The Good , The Bad of not telling the kids about a trip - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The Good , The Bad of not telling the kids about a trip
i know the good part is the surprise factor .
But to me there is too many bad sides my and molly did alot of things for our trip last december and i'm just not getting into this trip . i did not even do a 6 month countdown. i'm not grumpy but this just dampering me a bit . i love what i'm doing and know that the surprise is going to be awesome but i do not think i will do this again or if i will make it too much further i'm dying to do something but my partner in crimes does not know anything . any suggestions to help me would be greatfully appricated to help prepear for a magical ending .
thank you all
jeff
Just remember that its not just the surprise factor. Its hearing them tell the story for years and years to come that they woke up and found out they were going! It will make a MUCH better memory then them being in on the planning. Plus, once you surprise them, its hard to do it again, so they can help you plan NEXT time. Sit back and listen to the squeals that are sure to come if you are just patient enough!
Just remember that its not just the surprise factor. Its hearing them tell the story for years and years to come that they woke up and found out they were going! It will make a MUCH better memory then them being in on the planning. Plus, once you surprise them, its hard to do it again, so they can help you plan NEXT time. Sit back and listen to the squeals that are sure to come if you are just patient enough!
Thank You
it this puts my head in a better prespective on things you are just sooo right . but i miss my partner helping me plan our trip and telling me a thousand times where and what she would like to do .
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Last year when we went to disney, we did not tell the kids about it at all. However, they did think we were going on vacation, but to Cape May, which is where we usually go every year. So we were still able to do a countdown...which was good, and they did not get suspicious with the suitcases, since they thought we were going to cape may for the week. But it was worth the effert in not telling them....and there were a lot of moments when me or my DH wanted to cave in and tell them b/c they would truly be excited. But I have to tell you that I still cry when i watch the video at the airport when we are telling them that we are going to disney world and not cape may. Their excitement and their looks on their faces are so touching and so magical!
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Caribean beach 91, off site 94, Disneyland 03, Pop century 08, Saratoga springs 2009, Beach Club December 2009, Key West January 2010, Beach Club 2010, Wilderness Lodge Christmas 2011, Saratoga Springs 2012, Disney's Grand California Disneyland 2013, Disney's Yacht Club 2013
Thank You
it this puts my head in a better prespective on things you are just sooo right . but i miss my partner helping me plan our trip and telling me a thousand times where and what she would like to do .
So is this a surprise for your wife or kids?? or everyone?
Last year when we went to disney, we did not tell the kids about it at all. However, they did think we were going on vacation, but to Cape May, which is where we usually go every year. So we were still able to do a countdown...which was good, and they did not get suspicious with the suitcases, since they thought we were going to cape may for the week. But it was worth the effert in not telling them....and there were a lot of moments when me or my DH wanted to cave in and tell them b/c they would truly be excited. But I have to tell you that I still cry when i watch the video at the airport when we are telling them that we are going to disney world and not cape may. Their excitement and their looks on their faces are so touching and so magical!
thank you for sharing this if this is not motivation to keep it a secret nothing will .
We are surprising our kids (DS10, DS9 and DS3) this time, and we have never done this before. They don't think we are going back until the adoption of our daughter from China is complete (which is going to be a few years from now). But we are going back this November, and I am SO EXCITED!! We are going to surprise them the night before. I am going to get those Disney paint cards (shaped like Mickey's head, you can get them at Home Depot) in all different colors and make a trail with them, up the stairs to the guest room, where I will have the packed suitcase and a gift bag full of goodies for each of them. Just anticipating their reactions is so exciting for me... as exciting as the trip itself!!
When I have kids, I would LOVE for the opportunity to surprise them with a trip like that. This thread almost makes me want to run out and get pregnant just so I could surprise them with a Disney trip (Kidding, of course!)
We surprised my kids once, and it was a blast! Yes, I totally understand the disappointment of not involving them in the planning, but it was such fun to think about their squeals of delight when they found out. (Also, this was a last-minute getaway -- planned only 2 or 3 months in advance -- so it wasn't as hard to keep the secret.) We told them we were flying to Boston to visit friends, so they could help with packing, knew we were picking them up from school early (and had to get homework for the two days they'd miss), and why we were heading to the airport. They didn't realize we were going to Disney until we were on the plane! DS started wondering why the sign at the gate said Orlando, but we convinced him it was for the adjacent gate. Then when the pilot announced our destination, they totally freaked out!
So bottom line... yes, it's hard while you're planning, but the memories of your kids discovering they're doing to Disney will be priceless. Good luck, Jeff... and have fun!
We surprised our kids one time and it is something all of you will never forget. It does lessen the planning excitement, but the excitement that your child will feel when they find out is priceless.
It is hard not involving them but the reward is SO worth it. I surprised my son with a trip. Picked him up at school and even had my mother go in to pick him up so he wouldn't know. It was a December surprise. (Mother Nature surprised us with a snow storm on the way to the airport. We barely made it out....6 hours late.) My son still talks about it to this day. There is still the same tone of awe in his voice now as there was when I handed him the Christmas card saying where we were going. Stay the course. You can do it, and they are only young once.
It's not that much longer. You can hold out. Just think about the looks on there faces when the time comes. If you need someone to plan with you know we will all help.
It sounds very exciting and I hope to do this for my kids one day too! I can't even imagine how excited they're going to be about it when they find out and what great idea's you've gotten so far to suprise them. Not sure if you'll do it at home but the Mickey trail is adorable and I'm thinking black, yellow, red and maybe white balloons!!!!
Hang in there, I'm sure it will be worth it! Keep us posted!
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