Our Disney Vacation - Surprise Disney / Legoland Vacation Treasure Hunt Pt 2 (with video) (2025)

This is how we revealed our Disneyland & Legoland vacation to our four kids!

We looked into flying, it was just not feasible for us. We have to pay for 5 plane tickets on a pretty small budget. We decided to drive. It was a pretty great decision! I would totally do it again!

(Car all packed and ready to go)

Pros:

We paid $100 max for hotels/night that included our FREE breakfasts!

Fuel cost us under $400 USD from Southern Alberta to Southern California and home again!

Food was cheap, we stopped at Subway, In n Out burger and ordered in pizza. We fed our family for an average of under $25/meal on travel days.

Mom planned tons of activities and had i-pads for back up - the kids rocked it!

The scenery isn't all that bad, it was fun driving through 6 states!

Cons:

It took us 26 hours car running time on the way down and about the same on the way home

We had to wait 3 days to get to Disneyland

We drove 2 days on the way home, because we wanted to save money and time.

One of us got car sick, twice...

So we decided to make our trip a surprise! Although we have talked about going to Disneyland for the last year at least, our kids had no idea we actually booked the trip!

I searched for ideas for THE BIG REVEAL, love a lot of them but wanted something original! I saw a few scavenger hunt ideas to reveal the trip but thought what about if I did a treasure hunt all the way to Anaheim?! Clues along the way to keep the kids focused on the next stop not the final destination. IT WORKED! So here is how it all went down!

First I created the clues and treasure map. The clues were printed on paper, crumpled up and tea dyed. The map was printed from google maps, crumpled up, tea dyed and drawn on to make it look original and old. (Details foundHERE)

We decided the surprise would be most effective if we packed the car while the kids were asleep the night before, let the morning routine go on as usual but tell the boys we are going to pick Adalie up around noon from school. They didn't even question the idea.

We told Adalie's teachers before hand. We stopped at the school, I ran into the school told her to grab her stuff we were leaving. She was so caught off guard. She got to the car and had NO idea what was happening.

(Travel Binder in action)

We told her we were off to fuel up the Yukon. We were on an adventure.

On the way to the next gas station I read the first clue

CLUE 1

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

On this day, on North American ground,

A grand adventure can be found.

For ye bold of heart and quick of mind

Untold treasures ye will find.

Ye shall leave the land of Tilley

And treasure hunters ye shall be

So gather your pillows, blankets and shoes

It’s okay to start off with a lil’ snooze.

Ye be headed off to the land of Coutts

Where ye next country will be introduced

Ye are off, an adventure treasure hunt there be

a treasure to find that you’ll want to see

A TREASURE HUNT?!?! The kids cheered with excitement and couldn't wait for the next clue!

We were off to the land of Coutts. The kids seriously thought pirates put us up to this treasure hunt. The thought of not having a chest of gold at the end of the hunt worried me, would they be upset we tricked them? Adalie then said in my moment of doubt "I am going to get a golden cup from the treasure and sell it to get money for Disneyland" There was a moment of relief, she wouldn't have to go through the trouble ;)

(The boys loved the mini tracks I made for their lap desks)

We made it almost to the border and once we entered the United States of AmericaI read clue two...

(Adalie wearing Daddy's glasses)

CLUE 2

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Avast, you have made it to stop one

Don’t quit now you are on a run

Ye be leaving ye country you’ve born and raised

For a long journey your parent’s have saved

United States of America this place be

New sites for us all to see

But first ye must answer a riddle

Don’t worry it be only little

Ye next clue can be found

At a big store, ye sign be round

Peter Pan’s arrow will hit bulls eye

A red ________in the sky

(Flag in Great Falls, MT)

We were off to Target in Great Falls for a few little things for the trip and then read the next clue

(Everett Decided to draw on himself before we got to Target)

After Target we read Clue #3

CLUE 3

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Ye have grabbed what the will need for the trip

Its time to get some sleep, be well rested for the next tip

Rest up for an adventurous day tomorrow

Get to bed early, or there will be great sorrow

Don’t you worry, this only be ye beginning

This pirate’s sure at the end ye’ will be grinning

Tollin Family - enjoy your night

Clue 4 will arrive when the sun gets bright

We stopped in Helena, MT for the night. The hotels were all booked up so we ended up staying at the Super 8, not the newest or prettiest hotel by far but it was clean and the free breakfast was great!

Then we were off to read Clue #4

CLUE 4

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Avast, you’ve rested and ate well I recalls

Ye now be on your way to Idaho Falls

Ahoy you’ve almost traveled one whole state

Montana, next Idaho, be there in no time at this rate!

Sit back and enjoy the ride to yer next stop

Share some snacks with ye neighbor or even swap

Once ye reach head down Broadway Street

To a little place ye’ll have a picnic and eat

Snake River Green Belt it be known as

Be sure to snap some pictures, stretch thee legs ye has

Enjoy thee falls and search for ye next clue

It be along River Parkway, where flowers thee grew

(on the way out of Montana we stopped for a family photo)

(a little break to change the babe)

Idaho Falls! We stopped at Carls Jr... Um greasy food alert... and had our picnic

Family photo at Idaho Falls, Idaho

said hello to some of our Canadian friends before finding the next clue

Can I just add, our stops were planned out perfectly! I tried not to go farther than 3-4 hours between stops! That seemed to be the kids limit and so it worked great! If you are driving on a road trip through Idaho Falls, STOP! It seriously was the greatest location for the kids to run and burn off their energy!

Cam found the next clue and we were off...

