We're making a two-day stop to Disneyland while visiting some relatives in S. CA. The kids are 3 and 6. We'd like to tell them before we leave (on Mon) so someone else doesn't spill the good news for us.
Does anyone have any fun ways of telling the kids? We'll tell them tomorrow. I can't think of anything creative, and I'd just love to illicit that great reaction for the video camera! My daughter loves the princesses and my son loves Mickey.
Thanks creative Moms!
Yesterday we began giving the kids hints. We used the one by April C by saying that it was small enough to fit in their hands, but bigger than the house, as well as some other hints like it's somewhere you go, not something you get etc. This morning I made Mickey Mouse pancakes and we continued to ask them what they thought the surprise was while they were eating. Finally, I gave them t-shirts and Mickey/Minnie stuffed animals and my 6 year old DD got it. She said in a whistful voice, "..so the princesses really do exist..." and my son can't wait to see Mickey.
And all caught on video. That's for the great ideas!!
Oh, shoot, probably too late to do this, but we wrapped up a Tinkerbell sweatshirt with a little note that said something like "You can wear this when we go to Disneyland in two days!"
Make mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast!
Here's what we did. We sat down to breakfast one morning (tickets purchased, hotel reserved, but the kids had no idea). I said, "Well! Let's decide what to do today! Do you guys want to decide?" They both said yes. I said, "Okay... let's see. Choice #1: We could go upstairs and do math flash cards all day. Choice #2: We can go to ocean beach, where it's all windy and cold, and get sand in our cracks. Choice #3: We could go to Disneyland. What do you guys want to do?"
Of course, my oldest kid way over-thinks things. She looked very serious and said, "Can I think about it during breakfast?" My husband and I were totally baffled - this was not the response we expected. Hy husband said, "Well, what choice are you leaning toward?" and she says, "Well I don't think you would REALLY just take us to Disneyland today, so I'm thinking the beach sounds like more fun than flash cards..." ROFL!!
When our kids were 6 and 10 we took them to Disney. We staged it by "finding" some early Christmas presents - that were Disney T-shirts. I had gone to the Disney store and bought a princess one for my DD and a lilo & Buzz LIghtyear for my son. You could just as easily use a Disney mug or picture frame - or anything else you can find in a local store. The tags on the presents said something like "this is for you to wear when you're there..." We all pretended to be puzzled as they opened their presents. We included the tickets inside the presents (took them right back afterwards). We had a videocamera and regular camera handy so we could record it for all time. It was alot of fun to see them hugging each other, standing at the calendar trying to figure out how long before we went, jumping up and down with excitement, etc.
Ahh - those were the days... ;o)
It's too bad that you can't surprise them by just showing up there. THAT would be the best! :)
I know you're not going for Christmas, but my mom told us that our Christmas present was "bigger than the house, but fits under the tree". We racked our brains, we enlisted the help of our friends, we "stressed" it a bit. When we opened the package (which fit under the tree) that had our itinerary, and realized we were going to Disney, that rocked our worlds!
Online, the Disney store has shirts that say, I'm going to DIsneyland. You can check and see if the stores have them. Maybe you can wrap that up for your 6 year old and get a doll or something for the 3 year old. I wonder if you go to their website if you can see other videos to get some ideas. They show them on TV all the time.
Mickey/Minnie or princess doll on their bed with a card from the doll that references the trip i.e. I can't wait to see you, or, come visit me next week, etc.
Get the biggest box you can find and some wrapping paper with a HUGE bow. If they already have any Disney toys, put them in the box with a nice note about how you are going to Disneyland. Wrap the box and watch their reaction as you open the box.
I also loved the Mickey pancake idea too.
You could also go online and let them see the website and ask them if they would like to go there and then let them know what you have planned.
Anyway you choose, have your camera ready to roll and capture their reaction.
I did a treasure hunt and the last clue led to a present with a princess dress, tiara and shoes! Can't wait to hear other ideas as we are going back!! Have fun!
Oh yeah...in the box I created a note with the castle on it and said, " this is it, one last clue. We're going where dreams come true!"
Can your 6yd old read? If so, give them a paper or card from Mickey and the Princesses that says something like "Can't wait to meet you in person" or "See you when you get here". Then say "We're going to Disney" just so it sinks in.
If it were me, I probably wouldn't say anything, just sort of 'drive by', then when they saw the sign and begged to go, i'd say, well, I don't know 'uncle joe is waiting', then when they begged a second time, i'd say, OK, let's go!! Then when we got to the gate, walking up to the ticket counter, pulling out my wallet, I'd say, oh, what do we have here? Tickets in my purse??
