Something different at WDW

[Ringo8n24]

This will be my 18th time visiting WDW when we visit in September 2004. We are now bringing our two year old and I want to start doing at least one special, different type of event on each of our visits now instead of simply touring the parks and the basic stuff. Does anybody have any suggestions of a "must do" that would make the trip more special each time for ourselves and our daughter? I was leaning towards the private boat rental to watch the MK fireworks. Any other ideas?

 

[jordanyosh]

I will try to respond to your question since no one else has done so yet...maybe I'm the only one who doesn't really have anything to do on a Saturday night.

At DTD in one of the shops, you can have your picture taken...similar to the ones the CMs do when you walk in to each of the parks.....We did that when we had a big group go in 1999. It's the centerpiece of my cousin's Creative Memories scrapbook from that year.

Maybe have Mom's afternoon and Dad's afternoon with your child. Have something that your child does every year just with Mom or just with Dad. Maybe commemorate it each year with a photo.

I can't think of anything else right now...maybe being so sedintary today has killed too many brain cells....if I can think of anything else I will respond later...

Hope this gets the ball rolling. :wave:

 

[Nansafan]

I read in a forum post a few years ago that this person takes a picture at the same spot in the Magic Kingdom every trip, I believe in front of a lightpost on Main Street. I know people who take a pic of their child every day on the first day of school (a way to show how the child has grown each year). I've always measured my son on the growth chart on the first day of school. He was really nervous on first day of high school and doing this calmed him (and me) down. Maybe a pic could be taken at a special spot to comemorate each trip of your child. The special mom/dad day sounds great too. How about a haircut at the barbershop in the MK? I understand the child gets a certificate.

 

[Ringo8n24]

Thanks for the suggestions. I really appreciate that. I have been checking to see if anyone had anything posted to suggest for me and the boards have been so slow today. But I like both of your suggestions and will keep those in mind.

 

[twirl2378]

Something special might be to video tape (or photograph) her in front of her favorite rides and if she can tell you why she likes them, just for memories. When she's older you can get her to video tape all the things she likes. Or possibly take her for a ride on the train while the fireworks are going off and end up in toon town or at her favorite spot. On this form under ideas for a scavenger hunt or a wedding proposal I think, someone mentioned a company that does special things to make a trip really great and unique. If you have time you can look it up or maybe someone can remember the name. I hope you have a great time and say hi to Mickey for me. :wave:

 

[barnum42]

Find a favourite spot in your favourite park and take a group photo there. On each additional visit take the same group photo at the same spot. Over the years I think that would make for a special series of framed photos on the wall.

 

[jordanyosh]

Another way to create lasting and special memories is to journal your trip. Writing down your thoughts about events that happened while you were down at WDW will help put some meaning into some of the photos you may take.....

It will be nice 20 years from now to look back and read what you wrote....

 

[careship]

When my boys were that little they loved to go to Fort Wilderness and feed the goats and go for a pony ride at the Petting Farm, I like it there too. This was my favorite spot as a child too. Of course, you can no longer go inside the goat enclosure and get trampled by the goats, but nonetheless, it's still a special fun thing to do that many people overlook if they aren't staying there. They also have the campfires and movies. That would be my suggestion.

 

[stitchlvr]

We just returned and we did the campfire/movie thing at Ft Wilderness. It was really pretty neat, and something totally different from our last trip. We watched Beauty and the Beast, made smores (they sell the fixins including the sticks for $5) and roasted marshmellows. It was something different and new for us and we really enjoyed it.

We heard there are hayrack rides that you can take, and if you are on the right one, you can watch MK fireworks on the ride. That also is in the Ft Wilderness area. We didn't get to do both this trip, since we only had one night to do it, but its something I would have enjoyed I think.

 

[StevenT]

Mainly , for something special , would be to take a monorail ride , in the cabin , during the magic kingdom fireworks or illuminations. Otherwise miniature golf or a backstage tour is great too

Yeah but you have to be 16 to take the backstage tour so doing it with a 2 year old wouldn't work.

 

[WendyOkada]

A few ideas...

We did that when we had a big group go in 1999. It's the centerpiece of my cousin's Creative Memories scrapbook from that year.

Hey - are you trying to get some sales commission from me? Hee hee (jordo).

I'm sure you have done this since you've been there so many times, but do you take a picture at the same place each year? We always took our traditional picture in front of Horizons with each of us looking out into the horizon (get it? Horizons? ha ha ha j/k)... and then when they replaced it we had one year of quizzical looks (in front of the barricades up for Mission:Space) and then took our traditional Horizons pose in front of the newly unveiled M:S.

Anyway - you can also make each year "different" by focusing on different things each time... like one year we stayed at Wilderness Lodge and had a more "relaxing" year ... kind of woodsy out there and quiet and remote... a very different feeling than the Boardwalk where we usually stay... and one year we had a "food" year in which basically our whole time revolved around trying all the restaurants we always wanted to try (full service, sit down meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) - needless to say, not a good one for a large family or you'll go broke, but we were all single at the time and into good eating... ha ha.

I think the more you go, the less you have to do the same things over and over and then you can enjoy the other things WDW has to offer... great people watching while relaxing in World Showcase... Disney Marketplace... Cirque du Soliel... 12 hours at Disneyquest... the spas... water mice boats... hayrides... etc.

