This question comes from my reader Krista…
I am in need of your “followers” help! We are Disneyland people, and have always gone with everyone knowing and planning on our trip. This year is a bit different. The oldest kids have all moved out and that leaves our youngest (12) at home. The past year has been very trying on us and things have been very stressful and so we have decided that a surprise trip for my son and his friend that lives with us is the best remedy!
Sooo….. I am hoping you can ask your readers for tips on surprising 2 almost 13 year old boys with this trip. I already told them to plan on road trips this fall (as we drive from Utah) but that is about as far as I have gotten. I think it would be fun to not tell them until the actual first day at the park, but not sure if this is the best idea. We will be staying across the street and will be in the area a couple of days before hand, and I am afraid they will catch on. I am thinking of good ways of fibbing so they think we can’t afford it or we are just staying in that area cause it is cheaper but ugh…. I need help! Please let me know if anyone has any ideas!!
jen says
Our last “surprise” we told the kids my husband had a work convention in a town close to Orlando, and we would get to stay at the hotel and play in the pool, and check out some other local things. They were wonderfully confused when we drove under the Walt Disney World sign.
CIndy says
Is there a reason why you wouldn’t be going the first part of the vacation? If they know where you are going bnut know that they are not going to DL maybe take a walk to DTD and say you have to stop at the ticket booth becuase you want to see how much the tickets are now. And have them wait out of ear shot. Come back with the tickets. Actually that would be a good diversion if you did that in the evening when you got there tell them we can’t go into the parks (true for the moment) let’s go for a walk to DTD and then give them the tickets but tell them that we cannot go until whatever day you are going. Good luck! HAve fun! We love DL cannot wait to go back!
Kim says
I love surprise Disney vacations and all the great ideas on how to tell someone. I recently had a guest who made up a scrabble scavenger hunt and had had her kids find the letters, and then put the word together – Walt Disney World. It was great anticipation and a great game.
Chris says
To go along with the scavenger hunt theme, maybe do it as a pirates themed scavenger hunt and the last thing they find is a pirates map leading to DL.
Amber says
I agree with those that said tell them on the way. I would buy a couple of “cool” Star Wars tees online and hand them out along with a couple of $20 Disney gift cards(while Star Wars music plays on the car stereo). ;)
Ani G W says
I agree that anticipation is part of the fun. I would look up Disney surprise vacation (or something like that) on youtube. Maybe it will give you some inspiration… They have videos of every kind of surprise…good, funny, not so good, etc. Or maybe it will convince you, like it did me to never try and surprise someone with a Disney trip because it could go very wrong…
Gretchen says
We are surprising our kids in December, the oldest of which will be almost 13. We do an advent calendar every year with activities for the kids or our family to complete. We are going to have them open the days activity and it’ll say something to the effect of Celebrate with Mickey or the like.
However, I think it would be very difficult to surprise them at the point where you’re at the hotel. What about a scavenger hunt before hand? Or some other kind of game?
Dana says
We surprised ours by telling them we had to go visit an aunt in a nursing home. They were so shocked, but we took them in the same day. I read another person arrived late at night to the Disneyland hotel and the kids were asleep. So they didn’t really understand until the next morning and walking towards the front gate. I think trying to hide it for a couple of days before hand would be really hard. Personally, if I had to stay in the hotel, but not go into the parks, I would arrive at night. Then in the morning I would have a couple of gift bags with Disney themed stuff in them. T-shirts, hat, water bottle, gift card, park maps. Let the boys open it in the morning. Downtown Disney is always fun, even if you can’t go into the parks for a couple of days.
Jessica says
If you had younger kids that would bug you from now until the actual trip I would say wait to tell them. But given their age I think you should tell ’em and give them something to be looking forward too. I have younger kids so my ideas may be WAY to young for these boys. But maybe tell them in a super secret, super surprise kinda way. Then they could both be planning what they want to do while there. Also, Disney used to send out park maps to help with trip planning. Maybe request one for both of the boys to help them in their “planning”!
Lauren says
I would say anticipation is definitely a ton of fun
Bernadine says
I think that you should tell them on the way, maybe an hour or two into the trip. Then give them the details such as how long you all plan to stay, how many days at the park, which parks, etc…give them some maps and guides so they can plan what they want to see and do. I really think anticipation is half the fun.
allison says
just my opinion but looking forward to something is half the fun. You would hate to be in the area and have them sad they aren’t going. That’s no fun for anyone. Then they go to the parks and it’s over before they realize it happened. What about surprising them on the way so they have time to get excited and talk about it. Come up with a game plan of what they want to do. Maybe fill the car with Disney balloons so when they open it for the trip they all come flying out!
Kim says
I completely agree they would be very sad to be right there by Disneyland and think they can’t go. Telling them on the way would be a god idea. Maybe some time of game or clues to open every hour until they guess where they are headed.