When to tell the kids???

[pdolan]

We just booked for spring break 2004 and didn't tell the kids - DDs 4 and 8 years old. I don't know when to tell them - don't want it to be too far in advance - they'll drive me crazy asking when we are leaving. Any suggestions on creative ways to tell them or any hints on when???

 

[eek40]

pdolan,

I can tell you what we are doing. My nephew is 5 and we are leaving in about 3 weeks, and we still have not told him yet. What we are doing is after Halloween having a suprise, going away party, all in Disney theme, the cake will say . Your going to Disney World. I will let you know how it goes
Aimee

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I am also taking my five year old nephew, and we aren't telling him until we get to port! he thinks Auntie is just taking him to Florida to visit Nana and Papa....I can't wait to see his face!!

 

[my3kids]

I have told (1)really far in advance, (2)told a day or two in advance and (3)not told until we arrived. This was my experience: The telling really far was fine...no real complaints about that. The telling a day or two early was really fun. They had that day at school to tell their friends and get really excited. I also once didn't tell until we arrived and that was by far the biggest disappointment. It was too confusing and they didn't really understand what was going on.

Telling the day or so early worked out as I had hoped and expected. They jumped up and down, couldn't take their eyes off the video, looked through the book, etc. It was great.

I worried about telling really far in advance that they would ask everyday if that was the day we'd leave, etc. They enjoyed the long wait and enjoyed researching as much as I did. As I said, no complaints.

The reaction to the surprise really shocked me. It was just too confusing. No jumping up and down, no sparkle in their eyes....it was just overwhelming, I think. I was very sorry I'd been so successful in keeping my Disney surprise.

Again, these were just my experiences. I'm sure others have had a terrible time counting down days in long periods of waiting, or wonderful surprise experiences. You know your children the best. In the future, I think the telling just a small length of time in advance will be best for my children.

Have a great trip whenever you tell your secret!

 

[kmc33]

I guess different kids handle things differently. I can tell you what has worked for us. But, first I will tell you, that for our upcoming cruise on the Magic, my sister's family is going too and she said that she will tell the kids on the way to the airport -- I think she won't wait quite that long, but almost, because her son woud be asking everyday.

My DS is 4 and does better with any event if he has some advanced warning. We found that about a 1 month countdown calendar worked well for him -- although, the countdown calendar could certainly be fun for a week or 2 weeks, also. We used a 1 month countdown last April for our trip to WDW and the Wonder. I printed out Disney clipart and each day he put on a character on the calendar and then as we got about 10 days out, we talked about how many days remained until we would fly to WDW. This was a great way to anticipate the trip for all of us and he didn't ask 'is it time yet' sort of questions each day. Since our January cruise is about a month after Christmas, Santa will bring us the trip and we will probably start the countdown calendar on New Years Day

Have fun no matter how you decide. There is no one way that's the right way. And have a great trip!!!

 

[mkandk]

We're going for Spring Break too, and my kids are 8 and 9. I HAD planned on picking them up at school and telling them on the way to the airport, but my3kids advice on another thread changed my mind.

Now, I'm thinking a week in advance is good. Our anniversary is about that time, and hubby and I might plan some goofy, "I love you more than life itself. Anything you ask, my love!" "Oh, I don't know, how about Disney?" "Sure! Oh, yeah, I guess we can take those kids. "

 

[mickeyboat]

We are not cruising until March but we have already told our kids (DD3 and DD4). I am not sure they will let us leave them alone in the Club so I want to let them know what to expect as far in advance as I can. Here's an idea. There is a thread on this board where members have volunteered to send post cards to your children from "Mickey" or another character to welcome them to the trip, etc. Check it out. Maybe Mickey could surprise them. Good luck!

Denae

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

My DD, will be 4 on our cruise next year, has already been on a CCL and had a great time. So she is ready for the OC. But being the wonderful parents that we are, in our excitement, we've already told her and explained everything that will be going on during the cruise (we're doing the Magic over Halloween). So now, EVERYDAY, we have to look "inside the boat" (the 360 virtual tour on the website) so that she can see the OC.
I'm going to feed myself to Tick-Tock before Thanksgiving gets here.
I really like kmc33's countdown calendar. DD will definitely enjoy that. I've seen the postcard thread also, and will probably do that after Christmas.
Good luck!