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As some of you know, my last attempt at surprising my kids was a bust. I didn't get the reaction I was waiting for. They were surprised and happy about the trip, they just didn't show it.
This time, my kids know about the trip. They've been part of the planning process, choosing meals and extra parks they want to visit. But there is one little detail that they ignore... our accommodations.
Yes, that's right. My kids have no idea we are staying at AKV-Kidani. They think we're going back to POR, which btw, they're super excited about.
My original plan was to not tell them anything. Let them think we're indeed staying at POR and then surprise them as we get off at Kidani. But that's easier said then done. First off, I already received my first Disney mail, the MDE package with the flashdrive. I was very happy to see it until I opened it and realized the info was customized to our stay. In other words, it said we were staying at AKL. So I haven't been able to read it or use the flash drive because I don't want the kids to find out about the resort.
The second issue will be when I receive the luggage tags. They will say the resort and unfortunately for me, they all read. I can always put them on last minute and try to avoid them seeing it.
But, my real dilemma is, I'm afraid that when they find out they'll be disappointed. Because, in their minds, they're going to be spending their vacation at POR. They had a great time on our last vacation. They're already making plans about swimming, about who's sleeping on the murphy bed, etc. I have these horrible thoughts that they won't like the idea of staying anywhere else.
I've talked this over with my husband and he says he's ok with whatever I decide. But that's the thing, I'm having a hard time deciding. Part of me still wants to surprise them and part of me wants to tell them and get them excited also.
It sounds to me like it'll be nearly impossible to keep it a secret until you arrive, so maybe you should just tell them? Maybe start by showing them photos or videos and saying, "Oooh, this looks so great, look at that pool!". They'll probably think it's really cool and will then be excited at the adventure of staying there. It would be so sad if they got off the bus all disappointed at not being at POR!
I'm another voting for telling them as it does seem you won't be able to keep it until you were there. Like you, I'd also be afraid the kids would be disappointed if they had other expectations.
Your flights look great! I wish would could get prices like that coming from NM, but no such luck. We also ditched the DP once the kids hit 10, it just doesn't make sense for us to pay for "adults" that don't eat like adults. Although mine can pack it in sometimes, other times they would prefer to just have a bowl of soup. We found OOP to work much better for us. As for telling your kids about the resort, I would think most about your kids. I know if my kids thought we were going to one resort and at the last minute found out they weren't, even if the other was somewhere they would love to stay, they would possibly be unhappy because of their expectations. Other kids would be super excited. Good luck deciding, either way they will be happy in the end.
Well after reading my PTR you already know that I was unable to keep a secret from DH about staying at AKV. I found I was stressing over the same things as you. DH can read so that makes everything harder. And he thought we were staying at POR and was getting excited about being there too. I kept my mouth shut for a month or so and then tortured him for a few days with a riddle. You could do something like that with your boys. Make it a surprise, but a pre-trip surprise rather than a day of trip surprise. That way you get a little bit of the surprise factor and the kids won't have their hearts set on staying somewhere else. And you don't have to be so sneaky with the trip documents. I'm actually glad I told DH, but I had a really fun time making him guess his "surprise".
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Surprises are soooooo hard to keep...... I know I am holding one in right now, and it's killing me! But i do agree that you can still surprise them, and have a fun family night talking it up then revealing! Your really creative and can come up with a fun surprising way to do it!
The only reason I agree with doing so is that they seem so excited for POR, you might not get the reaction you're hoping for if you wait till you get there.
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I agree with the others, I think you should tell them. Like Laurie said, you can start showing them pictures and videos and getting them excited about staying at AKL.
I agree with everyone else, that you should tell the boys before you leave about staying at AKL, especially since they've already stayed at POR. They are probably thinking and dreaming about doing all of their favorite things there, and maybe even some new things they might have missed out on last time you were there. While AKL is totally cool, they just might be bummed to miss out on the things they planned to do at POR. I like Lisa's idea of having a family fun night before your trip where you do some cool reveal about staying at AKL. That way you still get to surprise them, but they have time to get used to staying at a different resort
why not leave the package out and see if they say anything about where it says they are staying. Who know they could be excited to stay at AKL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
It sounds to me like it'll be nearly impossible to keep it a secret until you arrive, so maybe you should just tell them? Maybe start by showing them photos or videos and saying, "Oooh, this looks so great, look at that pool!". They'll probably think it's really cool and will then be excited at the adventure of staying there. It would be so sad if they got off the bus all disappointed at not being at POR!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I'm another voting for telling them as it does seem you won't be able to keep it until you were there. Like you, I'd also be afraid the kids would be disappointed if they had other expectations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TuffyCO
I already fell behind in your PTR!
