Surprising DD(

[MissDiznee66]

We are leaving in 38 days and she still doesnt know! Any suggestions on how or when to say anything? We have been before and she often talks about going back, so I know she is looking forward to going (who wouldnt be). We leave on a Thurs, so not sure if I should tell her maybe the day before (when I plan on sending her teacher a note) or the day OF when it seems like she has to get ready for school. Any ideas, Thanks! My title was to be "Surprising DD9".

 

[Cindyrella]

What a great surprise! I would tell her the day you're leaving. Have a great trip!

 

[Sailor Mouse]

I'd go one step further (my parents have done this to me twice, once when I was 9)

The night before you leave, put all the suitcases and packed stuff in the trunk of the car, out of view where she can't see them. Put the suit cases in the car after she's gone to bed (and you're sure she's asleep).

Have her get ready for school the day of, like she would any other day. Complete with doing her homework for class, packing her book bag, and packing a lunch (it will make a good snack while on the way, or while waiting for the plane). Say nothing unusual, and act as though nothing is different.

If she usually takes the bus, take an extra long time getting ready (set yours or her alarm later, forget where your shoes are, lose her shoes, hide her backpack, anything), in some way to make her miss the bus, so that you have to drive her to school.

However, instead of going to her school, take a "wrong turn" and head for the airport if you're flying (or for the interstate if you're driving). Don't mention anything unless she asks why you're not taking her to school. You can spring it on her then, or wait until you get to the airport/far enough away from school.

I would talk to the teacher at least two weeks before you go, because there may be something big due that day. Just remember to tell the teacher that it's a secret, and that you aren't telling your daughter yet.

Good luck with this, and have an excellent trip! :wave:

 

[Richie248]

For me some of the best memories of me going to Disney was the excitement and anticipation leading up to the trip, so I would say tell her a few days in advance...maybe fill a huge box with helium balloons so when she opens it the balloons fly into the air and inside place some sort of note about the trip along with some other Disney Stuff like maps and the Vacation Planner DVD. Then again being whisked away to Disney without knowing could also be amazing! I am torn...

 

[Bug715]

I like the being wisked away idea. I know someone who did the same thing with her kids before christmas. I think that they opened a early christmas present with disney gear in it and then left.

 

[rshell68]

We just traveled in March with my husband's sister and her family. Their little ones didn't know until we drove under the entrance arch to the World. It was pretty neat. My husband and I were in tears (we are saps).

 

[EMThompsen]

I like the being whisked away idea too. Does your daughter eat cereal in the morning. Perhaps you could print something on your computer explaining that she is going to Disney World and put it in the cereal box like one of those prizes that so often come in cereal boxes. Then when she opens the box and takes out the "prize" you can ask her" What's that?"
She may not have cereal for breakfast , but this might give you some ideas of some way to spring it on her.

 

[wdwmomof3]

I wish you the best of luck! I would be so excited that I couldn't keep my big mouth shut for a second to pull any of this off. I do however love the idea of not telling her until the morning that you leave.

Good luck

 

[EMThompsen]

Oh yes...Don't tell her until the day of. I know if someone told me I was going to WDW I wouldn't be able to concentrate on work ( or school as the case may be)

 

[JustPlainBill]

We're driving down in 53 days. My wife and I haven't told out daughters (ages 7 & 9) that we're going, it will be their first time. We plan on having everything packed in the van before they awake and take off early in the morning as soon as they're dressed but still sleepy-eyed. I had thought we were going to tell them then, pulling out of the driveway, where we were going, but my wife just told me this past weekend that she doesn't want them to know until we drive through the front gate, which will be two days later. I don't know how we're going to do it or where to say we're going? My oldest is fairly smart and she knows that WDW is in Florida, when she sees us traveling from Illinois to Indiana to Kentucky, Tennesee then Georgia she's going to guess, or at least have a strong feeling of where her summer vacation is going to be. My wife has two reasons for not telling them ahead of time. 1st, Just in case anything happens that we have to cancel our vacation the kids won't be disappointed, and 2nd, on the drive down she wants the kids to enjoy the ride and not bug us constantly about when we're going to get there, because if they know it's Disney, they most certainly won't be quiet about it. It makes life a little more interesting, especially when I receive daggers from the wife when I forgetfully openly talk about intineraries and ADRs when the kids are within earshot, then having to cover it up somehow creativley, oops!

 

[Bug715]

JustPlainBill I'm leaving in 53 days as well. But were closer as I'm in Kentucky.

The drive there always would've given it away had my parents ever tried to surprise me. I knew that if we passed the school my dad worked at we were going to flordia. And we only went to flordia to go to Disney world.

 

[barbara]

A few years back I took my first grandson Nate to Disney. We told him he was going on spring break with me, but not where, a few weeks before we went, I would sent him a clue of what he might see on the way(we drove that year, and lived in Michigan), I think we started out with Indiana, I would sent him a landmark from each state, that we would go thru, the last one being the Electrical Ears on I-4, at that point he finally knew where he was going. He had to work alittle bit and learned a few things along the way.

