When should I tell the kids?

[Leeba]

So when did you tell your little ones, and start the countdown? My kids (ages 4 and 8) have been part of the planning - they help me look at pictures of resorts and rides online, etc. But I finally booked, and the trip is not until the end of August.

I'm *not* a surprise person - I personally think that much of the fun of vacations is the anticipation! So I won't be surprising them by announcing it on the ride to the airport, lol. But, now is clearly too early to tell them ... or is it?

What did you do?

 

[mm1971]

So when did you tell your little ones, and start the countdown? My kids (ages 4 and 8) have been part of the planning - they help me look at pictures of resorts and rides online, etc. But I finally booked, and the trip is not until the end of August.

I'm *not* a surprise person - I personally think that much of the fun of vacations is the anticipation! So I won't be surprising them by announcing it on the ride to the airport, lol. But, now is clearly too early to tell them ... or is it?

What did you do?

If we were pulling them from school, we would tell them as close to the trip as possible to keep them focused. It doesn't look like you are in that situation with a trip in August. I would tell them right before you start making ADR's and/or FP+ choices. That way they can have the fun of planning the trip with you.

 

[msmama]

My son always knows when our next trip is going to be. So he's known for a few months about our upcoming May trip.

When he was littler we used to make countdown chains or calendars so that he could have a visual of how much longer until our trip.

 

[emh23]

We are doing the surprise route. My son has been asking a LOT to go to Disney and even tells us we can go when he fills up his piggy bank. We are leaving Christmas day so he will open a pair of ears embroidered with his name as the gift and then we will tell him we are leaving that day. Now if you ask me how I'm going to keep this a secret for almost a year that is the hard part!

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

My 12 year old is asd, so we don't do surprises. He knew about our upcoming trip as soon as we made the decision to go. Unfortunately, my husband had surgery and we had to postpone and now I've got a disappointed, sullen preteen on my hands. So I like the pp's suggestion that you tell them when you plan FPs.

 

[Pesky]

I did the surprise path with my then 4YO and 6YO. As in they had no idea where we were until we got into the Grand Californian at DLR and asked if they knew where we were. And then we had surprises planned during the trip like lunch with the princesses and a Fantasmic dessert package, homemade autograph books that the characters and character attendants LOVED, and so forth. My 6YO loved it so much she wants to be surprised with EVERY trip, including non-Disney.

Why not think about Easter (if you celebrate that) or springtime? You can have a bunny or summertime Mickey or something hidden and either do clues or just have a big box there with balloons, maps and information, a few goodies, and a giant countdown chain (or materials for them to make one -- could be a lovely time-consuming craft for them to do). That's still early enough for the joys of anticipation to build and not wear off plus gives you time to plan out a fun surprise.

For us, the kids are helping with the planning but have NO idea when it is. Honestly, by the time we are drawing close to the trip is the time I will be falling silent on Disney planning because it will be all done (I hope)! Our flight time will likely be in the morning but not super early (little bummed about that because that means travel eats up a full day), so I can wake them and send them on a scavenger hunt with clues that tell them they are not going where we said they were and the last clue will be in DH's old WDW book from his childhood and have the magic bands behind them. That's the thought for now anyway -- as my DH dryly pointed out, there is a year and a half to go!

 

[MandiC]

We told our kids on Christmas and we left January 31. I felt like a month was pretty perfect. They were getting antsy around week 3, so I think for us we will tell 3-6 weeks in advance if possible.

 

[a742246]

I also agree to wait until the fast passes. Unless you told a lot of friends and family about it already, then I would tell your kids now.
This is from experience!

 

[BethanyLynnFit]

We tell our children as soon as we start officially planning the trip. We like to include them in the planning, looking at pictures online of resorts, watching videos, etc. It's so much fun!

We also have "Disney Jars" that the kids earn "Disney Dollars" to put in. The "Disney Dollars" then get converted into Disney Gift Cards for each child. That is their souvenir money. Both mine already have planned out what they want to purchase lol. It's a great incentive for good behavior when needed too

Each family is different and you know your children best. So do what works best for your family!

 

[crisi]

Our kids also have helped plan ours and have known from the point we set the date - usually two years in advance. They don't get antsy because they have some concept of how far it is, and their excitement spreads out - they got excited right before the trip - maybe a week out. (They are now teens, it takes a lot to break through a teen's ennui).

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Once it's paid for? You know... just in case.

 

[BenbowInn]

So when did you tell your little ones, and start the countdown? My kids (ages 4 and 8) have been part of the planning - they help me look at pictures of resorts and rides online, etc. But I finally booked, and the trip is not until the end of August.

I'm *not* a surprise person - I personally think that much of the fun of vacations is the anticipation! So I won't be surprising them by announcing it on the ride to the airport, lol. But, now is clearly too early to tell them ... or is it?

What did you do?

I would tell them about 3 weeks ahead of time. That's long enough for them to be excited without them getting tired of thinking/talking about it and the excitement wearing off.

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

Our best reaction is when we told them the day before. They were able to talk, be excited, help me finish packing, but also not have to wait and wait for days, weeks, months, etc.

 

[pixiemama91]

I have been debating on if I should keep this trip a surprise from my DD5. I like the idea of telling her the night before so that she isn't constantly asking when we are going, but I also think part of the fun is having a countdown to it from about a month out or even maybe 2 weeks. I don't want to tell her too early as she has no concept of time and if for some reason we had to cancel, I would hate to disappoint her since this is the 3rd try for a disney vacation over the past 2 years.

 

[Leeba]

We also have "Disney Jars" that the kids earn "Disney Dollars" to put in. The "Disney Dollars" then get converted into Disney Gift Cards for each child. That is their souvenir money. Both mine already have planned out what they want to purchase lol. It's a great incentive for good behavior when needed too

I love the Disney jars idea! How fun is that?!

Once it's paid for? You know... just in case.

LOL! Yes very good point. And that's why I hesitate to make a big deal out of it now ... I don't want the potential disappointment in case anything goes wrong.

I think I'll keep talking about it the way we have been, so far, like it's a possibility or an idea. And then do the big reveal about a month before.