Disney Confessional: How do your get your DIY Disney geek on when preparing to go?

[NutcrackerPrincess]

My family's trip to WDW is still a good 8 years away, so I have plenty of time to get my DIY Disney geek on, and I am looking to hear your DIY Disney geek confession.

Me first (don't judge, we may only get one trip with the cost of airfares to the USA):

Co-ordinating clothes for each day (kids choose which set which day)
Handmade kids costumes for meal in Cinderella's castle and MNSSHP
Handmade Disney t-shirts
Handmade Disney quilts (Pinocchio themed; these will be on beds when kids get home)
Handmade Disney travel blankets (for the plane; Pinocchio themed)
Handmade autograph books
Disney activity books for travel and Disney queues

C'mon now, I can't be the only one! Confess here...

 

[aacvacation]

Ok, first of all....8 years?
I think you take the cake for earliest pre-planning ever.

How do you know that for sure? I'm very curious.

Second of all...can you like, adopt me or something? All of that handmade stuff??? I hope you end up posting pictures because that all sounds super impressive, and I would love some of that stuff.

I can't really contribute because I don't really do anything 'DIY'.... Does it count if it's 'GIDBY' (Get It Done By Yourself) As in...going to get a Disney themed mani/pedi and buying cute new outfits?

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

Ok, first of all....8 years?
I think you take the cake for earliest pre-planning ever.

How do you know that for sure? I'm very curious.

Second of all...can you like, adopt me or something? All of that handmade stuff??? I hope you end up posting pictures because that all sounds super impressive, and I would love some of that stuff.

I can't really contribute because I don't really do anything 'DIY'.... Does it count if it's 'GIDBY' (Get It Done By Yourself) As in...going to get a Disney themed mani/pedi and buying cute new outfits?

I know, crazy. I am pregnant with our second and last child. Our first is not yet 2. We live in Australia, so the journey is daunting for littlies (and their parents!), and we think that (given the crazy expense of plane tickets and Disney itself) we want to wait until both kids will be old enough to remember the trip. We are also waiting until the mortgage is paid off (so far, so good) before planning an extravaganza like a trip to the USA.

I really haven't been all that interested in Disney until now, but DD1 is a total princess nut. She became obsessed with Disney Enchanted at 4 months old, watches Mary Poppins any time I cave and let her (about twice a week), goes nuts at anything with a Disney princess on it and gets excited when she sees the castle and Tink on her Disney movies.

I used to be a workaholic, and now that I have kiddos as a SAHM, I love making stuff for them. I am making DD1 a princess dress for her 2nd birthday (making it mostly because I like adding lots of sparkly stuff that she adores).

So, knowing that WDW is likely to be a very popular idea, I am filling my spare hours making stuff that will make the trip memorable. As you say, I have a lot of time to fill! I have only made one quilt before, so this part alone will take me an age. Thank goodness! I know the theme because I have already bought the fabric. I adore Kinkade's Disney stuff. We bought a few Disney Coleman fine art works for our kids' nursery before we even got pregnant. So hubby knows I am a planner in the worst way (incidentally, he loves those paintings).

Sure, things may change in many ways, but most of my current plans will be fun for the kids regardless of whether we ever get to WDW. That, and I will keep making them stuff for fun over the next few years. I am already adding Mickey buttons to pre-made clothes. It is cute and fun (at this age!).

Here in Australia, Disney stuff is harder to come by - no Disney stores or Disney parks, so not a lot of variety in Disney merchandise. So I make it.

I would adopt you - would make for some great paperwork between the two countries! I will post pics if ppl want to see them. I can handle the ridicule.

 

[rewilliams]

I don't personally do a lot of DIY but I have purchased some! LOL
I got my daughter a homemade autograph book from Etsy
Got us matching tye-dye shirts also from Etsy (they are cool...mickey in the center)
Also bought hubby and I matching shirts and then had a friend professionally iron on one of our favorite quotes , because we will be celebrating 10 years of marriage while we are there.