 

[Tweedle Adie]

You could always tell them you are going to the beach

 

[New2WDW]

I like the last day thing too! But another thing you could do is just start leaving small clues around the house every couple of days and see if she picks up on it! Maybe set out a Disney Figurine or picture every couple of days and see when she starts to notice and then leave a park map around, etc. Just a thought! Have fun with it!

 

[wdwmomof3]

We're driving down in 53 days. My wife and I haven't told out daughters (ages 7 & 9) that we're going, it will be their first time. We plan on having everything packed in the van before they awake and take off early in the morning as soon as they're dressed but still sleepy-eyed. I had thought we were going to tell them then, pulling out of the driveway, where we were going, but my wife just told me this past weekend that she doesn't want them to know until we drive through the front gate, which will be two days later. I don't know how we're going to do it or where to say we're going? My oldest is fairly smart and she knows that WDW is in Florida, when she sees us traveling from Illinois to Indiana to Kentucky, Tennesee then Georgia she's going to guess, or at least have a strong feeling of where her summer vacation is going to be. My wife has two reasons for not telling them ahead of time. 1st, Just in case anything happens that we have to cancel our vacation the kids won't be disappointed, and 2nd, on the drive down she wants the kids to enjoy the ride and not bug us constantly about when we're going to get there, because if they know it's Disney, they most certainly won't be quiet about it. It makes life a little more interesting, especially when I receive daggers from the wife when I forgetfully openly talk about intineraries and ADRs when the kids are within earshot, then having to cover it up somehow creativley, oops!

this is so sweet! I hope that you all have a GREAT time. Your girls are going to love it!

 

[Vernonpush]

We're driving down in 53 days. My wife and I haven't told out daughters (ages 7 & 9) that we're going, it will be their first time. We plan on having everything packed in the van before they awake and take off early in the morning as soon as they're dressed but still sleepy-eyed. I had thought we were going to tell them then, pulling out of the driveway, where we were going, but my wife just told me this past weekend that she doesn't want them to know until we drive through the front gate, which will be two days later. I don't know how we're going to do it or where to say we're going? My oldest is fairly smart and she knows that WDW is in Florida, when she sees us traveling from Illinois to Indiana to Kentucky, Tennesee then Georgia she's going to guess, or at least have a strong feeling of where her summer vacation is going to be. My wife has two reasons for not telling them ahead of time. 1st, Just in case anything happens that we have to cancel our vacation the kids won't be disappointed, and 2nd, on the drive down she wants the kids to enjoy the ride and not bug us constantly about when we're going to get there, because if they know it's Disney, they most certainly won't be quiet about it. It makes life a little more interesting, especially when I receive daggers from the wife when I forgetfully openly talk about intineraries and ADRs when the kids are within earshot, then having to cover it up somehow creativley, oops!

You could always try the: " We're going to Uncle ____'s funeral. We're in the will. We HAVE to go. We don't talk about HIM much. Hey! You can meet all your great aunts and uncles, and your second cousins (that we don't talk about) and all the rest of the family (that we don't talk about)! Sure, you'll have a great time!:hurl: "
Or
I think there is a web site where you can go (If you are stayin on property) that will give them a phone call (when you chose) to let them know (by Mickey) they are going to WDW, that you can set up for the morning that you leave. And the for the trip down, get some books (Birnbaum's) for them to look at while you are driving, so they can help plan out your days at the parks.
Or not.

 

[figment1985]

Wow! That is so cool, I wish my parents did that for me.

I like the idea about "taking her to school" but really being like "GUESS WHAT...? WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!"

I def think you tell her the day of, because she totally wont concentrate on her work if you tell her a week prior, no one could!

 

[Bigeagle]

JustPlainBill and Bug715: We're also leaving in 53 days (and 21 hrs+) and are even closer-South Carolina. My two DDs (ages 8 and 6) have known of our trip since Christmas Day--Mickey Mouse called our house and told us how excited he was that we were coming! This is our second trip in 2 years with the DDs--they're excited and beginning to ask "how many more days" already. Of course, I have my countdown clock at work, but I usually know. My DW and I are really looking forward to this trip!

 

[MissDiznee66]

Thank You ALL so much for the good suggestions! I do like the idea of "the day of" as well as the "surprise phone call from Mickey". I may do research on the latter to see if they are still doing that, because I had forgotten all about it. The leaving of clues days before is a good one too. And yes, it certainly was and still is hard to keep my mouth shut! And what makes it great too is that TODAY I got our DME stuff in the mail. So it's even more real, and closer! :sohappy:

 

[RedGear]

I like the being whisked away idea too. Does your daughter eat cereal in the morning. Perhaps you could print something on your computer explaining that she is going to Disney World and put it in the cereal box like one of those prizes that so often come in cereal boxes. Then when she opens the box and takes out the "prize" you can ask her" What's that?"
She may not have cereal for breakfast , but this might give you some ideas of some way to spring it on her.

I like that idea! I think I would have loved for my parents to do that for me!