From the WDW Countdown iPhone app
We are leaving for Disney this Saturday at 6 am! We are telling the kids that we are leaving the morning of the trip. I am thinking that we would have their elves return from the North Pole with a sign saying they are leaving for Disney. I also have these awesome Christmas cards that one of my readers sent me that have $5 Disney gift cards in them. I plan to have those on display as well.
What would you do to surprise your kids the day you are leaving?
Noreen says
How do you have Mickey call your house? We are going on the Disney Dream Cruise and want to surprise the kids. A call from Mickey would be awesome!!!
Love reading your stories!
Thanks!
Jennifer Sutton- Discovery Toys says
I’m crying like a baby (happy tears!) reading the stories. Thanks everyone for sharing them!
Mine are 3 & 4 years old. We’re moving back to FL in a few months & plan on taking the boys once we do. They’ve never been & I can’t wait to surprise them the first time. I grew up with FL resident passes & with couponing I will make sure my boys do as well!!!
Tracy Ingalls says
We had paid to have a Mickey recording call our 14 year old daughter with a birthday wish greeting. (It wasn’t her birthday)!
Meanwhile, my husband and I were waiting around the corner with our Hawaiian Disney shirts and sunglasses on ready to pounce at her after she was to receive the call. The phone rang and she answered it. There was a pause so she hung up. We yelled at her from the other room, “Who was it?”
“Oh, just a telemarketer. I hung up.” She shrugged. Our mouths dropped with disappointment and shock. Did she really just hang up on Mickey???
It wasn’t but a moment later and the phone rang again. It was Mickey!!!
She listened this time and was a little confused that he thought it was her birthday but then she put two and two together after we jumped out at her and realized..”.WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY!!!”
Peg says
I’ve done 2 surprise trips. The first one was just my DD and myself in Oct ’09. I told her she had to come with me to an appointment, which was my reason for taking her out of school at 1pm. As we were walking to the truck, I made a big deal about how hot it was and took off the hoodie I had been wearing zipped up to my neck. She glanced at it and saw my shirt I had made. It had a picture of Stitch and said, “Life Is Good! I’m Going To Disney!” DD was confused, since we had talked about going in the summer for a dance workshop. She didn’t believe me when I told her we were leaving in 3 hours! She started jumping up and down and crying when she saw the shirt on her seat which had all of the characters and said, “Been There, Done That, and I’m Going Back!” I managed to keep it a secret from her for a year! It was booked on our previous trip as a bounceback offer.
My second surprise was for my nephew and niece this year. Their mother made them sit down to watch Toy Story (neither one was interested either). I had burned a DVD with the first part of the movie (a preview of WDW also), then it suddenly stopped and started a slide show of times we had spent together. After the slides, a screen appeared and said it had been too long since we had had a vacation together, so I was inviting them to join me and DD on our trip. I then had Fantasmic music playing and pictures from our trips. I LOVE surprising DD and have already started thinking of how I will do the next one.
Judy says
Whatever you do, be sure to video tape it! I know how much you love to see other famlies suprise reactions, so you need to have your own! (and we really wanna see it!! )
Meredith says
We didn’t tell our daughter where we were going at all and when we checked into the hotel, I slipped a “gift” for the desk agent to give to our daughter. When she opened it, she found a note and a gift from Mickey! She began to put two and two together and discovered her birthday surprise was a trip to Disney! She was so excited and the desk agent was so awesome in building up the suspense!
Meredith says
We always surprise our kids so we have to continually get more and more creative at how we tell them. Three of the “surprise” videos that I have are on youtube. We drive through the night when we drive to FL due to my son’s extreme car sickness so I sleep during the afternoon while hubby takes the kids out to movies, dinner, etc. When they got back I “pretended” that I had eaten Chinese food. The boys love the fortune cookies. I used tweezers and took out the fortunes and then replaced the fortunes with my own typed up fortunes telling them to get in the car that we were going to WDW. Here is the link if you’re interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kycbmx01BqY
Chris says
We surprised DS and DD years ago (about 15 actually) and it is still so vivid to all of us. First we were going to dinner (clothes packed by me in the trunk), then we took the long way home, then we decided we’d go to a car show. We stayed at a resort off property and went to McDonald’s for breakfast (2 minutes from the WDW gates). Nothing unusual so far. Then, DH gave in and decided he could hold it no more… we had to tell. The screamed and jumped so hard that the car was rocking!!! It was an awesome trip!
