Do you have any pre-trip traditions?

[KimR]

After visiting WDW so many times, there are things we do in the weeks leading up to the trip that have become a tradition for us....things that help get our excitement going.

For instance, the Saturday night before our vacation we usually eat out at Bahama Breeze. The tradition came about because that is where we ate the Saturday prior to our May 2000 trip. That was an incredible vacation and although we had been to WDW before and loved it, it was the trip that really started my obsession with WDW. So now, it's become something of a tradition to eat there; sort of like a 'good luck charm' for the vacation. Also, the tropical, laid-back atmosphere of the restaurant really puts us in the mood. (The only downside to this is that sometimes we go there when we are not planning a trip and then it's kind of a downer!).

The weeks prior, we shop for 'Disney clothes', 'Disney shoes', snacks and munchies to eat along the way, and activities for the kids to do on the trip down. A few nights before, we select CDs to take for the drive (which MUST include Aerosmith to get in the mood for RNRC).

And since we always leave on a weekday morning, we are usually travelling with all the commuters so it's become a running joke in our family to sing 'Ha ha ha ha ha, you're going to work and we're going to Disney World!' We do this randomly for the first half-hour or so of driving in rush-hour traffic. Silly, I know, but it's one of those things we just HAVE to do!...

What things to do you just before a trip that have become a tradition?

 

[milmore104]

Let's see we have a tradition where every Sunday morning over pankcake (mickey Mouse of course) we watch all our WDW vacations from the past and sometimes the Travel channel specials.

We also spend the night before shopping in the Disney Store and have dinner at UNO's.

We spend the night before our trip in a hotel to get ourselves ready. We watch all the planes taking off and say in 8 more hours we'll be on one 7 hours...6 hours... and so on

 

[AStamm]

For about a month before heading down, we watch Disney videos every Saturday and Sunday. We also throw in our Disney vacation videos as well to really get us in the mood.

 

[mickman1962]

I always got drunk before getting on the plane (hate to fly). This time I'm trying Xanax instead. Oh yeah we watch all our old videos too.

 

[DeterminedOne]

The morning we leave for the trip I whip out the video cam then say to DH "We just won the Superbowl, now what are we going to do?" To which he has to reply "We're going to Disney World." It became a tradition because DH hates when I do it and I like to annoy him.

 

[Goofy Rulz]

We'll be heading to WDW in June. Every weekend for the past 3 months, the kids & I have gone through a ritual of "which ride will I go on first". Then we watch all of the planning dvd's we have and all the WDW programs I dvr'd from the Travel Channel or Discovery Channel. Since we are a group of 10, we have a few "planning" meetings leading up to the trip. We'll be having our second meeting this weekend as a matter of fact! The weekend before the trip will get together one last time and go over our "check lists" w/pizza & beer (juice for the kiddies of course). Then we review the "rules" for the kids. Then we head to the grocery store and turn in all of the change we've accumulated in their change machine. And when it's that close, don't even ask how many times I go through the luggage to make sure I have everything. I'm getting excited just thinking about it. But alas, I still have 112 more days.

 

[HunnyPots]

I always got drunk before getting on the plane (hate to fly).

Now THAT'S a wholesome family tradition!

 

[Elysiannn]

My traditions: About 3 weeks before the take off I bring out my luggage and start putting clothes, toiletries, essentials into it. Through the course of the next 3 weeks I change my mind many times, I shop for travel toiletries, I'm on this website a ton. I usually start reading the tips boards to get into the board. I also relive my past trips by looking at my lanyards with my pins. I try and get a new pin for every new experience I go through at WDW

The night before is me cleaning up my house, putting fresh sheets on, having all packed and ready to go because I usually fly out at 7:30 a.m.

Then I "try" to sleep. I'm just like those two little kids in the WDW commercial saying they're too excited to sleep. Ely

 

[airtime]

DD14 and I grab each other by the collar (playfully - not rough) at various times (especially so just before the trip) and shout with mock horror, "We're trapped -- TRAPPED LIKE RATS!!!" (The idea is that we're still trapped here in Green Bay instead of our "real" hometown of Orlando.) Yes, it's incredibly stupid and juvenile, but hey, sometimes you just gotta act nuts!

Since we drive there, I always come home and attempt to sleep before driving all night. (Rather unsuccessfully, usually, but it's hard to sleep when you're on !)

Of course, there's always the proper musical preparations for the road trip, and getting the van ready. Does that count as a tradition?


Tim, who is the only one in the family who likes driving to Florida!

 

[DisneyArk]

Before every trip we create a Disney paper chain to count down the days until WDW! Mys sons love it. They go and look at it instead of asking "How much longer until we go to WDW?"

We also start buying little things for the boys to play with on the trip. We've already bought several Mickey activity books!

And I always spend even more time on the DIS trying to keep up with the latest news about WDW!

And as others mentioned, we watch a lot of Disney movies every week! Especially the Sing Alongs that are in the parks!