For those who go at least once a year????

[beattyfamily]

For those of you who go at least once a year, how do you handle video taping, photo taking, and souveniers??

I have 2 DD's ages 6 and 2 1/2 and we've been (with both of them) twice already and we're going again this October.

Well, I'm running out of space for frames for photos of our trips, I'm running out of space for photo albums (I usually do a photo album for each trip). I've got so much video of the last 2 trips!!!

I just don't know what to do if I keep going each year. Do you know what I mean? Am I making sense? Our first 2 trips were 2 years apart so it was easy enough. But lately we've been going each year. How many times can you video tape Main Street or the parades or whatever? But our kids are little so each trip seems like a new experience. But I'm gonna run out of storage space in my house!!!

At first I was getting a special frame for each trip but I can't keep doing that!!

What do you all who go at least once a year and have little ones do in regards to photos, video and souveniers????

How do you make each trip seem brand new and like the first?

Much thanks!

[kidzmom3]

We go every year and I continue to take pictures of each trip. I make an album (I scrap book) for each trip and often try to take pictures in the same spot in the same position so I can see how they have grown. I am not a big videotaper so I don't have to deal with this. We still do the autograph books. The kids just love them and we put them on their book shelves so they don't take up much space. We challenge ourselves to get some new ones each time. I also have thought of doing the autograph books that people make with pictures of the kids with the characters. I enjoy snow globes and christmas ornaments and am able to get those each year. The kids usually get 1 small and 1 large souvenir per trip. You can also have all your pictures put on a disk and run them through a screensaver like WebShots. We love it. I see my wonderful memories all the time as they slowly flash by on my computer screen. Good luck!!

[tmli]

My ds and I go yearly and I have the same problem. We get a t-shirt from each trip with something on it thats new, like 100yrs. I also decided to get useful things for myself like character note pads that have magnets on back, a couple of special pens for my office, fridge magnets that are also clips for holding notes etc., a set of salt and pepper shakers to add to my collection. No one item cost me more than 12.00. For my son he gets to choose a souvenir daily and one major one for the week. This year he chose a mickey alarm clock. I decided this year to introduce him to pin trading, (he was 5 last trip), this was a huge success. He had a blast trading with cm's and chose a different pin for every days souvenir. We also got a penny press book for all those pennies.

We find these things give us great memories of our vacation without me having to add a room to the house.

[llp479]

We go at least once every year. I also scrapbook, so I put all the "great shots" in my Disney albums. I also put the 5x7 pics from the rides, etc. in here. As for videotape, we just took the camcorder for the first time. Probably won't take it with us when we return in August.

Souvenirs - what can I say? My DH can't deny our 3 DDs anything! I have threatened that we'll have to move if he buys them one more stuffed animal! I also like the pins, they're small, and easily packed. Thankfully, they're getting older, 8,8, and 5, so we're getting out of the toys.

For myself, I usually try to find some type of unique poster or photo that I can frame. I started doing this many years ago on a trip to Europe instead of buying T-shirts. They last longer, and I can surround myself with reminders of all the wonderful places I've been fortunate to visit. I also buy each girl an ornament with the year on it. When they are grown and move out, :( I'll give them to the girls for their tree.

[Jodi1980]

My 15- year daughter and I went for two weeks March 2001 when I took a lot of pictures and video. She made the comment that she wished my video was back at home - that I was spending too much time taping. It broke my heart and I realized that the time I was taping and trying to get that perfect shot, I could have been with her watching the parade, etc. When I tape, I don't like to talk since it will also be on the tape. Anyway, we went back again November 2001 and I left the video camera at home. I took very few camera pictures. We have more than enough videos and the trip was wonderful not having to worry about carrying a video camera, taping, and watching different shows through a lense, etc. It also made my daughter feel that much more important.

[bobcat]

Like others we have started buying items that we can use but that don't need to be dusted. I buy jewelry that I can wear everyday, clothes, note paper etc. that are a daily reminder. My quest this year is a poster that I can frame for my livingroom.

