I loooove all of the things that I found on this site to make and made my husband tell me that I spent waaaaay to much time getting ready for our Disney trip...BUT after the trip was over, he thanked me for making it so special for our family.
First, start off with the travel backpack and fill it will all things Disney or travel games. For just $10 you can fill up a backpack at most dollar stores. You can find...playing cards, puzzles, crossword puzzles, coloring books, crayons, pencils, games, squeeze bottles/drink cups...the list goes on. Keep your eyes open and look in the game isle and the office supplies. Then add a luggage tag to the outside of the backpack. Also,
www.momsminivan.com is a great place to find travel hints and free printable games like travel bingo, travel battleship, etc. and a loong list of games to entertain kids with while you travel. Scroll through this thread to get ideas and see a picture of one mom's travel backpacks...I think on the second page:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2005108&page=2
Next let me say that there are a TON of AMAZING designers out there!!! I love Kellybells things, Bababear (Mel's) cruise DISigns, and all of the DISigners I listed below. I know that I will leave out names of great DISigners...these are just the things that I found and used before our trip last December.
Of course just about everyone makes t-shirts so I won't spend any time on them...the list is endless for DISigners that make t-shirt art.
For younger kids that ask every day or even hour...how many more days before we leave...make a countdown calendar or countdown links (like the christmas chain that you make with paper links and take one off leaving the number of days left in links). Mel (Bababear) makes cute links that you can print out with disney characters on them. Look in this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2018621
I loved making invitations....Natalie has TONS of amazing ones in her shared file that you can add a textbox over using MS Word and put your familie's name or a child's name for special events like Bippity Boppity Boo Make Over or character meals. I slid them under the door each night and my dad was soooo impressed with our concierge. I never told him it was me.
Natalie's shared file:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/5978989/a06aa930/Natalies_DISigns.html
Examples of invites:
Wendypooh also makes great invites:
http://www.4shared.com/account/dir/14841499/b6ebdce5/sharing.html?rnd=41
You can also make Welcome Letters to hang on your hotel room door. It was fun listening to people walk by and make comments. One husband walked by and asked his wife why they didn't have anything on their door.
Again you can find them in Natalie's thread.
I also made "you've been so good treats" that were left on pillows for everyone in the family to find when we got back from a GREAT day at the World. These can also be found in Natalie's shared file under "Gift Tags".
For the treats themselves you can make gum wrappers, candy bar wrappers, nugget wrappers,life saver wrappers, mint tin covers...all made by wonderful designers and some of them make the candy look like characters themselves. You don't have to give big treats...just a small piece of candy with the letter will make anyone in your family smile. I made a lot of Telynn's and you can find them in her sharing file:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/6658211/c9588e82/sharing.html
Here is an example:
You can find more candy treat ideas in Mels Candy Pockets thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980430
I also looove the "Pressed Penny Tube Labels" for M&M tubes. You give them to your children with quarters and pennies inside so they can make press pennies as they find machines all over the park. There is actually a website that lists where the machines are and what the picture is that they make. Then you can use them in scrapbooks or even make bracelets with them for girls. Natalie also makes these...is this beginning to sound like a Natalie advertisement...just check out everything in her shared file!
You can make journals for your kids so that they can write in them at the end of the day so that they can have a record of the wonderful memories. Again...Natalie or you can download a simple one at:
http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/kids/journal.shtml
I loooved my autograph book! Penny (Chaoscent) has the most wonderful pages.
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/Chaos1Cent/?start=0
I'm also a fan of LJCollins pages:
http://s345.photobucket.com/albums/p379/ljcollins_2008/
If you want to make cards that don't use a TON of ink...Natalie has some great ones.
Example of cards I made:
If you don't want to carry around a photograph book or you want something fun to have signed at character meals...you can make autograph pillowcases.
Natalie has some great Epcot Passports that you can make for your family in her file....you just need to check out her stuff.
What am I forgetting???
If you ever go on a
Disney cruise you will need to make magnets for your door and you absolutely need to make or buy a fish extender and participate in a gift exchange!
