most magical first trip ever for 8-yr old girl

[nj-mom]

Will be taking my DD (8) on her first trip to WDW 11/27-12/2/09, and I haven't been since I was a kid myself (now 35). WOW.

She is a total Disney girl -- loves the whole cast of characters, especially her beloved Pooh Bear. I want to do everything within my power -- but also within my moderate budget -- to make this the most magical trip of a lifetime for her. No pressure, right?

We'll be traveling with DH (34) and my parents (60s) and are staying at FW, in a cabin.

Tips for making a child's first trip truly memorable? Any must-dos for a somewhat girly-girl? Is there one character breakfast with Pooh that's better than any others?

Give me whatcha got!! And thanks in advance!

 

[Amy162]

Definitely check out the character meal at the Crystal palace, they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, this has Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.
My girls also loved the Bibbity Boppity Boutique. We did this in 07 before our dinner at 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella. They were dressed up as cinderella and looked beautiful! (If you bring your own dress/accessories and do nails yourself, the price isn't too bad!)
They also really enjoyed the Princess Breakfast at Akershus in norway at Epcot. They got to meet almost all of the princesses.
If she likes the fairies, there's Pixie Hollow in Toon Town. I've heard the waits are long, and that it's best to get there early at rope drop. (This May will be my first time for this!)
This year the girls are doing the Mad hatters Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare, it sonds like fun and I hope they'll realy enjoy it!

That's all I've got for now, I'm sure you'll get lots of great responses, I've learned so much from these boards!

 

[Hayloburger]

I have an 8 year old and 4 year old..both girls..We just went November 27 - December 6, 2008 (we go once a year, usually in December, but this year, we went for the holiday stuff).

Bippity Boppity Boutique is really fun. We just did the hair (they really feel like it's enough and it lasted for days...it was cold for part of our trip, so we didn't swim on those days). I called right at the 90 day mark and made the first ressies available (it only takes about 30 min. for the hair) and then after we did breakfast at the castle (that is expensive, but really worth it once!). I believe the Castle (CRT) stills takes ressies 180 days out. I did not bring the princess dresses on this trip...too itchy and weather was too cool to wear all day for my girls (we have done it in the past for various parties, not this time...), but they had on nice cotton dresses from the Disney Store and they did not mind not having the "big" dresses. They get a beautiful little crown and a pink sash. I think BBB is really subtle about other girls getting their dresses and accessories, the girls get dressed in a different area, and it's just not that noticable that your girl isn't getting the FULL treatment. I think the hair was about $55.

Crystal Palace is fun too. We have only done breakfast there...we like to get to the park early...Pooh, Piglet, Tig, Eyeore are there and they spend alot of time at the table. It's a special way to start the day, but they also have lunch and dinner with the characters. Pooh and friends are also at the character landing (well hidden area) in Animal Kingdom. So, if you don't do the breakfast, you can see Pooh there.

My girls also like to get their face painted back in toon town. That runs $12 - $15. They have it at AK too, not sure about the other parks.

Let me just say, that if this is your first trip, Disney is special in itself without all the extras (I mean special events that cost more). You really don't have to do the character meals (we love them and like the fact that we can see all the characters and not waste precious park time standing in line, but if you are trying to save $$, you will see all the characters in the parks, everywhere). Your trip will be magical without all the extras.

Souveniers. My girls want everything. They have the cutest stuff. We have charm bracelets, which they add to almost every day while we are there! The charms are everywhere, and they are $3-$4, so I feel like it's a cheap (?) and SMALL souvenier (and not ANOTHER stuffed animal)...OH, I have a bracelet too!

MVMCP is wonderful and really gets you in the mood for Christmas. It's worth the extra, but (if this is your first trip) there will be so much "regular" things to do, that you wouldn't miss it!

My girls love all the shows. Beauty/Beast (HS), Ariel (HS), Philharmagic, Nemo. They like the rides too, but LOVE the shows.

