When and how should we tell our young children about WDW?

[lpbm4]

I've been planning our trip since January! My husband and I haven't been to WDW since 1980...Epcot was just being built!! I'm so excited to finally take my kids. My children will be 5 1/2yrs (son) and almost 4yrs old (dtr). How soon should we tell the kids about the trip? Is the night before too late? Do we tell them a few days before? How should we tell them? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!!

ETA: DS loves the movies Cars, Monsters Inc, Incredibles and dd loves anything princess.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Do you have the planning DVD?

I know dd (who turned 4 last month in the Disney cruise) loves it, but her favorite is the Disney sing along "Disneyland Fun", sold in Amazon and Disneydirect website. It was done in Disneyland many years ago, but it is great for this age span.

And maybe you can tell about a month before you go and make a paper chaing with the days that remain until your trip, this way they can take a link off the chain every day and count the days until they leave.

 

[JenEeyore]

We've done it different ways.
DS- age 4 1/2 is coming up on his 7th trip, so he totally knows what to anticipate, but a couple of times we let on too early that we were going and he drove me nuts packing daily and putting everything he owned into bags to take with us.

The past 2 trips we have greatly shortened the window of information. Last December we literally woke him up at 5 in the morning and told him it was "our turn" to go to Disney today! This is our code since we're ALWAYS telling him it isn't our turn yet when he wants to go. I had pre-packed for him in secret in the basement (although he was old enough to question why his favorite Disney shirts kept disappearing from his drawers in the days leading up to our surprise trip -whoops).

In May we told him I think the day before that it would be our turn tomorrow. He could pick out a couple of things to help pack, but most of the packing was already done so he couldn't go crazy with bringing his whole room. He was totally excited.

I guess the decision lies with how much anticipation do you want to give the kids since they are old enough to know what is going on, or do you want it to be a surprise right at the end? You could buy a couple of little Disney toys for them to unwrap to tell them that they are going to meet whatever character you pick, or break out a video like was suggested already. My friends and I have found though when the kids are little they can't handle a hugely long lead time, since they don't get how time progresses and they get frustrated that it isn't NOW!. You know your kids best, but those are at least a couple of ideas for you. Have fun planning yourself - tons of new things to see since you were there (I think that was the year of my first trip too! )

Jen

 

[Momof2princess]

I have always found with my two DD's that waiting until the last min to tell them about a trip is best...If not then it is a constant "when do we leave" " I want to go now" and that drives us batty. We usually tell them about 4 days ahead of time and this relives the whining. I think it also depends on the kids

 

[DisFam95]

I think it depends on the age and the kid. My DS41/2 never once asked when are we going. We talked almost every night about what was going to happen and what he wanted to see and what we expected of him etc. I think he knew about 2-3 months before. We made a paper chain for the last 30 days.

I enjoyed being able to plan w/ him.

 

[lpbm4]

Thanks for the ideas everyone!!!!

 

[minkydog]

When the kids were young we waited until the last minute, just in case it didn't work out. Three years ago we told them we were going camping in Florida. We hooked up the camper, woke them up at the crack of dawn, and drove all day while they napped and played Gameboy in the back seat. They never even asked where we were going until we were on Disney property

Last year we had a trip planned for Thanksgiving but it got pre-empted by Katrina My kids were soooo disappointed, even though they understood. They are 20,13,& 11 so they have some capacity for waiting. They aren't as big on surprises now that they are older--something about work schedules and finals

So my vote when you have little kids is for waiting until the last minute unless you have a strong stomach for "when are we going?" 100 times a day

 

[lpbm4]

Looks like I may be waitiing until the last minute to tell them. I want to get them Crocs and then saw the Disney Crocs on these boards. Maybe I'll get them a pair and then the day before give the shoes to them and say they can where them when we go to Disney...tomorrow. My kids are definitely big into repeating things a million times, so waiting may be best. Thanks!!

