What traditions do you do?

[LINYMOM]

Since this is DS' First Trip I would like to start something that on every trip we will do.

Any suggestions or what do you do so I can steal it?

 

[imthatgirl]

sure we have some things we do on every trip. i guess traditions.

i dont think you can go there with the intent to start a tradition. isnt it a bit more special if the tradition happens naturally? then it becomes something unique and special for your family. ours just happened. we would go down and say, oh rememeber we did xxx last year, it was so much fun lets do it again. then next thing you know it becomes part of the plan.

 

[TinaLala]

We always try to ride on Cinderella's horse on the carosuel - it's the one with the golden ribbon tied around it's tail.

We eat at Ohana's the first night we get there.

Friends of ours take pictures with Pleekly (he's at Tomorrowland at MK) every year to see their kids grow.

We take pictures at our kids picture at the Leave a Legacy tile at Epcot.

Plus we theme our trips - one year it was all about the pressed coins, one year it was about getting signatures on a white t-shirt, one year it was about character pictures.

 

[Magical09]

On my first trip with my husband we went to EPCOT and got a crystal with our pictures etched on it. You can add your name, date etc. It was my husband's idea and we rushed on the last day to pick it up. When we took our DD for the first time we decided to get one for her and last year my 2nd DD got hers for her first trip. My DDs crystals hang like christmas tree ornaments.
I have the three of them on my window in the living room to catch the sunlight. We have a permanent collection of our first trips to Disney.

 

[rt2dz]

The things that have become a tradition for us:

On arrival night we eat dinner at Chef Mickey’s. We then walk over to the MK and see the fireworks. We did it on our second family trip so we could start the trip out with a bang, and it was just so much fun and set the perfect mood, that we've done it every trip since.

Every trip my kids go to the Harmony Barber Shop and get a haircut with colored Mickey head and Mickey confetti. No special day on the trip, just when we can fit it in.

The other thing we must do no matter what is to have a character breakfast before we leave on departure day.

I think your traditions kind of find you, but it is nice to have an idea of things to try to pick one from. I know people who pick out an ornament for every trip as a family keepsake as a tradition. I know people who get a picture taken at the same place in the same pose every year.

 

[SnowWhite12]

I don't know how old your son is, but we take a pic of our daughter next to the Indian statue on Main street every time, to see how much she has grown.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Chef Mickey's after flight comes in...I do Mickey Mouse letters. Mickey telling my DD, now 6, what is in store for the day with a few hidden threats to listen and stay by mommy's side and especially not to ask mommy to carry you. It helps the day stay on track and keep up with ADR. (I am single parent so I gotta due whatever works!) The letters are extremely corny and I love writing them! Mickey also leaves spending money for the day.

 

[skuttle]

We always end our trip with the fireworks at MK. Doesn't matter if that's the only reason we go to MK that day.

 

[Crystal824]

My DH and I always eat at some where we have never eaten before. We also get a dated Christmas oranament as we have a tree that is all Disney.

 

[brockash]

We always eat at RFC at DTD the first night. We did this, just because, on our first trip, and it just stuck. I also always get a Disney mug (although I don't drink coffee, but it's great for Hot Chocolate) I found a Mary Poppins one this last trip (my all time favorite movie.)

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I agree that traditions find you. That said, here are a few of ours.
On our last trip our first night we went to Whispering Canyon Cafe. we loved it and it totally got us in the Disey spirit. Everyone said that night that we had to make this a first night tradition, and so it is, we have it booked for our first night again this trip.
I always take our girls to eat breakfast in the castle. There is nothing like the magical feeling in there.
We eat Chef Micley's for Thanksgiving dinner but not before Thanksgiving lunch at Beaches and Cream for an ice cream lunch of a kitchen sink (perhaps our biggest tradition, or at least sweetest!!!)
We always have a late breakfast at Chef Mickey's on our last morning as a send off.
Those are some of the traditions that have found us over the years...

 

[mjh8955]

On our first day there (we usually arrive in the afternoon) we always go to Downtown Disney to get a little "taste" of the Disney Magic. We watch a movie at the DTD movie theater, and ALWAYS stand in the middle of the rotunda in front of the ticket counter and whisper. The acoustics are such that you can hear even a whisper across the room. We eat at House of Blues (ribs are great!) for dinner, or if we are there earlier we eat at Planet Hollywood for lunch. We do a little shopping and then we are ready to hit the parks the next day.

 

[rockonthemoon]

What my Dbf and I always do is hig five each other in the most ricidiclous way after passing the ticket line. We then make it a point to go into the first store we see, and buy the first thing that appeals to us. (As a present to each other. We only ever spend about $5 a day.)

We've gotten some great things each day. We don't talk about them after we buy them, and we don't unwrap them until we get home.

I've gotten some.... interesting presents, and Dbf was suprised that I managed to find frosted beer mugs with each of the park's logos on them. Tons of fun...

 

[Pilar322]

DH & I have a simple tradition. We always, always, always take a photo in front of Cinderella's castle. We go quite a bit (Season Passholders), but no matter if we go once a month or 3 times in a month, we always make it a point to take a photo in front of the castle. We have been together for 2 1/2 years and now have a one year-old. It is nice to look back and see our evolution as a family.

 

[pigget74]

We eat breakfast at CP. Always buy a Christmas Ornament. It dos not matter if we go once or three times that year, have to get another ornament. This year we will be getting 6 new ornaments. We take a picture just for our stocking holder for the next Christmas. We let the older two kids pick 1 place to eat on that trip and make it their day. This started our after our first trip--it was a way to let them help plan. DD picked BOMA one year so we did the day at AK and did all the things se wanted to do---she loved the day, but HATED BOMA!! We also look the whole time for a pin that fits each person for that year or time frame of their life. DS his first trip was all about the DUCK--so we looked all week for the right one and it has just stuck. So I guess we have 4 things that we must do every trip.

 

[tinkerlisa]

I always go to MK and rush my family to the Judge's Tent in Toontown and get our pics done with Mickey! I love seeing how much our family has changed. Next year when we go, we will have our youngest with us! That's a big change!

I also would love to take my kids to Chef Mickey's for breakfast.

But somebody on here said something I agree with: if its unplanned, it will be more special to you and your family! Have lots of fun and remember its the little things off the beaten path that can make your trip special!