Extras to welcome a first time Disney visitor...

[HollyJoy]

When we (hopefully) go back to WDW in November of 2014, this will be my youngest's first time going to Disney (other than our little sneak peek a few weeks ago at Chef Mickey's). Just wondering what sorts of things the resorts would help me with to help welcome her. Anyone done anything totally magical and fun?

 

[gabriellewatson]

We go in September 2014, and it will be the first time that we take our youngsters too. They will be 2 and 5. I have been telling my daughter that we are planning a trip for WDW that will happen sometime next summer. She is excited and talks about it everyday with everyone. Trying to get her used to the rides and characters before we go though. I don't want the kids to be frightened.

 

[rlovew]

You can pay Disney florist for a number of magical events. If you are asking for something free you can't plan it is advance something may happen but if you go in expecting something you may be disappointed. As more and more people expect magical things for every event they will become less likely to happen. If you go in expecting no more than what you paid for you might be pleasantly surprised or end up happy with your stay just as it was planned.

 

[pamkat1820]

When you book they ask you if you are celebrating anything. Tell them it's her first visit, they will give her abut ton that says "first visit" some if not most CM will welcome her to disney when they see her.

 

[meljean]

I called the florist and had them send Mickey balloons tied to a Mickey plush to the room ado they would be waiting there. It's pricy, I'm thinking it was about $50 or so. I can't remember exactly

 

[DisMama3]

The only free guarantee is a "first visit" button. Some extra magic may happen along the way, but there are a lot of first visits.

Is your visit relatively close to her bday? And even if not maybe consider making it a trip for a bday celebration. We found the birthday button gets a better reaction, mainly free cupcakes at TS meals.

 

[HollyJoy]

Not really looking for any resort to give out a bunch of free stuff.. but more help me in doing some things.. Not really sure just yet, as to what.

One thing I was thinking of doing was making a welcome card to give her when we arrive. For this, I'd need the help of a fellow Dis board member (probably a local who goes often) to get a bunch of character signatures on the card for me.

 

[Hopefully]

Not really looking for any resort to give out a bunch of free stuff.. but more help me in doing some things.. Not really sure just yet, as to what.

One thing I was thinking of doing was making a welcome card to give her when we arrive. For this, I'd need the help of a fellow Dis board member (probably a local who goes often) to get a bunch of character signatures on the card for me.

Good Luck, but don't get your expectations too high. Getting lots of character signatures on a card is very time consuming and you may have difficulty finding a DIS er who can or will do that for you.
I think your best bet is to plan, and pay, for something special. Either from the Disney Florist or a special cake from the cake hot line.
Expecting either Disney or a stranger to do something for you is a setup for disappointment, I am afraid.
Have Fun

 

[tink&stitchmom]

OP you might want to look at the Creative DISigns forum for some ideas/help.

 

[minnie mum]

OP you might want to look at the Creative DISigns forum for some ideas/help.

This is just what I was going to say. You can find all kinds of free clip art on the internet, too. For that matter you can find the signatures on the net and just print them on the card. Make them different colours and she'll never know the difference.

 

[DisneyMomChristine]

How much fun that it will be your daughter's 1st visit!

Last year when we took our two girls for the 1st time, they were 2 & 4. To get them excited for their trip, about a week before, I had a package arrive in the mail, addressed to them. Inside were Disney t-shirts and a "letter" from their favorite princesses, Ariel & Sleeping Beauty, inviting them to come to Disney World.

In the letter, I described all that there was to do in Disney (swim, go on rides, watch parades, eat dinner with princesses and Mickey), basically everything that we planned on doing.

Whatever you do, she will have a magical time, and you will LOVE seeing her reactions. Have fun!

 

[HollyJoy]

For that matter you can find the signatures on the net and just print them on the card. Make them different colours and she'll never know the difference.

Well maybe most kids wouldn't know the difference, but you don't know my daughter! this is the kid that asks if the characters are actually people in costumes! LOL Where my older two never questioned anything. So I can't just print a signature. If I can't find anyone to get them for me, I'll have to sign them myself..

 

[HollyJoy]

How much fun that it will be your daughter's 1st visit!

Last year when we took our two girls for the 1st time, they were 2 & 4. To get them excited for their trip, about a week before, I had a package arrive in the mail, addressed to them. Inside were Disney t-shirts and a "letter" from their favorite princesses, Ariel & Sleeping Beauty, inviting them to come to Disney World.
!

