We can either, A. Tell them the minute we wake them up that day, B. Tell them that morning we are going to see their Great-Grandpa in South Carolina and try to keep it a secret all the way to Anaheim. They are 4 and 7. thanks!

We can either, A. Tell them the minute we wake them up that day, B. Tell them that morning we are going to see their Great-Grandpa in South Carolina and try to keep it a secret all the way to Anaheim. They are 4 and 7. thanks!Unless seeing the Great Grandpa would be better than Disneyland to them (and thus Disneyland is a let down) adn you don't think they will notice things like "Last call for flight 1234 to Los Angeles...", my vote would be keep it a secret all the way to the DLH (oops, the plane made a wrong turn, might as well go to Disneyland!) Yes, I have pulled stuff like this on mine, I am a BAAADDDD mommy....

I think I read somewhere that someone had told the flight attendant and they were able to get the pilot not to mention the city. Not sure if they could actually do that- seems like they almost have to....

I think I read somewhere that someone had told the flight attendant and they were able to get the pilot not to mention the city. Not sure if they could actually do that- seems like they almost have to....They do, cause there are those who do get on the wrong plane. But, usually distractions are great. And at their age, depending on their naiveté level, you can probably pull it off. It is not like they are saying Flight 1234, to Disneyland... If they are saying "Long Beach" or LAX, you can always pull the "Thats the stop after we get off..."

I would keep it a secret as long as possible. At 4 & 7, you should be able to keep them in the dark for a while. I love doing this. We surprised the kids last summer with a weekend at the beach. Another time, we went to an amusement park and told them we were going to the dentist.

We are going to Williamsburg in April to Busch Gardens. We are staying at Great Wolf Lodge that has an indoor water park. They think we are going to a 'conference' with DH. I specifically made it sound as boring as possible. We are not going to tell them until we pull up to Busch Gardens.

I would keep it a secret as long as possible. At 4 & 7, you should be able to keep them in the dark for a while. I love doing this. We surprised the kids last summer with a weekend at the beach. Another time, we went to an amusement park and told them we were going to the dentist.

We are going to Williamsburg in April to Busch Gardens. We are staying at Great Wolf Lodge that has an indoor water park. They think we are going to a 'conference' with DH. I specifically made it sound as boring as possible. We are not going to tell them until we pull up to Busch Gardens.I used to do this all the time too. Now, they are too old to have fun. My 19yo was too old to fool by the time she was 5, but my youngest was 14 the last time we got her with Disneyland. I actually had them asking not to go a few times, "Its too boring!"

I used to do this all the time too. Now, they are too old to have fun. My 19yo was too old to fool by the time she was 5, but my youngest was 14 the last time we got her with Disneyland. I actually had them asking not to go a few times, "Its too boring!"

Ooooh, that is soooo depressing. My kids love the water, they are like fishes so I think the water park will go over well.

Ooooh, that is soooo depressing. My kids love the water, they are like fishes so I think the water park will go over well.Let me rephrase, I would tell them we had to go to a conference for mom, they would be staying with a cousin or some other nonsense. THAT was boring... They would ask not to go. Reality was, we were going to Disneyland!!

Let me rephrase, I would tell them we had to go to a conference for mom, they would be staying with a cousin or some other nonsense. THAT was boring... They would ask not to go. Reality was, we were going to Disneyland!!


phew! That's a relief.

For me, a good part of the trip is the anticipation. I would tell them when you wake them up, then let them share in the excitement of the trip. Maybe you could make a game of it, like playing "20 questions". "I'm thinking of a place we are going today, can you guess it in 20 questions?". Or you could tell them you were going on a special trip, and let them guess the location as you travel. I would NOT tell them you were going to one place, then go to another. I just think it's important to not lie to children, even if it's a "fun" lie. Better to just keep it mysterious but honest. That's just the way I was raised. I still remember the "Santa Claus" talk. When I was old enough to ask if there was really a Santa Claus, my mother told me that Santa Claus was the spirit of Christmas. She never lied to me. And I respect that.