 

[jennobrn01]

I think waiting until the last minute is cool! Our 3 year old has known for 10 months now. Since he has never been he hasn't been doing the "Are we leaving today" mantra. We needed that amount of time to "Disneyeducate" him. Watching the classic movies, the planning movies, and getting books from the library has helped him understand what it is all about.

Buying your children Crocs is great! Ds looooves his. Just buy them early enough for your children to break them in and see if they do well with them.

Have a great trip!

 

[Fintastic]

DD will be turning 4 on our trip. I haven’t said anything to her because we’re so far away from it that I’m almost having a hard time getting excited! (Almost. ) I want to build up some anticipation, but not make it seem like it’s so far away. I figure about 30 days before our trip we’ll make some sort of countdown (i.e., a paper chain that you tear off one link a day or something similar) so she can physically see that we’re getting closer to the trip.

 

[lpbm4]

I really like the idea of a paper chain. Maybe we can start that when I give them their Crocs...great idea about reminding me to break them in, Jenn!!!! Didn't even think of that!!! I think having a few weeks to prepare them will be good. I'm going crazy not telling them myself!! :lol:

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Since the kids were DD3 and DS2 we told them 30 days out. I made a countdown calendar w/ Disney Clip art with Cindy's castle on the day we arrive, everynight they count it off. We've been doing this for 3 years and its very exciting for them to have the calendar on their doors

 

[Bugsmom73]

We are telling DD this weekend, and DS too. DS maybe autistic but he is really good with travelling and it shouldn't be a problem for him but I don't want to surprise him either. It means about a month of is it time yet but should make for an easier time all around for all of us. I wanted to wait until T-giving but our friend who is coming with can't get together before we leave.

 

[jennobrn01]

I love the countdown ideas here! I think I am going to have to do the calendar and the paper chain. It will be just as exciting for me!!!

 

[Chrissie-riel]

Taken the kids 3 times and have always made my own Disney Chart. I have done a 45 day countdown calendar each time with the 45 days ringing the outside of the posterboard. Then I make a chore chart in the middle of the calendar ring. The chore chart has 10 magnets for each child that they can earn every day by getting dressed, sitting nicely at their mealtimes, etc. easy stuff because they are little. If they earn their 10 magnets for the day, they get a star added to the calendar. Each star = $1 Disney Dollar! When we finally get to Disney, they have all their spending money for souvies, Mickey Bars, etc. There is no bugging mom and dad for "I want this" because they have their own money to last throughout the trip. Have a great time and I hope this helps.

 

[ReinerFam]

We've been planning our trip since Dec 30th last year! We are going the first week in December. We are telling our children (9, 6, & 2) the morning that we leave. They think that we are taking a boring trip to see friends in Atlanta. After they all come downstairs we are going to tell them that we have some bad news that we are not going to be able to visit our friends and that we've decided to take another trip. Then we are going to turn on the Disney Planning DVD . I can't wait to see their faces! I'm sure total disbelief! The other surprise will come about an hour later when they realize that we aren't driving but we are flying! I am sooooo excited! I'm sure I'm gonna get all mushy - yuk!

 

[nyyankeegirl]

I love the idea of using the chore chart for earning money
I had read on another thread about using the Home Depot Mickey Mouse paint chips for making a countdown chain. DS5 and I actually made ours today. It looks so cute. I just chose a rainbow of colors, punched a hole in the top & bottom, then connected them with some ribbon. I've hung it on our back door, so everyone morning before we leave we will tear off one paint chip.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

We are going March 1, and they will find out christmas morining with a box full of Disney surprises letting them know we are going! We went for the first time in March 05, and we told the kids in January, yeah they did ask alot when we were going, but they were'nt too bad, I guess it depends on the child. It was exciting waiting with them though, my dd5 at the time told all of her friends in school. and my dd3 at the time watched the planning dvd about 3 times a day, I think she was the most excited! Waiting for us is half the fun, but surprising them sounds fun too, that's why i'm doing both!!
Although whatever you decide will fun!