When did you tell?

[Frozen2014]

So excited as we are officially booked for our (first) trip to DW for October. Our kids will be 9 and 5 when we come. I am super excited so can only imagine when we tell them. But if we were to tell them today, they would be constantsly asking how much longer (esp our little one as her sense of time isn't great).

So just wondering how much in advance you told them? I'm thinking maybe the end of the summer...just before they go back to school, but am not sure.

And were they involved in the planning process or did you (the parent) plan it all?

 

[Autumnslight]

We've taken two trips so far, and are planning our third. For the first one, we literally waited until we were on our way to the airport to tell them. They didn't get nearly as excited as we thought they would, but the lackluster reaction was actually pretty funny.

For the second trip, we told them about a week ahead of time.

This time, we just told them yesterday, and our trip is three months out. I guess I'll find out in the next couple of months if that was a good idea or not, LOL.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Things change - I wouldn't tell them until you are 100% certain that the trip will come off.

Our boys also had a lack-luster response to our one "surprise" trip. Because of that we generally tell then 1-2 months out. It gives them time to get excited about the trip, but not so much time that the trip might get canceled.

 

[MamaBear248]

Our 1st trip is in May !!! I told my DD on her 6th birthday February 4th (it was her birthday gift) I made a count down for the trip and explained to her that it was still awhile away but she's doing great with it so far (fingers crossed) every morning she goes and takes a clip off I was so happy to finally tell her... that was the worst part was not being able to talk about it LOL now we get to talk about it all the time I've showed her a few you tube videos of some rides that I was unsure if she would be ok riding !!!!

69 days and counting !!!

Good luck. Kim

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Mousemommy1]

Our girls are 9 and 7 and headed on their 5th WDW trip in August. We have only surprised them once (the 2nd trip) but since we go annually, and they are Disney fanatics, they like to be very involved in the planning process. They know as soon as we book a trip.

 

[kimber11]

Our very first time we did a treasure hunt on Christmas morning and our trip wasn't until the end of January. It was kinda fun doing a countdown and the kids were super excited. I made letters that came in the mail each week for the kids from characters inviting them to the different character meals we were going to do. This past year we surprised them all on the night we were leaving. That was also quite fun, but I think I prefer the build up and excitement of knowing your going. I would recommend telling them about a month out or so and then doing a countdown on the fridge or something. Enjoy your trip!

 

[bennifer]

I've always told my boys as soon as the trip was booked. The time frames have been 2 months out to 8 months. I am just as bad as they are with the countdown! I can't imagine not having them "help" with the planning! Have fun!

 

[bjscheel]

Our girls have generally known months out, but one time we surprised them at 10 days. They have said they liked the 10 days the best. That was fun, but I like to get their input on everything from resort to meals to rides. I personally would not surprise my kids day-of.

Since this is your first trip, I would be inclined to let them know at least a month out and to let them in on some planning. Your plan of just before school starts would be good. First-timers don't always have much of an idea what they are getting into. It would be helpful I think for you to have time to talk about what rides they might like, look at some youtube or photos, and build their excitement. I just think first-timers need time to learn and talk about it. Then, when you go on another trip, you can surprise them and they will know to be excited; or you can let them in on all the planning and they will know what things they like.

One month out is a good time to start the countdown chart!

 

[JennyDrake]

Having done a "surprise" trip on the way to the airport for the nieces and nephew that was a train wreck, _I_ would tell maybe 10 days before leaving.

 

[SEA333]

15 minutes before the limo showed up to take us to the airport!!!!

My kids were 13, 9, and 7 1/2. They had been to DW once before- just MK and DTD for a day. DH and I watched dozens of videos on youtube and decided that if we were going to surprise them, it was going to literally have to be at the Very Last Second to get the reaction we wanted. Let's face it...telling a kid on Christmas that they are going to DW in March rarely gets the reaction that one is looking for.

We were right - we got the kids ready for school (preplanned EVERYTHING, down to keeping their teachers in the loop), then as we were supposed to get into the car for school, DH came down with a goody bag for each that was filled with trip-related items, including copies of their boarding passes.

They had to read the front of their bags:
"Who's got it"
"Better than us?"
"NOBODY!!!!"

then turn them over:
"We are"
"Going to"
"DISNEYWORLD!!!!!"

Their reaction? Wow...cool.

Seriously. That was it.

We told them to open their bags and see what was inside. DS7 was thrilled that there was a crunch bar. DD9 liked her pack of gum.

DS13 read his boarding pass. His eyes got HUGE as he read it and we told him to tell his siblings what he just realized:

"Guys - we are going at 9:53AM!!!!!"

DS7: "Where? Where are we going?!" (LOL)

THEN they all got it and started going crazy!!! I told them they had 10 minutes to go to their rooms to see if there was something they wanted to bring that would Fit In Their Carry-on, and to meet us back in the living room so we could leave.

We peeked out the window for the limo to arrive, then told the kids that it was time to get in the car. DH works for the same corporation as a major car rental company, so we have different cars at our disposal all the time. The kids looked out the window to see what car we had this time, and saw the ginormous limo:

DS7: "A limo??!! You got us a LIMO???!!! How did you guys afford that???!!!"

