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View Full Version : Ways to get kids involved and excited to go?!?



Barbruka
01-22-2001, 12:54 PM
Just wondering if anyone knows of any cool ideas to get kids excited about going to WDW? Any neat web sites/books for kids in the age range of 8 - 13? Any thing else?

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Barbruka 74,77,82,87,95, offsite
99 DXL
Next trip Sept. 2001

"I am there everyday in my heart and in my memories."

Ian
01-22-2001, 01:29 PM
Barbruka, I'm going to move this over to Vacation Planning where you'll probably get more of a response.

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Ian: aka WDWacky
Intercot (http://www.intercot.com) Moderator - Collectables and Mousellaneous
[email protected]

Why not stop over and visit The Collectables Board (http://www.intercot.com/boards/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Disney+Collectables,+Toys+|AMP|+Goodies&number=19&DaysPrune=45&LastLogin=) and talk about your favorite Disney "Stuff"?!

For more great Disney info be sure to visit our sister sites Webdisney (http://www.webdisney.com)
And for more info on the park that started it all visit Intercot West (http://www.intercotwest.com)

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delarosa
01-22-2001, 02:10 PM
The book "Walt Disney World by Kids, For Kids" was great for my eight year old cousin. Kids give their opinions on what rocked, and what stunk. It lets them help plan out what they want to see and do, with the help of other kids their own age. I think the kids were about 7-12 that they surveyed.

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Amanda aka:delarosa
Intercot Vacation Planning Moderator &
WDW College Program Alumna (Spring 2000)
[email protected]

Jennib
01-22-2001, 03:20 PM
You can also do a pre-vacation scavenger hunt. you can get clues to diffrent rides and disney movies and then everyday they will have another clue that will lead them to the day of the trip.
that way everyday they will get excited about the vacation and it will help them last until they go!!!

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jenni b

" if you can shape it in your mind, you can find it in your life."

CuteAsMinnie
01-22-2001, 05:55 PM
We've always played the vacation planning video many, many times. Also, any of the Disney movies are always nice to watch. We purchased many, many story books w/ casettes. These were a big hit. (My kids were a bit younger too.)

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Gusgus
01-23-2001, 11:01 AM
About 2 months before we start watching Disney videos (boy there are a lot of them!). That was one of the best things we did for our 5 year old, he knew the names of characters. Mr. Smead from Peter Pan for example. He saw Mr. Smead and started yelling "Help me Me. Smead help me" just like hook did. It was great. We would watch the disney vacation video A LOT.

I sat with my son and looked at the pictures of parades and attractions on the Disney site (internet). We talked about what we would do and what rides we would go on. We also discussed the rides he wouldn't go on because of his height. Putting him to bed he would say things like "I want to go down splash mountain the first time with you and mommy can sit behind us. Then I want to go again and have you switch", he started getting really excited (I was more excited!).

About the same time 2 months before, we make a chain out of paper. We color each link and put them together, one for each day. Every night before he goed to bed he cuts on off. The last one is a "special" link (he makes a rainbow one). When we get to the last one we put it on a piece of yarn and he wears it to disney.

Gusgus

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Barbruka
01-23-2001, 11:05 AM
You guys have such good ideas! I've got to try some of these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Barbruka 74,77,82,87,95, offsite
99 DXL
Next trip Sept. 2001

"I am there everyday in my heart and in my memories."

KylesMom
01-23-2001, 11:16 AM
Last year we purchased a Disney calendar & stickers from the Disney store and every morning before I took my son to daycare, we'd put a sticker on that day to count down until we left. It's amazing how quickly the time goes. This year I made my own computer-generated calendar with pictures from last year's disney trip, so it's extra-special! And, I might add, a lot easier to get him out of bed in the morning! http://www.intercot.com/boards/smile.gif

Can't wait, 102 days and counting!

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Summerfun
01-23-2001, 07:11 PM
http://www.intercot.com/boards/ksmile.gif Probably the best thing I did to get my daughter excited for our last trip (not that I had to do much to get her excited - she is 7!!!!)was to have her help me with the planning of the trip (i.e., what parks we were going to go to on which days, what things she didn't want to miss at each park etc.) But heard that the kids book is really good too! Have a wonderful time!

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Kim

Mickeylover
01-23-2001, 07:44 PM
I tried this last year and it worked so well, I plan to use it again. I bought Disney Dollars several times before our trip. As my (then 4 year old) completed chores or did well at pre-school (now Kindergarten) he would get weekly awards of Disney Dollars.

He kept them in his wallet and had quite a wad of money to spend once he got to The World. (and talk about being tight with his money--I had to PAY HIM BACK for the Mickey Bar he bought me!!!)

PolyGirl40
01-23-2001, 10:18 PM
I agree with delarosa!!..My kids love that book..It is put out by Birnbaum's...

It's an official guide that also has a scrapbook, countdown and autograph section inside...The 4 major parks are broken up into sections...They submit hot tips, hidden mickey alerts for each Park, Line Games, must do's..and why they liked or disliked each attraction....

The oldest "expert" is 14..My kids take this book with them to WDW...I highly recommend the 2001 edition http://www.intercot.com/boards/rollsmile.gif

...and..it's available through the Intercot Store!!! http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif

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~*~ Carol ~*~
Next Trip: March 2001 - Polynesian

~ To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides ~
*edit http://www.intercot.com/boards/embarass.gif*

[This message has been edited by PolyGirl40 (edited January 23, 2001).]

IHD983
01-23-2001, 11:16 PM
Well here is the best way to do it...

Don't tell them your planning a trip, then when they go off to school pack their luggage, get the tickets and call the school office and have your kids dismissed, then when they ask whats going on...say "Kids we're going to Disney"!!!!

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Maybe, just once, someone will call me "sir" without adding, you're making a scene. -Homer Simpson

Barbruka
01-24-2001, 04:25 PM
Don't think I could keep from telling them! I mean half the fun of going to WDW is the anticipation! Look at all of us who post here! You all know we LOVE the planning and looking forward to it. Well, kids like to look forward to something too!

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Barbruka 74,77,82,87,95, offsite
99 DXL
Next trip Sept. 2001

"I am there everyday in my heart and in my memories."

Jillpie
01-26-2001, 08:37 PM
One fun thing we did for my l2 year old last March was the Friday before leaving (we were leaving the next morning) we had him dismissed from his last class of the day early, but had the school secretary announce it on the loud speaker that "It was now time for Patrick to go to Disney World!" The class was GREEN with envy and it was just fun to leave school a few minutes early the day before leaving on the trip.

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disneydeb
01-28-2001, 12:46 PM
Hey--KylesMom! I like your idea about the calendar!! Let's market it and call it THE DISNEY ADVENTure CALENDAR!! http://www.intercot.com/boards/rollsmile.gif
Have a Disney Day!! http://www.intercot.com/boards/ksmile.gif
º0º Deb º0º

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as my five year old gets off Space Mountain, "THAT WAS THE BEST ONE YET!"

[This message has been edited by disneydeb (edited January 28, 2001).]