[MELSMICE]

I always take my camera & camcorder. The kids usually do the videotaping, but only around the pool & resort rooms. We find it too much of a hassle to carry into the parks.

I still take pictures, it seems less & less each time. I have many "Disney vacation albums" & finally bought a photo box to put all the pictures in.

As the kids grow we sometimes replace the pictures we have in frames w/ new ones, keeping the old ones in the frame behind the new pictures. This way each time we change the picture we see how we've changed over the years.

Keep taking the pictures - they are priceless.

[beattyfamily]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas!

I believe we'll still bring the camcorder and camera but it will be less and less as we go on. I just can't stop taking pictures of the girls to see how they've changed from year to year. Since my smallest one won't remember the last 2 trips and the next one too, she'll appreciate the pictures later on. For her, it's been a new experience every time.

I'll stick to key chains and if there's a special occasion, a t-shirt. Maybe I'll do ornaments. I have bought a couple but not made a routine of it. The toughest is the girls. How many stuffed animals do we really need??

Still haven't decided on what to do about framing photos and photo albums yet. I'm running out of space, though!

Thanks again!

[jjsmom]

We go at least once (usually twice, but not this year due to recent home purchase), and we do take the camera, but not our video camera. The video camera just got to be too cumbersome (sp) as our daughter got older (no stroller for carrying stuff!!). We end up with 4-5 rolls of film per 7-10 day trip. We put it all in albums (yes, now that I'm preparing to move this album thing is definately out of hand).

As far as souveniers are concerned, I usually limit myself to just 1 special (not necessarily expensive) item. DD has her own spending money, not much, which she uses for 1 or 2 small items. DH likes to shop at the sports store at Downtown Disney for a new golf shirt, always on sale.

We enjoy eating out and trying new restaurants, so souvenier money is not important to us.

[fortwilderness]

We try to go twice a year and always go all out with pictures, video and souveniers . We consider every trip to be very special and I don't think that we behave much differently than people who just come once and a while.

For the problem of where to put all of the Disney "junk" - we finally just made ourselves a Disney room :)

[stacie_d]

We use a digital camera, and then only print some pictures. We save all the pictures on a CD, and put them in a sliped show using powerpoint. I am terrible about getting "real photos" in an album. And we end up with dozens of the same thing (or at least it seems). We usually print the ones with our son in them, or any that are especially "unique". They also make a picute frame to store digital pictures in, and then it will randomly show them is a slide show. (We need to get one of these)

[Boo Mc]

If we go to a park more than one day of the trip we only take the camcorder on the first day. We still take lots of still pictures - I can't help myself! Our kids also got in to pin trading which is great because they're easy to transport. We also go to Studio M and get a picture of them with Mickey every trip. We try to find something new each trip to make it different from the last. On the next trip the kids are doing the pirate cruise and we're all doing the family magic tour.

[skiptomypooh]

Lots of great suggestions so I'll keep it short.

We've been going at least once a year for a while, but now with my DS it's different. We are going to try to take a picture at one spot each time to see how he's grown. Then maybe on the new rides he wants to try. We use a digital camera so we can see that it's a good picture right away.

Finally, video. I heard this here before we went the first time. They suggested that you leave it home the first few days. Then toward the end, pick a day to park hop and redo all the things the kids/family liked the best. It's sure to get big smiles, since they are all looking for it. The park hopping gives variety, and you only lug it around for one day. Worked for us.

Enjoy the trip.

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We usually go once a year so here is what we do:

We also have a digital camera so the pictures store very easily on the computer (disc) and we only print the ones we want. Hopefully I will start my first scrapbook soon (wish me luck)!!

We have not brought our video camera to WDW in a few years (before DD was born) - it was a pain for DH to carry around. I think we will take it on this upcoming trip to video her a little bit.

