How do you and your family make yourself part of the Magic

[DNSDisney]

We let younger children go ahead of us in the lines to get autographs and pictures with the characters. My DD is 11 yrs old so if Donald has to go before we can get to him, she has seen him before and know we will again so we let the little tikes go ahead of us.

The only time we might not do this is if I see Jiminey Cricket

We also share loungers at the beach at the Poly (taking up 2 instead of 4) so someone else will have a seat for the water parade and fireworks.

So how do you make yourself part of the Magic?

 

[Pat_Elliott]

A wonderful post!

I just posted about reforming yourself from "commando touring" to a slower pace. This is how we've made ourselves part of the Magic. After multiple trips with an unwavering blueprint for what will be done each hour, I've learned (I think DW always knew) to just relax and let it happen. We have certain obvious rules (PS's made, use fast pass, hit the E-tickets first things, yada yada yada), but we no longer worry if the line for Splash Mountain is just too long. We know we'll be back. We spend hours in Epcot just finding a place we've not sat before, and taking in the architectural detail.

But no doubt as a childless couple (changing very soon!), we take our greatest joy in watching kids. I've sat near the character areas and just observed kids. Probably freaks the CM's out (but trust me, I'm harmless!). But to me, Magic is watching a child's face light up when Pooh comes out of nowhere and gives them a big hug. I make eye contact with the kids, smile back, and the magic just flows.......

Pat

 

[carone0318]

I've walked up to people and have given them FPs that we weren't going to use. That always brings a smile to their face. We also trend to strike up conversations with the people we are waiting in line with.

 

[JetMom]

Before one recent trip we found cereal boxes with coupons for a free child's admission to Sea World with the purchase of an adult admission.

We bought 2 boxes of cereal to get tickets for our DS's. We then went back and bought several more boxes. We gave the coupons away to people in the parking lot at Sea World the day we went.

I learned this trick from my parents who always got extra discount coupons to give away whenever we went on vacation.

They always looked for families with several children, knowing how hard working parents must save to take their children on vacations!

 

[grinningghost]

One of the things I enjoy most and find very magical, is getting stuck in a long line and making conversation with the people standing next to us. Often, they are from another country or another state and it's always interesting to hear what's different about them, and how much is the same. It's like the internet, in person.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Pat - I know exactly what you mean. We're expecting our first in November and I can't wait to take her/him to Disney World - of course (with some help from your encouragement) his/her first trip he/she won't see much - in September. And our last probably at least 2 trips something was missing....we finally figured out that it was not having a child that made us feel that way. I love to watch a child's face light up when they can first see a parade or first see Mickey or the castle (okay I tear up too....but it's not the same). Like you we have found that slowing down and really enjoying everything has brought more magic to us and I think in return we become a little bit more a part of the magic. I'm looking forward to this trip at 7 months pregnant to be forced to slow down even more. I think it will be a great experience.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by WDWorBUST
I'm looking forward to this trip at 7 months pregnant to be forced to slow down even more. I think it will be a great experience.

First off, congrats! We're expecting in September! You'll enjoy September so much, a great time to be in Disney. I'll make sure to post a trip report from our June trip, telling the tales of DW's 6 1/2 months in Disney adventure!

We waited until late life to have kids (seemed like a good idea at the time), then spent close to four years battling the fertility Gods. We'd pretty much given up at Christmas (after all, we'd bought our fertility doctor a couple BMW's and still no return on investment). So we stopped all medication and proceedures, agreed to have a happy Xmas holiday without all the BS, then see what the New Year brought. Seems to have been a winning plan!

Disney keeps me young. I've always enjoyed watching children in Disney (as I say, I hope I don't make the CM's nervous) and the thought that now I can look forward to approaching Disney with fresh young eyes to help me see the Magic, it's just a good feeling. Obviously, there's more to life than Disney (ok, there isn't, but I don't want DW to put me in therapy), but I think after milking Disney for all it's worth for 22 years, it's going to start taking on a whole new meaning. And what a great place to close the generation gap!

Although, I imagine once the kids are old enough to be aware of where they are, those old commando skills will come in handy....

Good luck and congratulations!

Pat

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Originally posted by JetMom
They always looked for families with several children, knowing how hard working parents must save to take their children on vacations!