Link to Fish Extender thread...read to find out what it is and how it works:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607
Here is a "Website List" that I made for a travel lecture that I did for a MOPS group. Hope this isn't too much but thought it might help someone that comes across this thread and is just starting out:
DISNEY WEBSITES
www.disney.go.com this is Disneys official website. Take the time to register on this site to receive emails about updates and travel discounts
https://disney.go.com/destinations the last email I received from them offered a free
Disney dining plan when you purchased a 5 night/6 day vacation at select Disney Resorts for a family of four (based on 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child) for a total package of $1390 (a savings of $654). This is a great deal because it includes hotel, park tickets (one park per day
these are not park hopper tickets) and all of your food if you work your dining plan! All you have to pay for in addition is travel and souvenirs.
www.disboards.com this is a great resource and specifically is a discussion forum to find out a variety of things about any of the Disney Parks like theme park ideas and strategies, Resorts
the good, bad and ugly, budget board gives advice from people that have been on how to do things inexpensively, there are tips for families, a link for teens and college age kids, help if you are traveling with someone that has disabilities, camping at Disney World,
Disney Cruise Line, and the list goes on! There is no better reference place to find Disney information online because it isnt Disney putting the information online it is families like yours and mine!
www.disneyshopping.go.com look at Disneys online shopping to find good deals. I found many t-shirts for $4.99. This is about the same price it will cost you to make t-shirts. If you purchase $85 worth of t-shirts for your family, you can get shipping for $5 when you put in the code: SHIPTODAY (if the code still works)
Also, look for specials. There was an additional 25% off already reduced prices the day that I looked with code: EXTRA25 this made the shirts with our tax $4.06. At the parks for around $100 you will probably get 5-7 t-shirts but by purchasing them early you can get 15-20 t-shirts for under $100.
Or you can make t-shirts for around $5 a shirt and they will be more personalized than buying them!
www.amymickey.com If you want to make t-shirts, this is the best t-shirt transfer paper that I have found! I recommend using 100% cotton t-shirts when making them and dont overheat your iron. This is a dark transfer paper that you have to order online.
www.themouseforless.com has lots of great ideas for saving money on your Disney trip and printables.
Freebies to collect & do:
http://themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/Freebies.shtml
www.mousesavers.com has lots of discounts and deals for hotels, rental cars, tickets, recipes, etc.
free downloads:
http://www.mousesavers.com/free.html
list of free and cheap stuff including places to eat for $10
http://www.mousesavers.com/freestuff.html
Just a Few of the Disney Freebies You Can Find Online:
1. A Lanyard Full of Charms that Kids can Decorate Themselves: Sharpie sponsors the 6 Kidcot stations in Future World. You can pick up a lanyard (necklace) at any of them. Visit them all to collect the different charms with fun themes like Kim Possible. Color them to make them unique. Locations: All stations are located in Future World
(they still have this as my neice did this in January)
2. Personalized Plastic Robot: This is very cool! First you build your own virtual robot and race it against other guests robots using the properties of plastic to give you an edge. Then you choose the parts and colors you like and create your own real plastic robot to take home with you. This robot stands about 7 inches tall - with moveable limbs! Locations: In Future Worlds Innoventions East at Fantastic Plastic Works
(they may no longer do this...but look on line to find new wonderful free things!)
3. Chefs Hat & Toll House Cookie: Nestle sponsors the Junior Chef Program where kids learn to follow a recipe and bake real Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookies. When they're fully baked, they get to sample the cookies they made. And - if thats not enough they also get to keep their chefs hat! Note: This program is available for children aged 3-10. They must sign-up for this in advance and book a time. The groups are very small so get there early. Location: In Future Worlds The Land on the lower level near Living with the Land.
(they may no longer do this...but look on line to find new wonderful free things!)
4. Need a Drink to Go with that Free Cookie? How about free soda? This chill zone called Club Cool is sponsored by Coca Cola and features samples of beverages they sell around the world. Its self-served and you can drink as much as you like. Some are yummy and refreshing. Others are
well find out for yourself! Location: In Future World past the Epcot Character Spot.
5. A Mask with Charms to Attach and Decorate: Pick up a mask at any country in the World Showcase, and then add a different charm at each additional country you visit. Spend some time and personalize the mask and charms with the Sharpie markers that are provided. At the China pavilion, you can learn your birth sign (according to the Chinese calendar) and how to write your name in Chinese. Tip: If you collect all 11 charms, you get a special bonus! Location: In the World Showcase.
6. Wake Up Tink: When Magic Kingdom opens, the first child in Tinker Bells Fantasy Shop is given a magic wand to wake up Tinker Bell.
7. Collect a Monorail Co-Pilot Card: They will allow four people to sit up front with the captain on each ride
all you have to do is get there a little bit early and ask.
www.allears.net an unofficial website for a complete planning guide
www.wdwinfo.com planning resource
www.intercot.com vacation planning guide
www.*********.com employee information about Disney
www.mouseplanet.com resource for all things Disney
www.disney-stationary.com another website with fun printables
www.disneylies.com Walt Disney, the
Disneyland resort, and Disney films lies, unsubstantiated rumors, ridiculous half-truths, bad information, and just plain made up stuff. The "snopes" for disney.
http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/HiddenMickeyDisney.html information on hidden Mickeys
http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/pennylist.htm this websites list all of the pressed penny machines at WDW and what they press. Once at Disney you can buy Pressed Penny Passports to collect all of your pressed pennies in. They are $6.95 and hold 48+ Pennies, 9 pressed quarters and
come with different characters on them.
www.disneyclips.com www.disney-clipart.com
just a few of the great websites to find clipart if you want to design something of your own!