We can either, A. Tell them the minute we wake them up that day, B. Tell them that morning we are going to see their Great-Grandpa in South Carolina and try to keep it a secret all the way to Anaheim. They are 4 and 7. thanks!

When we went in February, our plane left after lunch, so we sent my daughter to school as usual and arranged for her grandma to pick her up from kindergarten when it was over. She thought grandma was just taking her a 'date'. We all met at McDonalds for lunch, and she got back in Grandma's car and Grandma told her they had to go 'for a drive'. When she got to the airport, and saw we were all there but we had already checked our bags etc. so She still had no clue. We just casually asked her to change from her heavy winter coat and boots (we live in northern alberta) and still didn't mention why. She even asked me if Daddy was going on a business trip! Finally we asked her what she was going to do that afternoon... and said we thought that today might be a good day to go to Disneyland. She was shocked! It was alot of fun to surprise her... but hard to keep the secret because so many people had to help us coordinate and execute our plans!

For me, a good part of the trip is the anticipation. I would tell them when you wake them up, then let them share in the excitement of the trip. Maybe you could make a game of it, like playing "20 questions". "I'm thinking of a place we are going today, can you guess it in 20 questions?". Or you could tell them you were going on a special trip, and let them guess the location as you travel. I would NOT tell them you were going to one place, then go to another. I just think it's important to not lie to children, even if it's a "fun" lie. Better to just keep it mysterious but honest. That's just the way I was raised. I still remember the "Santa Claus" talk. When I was old enough to ask if there was really a Santa Claus, my mother told me that Santa Claus was the spirit of Christmas. She never lied to me. And I respect that.


Isn't the whole concept of Santa Claus lying then?? Just because you tell your kids when they get wind of the truth doesn't change the fact that it is a deception. I think there are times when it is OK to fool someone, like April Fools Day or having a Surprise Bday party or a surprise trip. I also think that there are times when we need to shelter children from the truth. I don't think it is fair to compare a surprise trip to 'lying to children'.

I don't know how any of you do it!! In theory, I would love to surprise my kids but I don't think I would be able to keep it in. I do nothing but talk about our trip. I think the kids are even tired of my constant, "We're going to Disneyland"!!

I don't know how any of you do it!! In theory, I would love to surprise my kids but I don't think I would be able to keep it in. I do nothing but talk about our trip. I think the kids are even tired of my constant, "We're going to Disneyland"!!

I have never tried to do it with a Disney trip so I think you may be right. It would be very difficult.

I don't know how any of you do it!! In theory, I would love to surprise my kids but I don't think I would be able to keep it in. I do nothing but talk about our trip. I think the kids are even tired of my constant, "We're going to Disneyland"!!


One of the biggest reasons we are doing a surprise this time is that we spent so much time building up the trip last time it couldnt live up to the expectations. Months of planning and talking. The last 2 trips my dd has ended up sick with stomach trouble the week before the trip. She actually has a stomach ache today, and just thinks we are flying to long beach for a business trip.

hlbtimes2, when are you going?

The only way I'm able (so far) to keep this in, is that they think we will probably go this summer, so I am able to talk about it, and they are very excited. They keep asking when, when?! My DD7 wants to miss school, but we've told her that we'd rather go in the summer and we're just waiting to find a good deal on a hotel. (We leave April 23!) I guess it's not actually a complete surprise since they know we will be going at some point. It will just be a few months earlier than they expect!

I would feel a little bad "lying" if we said we were going to see great-grandpa, mostly because I think it would really confuse our 4 year old. I can see her asking a day later "where's great-grandpa?" And yes, Disneyland is much better than seeing great-grandpa! My husband thinks we should wake them and tell them we're going to see great grandpa, then when we get to the airport and see the flight to LAX, say "Hmmm, should we really go see great grandpa, or should we go to Disneyland instead?" Poor grandpa! We could never tell him!!!!!!