No matter how you do it, it will all be exciting to you all. Have a great time!
Mary Hughes says
We are heading to Disney next week. We have not told my 4 year old daughter. We are planning on telling her the day of the trip. My husband will go to work and then come home after a couple of hours wearing Mickey ears. The backs wll be packed and ready to go! This wll be her first trip on an airplane too! And then, when we are in the park, we will just happen upon her cousins!! They will be there a couple of days before us! So, she will have suprise after suprise!
Tricia says
Maybe you could bring back the elf, along with some wrapped boxes of “presents” that Santa forgot to give to them. Then, in each box, there could be something that is a clue to the trip. Hehe. Sounds like so much fun. I hope you post a video or photo.
Rebecca says
We are leaving on a Disney Cruise on the Dream on May 15, we haven’t told our daughters (ages 8 & 4) and we are planning a suprise party the day before. I am graduating from college with my bachelor’s in education, so we will have all of our family here the day before (on the 14th) !! That way the family can share in the suprise with us. We are going to have a luau party with all the travel brochures laid out and some other extra suprises, bags will be packed and in the car, We are driving down to Port Canveral on the 14th and staying in a nearby hotel! At the end of the cruise we are spending an extra 3 days at Sea World and Aquatica! Maybe I can keep the secret until then!! It’s already hard!
Michele says
My husband and I did not tell my son that we had a surprise Disney weekend for him. We picked him up from school and told him that we were had a surprise. We let his mind do all of the thinking. I will never forget the moment that he saw the Disney gates and was so excited that he did not go to bed until midnight. Kids are great and they have such great minds why waste them.
Angela D. says
We took our girls earlier this year…we didn’t tell them anything, just packed the car before they woke up and said we were going to drive around Orlando for the day looking at houses (we are moving there this upcoming summer)…they didn’t catch on that we were at Disney until we were driving up to the parking pay stands lol…before that they were excited that we were looking at houses NEAR Disney lol…of couse this worked for us since we live an hour away from WDW.
My cousin took her son recently and the way she surprised him was to fill a really pretty box wrapped with Disney Christmas paper with balloons..when he lifted the lid the balloons floated out and attached to one of the strings was fake tickets that she made saying they were expected on such and such date for a play date with Mickey Mouse..he loved that!
ChristinaS says
In 2008 we surprised out 4 girls with our first trip to Disneyland. After we opened all our presents from Christmas we found an envelope with the oldest daughter’s name on it and a sticker of Mickey (hint), in it was a message/riddle to solve to lead the girls to the next envelope for the 2nd daughter and a picture of Donald Duck (hint) .. so the scavenger hunt continued until the youngest daughter was to find the last item which was a box wrapped in Disney character paper (another hint!). The girls opened the gift and in it was a poster sized puzzle of the princess castle in Disneyland to put together. They put all the pieces of the puzzle together to find a poem written on it saying we were heading to Disneyland! They were so excited! My oldest was in such disbelief and started crying (she was a freshman in high school at the time). The kids were not only so excited to be able to take their first trip to Disneyland, but they loved the scavenger hunt in finding out – especially since we already opened our Christmas gifts, no one thought there would be another gift – especially a trip! It was a special and memorable 1st trip for us! (ist family vacation, 1st plane trip, 1st of many things!) We would love to go back and swore we would every year. Maybe with this couponing idea we will make it back to Disneyland or maybe even Disney World!
Kelley says
Mickey Mouse called our house and told my son we were going to Disney World on Christmas morning a few years ago. That was lots of fun!!
Last year we set down my son and nephew on our last night on the beach. We had told the boys we were heading to Bay Lake which they had no clue that was a disney resort. We had gifts for them that included red MIckey shirts to wear on the first day of Disney. We started our trip out with Chef Mickey’s so they looked great in their shirts too!!
Have fun and happy surprising!!
Judy says
We surprised our kids with a week before thanksgiving trip last year. I ordered signed photos from their favorite disney characters to give them as a clue. Since we left on a school day, when they woke up we asked them where they would like to go that day if they did not have to go to school. We went back and forth a bit with that and then gave them the pictures. Finally it dawned on them and we yelled we are going to disneyworld today. Had lots of other surprises with that trip – my dad met us down there, they got a gift each day (made up of items I bought at disneystore online with great sales and mailed to the hotel), lunch at cinderella’s castle pirate makeovers, and some favorite cousins of our coming down for a day as well. And yes it was really hard to keep all these secrets but so worth it with all the fun we had.
