What are the 'little things' that you do each trip that make it 'magical' ?

[kid-at-heart]

I'll tell you some fun, but simple things that we have done that made our trip magical. We rode the horse and trolley on main street last time and I am telling you that it was something special for me.

Where (or how) do you arrange to ride the horse and trolley?

Thanks,
kate

 

[pepperderr]

Our days at Disney are always "Yes Days". This means that almost anything the kids want to do we try to say yes to. For example. If the kids want ice cream at 9am or 9pm...I automatically want to say no, but because we are at Disney the answer is yes. The kids love it and it's amazing how nice it is to say yes for a change

I totally agree. It is weird that I saw this post today. I just bought my son the book called "Yes Day" last night and all he has been asking all day is if we can ever have a Yes day. I told him probably on the last day of school. The kids don't know we are going to diney in April for DS suprise 7th birthday. I am sure their will be a few Yes days then.

I'll tell you some fun, but simple things that we have done that made our trip magical. We rode the horse and trolley on main street last time and I am telling you that it was something special for me.

How long does this take? When is it done? Where do we go for it? My son would love it.

This is not disney related but I just thought I'd post that a few times now we have had "parties" at our house just for the heck of it. I always tend to have left over party supplies every year so sometimes we just get them all out, decorate the whole house with streamers and balloons and stuff. We make whatever we want to eat...usually pizza, play the wii, of course have cake and just have our own little family party even though it is nobody's birthday or special occasion.

pepperderr

 

[elainesj]

The horse and trolley travel down Main St. I have in my notes that it only runs in the morning....but not sure where I got that from. Mouseplanet says it runs all day. But maybe with the addition of the Move It Shake it parade, its cut it short?

I had planned to do it before 11am on an earlier day but it wasn't there when it was convenient for me to take it and I didn't want to wait for it. I ended up doing it about 10am on a different day...simply because the trolley was there at the hub and we were headed to adventureland. It did take some time though. We waitd about 10-15 mins after climbing in because they were scheduled to pick up the Dapper Dans. That said, the wait was worth it (mostly because we had no urgent plans). We sat in the back row and the Dapper Dans climbed on and serenaded us all the way down Main Street. We got autographs from them at the end which was nice.


From allearsMain Street Vehicles - Take a ride on a horseless carriage, a replica of an early fire engine, a jitney or a horse-drawn trolley, all of which make their way up and down Main Street throughout the day. The length of your ride varies with the vehicle you take:

Street Cars: 3:15 minutes
Antique Cars (with 4-cylinder Hercules engine): 2:28 minutes
Jitneys: 2:28 minutes
Fire Engine: 2:28 minutes

NOTE: Wheelchair/ECV users must transfer out to ride these vehicles.

From Mouseplanet
Main Street Vehicles
Main Street, U.S.A. is a represenation of small-town America at the beginning of the 20th century. The Main Street vecicles give a taste of transportation options during that period. Realistic replicas of horse-drawn streetcars, jitneys, a fire engine, and anitque cars provide one-way transportation from one end of Main Street to the other.

General Information - Hide Section
Location: Run the length of Main Street. Boarding areas are located around Town Square near the entrance to the park and around the Central Plaza in front of Cinderella Castle.
Date Opened: 10/1/1971
# of Ride Units: At any given time of each vehicle may be on Main Street.
Ride Capacity: Varies by vehicle
Restraint Method: None
Ticket Rating: A Ticket
Ride Photo: No

Time Commitment Information - Hide Section
Open/Close: Open and close with the park. Do not run during parades, fireworks, or anything else that causes congestion on Main Street.
Wait Times: Each vehicle returns to a loading spot every 7-10 minutes, it is rare for lines to form beyond the capacity of the vehicle.
Length of Ride: 3 minutes
FastPass: No
Single Rider: No
Queue Description: None, just wait at the curb for the vehicle.
Access Information - Hide Section
Health Restriction: None
Ride Access: You just wait for your vehicle at the curb. There are benches in the area if you are unable to stand while waiting (you can also sit on the curb). Though lines are rare, this may put you at the back of the line when the vehicle arrives.
Wheelchair Transfer: None of the Main Street vehicles are wheelchair accessible. It will be necessary to transfer into the vehicle, each of which requires at least one step up. The vehicles do not have room for folded wheelchairs so someone else in your party would need to transfer wheelchairs and ECVs to the other end of Main Street.
Service Animals: Yes
Audio: There is no formal audio on the vehicles, though riders are free to converse with the driver.
Weight and Size Issues: Some seating may be constricted, but there is generally room for spreading out a bit.
Parenting Information - Hide Section
Height Restriction: None
Child Swap: No
Other Issues:
History and Trivia - Hide Section
At this location: Main Street vehicles have been running since the park opened in 1971.
The Attraction's History: For the most part the vehicles remain the same as when the park opened. One change is that the Omnibus was transferred to Epcot where it now carries characters around World Showcase Lagoon.

 

[mickey50]

mickey vinyl trading is fun.

 

[Woodskeeper]

Coming from a local, one of my favorite things to do at Disney is the movie theatre at DTD West Side. They've changed it recently (within the past 6 months) where it has a self-service concession stand that has make your own gourmet popcorn and gourmet ice cream, as well as these AWESOME soda machines that run by digital screens. There are all sorts of flavors you can choose from! These machines are being tested all throughout the country, but if they haven't reached your area yet, be sure to check them out at the AMC Movie Theatre at DTD.

