We told our then 2 year old that we were going to Mickey’s House for her 3rd Birthday. Honestly, that was the LONGEST 8 months EVER! Every day, she asked “Are we going to Mickey’s House today?” Understandably she was excited, it was her first trip to Disney World and for her Birthday. Honestly, I’m not telling her next time we go until a few days before. Of course, everyone will have their own opinion of the pros and cons of telling their kids they are heading to “The World”.
I tried a few things to get her to understand when we were going. My first was a big calendar and we marked the day we were leaving, when she had preschool, and other special events in between. It worked okay, but she was too young to understand the countdown calendar. Better for kids a little older.
About a month out I made a countdown loops chain and draped it her room. This worked a little better, but yet again for kids a little older.
Other ideas are on Disney’s site when you log in that tell you how many days you have until vacation, I found were count down clocks, countdown meters for your computer all over the web. Buy an inexpensive white board and put it on the fridge and countdown your days too. Wrap a few small boxes and put numbers on them to countdown. My favorites are one you can include you child in like a calendar countdown or loops chain.
Get out your advent calendar and make it look more Disney like. This way you can put Disney stickers, coloring pages, a few crayons, a few dollars in each day. Then your set to travel and the kids will be getting excited each day!
When my daughter gets older we will start doing these craft countdown projects, but until them I’m not telling!
Brande Grieder is the author of this article and has entered The Disney Moms writers contest. Brande shares a bit about herself: “I’m a homemaker to my wonderful husband who works very hard so I am able to stay home and care for our daughter who will be 4 soon. I’m as thrifty as I can be, love my coupons and consignments stores! All for the love of Disney World to save and go as often as possible!”
That was the best week of my life!!!! We had such a great time! Maybe even more fun then our honeymoon @ Disney World!!!! Maybe….
Thanks for the great Ideas!
[...] Brande Grieder: To Tell or Not to Tell? [...]
My little brother saw on disney channel that disney land has cars land and he asked if we could go. I jokingly told him if he saves up enough we can go. he took me seriously. He has a coke bottle piggy bank and hes trying to save up for it. However a six year old doesnt understand how much it will cost hes constantly asking if he has enough
We will be taking our 4- and 5-year old daughters and I’ve already thought about NOT telling them until it’s right close to going. Maybe as little as about a week. I think anything more than a week’s notice would lead to tears and anxiety on all ends, LOL.
Even though it’s a better age for countdowns than age 2, I’m still not sure the concept of time is great enough yet. And I even remember being a kid myself that time took forever!!! Now that I’m in my 30′s the years just fly by! But each and every average day for kids takes an eternity that becomes even more agonizing when they are anticipating any special date.
>.> I’m 23. I’m going with my mom and dad to Disney world in 8 days, I remember when the counter said 69 days… everyday I have bugged them both about Disney.. Disney this and Disney that…..I’m still doing it o.o’ I love Disney, I’m a Disney-holic admittedly. I’ve bugged my parents sooo much for 61 days that now with only a week left till we hop on a plane, my dad is all excited! It pays to be a bugger!!