Surprising your kids with Disneyland this holiday season? I’ve got something to help you make the announcement in style!
Reveal your Disneyland trip with this Family Guide
When I was 12, my family went to Disney World for the first time (I’ve mentioned this before — it was epic). But my parents didn’t just say, “Hey kids, by the way, we’re going to Disney World next month.” Ohhhh no. Instead, they planned to surprise us with it at Christmas.
Don’t you love the 90s curtains? ;)
On Christmas morning, we found a giant banner hung behind the Christmas tree with three scrolls tied to it. The banner said “Hey Payzant kids…Santa says you’ve been very good this year. So how are you going to celebrate??” My siblings and I unrolled our scrolls to find Disney World posters that said “You are…….Going to…….Disney World!”
Cue the shrieking. We were so, SO excited — talk about an awesome surprise. Better yet, we had a few months to plan and build anticipation as we got ready for the trip. (Did you know research shows you actually get MORE happiness out of planning the trip, than actually taking it?!) Now, 22 years later, my siblings and I still fondly remember that Christmas morning as one of the best presents we’ve ever received.
So — with that in mind — I want to help you plan the best surprise ever for YOUR family too. I put together a special Family Guide that you can print, wrap up and put under the tree or in a stocking so that your Christmas morning is off-the-rails exciting.
Here’s what you’ll get in the Family Guide:
A custom cover page with your family’s name on it
A Family Guide to Disneyland, covering every land, ride, and experience at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure (with all the new info for 2019!)
A one-page Disney Day Outline* to help you plan your day
This guide is a slimmed-down version of my other guide, written in a more kid-friendly way. (Hey, I get it — I’ve got 3 kids of my own.) Flipping through it will get them amped for the trip and talking about all the different things you’ll get to see and do (and eat).
* My #1 best tip for families when planning a Disney trip is to set reasonable expectations up front. There are so many rides, parades, shows, treats, etc. at Disneyland that you can easily feel overwhelmed — but if you choose just ONE must-do thing per person each day, you’ll easily hit your goals and feel like the day was a success. (And anything else you get to do will just be icing on top!) That’s where this Disney Day Outline comes in handy. If you’re a planner like me, you can use the attached Disney Day worksheet to help you coordinate everyone’s picks in an easy way. But, if that much planning makes you want to gouge your eyes out (no shame in that!), I totally get that too — just toss that page and don’t worry about it. :)
Your kids will LOVE learning about the different Disneyland rides and attractions as they help you plan your family’s trip.
So, head over to my Disneyland guides and grab the Family Guide to Disneyland — and let the Christmas morning squeals begin!