I have done this at the local Six Flags a couple times. I can get $25 admission coupons (which is $15 off) through my school, so whenever I know I am going I get a bunch and then just give them away as we are walking in. You'd be surprised at the amount of people who turn them down, like I sam trying to scam themor something. But I enjoy the feeling I get when someone truly appreciates it.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Pat I know where you are coming from. My DH and I waited until I was 28 to decide to start trying (although I don't feel like that is such an old age - it is just on the "older" side for a first child) .....well we tried for over a year before I went in to the doctor with my "issue". I was pregnant after my first round of Clomid. The wonders of medication. I don't know how you did it for that long but most importantly Congratulations on your little miracle. Do you know yet if it's a boy or girl??

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by WDWorBUST
I don't know how you did it for that long but most importantly Congratulations on your little miracle. Do you know yet if it's a boy or girl??

You don't know the half of it! I'm forty, DW is 38. So for what it's worth, I'm one person who doesn't think 28 is too old. Yikes!

We're having a girl. We had an amnio (due to DW's age), and we have normal chromosomes, the whole nine yards. Pretty neat stuff. I'm hoping to have Pooh rub DW's belly for good luck!

Pat

 

[WDWorBUST]

I hope you have a wonderful June trip and I will look forward to your trip report to maybe give me a little more insight into what to expect being in the "World" 7 months pregnant.

 

[sneezy1956]

My son and I make sure we have lots of pins on our lanyards that young children would like. Then when we see a child that is trying to pin trade with someone that is kind of blowing them off we let them look at our pins. When they find one they like we give it to them to add to their collection instead of making them trade.

We also talk to folks in line. We have become friends with a wonderful family from Houston by talking to them in line.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Jane -
That is so sweet - I never thought about how hard it might be for a child to get the attention of a die-hard pin trader. I don't collect pins so I don't have any experience with this at all - but I think that is a wonderful thing to do.

Amanda

 

[SuiteDisney]

I always carry lots of little toys with me to hand out to children. It's a great way to help them pass the time in lines or waiting for parades.

Every vacation I give my kids money to play the games on the Boardwalk and win stuffed animals. Then, we give the animals away to little kids. It's one of my favorite parts of the trip and has become a family tradition. Even my DH wins stuffed animals for me to give away.

 

[MontyMontyMOnty]

We took our last trip when I was 6 months pregnant--here are a few things I learned:

1. Stop and rest often--there is always a bench handy. Whne others in your party are riding Test Track, or other off limits attractions, scout out the snacking possiblilites, and park yourself on a bench with something yummy. I have always been one of those "one the go" types, so it was a big switch, and a nice change of scenery to sit and munch and look around.

2. If you don't need maternity clothes yet, wear them anyway. I spent the first day getting bumped into, jostled about, and standing in the monorail at the end of a long while men--young and older sat. The next day, I pulled out a maternity top--no one bumped into me, I was constantly offered seats, and people were much nicer! Needless to say, I stuck with maternity tops the rest of the trip!

3. If you don't already, take a mid day pool break. we went back to the pool each day--it was January, so the parks and resorts were not busy. We stayed at the GF, and the private tents they have by the pool are so nice and shady to hang out in, and it was nice to float around off my feet for a while.

4. WDW is a great place to be pregnant--you can munch your way around hte world showcase--I thik some days I ate every two hours--from a different country or theme each time!

I'm sure there is more, but this is a good start!
Samantha

 

[sneezy1956]

Originally posted by WDWorBUST
Jane -
That is so sweet - I never thought about how hard it might be for a child to get the attention of a die-hard pin trader. I don't collect pins so I don't have any experience with this at all - but I think that is a wonderful thing to do.

Amanda

Amanda no it's just I remember when my teenager first started collecting and how some of the sharks treated him. I vowed that as long as I could afford it we would do this.

We have lots of pins now and the sharks have a tendency to desend on my son now. He can trade with the best of them but I've see him tell a shark sorry I'm busy. And turn around and let a child look through all of his books and end up giving the child a pin.

I hate the way the sharks work

 

[DNSDisney]

Glad to hear that people add their own kind of Magic when in the World! Does anyone have anymore ways to be part of the magic?

Who knows maybe we can inspire someone else to add to the magic during there visit!!

 

[lucysdad]

This is especially for Pat Elliott and WDW or Bust: I was 43 and my wife was 42 when we had our daughter Lucy. A doctor had told my wife she couldn't have a child and even recommended a hysterectomy, which thankfully we couldn't afford at the time. We're taking Lucy to WDW for the third time in June and the added enjoyment and excitement is everything you're hoping for and more. Enjoy your children, they are awesome. And, Pat, you will especially enjoy having a daughter. The daddy/daughter relationship is very special. Good Luck!