As for the souvenir thing - we always bought magnets and t-shirts and just about anything else we wanted, however over the years it kinda just gets tossed aside. So now thw one souvenir we buy is a Christmas tree ornament that has the date (month and year) on it. When DD gets a bit older and starts asking for things I am sure we will buy her a souvenir of her choice along with the ornament.

Lisa

[MELSMICE]

I LOVE the ornament idea. Now I wish I would have started years ago!!!

[godsmack241]

I know that not many people do this, but here is what I do. (Now remember in 15 and am an only child, and yes some sterio-types are true, but not completely.) Anyway, we go a lot, almost once every year. We havn't taken a V-cam with us for years, i think last time we had it was '95, but I am bringing it this year to get all the newer stuff. Still-cam, every year. Usually go through 5-8 rolls for my mom and about 4 rolls and 3 128mb cards for me (those are for digi-cams). For suveniers, well my parents don't buy much of anything other than food for us, since we eat a lot, hehe, but since i make my own money through allowance, or now work, i go all out on suveniers. Last year i got a few things, including a Pooh Bear alarm clock, and a Mini-Orange tree. I really suggest this to anyone going to Epcot. They are around $15 and are in a bag so they wont die on air/car trips. Plant it when you get home and they will grow and eventually produce fruit. They sell them at the land suvenier shop. Cya all.

[ncbyrne]

I used to go loaded down with camera equipment. We have more photos than I can count! In May on our last trip, I brought along one disposable camera, and never even finished one roll of film. I had a great time...and tons of memories and didn't have to worry about all the "stuff" I used to carry. A Kodak toss away is now my camera of choice, and if I happen to leave it behind in the hotel room, so be it.

[tazdeb]

We also had hundreds of pictures of the same things taken year after year.....so what we do now is just take yearly posed photos in the same spot. For instance, one of my daughters was adopted from China so we take her picture at the China pavillion in front of the map as she is pointing to the town where she was born. We have been doing this for 6 years now and like a school picture it is fun to see how they've grown and we just keep the same frame and insert the new picture year after year. Each kid has there own special spot and they look forward to getting there and taking thier picture. The rest of the roll is just for special things or new attractions......TAZ

[#1MMFan]

We have been fortunate enough to have been every year since 1996 and recently more than once a year. I have found that in that time I've got a better camera (digital) and a new camcorder which is much lighter. We used to have a moderately sized camcorder that was great to begin with but then became a burden in the parks. This one is much smaller and will potentially fit in a fanny pack/bum bag. Taking better photos with my digital camera is something I really enjoy. It's great to avoid using the flash indoors so that you can get natural colours. The digital camera I have adjusts the shutter speed so I've managed to get photos of fireworks and in attractions that I just could never have managed before. Sure, I have a massive amount of photos over the years, most in their packet, not in an album; although I'm trying to sort this out. Video taping is the same, and will probably be more than usual now with the lighter camcorder.

As for souvenirs, I'm an addict. I spend spend spend. Sometimes you get home and you can't imagine why you bought something but some of the stuff there is just so cool that not to buy it seems criminal! OK, I'm over the top and a little nuts. I really have to do something with my T-shirt collection which is now probably extending to a T-shirt for every day for six months....argh.

John :bounce:

[polyfan]

We have been going every year since my oldest son was 7weeks old. We still take many pictures. One picture that we always do is a "mommy & her boys" picture that we purchase a frame for at disney. Yes, I already have 7 picture frames. Luckily I have a very large house with lots of rooms to put them in. I divide up the pictures after we get home into a family album, and the one for each of my boys.
The camcorder always gets taken along, but I do not use it much.It is hard to juggle that, a camera, stroller, boys and husband.

[chrisn]

Video-There is nothing I can do about this. Hubby will shoot video of anything and everything. I just go with the flow. But hey, as long as I don't have to lug the thing around, who cares.

