I don’t know about you, but I know that I cannot get to Walt Disney World as often as I would like. Typically, it is about three years between trips. As a flat-out, self-described Disney fanatic, three years is just too long to wait to experience the magic!
I soon discovered that I was not alone in my quest for a Disney fix between trips and began to find ways to keep the magic going in my home town when Orlando was so far away!
For starters, I read a lot of Disney blogs (like this one!) as well as Disney discussion boards just so I can keep up with what’s going on in WDW and hear about deals and trip reports from Disney fans like myself. This is also a great way to hear about some great Disney trivia or out of the way places within WDW that you might miss out on!
Read a Disney guide! There are tons of them out there and while the Birnbaum guides are just wonderful, I kind of enjoy the ‘unofficial’ ones because they tend to be a bit more on the brutally honest side about what works, what doesn’t, what’s worth your time and what’s not. By keeping up with the guides, your next trip planning experience will be a breeze!
Help a friend plan their trip! I have helped literally dozens of people plan their family trips to Walt Disney World and while it might be nice to make a living at it, I find that I just get a lot of joy out of it. It is very exciting to help a family that is going to WDW for the first time and I find myself remembering our first trip and how wonderful it was. Plus, I get to live vicariously through them for a little while and hopefully get a souvenir for my efforts!
Watch Disney on your TV. I know the vacation planning DVD sounds lame but when you are in between trips and really, really, really need to feel the magic, that little DVD can just get you through! The Travel Channel often airs Disney-themed shows and those are wonderful but you can also catch Disney-related specials on Modern Marvels and the History Channel that not only can give you a Disney-lift, but are also quite informative!
Have a Disney-themed party! There’s no need for there to be an occasion, just a get together with friends with things that remind you of the Happiest Place on Earth! I get together with friends once a month for just such a purpose. In the past we have chosen our favorite resort recipes to try or just made Mickey shaped cookies and snacks to munch on while we discuss previous trips or trips in the making.
Scrapbooking! Chances are if you’ve been to Walt Disney World, you have a ton of pictures from the trip. Working on your Disney scrapbook is a great way to keep the magic alive after you’ve come home and it makes for a great smile-inducing memory throughout the year every time you bring it out to show friends and family!
Play a Disney game! We have played Disney Charades and Disney Scene It until we are just falling on the floor laughing! There are so many Disney related games on the market that you should have no trouble finding one that meets your family’s needs for a night of fun! Try having two Disney fanatic families play Disney’s Scene-It and you are in for a competition!
And finally, plan your next trip! What are you waiting for? Start looking for deals, start a Disney vacation fund and get your own plans underway! You know you want to!
So whether your next trip to Walt Disney World is next week or next year, you can keep the Disney magic alive from home until you get there!