Michelle says
We are hoping to go to WDW in the fall and I already have it planned out what I am doing to tell the kids! I am going to have a package left at the door with a letter from Mickey asking the kids to come visit him and in the box I will have some disney stuff like pj’s for each kid and an autograph book and stuff for them to bring to the trip. However you do it they are going to be so excited!!
Karen says
We surprised the kids earlier this month with a trip to Disney World. We told them we were going camping in a hotel room at a park, and we would do lots of walking the park. Then the day before we left we sat down and watched one of these Disney Park DVD’s that we got that highlights different Disney attractions. The Travel channel had some a while ago. Then during the DVD we asked if they would want to go to Disney World? Like tomarrow? They were totally shocked, it took them several minutes and lots of is it true? Are you serious? for it to finally sink in. Then we got the response we thought we would of jumping and yelling.
Tonya says
We were going to surprise our kids (8 and [just turned]3) the day before we left. I was going to tell them that we were going to their grandparents because there’s no way I could hide packing from them. I rethought that because I was afraid that the 3 year-old would be upset about not getting to see her grandparents, and I also wanted them to have time to get really excited about it. (They’d never been.) So, a week before we left, we came home to find a glittering box addressed to them sitting in the middle of the living room floor. On top was a note from M.M. and Friends that told them there were clues in the box to help them figure out where they were going on for spring break. There were two layers of clues – honestly, I don’t remember what they were now! – and at the bottom was a ticket Disney World that my husband designed. Unfortunately, the whole thing didn’t work out just right because my 3 year-old just kept grabbing stuff out of the box and chunking so she could get to the bottom. My 8 year-old tried to follow the clues. At any rate, they were super excited.
Megan says
How exciting! There are lots of videos on you-tube. We ar going next December. My daughter knows we ar going but does not know when. When it come right down to it we are going to surprise her as well. I got both of the girls carry on bags and disney water bottles. I am also getting them fanny packs. Not sure what else I will do yet. Fun! I can’t wait to hear how you surprise them!
Jan says
Oh gosh I would have to tell my daugher- she doesn’t do well with surprises even good ones!
Beth says
Several years ago, we told our kids we were going down the Cape for Columbus Day weekend. We got up early (I had packed everything, because I’m bit of a control freak). Honestly, no one suspected a thing. We got to the airport and my kids saw their six cousins waiting for them at the curb. Even at that point, none of the kids knew what was happening. A cab rolled up with their Nana and Papa who told them we were all heading to Disney. I can still remember all 8 kids jumping up and down with excitement. And, their trip has been told too many times to count in school essays ~ got a lot of mileage out of this trip :) The kids talk about it all the time, we were together over the weekend, and they all talked about what a special moment it was when Nana and Papa got out of the cab! Great Memories – Enjoy your trip!
Melanie says
One trip that was a surprise – we told our kids we were going camping. We had stayed at a campground near Disney before, so this was OK with them. We pulled into the Pop Century parking lot, and DH told them he had to pick up something we left behind the last time we were there. Still OK with them. Then he whips out the video camera, and asks “Why do you think we are REALLY in the Pop Century parking lot?” Then it dawned on them, and to watch their faces light up – it was priceless!! They started sreaming and laughing and clapping their hands – I think they were 8 and 6 at the time. It was great!!
Tina says
I have surprised my kids with a trip to an amusement park and didn’t tell them until we were minutes away…I told them we were going to visit some family (or friends) and just thought it would be nice to take a trip…then played a “scavenger hunt” kind of game on the way there (like state signs passing through, exits, etc.)…then as we got closer, they saw the signs to the amusement park and got really excited when they realized that’s where we were going! :) It made the trip a lot nicer because they weren’t asking the whole way “are we there yet?”! Good luck and have fun! :)
Becky Williams says
I told my boys that since Austin was now 10, we wouldn’t be able to go this year because it would cost too much. Then on Christmas morning an extra box appeared – I had 3 balloon with helium in them and tied to the end was a legal sheet of paper with words in all different colors, like 7 day park hoppers, water parks, disney quest, the resort name, and pin trading like crazy!! The balloons rose to the ceiling and in the bottom of the box I had dumped the 100 pins that I got from ebay. They were very excited :)
Sara says
We surprised our kids by having Mickey himself tell them. :) We booked our trip in December and by doing so got a free Merry Christmas from Mickey in the phone call he said I hear you are coming to see me real soon, can’t wait. My kids about DIED with excitement. We also closer to our departure had an Aunt who had visited the parks a month before mail them Disney postcards signed by Mickey! So much fun. I can’t wait to tag along on this adventure. Happy Birthday to your hubby!
kristiana curtinseufert says
Where do I find ideas for cheap lodging for a family of 5, eating out etc? We live in wa state so we would be driving to Disneyland. Hoping tol figure out how much to save so we can start planning our trip now.
