Before-you-go tips: Get in the Disney mood

[PrincessEilonwy]

One way I have been revving up for my October trip (1st one in 10 years!) is reading books about Disney. Very fun & fascinating. I checked them out from library so no cost!

I just read "Mouse Under Glass" by David Koenig...tells where the story ideas came from for movies, what critic reactions were, and about hidden stuff.

"The Magic Kingdom" by Steven Watts is a book about Walt Disney and his impact on American culture.

"Disney: The First 100 Years" by Dave Smith & Steven Clark is a coffee table book with lots of nostalgic pictures--very fun to flip through.

Anyone else have pre-trip ideas to share?

 

[SeaWitch]

Great suggestions on books, I also enjoy heading to the library as you mentioned. You might want to look at touring/travel books to see everything that has changed (10 years - Wow! Lots of changes to experience!)

Even though we tend take a yearly trip to WDW, we like get ourselves in the mood by watching Disney movies, listening to Disney music in the car and even playing the Disney trivia game. We absolutely LOVE the CD we bought a couple of yrs back with the music to the fireworks show @ EPCOT (Illuminations)... really gets us ready to go! Plus you can pull out the photos/video from your last trip and look at those!

Have fun in October... we will be there in November!

 

[4greatboys]

When we go on vacation I always buy the travel guide for that area. Usually the "offical" guideand the "unofficial" guide. I have been reading and rereading my Disney books for the past few months. I have been excited about this vacation for months, lol.
Still not going til Sept 20 so I get to count down the minutes for yet another month.

 

[*Robin*]

I'm with 4greatboys! I'm obsessive about planning anyway, so I get the travel guides, or the unofficial guide for Disney, and read like crazy. I love your idea PE, I never thought of those kinds of books before a trip.

I also have a blast ( I'm extremely weird) making lists of things to take, buying all the silly little things you need on a trip, and going to The Disney Store to buy silly little things to put in my families bags.

I'm neurotic about Disney... *sigh*

 

[mareka]

We watch the videos - Buy the newest tour book.
We've many times but we always try to find 'something new and different to do"
www.live365.com has clips from the theme parks and songs from the movies and old commercials for the millenium and the opening of epcot etc. It runs continuously. Its a real disney jolt. I'm listening as I'm typing.

WOW

 

[*Robin*]

Mareka, what a cool site!! Which Disney station do you listen to?

Thanks!

 

[mareka]

Disney Rob

There's a couple of others but this has the clips from the parks. Like the haunted mansion welcome. The whole track from the people mover etc.
Close your eyes and you're there.

 

[PrincessEilonwy]

Great suggestions. I checked the official Birnbaum guidebook...I love the Disney characters on almost every page. There's a CD, too "Music From the Park" with Etta James doing "Its a Small World" & BareNakedLadies singing "Grim Grining Ghosts" from the Haunted Mansion! Very fun.

 

[MissingMickey]

We don't buy much at the Disney Store anymore since we are 2 adults without kids and TDS has cut back so much on adult Disney apparel, BUT we love to go in just to see Disney things, touch Disney things and watch the video clips of the parks.

I think the CMs there suspect . . . we try to only go in about once a month, but whenever we go to the mall, we migrate that way.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

One thing we do is watch our Vacation Planning video. It really puts you in the mood! Also, some people think I'm crazy for doing this but since we are going in October which will soon be here I have already started packing! When I go to Wal-Mart or something I will pick up "extras" like shampoo, soap, etc and put them in our suitcase. Also, non perishable snacks and things. It just nice to buy these items and think "There for my trip to Disney'!

 

[mareka]

Tinkerbell - How long are you staying in WDW.
We leave for our cruise in 46 days - (4 day Wonder) then to WDW for another 4 days. Wilderness Villas

 

[tinkerbell1967]

We will arrive sometime on the 12 and leave as late as possible on the 19th of October. Can't wait!

 

[Rebeltinkle]

Thanks Mareka I tried live365 and it is really great! I have it on now and I love it!

 

[mareka]

Yeah Last night I rode the monorail and the Haunted MAnsion (Full Ride).
I listened to the tiki Birds.
I hum and smile a lot while sitting in front of my computer.

 

[DisLUV]

I am a big fan of live 365 and have been listening to it for about a year now. all my presets are disney stations and my kids at school think i am crazy. I am gonna post the live 365 address in a thread so we can share it with everyone who needs a disney fix like us....

 

[dulluth]

We will be visiting WDW in Oct 02, and to help my six year old son get in the mood, his Auntie(her family will be with us) has been sending him packages on significant dates such as 125 days to go, etc. She practiced up on her loopy Disney writing, so with each package comes a note signed "MM". Even the outside of the box says Orlando, FL! The last package contained fun animal masks with a note telling him that they were to help him get in the mood for the Animal Kingdom. He has really enjoyed his packages from Mickey, and I think Auntie is having fun too!

 

[Music Mole]

We have been doing several things in anticipation of our trip (2 adults):

Each payday we go to the mall and buy a few disney dollars (10-15-20) whatever we feel w can spare. This way we'll have extra spending money at the parks that wont go on the credit card Plus every time we do that - I get so excited! Seeing the "pixie dust" on the bills, looking at what characters on each denomination - I turn into a kid!

This month I plan to rent a lot of the Disney videos that we don't already own - plus watch the ones we do. I want all the characters and stories to be "fresh" in our minds for when we're in the parks and seeing the shows.

I listen to CDs at work to "screen out" some of the ambient noise from co-workers (I work in a cube farm!) - I plan (only a week or two before because if I do this any sooner I'll get TOO excited) to play Disney CDs with the park music on them.

Plus, I'm on the DIS Boards every day- much to my husband's chagrin! He'll be glad when we're home so he can get on the computer sometimes . . .

 

[Disney Talker]

I listen to www.live365.com whenever I can, when I am home. I have purchases a bunch fo guidebooks I have never read before and read some of them cover to cover. So far I bought Walt Disney World for Dummies, WDW for Couples, Hassle Free Walt Disney World Touring, Unofficial Guide to WDW 2003 and the one I bought yesterday was The Everything Book about WDW which is also just published I believe. Sure they repeat a lot of the same info..but I read it cover to cover, I highly recommend this as a great way to get ready. You can share your books with fellow WDW friends to read your books too if you want, or donate them to the library when you are done (if you want to get new ones each year) or save them to read again next trip.

 

[Amazing-grace]

I'd like to listen to 365.com which stations am I looking for? Disney-wise that is

 

[Slinky_dogg]

I get pumped up for the mouses house by listening to laughing place radio at laughingplace.com it's such a good channel.they play everything and take requests too!