The only DIY is I made some things to decorate our resort window with, signs, mickey heads and so on...

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

I don't personally do a lot of DIY but I have purchased some! LOL
I got my daughter a homemade autograph book from Etsy
Got us matching tye-dye shirts also from Etsy (they are cool...mickey in the center)
Also bought hubby and I matching shirts and then had a friend professionally iron on one of our favorite quotes , because we will be celebrating 10 years of marriage while we are there.

The only DIY is I made some things to decorate our resort window with, signs, mickey heads and so on...

I really like that idea - the room decorations. We will likely be offsite, so I want to decorate our suite, too. Are the decorations a surprise for your husband?

Our 10th anniversary will be at the same time as our projected trip, so I am paying attention to the plans of others to celebrate anniversaries. Etsy is a great resource for you in the USA. Some of the work of those vendors is amazing. Some of my own DIY shirts that I plan to make are inspired by those sold on Etsy.

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary, BTW.

 

[MandiC]

I think you are choosing a great age to bring the kids. My girls were 7 and 9 (we didn't bring out littlest ones) for their first trip and I just thought it was perfect, there really wasn't anything we felt like we couldn't do, no needing to go back to the room for naps, they could handle the dawn to dusk daily schedule. Our next trip will be a little slower since we plan on having all 4 of the kids and our littlest will only be 4; but that first trip will always have a special place in my heart

I did match my kids everyday I made some shirts using the DISigners from these boards, I really liked the name fills (you choose a character and they fill your child's name with that theme), then you print it off on iron-transfer paper and iron it onto a shirt of your choice. Super easy, quick and inexpensive. I really didn't know far in advance that we were going. My DH broke the news to me in September and between everything going on at that time of year and then going into the Christmas season and leaving right after I didn't have as much time as I would've wanted for sewing. I plan to start sewing for our next trip fairly soon, I just hope I estimate their sizes correctly!

I didn't make our autograph books, I really like the ones from the parks in that they have a place for pictures and they aren't very expensive, however I did make our Passport books for Epcot, the kids *loved* that. Also, if you can find lanyards and Disney pins your children will likely be at an age they will really enjoy pin trading as well.

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

I think you are choosing a great age to bring the kids. My girls were 7 and 9 (we didn't bring out littlest ones) for their first trip and I just thought it was perfect, there really wasn't anything we felt like we couldn't do, no needing to go back to the room for naps, they could handle the dawn to dusk daily schedule. Our next trip will be a little slower since we plan on having all 4 of the kids and our littlest will only be 4; but that first trip will always have a special place in my heart

I did match my kids everyday I made some shirts using the DISigners from these boards, I really liked the name fills (you choose a character and they fill your child's name with that theme), then you print it off on iron-transfer paper and iron it onto a shirt of your choice. Super easy, quick and inexpensive. I really didn't know far in advance that we were going. My DH broke the news to me in September and between everything going on at that time of year and then going into the Christmas season and leaving right after I didn't have as much time as I would've wanted for sewing. I plan to start sewing for our next trip fairly soon, I just hope I estimate their sizes correctly!

I didn't make our autograph books, I really like the ones from the parks in that they have a place for pictures and they aren't very expensive, however I did make our Passport books for Epcot, the kids *loved* that. Also, if you can find lanyards and Disney pins your children will likely be at an age they will really enjoy pin trading as well.

Thank you for the reassurance - while I understand that you can have a great time at Disney no matter what your age, we are trying to walk that line between being old enough to remember and do most things with the age where they still believe in the magic. If you only think there will be one trip, choosing the timing becomes very important!

The Passports for EPCOT should be on my list - thank you! That is something that is easy to make ahead of time and I can see how that would add to the experience.

I also like the idea of pin trading for the kids - I will probably make the lanyards (I already have Disney themed grosgrain ribbon, so that'll take a few minutes), but I guess the pins will have to wait until we get there and I can get one or two of those starter packs.

