Hi Beth!
We're thrilled to hear that you have a Walt Disney World vacation planned! There’s nothing quite like the JOY of anticipating trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth. My stomach is practically turned INSIDE OUT the night before we leave...like that Disney commercial from days gone by where the kids are saying, “We’re too excited to sleep!” I hope that you and your crew are anxiously awaiting that moment when you hear, “Welcome Home.”
I love it when I can point Guests to exactly what they are wanting, which in your case is those customized theme park maps. You may think SADNESS when I tell you that this is something that Disney does not offer anymore. But with all the advances in technology, you are just as likely to see families looking at maps on their smartphones or tablets while they explore all the theme parks.
Here’s where we find the silver lining: the park maps are available online for download as PDFs for
Magic Kingdom,
EPCOT,
Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and
Disney’s Animal Kingdom (as my fellow panelist
Lauren shared in a recent answer.) These guide maps can be printed from the comfort of your home AND you can print one for each kid. In the past, if you HAD ordered a map for each of the parks, then the kids would have had to share one...so this means no more fighting! Sorry ANGER, but that problem has been solved, you can stay calm now.
I applaud you and agree 100% that getting the kids involved prior to your trip is an awesome idea. There’s nothing better than letting children make decisions about the planning of your park days. I’ve found that to be invaluable as my two have grown and entered the teen stage because we allowed them to have a say when they were younger. So the more you do this now, the more you are cultivating the seeds of a lifelong love of Disney!
Beth, please come back to planDisney anytime. We wish you grand adventures at Walt Disney World as you make those “core memories” with your family!
See ya real soon!
Sherry