Pics-Every year I buy a new WDW photo album to put all our pics in and I always take about 10-12 rolls of film but now I am getting pictures of the same things and running out of things to shoot. So I have decided that this next trip I am going to take a lot of pics of us. My kids and DD's friend accompanying us and hubby and I will take pics of each other and you can always find a kind soul willing to snap a pic of the whole family together so that is what I am planning. I will take less film and buy a smaller album.

Souvenirs-I swear that my kids have one of EVERYTHING. The first year I went hog wild buying anything and everything their little dearhearts desired (I think they slip something in the food), the second year was not much better and after that it's gradually decreased. Well this year We've decided to let the kids do their traditional pin buying and then let them pick out one big thing. But I have also decided to purchase a crystal with my kids engraved inside of it and also the giant animated posters (the ones where they add your image into it that way I can hang them in their bedrooms. Hope I can stick to my plan!

[denecarter]

Except for last year when we took my niece and nephews for the first time, we don't bother with a camera. We do/have bought the souvenir photos from the rides with the special frames. This year my dd and I are going alone (that'll be nice but weird) so we plan to get our pix done by the photogs at each park in front of the various landmarks instead of the ride photos.

For general souvenirs, I tell dd she has $x to spend... whether she wants several small, one large, whatever it's up to her. She tends to get one small plush and various clothing (sundress with abstract Mickey head) or jewelry. I buy "house stuff"... over the years, I've transformed my kitchen, bathroom, etc. with drawer pulls, clothes hooks, snack plates, glasses, you get the idea.

Some of the odder things I've done that turned out really cute...

bought the plastic road signs at Test Track... they are hanging above my shower/tub (the one with the Mickey curtain and Mickey head curtain holders)

also in the bath, I bought the red and black Mickey heads that you put inside the tub to prevent slipping, my tub is made with anti-slip surface so I stuck the Mickey heads to plain white wall surrounding the shower... kinda looks like Mickey polka-dots

4 years ago, I bought 3 keychain pen-lights for niece and nephews, for some reason the batteries were dead by the time we got home (something must have turned them on in my suitcase, I dunno), I decided not to give the kids lights that wouldn't work and hung onto them (don't ask me why, I have no idea)... when I moved to my new house I had a lot of ceiling fans, I ended up hanging the penlights from the ceiling fan chains and now I have character pulls for my fans

Here's an idea for those that like to sew. My brother is a fireman and collects T-shirts from fire companies all over the US (yep, mom got him a Reedy Creek shirt and shirt from MK firestation)... anyway, he has too many to wear, Mom's taking several of the shirts and making a quilt out of them for him

[mmorizio]

I have a very small (smaller than a loaf of bread) photo printer (an HP Photosmart 100) that I bring with us and set up in our room. It doesn't need a computer - it prints 4X6" borderless prints directly from my digital camera's memory card. Each day I print my photos and mail some of them as postcards. I can make as many reprints as I need right on the spot.

I don't take nearly as many photos these days as I used to. I already have 9000 photos of the TOT and the HM at night. Now I mostly take the family and people we're travelling with.

This year's August trip will be a bit different. My daughter's competition dance team is performing on the Tomorrowland Stage as part of the Magic Music Days program. So about 70 people from the studio are staying at the same building at the CBR. I'm sure that I'll be making reprints to give away like mad!

The studio did this once before in 2000, and we all had a blast. It's kind of cool to walk out of your room and see alll these people you know, and you're always hanging out with friends.

[addicted_to_WDW]

I've mostly switched to a digital camera for our trips...I have photo albums full of WDW pictures. I still take a couple of rolls of regular film per trip, mostly of DS. As mentioned previously, I also like to see how much he has changed and grown from trip to trip. I get photo cds made of my digital pictures.

We take the camcorder but only tape new things. We were at WDW in January and taped the 100 years of magic parades. We did not take the camcorder on our trip a couple of weeks ago.

I'm a pin freak, so most of what I buy for myself are pins. I also have a Disney-themed kitchen, so I usually pick up a piece or two for that. DS and DH get new tee shirts, and my husband likes to buy Disney polo shirts and ties.

