Disney traditions

[DisFan84]

I've always gone to the parks as a child-less adult with friends that were also child-less. I haven't been to the parks in four years and this year my Husband and I will be going with our two year old (insert emotional mama emoji) and was wondering if anyone has done specific things for their kids the first time that they've carried out each time they visit.

We'll be there in October (coming from Oregon) and was hoping to come up with some sort of idea that as he grows he can see what we've always done over the years of visiting. Pins? Or is there something you give your kids prior to your trip as a kick off?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bcla]

I've always gone to the parks as a child-less adult with friends that were also child-less. I haven't been to the parks in four years and this year my Husband and I will be going with our two year old (insert emotional mama emoji) and was wondering if anyone has done specific things for their kids the first time that they've carried out each time they visit.

Definitely go to City Hall (or perhaps ask at any store) for a first visit button. Outside of that, Mickey or Minnie ears.

 

[meggles]

Ears hat with their name embroidered on it.

Picture of them sitting in the tea cup or dumbo photo op (you can take one every time you go and see them growing bigger each time).

Silhouettes are fun to do every few years.

Photos with characters if your kiddo isn't scared of them.

Mommy tip: Utilize rider switch pass so you can have a little fun too and bring a stroller so that when they nap (hopefully in the stroller!) you can hit up an adult food/drink place and have a nice break.

 

[dsbjki]

you could do a Disney scrapbook every time you go if you're into that. You can even make digital ones if you're not into the 'real thing"

I like meggles idea of a picture somewhere each time you go.

Buy a Disney ornament every year for your christmas tree and then give them to him once he leaves the house

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

I just recently read about "the Little Man of Disneyland" and read it with my son. I know from the blog where it is but don't plan on telling my son. He is extremely excited to look for his house on our trip this year. I wish I had know about it on our first trip. I bought the book on eBay for $5.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...man-of-disneyland-and-his-adventureland-home/

 

[DisFan84]

LOVE the ideas! Thank you for your input. I'll definitely pull from everyone's ideas.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I just recently read about "the Little Man of Disneyland" and read it with my son. I know from the blog where it is but don't plan on telling my son. He is extremely excited to look for his house on our trip this year. I wish I had know about it on our first trip. I bought the book on eBay for $5.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...man-of-disneyland-and-his-adventureland-home/

I had no idea! Thanks for posting.

 

[lalasmama]

We do 2 pins each trip. One has the year on it. They make several of these with different characters, so DD gets to the one she likes. The other pin we get is whatever one she chooses that has something to do with our trip--a favorite ride, a new ride (like the first trip that she did Screamin', or the time that she wanted to do nothing but Indiana Jones for 3 days straight), or that time when she was all about the princesses.

We also make sure to do Jungle Cruise as the first ride every trip. DD rolls her eyes, begs to change to a different ride... but then she always hops happily onto the boat, and by the time she's off the ride, she says she can't imagine every riding anything else first

 

[beachdreamr1229]

For a first trip, as others said, ear hats and the first time button are must-haves. We also like to take one family picture with a character every time we go and have made a Disneyland wall in our house with picture from each trip.

 

[VandVsmama]

I second the suggestion to do a silhouette on Main Street. My mom got one of my sister and I when we were about 4 and 6 years old. She has since passed away and that silhouette is one of my most treasured mementos.

I also like the idea of picking a special spot to take a photo of your child & every time you go back to Disneyland, take another photo in that same spot. It's fun to see the photos later on showing how they've grown.

 

[AustinTink]

Photos standing in the same spot each year, so many locations. Our favorite spot was in the letter in California that his name begins with. I was so sad when they removed those letters from the California Adventure entrance.

 

[DisFan84]

Perfect. Thank you all so so much. Do characters still sign autographs? I remember doing that when I was 10 but never bothered when I've gone as an adult.

 

[DisFan84]

I just recently read about "the Little Man of Disneyland" and read it with my son. I know from the blog where it is but don't plan on telling my son. He is extremely excited to look for his house on our trip this year. I wish I had know about it on our first trip. I bought the book on eBay for $5.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...man-of-disneyland-and-his-adventureland-home/

I just bought on Amazon. Thanks for the idea!

 

[707MickeyGirl]

I take a picture of my granddaughter at Rabbit's door every trip. She used to be smaller than it, and now she has to crouch down! It's a great little spot over by the teacups.

 

[Caseheidi]

Buy a Disney ornament every year for your christmas tree and then give them to him once he leaves the house


We started this with our daughter when she was 2. She has picked her own ornament each year and loves placing them on the tree each year (she is now 7).

We also have special treats we get. She has come to expect that we will have Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars at least once a trip, and a trip to Goofy's candy shop to pick out her own treat.

There are also little things we do that make us all happy, so we do each time. We tend to watch the parade from the same location each trip, dance together on Main Street, get a picture with a balloon backdrop (with a balloon selling CM's help) and what makes us happy. We found that we let her set the pace on our first trip (she was 18 months) and journaled our days so we would remember. In future trips, we found ourselves repeating some of the things because it made us happy, and now they happen each time.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Perfect. Thank you all so so much. Do characters still sign autographs? I remember doing that when I was 10 but never bothered when I've gone as an adult.

Yes characters still sign autographs! I love filling a book or two every trip.

 

[my*gracie*girl]

We take a picture of dd at the White Rabbit's door every visit....I love looking back at how she has grown over the years!

 

[Canuck16]

We have done a silhouette on each trip and have them in frame so we can see how our kids change over the years.

Best souvenier for our money in our opinion.

Have a great trip

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

The first ride we go on is Peter Pan. This sort of came about by accident but it's the routine now.

The first morning (so second day), we do a character breakfast. The last 3 times its been Minnie and Friends, but once before it was Goofy's.

We've done silhouettes - hands down, the best value for your money in the parks for souvenirs.

I've started getting mugs, I have an Aulani one and a 60th one. I like the Christmas ornament one.

I just recently read about "the Little Man of Disneyland" and read it with my son. I know from the blog where it is but don't plan on telling my son. He is extremely excited to look for his house on our trip this year. I wish I had know about it on our first trip. I bought the book on eBay for $5.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...man-of-disneyland-and-his-adventureland-home/

This is so cute! I love this stuff, I'm going to order the book from Amazon. Thank you!

 

[DisFan84]

I've never even heard of the silhouettes and I've been to the parks 6 times lol. It's going to be a whole new meaning for me as I get to enjoy it through the experience of our son. I'm going to come across so many things I've never looked at.

I'm so excited and can't wait to incorporate all your ideas