When to tell the kids?

[janie91]

We are planning a Nov. disney trip, if all goes as planned. We have dd 11, dd 9, ds 7 and we want to tell them about the trip in a special way which I'm also taking suggestions for. My main question however is when to tell them? We are getting very excited and would like to tell them but on the other hand we might be worn out by the time we go if we tell them to soon. They know we are planning to go someday but they think it will be a few years. How much in advance do most of you tell your children?

 

[anditoo72]

My children are a little younger (6, 4, and 2) We told them about 100 days out and have had our little problems with that. Like when I was taking them for a walk they thought we were walking to Disney World she cried the whole walk back

I think you kids are old enough that they know they are not walking there, so I say tell them. If I were you I would wait until exactly 100 days out and tell them then. May be put up a calender counting the days. Or make up a rip off type out of post-its. I like telling them early, because they can help with the planning. You can get all their questions and concerns out of the way before you leave also (maybe about the plane, different rides, ect...). And then of course there is the threatning factor- if your not good your not comming to Disney (right, like any of us would really not take them)- or I'm telling Mickey on you

 

[Amirah95]

I can't find the thread I read up on where a mom (a Diser) made up some letters on Disney letterhead and sent them her children from their favorite characters each week. She saved the letters from Mickey and Minnie for the last two weeks (sweet). I can't remember if she started 6 weeks before, but when I find the thread I'll let you know. I just thought her idea was a good one.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I can't give advice on your main question as mine too are young (5, 3, 1) and I'm waiting! I will tell them-especially 5 year old a bit in advance so they can think about it. I read a great idea here on how to tell them. Purchase a Disney style cake and instead of Happy Birthday have them write "The Janie Family is going to Walt Disney World."

I took a trip with a friend and did a count down from about 45 days out by filling a jar with 45 slips of paper with each saying something we'd be doing-"can't wait to see Peter Pan", "can't wait to go to MVMCP", "can't wait to have a Mickey Bar". On another trip I did it by email so I could send photos. Other folks do a paper chain so you can see it getting smaller-something the kids might have fun doing.

Enjoy!

 

[mickeymousefan]

As we were leaving last year..... we told them we would be back in a year. My DD's are 2 and 3. The 3 year old understands that it is a while away, even if she sometimes asks "are we going to Disneyworld now?" We have told her that she will go trick or treating, turn 4, eat a big turkey dinner and get a visit from santa before the trip. I guess she is pretty good with the concept of time because she understands this.

 

[F1Julie]

The first time, I told my DD who was 3 at the time when I booked the trip, about 3 months ahead of time. Well, after we got back, all she could talk about was Disney and when can we go again. I told her a couple months later that we could go for her birthday in May. On the drive home from that trip in May, she said, when can we go back. I told her for Christmas. I have a surprise trip planned for us in August. I won't tell her until the night before we leave. I can't wait to see her reaction. I don't think there is a right time to tell your kids about going to Disney. They will be thrilled no matter when you tell them. My DD is really good about waiting to go once she knows when the next trip will be. Just beware, it becomes addicting.

 

[prplcrzy]

My dd's first trip (she was 4), we told her as the plane was landing. She knew we were going to Florida, but had no idea that was where Mickey lived.

Now 12, she knows we go every year. My ds (almost 3) knows we're going, but doesn't really understand what is going on.

I would think a few months would be good. Too long out and it will seem like forever, esp. for the smallest ones.

Have fun planning!

Nancy

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

We are surprising my three kids (9,7 & 4) by giving the baby a trip to Disney for her 1st birthday. I had my sister get an autograph book and infant-size Mickey ears to wrap and we'll put a note in it from Mickey inviting her and her family to visit him in Disney.

The birthday is at the end of this month and we're going in early September so they will have a good month to get excited and plan.

lovesdumbo, I think I'm going to write something cute on the birthday cake, too. I think that's a great idea!

 

[WishingOnAStar]

We're waiting until the morning we're leaving. The kids have to know we're going away because the dog will be kenneled and the guinea pigs "loaned" to a friend all the night before. So, we're telling them we're going to NY to visit my aunt and other family members for a family reunion. That morning, as we're getting ready to leave, I'm going to give them each a gift bag with some goodies for the trip (fans, sunglasses and croakies, Mickey shirts, lollipops, stuffed animals, Disney journals, et). (I usually give them something before any trip we take) Then we're going to wait for them to figure it out. Should be fun.

If the timing works out, as soon as they figure it out, a stretch limo will be pulling up to take us to the airport.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

We told our girls the night before the first time we went. They were 6 and 4.

I throughly recommend waterproofing your sofa if you do this though. Our 4 year old got so excited she wet her pants.
Our 6 yr. old cried she was so excited.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Oh my gosh! That is the funniest thing!!!!!

I thought about the night before, too - but I just know they won't sleep - Heck, I won't be able to sleep.

(Okay, I confess- I can't sleep now and it's 60+ days away!)

