When do you tell them?

[Coconuts]

This will be our 3rd trip to WDW with the kids and we surprised them the last 2 times. We still haven't told them about this trip but we think we want to; we think it would be nice to have them look forward to the trip, help plan, countdown, etc.

When do you usually tell your kids? Our kids are 8 and 5 if ages matter. We are now 3 weeks plus until our departure date of 9/19. Thanks in advance for the feedback.

BTW, it sure has been hard to hide my posts when they are wandering behind me, because my signature has a ticker on it. They are so sharp and don't miss a trick; I know they would read the ticker immediately and find out about the trip because they love to see their smilies in my signature.

 

[kalc12345]

We always tell our kids the day we book the trip. I would love to wake them up the morning we leave and surprise them but I just can't seem to keep it a secret. Plus I home school my kids so they are with me 24/7. There is no way I could plan and buy the stuff needed to take on the trip without them knowing. I also like to let them help in the planning. We have made a Disney countdown chain and take one link off each day. We are also reading a Disney book (we were part of some Disney book club and have lots of Disney books) each day and we are watching Disney movies here and there. We also listen to Disney music in the car. We are doing all kinds of fun things to get us excited about our trip, not that we need it, we are BEYOND excited and can't wait to go even though we were just there in Dec. You can never go to Disney too many times

 

[luvmy3jewels]

My family will also be going in 3 weeks and a few days. This is going to be a suprise birthday trip for ds, so the kids don't know we are going. I think we are going to have an early birthday party the night before we leave and tell them (maybe through a scavenger hunt) that we leave the next day. I had considered trying to wait and tell them on the plane, but my kids are pretty smart and would figure it out at the airport.

 

[2poohbears]

we usually tell them when we book the trip, but this time we are surprising them. We won't tell them until we wake them up early in the morning for the drive there. I can pack bags while they are at school...will just have to keep them OUT of my bedroom so I can hide the suitcases.

I cannot wait to see their faces when we wake them up and say "we're going to DISNEY!!!


fyi...they are going to be 6 next week (twin boys).

 

[Darcy03231]

When I took my niece for her first trip last fall we told her a week before we were going (she was 4, almost 5). We thought it was perfect. It gave her enough time to do a mini countdown and get excited, but it wasn't so far away that she drove us all crazy wanting to know if it was time to go yet.

 

[TinaLala]

Usually the minute I'm off the phone from booking we sit at the kitchen table and start deciding on ADRs and rides.

I have friends who gave their kids bags from Disney with shirts and 'disney' stuff to tell them they are going. Go onto the creative dis thread has some great printables to help you tell your kids you're going to Disney.

This time we're not telling our kids we're going! That's right we've known for over four months and we haven't told our kids anything!

Do you see when we leave!!!!! Still haven't told them!

 

[Ashlander]

If you are going to tell them, I would tell them soon. That way you can really enjoy their excitement as you all countdown to the trip. There is not much time left and it will fly by.

 

[Ashlander]

Usually the minute I'm off the phone from booking we sit at the kitchen table and start deciding on ADRs and rides.

I have friends who gave their kids bags from Disney with shirts and 'disney' stuff to tell them they are going. Go onto the creative dis thread has some great printables to help you tell your kids you're going to Disney.

This time we're not telling our kids we're going! That's right we've known for over four months and we haven't told our kids anything!

Do you see when we leave!!!!! Still haven't told them!

Oh fun! Have a great trip. We have not told our kids either...though my son told me that my sister said we were going to Disney. I said - that silly Aunt Liz - you know we can't go back until you are 8 or 9.

Secrets are so hard to keep when everyone but the kids know!

 

[Coconuts]

Usually the minute I'm off the phone from booking we sit at the kitchen table and start deciding on ADRs and rides.

I have friends who gave their kids bags from Disney with shirts and 'disney' stuff to tell them they are going. Go onto the creative dis thread has some great printables to help you tell your kids you're going to Disney.

This time we're not telling our kids we're going! That's right we've known for over four months and we haven't told our kids anything!

Do you see when we leave!!!!! Still haven't told them!

Awesome! Have fun tomorrow!

 

[liznboys]

We have surprised ours and also told them well beforehand too. On our last two trips we told ours a week before and that worked well. It was a surprise, but they still had time to get excited and talk about plans and everything.

 

[pantherlj]

We surprised a month before with our first trip (7 and 4). This time, they know we are going but they think we are staying in a one room hotel and not going until the spring. So, they get to help plan the things they want to do and see yet they get the fun of a surprise.

But, we are leaving in 30 days not 6 months!!!

And, we are staying in a 3 bedroom townhouse with a private splash pool instead of a one room hotel! Can't wait to see how long it takes them to figure out we aren't really on the way to grandpa's house!