We are taking the kids (girls 6 and 4) for their first trip to WDW in November. I absolutely do not want to tell them until the last possible moment (to protect my sanity), but how much time is required to adequetely prepare kids for what is in store?
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When to inform the kids
- Thread starter fuzzyyozhik
- Start date
JustPlainBill
Active Member
We're leaving this Saturday for WDW, we told our kids two weeks ago.
Our sanity is still intact...for now!
Our sanity is still intact...for now!
YodaGirl
New Member
My parents always told us not long after they made the reservation. We always helped plan.
Plus, it was useful in keeping us in line. I'll never forget the day my brother and I were fighting and my mom picked up the phone to call WDW and cancel the reservations. Of course, she didn't REALLY do it, but she made it sound like and...and boy did we straigten up. :lol:
Plus, it was useful in keeping us in line. I'll never forget the day my brother and I were fighting and my mom picked up the phone to call WDW and cancel the reservations. Of course, she didn't REALLY do it, but she made it sound like and...and boy did we straigten up. :lol:
BigB911
New Member
My DD has known from the moment we booked the trip. We've had her involved ever since. She's been earning Disney Dollars...she's up to about $50 now and we're 9 weeks out. She was also just given an ATM/Bank that can be programmed to "earn" a certain amount; the amount is programmed in and the bank knows how much is deposited, and counts down the amount. It can also store a date, to have the amount saved by a certain date. So now she checks for loose change every day to save even more money.
But...she doesn't know about her scheduled BBB visit and CRT breakfast!:drevil:
But...she doesn't know about her scheduled BBB visit and CRT breakfast!:drevil:
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
Welcome aboard :wave:
With kids so young I'd probably leave it until about a month before you go - still gives them an opportunity to get involved and also prevents them from becoming hyper by mentioning it 10 times a day
With kids so young I'd probably leave it until about a month before you go - still gives them an opportunity to get involved and also prevents them from becoming hyper by mentioning it 10 times a day
Daddymouse
Member
We were in a similar situation. We let our children DS (5) and DD (4) at the time about 6 monyhs before. We practiced how to act while in the parks, staying together at all times etc... Our two were trying to earn money to spend. A great lesson that they learned. They had chores to accomplish and saved their money. DS even earnd 25 cents for cleaning out gutters for Grandpa. My mother was furious that my dad only paid him that amount for the work he did. DW wasn't happy about DS climbing on a roof cleaning gutters. In the end we were complimented on how well behaved our children were.
Break it to them when you either get on the Disney's Magical Express bus or if you are driving I have found the toll plaza at the parks to be a good spot.
Roxas
New Member
A few years ago 2-3 my mum sent me and my bro to granparents house the night before (some excuse) and met us at the airport to see off my dad who was "going away for work", didn't tell us untill we met hem at the airport, and my bro didn't believe her until we touched down in ORL.
JustPlainBill
Active Member
Even though we began planning our trip to WDW over a year ago we didn't tell our kids about it until about a month or less before we are leaving. It wasn't because we thought they would drive us crazy, not at all. It was because we didn't want to disappoint them if we had to cancel during the year because of disaster or hardship.
TwoTigersMom
Well-Known Member
I kept our April 2007 trip a secret from the kids for 3 years. At dinner before we left, Mickey called to congratulate them on their upcoming trip, then the waitess brought out a couple of little "gifts" I had gotten them and said "Go home and pack because you're leaving for WDW at midnight!" Since then, I haven't been as good at keeping secrets. The boys know about all of our upcoming trips through January. We're going next June too and i'm keeping that one a surprise. I'm going to do the same thing and not tell them until the day before we leave. After our April trip last year, DS3 new we were going back in December and all I heard was "Is it Detember yet?" He even packed his suitcase once and sat it by the door. I asked where he was going and he said "I'm going to Detember Mommy!" :lol:
DisneyGigi
Well-Known Member
What if it is the parent that gets hyper and mentions it 10 times a day?? :lookaroun
We always told ours as soon as we made all the plans official but that is because I was always so excited I could not wait.
mom22monkeys
New Member
i remember when i went as a child (9yo) with my cousin (5yo) my uncle told us we were going to tennesse, which is not exciting for a 9yo and 5yo the morning we were leaving he told us we were going to disney and i was soooooooo excited!! i still remember jumping around like crazy!!
