When to tell the kids we are going?

[PAFamily]

Hi all,
I have seen some great posts on surprising kids with a trip to Disney. Here is my question.... We are planning a surprise trip in early December (second trip this year, so I don't think they suspect anything) to see the Christmas lights. We decided to drive from Philly, we got a new minivan and decided to take the plunge, we are looking at it as an adventure.

Here is my dilemma, when do we tell the kids? I'd like to keep the secret as long as possible, but how do I get a 3 yr and a 5yr old on a long car trip without some incentive? Any advice?

I am worried if I tell them too soon in the trip, we will get the "are we there yet?" for 15 hrs....

I also want to make the surprise special, help!!!!

Thanks

 

[Amirah95]

My DD doesn't get crazy about WDW like DH and I, but we tell her about 10 days before and do a count down (we look at the previous years pictures, talk about what we want to do this year at the World and we watch a Disney movie a day until departure day).

If I were in your situation I would wait until we get to the Florida line to surprise them to alleviate the "are we there yet?" sobs. Then I would bring out the Disney bags of junk for them to enjoy until we arrive in Orlando. The little gift baggies do work.

JMO!

 

[PAFamily]

Thanks Amirah95!

I was definitely counting on the goody bags! Thanks for the reminder, I better start stocking up now!

 

[dzneelvr]

Hey--if I was driving from Philly I'd do the "are we there yet" and I'm WAAAAYY older than your kids.

I think you should tell them far enough ahead to have some fun with it. Guess I just don't get the need for secrecy around it. Even when our DS and DD were little, we told them right away and then talked about different things every day or so. What a great educational opportunity to show them a map and how we will get there; pick out clothes to wear; plan a trip to the post office to get some postcard stamps and explain what will happen when we mail grandma a postcard from WDW; talk about characters they may see or those they definitely want to see; get pictures of your resort and talk about what they can do or see there...we always had so much fun pre-trip that the vacation started long before we checked into our resort.

 

[llij]

We, too, are going to WDW this December and are surprising our DD's (6 & 8). My initial plan is to tell them over Thanksgiving weekend so they have a week to absorb the idea of the trip and to help last minute planning and packing.

With the surprise, we are going to send the girls on a scavenger hunt. At the end of the hunt they will find this puzzle.

Once they piece it together, they will know about the trip. Also, there will be a box with Mickey sweatshirts personalized with their names and the word "surprise" on it.

I can't wait to tell them as I am about to burst!!

 

[mketting]

Movies!!! IF your van doesn't have a TV buy one for the trip and bring along lots of fun Disney movies. It makes the trip tolerable for all and then when you are almost there you could tell them they they are going to get to see Mickey for Real again.

 

[Amirah95]

Yes, the DVD in the car is a great idea if you have one in the car or if you have a portable. Play the Disney movies over and over again.