How to tell kids (surprise!) re: WDWtrip

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
How to tell kids (surprise!) re: WDWtrip
7
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 3:02pm

So far, we've managed to keep it a secret from our two boys (ages 7 and 3). We're leaving Sept. 18. Probably will tell them within next day or two....any ideas on how to spring it on them??

thanks,
Kathy

Avatar for ashleysmomma2003
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 3:37pm

I made a little countdown with mickey heads attached to a string. Everyday my little one (almost3) pulls a head off and we count how many mickeys left. This is really cute.

When we sprung the trip on them, I made a calendar with the countdown and my older dd noticed it after a little bit when she was making breakfast. That was a long, long time ago! We started at 150 days...down to 4!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2004
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 4:45pm
I had someone from another board be the kids Fairy GodMailer and she mailed them each a postcard signed from a character saying that they were looking forward to the kids visiting.

Photobucket

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 6:03pm
I managed to keep it a secret until we got to the airport. I had the truck packed already the night before (sneaking laundry out peice by peice) and told her we had to run some errands. We got to the airport and she thought we were picking someone up. I told her we were going to Atlanta to surprise my mom. We got to Atlanta and my mom & I gave her a survey that could only be filled out at Disney. She contemplated that for a minute then asked 'when' we could go to fill it out. We said how about now?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 7:36pm

Give them an "unbirthday gift" with some of the items they will need for the parks.

Have a Fairy Godmailer send them a card.

SIgn up for them to receive an "Enchanted phone call".

Play Charades one night and have them guess an "Event" and pantomime it to them.

Tell the 3 YO and have him tell you 7YO.

Have the 7YO called to the principals office.

Make a "todo" list and leave it where you know the 7YO will read it.

um...that is all I can think of right now! ENjoy!

~Elena (Just got back with my DH, my almost 6YO, just turned 4YO and 14 motnh old!)

~Elena Princess Of Everyday Adventures! event.png
Avatar for carolejd
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-1999
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 7:43pm

I was going to suggest an Enchanted phone call too - from MIkey or maybe Stitch. I did that for my DD -it was Jasmine her fave princess who called to say how much she was looking forward to DD's visit (which has just made me think this may be a good way to spring the "surprise" of his birthday trip on my DH LOL!)

Also for the 7 yr old I would suggest giving him the book Disney World For Kids by Kids, and wait to see how long it takes him to figure out WHY he's been given it LOL!

Carole

Carole

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 1:08pm

Was the excitement of the surprise worth losing the excitement of anticipation?

We're going Oct 13. At first we didn't tell them because there were some other things going on that we didn't want to detract from. Now we are thinking of waiting. We've debated about telling them a week before, night before or that morning.

It's not like WDW talk doesn't go on constantly at our house so it has been pretty easy to do "what if" or "next time" type of conversations so I can plan without anyone getting suspicious. They have a few days off school and I'm thinking of trying to lure them into one of their "we should go this weekend campaigns" and then we'll just say okay, lets do it. My 8 yo wil probably know we had it planned all along but my 6 yo will think it was all his doing.

My only qualm is that for me the anticipation is almost as much fun as the trip. I don't know if thats a big loss to them not worthy of the surprise element.

Elisa

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 1:39pm
Hmmm