One of the biggest reasons we are doing a surprise this time is that we spent so much time building up the trip last time it couldnt live up to the expectations. Months of planning and talking. The last 2 trips my dd has ended up sick with stomach trouble the week before the trip. She actually has a stomach ache today, and just thinks we are flying to long beach for a business trip.

Oh! I know the feeling. I'm mortified that I have psyched myself up so much that I'm going to get sick next week. A co-worker came to work with strep today and I nearly burst in to tears. I think I'll try the "surprise" trip when we go back in a couple of years when my 2 year old is around 4 or 5. (I'd like to take her around her birthday since the trip next week is 3 days after my son's 12th birthday!)

hlbtimes2, when are you going?

!!!!!!


TOMORROW! We leave Seattle about 7pm. Its going to be a long day at work tomorrow! We'll be in the park Fri- Sunday, and fly home on Monday.

I guess my whole life experience and general attitude about this type of thing is different than the other posters here, but I would tell the kids as soon as I was sure of the trip so that they could be involved with the planning and overall anticipation of the trip. I've never understood the whole idea of trying to keep a family vacation secret.

-Jeff

I guess my whole life experience and general attitude about this type of thing is different than the other posters here, but I would tell the kids as soon as I was sure of the trip so that they could be involved with the planning and overall anticipation of the trip. I've never understood the whole idea of trying to keep a family vacation secret.

-Jeff

I kind of agree, but we've always talked about doing this, and a big reason is so they will not have a hard time sleeping the night before we leave. Also, as some have said- their kids seem to make themselves ill with excitement/anticipation. Although I hope surprising them doesn't make them sick from shock or excitement!

I guess my whole life experience and general attitude about this type of thing is different than the other posters here, but I would tell the kids as soon as I was sure of the trip so that they could be involved with the planning and overall anticipation of the trip. I've never understood the whole idea of trying to keep a family vacation secret.

-Jeff


We just did Disneyland in Oct as a family planned trip. We planned for 6+ months. Its not like this is a once in a life time trip and I'm not letting them help plan it.

We just did Disneyland in Oct as a family planned trip. We planned for 6+ months. Its not like this is a once in a life time trip and I'm not letting them help plan it.
Right, as we go 3-4 times a year, letting them think one was going to be a boring conference never hurts. Or, that we were staying in a run down hotel without doors and you shsare bathrooms... My daughter actually bought into this one...... We actually stayed Conceirge level at the Hilton.

... I don't think it is fair to compare a surprise trip to 'lying to children'.

If you lie to them it is. To not compare them is lying. You can tell them you are going to visit some people you haven't seen in a while and you are planning to have some fun. You are under no obligation to tell them anything more, or other than "just wait until we get there, I'm sure there will be a surprise or two." Kids of that age understand not spoiling the surprise, they also remember being lied to...

It's the difference between pretending and lying to their face. Kids (at least older ones) understand the difference between pretend and real. For many years adults pretend there is a Santa Claus, and kid's play along, even as they grow to notice contradictions. But it's one thing to pretend there is a Santa Claus, and another entirely to say flat out that Santa Claus exists when a child starts looking for the truth. I'm also not into "sheltering children from the truth". It's always possible to tell the truth in a way that children can handle. They don't need to be lied to. I don't think a suprise trip is lying - I didn't say it was. But telling children they are going to one place when they are actually going to another is lying. And if the children are told they are going to Uncle Albert's house and they end up at Disneyland, then the next time they really visit Uncle Albert they are going to be in for a nasty suprise when they don't end up at Disneyland.


Isn't the whole concept of Santa Claurs lying then?? Just because you tell your kids when they get wind of the truth doesn't change the fact that it is a deception. I think there are times when it is OK to fool someone, like April Fools Day or having a Surprise Bday party or a surprise trip. I also think that there are times when we need to shelter children from the truth. I don't think it is fair to compare a surprise trip to 'lying to children'.

Well said Diane...