Is it Wrong to Not Tell the Kids We're Going to DLP??!

[Sulley's Arms]

Hi All

Just saw the 'How many sleeps until..' post and it got me thinking that we're actually going in March but we're not telling the kids until nearer the time.  Is this just wrong??

When we tell them we want them to be excited, but also to stay excited, so if we announce it too soon, it might just become less special.

What do you guys do?!

[A&S&O]

Hi All

Just saw the 'How many sleeps until..' post and it got me thinking that we're actually going in March but we're not telling the kids until nearer the time.  Is this just wrong??

It depends if you're taking them with you or if you're having a sneaky trip on your own!

[Mrsya]

My 4 year old couldn't have handled more than a 30 sleeps countdown. We do a 60 sleep countdown now he's older and it's one of the most exciting parts - the build up, the discussions about what rides to go on etc. We do a calendar and a paper chain that we rip a link off every day. It's totally up to you how you reveal it and when - I've heard of people who wait until the day!

[daddyof2]

It's not wrong at all - you know if your kids can cope with knowing and not getting overexcited. We didn't tell ours last year and it didn't affect their enjoyment

[Aurora1]

There is no right or wrong! Only you know your kids.!
With my daughter, we did both ways. When she was about 6 or 7, we didn`t tell her until the day we travelled. Man, I still remember the look on her face!
When she got older, she loved to be involved in the planning. She is 14 now and we`ll do a trip to WDW. And are picking out and reserving restaurants right now!

[SwipatronSparks]

having been on both sides of the coin (surprise trips and ones known about months in advance) i think that when they are younger the closer to the trip the better it is, too long and theres a chance they will 'forget' (not quite the right word but what i mean is they could just let slip in their minds of how long there is till they go on holiday) they are going and the excitement will wear off a little but then come back full force when you start packing. but then when they are older and more able to have an input in the planning aspect eg. where to eat, maybe they have a favourite hotel etc. then telling them further in advance is just as exciting because they can have that input.

[Zee79]

Its up to you as a family how and when you tell them. I always tell mine in advance- once we have booked up, usually in some kind of interesting way. We went at New Year so I 'got' Olaf to let them know, my nephew came with us and Buzz 'told' him. However my brother did not let us know he was joining us as a surprise on New Years Eve. My sister in law got my 2 nieces (age 4) up at midnight and told them they were going to the park, it didn't dawn on them until they arrived at the Hotel Cheyenne, they thought they were going to one of our local parks haha so got excited then.

Do whatever you feel is right for you.

[DisneyMichelle]

I am going with my friend and her 4 year old in a couple weeks and we are not telling him anything untill we are 5 mins away. We will tell him we are going on a trip for the day somewhere special and then when we are very close we will reveal to him and get him to look out for the road signs for Disney.

He has been asking to go every time he sees the tv adverts so this will be really special for him! cant wait!!

[Beltane]

We booked our trip (27th of March) long before Christmas as a present for our daughter. The cost for the 3 of us, tickets, flights and accommodation  was the same as the school trip they had planned (coach, ferry, one day in the park) which she really didn't want to go on.

Keeping that a secret until Christmas day was a nightmare, but so worth it. I'm sure that keeping it quiet will pay off in the end. Have a fab trip!   

[Susiesuedisney]

I wish we had kept it secret for a lot longer............now they keep asking every time we speak to them....."when are we going to Disney?"...... We aren't going until July!!!!

Making an advent type Disney calendar for the 24 days leading up to when we go

[stecal]

I booked my next trip over a year ago but didn't tell the 2 youngest until xmas, i made them a four week countdown each with a disney character on each day so they know when we are going and get to cross it off each day.

[ThriftyJenni]

I told my daughter who is 4 because I needed to be excited with someone haha! My husband is excited but not like me and our daughter haha!!

[sarahh83]

1st visit i booked it in the june and we went in the december, i stupidly told my 2 year old boy and every single day he asked if we were going!

2nd visit we didnt tell him til we were 20 mins away from arriving, he squealed the entire 20 mins until we pulled on to the santa fe car park

3rd visit booked for 23-27 december this year .... not telling him!! my best friend and her partner are coming with us this time, i think having them in the car will throw him off the scent .... we are planning to give him a present in the car from santa,saying that santa left it at their house .... he'll open it to be told hes going to disney as santa knows how much he has wanted to go again

[disneymagic006]

We travel on Easter Monday. We are gonna do an easter Egg hunt at home on Easter Sunday with disney clues which will lead to a big announcement that we are going to Disney and some disney goodies each - ears, notebook, drink bottle. Kids are ages 6, 3, 2 & 1. Hoping they love it!

[daddyof2]

We travel on Easter Monday. We are gonna do an easter Egg hunt at home on Easter Sunday with disney clues which will lead to a big announcement that we are going to Disney and some disney goodies each - ears, notebook, drink bottle. Kids are ages 6, 3, 2 & 1. Hoping they love it!

That sounds great - our youngest was nearly 2 but we thought our eldest (nearly 4 at the time) might realise what was going on. Despite them both being dressed head to toe in Mickey and Minnie Mouse on the day we left, and a lady at St Pancras nearly putting her foot in it, there was no realisation until we got the luggage tags on the train and she recognised the logo.