LOL

Priceless. We would not surprise them any other way!

 

[FlipHipster]

We usually tell our girls 10 and 4 right away but this year we waiting until 2 weeks out to surprise them. It was a long 10 months of waiting for me... We didn't want to wait until the day before or anything because knowing you are going and the anticipation is 1/2 the fun for us.

 

[ElizabethG]

We told are kids when we planned our first trip, which was about 2 months out. They didn't know anything about WDW, so we had to build the excitement by watching movies, YouTube videos, etc. That part was a lot of fun family time, too.

One funny memory for me: When the plane landed, DD(4) looked out the window. She got upset. "This is the wrong Florida!", "I want to go to the right Florida, right now!", etc. I realized that in her head, Disney and Florida were the same. She was not at all impressed with Orlando airport. I explained it to her, the passengers within earshot giggled, and she was happy again.

 

[RalphinSC]

This is my third trip with my DS.

For the first trip, I literally told him about five minutes before we left the house. His reaction was muted because I think the whole concept might of overwhelmed him since he was 6 at the time. He got really excited by the time we got down there.

The video from his second trip is in my signature below. We told him then the night before we left. By then he was always begging to go back and he knew EXACTLY what to expect so his reaction was very enthusiastic.

For This trip, which is scheduled in June, he's known about it even since before we booked. I know he's a Disney nut and I figure I want him to help with the planning and the building excitement this time. He does have cousins going this time as well but THEY don't know about it yet since my brother is looking to surprise them.

 

[Jfsag123]

We are more than a year out and my kids know. My almost 6yo DD was happy to know because it has given her a chance to "save for Disney". She really wants to do the major BBB package, as she saw girls with it when we went last year. She is planning to ask for Disney gift cards for Christmas and her birthday in anticipation. I am looking forward to having her "help" with the planning.

 

[disnut8]

For our granddaughter's first trip, at the age of five, we didn't tell her until we were on World Drive. Her parents had the same idea that she would obsess over things. It was also a huge trip as that's when my son and now daughter-in-law became engaged (we and our son knew but the daughter-in-law was surprised as anything!) so it was overwhelming for not only my granddaughter but for everyone.

On her second trip, at age 13, and our grandson's first trip, at age five, they didn't know until Christmas Day night and we were leaving the very next week. Thank goodness for Skype so we could see their reactions from over 800 miles away. Again, the parents thought the kids would obsess.

However, after each trip, my daughter-in-law thought she would have wanted to give them at least a month or so to help with planning some aspects. The resort choice, not so much, the tickets options, no, the food items, eh unless there is an allergy aspect. But the parks and the attractions, yes.

Also, think about other members of your family. As the grandparents on the second trip, things had been planned for nine months (kind of funny considering the length of a pregnancy!) but we couldn't share things with our granddaughter or grandson. We couldn't talk about the trip on Facebook since my granddaughter had an account once she turned 13. It became a bit difficult to communicate with the little ones around and plans to be made. We also had to make sure the others that would be there (it was a big family reunion) didn't talk about it either. A bit of stress for the adults.

So, we had pros and cons.

 

[kristinradico]

My children's ages are 8,6 and 2. We are NOT telling them. My husband's leave wont be 100% until about 2 weeks beforehand and it would break their hearts if something came up. The look on their faces once we get there and realize where we are will be priceless We are picking them up from the last day of school and leaving for the 1200 mile drive as soon as we get them

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I told my son (he's 7) right when we booked the trip which was in August 2013. Truthfully I think he forgot about it lol. I did most of the planning on it. Once we hit the 45 day mark he helped pick out fast passes and we watched ride videos on you tube to make sure he could handle certain rides. Now we are 31 days from our trip and are starting to get stuff in for our trip for him and his brother. We had to get new summer clothes and I ordered some pins for pin trading and just some other little odds and ends. I find since I am doing that he seems more excited about it and actually told his teacher we were leaving today lol, when I dropped him off the teacher was like I thought u were going to disney lol. So as the trip is getting closer he is starting to count down the days lol

 

[Crystal824]

We generally just tell our DD when we book the trip. We have been every year since she was born so she kind of expects it. Our last trip was last May, she has been asking lately when we are going to WDW again. We don't currently have a trip planned, but we are considering December.

 

[Jeepin Dad]

We told our boys (7 & 9) right away. I thought it would draw out the excitement and give them things to look forward to. They have helped pick out fast passes and been excited counting down the days. Yesterday when I got home my youngest came running up "Dad we got box from Disney!! Mom opened it and it was our Magic Bands!"

 

[TillyDe]

This is our plan. It will be me, my daughter, my grandson (5), my daughter's boyfriend, and his daughter (13). My ex-husband lives in Orlando. So, the kids will know we are going to Florida to see "Papa". They will be told we will try to spend one day at Disney. We are driving. So, the last morning before arrival, we plan on being in Lake City. When they wake up, we will have Disney Shirts ready for them, Disney DVD, and a Disney Goody bag. That is when we will tell them that we are going to Disney World first for 6 days and then we will visit with Papa. I just hope their Daddy does not spill the beans.
This way they can do some planning - beach, which park to see, etc.
Now this is 3 years from now. But I love to plan.