I've been reading forever - tons of great ideas here!! Just wanted to say I know the HD paint chips are great - BUT if you need specific color or maybe theme, you can buy a punch that does mickey heads - so you can punch out of halloween paper, christmas, birthday colors. we don't have a HD too close, so it's not easy for me to just run buy and get what i want. hobby lobby and michael's usual both carry this punch, so if you have a coupon, you can get it for around $7.
i've used it for swaps, layouts, and confetti.
another idea - we brought out Elf with us last Christmas (like the Elf on a shelf) and he did crazy things to our room after we left each morning, or after we went to sleep. i would always 'forget' something and have to run back to the room. i would sprinkle mickey heads all over the room and hid the elf somewhere my son would find it. mousekeeping just worked around it and never messed anything up!! they are awesome! i also did stars, too - with the mickey heads.
thanks for all the tips - we're heading back in october. it'll be our 6th trip in 6 years. we've been at christmas four times, and once in the summer so the fall and halloween will be a blast for us - i really can't wait to plan my window and start making things!!