How Should We Surprise the Kids?

[KCheatle]

So, the hubby and I decided to take a surprise trip in January. We are not telling the kids anything about. We want to surprise them, but don't know how to do it??? Here's our ideas: (1) this is our Christmas present to them and so on Christmas they open a gift which is a huge box and they have to dig around styrofoam peanuts until they find a picture of Cinderlla Castle at which point we'll tell them we're leaving in like a week for Disney World, (2) We let Santa give it to them and when they come down Christas morning all they see are two Mickey Ear hats and a note from Santa that says we're leaving in a week, (3) We don't tell them until the morning we leave?

What do you think? Do you have better ideas?

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think all of your ideas are great -- for the record, my favorite is the box-o-foam-peanuts! But whether you tell them a week ahead or the day-of depends on their personalities: do they love surprises, or will they be disappointed that they didn't have time to "get ready" or help with the planning? (Also, have they been to WDW before? If so, they probably don't need as much "lead time" to learn about what to expect.)

Either way, sounds like your Christmas holiday is going to be merry and magical!

 

[AnnaDiehlio]

So, the hubby and I decided to take a surprise trip in January. We are not telling the kids anything about. We want to surprise them, but don't know how to do it??? Here's our ideas: (1) this is our Christmas present to them and so on Christmas they open a gift which is a huge box and they have to dig around styrofoam peanuts until they find a picture of Cinderlla Castle at which point we'll tell them we're leaving in like a week for Disney World, (2) We let Santa give it to them and when they come down Christas morning all they see are two Mickey Ear hats and a note from Santa that says we're leaving in a week, (3) We don't tell them until the morning we leave?

What do you think? Do you have better ideas?

I also love all of your ideas, but I really like the idea of telling them the morning you leave, I don't know why but that just seems so much fun!!! But also since it is your Christmas present to them, if you do it that way what would you do on Christmas?

 

[ParentsOf4]

We tried surprising the kids once. They got home from school and our flights were 3 hours after that. It actually didn't go over very well. They didn't believe us the entire drive to the airport. Even after we got there, they didn't have the same excitement, more shock than joy. Perhaps anticipation is a big part of the fun?

 

[DsnySodec]

are you driving or flying?

 

[DsnySodec]

I'd say if you were driving just load them up in the car and go don't say anything. Try to plan where you arrive when the sun is coming up so when they wake up you can drive through the main gate.

Our last trip was my mother-in-law's and, our daughters first visit. We arrived in Orlando about 7 in the morning. So I put Disney music from Pandora on the cars radio and woke everyone up as we drove in. It was great!

The box idea is kinda cliche imo, even though its a good idea non the less.

 

[Britt]

We're surprising our kids too! We're leaving for FL next Sat, but staying in a hotel by the airport the night before. (It's 1 1/2 hours away and we have to be there at 4...LOL).

We're going to have things kind of set out to pack into the suitcases. We're going to tell the boys "Boys....we really need to go clean mommy and daddys room", and when everythings all packed we're going to say "Gee boys....what do you think we should do with all of this stuff???" and after they give whatever answers we're going to say "how about if we go to DISNEYWORLD?????" and let it sink in. That way they have time to process the excitement on the way to Denver with my inlaws and I dont have to deal with the "is it time yet?" questions...LOL

 

[DsnySodec]

We're surprising our kids too! We're leaving for FL next Sat, but staying in a hotel by the airport the night before. (It's 1 1/2 hours away and we have to be there at 4...LOL).

We're going to have things kind of set out to pack into the suitcases. We're going to tell the boys "Boys....we really need to go clean mommy and daddys room", and when everythings all packed we're going to say "Gee boys....what do you think we should do with all of this stuff???" and after they give whatever answers we're going to say "how about if we go to DISNEYWORLD?????" and let it sink in. That way they have time to process the excitement on the way to Denver with my inlaws and I dont have to deal with the "is it time yet?" questions...LOL

Colorado, that is a long drive. We live in Fountain CO, I think it was 15hrs to San Antonio, then 18hrs to Orlando.

 

[Britt]

Colorado, that is a long drive. We live in Fountain CO, I think it was 15hrs to San Antonio, then 18hrs to Orlando.

We're in Colorado Springs, in Briargate! I can't believe theres someone so close on this site! haha!! We DEFINITELY dont want to drive...we entertained the idea, but thats just to much. Especially considering the drive back after time at the parks...LOL

 

[DsnySodec]

Ah, that is crazy. We have flew from he Springs before. The Magic Express is great. My wife is actually in CO still, right now im in school for the Army. Hopefully Ill be back there in about 8 months.

That is also another way to surprise the kids, make up a excuse to fly and catch the Magic Express!