Your flights look great! I wish would could get prices like that coming from NM, but no such luck. We also ditched the DP once the kids hit 10, it just doesn't make sense for us to pay for "adults" that don't eat like adults. Although mine can pack it in sometimes, other times they would prefer to just have a bowl of soup. We found OOP to work much better for us. As for telling your kids about the resort, I would think most about your kids. I know if my kids thought we were going to one resort and at the last minute found out they weren't, even if the other was somewhere they would love to stay, they would possibly be unhappy because of their expectations. Other kids would be super excited. Good luck deciding, either way they will be happy in the end.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Well after reading my PTR you already know that I was unable to keep a secret from DH about staying at AKV. I found I was stressing over the same things as you. DH can read so that makes everything harder. And he thought we were staying at POR and was getting excited about being there too. I kept my mouth shut for a month or so and then tortured him for a few days with a riddle. You could do something like that with your boys. Make it a surprise, but a pre-trip surprise rather than a day of trip surprise. That way you get a little bit of the surprise factor and the kids won't have their hearts set on staying somewhere else. And you don't have to be so sneaky with the trip documents. I'm actually glad I told DH, but I had a really fun time making him guess his "surprise".
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
Surprises are soooooo hard to keep...... I know I am holding one in right now, and it's killing me! But i do agree that you can still surprise them, and have a fun family night talking it up then revealing! Your really creative and can come up with a fun surprising way to do it!
The only reason I agree with doing so is that they seem so excited for POR, you might not get the reaction you're hoping for if you wait till you get there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
I agree with the others, I think you should tell them. Like Laurie said, you can start showing them pictures and videos and getting them excited about staying at AKL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
I agree with everyone else, that you should tell the boys before you leave about staying at AKL, especially since they've already stayed at POR. They are probably thinking and dreaming about doing all of their favorite things there, and maybe even some new things they might have missed out on last time you were there. While AKL is totally cool, they just might be bummed to miss out on the things they planned to do at POR. I like Lisa's idea of having a family fun night before your trip where you do some cool reveal about staying at AKL. That way you still get to surprise them, but they have time to get used to staying at a different resort
Thanks everyone! I knew I could count on my Passporter friend for some great advice. I tell you what we ended up doing in a little bit.
Thanks to all my Passporter friends who confirmed what I had already thought! I talked it over with Arben and we decided that we would tell them. But before I could come up with a very clever idea on how to do it, he blurted out to the kids that we had a surprise for them. So much for creativity.
What I did was I called them over and told them to look at the booklet I'd received. I told them it had info about the new magic bands, fastpass +, and also our accommodations. When they got to the page where AKV was pictured they asked, "Is this where we're staying?". I said yes. Then, not really understanding, they asked "Which resort is this" and I answered "AKV". I proceeded to tell them about the resort, our room, the amenities. I looked up videos on YouTube so they could see for themselves how awesome the resort is.
I'm glad to inform that there was no disappointment from their part. No tears or suffering over POR. They were pretty excited, not jumping up and down excited, but excited nonetheless. So crisis averted!
Now I can focus on the other creative, fun things I'm planning for this trip. And my kids start school tomorrow so I can start with my projects, without them around the house being their nosey selves.
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I didn't get the reaction I was waiting for. They were surprised and happy about the trip, they just didn't show it.
In other words, it said we were staying at AKL. So I haven't been able to read it or use the flash drive because I don't want the kids to find out about the resort.
Oh, decisions, decisions...
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I know I am holding one in right now, and it's killing me! But i do agree that you can still surprise them, and have a fun family night talking it up then revealing! Your really creative and can come up with a fun surprising way to do it! 
So much for creativity. 
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