Planning Special Magic for Family- IDEAS

[shaunaday]

When I learned about the personalized menus and diver sign at Coral Reef Restaurant, I jumped on it! Then, I began to wonder what other "little secrets" are out there for those of us "planners" to plan a little extra Disney Magic for our friends and family?!?

Maybe we could start a list.

I will start.

As I mentioned above, if you call the Coral Reef with your ADR info, you can request personalized menus (pictures of your family, little notes to them, etc) and even a diver sign (yes, it is what it sounds like it is...a diver, in the tank, feeding the fish and holding a sign). Make sure you have your ADR and then call CR and ask for Debbi.

Also, those of us with kiddos..."Tink" gifts are kinda fun. Sadly, WDW doesn't plan this...but, it's little gifts (crayons, snack items, t-shirts, etc.) from "Tink" that are left for the kiddos. SOME parents have reported that these Tink gifts cut down on the "gimmes" in the parks. And I think if Tink can get her shopping done before arriing at WDW, she can get some great deals at Target and the Dollar Tree.

What else?

 

[patman2011]

great idea there, will add a few myself.
when dh and i were planning our trip last year, we read about all the great things that were going on, and wanted to " spread some magic " ourselves as well as teach our dd that is is important to share with others as well as having fun. so i would stock up on glow sticks, and luckily found a wholesaler in the area that had light up gizmos real cheap, you know the kind that are always selling at parades and things? so i would buy 2 for our girls, plus two to hand out to a " friend" they met on the way!!!! the girls really got into giving things away, but you would be surprised by how many people did'nt want to take it from them. i am sure that you can find wholesaler toys in your local yellow pages, and they really have some neat things there.
also for snack, my husband has turned me into a nature valley crunchy granola nut. the oat and honey one is about the only one i will eat, as i have probs with nuts, and they are great for snacks and they do not get SOGGY!!! i hate it when snacks get soggy from the heat, and this really hits the spot will have to think up a few more things along the way

 

[goofylover]

bump

 

[AngelBabyJana]

Subbing! I would also love to hear everyone's ideas on this.

Love the Coral Reef personalized menu's & diver. Also what a great idea to order extra light up toys, and then pass them on to other kids .... what a great way to teach our kids how to "spread the magic" around.

This will be our 1st trip to Disney so I am new at this. We are going as a Grand Gathering with extended family, and I plan on surprising all the kids with "Tink Gifts" each night, such as Disney misting fans, Jibbitz bracelets (with Disney Jibbitz of course), Disney disposable camera, etc..... Also we plan to arrange a "welcome basket" (from Mickey of course) for each child that will be waiting at the hotel when we arrive. Since this will be our 1st trip, I want to make sure that it is special from the start ..... would love to hear even more ideas!

 

[wdwmaw]

Here are a few of ours we have done throughout the years....

~do the Disney Visa photo shoot in Epcot, it is very personal and have had some of the best pix from there.
~ride up front of the monorail, go during off times and ask CM there on the loading deck if you can ride up front with the driver, kids will get a liscense and its really cool
~ talk with the bus drivers, they have trading cards, we are still trying to collect them all.
~Window seat at o'hanas and watch the fireworks from your table ( timing and luck with this one)
~AKL has a kids program that you can collect beads for and it is free. We have seen families plan to eat a late breakfast at Boma's then head out to pool deck for some of the kids activities. They are really nice beads.

 

[donatalie]

Also, those of us with kiddos..."Tink" gifts are kinda fun. Sadly, WDW doesn't plan this...but, it's little gifts (crayons, snack items, t-shirts, etc.) from "Tink" that are left for the kiddos. SOME parents have reported that these Tink gifts cut down on the "gimmes" in the parks. And I think if Tink can get her shopping done before arriing at WDW, she can get some great deals at Target and the Dollar Tree.

What else?

Here is a link to gift tags for Tink Gifts that you can personalize...


http://www.4shared.com/account/dir/4343389/3ab0f9e5/sharing.html?rnd=0

 

[jen2207]

Great idea for a thread!

Here are a few other things we are hoping to do:

- fireworks cruise - for wishes fireworks (booked - yippeee!!)
- Pirate adventure cruise for 2 older kids (8 and almost 6)
- Go to Tom Sawyer to find paint brushes
- rent boats/ water craft/toys for an afternoon or hour
- go to Wilderness for outdoor movie/ campfire
- bippidy-boppity boutique - (sadly we won't be doing this one as middle daughter is NOT into princesses and baby is too little yet) then photo session
- we got a diver, sign and personalized menu at Coral Reef for middle dd (turns 6 the week we get home)

What other ideas are out there?????

