It’s going to be an all-Disney kind of week here on Keeping Mommy Sane. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
But with our trip rapidly approaching, I decided the time had come for some sort of Disney countdown calendar as a visual reminder for the kiddos. Not because they’ve been pestering me daily with questions ( “How many more days?”), but because Buddy doesn’t seem as excited about the trip as you’d expect a 6-year-old to be.
I admit this caught me a bit by surprise, but I am chalking it up to the fact that he hasn’t been to Disney before and really has no idea what’s in store for him. In comparison, his friend has been several times (and will be there the same time as us) and is so excited, telling Buddy which rides are the scariest and which ones they have to go on together.
I know things will change once that Magical Express Bus pulls up to the airport in Orlando and he’s finally immersed in the Disney experience, but until then, there has been little pre-vacation buzz. (Unless you count Mimi, who is insisting that Minnie Mouse is going to hug her … that is, if seeing a giant character coming towards her doesn’t completely freak her out. I say the chances are 50/50).
So I’ve been trying to hype it up: we spent a half an hour the other day watching You Tube videos of various Disney rides, we watched the Disney DVD planning video we were sent when we booked the trip and we’ve been listening to the Disney Pandora station. Every. Single. Day.
Now we created our easy and simple countdown calendar. Basically, every day the kids rip off one of the chains until there’s none left. Easy peasey.
Have you ever searched for a Disney countdown calendar on Pinterest? Wow. Tons of creative ideas. I felt totally out of my league. So I scrolled through until I found a type of calendar I could easily imitate and required minimal time and supplies: basically, some red construction paper, scissors, a stapler and a black Sharpie.
I’m proud of myself for my second Disney craft! The first, in case you missed it, was an autograph book I made for the kids.
Any other ideas for how I can continue to hype up the trip? What worked with your kids?
P.S. Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest!
melissa at filling our bucket says
omg. So, we go to WDW in 190 days, and I’m ALREADY considering making a countdown calendar. I am thinking I’ll make a chain like you did, but right now, it would loop around my house. I need to settle down.
My son is only 2, but he’s Disney obsessed. This has nothing to do with my influence, I swear. π But we basically do a lot of the same things you do. Listen to Disney Pandora, watch videos online, etc. It’s so exciting to countdown to the trip!!!
Jessica says
Yay!!!! I will say this morning he immediately came downstairs and asked to take one of the chains off (Goofy), so maybe this will work. We’ll have to compare post-trip Disney notes π
jen says
I am LOVING the all things Disney week … not much longer now and I think that I am more excited than the kiddos. Don’t stress too much over Buddy … he is going to be over the moon excited. In fact, i want pics of his reaction π Great calendar and graf book !!!
sarah b says
Love it!!! One thing I’ve done for clients is to write the kids letters from Mickey or the princesses saying “can’t wait to see you ” or something like that. Have fun and can’t wait to hear all about your trip!
jen @ keekoin says
Love it!!!! The countdown is a great way to create some buzz. Once he gets there, he’ll wanna go back the second you leave- believe me! I get excited just reading that you’re leaving so soon. We’re not going til December this year (every year it gets later in the year–grrrr.. LOL.) and my girls are already driving me crazy with, “how many more days?” my paper chain would be a little too excessive now, but i love this idea for when we get closer!!!!! can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Michele C. says
woohoo! YAY for a disney countdown, and I love that idea – simple and fun!
Jennifer (Savor) says
We go in may and plan on the boring old mark days off the calendar deal – maybe it is best if I do not search on Pinterest. π
Sharon - MomGenerations.com says
Very good idea! I can’t wait to hear all about your Disney trip. Magically, for sure…
Megan says
The countdown is such a fantastic idea! It will be a few years before we take our first Disney trip with the kids, but when we do I will definitely be making one. It MIGHT be more for me than them, but oh well. π
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
That’s a quick and easy idea. When we go we are NOT planning on telling our kids. We plan on driving, so we’re just going to get in the car and go. We won’t tell them until we get there.
Jane - MomGenerations.com says
We used to do a chain countdown for Christmas every year with red and green links. π I’m sure your son will be SO overwhelmed when he actually sees all that Disney has to offer, especially for a 6-year-old! Excited for you guys!
Chelley @ AIsForAdelaide says
Unreal… I love Disney. I can’t wait for Addie’s first trip!! I’m ready for Disney week with you!!
Kirsten says
Love, love, love the paper chain coundown calendar. So simple, so kid appropriate and fun! We’ve only been two times and the things we did the most were the autograph books that you already have, and the pins. The kids each have a lanyard with pins that we collected on our trip and swapped and traded as we went along. We bought them in the airport because they told us that you can only swap with employees, so we bought some that the kids didn’t care about trading to be ready to go from the start. You might want to look into that when you land…not cheap at first, but lots of fun to see them approach staff and negotiate trades.
Mary Larsen says
What a fun and simple way to have a countdown! You and your family must be over the moon excited π I’ll have to remember this tip!
Dollops of Diane says
We do chains all the time for countdowns but I had never thought of writing something inside of them. Cute!