I am surprised you managed to get any sewing done at that time of year! Guesstimating sizes is something I am doing too, but it is made easier by the fact that I stockpile kids clothes anyway when I see them at crazy prices and I will embellish/paint/personalise the clothes about 6 months from the trip so that I can be reasonably sure of the sizing.

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

If you are looking for an autograph book template, this is the one I plan to use - this guy is amazing and makes this available free for own use:

http://www.designdisneyraoul.nl/portfolio-items/passport/

His generosity is what I like about Disney fans.

 

[rewilliams]

I really like that idea - the room decorations. We will likely be offsite, so I want to decorate our suite, too. Are the decorations a surprise for your husband?

Our 10th anniversary will be at the same time as our projected trip, so I am paying attention to the plans of others to celebrate anniversaries. Etsy is a great resource for you in the USA. Some of the work of those vendors is amazing. Some of my own DIY shirts that I plan to make are inspired by those sold on Etsy.

Congratulations on your 10th anniversary, BTW.

The decorations are a surprise, nothing fancy but fun to walk up to our door/window and see them. And I like attention so that will be fun too! LOL

Thanks

 

[rewilliams]

I also like the idea of pin trading for the kids - I will probably make the lanyards (I already have Disney themed grosgrain ribbon, so that'll take a few minutes), but I guess the pins will have to wait until we get there and I can get one or two of those starter packs.

With being overseas it may not work but Ebay has amazingly cheap packs of pins. I got a pack of 50 pins for about $30 plus shipping. I don't know what they would charge for the shipping but it is worth looking into I promise!!! I did it the first time we went and we came home with so many sets just by trading with the cast members! We can't wait to do it again!

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

With being overseas it may not work but Ebay has amazingly cheap packs of pins. I got a pack of 50 pins for about $30 plus shipping. I don't know what they would charge for the shipping but it is worth looking into I promise!!! I did it the first time we went and we came home with so many sets just by trading with the cast members! We can't wait to do it again!

I am an Ebay addict, so that may well work for us - thanks for the tip! I think the pin trading will be a great way for my kids to be able to break the ice with CM. I want them to learn as much as they can about the USA while we are there, and asking CM about hometowns will be great, but it can be intimidating for a child to approach an unknown adult. Pins may help.

Are you considering V&A for an anniversary dinner?

 

[MandiC]

Pins really did break the ice with my kids. I know the CM in Norway they traded with was from Arandale (sorry if I butchered the spelling!)...which was really fun because that is the kingdom the girls in Frozen are from so they just thought that was the best thing
Even if you can't get them shipped to you in Australia, it might be worth looking close to your trip and getting them shipped right to your resort from somewhere like ebay or amazon. I know the prices directly from Disney are quite a bit more and honestly I really liked getting the random pins because the kids weren't overly attached to many of them. I think if they really liked the pins they bought they wouldn't have been as open to trading them.

 

[rewilliams]

I am an Ebay addict, so that may well work for us - thanks for the tip! I think the pin trading will be a great way for my kids to be able to break the ice with CM. I want them to learn as much as they can about the USA while we are there, and asking CM about hometowns will be great, but it can be intimidating for a child to approach an unknown adult. Pins may help.

Are you considering V&A for an anniversary dinner?

The pins do help with kids talking to CMs. My DD was 4 when we went the first time and by the end she would walk up to any CM and ask about pins! My hubby who was a Disney skeptic was into to it to by the end!!!

Since our daughter will be with us we aren't doing anything special just for our anniversary...I am ordering a cake as a surprise for dinner on the Tuesday we are there. But for our actually anniversary we will be eating breakfast at the Castle after a trip to BBB for my daughter.

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

MandiC: I am really looking forward to EPCOT, personally, and having the kids able to interact with CM from many different countries will be great fun - I will definitely get some other stuff shipped to the resort, so why not pins? Amazon do expedited delivery (for the USA), so I should be able to tee that up. Meeting a CM from Arandelle? Your daughters must have been so excited!

