How do you countdown to Disney with your kids and when do you start?

[Leonsmom]

We are almost at our 100 day mark. YEAH!!!!!!!
I want to do some kind of countdown calendar with DS5 but I don't know when to start it? 100 days? 90? 60? 30?

I've seen threads were people make countdown chains and the kids snip off a link each day. I was thinking of possibly doing that' but I would also like to hear some other ideas too. How do YOU countdown to Disney with your kids and when do you start?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We don't start our countdown until that DAY!!! We have Tink come to the house the night before and she leaves a basket of goodies. When she comes, DD knows it's Disney Day!!!

If you want to see the basket, you can check out my PTR (link is in my siggie...how is that for a shameless plug?!?!)

 

[*Dreamin'Dad*]

I checked 30 days, but it is usually around 3 weeks out. A few of the things we do.

Drop personalized notes into their lunch kits from a different character each day that talks about how excited they will be to see them at WDW in 20 days....19 days...... The discussions each evening at dinner are always fun regarding each note and sure builds the excitement.

We do Tuesday night movies at our house. The final month before going is always a Disney Classic on Tuesday nights. Not that we have not seen them 10000000000000000000000000 times, but it is an excitement refresher as well.

We also play Disney Scene It during this time. A fun game that will also refresh the memory way beyond the pop characters.

Week before we review the vac plan on the spreadsheet one night so all are aware of the park days, PS's, shows and final wishes.


Wish we were there now.....only 7 more months until the above begins.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We used to make paper chains when the kids were younger for our first few trips. We'll be on our 12th trip for Labor Day weekend. Not that we're not excited but we just sort of cross off the calendar and maybe at dinner say, "only 3 more weekends at home!"

 

[imthatgirl]

i start the minute i book it. this year it was 140 days. i made a paper calender and out it on the closet and we crossed out a day every day. i made just like you would a calender, but i also counted back and put how many days left on each square.

but, then at 30 days i make a chain. i print out lots of disney pictures and cut them into strips. we tear one each day.

 

[Shiningstar77]

I created the calendar of 30 days.

Folks from here have some really neat autograph pages with the different characters with their names - I used a different one for each day and i put the number on them from 28 down to 0 (which has mickey )

I used powerpoint and so I made each autograph page a different "slide" (page) then in the print options you can print 4 slides on one piece of paper (It makes them all uniform size) I cut them out leaving some white paper above each piece and then stapled in the white - each day the kids are ripping them off

This also helps them to know some characters they might not know.

Good Luck - The chains are a good Idea too

 

[kschafer]

I also did the paper chain. The boys loved ripping off a chain each night before bed and watching it get shorter and shorter as the trip approached (or maybe that was me but that's OK too )

 

[suzimar57]

no kids here, but we do a countdown anyway!

with paper clips, immediately upon arriving home from disney trip, we'll begin by hanging one paperclip for each week until next trip

and each weekend, we'll remove one paper clip

right now, we're down to 17 paper clips!!!!

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

We'll do it at the 30-day mark.

 

[HETRICKL]

paper chain as well and also Hershey kisses. I put 30 in a bowl, every morning 1 kid gets to take one out and eat it - lots of fun.

 

[Leonsmom]

Wow I love everyones ideas!! i am going to borrow a few!

I think I am going to start at 100 days with a calander that counts backwards.
At the 30 days I am going to do a paperchain with characthers on it along with the Kisses (love that one!)
At either the 14 or 7 day mark I'll do the character love notes in his lunch box.
I also LOVE the Tink idea (especially after this past Monday)
... I was planning on Tinking him while there but why not start the day we leave. He already thinks she visits us from time to time.

About a year ago in the car he saw a spot of light on the ceiling (it was the sun reflecting off my watch) and I told him it was Tinker bell, and to prove it I told him to try and catch it ... every time he reached for it i would make her "fly" around. Then I told him to tell her a joke, at the punchline she shook with laughter. Then i told him to open his window so she could fly out (I then took the watch off). I had completely forgotten about our visit from Tink and I assumed he did too, but on monday we were on a plane returning from a trip to Germany and all of a sudden DS says "LOOK! There's Tink, she's on the plane with us!" I melted!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

About a year ago in the car he saw a spot of light on the ceiling (it was the sun reflecting off my watch) and I told him it was Tinker bell, and to prove it I told him to try and catch it ... every time he reached for it i would make her "fly" around. Then I told him to tell her a joke, at the punchline she shook with laughter. Then i told him to open his window so she could fly out (I then took the watch off). I had completely forgotten about our visit from Tink and I assumed he did too, but on monday we were on a plane returning from a trip to Germany and all of a sudden DS says "LOOK! There's Tink, she's on the plane with us!" I melted!!

How cute is that?!?! I have a collection of little fairies on top of my TV cabinet. When the sun hits their wings they shine. DD believes that each one is a different visitor watching her (Santa, Easter Bunny, Tink) and actually talks to them. Kid figured out on her own the the characters are people in costumes at age 4 but still believes that I have Web Cams in my living room so Santa can watch her!!! LOVE it!

 

[Leonsmom]

We don't start our countdown until that DAY!!! We have Tink come to the house the night before and she leaves a basket of goodies. When she comes, DD knows it's Disney Day!!!

If you want to see the basket, you can check out my PTR (link is in my siggie...how is that for a shameless plug?!?!)

BTW, I briefly visited your PTR and I am sooo sold. I will have to go back later and look because as usual the DIS has sucked me in and now I am running late AGAIN.

 

[Tiggerlovinggrandma]

With our daughter we began things one month before with our countdown calendar using Disney stickers. Also we had Disney movie night on Sundays and we always made up a Disney goody bag to give her with all things Disney in it.

This year we are taking our DGS for the 1st time. He will be 21 mos at the time of our trip. The calendar I will make this year I will use the Disnsy Heads. I think they are a really cute idea with tons of possibilities. I have already begun his goody bag. Since our trip is January 4 we will give him the bag during the week prior. For it I have purchased a Disney gift bag and have bought Disney themed books, crayons, coloring book, flash cards, sippee cup and plate and utensil set to put in it. I have a few more items I woulld like to include as well.

Although at his age he most likely will not know what is going on but we have to start him off right. Its all part of the tradition and adventure that is Disney!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

BTW, I briefly visited your PTR and I am sooo sold. I will have to go back later and look because as usual the DIS has sucked me in and now I am running late AGAIN.

I read yours too! Great job. You don't have to go overboard with the basket like I did but it is fun!

 

[Dizzy over Disney]

I create a calendar (this is only our second trip) ... this calendar started at 125 days. Our 7 year old crosses off the day before each morning. I add Disney characters throughout the calendars! We cannot wait...

 

[Chelley00]

We started as soon as we booked the trip We made (instructions courtesy of another DISer) a countdown "box" using cardboard, keyrings and scrapbook papers. Each day the kids rotate who flips the number backwards

Here's DD when we hit double digits

 

[MoeFam]

We do a pocket calendar or a chain. This year we are using the Mouse Head paint chips form Home Depot for inside the pockets. In the past we used a small set of Disney playing cards we got from the Dollar Store. We mark the number of days left on the item and the kids do it in the am after breakfast.

 

[Leonsmom]

We started as soon as we booked the trip We made (instructions courtesy of another DISer) a countdown "box" using cardboard, keyrings and scrapbook papers. Each day the kids rotate who flips the number backwards

Here's DD when we hit double digits

Oooh oooh ooooh, I LOVE that! How did you make that????

 

[disney.nut]

We started as soon as we booked our trip.