Traditions

[Bluegrrl]

For our son's birthday, we have lunch at at Crystal Palace, annual hair cut at the barber shop, and get his silouette cut on Main Street. My family always got their silouettes cut on Main Street, so we are just continuing it!
When we leave WDW, we always stop for lunch at French Quarter for lunch. We love the beignets, po'boys and gumbo!

 

[ilm2000]

We are not really into the pin trading or wearing the lanyard but each year we go, we pick out a cool pin with the year on it. The add it to our lanyard to reminisce about our trips on the years in between.

 

[akl2004]

Magic Kingdom is the first park we visit each trip. My family knows that before we ride or do anything else we ride It's A Small World as a family. DS13 complains that it is dated, but it is the first ride I remember riding back in 1983 on my first trip, so to me it personifies Disney. We also look up our Leave a Legacy plaque at Epcot that we had done on DS13's first trip in 04. DS7 decided that when we go back we need one with him on it. Finally, we eat at Sci-Fi on our HS day every trip. Disney is all about family and fun and hopefully when my boys take their families they will continue some of our family traditions, especially IASW.

 

[CarlaLovesDisney]

We have a lot of traditions even though we haven't been that many times. Our first park is always Magic Kingdom and the first ride is Peter Pan. We always eat ice cream to watch the Electrical Parade and we always buy an ornament.

 

[Caseheidi]

Add us to the ornament tradition band wagon. This started on our Honeymoon and has continued since. Another one from that first trip is that DH insists on taking my photo on the red bridge in Japan each trip, with me looking over my shoulder. This was his favorite photo from our HM and so he likes a new one each time. And we always spend our last day at MK so we can wave goodbye to the castle as we leave the park on our last day.

 

[sunkissed4]

Since we're basically locals (hour away), we save our traditions for our big trip every year.

Like others, we always buy a new ornament and try to have it relate to our year. We've gotten Baby's 1st Christmas, just married, our first trip ornaments, etc. and now let the boys pick one of their favorites.

I get a picture of the boys wearing their ears in front of the castle every year to see how much they've grown.

My favorite tradition, sipping on a cucumber margarita as we stroll through world showcase!

 

[glvsav37]

We do the family photo in the same spot too...but at the Rainforest Cafe sign in AK. For no particular reason other then my wife and i have a shot of us there on our honeymoon. Years later, on our 1st trip back with our 2 kids, she thought it would be funny to take again....then the next year...and wash, rinse and repeat.

 

[Mimarian]

We are not really into the pin trading or wearing the lanyard but each year we go, we pick out a cool pin with the year on it. The add it to our lanyard to reminisce about our trips on the years in between.

I like that idea too. We have thought about the pin trading thing but wasn't sure about wearing the lanyard all the time. We do always get a magnet with year on it and stick it on the fridge.

 

[plutonic]

We also do the ornament thing! It's so fun unpacking them each year.

We also pick out one or two pins each trip, whether we are there for a day or a week. Usually it is of the resort we stay at (we are trying to do them all!) Or something special about that particular trip (honeymoon, F&WF, etc.) We keep them in a shadowbox in our office so we can remember all of the great trips!

 

[nickcapp]

My wife (then girlfriend) made our first trip together with her family in 2000. That year, we bought the 2000 branded frame. We got our picture taken in front of the castle and placed it in the frame.

Since then, we have one for every single year through 2013. (We are actually here now and almost forgot we needed to add 2014!)

Its amazing to look at the transition from two young college kids morphing into engaged college grads; to a bride and groom; to expecting parents; to a small family and finally a family of four. (so far!)

I wouldn't trade these memories for the world and I hope to have 80 frames by the time I leave this earth and would love for my children to pass on the tradition.

 

[2dogmom]

This upcoming trip I was going to change things up a little but my 13yo told me we HAVE to go to MK and eat dinner at Crystal Palace, we have to eat with princesses and we have to go to MK on our last day because it is tradition

I also have to spend way too much on christmas ornaments!

 

[CNYDisneyFan]

Go to Magic Kingdom on our first full day and eat at Crystal Palace.

 

[glvsav37]

Also we take one of the composite photos where they shoot you on green screen and photoshop you into a scene. We have them hanging in out hall, first my wife and I when dating, then honeymoon, then with the kids.

 

[Mickeygolf]

Must do traditions for our family:
1. Take a picture with the Indian statue on Main Street to see how the kids have grown and WE have changed
2. Peter Pan is always the first ride at MK no matter what...no matter what
3. Chef Mickey's!!! Don't think the kids would let us leave without having dinner there
4. And even though the water doesn't flow any longer take the picture with the umbrella at DHS. Don't know why but we always do it

 

[kpearl]

My boyfriend's family always goes straight to Pacos Bills for lunch once they arrive at WDW and then ride POC first. I've been included in this tradition and now I'll be doing it with my family when we go in August (boyfriend & his family will not be joining.) I feel like it's the perfect way to kick off our first day and look forward to continuing it

 

[khmiller]

Must do traditions for our family:
1. Take a picture with the Indian statue on Main Street to see how the kids have grown and WE have changed
2. Peter Pan is always the first ride at MK no matter what...no matter what
3. Chef Mickey's!!! Don't think the kids would let us leave without having dinner there
4. And even though the water doesn't flow any longer take the picture with the umbrella at DHS. Don't know why but we always do it

I think the water still flows.

 

[dixiegirl]

Another ornament person here - bought one back on our honeymoon in 1996 and have gotten one every year since. I usually buy the ones that are themed for the year now. I already had a Disney themed tree prior to my first visit to WDW so it's overflowing now but we love it!

I love the photo in the same place idea - may have to start that on this year's trip.

 

[mejo]

Must do traditions for our family: 1. Take a picture with the Indian statue on Main Street to see how the kids have grown and WE have changed 2. Peter Pan is always the first ride at MK no matter what...no matter what 3. Chef Mickey's!!! Don't think the kids would let us leave without having dinner there 4. And even though the water doesn't flow any longer take the picture with the umbrella at DHS. Don't know why but we always do it

We got a picture at the umbrella just a few minutes ago and the water was flowing

 

[KimK2006]

I do the ornament thing, too.

We usually go to CM for dinner the night we arrive. Let the magic begin! Several years ago, when my kids were in their early teens, I assumed they were too "old" for CM. When they found out I hadn't booked it for the first night, they had a fit! Luckily I was able to book it. On our upcoming trip, we are flying in late, so we can't do CM. I do have it booked a couple of days later. I hate we won't be able to be there the first night!

 

[W.E.D.]

We have a few:

A visit to WDW must begin and end with the MK.

Always schedule lunch at The Rose & Crown the day we tour WS.

Illuminations--no trip is complete without seeing this.

I pack my t-shirts from previous trips. I really only wear them when we visit, so they are in good condition. It's kind of fun as a lot of the long-time CMs remember the designs. It sparks some neat conversations with the CMs about bygone days at the parks.