When to tell our kids...

[the4walls]

We are going to WDW the week before Christmas.

We keep a lot of things as a surprise for our boys. It's fun to have surprises, they don't ask us every day if today is the day and if something happens we don't have to explain to them why we can't go to (fill in the blank). With that being said...I don't know when to tell them about WDW. We have told them that we can plan on going in a few years, so we have already started talking about it. My original thought was to tell them the morning we are headed to the airport (or maybe even at the airport). But now I am wondering if I should tell them a few weeks ahead of time. I just don't know??? Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

 

[kirstiebird]

Lots of folks start a Christmas advent calendar on December 1st - what if you made up a special Disney advent calendar instead and revealed it on December 1st to help build the excitement. We've done a paper link chain, but you could even print a plain calendar and give them disney stickers to put on for each day of the countdown. Or... what if you did a countdown calendar, but didn't tell them what it was for -- each day could be a clue?
I wish I could keep a secret, but I think DD4 and DD5 are having fun helping to "plan" which activities they want to do, etc..-- the anticipation is half the fun! Guess thats why I'm on the disboard instead of doing my work!

 

[flortlebap]

Well, when do YOU want to tell them? It would be so much fun to wait until the day you go, but is it practical? Could you pack their suitcases etc?

You could always tell them you were going *somewhere*, to stay with a relative for instance, to get around it. Then it would be a total suprise

 

[sphmaz]

Wa are leaving on Tuesday and I went through the same thing as you. Originally we planned to tell the kids AT the airport, then changed to that morning when they got up. Now we are set in telling them on Monday night. Right now my excitement is bubbling over. But I keep telling myself I've waited 5 months to tell them, what's one more weekend?!?!?!

Good luck!

 

[MSSANDRA]

It really depends on your children. My DS needs time to get used to ideas and popping a trip on him would not be so great. He also has always LOVE to plan so that is another reason we do not surprise. Some kids do great not knowing till they get there!!! Depends also on the age. To a toddler a week is like forever. A school age child might want the change to say good by to a friend. If they are preschool age I would at least wait will early December. I do not like lying to children in order to surprise them. Telling them that you are going somewhere special and it will be a secert is great. Telling them they are flying to grandma's and them arriving at WDW is just wrong IMHO. A family at my school just did this.
My sister suprised her kids 1st and 3rd grade by picking them up early from school and anouncing that they are running away to WDW. It was great. Car packed and they were on the way.

Sandra

 

[tripplanner]

We always tend to tell the kids in advance. The only time we wait to tell them is when we think something might interfere with the trip. Once we know that obstacle is out of the way, then we let them in on the secret. I enjoy anticipating the trip and I think the kids enjoy the anticipation as well.