Hi, there!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Laura. I'm so happy to answer a question for a fellow Pennsylvanian!
Your kids are going to be so very excited on Christmas morning when they discover they'll be visiting the Walt Disney World Resort next summer. As a teacher, my family always vacations in the summer months, and as a planner, I like to book our Disney vacations about 7 months in advance. I am so, so giddy when our vacation is booked, I can't help but tell our kids! They are always equally as thrilled as I am, even knowing that we have several months to wait until our magical visit. I have some great tips to keep that momentum going while your family is counting down the days until your Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
There are lots of ways to surprise your kids with the news they'll be visiting Mickey Mouse, and I've found the most clever ideas on Pinterest. I think gifting them with a personalized t-shirt and some Mickey Mouse trinkets would be a super way to surprise them! As you wait through the winter and spring, plan family Disney movie nights. Select films like Toy Story 3 and Avatar so your kids are familiar with the stories they'll be stepping into when they visit Toy Story Land and Pandora - The World of Avatar. Together, watch the
free planning videos online too for fantastic tips and advice about your vacation. While we're waiting for our trip, I like to surprise my kids with little gifts like autograph books and handheld fans (things they can USE on vacation!). When we're 60 days out, we really start counting down the days with a countdown chain. Before you know it, your MagicBands will arrive and that's positively magical mail! The box is very discreet, so you can surprise your kiddos with that too!
I hope this was helpful, Laura. Please visit us again soon with any new questions you may have!
Ashley