How Do You Get Your Family Excited About Disney?

[Mr._The_King]

We do the paper chain also. We start in the end of June for our August trip. We spend an evening decorating the links before putting them together with disney stickers, pictures and sayings or funny quotes that mean something to the family. The kids take turns pulling a link off each night. As the summer goes on it is funny to read some of the things we wrote bakck in June. At the end of the chain we make a small poster ( 1 piece of construciton paper) that is specially decorated. We take it with us and put it up in the room the day we arrive. It helps both kids gain some perspective as to how long the wait is until our arrival. Since we drive, it really helps for our first night on the road because we show them that even though we have left for Disney we will not be there until the following day.

 

[DebCatLady]

We also do the chain, watch the videos, etc. One other thing we do to get the grandkids excited and motivated is to reward them with Disney Dollars for some of their accomplishments. They love earning the money and making plans on what to buy. It also teaches them the importance of saving and budgeting.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Hidden Mickeys

I make them out of black construction paper (or you could use the paint chips from Home Depot). I write descending numbers on each mickey and hide one daily. I guess I haven't yet mentioned I do this for my 41yr old husband He loves it though If too much of the day has gone by and he hasn't found one he says in a disappointed tone "where's my mickey"

I hide them all over the house & try to mix it up yearly. Sometimes its in the microwave, on his rearview mirror, on the bathroom mirror, in the shower, but my all time favorite is on the inside lid of the toilet seat... I could hear him walk into the bathroom and lift the lid and start laughing... "oh hidden mickey" then, he came out and said "I almost pee'd on mickey"

 

[mnjg87]

Just about wet myself
very FUNNY!!!!

 

[Caitsmama]

I love the hidden mickey idea.. thanks!! Too funny about the lid on the toilet!

 

[MScott1851]

http://disney.go.com/magicartist/calendars/index.html

We've been using this link for years now.

A month before the trip I let the girls pick out a calendar. You can print it in color or black and white and let them color it in. I use a black marker and draw little Mickey heads on all the days we'll be at WDW and I number down the days. (30, 29, 28, etc. ) I buy star stickers and let them take turns counting down the days. I use cardstock so it holds up better and just tape it on the fridge. If we are leaving close to the beginning of the month I just make two calendars and tape them side by side.

Thanks for the link! I love it and just made two of them!

 

[BooScout]

One of my favorite things to do when we are planning another trip to Disney - its just DH and me - is to go to a book store, get a giant cookie, grab a bunch of guides, and just pour over all the possibilities. Maybe its just the sugar from the cookie, but the experience always makes me giddy!

When we go with a group, I like to get everyone involved in choosing the restaurants. Everybody likes to have a say in where they eat!