Also fun to vary the groups you go with. Just changing up the people factor can make each and every trip different and unique.

HTH! Have fun! :wave:

 

[raven]

This will be my 18th time visiting WDW when we visit in September 2004. Does anybody have any suggestions of a "must do" that would make the trip more special each time for ourselves and our daughter?

18 times! You'd prolly know more about what there is to do than the rest of us here. :animwink:

 

[wolf29]

We do a different take on the journal idea. During the day I let the boys each pick out a postcard from where we are. That night I help them write what they did or liked most that day. We then mail them home the next day. They think it's great getting mail upon returning home and it helps them recall the vacation for years. It will be fun to look back and see how there likes change over the years. We have not yet, but you could get postcards autographed by their favorite characters, if that might be the highlight of their day.

 

[scorp111]

I read in a forum post a few years ago that this person takes a picture at the same spot in the Magic Kingdom every trip, I believe in front of a lightpost on Main Street. I know people who take a pic of their child every day on the first day of school (a way to show how the child has grown each year). QUOTE]


Since my upcoming visit will be my daughters first, ( and she will be 14 months old) this is a Great Idea!!

 

[~Minnie*Mouse~]

We take 2 pics of the kids and one of me and my husband in the same spot every year. We have been going since 1996. The little one was 2 next trip he'll be 10. The first stop before Disney is at the Ocala Disney Travel Center. We have photographed the kids every year in front of the giant Mickey and Minnie that stands outside the building there and also in Toontown in front of Mickeys house at the mailbox. The little one use to hug the post now he puts his elbow on top of the mailbox. "MY HOW FAST THEY GROW" and me and my husband always takes our pic coming over the bridge from Torrowland to Main Street (to the circle court in front of the Castle)so castle is in the background. We do something different every year and you'll find you'll still tend to remember something memorable from the last trip. Last year we tried to take a pic on Tom's Sawyer Island in the same spot my mother-in-law and father-in-law stood in 1976. We found the pic at my father-in-laws house one day looking at old pics. Now that our oldest son is 16 we get him to take pics. We almost had it just the pose and the the angle was off a tad. Well, just another reason to make another trip. Hope it helps.

 

[Ringo8n24]

18 times! You'd prolly know more about what there is to do than the rest of us here. :animwink:

I know it might sound crazy to ask what we should do different, but our trips have always been adult oriented with the rides and stuff. I need some help to think "outside the box" a little to get some ideas that Bailey, my daughter, might like to carry on. She has already been once and is telling everyone she is going back to see Mickey. It is really cute to see her looking forward to it at 2-1/2 yrs old. Everyone has given me some really good ideas to do this time.

 

[paul436]

Illuminations cruise

I never rented the private boat to see the MK fireworks but last August my family and I took the Illuminations cruise. I thought it was great. I haven't been to WDW 18 times so it was nice to leave Epcot via the International Gateway and walk past the Yacht and Beach Clubs to take the boat out. It was an area I hadn't explored before. The boat goes around the lake and it was cool seeing Epcot and MGM from a different perspective. The boat parks under a bridge (near England I think) and it was a perfect spot to see Illuminations. Since we were headed back to our resort afterwards, the boat driver dropped us off at the entrance to MGM which is closer to the bus stops than going back to Epcot and walking all the way to the front.

This was made better since we were celebrating my daughter's 9th birthday on the boat. They served a delicious cake along with chips and soft drinks. It was a great experience.

 

[TheDisneyQueen]

This will be my 18th time visiting WDW when we visit in September 2004. We are now bringing our two year old and I want to start doing at least one special, different type of event on each of our visits now instead of simply touring the parks and the basic stuff. Does anybody have any suggestions of a "must do" that would make the trip more special each time for ourselves and our daughter? I was leaning towards the private boat rental to watch the MK fireworks. Any other ideas?

How much does the private boat rental cost? You can have as many people on the boat as you want right? Because we have a big group going on july 31st and I wanted to do something special for my whole family who are going! Do you need to call and make reservations or can you when you are there?

Angie

 

[Ringo8n24]

How much does the private boat rental cost? You can have as many people on the boat as you want right? Because we have a big group going on july 31st and I wanted to do something special for my whole family who are going! Do you need to call and make reservations or can you when you are there?

Angie

45 foot boat for MK fireworks is $350 per hour holding up to 12 guests. The Illuminations boat is $175 per hour on a 24 foot boat and holds up to 7 guests. The rental includes a driver for the 24 foot and a driver plus deckhand for the 45 foot. Call 407-WDW-PLAY for the 24 foot, 407-824-2439 for the 45 foot.

 

[WDWEric]

We do a different take on the journal idea. During the day I let the boys each pick out a postcard from where we are. That night I help them write what they did or liked most that day. We then mail them home the next day. They think it's great getting mail upon returning home and it helps them recall the vacation for years. It will be fun to look back and see how there likes change over the years. We have not yet, but you could get postcards autographed by their favorite characters, if that might be the highlight of their day.

This si a great idea thankss for sharing, My wife and I will be going NEXT Fall with our son who will be about 18months old so It would be cool if he got a postcard from Mickey or Donald when he got home. THANKS for the Idea!