Rewilliams: It is so sweet that you are spending your anniversary creating a princess morning for your daughter. I am hoping to take mine to a meal in the castle - my daughter is pretty young at this stage, but I think any little girl who loves Disney is going to be jumping out of her skin to be able to meet princesses in Cinderella's castle!

I wrote to Disney to ask for a princess picture, and they sent a postcard autographed by all of the princesses. I am going to scan it and make placemats and stuff like that for her birthday, as well as framing the original postcard as a present for her birthday.

She has already spotted it in the office and got so excited. It is fantastic that Disney do that for kids. It also gives scope for plenty of DIY projects using the image.

One of the other DIY things I was planning for my kids was an invitation from 'Cinderella' to dine in the castle. Are you planning to do that, too?

 

[MandiC]

I did the invitation, there is another board on this website. It is called Creative DISigns, there are many wonderful, helpful people who will help make invitations/name fills/ect for FREE on that board. Disney-lovers are the best

 

[NutcrackerPrincess]

I did the invitation, there is another board on this website. It is called Creative DISigns, there are many wonderful, helpful people who will help make invitations/name fills/ect for FREE on that board. Disney-lovers are the best

For some reason, I am always reinventing the wheel. I will have to check that board out! Since our trip is going to be a one-time only thing, I will be going all out. I am thinking a scroll-type invitation with tassels and crystals and wedding-like bling.

It is nice to 'chat' with other adults who are willing to go to such lengths to create a holiday of suspended disbelief for their families. I just wish Disney would open a Wonka Park for the mums. Pure chocolatey imagination. Mmmm...

 

[MandiC]

LOL I would not have done a Wonka park, I came home with an extra 5lbs as it was

 

[KristenFNJ]

How exciting!!!

Another fun DIY is a Count Down. My favorite way is to have the # of days until your trip on separate little cards that are attached to a hook or ring. You pull one off each day until your trip.

But there are tons of ways to create a DIY Countdown! Are you on Pinterest? (If not, beware... addiction alert!) Search "Disney Countdown Ideas" and you'll see all sorts of ways to create a countdown, from calendars to chalkboards to paper chains to balloons! So fun!

 

[newtexan]

How exciting!!!

Another fun DIY is a Count Down. My favorite way is to have the # of days until your trip on separate little cards that are attached to a hook or ring. You pull one off each day until your trip.

But there are tons of ways to create a DIY Countdown! Are you on Pinterest? (If not, beware... addiction alert!) Search "Disney Countdown Ideas" and you'll see all sorts of ways to create a countdown, from calendars to chalkboards to paper chains to balloons! So fun!

Pinterest is definately addicting for ANY and ALL ideas you could want to DIY for your trip. I got the print out for our countdown there, framed it, and use a dry erase marker each morning to change the number of days left.
I printed a countdown chain from here for my son to pull off each morning after breakfast.
And I do a lot of iron-on tees with DIsigns from the awesome people who share their work. I can't believe how generous they are with their talent and art, and so nice when you make a request for name of date change, Love It!

 

[KSUWildcat]

Hi there! I've done LOTS of DIY Disney here....

Countdown board (dry erase and one with numbers you hang on like a key holder)

Lanyards (for holding pins while pintrading)

Matching shirts (tie dye and applique)

Autograph book (although we prefer a cloth-covered photo album. Have characters sign the outside and put pics of my daughter with characters inside)

Epcot passport (info on each country and place to write in it and have each nationality person write a message in their native language)

Costumes (Disney related when we've gone at Halloween time and princess dresses, but those have just stayed home for dressup)

Hair bows

Kid (and adult) travel journal (pages are free printables on wdwinfo website)

drawstring backpack personalized with applique'd mickey head

fancy itinerary for scrapbook

decorated our luggage with Disney (paint, glue, etc)

made scrapbook/photobook afterwards on Shutterfly

and this year, I'm going to personalize matching hoodies for me and my daughter since we'll be going during Jan/Feb!!