We’re going to Disney World!! {preschooler/toddler edition}

It’s the phrase every child loves to hear:

Except…when your child don’t really know what Disney World is, exactly.

 

Welcome to the conundrum the Hubs & I have been facing for the past few months. Little O {3} & Baby H {18 months} adore Disney movies, their Disney princess dolls, dancing to Disney music, etc., but have absolutely no idea that these characters exist in real life at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Brilliant parenting move…or major parenting fail? You decide.

 

At any rate, over the weekend the Hubs & I decided it was time to tell the girls our big Disney news.

The challenge?

Telling the girls in a way that helps them understand where we’re going~ and to help them get excited about it.

After much brainstorming {and fruitless Googling~ many ideas were too old for them!}, the Hubs & I came up with three simple things that we knew the girls would respond to:

1. Sign

2. Balloons

3. Countdown chain

I’ll quickly walk you through my prep work, in case you’re in the market for telling your little ones about an upcoming trip to the Land of Mickey!

You’ll need:

~ Mickey & Minnie mylar balloons {or other favorite Disney characters}

~ Brightly colored cardstock

~ Computer & printer

~ Paper cutter {scissors will also work if you can cut straight {I can’t!}}

~ Tape

 

The details

1. Sent the Hubs to the store during naptime to pick up the balloons.

2. Fired up my computer & did a quick Google search to locate a free Disney font. I used “Waltograph” from The Disney Experience website & it was really easy to download.

3. Created a sign for the girls, including a few of their beloved Mickey pals & one of their favorite princesses, Rapunzel. Printed the sign out on bright cardstock.

4. Time for the countdown chain! I decided to use the WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD! phrase on each link to make it more fun & Disney-like. It was super easy to do~ I just copied the phrase a bunch of times in Word, spaced it out so I’d have enough room to cut the strips, and printed it out on more cardstock.

5. Next, I used my handy-dandy paper slicer to cut the strips evenly.

6. Assembly time! I decided on my color pattern & stuck to it as I put the chain together. I used tape to secure each loop.

7. Marvel at the cuteness!

8. As the final step, I tied each balloon through the end of each chain. I also taped the balloon strings to the back of the sign to anchor it & keep it upright. 

Volia! You’re ready to make the big announcement to the kids!

Tips for telling preschoolers & toddlers about a Disney World trip:

   ~ Keep it simple. This is not the age for over-the-top surprises.

   ~ Relate it back to your kids. We started off by telling Little O & Baby H that a special invitation arrived during their naptime, and Mickey & Minnie & all of their friends had invited the girls to play at Mickey’s house~ Disney World.

   ~ Tie in your child’s favorite characters. The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang is a huge hit around here, as are all of the Disney princesses. We tied in character names that both girls would instantly recognize.

   ~ Manage your own expectations. Sometimes it’s hard for kids to get excited about something that isn’t right in front of them. If you don’t get a great response, don’t sweat it. The moment they arrive at Disney World, you’ll get the response you were hoping for, and so much more!

There you have it! Our girls were sooo excited {check out their reactions!}, and I’m glad we thought through what kind of announcement would work for them. It’s already a BIG production to take a link off the chain each night after dinner~ I can’t wait to see their faces as that chain grows smaller & smaller!

Counting My Kisses: What could be better than telling your kiddos that you’re all going to the Happiest Place on Earth?! After months & months of planning, the Hubs & I were thrilled to see the girls get excited about our upcoming trip as well. I can’t wait to see their reactions as soon as we arrive at Disney~ you better believe I’ll have my camera ready!

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