gifts with the print out of our airline reservations. They just started screaming. It was priceless!

 

[anne60]

I would tell them now, give them a chance to look forward to the trip!

 

[duck_adoo]

We're surprising our twin dd's (6 yo) later this month. They think we're driving to Georgia for vacation. I'm not planning on telling them until we get into the WL lobby. Although one of my dd's keeps taking out her leapfrog pad w/map and saying "Look Mommy Florida is Georgia's neighbor." We booked it in Jan. I can't believe we haven't told them yet!
Good Luck,
Duck

 

[soccer mom]

I would wake them up and tell them in the morning. That's what we're doing this December with our two teens. They will go to bed thinking they are going to school in the morning, but surprise! They will be going to the World instead!

We have also done it other ways. Once they got all the info and tickets wrapped up for Christmas for a January trip. Once when all four were at home we made up puzzles that gave them the answer after they put all four of their answers together (that was two days before we left). And last year we planned the trip together for a year.

On one of the trips we told them we were staying at AS Sports Resort because money and when we got there the driver took us to AKL.

They have always loved being surprised and it's always been fun planning them!

 

[erikthewise]

You know your children better than us, but my viewpoint is that anticipation is a large part of the fun. I'd suggest still letting them know sometime within the last week. Give them a chance to dream! And plan accordingly. Kids often have plans too, and don't always tell us.

 

[Micca]

I'd say surprise them the morning of the trip. There will be other trips for them to savor the anticipation. There aren't as many opportunities for a total surprise like that.

 

[susy]

I would have their sister call that morning and pretend she is saying that something's come up and she just can't have them this week, but maybe next week they can come over (you don't want to break their little hearts). Let them kind of overhear the conversation and then say something like, "Oh, well, I guess they will just have to come to WDW with us!"

I would only surprise them if you KNOW that they won't get upset about not having a sleepover witht he baby.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

We surprised our DS and DD with a trip last Dec. We had it planned about 3 months. We told them 1 week before as we knew the anticipation is half the fun for them ! They like to watch the video and reread the guide before we leave! We had other little surprises along the way, like character meals that they did not know about until we were headed towards the restaurant! Have fun !

 

[TwinMom7]

Wow...so many great ideas!!! My kids are ages 10 and 15 and they have absolutely NO idea!

I think (right now) I'm leaning towards telling them the evening before - so that they can pack their "must have" stuff. I just wish I could come up with a great way to tell them. I was kind of thinking about giving them both a small wrapped gift - telling them it's a going away present from their dad and I and then having a note inside telling them that they're going with us. I like the puzzle idea posted earlier - but I'm not creative enough to come up with something like that.

Let me know if you think of any other great ideas!!

 

[lynr]

I would get them some disney money and then tell them that now they have a place to spend it.

 

[magic teacup]

You are sooo cool to suprise them like that. Sometimes, kids don't quite react the way you expect , so as someone else posted...you know your own kids. My dd is 6 also and I *know* she would be just beside herself with joy and uncontainable bliss knowing she was going to see Minnie again. She would be blissful for a minute or two then she would have to get "down to work" packing, planning and organizing. If you tell them before bedtime don't expect them to go to sleep well that night. I'm not sure if you can "sleep in" or have to get up extra early that a.m. but that may help you decide. If you tell them like in a gift they open up that would be neat. What's their favorite character? Maybe tie that into the mix as a request from the character to see them . If you call to get priority seating at that character's restaurant you can prolong the fun. If your dds were going to stay with someone anyway they probably will have packed their favorite things to bring. Just be sneaky maybe and pack away their Disney autograph books and pens in your stuff. You may never have a chance to do things quite this way again so thoroughly enjoy it together. *don't forget to video or take pictures of the moment as your first vacation event. *

 

[Terry S]

If it was their one and only trip to WDW I would say tell them because the anticipation is fun. But since this is not, I would wait it out as long as possible. My son made a wish on his 6 year old B-day to go to WDW sooner then our normally scheduled trip in October so I checked around, got a great airline deal and a great deal at AKL and booked it. So on one Thursday Morning he went off to Kindergarden and my 4 yr old DD went off to Dance and I went crazy packing. It had just so happened that my daughter had asked the week before if her father could take the day off work and come watch her dance so that worked out well as his excuse for being home. When both kids returned home my brother was here and I told them we had to take to him to the airport. When we got to the airport I had them hop out of the car to tell their Uncle goodbye and then he drove away. They were very confused so I finally told them we were going to WDW, they didn't believe me at first. They had the best time and mentioned several times while we were there how it was the best surprise they ever had. They still talk about it.

 

[milmore104]

I suprised my DH by writing a riddle and wrapping it up. He had to go on a scavenger hunt to find the last present and when he opened it up it was our tickets. This of course was for x-mas and of course the clues were all about WDW.
Have fun I know it's as exciting to give some one a trip to WDW as it is to suprise them with it.

 

[TwinMom7]

OMG...these are getting better and better all the time!!!

I'm getting excited just thinking about it!!!!!!

Thanks guys............you're the best!

 

[TwinMom7]

We've decided how we're going to do it.....

Their older sister, Carrie (who they were going to stay with) is going to call and tell them that her and her husband are going to take them to Great America on the day we leave. They will need to get up EARLY, get dressed and ride along while Chrissie (another sister) takes mom and dad to the airport. After dropping off mom and dad, Chrissie will drop them off at Carrie's home and they'll get on the road to Chicago and Great America.

Then when we pull up in front of the airport and take our luggage out, they'll start to kiss us good bye and instead we'll tell them to kiss Chrissie good bye because they're going with us to DISNEYWORLD!!! I can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[milmore104]

Sounds great you'll have to let us know how it works out!
Have a great trip and stay COOL.

 

[magic teacup]

That is so beautiful I think I want to cry You get big brownie points for that one. Enjoy the moment, don't forget to post us their reaction and take pictures to remember it by.

 

[TwinMom7]

Pictures and documenting this moment won't be a problem...I'm an avid scrapbooker. This event will be one that future generations will read about!!