First Trip for Kids

Kiwigirl839

Earning My Ears
Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
41
We are bound for Disney in mid-April. It is the first time my children will visit Disney World.

What special kinds of magic should we know about, ask about, take part in?

Our family loves to travel but we might not repeat Disney and if ever it will be years. This is my one chance to give them that childhood magic.

Thanks!
 
I'm in a similar situation. I am taking my nieces, 7 and 13 in April on their first and only trip. My three kids, 5, 5, 11 and my best friend are coming too. I'm planning all sorts of things. Here goes:

-custom cake (see my avatar) at the Plaza with ice cream one evening after our Anna and Elsa meet and greet

-welcome gifts themed to Animal Kingdom Lodge to include a safari Minnie cinch backpack, giraffe or zebra tee (bag and tees from etsy), plush giraffe or elephant and safari themed Minnie ears (also etsy)

--airplane care pkg with Disney cookies, fruit snacks, princess colouring book (for 7yo), journal (for 13 yo), markers, lollipops, crackers, sticker activities

-considering Memory Maker

-booked a savannah view

-noted first visit and my daughter's birthday on the reservation. I did this via a letter to dvc member services not just a note on the reservation. I find those notes are taken more seriously.

-Princess meal at akershus

-lunch at Sci Fi

-pre trip party with Mickey cake to go over itinerary and give plane care pkg

We sat down in January to go over what their must dos were. Made sure to get fast passes for those things. Made itinerary with them to get them involved.

Have a great trip.
 
Honestly, I'd keep it pretty simple. That first trip is all about the parks IMO.
 

Most of it depends on the ages of your children. I would stay away from getting/giving too many things and focus on experiences, since that's what they won't get again. Getting the Memory Maker photos is a great idea. Some of the photographers are great and some are so-so, but we've always come home with enough amazing photos that make it worth it. You still need your own camera, but it's easier to get whole family photos this way.
Here's my list of (free) ideas, some of which are a little outside of the usual thoughts, which may or may not be of any interest to you, depending on what your children are interested in:
At DHS, there's a free drawing class at the Animation Academy. Every half hour, I think.

At Epcot, try the Agent P missions in World Showcase (there are "registration" booths) and the Kidcot stops in each land where you get a bear signed by representatives of the country. Five years ago, if you took the finished project to guest services near Spaceship Earth, you got a special prize (some trading cards and a coloring book). Stop in Club Cool at Epcot and try different sodas from around the world. Also, check the schedule for the Jammitors -- a group of janitors who play percussion on garbage cans -- very cool!

At AK, make sure to visit the tree roots up close to look at all of the animal carvings. They just opened some new ones recently. Very few people go look so it's uncrowded on those trails. There's also a wildlife badge earning program with different stations for kids there too -- can't remember what it's called because my boys haven't tried it. They did the previous version and enjoyed it, so I'm sure this one is good too.

At MK, play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom -- get your first set of cards and instructions at the firehouse, but after that, pick up your daily set of cards in Liberty Square because it's never crowded at that place. It's a little hidden though. After you ride the speedway in Tomorrowland, you can ask if they have any driver's licenses for you -- sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, but they're cute little souvenirs. Also in Tomorrowland, watch out for PUSH, the rolling trash can -- he's pretty funny! Make sure you see the opening show at MK one morning, about 15 minutes before the park opens.

Finally, on most of the modes of transportation (bus, some boats, and monorail) the drivers sometimes have transportation trading cards that the kids can ask for. My boys have been trying to collect the entire set for years so it's a nice challenge and another free souvenir. We've learned that there are different kind of buses at Disney and lots of other (useless, but good for entertainment during a bus ride) facts! :)

These are the little things that make our trips magical, more than the big splashy, expensive things. Have a great trip!

Edited to add: I almost forgot -- arrange for a wake up call one morning (preferably for a time after you know everyone will already be awake) and let the kids answer. We haven't done this in awhile, but if I remember correctly, Mickey calls and Stitch interrupts him.
 
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Don't forget to stop by Guest Relations to pick My First Time pins. I wish I had known about these when I took my kids the first time.
 
This will be my kids first trip (well the 9 year old was 9 months old last time we were there) but not my first trip. We are going mid-April as well.

Here is what I am doing right now:

I have a cool disney shirt for them every day that they don't know about.

I have a surprise for them every night for when we get back from the parks (tinkerbell will leave it for them) that way they are excited about going back to the room and not so gimmie gimmie at the parks each day.

We have only 3 ADRs and 2 of them are for lunches. That way we don't have to rush around and be crazy.