 

[toy]

I try to go out of my way every time we take our kids. In April 07 we took our daughters (now 6 and 9) without our son (now 5). We drove so I stocked up on new releases for months. I wrapped them and let them open a present every few hours. Sometimes they got a new movie and sometimes they got a new book, or small trinket. The excitement grew with each present. I went to walmart and found small backpacks on clearance for $3 that had Tinkerbell on them. I filled them full of dollar tree disney stickers, pens, or hair thingies all Disney themed. I had dh get ahead of us and slip it into the room before the girls and I got there. They were thrilled. They carried their own snack and frozen water bottle in the backpacks while in the park. I also bought polo shirts and iron-on patches (mickey) and made them matching shirts. You can find the little backpacks pretty cheap in walmart and buy iron on patches with Pooh. We did the same two character meals already discussed. After dh had Crystal Palace for breakfast, we are no longer allowed to go to MK without going there. Pooh was a huge hit with my husband and the girls. I bought princess dresses before we left home from the Disney store. I just watched the website and the store until I saw them go on sale. We did the boutique and 1900 Park Fare. They loved it. They wore buttons so they got lots of attention announcing "first time" and "birthday". I tried to buy little things before we left home to make the trip special. I also made an autograph book for each girl and personalized it according to their favorite character. The characters signed on one side and I left the opposite page empty to add a picture later. I also bought a large photo mat from walmart and dropped it off at the front desk of our hotel. They dropped it back off in our room later in the week with all the characters' signatures on it. This made for a great and cheap keepsake.

I hope you have fun!

 

[splashmtnfan]

Will be taking my DD (8) on her first trip to WDW 11/27-12/2/09, and I haven't been since I was a kid myself (now 35). WOW.

She is a total Disney girl -- loves the whole cast of characters, especially her beloved Pooh Bear. I want to do everything within my power -- but also within my moderate budget -- to make this the most magical trip of a lifetime for her. No pressure, right?

We'll be traveling with DH (34) and my parents (60s) and are staying at FW, in a cabin.

Tips for making a child's first trip truly memorable? Any must-dos for a somewhat girly-girl? Is there one character breakfast with Pooh that's better than any others?

Give me whatcha got!! And thanks in advance!

I know you posted a while back but I just read this soooo, my niece's first trip to Disney was this past December, she came with us and my nine-year-old daughter helped plan the surprise trip, anyway their favorite part was decorating the cabin for Christmas! We had one carry-on as large as carry-ons can be filled with strings of Christmas lights (lets face it don't take much room if not in their boxes) and a very small Princess tree (Toys R Us/Disney Store etc.) and two outdoor inflatables that we put on the porch Tigger (Garden Ridge $15 on sale) & Pooh and then I found a few woodsy tin ornaments "welcome to our Cabin" type that we hung around the cabin, The Largest one was 1/2 price in Nov. for like $3 and we hung it on the inside of the window in the door! But we used our first day there setting up and the girls put up all of the window clings (Walgreens $2) Pooh, Tigger, Princesses, on all the windows and the mirrors. Truthfully they had so much fun with that I think that would have been enough! Four sheets covered every window and the microwave even had one! They do not take up much space in the luggage either.
But like the previous poster (pp) said, the place itself is enough! But I do want to advise to take plenty of time to rest go at her pace! If she just wants to do the simple stuff, let he.
My daughter's first trip, she was almost three and she loved the water spouts and hotel pool, NOT THE RIDES, she still talks about them! Then when she was six it was all about dressing the My Little Pony in the gift shop and the Mrs. Potato Head! She did eventually ask for one (around $18-20) but you fill an entire box with the stuff! I read ahead of time about this, bought her one before I left home, brought it with us, gave it to her the first night in the room,for something to play with, then at the gift shop she filled the box completely with accessories! No need to shove that big pony in there! Besides there is an art to it, like shoving the smaller items, skirts, etc. into the larger harder items! The CMs even sometimes show you THAT trick!
She also decorated her bunk Bring tinsel or strings or beaded garland from home! WE also do the bracelet thing, and then there is the special crystal (acrylic) Mickey head bracelets in every color ($6) and the Christmas ones are limited. Make sure you get her her first EARS the ones last year were snowmen! Cute carrot nose and all! I shall post pics later if you want. Have FUN!

