Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Oct 17, 2009
    Jeff from TX Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We are planning our 3 yr-old's first trip to Disney World for Jan 2010. What is your advice for telling our daughter about the trip? We want her to enjoy the anticipation, but we don't want to hear "Are we going to see Mickey?" for three months.

    Hi, Jeff!  Those three year olds can be persistent!  There are a few things you can do that might help her pass the time without asking too many days of "Is today the day we see Mickey?"

    One thing I like to do for my now four year old is a paper chain.  You can find Walt Disney themed wrapping paper at a dollar store, and you just put together a paper chain for the number of days she has until the trip.  She can help you put the chain together, and she'll know each day when she has to pull another link off that she is one day closer.

    We have also done something like an advent calendar for our girls.  I'll make up envelopes or small boxes for every day leading up to the trip.  They contain little things like themed temporary tattoos or stickers, and the gifts might get a little bigger when we get closer - like a pair of sunglasses, or a new Princess t-shirt.  Each envelope or box counts down a day, until she gets to number one, when she knows it's only one more sleep until the vacation.

    You could also print off a stack of Disney themed coloring pages, available through various sites online.  Put them in book form - a ring binder works fine.  Number the pages in descending order, and allow her to color one page each day.  You can talk about the page being a character she might see or something she might do on vacation, and again, when she hits number one, she'll know she's nearly there!

    Happy planning, Jeff!
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Meet the Panelist: Anna, New Jersey

My name is Anna and I am a retired teacher with a J.D., a proud Navy wife with 30+ years of experience, mom to three daughters and a son-in-law, and grandmom to three tiny Disney fans. I have planned vacations for all sorts of special occasions and celebrations, but I really enjoy DVC vacations, helping military families, and assisting those with special dietary needs.    Learn More About Anna

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