Best low cost ways to add some "magic"?

[traveljunkie2]

We are planning our second trip to WDW in January. Our last trip was more about spending time with our extended family, and because it was soooo cold, we often left the parks early. I feel like we missed alot.

This trip is just me, DH and our two boys. I know they are going to have a blast, without any extra effort on my part! But I am thinking that there are probably lots of ways to add to the fun. I want to make this trip as memorable as possible, but we don't want to break the bank!

What are your low-cost tips for making the trip extra special?

 

[MNTwinsMom]

Check out the Creative DISigns Board for lots of low-cost ideas on how to add magic to your trip. Here's a few I did for our 7-year-old twin boys for our last trip:

I printed off and laminated Test Track Drivers Licenses personalized for each of them and after their first ride I gave them to them. They LOVED it.

I printed off pages for a special autograph book. They have templates for all the characters. The characters liked the personalized pages and it made it extra fun for my boys.

I also made them shirts for each day with a logo of the park we'd be visiting and/or their favorite characters. This was exciting each morning of the trip, plus, they didn't have any desire to buy an overpriced t-shirt at Disney!

 

[Donnainnj]

I think for those ages the Family Magic Tour would be amazing. Not real cheap, but not real expensive in Disney terms. I believe there are discounts available. They had them when we did it years ago. Maybe AP and/or Disney Visa.
Donna

 

[grandmadebby]

The pirate adventure that leaves from the Grand Floridian is not very expensive and the kids love it. They are gone for about 2 1/2 hours singing pirate songs, eating lunch and hunting treasure, which they find on every adventure. It is for ages 4 - 12.

 

[Justsyd2]

You can also purchase a Passport Book at Epcot and let the boys get it stamped at each Country. They're inexpensive -- about $10.00.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree that is does not take a lot of extra to bring out the magic. Include them in the planning. Let each choose a couple of special meals.character meals should be a big hit! On the way down, play disney cd's and play disney games etc. Maybe buy a few special disney things for the room. Disney themed snacks, PJ's, soap, etc. Just totaly focus on the family.

As far as extra activities, DS liked pressed pennies at that age.

 

[maggiew]

You can also purchase a Passport Book at Epcot and let the boys get it stamped at each Country. They're inexpensive -- about $10.00.

You can also make Passports by printing off templates you can find in the Creative DISigns area here on the DIS.

Maggie

 

[stephgles]

For my dd (6) I always make a giftbag of items I buy prior to our trip at our local Disney Store (esp when they are on sale). I leave it at the foot of her bed for the first morning she wakes up and she believes Cinderella comes into our room and leaves it for her. I have already got her an water bottle, water guns, a mickey tank top and a magical washcloth. Want to get her a new nightgown and when I get down there I will pick up some disney dollars to put in there too. She is already stating I cant wait until Cinderella leaves me my bag. Disney store is having there semi annual sale so there are lots of good things you can get now.

 

[crusoe2]

I don't like to pre-buy souveniers but if there are things my kids need before the trip anyway (new toothbrush, pjs, etc) I'll get Disney-themed. You could pack these as a surprise to find in their suitcases after you get there. Or, since you're going fairly soon after Christmas, you could give them as Christmas gifts.

Birnbaum's publishes a Disney World guidebook especially for kids - that would be a neat thing to get before the trip. It would give them a kind of refresher on what's there that they would like to do and help build anticipation for the trip. If they play handheld video games, some new Disney themed games would also make great Christmas gifts and a nice diversion for the trip to and from Orlando.

Depending on where you are staying, you might look into decorating you hotel room window. We haven't stayed onsite in awhile but I know this used to be fairly big at Pop Century and I've always thought that would be fun to do.

Another thing that's neat is to give each of the kids a disposable camera and let them take their own pictures during the trip. You can end up with some really neat pictures and can look forward to getting them printed and putting them in albums after you get home. I've always let my kids pick out postcards at the parks of their favorite attractions that trip so that they have a really good photo of it and a reminder of what they most enjoyed on that trip. You could also let them make notes on the back of the postcard about why they liked that particular attraction so much - nice memento to have when they're older.