Also does anyone know how the lines are for Christmas?? This is our first trip so any help would be greatly appriciated! My email is [email protected]
Megan says
My sister has Disneyland on the cheap down to a science! They go about 4 times a year and at least once they will stay a whole week. They stay at “Days Inn at the Park”. It is on the north west side of the park. It has a free breakfast and mircrowave and fridge in the room as well as coin op washer and dryers on property. They bring almost all of their own food and only eat in the park once or twice in the week. She packs all of their snacks too. She gets fun snack food that she doesn’t usuall buy at home so when the kids start asking for park treats she breaks out something from her bag. Hope this helps! She is a family of 5 as well. I would also suggest cecing out every disneyland guide book your local library has and start reading. The unofficial ones have better info on how to do it cheap.
Penny =^.^= says
To be honest, if if was me I would be to excited and I could NOT hold it in as a surprise.
Stephanie says
We went the first week in December and our Elf left clues from Santa for a week leading up to the day we left. The morning that we were leaving the elf had a box from santa with Mickey Mouse balloons and a few other disney related items. The boys were so excited about this “early present” from Santa!! We jumped in the car and left!
Angela B says
We once told our kids we were going to the beach (so they’d know how to pack) and we got up at 1 a.m. and packed the car and then tried to get them in the car without waking them. They pretty much slept most of the way but then kept asking why it was taking so long (we’re from central AL). When they were good and awake, they kept noticing all the signs with Mickey & Minnie and all the others and our 12 yo son said to our 8 yo daughter, “I think we’re going to Disneyworld!!!” It was SO much fun and I was shaking as I was trying to video as we were passing the toll booths. The only drawback was the fact that our daughter said we were “lying” … but we told her the beach was nearby! It didn’t take long at all for her to forgive us!
Kelly K says
In October when we took a trip to Washington DC we didn’t tell our 16 year old son we were going anywhere. I emailed his school to send home work for him. He even brought it home thinking it was stuff I had to sign. We woke him at 4am telling him to get a shower (he usually showers at night so this was odd). We told him we were going away but wouldn’t say where (at this point he was concerned because he would no longer have perfect attendance, weird kid). We drove to my inlaws and got a ride to the train station. Took the little train into Philadelphia to then take Amtrak to DC. He never knew where we were going until we got on the train and he had his ticket in hand. Funny thing is we had talked about the trip in front of him for weeks and sent the dog to stay with someone and he never figured it out! It was great having the whole thing be a surprise to him!
Jessica says
I’d make them Mickey mouse pancakes for breakfast in bed you cam have the gift card and the elves present too or just breakfast
Linds says
Since we have to fly, we usually pack everything up in the car and take them to the airport- then we tell them when we get there. I saw a video online where they had a big box wrapped and when it opened these balloons popped out- all Disney theme and a sign on it that said “We’re going to Disney!” That looked like a fun idea.
Toni says
We surprised our son for his 10th birthday last year with a trip to Disneyland. We told them we were staying in a hotel nearby for the night, but then the next morning, we drove to the airport in a blizzard and gave him the Disneyland sign that said “Happy 10th Birthday! We’ll be at Disneyland very soon!”. He still didn’t quite understand until we were in line at the airport! LOL We also have it all on video and the look on his face as he read the sign was priceless. :)
Surprises are SO much fun..but REALLY hard to pull off. We kept letting little things slip so we finally told him we were helping someone ELSE plan a trip!
Good luck with your surprise. Take lots of pictures and video for us!
April says
Leave a trail of Mickey’s (paper punches or some such) from their rooms to their packed suitcases & then to the elves.
lori says
I think that idea is AWESOME!
I surprised my kids with a Mickey mouse cake!!!
Kelly says
I don’t have any suggestions, but please post a video of the kids when you do tell them, I’d love to see their reactions!! Have fun!
lori says
I agree with this, it would be so cool to see it! I don’t know how you keep it in :)