We go often, but because we do I really think we spend much less per trip than the average visitor. That's how I justify it, anyway. :cool:

[MELSMICE]

mmorizio -

I am a dance studio owner/instructor & have occassionally thought about taking students for the Magic Music Days.

If you can give me some info:

Did you do fundraising for it?
Approximate cost per student?
Accommodations?
How long?
How many chaperones per student?
Was it a competition?
Was it worth it?
Do you always go in summer?

Occassionally I get information about it but never follow through because I don't know anyone who has gone. I'd love to hear more about it.

[cindyfan]

We have been going at least once a year since '98.
Always take lots of pictures!:D 8 to 12 rolls per trip.
always do what we refer as our own "tradition" pictures:
One of DD and our dog just before we leave for the airport!
One of DD in the car arriving at the resort.
One of DD next to the bronze Pluto statue in front of the castle in MK.
One of all 3 of us in front of the fountain at Epcot.
These are the ones that we always pull out to "compare"!!
Also make sure we take some pictures with lots of the sky in it!....this way we can remember what the weather was like.

Then we always plan something new to do....so lots of pictures of that....this June it was the Luau at Poly.
and we always try for those goofy family shots.....like DD and DH just getting off of Kali River Rapids....SOAKING WET!! We really laugh at that one!

I used to try for the perfect "castle" shot....but that just will never happen....cause all the pictures of the castle are great!

We used the video camera the first couple times, but now just feel it is too much trouble.

As for souvenirs....always a Chrismas ornament. I remember that was the only thing I really cherished from my first trip back in 1984!! My Minnie ornament! So have to get that!!:D

I also get something new for the kitchen. This last time...it was utensils and towels. When we go in Oct ....it will either be the silver tea pot or the cannisters. I always have something to look forward to.
For my DD it is always a new stuffed animal....I won't have to worry about any duplicats on that!!LOL There will always be too many characters to choose from!

This is a great thread....lots of great ideas!!
Thanks everyone!! :D

[mmorizio]

Melsmice:

I've tried to answer your questions about Magic Music Days below. My wife and I are just parents but on both of the trips, we acted as the liason between the studio and WDW, and made all of the arraingements. I also made the photos and audition videos that Disney required.


Did you do fundraising for it?
The studio held an optional fundraiser both in 2000 and for this trip. I'd guess that about half the families participated, but since all of the families go, each one pays for its room(s) and park passes.

Approximate cost per student?
Hard to say, because we (all of the families) go as well as the dancers. This August the group will be 71 people, including the 19 dancers in the studio's competition team & 4 teachers. We got a discounted rate on the rooms.

Each dancer is entitled to buy a 5-day park hopper plus at about half price, and one chaperone per each 5 dancers can purchase one as well.

The studio owner got 2 free park hopper plus passes, and all the rest of us were offered slightly discounted (about 10%) 5, 4, or 3-day park hopper plus passes.

Accommodations?
How long?
WDW requires you to stay a minimum of 4 nights in a value or moderate resort (we picked CBR both times).

How many chaperones per student?
I don't know what Disney's requirement is.

Was it a competition?
No. WDW will schedule a 30 min performance for your group sometime during your 4-day stay. For dance troups it's usually on the Tomorrowland stage.
The is and optional dance workshop that you can do as well (about $20 per dancer, I think a 16 dancer minimum). Our kids did it in 2000 and thought it was wonderful.

Was it worth it?
Yes. Even the un-Disney parents said they had a good time, and the kids loved it. When the studio owner said she wanted to go again this year, it was an easy sell.

Do you always go in summer?
Both trips were/are the first week of August.

My daughter (Then 15), wrote a TR of the 2000 trip. It contains detailed descriptions of the performance and the workshop. It's posted on MousePlanet. Here's a link:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/trip.rpt/report_files/wdwtr00/morizio00.htm

Hope this helps.