When to Tell?

[cschwally]

We are heading to Disney for Thanksgiving. My daughter (11) knows I have been looking at prices and seeing if we can afford it. I have NOT told her we already have airline tickets and hotel reservations. I purchased her a lot of Disney Trading Pins for her to take with us.

Do I tell her now- 6 months out? by giving her the pins as a birthday gift? or do I wait until closer to the date?

I won't be able to keep it a secret forever- she'll have to know why the dog is going to the kennel and the other animals are being farmed out to friends.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

There's no way I could keep it a secret. I don't see how you see these videos they show where the parents video tape their kids as they are telling them "We're going to Disney World" on the actual day they are leaving. There's no way I could keep it a secret that long.

My kids have known from the get go that we are going, when we are going and they are still just as excited as I am about going.

I don't think it ruins the excitement by telling them early.

As far as giving her trading pins for her birthday. I would only do that if she had previously asked for Disney trading pins. That might be a disappointment to a kid to get something they didn't even have a mind to ask for.

I would use them to inform her of the surprise trip. Give them to her, ask her if she knows what they are and what she is suppose to do with them, and ask her where she needs to go to trade them with other ppl.

 

[MightyGitis]

Honestly every one will have a different opinion on this, but I say give her them and tell her on her birthday. What a gift!!!

 

[atp]

It depends on her personality. If she loves Disney and is not the patient type, I would wait as long as I could to tell her.

I know that if my mom told me 6 months in advance that I would be going to Disney, I would be so excited and talking about it ALL THE TIME to the point it would be annoying and I wouldn't be able to really focus on anything else very well. Plus I would be wishing I could go right then and there and it would be difficult for me to wait all that time (as an 11 year old).

But, if she's more mellow than I was, you could tell her whenever. I think her birthday seems like a good time to tell her if you choose not to wait. Though I do think that regardless of her personality, waiting until the last minute to tell her will make the news so much better. Because it won't be "Hey, we are going to Disney in 6 whole months" it will be "We are going to Disney TOMORROW!" or next week! Or something like that. I think that is way more exciting for a kid because there's not much waiting involved.

Also, this has nothing to do with your question, but it might be cool to record her reaction! I saw a video like that once and it was SO sweet! Might be cool to have a video of such a good memory

 

[lilvball78]

tell her if she is having a really bad day, it really brings the mood up. my parents planned a trip last year and when i was walking back from class, really upset about a teacher, my mom was like, well we are going to disney in june. and i got soooo excited and it made the rest of the semester! planning out telling puts more stress on you than needed.

 

[Miaka]

We are telling the kids Tuesday morning when I get them out of bed. We are putting their Mickey ears on their clothes so they are waiting for them when they get up in the morning. Then we are going to the airport. 3 days left and neither of us has cracked yet and told them.

 

[christine*]

I would tell her before you start making dinning reservations (if you're planning to make any at all) so she could help you plan and choose places she would like to eat at.

 

[dmccarty]

Our kids did not know where we were going on their first WDW trip. We told them it was a surprise. We can drive to WDW in a day, but for the first trip we left late because of school and had to spend the night on the road. They asked where we were going but we just said it was a surprise.

At one point they guessed the beach. I thought for a moment and said there was a beach where we were going.

The hard part was having them NOT notice all of the WDW, Universal, and SeaWorld advertisements on I4 in Orlando. We got lucky in that they were reading or watching a DVD and not looking out side the car. The DW and I would point at the opposite side of I4 if we saw a dreaded WDW sign.

When we pulled off I4 into WDW I had to point out the WDW arch across the road. THEN the kids started hooting and hollering.

After they somewhat calmed down they reminded me that I had said we were going to the beach. I told them they would understand shortly. Then I pointed at the sign at CBR as we pulled up to the guard shack.

Our kids were about four and seven so it was a bit easy to hide the surprise.

If this is the first trip to WDW I would think about holding on to the surprise as long as you can. The result is awesome.

After the first trip the kids know we are going and help plan a bit. However we still try to do something that is a surprise every trip if we can. On the first trip not only did they not know the destination they did not know that the grandparents would be at WDW as well.

One year we drove up to the mountains. They knew where we were going but they did not know the grandparents would be meeting us. We did a bit of planning to make sure the kids did not see the grandparents car. We parked and went into the hotel. Sitting in the lobby, right near the entrance, was the grandparents. The kids did not see or recognize them at first. Then the hooting and hollering started.