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105 this is a creative thread to request items for personalization and find ideas for things you can make for Disney trips (or Disney related birthday parties) like scrapbooks, t-shirts, autograph books, candy wrappers, photo enhancements, meal invitations
the list is endless. Take some time and look through the threads. You will be amazed by all of the wonderful things you will find! Below is a just a few of the MANY DISigners on
www.disboards.com under the link to Creative DISigns:
Natalie (goes by Donatalie on the boards)
http://www.4shared.com/dir/5978989/a06aa930/Natalies_DISigns.html
Invitations
Autograph Books simpler design
Activity Books
Journal
Mousekeeping Envelopes
Pillowcase Designs
Stroller Tags
And so much more
Penny (goes by Chaoscent on the boards)
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/Chaos1Cent/?start=0
Thread for autograph pages:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1640251
Amazing autograph pages and so much more
Kellybell
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a110/Kellybell_/
Thread for name t-shirts:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1966574
T-Shirts and so much more
Mel (goes by Bababear on the boards)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1980430
Candy Pockets & Bag Toppers
she has other great threads as well for cruise things like door magnets and other cruise art.
Telynn
http://www.4shared.com/dir/6658211/c9588e82/sharing.html
Great Candy Wrappers
LJCollins
http://s345.photobucket.com/albums/p379/ljcollins_2008/
More GREAT Autograph Pages and other things as well.
Planning Journal: here are a few links where you can find pages to help create your own planning journal.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2114031
http://s645.photobucket.com/albums/uu177/bkanerva/Calenders/
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2116437
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120522
The Mouse for Less
http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads.shtml
If you dont have time to spend on DISBoards looking for all the wonderful things to make
here they are at your fingertips. They are not quite as creative as the things on the DISBoards but they will be loved by your kids just the same!
Calendars
Desktop Calendar - Disney Themed
Desktop Wallpaper - Disney themed
Photo Calendars - Disney Themed - Printable For The Kids
Disney Homework Pages
School Excuse Letter
Kids Travel ID
Chainlink Countdown
Kids Travel Journal
Word Search Puzzles
Trivia Questions
Walt Disney World Character Find List
Autograph Pages
Autograph Book For Your Trip
Cast Member Appreciation Certificates
Character List - Walt Disney World
Disney Luggage Tags
Freebies to collect/do on your trip
Gratuity Envelopes
MFL Community Information Card
MFL Pocket Guides
Mousekeeping Envelopes
Pin Pixies
Planning Kit - Walt Disney World
Stroller Tags
Travel Journal - Adult Trivia Questions - Walt Disney World
Trivia Questions - Disneyland
Ultimate Packing List
Ultimate Packing List for Cruises
Word Search Puzzles Just For Fun
MFL Logo Transfers
Learning All About Disney
Book Recommendations
Walt Disney World with Kids is the book that I had and loved it!
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World my sister and a good friend have this book and love it! If you are interested in rides more than anything else
this is the book for you! It gives you times to get in lines for the best rides or when to get fast passes for them so that you never have to wait in long lines. It also gives a lot of other great information including how to save money. ($10.69 on
Amazon)
The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide http://www.*********.com/guide.html?hop=bayoudes
This book is supposed to help you save thousands of dollars at Disney. I didnt find this until after I went so I havent purchased it and cant personally recommend
but the
www.momsminivan.com website does. What one family spent $5,500 on
with the authors advice another spent $2,700 for the exact same trip. (this is an online ebook $29.95 that you can read online or print out yourself.) It was written by a former employee of Disney World.
Hidden Mickeys, 2nd Edition : A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets (Paperback) I havent read this book but it is recommended on several websites ($4.79 on Amazon)
I
did not like Frommer's Travel Book on Disney..
I hadn't posted anything new in a while and wasn't sure if I had mentioned much about things to make for cruises...well the biggest thing to make for a cruise (other than door magnets) is to make or buy Fish Extenders (FE) which are hanging pockets that go outside your stateroom door and gifts for FEs. Some of the most popular FE gifts are the homemade ones! Basically you link up through the boards with other people traveling on the same cruise as you and everyone makes or buys disney themed gifts (and sometimes something from your hometown/state) to put in everyone that is participating's FE. The gifts aren't overly expensive and they have to be small enough to fit in your luggage and the FE pockets. You can also premail yours to the ship. Some people make theirs and others give disney things from the dollar stores or find key chains, magnets, candy, etc. from their home state or country. 
