Help me with ideas

[letthewookiewin]

We are in the process of planning our first Christmas trip to WDW the week of Christmas 2008. I have been trying to think of things to do between now and then to keep the DS's excited but not overly impatient. So far, they have been sent a "can't wait to see you next Christmas" Christmas card from Mickey. I got the first set of maps from the Disney website. I got a Mickey head antenna ball w/ a Santa hat, and said Mickey sent it. I am going to suprise them with a 2 foot tall fake tree with l.e.d. lights in their play room, and say Tink and Mickey did it. Then I am going to buy the Santa hats with Mickey ears, wrap them, and put them under the tree and say they are from Mickey. Also, I have already made two countdown calendars, one that has rings that they will break one ring a day for the last month of the countdown. Also, I thought about sending them a "wish you were here" card every month or two. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[malibuconlee]

Movie night once a month specifically for Disney movies.

 

[TIGGER1981]

I agree with movie night!

Not sure how old they are...but if they get allowance, you can pay them with Disney dollars! (You can get them at any Disney store) That way they can buy a souvenir when your down there

Or go to a craft store and buy stickers and stuff to make a Disney piggy bank.

 

[letthewookiewin]

My DS's are 8 & 10. I hadn't thought of the movie night.

We do have a piggy bank that I bought and painted green with pink Mickey heads all over it. On 5 of the heads I painted the year for each WDW trip someone in our family took. On each one of the legs I painted our names and birth dates in blue. Then I let the DS's paint blue Squigglies on it. They think it is their "lucky day" when they find a penny to put in the pig. They get a sort of weekly allowance for good behavior at school, and then for good grades. All of which goes into the pig. Then they usually want to put any birthday, Christmas, or toothfairy money. Then my DH and I add money from his paychecks and any loose change we get. When we get cash any dollor bills we get I split evenly between the pig and keeping in our wallets. I have made an Excel spreadsheet that keeps a running total of how much money is in the pig. I have it broken down in how much money each family member will get. I even have a catebory for spending money to buy presents for family members that aren't going on the trip.

 

[DizzyFORDisney]

Hi,

We are going in Dec 2008 too!!

We also have a dedicated Disney Piggybank that we made ourselves (got instructions from this place:
http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-vacation-countdown.html

That link also has some other fun things to do while you wait. Instead of buying Mickey Santa Hats, there are instructions on there to make your own. Also Pressed Penny Tubes and countdown chains, but you have already done that....

How about guidebooks? There are a bunch of kid guide and activity books listed here:
http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-gifts.html

Have fun with it - only about 55 more weeks!!