Originally Posted By tinkerbell227 We leave in 43 days for 5 days in the happiest place on earth I'm so excited! BUT...We have not told the kids yet I want to surprise them but still haven't decided how to do it. So, tell me how you told your kids you were taking them to Disneyland and when did you tell them? I would love to hear some ideas and stories
Originally Posted By Labuda 36 hours until I leave for the airport! Oh, and, yeah, I went shopping in order to avoid doing laundry before I pack tomorrow.
Originally Posted By KatieKate123 Though are surprise trip was to WDW we told the kids by doing a scavenger hunt. I had things like a autograph book, a pent a camera, etc for them to find, and then I made them think about where they were going. They couldn't figure it out. I also did not get the surprise I was hoping for b/c they were in shock but the next day they were very very excited.
Originally Posted By Terminus My kid usually tells me. Son - "Dadda, I want to go to Disneyland." Me - "Ok."
Originally Posted By iamsally We always just asked the kids if they wanted to go to Disneyland. (Would have been a major bummer for us if they had said no.) My daughter likes to book through Disney so her kids get a character call.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 We are taking the kids to DL as a Christmas present. We are going to pick them from school on the last day before their break and drive straight to the airport. We are planning on just saying casually once we get to the airport, "oh, yeah, we thought it would be fun to go Disneyland today. What do you think?"
Originally Posted By 73baloo A few years ago the song Wipeout was huge in an add campaign for SoCal and Disneyland. I called the local radio station and asked them to play it and then at the end yell out the kids names and that they were going to Dinseyland. Priceless moment.
Originally Posted By nevadarebel A couple of years ago, we didn't tell our kids until they figured it out when we were on Disney Way. They were 12, 10 and 8. We told them we were going to the beach and for a soccer tournament. Whenever and however you tell them, have your video camera ready because the reactions are priceless. I love looking at the video over and over and seeing the joy on their faces. Depending on how old they are, I love the idea of the scavenger hunt but do it close to when you are leaving...I think that would make it more exciting then telling them now and having to wait (I am going the same time you are).
Originally Posted By 73baloo Just saw that I cannot spell ad or Disneyland. Yikes. You can also pay for a character call without having to book through Disney. My granddaughters loved getting a call last Fall before we left for a week over Thanksgiving. I had booked through Disney so part of the package but on my reservation sheet it said that I could book other calls as well.
Originally Posted By ploeb909 I Love this part! Telling my children we are vacationing at the DLR is the best! In the past, before they got to old, I would send a letter on cute paper to them from different characters. When the Chrystal Skull came out I sent a letter from Indiana Jones requesting help! When Pirates came out they got a letter from Jack Sparrow asking that they participate in a sleepover. Whichever way you do it-YES! Have a camera,we didn't an regret that part!;(
Originally Posted By Kevin Flynn Going on the belief that anticipation is almost as enjoyable as the "real thing" we told our kids weeks in advance and counted the days down every day. It was another way to share and spread the magic over a long period of time. I think the "surprise factor" isn't worth the cost of losing the enjoyment that anticipation gives.
Originally Posted By KatieKate123 Totally agree Kevin, this is why my kids already know they are going back to WDW even though it's over 170 days
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x I remember one time that was particularly fun. It was my birthday. We were at my grandma's, which is only an hour away from the parks, give or take. My girls were 5 and 2, and I told them we were going home. They had a tendency to fall asleep very quickly in the car, so I took advantage of that. My oldest woke up when we got off the freeway and asked where we were. I told her I didn't know and I was lost. I asked her if she could look around and find a sign to help me figure out where we were. (we were currently on Harbor, going towards Manchester, where our hotel was). She looked around and when she saw the Monorail, she said "MOMMY! We're at DISNEYLAND!!!" LOL it was the BEST! We had so much fun that trip...
Originally Posted By DyGDisney Our best kept Disneyland secret was when my dd graduated 6th grade. It is a big deal here because we have no 8th grade graduation. We got her a cellphone for graduation, and when she turned it on the Wallpaper was a picture I made that said, "We are going to Disneyland on Sunday!!!" The look on her face was PRICELESS! I have pictures of the changes in expression, and they will always be wonderful memories for us.
Originally Posted By BrerFoxx Disneyland was so fun as a kid, but now that I have kids it is so much more fun!!! I have had my parents and sibblings write my 4 year old son letters as Disney characters and send them in the mail. In the letters they said things like, "I heard you might be coming to see me again soon!" And they would put pictures of the characters who they were writing as at the bottom of the letter. He loved getting those in the mail. SO now that he knows we've been doing fun things each weekend to get excited about it (we are going at the end of Arpil). First we had "Walt's own Chili recipe" for dinner one night. Then last week we had french toast that I cut the bread with from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter I bought on our last trip. And this weekend we are making Churros!!! We also make a countdown, once the kids know, with those paint sample thingies you get at home depot that have the Mickey Silhouettes on them. (Hope home depot doesn't mind that I do that Man Disneyland is so fun with kids! I am totally prepared for meltdowns and tired cranky kids, but the non grumpy times will more than make up for it!
Originally Posted By murfsmom We never told told the kids where we were going, didn't matter if it was Disneyland,New York, Knott's. I would have everything packed and in the car after they went to bed and when we woke them up we'd say,ok grab your favorite toy and lets go ! They would try and guess and most of the time guessed right . But they didn't realize we were going to New York until we were on the plane and they announced.They were in such shock they were getting on a plane they didn't pay attention where we were going. We found that if they knew before they would be so wound up they wouldn't sleep and neither would we ! LOL
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x I would love to plan a trip to WDW and not tell them we were going. I would tell them we were going to Sea World or something (since we would probably leave from SD Airport).. I love watching the videos on TV of the kids finding out they're going.
Originally Posted By MerryMouseWife "I think the "surprise factor" isn't worth the cost of losing the enjoyment that anticipation gives." We have always felt the same way. I felt a dig of disappointment the one year we surprised them and missed all the anticipation discussions. However, that is just what works for our family. I love the current ad campaign here where the children are surprised with the news. We have 304 days until our trip and now that the kids are older, like married and away at college, , the anticipation factor has changed but we still talk about the first ride, where we hope to eat and so on. Whatever way you decide to tell them, have a video recorder handy to catch their reaction. And have a great time on your trip!
