What does your family do to get ready?

[crazy4claspooh]

Just wondering what everyone does to get ready for your trip to Disney?

We have a count down that we made for our kids with a new character everday. We used a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal he holds a 4x6 picture so each day one of the 4 kids take the page out. We take out the home movies and watch them. Of coase spend hours on the site planning and keep talking to them about it. Our oldest DS now 11 we surprised one year before Christmas with a trip to WDW. When we got out he saw Cinderella's Castle and he said "Mickey's house we're in Disaney World"

I would love to hear others ideas. Thanks!

 

[fun & fancy free]

My family (DH,2 DD's & Me) set up a count down calendar. We put little wishes on each day that passes. This helps me when making PS's and other plans. What's important to me is not always important to my 4&5 yo DD. We are not going till May 2005 but I can't help but get so excited as each plan is made. This also helps with the kids always asking when are we going to Disney. I just point to the countdown calendar.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We have family movie nights and we get together and watch Disney classics. Also, we love board games and have the Disney versions of Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Sorry, etc... The kids love to play them.

Once a week the kids and I make a Disney recipe from one of our Disney cookbooks. They love it! Also, the cookbooks make great gifts for teachers, friends, family, etc... I bought a bunch to give away this year.

My kids have a chore chart they use during the week to help keep them in routines for school, etc... About three months before our trip, I change up the token rewards to include Disney Dollars. They trade 10 tokens for one Disney dollar. So far, they both have quite a stash of money to spend on our next trip.

I send them letters thru the mail from characters. For this trip, I ordered the CM badges with their names on them. They will be getting them in the mail soon with a letter from their favorite characters.

I also do little things daily to remind them of Disney. Character napkins in their school lunches. Stickers and special books just because...

 

[Amirah95]

We take out the scrap book from the previous year and reminisce, we go through all of the pictures and we put our final park strategy together (we're a Park commando family).

 

[ladydancer]

I'm taking my 2 grandkids 9 and 11 in just a few weeks. When they come over for a visit we do things in preparation for the trip.

1. We watch the WDW planning Video
2. List for must do things to see and do. Also Rest.
3. Make ID bracelets
4. Make autograph books
5. Each child takes turn reading aloud the book..WDW for Kids by Kids.
6. Make list of snacks to pick up for the room.

They have already started packing there carry-on for the plane.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We haven't really done much before, but I am planning a countdown calendar this time. Probably starting in January

 

[MamaLema]

We have a family meeting and each person tells everyone what they absolutely want to see and do. It could be a character breakfast or riding Buzz 12 times in a row.

 

[HenDuck]

Well I do all the planning, worrying, budgeting, packing, calling, buying, sweating, begging, pleading, saving...and the rest of my family does, well, nothing except show up!

 

[shmora]

Well said! I was just thinking the same thing.

Shmora

 

[Dawnflower]

HenDuck, are our families related???!?!!?! Mine really don't have much of an opinion about any of it! But they always have a great time, so I guess they are pretty happy with me doing all the work! My husband does get a bit of credit, he earns the money to pay for it! The nice thing about this way is, I get to do everything I like to do since I do all the planning! Good thing we all like the same stuff huh!!

 

[fun & fancy free]

HenDuck. As much as I like to think we all take part in the planning it really does boil down to just me making the plans. Oh sure, it's all good till something goes wrong then of course my DH would like to know what made me make that decision. He is just kidding (I think). Oh well, we have gone thre times as a family and no one has taken any of the planning from me. Who am I kidding I love it!!!!

 

[HenDuck]

I have taken to asking my DH his opinion, knowing full well that he will either:

1. agree with whatever I suggest, or
2. say, "whatever you think".

Then later I can "remind" him that I asked for his opinion and he did not have one.

But he does always have a blast and is always grateful for the work that I put into our vacations, so that makes it worthwhile.

Lucky man!