When Would You Tell Your Kids ?

[enjkp]

I was just wondering when to tell the kids that we are going to DISNEY ? We are leaving on September 28th so trying to figure out when to tell them that we are going.
HELP ME PLEASE

Should we wait until really close should we tell them now ? Would love to have everyones opinions and when you told your children. My kids are right now eight, seven and four going on five in three weeks.

Thank you so much for all this wonderful information on my posts.

 

[luvtogo12]

The first time we went, I tried to hold off telling the kids as long as I could. We were going in December and since I could not wait any longer, I told them in Oct. This gave them time to plan with me.
The second time we went, we were going in November, leaving on a Monday. On the Friday before, I told the kids to make sure they see their teachers about extra work because we were going to Disney in a few days.
It took a few minutes for them to realize I was serious. It was just so much fun, I really enjoyed surprising them

Have a great trip and welcome to the DIS.

 

[jaycns]

I have three boys ages 10, 7 and 5 and we told them about a month ago (we will be there at the beginning September). We usually tell them months ahead of time. They love helping with the planning and it gives us something to use as leverage For instance, we start a Disney spending money chart and they can earn (and loose) their own spending money for the trip.

We are however keeping our after Thanksgiving trip a secret and we will tell them where they are headed once they are on the road.

Doesn't help much since we are all over the map...but since you asked...that is what we do!

 

[gianna2006]

I would love one year to surprise my kids with a trip, but I must admit that I am a weak woman when it comes to Disney !!! My kids know about our trips months ahead of time, which is lots of fun too because they get involved in all of the planning, ADRs, research, etc.

About three months out we make a paper chain with one link for each day until it's TIME TO GO!!! This is mostly for my daughter so she can really see how much time is left...and is great for building the anticipation !!!

 

[enjkp]

Thank you all so much

Keep them coming SMILE

 

[kjasmin]

I was just wondering when to tell the kids that we are going to DISNEY ? We are leaving on September 28th so trying to figure out when to tell them that we are going.
HELP ME PLEASE

Should we wait until really close should we tell them now ? Would love to have everyones opinions and when you told your children. My kids are right now eight, seven and four going on five in three weeks.

Thank you so much for all this wonderful information on my posts.

Ah... memories. Last year we had planned a Halloween trip for my DD-12 and DS-5 with our friends. We did not tell them until an hour before we had to leave to go to the airport. You should have seen there looks of dis...belief! My son still talks about it today.

We planned it with an another couple! Best part is everytime our friends would come over or we go to there house, my friend Dale would say to them that they "wished that we can join them".

 

[tkhkroberts]

I have DD 7 and 8 and I told them as soon as we knew we were going. I had booked everything this past November for a trip this August. Yes, I know way ahead of time, but I am anal that way. They love to check out the countdown clock and keep track of how much longer. This also allowed them to feel involved in picking out where we were eating, after I had already narrowed it down. It also gives them a chance to get gift cards for small holidays such as Easter or Valentine's day this year to spend while we are there, which they really like.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We're going to tell our kids ages 7, 4 & 2 about a month before we leave. We're going in May so for Easter we're going to have a treasure hunt and in treasure chest I'll have disney dollars and other disney stuff and a pic of our resort. Can't wait - I've had a difficult time not telling them but I know it will be worth it and for them I think 30 days to wait is doable. I wouldn't want to tell our kids too far in advance especially at their ages. Plus it will be their first time flying so I want to talk to them about the plane, play a game about what happens at the airport/security, etc.

We'll watch the planning dvd and they can help plan our days. I've scheduled our adrs and asked them questions already about their favorite characters so I made sure to get those character meals. Good luck and have fun!

 

[pezpam]

I don't think there's only one way to go. I've had trips where DD knew ahead of time and helped plan and trips where I surprised her on the way to the airport or even on the airplane. It can be tough to keep the secret, but if your kids are the "Are we there yet?" type, telling them too far ahead of time might be tough, too.

 

[Windy City Heather]

In the past I have always told my dd4. By the time we left I got so sick and tired of hearing about disney, having her pack her luggage weeks before and she would tell everyone we were going. I has always been a lot of fun to have her plan our trips. She has always helped pick where we stay and where we eat.