I made all the girls necklaces with different characters on them, debating the pin trading thing.

I have been playing Disney music since we decided to do a trip (about 2 weeks ago)

I made a countdown to Disney chalkboard so that they won't continually ask me how many days.

I have already made FP+ to see the characters that are available, by the time we decided to do the trip it was too late for Anna and Elsa

I am setting up their autograph books so that there is room for their picture after we get it signed

Oh and don't forget to go to guest services at the park and tell them its the kids first visit, they will give them a button that says first visit!
 
This will be my kids first trip (well the 9 year old was 9 months old last time we were there) but not my first trip. We are going mid-April as well.

Here is what I am doing right now:

I have a cool disney shirt for them every day that they don't know about.

I have a surprise for them every night for when we get back from the parks (tinkerbell will leave it for them) that way they are excited about going back to the room and not so gimmie gimmie at the parks each day.

We have only 3 ADRs and 2 of them are for lunches. That way we don't have to rush around and be crazy.

I made all the girls necklaces with different characters on them, debating the pin trading thing.

I have been playing Disney music since we decided to do a trip (about 2 weeks ago)

I made a countdown to Disney chalkboard so that they won't continually ask me how many days.

I have already made FP+ to see the characters that are available, by the time we decided to do the trip it was too late for Anna and Elsa

I am setting up their autograph books so that there is room for their picture after we get it signed

Oh and don't forget to go to guest services at the park and tell them its the kids first visit, they will give them a button that says first visit!

Great ideas. We will be at Disney same time as you. April 12-18. Have a great trip.
 
There are countless opportunities for magic at Disney World.

However, I don't believe I've ever experienced any by specifically seeking it out.

What I mean is that magic, at least for me, arises through random encounters and experiences that were not planned or anticipated but welcome surprises.

For example my daughter and I discovering the hedge maze in the UK at Epcot and an impromptu, and now annual, game of hide and seek.

Rather then seeking out those special moments on these boards just try to observe your children in tuned to their emotions. If you see them stopping and taking notice of something don't hurry them along. Encourage them to explore.
 
DD 8, DS 5
We have booked

Aloha Dinner
Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast)
Memory Maker
Meet & Greet Elsa & Anna
Frozen Sing Along
Test Track

Disney themed T-shirts (Christmas & Easter gifts)

The children have been watching videos on You Tube and want to do the Agent P activity in Epcot.

Is it worth a trip to the Boardwalk?

Can you get first time buttons at your resort?

I'll have to do a wake up call on a morning we aren't trying to get out the door.

I wish we could play at the Art of Animation pool - it's so close, bummer on the pool hopping policy.
 
DD 8, DS 5
We have booked

Aloha Dinner
Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast)
Memory Maker
Meet & Greet Elsa & Anna
Frozen Sing Along
Test Track

Disney themed T-shirts (Christmas & Easter gifts)

The children have been watching videos on You Tube and want to do the Agent P activity in Epcot.

Is it worth a trip to the Boardwalk?

Can you get first time buttons at your resort?

I'll have to do a wake up call on a morning we aren't trying to get out the door.

I wish we could play at the Art of Animation pool - it's so close, bummer on the pool hopping policy.

I've been able to get buttons at the resort for different things before, so it never hurts to ask. I wouldn't bother with Boardwalk, but everyone feels differently…. Take things at their pace and enjoy it!

Ask the CMs if they have magic shots when they do Memory Maker photos -- the ones in front of the castle, near the Tree of Life, and at the entrance to Epcot usually do. You do a special pose and they'll digitally add something -- Stitch, Tinkerbell, Simba, a Soarin' hang glider (haven't seen that one recently though), and so on. When you go to download your pictures, you can add stamps and most of the characters have a signature stamp you can add. Have a great trip!
 
Mine will also be 8 and 5 when we go for the first time. I plan to get them celebration buttons at guest services. When we got honeymoon buttons, we got coupons for a free snack and a no-wait line pass for one ride...don't know if they still do that.

I am also considering buying pin trading kits.
 
Yes, you can get them at check-in. Just ask.
I would get the photo packet because why not?
You can consider a few pins to trade or give them quarters and pennies for pressed pennies.
My two LOVED the homemade autograph books I did for them, mostly because the characters loved them and commented.
Consider also some glow bracelets or necklaces.
Consider Pirate's League so both kids can get a pirate/mermaid makeover.
Consider a homemade coupon book with things like a coupon for a special treat, fireworks, chance to pick a ride, etc.
 


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