That is a good idea.. maybe I can do a mini package like that.. however I still want to have something in the room to welcome them. Do they still have Disney Dollars? We had Mickey and Minnie give my older two those on their first trip, along with a wonderful gift that a fellow Dis member took to the resort for me

 

[Crystal Brewer]

I have picked up things and a "Suprise" box for a welcome package. It will include Mickey band-aids to P&F tissues to themed candy I picked the box up at Target tho it isn't Disney its made like the gift boxes they leave in room My DH knows he& 2x DS will slowly retrieve things from car as I "find" our room their goodies will be in my bag with me so I can get ready I found mini plush at the dollar store so DH doesn't know he'll have a suprise also ;-) Good Luck

 

[HollyJoy]

I have picked up things and a "Suprise" box for a welcome package. It will include Mickey band-aids to P&F tissues to themed candy I picked the box up at Target tho it isn't Disney its made like the gift boxes they leave in room My DH knows he& 2x DS will slowly retrieve things from car as I "find" our room their goodies will be in my bag with me so I can get ready I found mini plush at the dollar store so DH doesn't know he'll have a suprise also ;-) Good Luck

This is what I'm thinking I'm going to do. When we took my older daughters, my FIL took their packages to the room ahead of us. I'll have to do this too. We are looking at staying at AOA, so I'm sure it won't be a problem sidetracking her when we arrive!

Now to just keep my eyes open for a bunch of Disney things over the next year, to add in the box. Need to go to Old Navy for some tees.. and hit Etsy

 

[Cadyrose]

Not really looking for any resort to give out a bunch of free stuff.. but more help me in doing some things.. Not really sure just yet, as to what.

One thing I was thinking of doing was making a welcome card to give her when we arrive. For this, I'd need the help of a fellow Dis board member (probably a local who goes often) to get a bunch of character signatures on the card for me.

I did something similar. I created an invite for our December trip. Friends of ours were going that October... I wrote up an explanation to give to a CM at concierge and simply asked if a friend of the characters could get the signature (having heard that if you sign, you sign all different ones). I also said that if they couldn't we understood and appreciated the consideration. It came back signed in all different colors.

I go in August...if you can mail me the invite you have, I'm happy to try to pay it forward. I can't promise the concierge thing but we do so many character greets, we can certainly get duplicates. It would actually be a great lesson with my daughter about helping others and spreading some Disney Magic!

Pm me if you would like me to get those for you.

 

[HollyJoy]

I did something similar. I created an invite for our December trip. Friends of ours were going that October... I wrote up an explanation to give to a CM at concierge and simply asked if a friend of the characters could get the signature (having heard that if you sign, you sign all different ones). I also said that if they couldn't we understood and appreciated the consideration. It came back signed in all different colors.

I go in August...if you can mail me the invite you have, I'm happy to try to pay it forward. I can't promise the concierge thing but we do so many character greets, we can certainly get duplicates. It would actually be a great lesson with my daughter about helping others and spreading some Disney Magic!

Pm me if you would like me to get those for you.

THANK YOU!!!! I will PM you right away!

 

[Cadyrose]

THANK YOU!!!! I will PM you right away!

No problem. We have been blessed with more pixie dust than I could hope for so I love the opportunities to teach my two that you treat others how you want to be treated and when you do, good things come back.

 

[Bob NC]

With my kids there was so much new to see, so many exciting things to do, so many places to explore, that they didn't really need anything 'extra' to make it even more special.

 

[HollyJoy]

With my kids there was so much new to see, so many exciting things to do, so many places to explore, that they didn't really need anything 'extra' to make it even more special.

I hear ya... and I'm sure it will be the same in our case, but, with that being said, we are not financially free, so I have no idea when (or if) we will get her back to WDW after this trip, so I want to do as much as I can. I know how much my older two loved that extra touch their first time (didn't do it the second), so I want to give that to my youngest as well

Our first visit with the older girls was so magical -- from Pooh and Tigger holding their hands as they opened for the morning, and escorting them to the meet and greet, to being selected to ride on Donald's float in the AK parade, just after meeting Donald.. not sure that could ever be topped. She hears about it all the time, so something magical needs to come her way on her first trip, too!