Disney traditions?

[GMS]

Anyone have activities/traditions that you do with your family or kids at Disney? For example, we have three girls and three boys and the girls always get an umbrella around 6-8 yrs of age when we visit, the ones in the French Pavilion with their names on them...then at 10-13 a glass slipper from the castle and finally at 15-16 pick a pearl at the Japanese pavilion with their Daddy...and put in a necklace.
The boys get a sword, and then t-shirts...it seems to be what they like!

We used to do Chef Mickey's every visit but for some reason they weren't that thrilled with it last time so we are trying different places this time...

 

[GrtWtNorth]

My family usually gets PhotoPass or PhotoPass+.

1. We need one "nice" photo where everyone is looking clean and put together -- no three-day beards or coaster hair. Good photo memories include:
* Family portrait at Animal Kingdom entrance at night
* Cinderella's Castle, holding up a picture frame
* in front of the Christmas tree at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge

2. One silly or outrageous picture. Recent "bests" include:
* Kiddo held up high like she's flying over the castle like Peter Pan
* family with arms spread wide, hugging the entire Cadillac Range in Cars Land
* frown-face (my favorite) as I interrupt my daughter's plan to see Belle just to pose for yet another castle photo (there was no line, I couldn't help myself).

 

[MandiC]

We've only been to Disney once so we'll have to think up something
I loved having photopass+ this time around so I think that will be a must on future trips.
Pin trading will likely be a tradition as my daughters loved that, I'll have to buy them a bunch of new pins before we go again. I also enjoyed bringing them to the pin store in DTD on the last day we were there and letting them pick out any one pin they wanted.
They loved collecting pressed pennies and my oldest even used her own money to buy a pressed penny book so I am sure that will be another must.
I could see us making Tusker House breakfast a tradition on our Animal Kingdom day, we all enjoyed that! (I think my princess loving daughters may have even enjoyed it more than breakfast at Cinderella's Table)

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have a few:
-Picture of kids done in the same place every year...very cool to see them grow up at WDW.

-Our first night unplanned dinner at Epcot. We mostly arrive late afternoon and upon check in we would always inquire at guest services as to what place in WS has a ADR for dinner that night and try to choose somewhere new. Just fun to do. Of course now with MYW we could easily do it on our phones but we are sticking with our tradition.

-ALWAYS start our day with the WDW information channel on TV as we get ready.

-Always do MK on our first full day.

-We used to always do Ohana every trip but since our little guys peanut allergy we have given that one up.

 

[SEA333]

We have only been twice, but the first time we were there, we let the kids lead the way in MK on the first day, so DS11(at the time) led us to tomorrowland and our very first "ride" was the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Even though it is not thrilling, or super-spectacular, we made it a point this year to go back to it, just because it was our "first" together as a family. We probably go every time now

We tried to take some pictures at the same places as the first time, but my kids are weirdos about pictures...if they are not in the mood, they will give us the "I really do NOT want to do this" smiles and the pictures turn out bad. So we have learned to choose our battles, remember we are in Disney World, and catch them in happy candid moments rather than making them pose when and were we want them to.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Check in, go straight to MK by 12-1, first ride is SM and then dinner at Chef Mickey's. Wishes and the parade after dinner.

 

[hethry6207]

I love this thread! Such a neat idea! Spur of the minute vacations seem to be our tradition. Lol we are self employed and usually don't know until a week or two before we're going to have the time to go. Our first wdw trip before kids in 2008 we planned and left 2 days later. In 2012 we had 4 1/2 mo. Old triplets and had no planned on going since they were so little, but my sister was cheering at a competition there, so at the last minute we drove up after work on Thursday and Friday, to get there for her Saturday competition. This time, we're going the 1st week of March and have actually planned for about 2 months so I feel shocked haha... I would love to start some fun traditions with our kids since they will be almost 2.5. The perfect time to start remembering things!

 

[Dopey19]

We always start the trip with lunch at Beaches and Cream! We buy a pin that represents something special or new related to the trip. And we always walk to Hollywood studios at least once from Beach Club and just enjoy the downtime.

 

[BeckFam08]

For us we let the boys pick a pin/day that represents their favorite thing of the day.

 

[SLP958]

O'hana the first night.

It just seems to set the mood for the trip.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Chef mickeys the first night!

We pick a couple new pins every trip.

 

[dowchick]

We always eat at Rose and Crown.

 

[jeepwreck]

for Disneyland we always get a family picture on the new orleans square staircase, been doing it since my first trip.

for Disneyworld we always take the train around the whole park first and then back back to main street and start the day

 

[planningjollyholiday]

for Disneyland we always get a family picture on the new orleans square staircase, been doing it since my first trip.

for Disneyworld we always take the train around the whole park first and then back back to main street and start the day

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the court of angles is being converted to the new entrance for club 33. This means it will not be accessible to the general public. Too bad, I also loved taking pictures of my kids on the step, is so beautiful in there.

 

[GMS]

I love the idea of a picture somewhere every time...I wish we had done this. We can start now but wish we had done before!

 

[khertz]

Since we started going with DS, we always do a pre-park opening breakfast at Crystal Palace. Our upcoming trip is only a weekend with 2 park days an no ADR's so it will be our first time not doing it.

Always eat at Sci-Fi. Even when we don't plan on it, we somehow always end up there for lunch at least once!

We have also gotten DS's hair cut every trip at the Harmony Barber Shop. His first time there was also his 1st haircut ever. Thought about not doing it this upcoming trip since we only have 2 park days but it is just too ingrained now. We have one set for the afternoon on our MK day!

 

[Grendalynn]

Here are a few things that we ALWAYS do when at WDW!

Always have a Count Down to Disney chard the month leading up to our trip!

Always give the kids their own Disney dollars to spend as they so choose

Always go to MK on the first full day

Always ride "Its a Small World" first

We always have one really nice dress up meal (Cali Grill, O'hana, Narcoossee...)

I Always tear up when we walk down Main Street USA

Always get a few nice family pictures at the different parks or resorts

Always have a schedule/itinerary

DH always buys me a Pandora/Chamilia beads from a place on Disney property (park, resort, DTD...)... this is a relatively new tradition but each new Disney Bead has a story and memory behind it...

 

[jeepwreck]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the court of angles is being converted to the new entrance for club 33. This means it will not be accessible to the general public. Too bad, I also loved taking pictures of my kids on the step, is so beautiful in there.

really I know there were changing things around but I did not know they were taking it out so sad now...

 

[DisneyGal24]

We always eat breakfast with the princesses at Akershus. It's great seeing how the pictures change!

 

[huggiebear23]

Love this thread!

We have a countdown chain!! It's a must!

Every time we go. We always go to downtown Disney and the girls take a pic in front of Mickey and Minnie at the pin trading spot.. My first picture of the girls my youngest still had a pacifier clip on her bib.

Crystal Palace before park opening for the first full day at MK.

We always watch wishes in the same spot.

I also sit in the same spot for Illuminations.

I always request the same area at Pop Century. Love going back and knowing where everything is.

While reading this I notice how OCD I am... Lol