 

[snipe523]

The main thing we do at Disney to make it "Magical" is forget about anything back home. We basically immerse ourselves in Disney to the point where it is like the outside world doesn't exist for the short time we are there. I try to budget enough money so we don't have to say no to too many things, which is something that at home is not the norm.

 

[Rotti955]

We try to pick a few special things for our kids each trip that they have never done.

Last year we did the Pirates League and in the afternoon the kids marched in the Pirates League parade.

Year before our daughter got her her wrapped and our son got a tattoo on his arm.

We try to get as many photos with the characters so we can make a Disney book of our trip.

We plan special meals and/or character meals each trip.... our son's favorite is the Sci-Fi Dinner theatre. We basically try to customize our trip so the kids will do something new/fun each trip.

 

[DanielleandBrady]

Our days at Disney are always "Yes Days". This means that almost anything the kids want to do we try to say yes to. For example. If the kids want ice cream at 9am or 9pm...I automatically want to say no, but because we are at Disney the answer is yes. The kids love it and it's amazing how nice it is to say yes for a change

I am sooo doing this when me and DS go in April! It will just be the 2 of us so i think it will be awesome!

 

[donaldsgirl]

There are several things we do every trip but our favorite seems to be going to Beaches and Cream and getting the Kitchen Sink. There is no way that we will EVER finish all of it but seeing my 8 yr old and 3 yr old enjoying something so much really tickles me. My husband making a complete idiot out of himself and making more of a mess than the kids do is really hilarious too. I of course am very dainty and have perfect manners while eating a sensible portion

 

[boys938]

There are several things we do every trip but our favorite seems to be going to Beaches and Cream and getting the Kitchen Sink. There is no way that we will EVER finish all of it but seeing my 8 yr old and 3 yr old enjoying something so much really tickles me. My husband making a complete idiot out of himself and making more of a mess than the kids do is really hilarious too. I of course am very dainty and have perfect manners while eating a sensible portion

We've never tried it but are planning on it this year! I am just afraid my DS14 won't leave any for the rest of us!!!

 

[kstrong001]

Our very favorite picture we always take is with Woody and Buzz in Hollywood Studios. The background and character pictures are so vibrant!

 

[sue_88]

I like to make my resort room more festive. I always make some disney magnets and bring them to attach to my room door (on the inside). I also bring some little disney plushie or disney action figures and leave them in my room. The cleaning staff will often move them around as though they have been living it up while I'm out. I will also make some disney art to hang in my resort window (if staying at a value or moderate). It makes me happy to see it at the end of a day and makes my room easier to locate.

 

[CaFeeney]

We do what we call Tinkerbell gifts. Before the trip I collect little Disney items (mostly from the Target Dollar Spot) and I found some cool white lunch bags with Tink on them (at Target as well).
So, every morning before DD (age 4) wakes up I get the bag ready and hide it - usually on the balcony as DD is a bit freaked with the idea of anything coming in the room. She LOVES go get her little presents each day, she typically gets things like nail polish, princess jewelry, coloring books, etc. As soon as she wakes up she races to see what Tink had left.
Just a bit of planning and it just makes her trip a little more magic - and it makes us smile as we get ready for our day!

 

[scarlet_ibis]

We go every year, so in the weeks leading up to our trip, I try to find things that we haven't done before so we still have magic going on.

This time, we're going to try to meet Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Oso (?), and Duffy, because they are new since our last trip. We're trying two new restaurants for dinner (Via Napoli and Boma) and may try to branch out from our standard favorites for our lunches. Also on my list is doing the Jungle Cruise at night, seeing Wishes and the kiss goodnight (can you believe I've never seen it?), Animation Academy, and Flights of Wonder.

 

[leebee]

Things we like to do...

Have High Tea at the Grand Floridian
Ride the boat from Epcot to HS and back- especially at night!
Ride the monorail from Epcot to MK
See the Electric Water Pageant
Watch "Wishes" from FantasyLand- fireworks are right overhead!
Pick-a-pearl
Take the boat from PO to DTD
Ride the train around MK
Ride the train to Conservation Station
Visit AKL at dusk, to see the animal feeding and sit around the fire
Play on the light-up sidewalk in Epcot on the way out of the park
Hair wraps
Have a sundae at Ghiradelli's at DTD
Ride BTMRR at dusk or after dark
Stop to listen to singing groups in MK, Epcot, actors in DS
Interact with Cast Members! Talk to them!

 

[plutopuppy]

I love your shared ideas. I would love to try Pick a Pearl with my DD on our upcoming trip, where can I obtian more info?

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I love your shared ideas. I would love to try Pick a Pearl with my DD on our upcoming trip, where can I obtian more info?

There's a counter for it at the Japan pavillion in Epcot (inside the big store, about midway back on the left) and there is also one along the beach walkway at the Beach/Yacht Club.

 

[plutopuppy]

Thank you so much!! I shall definitely be adding that to our list!!

 

[jacdolfin]

This time, we're going to try to meet Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Oso (?), and Duffy, because they are new since our last trip. We're trying two new restaurants for dinner (Via Napoli and Boma) and may try to branch out from our standard favorites for our lunches. Also on my list is doing the Jungle Cruise at night, seeing Wishes and the kiss goodnight (can you believe I've never seen it?), Animation Academy, and Flights of Wonder.[/QUOTE]

Where is Rapunzel my daughter would love to see her, and Oso, Duffy? Sorry if i sound crazy but what do you men by "kiss goodnight", and Flights of Wonder. I have been to Disney a few times but still feel clueless at times. thanks

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

These are all great ideas!
We usually hit up DTD on our first day. Just nice to walk around without rushing to get to a ride or show.