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Surprise Disney trips

Walt Disney World: Share your surprises - planning, secrets, reactions and success! Tell your story here...

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted September 2, 2011 at 5:21 PM
Have you ever been surprised with a trip to visit the Mouse? Or have you ever surprised someone else with this amazing news?! Whether last minute, for a birthday celebration or for no reason at all...share your stories here!


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted September 2, 2011 at 7:27 AM
My first surprise trip was when I was about 15 and my mum came home from work a few days before Christmas, sat me and my dad down and said....WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY FOR CHRISTMAS!!! We flew on Christmas day, swapped gifts the night before and left for the airport at 4am... It was the best week of my life!

I've had my second surprise trip only recently...I was coming home from work on the train from London and my mum (again) calls me and says... How would you like to join my and your gran in Florida in September?!?!? Yes please! She had saved up enough air miles to buy me a flight!!! With hardly any time to go now (fly on 26/09!) I am immensley excited!

I cannot wait to surprise my own kids in the same way... It seems to be the best present ever...

From Andrew Mooney
Posted September 3, 2011 at 12:48 AM
This will look to be a recurring theme of Christmas :P I was about seven at the time and excitedly ran down the stairs to my presents. After opening up my Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet toys - they became popular again a few years ago in Britain - my parents turned my attention to the fireplace. Sitting right in the centre was a white envelope. Mystery surrounded my siblings and I. Did Santa leave one last present? My dad pulled it from the fireplace and began reading. We all jumped around in joy that we would by flying that morning to visit the mouse. This would be my third visit to see Mickey and gang, so we knew how special and amazing place WDW was.

Everything about the trip was amazing, from flying our thunderbirds through airport security, to playing in the snow at Market Street in Celebration. It was one of the best surprises Santa had ever given us and will be cherished for years to come.

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted September 5, 2011 at 1:00 AM
Thanks Andrew, that's a wonderful story! And how restrained of them not to tell you until the day! It msut have been like a dream come true :-D

From luke rainey
Posted September 5, 2011 at 3:40 AM
When I was 10, it was my brothers 13 birthday, unfortunately we were flying down to London on that day, he opened his presents while in the airport waiting to get on the plain, once we were on the plain there was a passenger announcement completely in French and I heard the word paris, I said that I think this plain is going to paris, he just said it's probably just stoping in London and then onto Paris, my parents where sat in front of us, they turned round and said they had one last present for my brother, it was a Paris guide book, we then realized we were going to Disney land paris, we spent 3 days there and another 2 days in Paris. It was amazing

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted September 5, 2011 at 4:35 AM
Hey Luke! Can't believe your parents managed to convince you the plane was going to London instead of Paris, thats prety impressive...you must have been totally shocked! And how great that you got to share in your bro's present. Did you see the dragon under the castle?

From Andrew Mooney
Posted September 5, 2011 at 5:19 AM
Thanks Lauren, it was magical. Its safe to say that my parents have never kept a secret as long as that. They're usually too excited after booking, and tell us straight away. For children, being told that they're going to any Disney park is special but Xmas is the most magical time of year.

These stories are wonderful, thanks for sharing :)

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted September 5, 2011 at 7:19 AM
You're right Andrew, just reading your stories takes me back to that moment of realisation...the confusion, the disbelief...and then the eventual uncontrollable excitement!!!

It's insanely exciting for kids, but we planned a good surprise for my mum's 50th birthday. Her and my dad had booked a 7 night Disney cruise and unbeknownst to my mum, her best friend Meg and her husband also booked on the same cruise. (Also my mum and Meg share the same birthday...!) So the night before the flight, Meg has her daughter video tape a sentimental 'you've been friends for so long' interview...which concludes with a 'by the way we're coming with you...'

I have to say this was the first time I have seen someone genuinely shocked... but once we persuaded her it was no joke, she got to spend her holiday and birthday with her best friend and the Mouse. Classic.

From Nick Markham
Posted September 5, 2011 at 8:04 AM
My first trip to Disneyland was when I was 5. Sort of a surprise, because even though my parents had told me like the week before and every day after, when we got in the rental car to leave, I asked where I was going! :D

There's the capacity of a five-year-old's brain for you! :)

From Carlo Guardascione
Posted September 7, 2011 at 8:01 PM
My boyfriend works for Hyatt Hotels and when we travel we stay for free. But one time, I surprised him with a room at a Disney hotel instead of the usual Hyatt we stay at. While we were driving there, he kept saying he thinks we're lost because we're nowhere near the Hyatt. Then I turned into the Disney Swan and surprised him. It was really cute.

From Deidre Dennis
Posted September 8, 2011 at 7:04 PM
I've never done this but I'm planning to do it this December. For a Christmas present, I am flying myself, my husband and our son to spend 7 nights at Universal Orlando. It will be our first time staying on site. My husband knows we are going and when, our son only knows we are going somewhere. My husband and son don't know that we are also visiting Discovery Cove while there and I won't tell them about that until we actually drive up to Discovery Cove. It's hard keeping it a secret but I'm so excited.

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted September 13, 2011 at 2:23 AM
Oh well done Deidre! It'll be worth keeping it a secret! I've always want ed to do Discovery Cove, it's a really top notch surprise. Are you all going to swim with the dolphins?

Carlo - what a lovely thing to do! It's so worth splashing out for something different. And don't you just love watching their faces as the realisation sinks in?!?!

Yay we're all making Florida moments!

From Kelly Muggleton
Posted September 13, 2011 at 3:47 AM
2 things stick out for surprises.
The first time I went - I was 11 and had been hassling my parents for about 9 years - when can we go and see Mickey? Are we going to see Mickey yet....
I was sat down and told 'so for our holiday this year....we're going to see Mickey!' I didnt scream as expected - was in total shock! Those were the days when no one from the UK went to Florida...we couldnt even fly direct!

2nd time, we had a 2 centre holiday, Las Vegas and Orlando for my sister's 21st birthday. When we got to Orlando, I woke up on the next morning to find an envelope under the hotel room door. My parents had arranged for me to be a trainer for the day at Discovery Cove...I cried! :-)

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