Originally Posted By disney2268 I have been here for several years. I do more reading then commenting....Which I am hoping to change!! So next topic making a trip magical. Our last visit we were fortunate to do the Park Opening Ceremony at the Magic Kingdom...I cried from the moment my butt sat in the fire truck until we left the park at the end of the day!! HAH!! This is the first year that my boys will be old enough to really understand and enjoy what my husband and I have enjoyed for all of our lives. What types of magical things do you think we can do to just boost this trip for them !!!
Originally Posted By Mickey4President I don't know how old your boys are, but this is what I do with mine. Starting when my youngest was 5, we go every other year. While I'm planning the trip, I have them watch the newest planning dvd that Disney has. Then I let then help plan the trip. I give them a choice between the hotel lvl we can afford, but don't tell them which one we are going to stay at. I just ask them if it was their choice, which one would it be. Our last trip we stayed at the WL. When we pulled up in front of it, they were so happy they started jumping up and down and calling us the best parent ever. My DS8 was so happy he had tears. Then they get to pick all the character breakfasts we do. We don't tell them what day or which one we are doing. We just walk up to the breakfast and act like we don't know what's going on. It also depends on the time of year you go. We went during MNSSHP our last trip. Before we left I had them pick out their Halloween costumes, but I put them in my closet to "reduce the temptation to where them before Halloween." I packed the costumes in a bag, that went into the closet as soon as we got to WDW. An hour before we needed to leave for MNSSHP, I put the bag in the floor and asked them to open it. I acted confused. Why would their Halloween costumes be on our vacation. Then I let their dad tell them the plan. I have never seen two little boys open costumes quicker than they did that day. The entire time giggling in joy. As soon as I know we're going, my DS's can start earning "Disney Dollars". If they are good all week at school, they get $5. Then they usually put any birthday and tooth fairy money in it as well. I save all my change from purchases and it's split between them. Then we when go, they know that's all the money they have to spend. We buy everything edible, and they get the non edible. They know once the money is gone, that's it. Well except on the last day, they get one present from us if they were good. The last thing is a tip I got from another person on this site. I make a Disney countdown. It's like a countdown to Christmas, if you've ever made those with your boys. The top of our's is a Mickey head. Since I have 2 DS's I use 2 different colors of construction paper to make the rings. That way there is no fight over which DS gets to break the ring for that day. Then the ring that attaches the chain of rings to the Mickey Head is covered in Mickey heads. They know when they go to sleep and the Mickey ring is the only one left, when they wake up we are headed to the airport to go to WDW. The last thing we do before we leave for the airport is to break the ring as a family. It's our way for the magic to start.
Originally Posted By gaston lives That's awesome! I may have to do something similar for a countdown of our own! My son is 3.5 and my daughter is 1.5. We were in WDW from Dec. 31-Jan.7, and they keep asking to go back to teh Castle! That would be a good way of keeping them occupied. I am hoping that I can surprise the whole fam with a trip to DL this summer. It's not scheduled, but I did some consulting work that may end up in my winning a bid for a big installation of a conference room (audio/visual/computer systems). If I win the bid, we can afford to go...otherwise we'll probably have to wait for next summer or fall.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Mickey4President, how creative, very good ideas. Must get my daughters to start this with their children, who will be 9, 7 & 4 when we go next. Thanks, hope the day comes when your sons appreciate your forethinking.
Originally Posted By crazyformickey Family Magic Tour at MK! It is made for kids, loads of fun and has a magical ending. My then 3 year old daughter still remembers last year when we did it.
Originally Posted By crazyformickey Oh yeah I almost forgot. In Magic Kingdom go to the barber shop, for $5 the kids can get colored gel and confetti put in their hair. It's best to hit it first thing in the morning. I did my kids hair and people were talking about it all day. You can also get haircuts for $14 for kids and $17 for adults. If it's a baby's first haircut they have special ear's too