 

[splashmtnfan]

Don't forget to get her a Special Ornament from your trip every year she puts it on the tree she will remember her 1st trip! The personalized ones usually have a three day wait so get it early in the trip so it is finished before you leave. We got nice canvas totes last year too ($5 regularly $10 which was even a steal at that) with WDW ebroidered on it and the straps were red, white & green candy striped! Really something cool and we added her name for like $12! Really nice things for Christmas were 1/2 price too! So don't buy too much ahead, maybe a new toy to sleep/play with in the cabin, a customized cup for hot cocoa in the cabin (Disney Customized.com) I think and the clings and pony or the like should do it. We always get Madison new pjs for Christmas so I packed hers after she finished her packing and when she opened her suitcase the first night she found Tinkerbell Christmas pjs (Tink had a santa hat on) and new slippers! New tink toothbrush too! OH YEA, there is a DVD player in the cabin soooo a new movie, or her favorite, to bring!

 

[splashmtnfan]

II also bought a large photo mat from walmart and dropped it off at the front desk of our hotel. They dropped it back off in our room later in the week with all the characters' signatures on it. This made for a great and cheap keepsake.

I hope you have fun!

COOL! I have never thought of this! What is the "photo mat" ? I have never even knew they would do that! This is such a good place to share ideas. Oh the back pack thing, we did last three trips too and she loved having her stuff at hand, no asking Mommy for a snack. We had snacks in the cabin and she packed them in her bp at night, also kept her own ticket/card (no credit card attached, of course) so she could buy her own snacks on her card (she loved being grown-up). I just checked before we left each place and asked her to show me her card (of course it was in a tiny Tink wallet!)

 

[NU2WDW]

If she's a Pooh fan, breakfast at the Crystal Palace is a must. Also, consider having a Princess meal too, while she's dressed as her favorite princess. My girls wore their Snow White, Belle & Cinderella dresses to dinner at 1900 Park Fare; Cinderella gave them a personal lesson on how to curtsy! We used the pic for our Christmas card last year, it was just gorgeous.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Lori1960]

I would get her a camera a digiatal one and a nice photo album from disney and also go to guest services at the park and get a 1st time badage

 

[JenSop]

Honestly, I just think going to WDW will be special in its own right. My first trip was when I was 8. Back then it was just MK and Epcot. And I fell in love with the world even without any frills. Back then, they didn't have all the extra stuff that you can do nowadays. And it was still amazingly special. My most vivid memory of that trip is watching the fireworks over the castle and listening to the music playing. I still tear up when I hear "When You Wish Upon a Star" because of that.

We plan to do a big family trip in 2012 - my nieces will be 7 and 4. We plan on doing the CRT and BBB.

I really think that whatever you do, she will love it and enjoy it! Have a wonderful time - and it's good to read that you are doing research since you haven't gone in so long either. There's so much more to do now!

 

[splashmtnfan]

H My most vivid memory of that trip is watching the fireworks over the castle and listening to the music playing. I still tear up when I hear "When You Wish Upon a Star" because of that.

We plan to do a big family trip in 2012 - my nieces will be 7 and 4. We plan on doing the CRT and BBB.

I really think that whatever you do, she will love it and enjoy it! Have a wonderful time - and it's good to read that you are doing research since you haven't gone in so long either. There's so much more to do now!

YES! Get to the bridge, between Tomorrowland and MainStreet area, to the right of the castle about 30-45 min. before the fireworks, we grabbed a snack & drink and "camped-out" there, or at one of the tables in Tomorrowland just on the other side of the bridge and wait... Tink actually comes down(on a wire) from the top of the castle at the beginning! AMAZING! my daughter cried, I CRIED.... Just to see her face! She fell asleep the last time before the fireworks, and it was the first time we knew about her coming down... we had to wait two years to see her!!!!