 

[goofylover]

Do you have to pay for the diver? We are going in 2 weeks so I'm probably too late.

 

[jkCT]

On our last trip my girls were 9 and 10. We didn't know about many of these extras but we did make it a point to say "yes" to or suggest the little things that I wouldn't ordinarily say yes to...for instance the photo booth in the shop at the end of Journey to Imagination. We got a nice little keepsake photo cube for the girls to take home. Also we hit lots of pressed penny machines, and I said yes to much more ice cream than I would ordinarily! It was fun to point out these little extras to them and to have them pleasantly surprised when we said "yes, go for it!"

 

[santa's surpriz]

I did not see anyone posting to ride in the front of the monorail with the driver...I believe you also get a license.

Petting zoo at FW, free picture at Innoventions, free buttons at Guest Services to suit your special occasion, and hayride at FW, play at legoland at DTD. The writer's of Passporter also have a Scavenger Hunt book that has tons of things. Searching for Hidden Mickey's (family contest.)

My personal fav and what my daughter looks forward to every morning of our trips...her note from Santa, Mickey, or favorite princesses. I type out letters and print them on either xmas or disney letterhead (depends on the time of year) from the different characters to let her know what is planned for that certain day. Spending money included fpor the day as well as reminders to be good listener as all princesses are at WDW. Sometimes I will leave a gift that themes with the day's events. A special outfit or trinket. Sometimes I Mickey will leave special snacks for the day. I have also done a game that is similar to a reward chart, listening, no whining, doing a good deed, saying something extra special to a CM, holding mommy's hand, walking and not asking to be carried, etc. When the chart is filled, there is usually something extra special at the end of the trip or shopping as the reward. (When you're a single mom at WDW you need to be creative!)

 

[Jessma9902]

On DD's 8th birthday, I hung up a "happy birthday" banner in our room while she was sleeping- when she awoke, she assumed that "disney magic" made it appear. It was very cute!

 

[jen2207]

Do you have to pay for the diver? We are going in 2 weeks so I'm probably too late.

The diver and a personalized menu are FREE!!!! Which is great, considering most stuff associated with WDW isn't! To get it coordinated you need to speak with the restaurant manager. You can call Disney dining and ask to be transferred directly to the restaurant and then ask for the manager, Debbie. I got her voice mail, left her a message with my request and my email address, and then I corresponded with her via email. Once I contacted her I had it all coordinated in an afternoon...... give her a try - what's there to lose!

You can also search the DIS boards for "Coral Reef diver" to get other tips on arranging the diver/ menu.

 

[spalady]

Can you tell me about the fireworks cruise for wishes? I can't locate anything reguarding it.

 

[goofylover]

The diver and a personalized menu are FREE!!!! Which is great, considering most stuff associated with WDW isn't! To get it coordinated you need to speak with the restaurant manager. You can call Disney dining and ask to be transferred directly to the restaurant and then ask for the manager, Debbie. I got her voice mail, left her a message with my request and my email address, and then I corresponded with her via email. Once I contacted her I had it all coordinated in an afternoon...... give her a try - what's there to lose!

You can also search the DIS boards for "Coral Reef diver" to get other tips on arranging the diver/ menu.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[pawn626]

how much does getting a diver cost? how far in advance do you need to do this? thanks

 

[PrincessGT]

The Chip and Dale Campfire ... free ... except for s'mores ingredients!

 

[lovndisney]

Wow these are all great ideas. I remember when I took my nieces when they were younger we did the hayride. I know my son definately wants to try and sit at the front of the monirail. We tried that last time, not that he would have remembered, but we missed out each time.

 

[BebopBaloo]

It's been about 5 years since I've visited, but I'm pretty sure the housekeeping staff will still "decorate" your room window, if you have stuffed animal souvenirs, or make them appear to be "active" while you are out and about.

When my brother and I were little (and not so little) we would often find our toys playing in the window when we got back. Once they were even "watching" tv on the bed and holding the remote.

I've seen housekeeping take the room towels and shape them into characters, as well. Pretty cute.

Also, you could get wake up calls from Mickey, Goofy?

 

[Missin'Disney]

The Chip and Dale Campfire ... free ... except for s'mores ingredients!

How does this work...do they have the ingrediants for purchase or do you have to bring them??

We are staying at WL and think this would be fun to take a boat-ride over and do, but I don't know any of the details. Any info appreciated!