 

[ThinkTink721]

This kind of surprise is great if you can pull it off.
I love all of your ideas.
One year, we did surprise our youngest 2 kids...we told the oldest because we knew that he would figure it out.
We happened to be driving that trip & it was a little easier to hide it.
When we pulled onto the WDW property, one of them asked, "Why does that sign have a hidden Mickey on it?"
The other one asked, "Why does that bus say Magic Kingdom on it?"
I don't think they truly realized where we were until we actually went to a park...even though we had made several trips prior to this one.

 

[KCheatle]

We live in Nebraska, so we're definitely flying. This isn't their first trip, so I don't know that they would be "upset" by not finding out until the morning of?? For Christmas, we live by both sets of grandparents, so they are usually bombarded with gifts and probably wouldn't notice we didn't get anything. But, part of the fun I think would be to surprise them in front of everyone else...I don't know. I guess we've got time??? In the past, they have known for months before we go so they have to be really patient. It would be cool to not make them wait and just go, but I'm not sure how'd I pull off the packing in secret??

 

[Weather_Lady]

. It would be cool to not make them wait and just go, but I'm not sure how'd I pull off the packing in secret??

Can you do it before Christmas and tell them you're "wrapping presents" and need the privacy?

 

[Courtnie1811]

This might not work for you but this is what we are doing. My daughter is a pretty sharp 3 year old. We aren't going till next September. But we bought some charts at the school supply store and each week she cleans her room and does her school work like she is supposed to she gets to put a sticker on her chart and we told her at the end of the chart she is gonna get a big surprise. Each sticker is gonna count towards money for her trip also. We are gonna tell her the morning we get up to go. She will be 4 1/2 so hopefully she wont be too little to understand. Below is a picture of my little sweetie....lol

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Leave them behind

 

[Sunshineglow68]

They are all good ideas. I love the one for Christmas, the present. I am surprising my DD next Monday for her 10th Birthday by wrapping a Disney Autograph Book and putting a note with it that says "pack your bags we're going to Disney in 4 weeks". My stomach has been in knots thinking about this day.

 

[KCheatle]

The more we think about it, the more we are leaning towards opening a huge gift Christmas morning. I think that they will come downstairs Christmas morning and see some backpacks from Santa and in between will be a huge present. They wont understand the backpacks until they open the big present and find out they are going to Disney World in a week. Then they can open the back packs and see all of the carry-on toys and games for the airplane ride. Then they have time to get excited about it and tell everyone about it and we won't have to hide the packing and stuff. And, for Christmas Breakfast we can have Mickey pancakes or waffles or something!

 

[JillC LI]

We tried surprising the kids once. They got home from school and our flights were 3 hours after that. It actually didn't go over very well. They didn't believe us the entire drive to the airport. Even after we got there, they didn't have the same excitement, more shock than joy. Perhaps anticipation is a big part of the fun?

I agree with this. We are surprising our kids this December. Hanukah starts on Saturday night, 12/8, and we are leaving on 12/12, so we have decided to wrap up a big box for the kids to open on the first night of Hanukah. We usually give them 8 small presents, but we are going to tell them that money is tight this year so we only got them one present to share. When they disappointedly open it, they will find something telling them we are leaving for WDW in 4 days! They will freak out. And they will have 4 days of that wonderful excited anticipation and the ability to pack what they want.

 

[BUZZCRUSH]

We surprised our kids the 2nd time we took them to Disney. After the first time they kept wanting to go back and we said no it's too expensive etc. So we planned a trip and told them we were going somewhere else [I forget where, Philadelphia or something like that]. Never said a word all the way to the airport. Finally in the airport our oldest is confused cause the sign says "orlando". We kept it up saying they just hadn't changed the sign yet etc. We finally told them right before we boarded. They were sooo surprised, I filmed it, it was priceless, screaming in the airport etc. I had our Mickey ears hats from last time and Mickey hands. We all put the hats on and my oldest put the hands on and told everyone in the airport we were going to Disney. He never took them off the whole flight.

We haven't been able to surprise them again cause they are older now, and Mommy spends too much time planning etc. But that time we did it was awesome!

 

[pixiesteno]

I like the gift idea and then you should have a copy of the planning cd and don't forget if you are lucky the Disney Christmas parade will be on. Or maybe you could ties things in that way. You could always have them do a small gift scavenger hunt around the house that gave them clues. Give them clues to the next small gift and have all the gifts trip or Disney related that would help them put it all together. You could use copies of your trip paperwork/luggage tags stuff depending on age. Don't forget to order your touring maps, you might be able to use them. I would get them ordered, they are free, so that you have them in time to plan. I did a scavenger hunt years ago for my DH for his gifts, the kids helped me and we all had a ball. He really enjoyed it because he's usually the one that looks at the package an knows what it inside of it. You could get small Disney related gifts to keep them entertained during the journey, etc. Oh the possibilities! Have so much fun