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

when i brought DD (6 at the time) i tried to do alot & plan alot

some things i did were:

made her some personalized Tshirts for the trip!
Made her a personalized lanyard
made her rhinestone mickey ears
bought her the Disney digital camera(very cute & good for kids)
after halloween i got her a princess dress to wear at the park
Made her mickey ears necklace
had special outfits for the trip
got a tiara at hobby lobby
made a backpack for her goodies & put in lipgloss, sunglasses, wipes, sunscreen, snacks,glow necklaces, notes about dinners, etc
she had a handmade autograph book which the characters LOVED


at the parkssome things i was unable to get to)
kidcot at epcot~free stations at each land
Passport at epcot(she had fun showing that at school)
Family photo shoot where i had her hair done~she loved this
The barber in MK for color in hair
I was gonna do a treasure hunt on the beach by the grand floridian, no time(got pirate stuff online)
definitly get the 1st trip button! & buy a 1st trip ornament!!
china or japan each have something they can personalize(i think a sucker & a fan)
she enjoyed the campfires & marshmallows at FW


regardless of what you do Im sure it will be a VERY memorable trip!!!!!

 

[bopper]

First, ask yourself this question. What are the earliest memories you have? Do you remember much of being 8 years old?

Going to WDW will be VERY SPECIAL! I am sure you can take one or two of the ideas mentioned already and she will be THRILLED!

Don't put too much pressure on her and you on making it super special...one or both of you will just get disappointed because she is tired or you are tired. Have fun, and follow her lead. She may be excited to play on the play areas or watch the ducks but you might be saying "come on honey, we have to go "wake up tinkerbell!""

If you do have things planned, I don't recommend always telling the kids in case it turns out you can't go. Like you might think the Wishes Fireworks show will be SO GREAT, but she has fallen asleep or you are about to keel over...If you don't mention it, she will never know and you can try another time with no disappointment.

 

[bopper]

COOL! I have never thought of this! What is the "photo mat" ?

When you frame a photo, you put a "mat" around it. It is the cardboardy type stuff that you use between the photo and the frame.

 

[onemaybaby]

when i brought DD (6 at the time) i tried to do alot & plan alot

some things i did were:

made her some personalized Tshirts for the trip!
Made her a personalized lanyard
made her rhinestone mickey ears
bought her the Disney digital camera(very cute & good for kids)
after halloween i got her a princess dress to wear at the park
Made her mickey ears necklace
had special outfits for the trip
got a tiara at hobby lobby
made a backpack for her goodies & put in lipgloss, sunglasses, wipes, sunscreen, snacks,glow necklaces, notes about dinners, etc
she had a handmade autograph book which the characters LOVED


at the parkssome things i was unable to get to)
kidcot at epcot~free stations at each land
Passport at epcot(she had fun showing that at school)
Family photo shoot where i had her hair done~she loved this
The barber in MK for color in hair
I was gonna do a treasure hunt on the beach by the grand floridian, no time(got pirate stuff online)
definitly get the 1st trip button! & buy a 1st trip ornament!!
china or japan each have something they can personalize(i think a sucker & a fan)
she enjoyed the campfires & marshmallows at FW


regardless of what you do Im sure it will be a VERY memorable trip!!!!!

Can you share how you did the personalized mickey ears and lanyards??
Thank you they sound really cool!

 

[McKelly]

Since you are going at Xmas time - don't miss MVMCP and the Xmas parade - LOVED IT!! They also serve hot cocoa and cookies and have special shows and fireworks.

My DD also started the pin trading craze at about that age. I put them in a memory box and she has them all hung on her wall. A reminder everyday!!

 

[splashmtnfan]

When you frame a photo, you put a "mat" around it. It is the cardboardy type stuff that you use between the photo and the frame.

Gotcha, guess I really never thought of what it is called! Thanks again.

 

[splashmtnfan]

If you do have things planned, I don't recommend always telling the kids in case it turns out you can't go. Like you might think the Wishes Fireworks show will be SO GREAT, but she has fallen asleep or you are about to keel over...If you don't mention it, she will never know and you can try another time with no disappointment.

RIGHT! I did not tell my DD almost seven about the Tinkerbell thing, because as a mother I knew what would happen if she fell asleep and missed. HOWEVER, DD kept trying to keep her awake "Come on your going to miss Tinkerbell, she is going to fly down during the fireworks!" I wanted to choke him! Because of course she fell asleep, and she missed it, and she had to wait about two years, because we had to cancel due to a hurricane twice! But we did get to go in December even though IKE did hit us!