Next WDW trip, the surprise is going to one of the waterparks. We have never been. Well I have been to River Country but that was a few years ago. It looks like we will be at WDW for a couple of days and the first chance to go will be on a Monday. The plan is to get ready to go to the pool. When we get to the front of AKV, the kids will automatically start walking to the pool while we head to the bus stops. At some point they will tell us the pool is this way and we will say yes but we are going to BB. Didn't we tell you?

Surprise the kids when you can. It is well worth it. The kids still talk about our various surprises. If you cannot surprise them with the destination, surprise them with a character breakfast, Illumination's Cruise, finding paint brushes on TSI, family, animation class, etc.

We have a few more surprises in mind for future trips.....

Later,
Dan

 

[mjkacmom]

We surprised the kids the day of, and it was great. However, I've learned that even if I'm going to tell them about a vacation, not to do it too long ahead of time, because the excitement just fades. They've actually asked me not to let them know too far out.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A few years ago I helped one of my nephews surprise his seven year old daughter. I sent her a greeting card with no return address, but on the envelope clearly marked "Do No Open Until November 29". Because of the contents he let me know when it arrived. This was driving his daughter crazy; especially when on the 29th her mother said she would have to wait until she was home from school to open it.

Anyway, evening comes along and she finally is allowed to open the envelope. Inside she finds a generic card with Mickey on the front. When she opens it three tickets drop out. The inside of the card says: "Dear Emma, I hope you and your parents will come down to visit me" and was signed by Mickey. (It helps to know some people who have been trained to sign Mickey's name.)

And her parents told her to start reading what was on the card (3rd grade). She starts off where it says "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas" and then sees (and reads) where it also says "Valid Only November 30". She looks at her parents, and says in a very anguished tone: "But that's tomorrow!"

And the next day they flew down.

(Side note - I had recorded the numbers of the tickets in case the envelope got lost as there was no return address.)

 

[LisaTC]

It depends on her personality. If she loves Disney and is not the patient type, I would wait as long as I could to tell her.

I know that if my mom told me 6 months in advance that I would be going to Disney, I would be so excited and talking about it ALL THE TIME to the point it would be annoying and I wouldn't be able to really focus on anything else very well. Plus I would be wishing I could go right then and there and it would be difficult for me to wait all that time...

This is my DD. There is NO WAY I could tell her 6 months in advance or even 6 weeks. She wouldn't be able to focus in school and would be all over it and drive us all nuts in the process. I'm tickled pink to have this trip be a surprise for her b-day...I wouldn't have it any other way and I'm certain, neither will she. Only you know how your daughter is and how she handle anticipation. I think the pins are a great idea!

I love the idea about Cheshire Figment's plan for his niece...I know I need to make a plan in how to tell my DD about the trip...still thinking about that.

 

[2Tiggies]

I would tell her before you start making dinning reservations (if you're planning to make any at all) so she could help you plan and choose places she would like to eat at.

I surprised my DD (8) last year with our October trip. I kept the secret for 17 months It was worth all the planning and secrecy and I have no regrets about it. BUT, there are always down sides to anything you do and the above was one area where I missed it on one or two as I booked restaurants based on what she liked the previous trip, not considering that she may have changed her mind about a few. It didn't make the trip any less magical and the only perfection I was aiming for was a surprise she would remember forever and a great time spent with the two of us together at our favorite place on earth. If you do tell her now dining ressies may (or may not - it might not matter) be easier. I dont think there is a right or wrong way to do it. Go with what works for you - she's going to Disney; she's going to love it no matter when you tell her.

She starts off where it says "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas" and then sees (and reads) where it also says "Valid Only November 30". She looks at her parents, and says in a very anguished tone: "But that's tomorrow!"

And the next day they flew down.

I love this!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Our kids have no idea they will be in Orlando Wed. night.
Been keeping the secret for 8 months - it has NOT been easy!
DH and I are going to their school to have them dismissed early - then we head right to the airport. The ONLY thing that has made it tolerable, is knowing the looks of when they find out.

 

[RivaLJ]

I tried to surprise DS with a trip in Dec. 2009 to celebrate my "big" birthday. He did not believe me! I actually had to show him the flight confirmation and the hotel confirmation! It was like "show me the money!"

 

[scootch]

I have 2 daughters, 9 and 11 and they LOVE helping with the planning....from where we eat to which park we go to each day. I would tell her soon and let her enjoy the anticipation. We feel that is as much fun as the actual trip. Maybe you can find some fun exiciting unique way to share the news with her.