 

[monalsw]

we wanted to surprise our kids (15 yr old dd and 5 yr old ds) on a trip to wdw once and we planned for 9 months. i kept my mouth shut until the sunday before we were leaving on thursday...

the kids were really working us; arguing, not wanting to do chores, etc. i finally said to dh, 'let's tell them, maybe they'll shape up'---lol! little did i know what we were setting ourselves up for!

we called an impromptu family meeting; there they are, huddled together in the corner of the couch, just certain that they've pushed too far and are about to be sent into foster care. dh informs them that we have something very important to tell them and 15 yr old blurts out, 'you're pregnant, aren't you?'. after we've reassured her that we're not, dh says, 'we have a suprise for you' and dd screams, 'we're going somewhere, right?' dh nodds his head and dd whispers, 'is it disney?' when he says yes, she says, 'no sir, you guys are lying to us.' 5 yr old ds is quietly taking it all in, clinging to his sister for dear life.

tired of being 'cut off at the pass' by my own flesh and blood, i lay out the plans.; 'yes, we're going to disney...this thursday...have all your schoolwork already...the teachers have known since september...daddy's going with us this time...13 days...we're flying straight-thru'. all the details of our glorious vacation, for them to consider.

dd says, 'no sir, you're lying...how did you do this...i don't believe you'. then screams and heads for the phone to call friends.

dd says, with a choked voice, 'but i can't go for 13 days, i don't live at disney-i live HERE'.

not quite the reaction we expected, at least til 10 minutes later when it sinks in...the kids are happily doing chores, talking about what they're going to do at the parks and all is well.

i try to keep a disney trip planned for ammunition when i need it now-they know that we'll be going, but they never know when, and at the last minute, when most-needed-we lay it on them!!!

have fun, whenever/however you decide to tell them! we still laugh about that day & ds has decided that he could live at disney after all!

 

[frstimer128]

Congrats to you for not telling them yet! I can't hold such an exciting secret any longer than 10 seconds lol...my family never tells me anything that needs to be kept quiet! I am too much of a blabber mouth.
I can't wait to hear their reactions!

 

[twoksmom]

We're telling our 2 dd's Sunday night. We are having our oldest a birthday party that afternoon at my MIL's house.She is having a HelloKitty cake. Then after all the other kids are gone except for immediate family, we will bring out the other cake. We're having a picture of them in front of the castle put on it with the date we are leaving this year.I want to see how long it will take them to realize it.We were going to wait longer but I want them to get to help with some of the planning. April

 

[mom of five]

We went 18 months ago and told kids about 100 days out. Not good. Too long!

This is what I'm doing this time...

When kids (10,9,8,7,5,) get home from school on that Friday, We will sit them down and give them wrapped gifts, telling them that since they each (the 4 older ones) donated their birthdays to charities this past year, we want to give them all something sort of early to celebrate the youngest ones bday--he will turn six at WDW. He didn't do a charity bday cause he really wouldn't have understood. This youngest collects those little mickey beanies and that's really all he plays with--lion Mickey skateboards and patriotic mickey plays legos, and pioneer mickey is apparently a ninja???

Anywho, I bought a lot of 5 of these mickeys through disneydeals and I am going to attach little signs around their necks. I'm going to have them open them one at a time starting with the oldest down to the youngest.
10yr old's will say "We're"
9yr old's will say "going"
8yr old's will say "to"
7yr old's will say "Disney!"
and 5yr old's will say "Today!"

 

[sillysully]

We've been hinting that we're going, but haven't told the kids when. We celebrated our oldest daughter's bday at DW 2 years ago, and middle daughter has been asking if we can celebrate her bday there for almost 2 years (LOL)! So we've been saying, "Maybe, we'll see." I think we'll give her a Disney cake and tell her we're going soon (10 days later), but not when. Then we'll wake them up that morning with their bags packed. That way I have the best of both worlds (IMHO) - they have a chance to get excited, but also be surpised. I know they won't sleep the night before if they knew and we need them to bed on time b/c we have a super early flight.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Originally posted by sillysully
We've been hinting that we're going, but haven't told the kids when. We celebrated our oldest daughter's bday at DW 2 years ago, and middle daughter has been asking if we can celebrate her bday there for almost 2 years (LOL)! So we've been saying, "Maybe, we'll see." I think we'll give her a Disney cake and tell her we're going soon (10 days later), but not when. Then we'll wake them up that morning with their bags packed. That way I have the best of both worlds (IMHO) - they have a chance to get excited, but also be surpised. I know they won't sleep the night before if they knew and we need them to bed on time b/c we have a super early flight.

Maybe they won't sleep for 10 days

I just can't imagine they won't be asking NONstop for the 10 days-are we going today, are we going tomorrow, when are we going, when are we going????? Maybe you should tell them you're going in 15 days and then surprise them 10 days out....

 

[sillysully]

Lovesdumbo - good point and awesome suggestion!!! THX