Trip Enhancing Pixie Dust

In addition to the basic planning tools for a Walt Disney World vacation, I like to tell people about some ideas I have to make the trip extra special. Some of these ideas cost little or no money, but offer opportunities to bring a little more sparkle to your trip.

1) SpectroMagic - this is the nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom that is made up of floats all lit up with twinkling lights. Even the costumes are illuminated! It is not shown every night of the year, so when planning, keep this in mind!

2) Hidden Mickeys - these are unofficial markings/object arrangements throughout the parks that are hidden within the theming and decor. There is a wonderful guidebook written by Steve Barrett to help with the hunt! Take an afternoon off from riding the rides or touring to do a little "Hidden Mickey Hunting" or take the guidebook along to "hunt" while riding the rides and standing in the lines! A lot of fun and the kids will have a ball looking for them. Max spotted his first hidden Mickey on our last trip and was so proud of himself for finding it with no prior help!

3) Book an early morning character breakfast in Magic Kingdom (ie, Crystal Palace or Cinderella's Royal Table) before the park opens. This offers a unique opportunity to see Main Street in front of the Castle virtually empty. This time is a great photo opportunity (can you believe that I don't have a picture myself)!

4) Take a break with a Mickey bar (ice cream treat) on a secluded bench and compare your favorite rides. Sometimes, if rush around like a chicken with its head cut off, you and your kids get stressed out and that can cause vacation nightmares (ie, tantrums). This conversation will give you a little rest and that one on one time with your kids may end up being one that you will always remember! (in photo: our dear friend, Elizabeth, whose family went with us in April 2009)


5) Explore outside the parks. There are so many other things you can do besides riding rides in the parks. There are 2 themed miniature golf courses. There is Downtown Disney with Disney Quest (additional admittance fee), an "interactive theme park that is a one-of-a-kind gaming experience". You can also rent boats or surrey bikes at a couple of the resorts. There is even parasailing at Disney's Contemporary Resort (Matt and I did this on our honeymoon there and had a blast).

6) Book either a princess or pirate makeover for your kids at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or Pirate's League, respectively. These are a bit of a splurge but well worth the money and magic! If you were plannning on letting them get one or more souveniers, decide to do this instead! I can't wait to take both kids to do this on our next trip. Cate was too young on our last trip and the Pirate's League opened after we were there. I recently did a post on the Pirate's League, click here to see it.

7) Arrange for a wake up call at least once, if staying at a WDW resort, and let the kids answer that call. They will be excited to hear who is on the other end! (Hint: it is someone with lots of "character"!)

8) Leading up to the trip, make a countdown paper chain! Use Mickey scrapbook paper or yellow, red, black and white papers (Mickey colors). It is fun to make a link for each day leading up to your trip and just as fun to tear them off the chain and watch it dwindle down as it gets closer. This will really get the kids excited for the trip!

9) Autograph books are a must for meeting the characters! For one, it is a great interaction with the characters. Plus, it is a great inexpensive souvenier to take home with you! For our last trip, instead of buying one of their autograph books, Max and I made his. He drew the cover, then I had it laminated and spiral bound at the office supply store with lots of white paper in the middle. (Hint: always have a jumbo pen for the characters to use...the bigger the better, as that makes it easier for their big and often gloved hands)

10) Most importantly, just relax and have fun! Don't be afraid to act or look silly with your kids like dancing in the walkway with them when you hear a silly song come over the loud speakers, or making silly faces in pictures with the characters! Sometimes these memories are the ones that will mean the most when you look back on your trip! (in photo: clearly my Dad was never afraid to look or act silly while at WDW)

So, when you decide to plan your trip, remember these few ideas or come up with some of your own to add that little bit of pixie dust and magic to your trip! You will be so glad you did.

For more tips, check back each Saturday or click on the button to the right. It will direct you to a main post with all the tips linked to it! I hope you enjoyed this "Bit of Pixie Dust" and I hope it offered you a little insight into when to go that best suits your family's needs!

Disclaimer: These opinions are based on my personal experience and are in no way endorsed by the Walt Disney Company!