Want to win Christmas this year? Give your family a magical vacation to look forward to! Not only will they treasure the memories far longer than any toys, you can skip the shopping madness and actually enjoy the season!

If you’re going to surprise your kids with a trip, you’ll want to make a big production out of it to maximize the fun. There are so many great ways to reveal your gift. And lots of talented folks out there making resources to help if you’re time (or creativity) starved. Here are some of my favorites:

The Bum Rush

If you’re planning on leaving for vacation right away, and your kids are young enough – you might be able to keep the secret until you get to the airport, or even all the way to Florida. Popular ploys are “we’re keeping daddy company on a business trip,” or “we’re going to grandma’s”. But make sure they won’t be disappointed when they find out they aren’t going to the original location.

Surprise via gifts

There are so many travel related items that you could gift your kids like luggage, backpacks, water bottles, toiletries. You could have them open a series of items that are not necessarily Disney related, and see if they pick up on the theme. Then progress towards more specific and revealing clues like Disney shirts or Magic Bands.

The box-within-a-box technique is a lot of fun too. Wrap a series of boxes nested inside each other until they get to the surprise. Some ideas for the last box:

Surprise by clues

If your kiddos are a little older, you might want to challenge them a bit and stretch out the anticipation by gamifying it. Give out little hints daily with an Advent Calendar. Or you could create a scavenger hunt (or buy one on Etsy), have a custom puzzle made, or play a game like hangman, Pictionary or charades with the answer “We’re Going to Disney.” Examples below from Etsy:

More subtle Hints

With teens, it might be fun to get a little sneakier. Slip in some clues and see how long it takes them to catch on. Mickey shaped pancakes for breakfast, a message written in chapstick on the bathroom mirror (they’ll see when the shower steams up the room), or don some custom tees, and keep them concealed under your bathrobes until just the right moment.

What other surprise reveals have you heard of? Share in the comments below! And don’t forget to grab our free printable “We’re Going to Disney” sign for your own reveal!

And it’s not too late to book that trip – get in touch and we’ll help you plan your dream vacation!