I need crafty advice for a trip announcement to 5 year olds - 4/24 Picture added!

[cmp1111]

Hi!

My DH and I are taking our twin boys to WDW for the first time on May 27th. Their birthday is next Friday, 4/27. The trip is the major part of their birthday gifts. I would like to do some sort of something that I could wrap up to give to them, "announcing" the trip. Maybe a countdown calendar or something? They will be 5, so nothing that they have to read too much.

I'm not too crafty - I do some scrapbooking, but that's about it. I think I'm capable once I get started, I just don't have the creative spark to figure out what to do. Any suggestions would be welcome!

My friend is giving them Disney dollars and possibly autograph books - she's my Disney expert. I don't know if giving them a t-shirt or something and saying, "this is to wear on a trip to WDW" is enough...

[Perditamarie]

How fun!! I was just at the Disney Store and they had a super duper sale (40% off clearance -- I went yesterday)! Here are some ideas:

* each boy receives a plush animal wearing a hat, sunglasses, t-shirt holding an invitation -- check out the Creative DISigns boards -- there are great ideas there and you could make your own invitation using clipart ( I did something like this and printed it out on parchment looking paper and rolled it up and tied w/ribbon)

* fill kids suitcases /backpacks (had 2-3 styles of backpack on sale at DS and at least 1 was rolling and they could even use for school as well as the trip!) with trip goodies like bathing suits, goggles, flip flops, disposable cameras, etc

* Include trip-planning DVD (not sure if you would get in time if you don't already have it) or Birnbaum's guide for kids -- has tons of pictures

* there is also a service where you can order a phone call from Mickey or other Disney friends...maybe you can do a search for the link on the boards if you are interested.

* get some disney paper and make the old-fashioned chain to use as a countdown until the big day

Happy planning and let us knbow what you end up doing!!

[Perditamarie]

Oh, I just thought of something else....maybe you can have it piped on their birthday cake...like a 1/4 sheet Mickey cake saying something like Birthday Boys you are going to Disney (if it will fit!!!!) or something similar!

[Twingle]

On the Creative Thread/Scrapbooking there was someone that had made a Dick and Jane type of book, using pictures of her children. Can't remember the exact title, but it was like "here is a picture of Dick. here is a picture of Jane. here is a picture of Mickey Mouse. Dick and Jane are going to see Mickey Mouse!" Very simple, but super cute.

Since it's part of their birthday gift, maybe you could decorate a cake/cupcakes with Mickey heads? Their easy to pipe on with frosting - just three circles.

I also like all the ideas the pp had!

[Disneyforus]

Those are all great ideas!!:thumbsup2

My children had great fun with making a paper chain to count the days it's the highpoint of our night to tear off a link. :lmao:

We also bought them some Disney puzzles, and they do them everyday!:goodvibes Target had some really cute Cars ones if your boys are into that.

We announced our Disney trip to our kids by doing a scavenger hunt and found pieces to a Mickey/Minnie puzzle to put together. I had written on it We are going to Disney!....they LOVED it and are begging for another. I know you said not anything they have to read so you could do it with pictures to clues instead of word clues. After the hunt, we gave them each a Disney shirt, and Disney Crocs. I know it isn't an actual craft project, but our kids all really enjoyed it!!!

[poohs4me]

We did not announce our trip this way but when DD was 4 she had her first trip to DW. We walked near the castle and she started I want to go there I want to go there. We told her the only way you could go is if you were invited. Now being the resourceful person I was and knowing that she would want to go there, I got up early to make the castle character breakfast, but I digress. Anyway, we had arranged for my sister to leave a present (a cinderella costume) in our room with a hand written note that invited her to the castle for breakfast from Cinderella of course. She shook she was so excited. So if you do not mind the credit for the trip going to someone else. You could have a special birthday present from Mickey or whoever their favorite character is inviting the whole family down.

[mytwotinks]

One year my sister gave DW to her kids for Christmas. Her husband (a sweet dorky guy!) made up a powerpoint presentation and they wrapped the cd in a giant box. When they opened it they popped it in the computer and "played" their surprise. They kids were jumping and screaming and super excited to leave the next day! They taped them watching it too! It was a really cute idea and I plan on having him make me a powerpoint presentation someday to surprise my kids with.

[ADisneyQueen]

For my DDs 5th b-day, I made her a Disney scavenger hunt. Each clue would lead to another clue around the house until finally she opened a Disney brochure wrapped in paper.

[hezreck]

Maybe you could make them shirts that say "My first Disney Trip". Put them in Disney bags and fill it with Disney themed items.

[cmp1111]

Oooh, I like the t-shirt idea. Actually, all the ideas sound good. Thanks! :goodvibes I had wondered about a paper chain, or maybe just printing up a calendar page and sticking on Home Depot Mickey Heads with the countdown numbers.

I kind of looked for the Creative DIS thread - I had heard it mentioned before - but don't know where to find it. Can someone point me in its direction?

Thanks again, and I'll check back.

[hezreck]

My DD also loved doing a paper chain to count down the days. We started it at about 70 days out. (I know, that was kind of long, but she liked seeing it draped over the curtain rod above our patio door and hanging all the way to the floor.) On the night before our trip, we had a Disney themed Dinner. It was individual meatloafs shaped like Mickey Mouse:rotfl2: We even printed up a menu and named everything after Disney charaters (Goofy Green Beans, Minnie Moushed Potatoes with Fairy Godmother Gravy, Princess Pie, etc..) Kind of corny, but my DD LOVED it. We ate off of Disney dishes, too. Whatever you decide, have fun with it. Your kids will always remember it!!:thumbsup2

[cmp1111]

So, my mother (a retired 1st grade teacher, very crafty) came in yesterday for the boys' birthday, and this is what we put together. She is making Mickey Gloves out of white construction paper to use instead of crossing out the numbers.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/cmp1111/March07001.jpg


Cute, huh? Notice our clever usage of the LGMHs from Home Depot - those (plus the red construction paper ones) represent the actual days of the trip. Small numbers in the corners are the actual dates, big black numbers are the "countdown days". I am really pleased! I made little Mickey Ears and glued them to Post-it picture paper prints of the boys for the corners.

What does everyone think?

[1st_trip4us]

How cute! I just totally teared up seeing the pictures of the boys with their mouse ears! What an awesome gift you are giving them. You'll have to post their reactions.