Making Disney off-site special?

[palavra]

We will probably stay off-site on our next Disney trip, most likely at a condo. Does anyone have tips for making the condo more exciting Disney-wise for my young daughter?

 

[sympatico]

There's lots of condos, townhouses or pool homes that have Disney themed kids rooms. The 6 bedroom home in Windsor Hills that our family stayed in had 3 kids rooms: Pooh/Tiger, Mickey and Princess.
Lots of the homes in the subdivisions have themed rooms. Here's a link to the storytime townhouses in Windsor Hills:
http://www.vrbo.com/global/siteFram....storytimeorlandorental.com/&returnurl=/74994

There's lots of listings for Windsor Hills at www.windsorhillsrent.com and for other subdivisions on the vrbo site for Kissimmee:
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/central-disney-orlando/kissimmee

 

[Brian Noble]

Does anyone have tips for making the condo more exciting Disney-wise for my young daughter?

My kids, from an early age, have only had three desireable features of any hotel for a Disney stay (or, for that matter, any vacation):
1: it must have a pool.
2: the pool must have water.
3: the water must be wet.

The "Disney touches" seem to matter a lot more to the Mrs. and me than they do the kids.

 

[isla bonita]

Does anyone have tips for making the condo more exciting Disney-wise for my young daughter?

We go to the Disney parks, eat at the Disney hotels and tour down town Disney that seems to be enough for our kids.

As long as we make a purchase of some Mr. Potato head pcs. our collection has grown so large I am afraid how much $$$ we have actually spent.

 

[Lisa P.]

Disney music CDs in the car for the short rides to/between/from the parks.

If you're driving down and will have a DVD player or VCR in the car, bring a Disney DVD/VHS tape or two.

Disney beanie toys for bedtime (bring a couple as a surprise) and/or the car rides.

Get Mickey ice cream novelties at the grocer for your condo freezer and take them out when you walk down to the pool.

When you shop for groceries, see if they have any Disney helium mylar balloons. Tie one to the bed frame or dresser drawer - they last for a week or more.

If you'll eat breakfast in (cook), make Mickey-head mini-pancakes.

If you plan to eat outdoors or poolside during lunch/nap/swim breaks and you'll be getting paper goods anyway, bring a pack of Disney birthday paper plates or napkins or cups - again, look in local discount stores.

Pack some new Disney t-shirts or princess tiaras (can pick them up cheaply at discount stores or outlets) to surprise the kids in the mornings.

If you have Disney toiletries leftover from previous trips, pack them. If not, and if your room will have a large jacuzzi (many do!), bring some Disney bath bubbles but remember - a capful goes a long way in a jacuzzi.

If you'll be bringing coloring books for the car/plane ride, get Disney ones - they're often at Dollar Tree and similar stores.

There are lots of little things you can do. But I agree with Brian, they may be more for us grown-ups than for the kids. The parks provide for plenty of "Disney" for the kids, who may actually welcome a breather from such heavy stimulation when they're back at the condo. Ours always have.

 

[MomofKatie]

My DD gets "Mickey presents" every day ("Mickey" leaves them on her bed for her to find). I get things throughout the year whenever I see something she'd like on sale at the Disney Store (or any other store that has Disney items), then take them with in our suitcase and give to her throughout the trip. DD is excited that Mickey comes to her hotel to give her presents.

I have heard others say that Tinker Bell gives gifts to their kids- we have always said Mickey was the one to come and bring presents.

 

[crusoe2]

We're staying in a condo this time and I'm doing a few things along that line. All of the condos and townhouses I found that had Disney themed rooms were much more expensive than the condo we got at Cypress Pointe. So I'm using a little of the savings to Disney-fie it a little for my 5yo DD. I found some window clings at Dollar Tree and plan to put those on the mirrors in her bedroom and bathroom. I've also been looking for things that I know we'll need anyway and getting a Disney version if possible like some Pirates & Tink sunscreen (also found at $ Tree), Disney beach towels, princess bath stuff & toothbrush, new tee shirts, swimsuit, pool shoes, and pjs. And since we drive down, I always pick up some coloring books and little activities for the car. But that's about as far as I plan to take it. I've read posts from people who went all out and decorated the whole condo and did really elaborate table settings and goody bags and surprise gifts and stuff. But I don't care to take it that far. That's a lot of stuff to pack and take with us for one thing. And I know she'll want things she sees in the park so her room will get "Disney-fied" by the end of the week, anyway.

 

[Robert Lee]

You can most likely get a vacation home for the same price and then you have your own private pool. Our kids love that. That is the only way they like to go there. They think its great to have they're own pool. Plus all the homes we have stayed in also have a game room and the kids love that. They don't even think about tv while we are there.