CLUE 5

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Ahoy Matey! Stop four thee have reach

No quitting yet, there be treasure for each

Next drive is longer but sites there to see

Yer entering a new state called Utah, that’s three

Ye will pass through the capital, Salt Lake City

Mountains and lakes, sites be Arr! So pretty

Ye then will reach Provo that’s stop number five

Ye’ll grab some dinner after a few cities ye drive

Yer next clue be found off ye beaten way

At ye restaurant, at the counter ye will pay

Be sure to order a special treat

Then next clue ye be given before ye reach thee seat

Driving through Salt Lake City, UT isn't always fun... and we were warned prior to going. We went at 5pm... which could have been bad but only got delayed about a half hour... I have heard worse!

We stopped at a Subway downtown Provo Utah. It was a little more off the beaten path than we expected but our GPS led us there. It was still very good and cheap!

After that we read Clue 6.

CLUE 6

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Alast, you have fed your little tummy, four

Ye are over half way there! Stops today? One more!

Ye have not reached the treasure I fear

But we will be staying the night at a hotel with our gear

Beaver Utah is our next stop, isn’t that cool

Quick if ye hurry ye’ll swim at the indoor pool

Once you arrive, rest up and get some sleep

Only three more stops before ye reach the treasure ye keep

Yer next clue be left while ye be fast asleep

In the car where daddy ye coffee he keep

In the morning ye rise and shine, eat breakfast and load

A riddle to solve the next clue to be showed

No photos of this one, but we stopped at the Comfort Inn in Beaver, UT... HIGHLY recommend this hotel! Very nice and clean! Free breakfast was perfect for us! It was a great stay! Much better than our first night!

When we woke up we got packed up and headed to the vehicle for the next clue

CLUE 7

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Morning Matey, I trust ye slept well

Yer back on ye adventure, if ye be excited yell!

A riddle to solve to get yer next stop

Sorry mommy, there is no time to shop

Our next stop, won’t be a city or the ocean blue

Opa and Oma are here half the year, where Grandma just flew

The drive ye be beautiful through desert mountains we drive

Ye won’t see lakes or bodies of water, not even trees survive

On the state sign there be one star

Can you guess where ye be headed? The clue not be far

_ R _ Z _ _ A

Off to Arizona

Driving through Utah

Near St George, Utah

We forgot to stop and get a photo so we stopped at St George at a gas station for a photo, tried to get some mountains in the back. HA!

(St George, Utah)

We stopped in Arizona and took a break to get our next clue

Cam scoped it out for snakes and scorpions first - HA! Paranoid mama here!

Family Photo in AZ

They made it to the top... and then we got our next clue

CLUE 8

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Ye guessed correctly, ye reached Arizona state

No cities ye will pass but hit stop six of eight

Yer next stop be short as you fill up for gas

Only two more stops and then the treasure, alas!

Ye next stop be full of music and lights

A busy city that won’t die at night

Daddy watches ye favorite pawn shop on TV

Located in this city you see

The state be Nevada where this city lies

Scallywags play games here to win a prize

Can you take a guess? Maybe use a decoder tool

The same one we use sometimes at Sunday School

We stopped for lunch at IN-N-OUT and ate for under $13!

CLUE 9

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Ye got it! ye reached Las Vegas in Nevada

Don’t ye worry, ye have not come this far to get nada

Ye have collected eight clues of ye treasure hunt adventure

Are ye ready to discover what ye be treasure?

Only one stop more on this Grand Tollin Family Treasure Hunt

I have some bad news… sorry to be so blunt

The Adventuredoesn'tend at stop number Eight

But me be sorry, ye will just have to wait

California state is our final destination

You will discover the treasure at the next location

Sit back and enjoy the remainder of our travels

Ye will get the next clue and then thee surprise unravels

Driving through Las Vegas, Nevada

We stopped for a family photo in Nevada and then we were off

Driving through Vegas

Once we almost arrived at our hotel... we read the final clues...

CLUE 10

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Alas! ye final clue

Are ye ready to guess! Ye be through!

Ye be Lego lovers young and old

In the Tollin family me be told

Think back to that night daddy and mommy created

A movie they said the premier awaited

The time has come! Do you believe it be true?

Grab a snack, sit back and quietly chew

The treasure you have finally found

It’s the big surprise! Quick Daddy turn up the sound!

We then popped in our Lego movie Cam and I made that we had added the kids' saying the script with out having a clue. I used my phone voice recorder and got them to say different things and then added in our lines and there's to make the video...

Our Video

This was the final clue we read at the end of the video... It wasn't until then did the kids get what their treasure was!

CLUE 11

Ahoy there Tollin Family, Gather ‘round

Arr! Did we surprise you?

Perhaps you guessed where ye be headed to

Ye Daddy and Mommy love thee so much

Ye can’t believe the Adventure and such?

Ye off to Downtown Disney for dinner

Ye will be at Disney tomorrow to see the inner

Four days at Disney and one Legoland

And bet ye thought this trip be unplanned

Even have time to see the ocean ye first time

And play on the beach it will be prime

Be on your best behavior this week

We have reached the Happiest Place on Earth we seek

Daddy and Mommy are so proud of you four

Soak in these memories you’ll forever adore

Our Hotel - The Best Western Pavilions Plus

The view from the parking lot of Disneyland

View from our hotel area (we were on the far end of the hotel in room 130, at the very end on the bottom and it was nice and quiet)

Walking to Downtown Disney

Palm trees... LOVE

Downtown Disney

Lego store in Downtown Disney

Dinner at the Rainforest Caf