This May we are planning a trip and not telling her until she gets home from school. I will have the luggage packed and show here a post card from Mickey telling her to come down to disney. I had her help plan the trip she just does not know it. We would talk about her favorite things at Disney. We watched the planning video one night (she likes to do that all the time) and talk about what we would do in a make belive trip. With the information from this we planned our trip. I can't wait to see the look on her face.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I told DS very early, so he could be part of the planning. I've always considered anticipation part of the fun of any vacation.

 

[belle&beast]

We are going in December and haven't decided when to tell them. DD is 5 and DS is 3, so their concept of time is not great. They know that we are going to go again, but just not exactly when. I would love to just drive them to the airport and surprise them, but I don't think I can keep quiet that long! I have never planned for 10 months- it seems like forever to DH and me!

 

[bksab]

My DH and I are not on the same page. I want to wait until the morning of. It would mean waking them up at 4am to catch our flight though. May be hard to explain why we are putting them to bed at 6p! My husband wants to tell them a few weeks in advance. My only issue with this is our four year old DS had no concept of time and will proceed to drive us crazy. Maybe the day before? Hmmm

Kara

 

[glass slipper girl]

We surprised our kids with their first trip and then again with a trip last May but all the others they've known about pretty much from when we booked it. That will change now though. DS "almost 7" (I can no longer say 6 without him complaining ) is in 1st grade. All year he's been a straight A student with both report cards we've had so far he's had no average less than 96 so an excellent student. We had a reading night thing a few nights before we left on 2/1 and I was talking to his teacher. She told me he had been VERY distracted and not like himself. We figured he was just excited about the trip. I had no idea how bad it was untill we came home and his next big pack of graded papers I had 3 things to sign that he had a D or an F on. After seeing that the excitement affected him in that way DH and I agreed that every trip from now on will be a surprise for him.

The trip last May we surprised them with was lots of fun. My mother and I took them for Star Wars Weekend. I picked DS up from his next to the last day of kindergarten and we went to meet DH for lunch. After lunch was over DH gave each kid a $20 bill and they asked what for. We were standing by the car when he gave it to them. DH said "for you to spend at Disney World this weekend." DS5 said "we aren't going this weekend, we aren't going till next year." DH said "nope, you are going RIGHT NOW! You have to go pick up grammy and get to the airport before your plane leaves!" The kids didn't believe us untill we showed them the luggage in the back.

Now the challenge is that we have to figure out how to surprise them in new ways each trip.

 

[neonurse]

I think it's nice for the kids to be able to anticipate the trip just like waiting for Christmas morning. I know how much I enjoy the planning and this way they can help. Be careful not to give them too much time to ponder things though or they could drive you crazy...I say not longer than 2 months. Good luck.

 

[nopdwife]

We booked our trip for the end of May and as soon as I called and made the reservations, I handed my kids the confirmation letter. I wish I had waited a little longer but my husband already went and bought all the books so we (neither of us has been in nearly 10 years, if not longer) could refresh our memories on all the exciting things to do. Once we hit the 90 day mark, I started a countdown calendar. This way, they can mark off each day and see how many days they have left until we leave. It's easier then them asking how much longer every day!

 

[LaraK]

We're going to let them figure it out when they figure it out....we figure either on the plane or when we get on the Magical Express.

 

[kristen821]

I always end up telling my kids right away. I have big mouth, but I always wanted to not tell them and just end up at the airport the morning we left to surprise them.

 

[kinntj]

My DD 4 already knows, but I'm greatful she doesn't talk about it constantly. She'll mention it along with our trip to Hawaii, but doesn't make a big issue of it. No concept of time, so I generally say "not for a long time". We don't go until May of 2008, so I'm hoping that I can hold off talking about it until next year at Easter. They will get WDW trip Easter baskets. Not sure how to go about it yet, but I'll figure it out before then.

I'm hoping that I can surprise them of the fact that the trip is getting very close at that time.

Have fun planning!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We don't tell them until we're ready to leave. That way they don't drive us crazy wanting to know how much longer. We're leaving May 24 after kindergarten graduation, and I *might* tell the 6-yo that morning. We'll see! My kids are 6 and 3. 3-yo doesn't understand yesterday and tomorrow, no way he'd get 3 months from now!