YodaGirl
New Member
That is totally me! :lol:
Beccone
New Member
We told our kids when we had booked the trip, abour 6 months prior to our trip, and I kinda wish I had waited a little. For the first month everytime we got in the car my son would ask if we were going to Disney, lol. Now we have 18 days to go, we've been marking down the days down on the calender. My 3 older kids (age 4, 5 and 12) have watched just about every show on the Travel channel that is about Disney and have read and reread their guidebook for kids a dozen times. I think by the time we get down there they will be able to tell us everything we may want to know concerning every aspect of the park, lol.
coltow
Well-Known Member
DS has known for months. He's tall enough now for many more rides so we wanted to prepare him for some, but he still says no way to ToT. We have included him on planning and he's been really good about it. He even is excited about a few of our dining choices. We (like another poster said) have been working on staying together, using "listening ears" and holding hands. When he doesn't follow the "Disney Rules" we tell him then he might not be able to go.
MKCP 1985
Well-Known Member
Be sure to tell them before you start your trip. . . and whatever you do, don't tell them you're going to D!ck's house. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MIBxhh_R_w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MIBxhh_R_w
Tinkerbelle*
Premium Member
We have gone about 7 times and for the last 5 straight...and everytime they knew we were going by Christmas time but not when...Santa has left clues and or tickets in nice little boxes under tree and in stockings...they always say its so great Santa helps out....:xmas::animwink: BUT they do NOT know the exact date....and until this past trip was able to surprise them waking them up and saying "C'mon were going to Disneyworld now...." Has worked out wonderfully but a bit of stress on my part to keep the secret...I start packing at least 3 weeks before so they never know....they LOVE the surprise and frankly one of my children would keep everyone up due to the excitement. I email teachers a month prior and remind them to keep the secret asking that homework be available to pick up closer to the date....well this year a teacher mentioned the surprise to the counselor to have her log days absent and the counselor called my son down and said So you are really going to Disneyworld Thursday? :brick: She had been TOLD it was a surprise...all 6 teachers knew this....she was doubting he was missing a week for a family trip....I called her and asked WHY!!!!!:veryconfu I always notify everyone and call the school absence line the night prior for the record.
Anyhow...this year it will be a surprise at Christmas and they will know the date because my oldest is entering High School and will only be missing 2 days but rather needs to know...but I will miss the surprise wakeup excitement....they were all so good at zipping out of bed and scrambling to the van to get a breakfast of fresh bagels, cheese and oj boxes....LOL I even faked making their school lunches the night before...:king: They know the world so very well that while we discuss things we wan't to do "next time" all year round...they have no problem coming up with priorities on the spot once there....usually they bring the latest edition of Unofficial guide to review on flight down....
:sohappy: I can't wait to go again.............
Anyhow...this year it will be a surprise at Christmas and they will know the date because my oldest is entering High School and will only be missing 2 days but rather needs to know...but I will miss the surprise wakeup excitement....they were all so good at zipping out of bed and scrambling to the van to get a breakfast of fresh bagels, cheese and oj boxes....LOL I even faked making their school lunches the night before...:king: They know the world so very well that while we discuss things we wan't to do "next time" all year round...they have no problem coming up with priorities on the spot once there....usually they bring the latest edition of Unofficial guide to review on flight down....
:sohappy: I can't wait to go again.............
ChrisandDonsMom
New Member
I told my oldest son (who'll be 10 in December) about our trip in December. He can handle it. My youngest is barely a year old, :animwink:
Olijimcha
Member
We told our 2, 5 & 6 yr old when we booked, they've been saving their money, taking part in the planning & counting down the weeks....however we've told them that we fly out a week later than we actually do, can't wait to see their little faces light up when we wake them up to tell them it's time on the day we are going