If You Could Have Something Special

[SherylR]

waiting for your family at the resort OR DO something special for them at Disney (any park), WHAT would you do?

This is a big deal first trip for us and I want it to be very special for my two kids and my husband. My husband is pretty much taken care of with his Richard Petty Driving Experience and golfing at the Palm. I was just thinking of something neat waiting for them (that's not going to blow a hole in my budget).
We're going to trade pins too and have about 12 so far.

Open to suggestions and ideas!!!! We're going at the end of September!
Thanks everyone!

 

[bbangel]

How about afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian?
Ice Cream on the Boardwalk.
One of the tours at Epcot or MK.
Renting a surrey bike on the Boardwalk.
Horseback riding at Fort Wilderness.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We had a nice basket waiting for us in the room from Mickey and friends that we arranged through Disney Florist.

They will customize the baskets for you too!

 

[amw]

Do you have boys or girls Knowing their ages would help too.

For girls, lunch at Cindy's castle is up there. For boys, there's a pirate cruise-type excursion.

We always love having the first seating at Chef Mickey's for dinner. It's become a tradition for every trip. The interaction is great, and food is not bad -- interaction is best with the first seating. You have the place to yourselves and see the characters multiple times. After the meal, we hop on the monorail for a circuit. We do this on a non-park day, preferably near the beginning of our trip.

 

[SherylR]

My dd will be 11 and my ds will be 9. My dd is doing the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. She's not too interested in the character meals unfortunately (for me!)! lol
I'm thinking along having something welcoming in their room to surprise them when we get in.
Any other suggestions?
The pirate cruise does sound cool!

 

[punksmom]

You are going to be surprise at how kids of all ages get "into" the characters once they are at WDW My DD was 11 the first time we went and she is very shy and was like "Mom, if they come near me please HELP!" and "I don't was an autograph book, I'm too old for THAT MOM!". Well it took about 15 minutes and she changed her tune to "Mom, can we go back and get an autograph book" and "where's Chip and Dale, where is Minnie - Donald's over here lets go get him".

I myself was easily caught up in the moment and loved every minute of it.

You and your family are going to have a wonderful time.

 

[SherylR]

I'm sure I'll be fighting those well earned mother's tears of joys the whole trip! lol
I'm going to pick up a couple of autograph books JUST IN CASE! Good suggestion!!
I think once the magic starts to wear off on them, they'll be less "cool" and more excited about the characters. We are doing one meal at the LIberty Tavern which I'm really looking forward to! I've never been to Disney so this is as big a treat for me as it is for them!

 

[MECH8T7]

On our first family trip, we went to see the Hoop Dee Doo Revue in the Fort Wilderness Campground. That was a great family activity to start off our WDW experience. When the show was finished, we were able to catch Wishes from the dock waiting for the boat to take us back to our resort.

Other suggestions: the Family Magic Tour at MK (which runs at 10:30 am each day) or renting watermice at the Poly marina to cruise around Seven Seas Lagoon.

In terms of having something in the room waiting for them, I think a set of Mickey Mouse ears with their names embroidered on them is classic. Although I'm sure you could get one of the stores to make them and send them to a WDW resort, I'm not sure they would put them in the room for you (unless you are staying concierge).

 

[palmickey2005]

How about their own disposable cameras ? I did this for my boys on our first trip. They were 8 and 4 years old at the time. I also got them each their own Mickey photo albums from the dollar store.

They might also like Pal Mickey ? It's an interactive plush Mickey Mouse that tells you parade times and other park tips, he also tells you when characters are near by. He even says corny jokes and plays games (Disney trivia). You can also turn him off at any time there's a swith in the back. As you can see by my user name we love ours. In my opinion he's worth every penny. We bought him in 2005 and took him back with us in Nov. 2006.

When we first exited Epcot with him on our first night there in 2005 Mickey yawned and said something like "Boy, that was fun...we had a great day". That totally freaked us out . I have two boys but we only bought one and each took turns carrying him around it was never a problem. Mickey will also repeat what he just said a few times if you need. Just squeeze his hand.
You can get more info. on Pal Mickey here or check him out when you get to the parks.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/specialindex?id=PalMickeyPage

Have a great first trip!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

How much is pal Mickey?

 

[pl'smama]

Pal Mickey was about $65.00 US when we bought him in December 2006. It was so worth it! From time to time I will even pick him up and switch him on at home!! My daughter loved having him at the parks with her. She does not have any siblings so it was like having a friend. She would talk to Mickey about whatever ride we were on or something she saw!! You can buy different outfits for Pal Mickey to!

I love the idea that PalMickey2005 (hi Nelly!!!) had about giving your kids the disposable cameras. You may even be able to get Disney ones at the Disney store.

SherylR, since this is your first trip to WDW make sure you get the "1st Visit" badge when you check in ( if you are staying at a WDW resort). If you are staying off the property you can get the badges from Guest Services in any of the parks. Once you start wearing the badge you will get noticed by the staff and you may even get some nice free gifts!! We wore ours the whole trip and everyone would always ask how we were enjoying ourselves. We were given several special edition pins, cards, stickers and even a beautiful glass mug from Cinderella's Royal Table, all just because it was our first visit!!

Have a wonderful time SherylR. It is amazing!!!

 

[SherylR]

I'll write that down in my notebook!
Thanks for that tip!

 

[cam&chris]

I am going to make a note of that 1st visit badge too.

For your ds, what about a ride up front with the driver of the monorail? I have seen other threads on the boards about this and also read about it in my guidebooks. I am going to try this with my ds when we go.

 

[palmickey2005]

Yes, riding up front with the monorail operator was a highlight of the trip for my two boys . They only allow 4 people in the front I believe. My kids were soooooooooo excited when they got off because the driver gave them official co-pilot licences that are "signed" by Mickey Mouse. Only Disney can think of these little things that bring big smiles to anyone young or old.

I didn't know about the 1st visit badge. Does anyone know if the have a Birthday badge or a 1st cruise badge ?

 

[SherylR]

the opportunity to ride up front on the monorail? My son would LOVE that! is there someone in particular you have to ask? Our hotel isn't on the monorail (we're staying at the Coronado)

 

[MECH8T7]

the opportunity to ride up front on the monorail? My son would LOVE that! is there someone in particular you have to ask? Our hotel isn't on the monorail (we're staying at the Coronado)

When you get to the monorail station, just ask the attendant on the platform if you can ride in the front of the next train. If there is nobody already in the front from a previous station, they will let you sit up front. If you are staying at the Coronado, my suggestion would be to take the bus to the MK entrance before park opening and then go up to the resort (rather than express) monorail and take the loop around back to the MK entrance. It will stop at each of the MK resorts and the TTC. If you are driving yourself to the MK, when you are at the TTC take the resort monorail to the MK because there will be fewer people on the platform, though you may have to wait for a couple of trains because the pilot may have taken passengers at the CR on their way to MK. We've also had success riding in the front when leaving the MK around noon.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

This summer we did a two hour Fishing Trip on Bay Lake, with DS8 and DD11.

We are not a fishing family! They come and pick you up and you go trout fishing and they bring/do everything for you, plus they provide a cooler full of cold drinks.

The kids had a ball and loved every minute. I enjoyed cruising around the lake with views of MK and resort hotels.

Also, Illuminations or Wishes fireworks cruise is fun. You can ways post to share your boat with another DISer to split the costs.