Secrets, secrets!!! When is the ideal time to tell the kids? About This Page:

[mousestruck]

We've booked a trip to WDW for the end of October. It will be our family's second visit, after an incredible first-time experience last fall. DH and I are debating about when we should tell the kids (ages 7 and 3 and half). We don't want them to feel like the wait is forever, but we also don't want to deprive them of all the exciting plans and anticipation.

We've determined that we'd never be able to pull off a last minute surprise, but can't decide how long to wait until we share the news. (They'll be so thrilled!) We've held back two months so far, after booking plans end of Feb, but it's such a hard secret to keep!!!

What do you guys think? How far in advance do you tell your kids, and what do you do to manage the anticipation and inspire the magic? Please share!

[goofy4goofy]

I'm not sure when to tell them, although I'm sure others will have some ideas. But here is something that I learned to do on the boards that helps ME with the anticipation:

I make a countdown chain with different colored construction paper. On each one, I write the days remaining and each one will have a fact or an activity. For example, Day 10 wil have a 10 on the chain and maybe something like "Watch Cinderella." Everyday I tear a link off the chain. I think your kids would have a lot of fun with it!

Also, watch the planning DVD or video together and have the kids write down (or you help them write) what attractions and shows they really want to see in each park. Watch the videos that go with that attraction (My son loves the "Disneyland Fun" singalong tape--WDW and DL are the same to him, "Flik's Animal Kingdom Adventure Singalong", "Beach Party at WDW Singalong" and "Camping at WDW Singalong.") You could also watch Dumbo, for example, if one of them can't wait to ride that attraction.

Have fun planning with the kids! I couldn't keep it a secret for very long!!

Kelly

[2girls]

I always tell my hubby that I'm going to wait for the last minute surprise, but the excitement gets to me and I end of telling them (8 & 2) the day I book .

Kristine

[MontiMouse]

Our first trip we did not tell DD until we got to the gates of Disney. We kept the secret for 11 months and through the drive from Louisiana. She turned 5 during the trip and had never been to Disney before so we really wanted her to find out about it and enjoy it at the same time.

Our trip this past February was her Christmas gift from Santa. We made a countdown chain the day after Christmas but 60 days to her was just a really long time. She did not really get excited about it until we were less than 30 days out. At that point we were able to start gathering things for the trip and we started talking about rides, resturants, etc. Of course, all our priority seatings and other plans had already been made.

I think waiting until a week or so before is ideal that way the children don't have to wait too long for the actual trip but they also get to experience some of the anticipation and excitement of packing and getting ready for the trip.

[MickeyMAC]

The first year we went it was a Christmas present for everyone including my husband. I made out coupons the said good for One Trip to Disney World and put the date. I put them in their stockings, needless to say our house erupted that Christmas morning. They were so excited.
I kept our spring break trip from the kids for about 6 weeks this year, but I'm not that great with secrets.

[Taleena]

The first time we took our DD (then age 5), we told her when we booked, about 7 months in advance. A lot of the novelty had worn off by the time the actual trip came around, and we did all sorts of stuff to try to prolong the excitement. This year (she's now 8), I don't intend to spill the beans until we are on the way to the airport, when I'm going to give her a word search with the hidden phrase "we are going to Walt Disney World" for her to find.

[LisaJ]

I think children this young should be told one week out. They really do not have any concept of time and it is too much burden on them to understand a vacation that is so far away and never gets here. A week of planning excitement (they like it, too..) and anticipation would be perfect and they could understand and deal with that. You could still do some activities that lead up to the moment you leave.

[statelady01]

Our boys found out about our Mom-Sons trip (taken in March) at Christmas. They were excited from day 1 and we kept it going up until the time we took off! It was great- that being said, we are going to surprise our brood next summer- if we can keep it under wraps- Mom and Dad are going to have trouble containing their excitement.

[Steph A]

For our first trip we told DD about 1 month out (age 4). Any longer and I think she would have driven us crazy because it seems like sooo long to a young child. We enjoyed the planning video, disney store shopping, etc. for the last 30 days before the trip.

For this last trip we told her at dinner the night before. She did not stop talking about disney until her little head hit the pillow (and surprisingly she did sleep).

She was too young to have much input in planning other than Dumbo, Cinderella's Surprise Celebration, and a few of her other favorites. So, the surprise reaction was great!!!!

Happy Planning!
Steph A

[KBZ]

We were trying to make our current trip a surprise, but our 7 year old figured it out, when we got our "Welcome Back postcard" from Disney. Now, she is helping us keep it a secret from our 5 and 3 year old. They will find out when we get to the airport!

[pooh222]

We are also surprising our 3 boys in june. I've purchased at the disney store 3 Mickey t-shirts & I think I'm going to put that & there park pass in a mickey gift bag & give it to them the day we are planning on leaving. My other option was to sit them all down & tell them we are driving down the Eastern seaboard to site see& ask each of them if they could go anywhere where would it be. I know they will all say disney so i was going to say to DH "well i guess we could just go to Disney instead." & then get in the car & go.

[lilsweepr]

We are going the first week of December. We are going to tell our kids, 8, 3, and 1 at the end of July. We are going to put up our Christmas tree and wrap a disney present for each one and then one present for them all that says "We are going to Disney World!!". It will be a little early yes, but when the time gets closer they will get excited again. I just like the idea of them wondering what we have our tree out for in July. Our own little "Christmas in July".

[SharonK0527]

I have a three-and-a-half year old DD who has been to WDW twice and Disneyland/California Adventure once. The first time we took her, she was only 2 so it was more of a learning experience for her. Before the trip, she didn't know a whole lot about Disney. Needless to say, she learned a lot on that trip! Once we got back, she has been totally into Disney ever since. We took her again a year later for her 3rd birthday and she was MUCH more into it. We told her well in advance and, like others have said, she doesn't understand the concept of time yet so she was asking us every day for months when we were going. Our next trip is for a few days right after Thanksgiving this year and I would like to surprise her. Since she knows Disney so well now, I'd like to see her face light up when we enter the main entrance and she sees the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" signs!

My advice is, if you can't keep it a secret, don't tell them too far in advance. A week or two at the most - that still allows them some anticipation time but it's not TOO long to wait before they actually get to go.

Good luck & have fun!

Sharon
Columbus, OH