Self made disney family traditions and where and how you enjoy them

[MRSTGCV]

We always do the dining plan even though we know full well we would probably spend less off plan. We just love it!

[magicalmama]

1. We always start our vacation at Epcot the first afternoon/evening that we arrive.
2.The next morning (first full day) begins with the character breakfast at Crystal Palace.
3.My kids have a tradition that involves singing/screaming whatever song is playing on the RRC.
4.We usually spend an afternoon at Typhoon Lagoon and we always get a family photo next to the alligator at the entrance.
5. Even though my children are 6 years apart (one boy, one girl) they have such a good time together in WDW and at some point hold hands walking through a park. My DH watches closely for this and snaps a picture each year.
I've really enjoyed reading everyone's traditions and have found many we will be implementing begining one week from today!!!

[jedwards]

The only two I can think of are riding Tower of Terror over and over again, and staying until close at MK during evening EMH. The last time we were the last people in the park.

[JaimeDisneyLover]

We always buy a Christmas ordimet with the year on it. Until sadly, a few years ago, my tree fell over & broke most of them. I kept the ones that could be salvaged & almost cry every year since when I put the tree up & see them.

Also, when we go to downtown Disney, we see how many times we can go into Gherrideli & get free samples!

[JaimeDisneyLover]

I have never had a dole pineapple freeze that everyone is talking about. I will have to try one in September.

[yecats48884]

We don't have many traditions but we NEVER miss two photo ops:

1. The big couch in the entrance to BW.
2. By the totem at WL.

These make for great comparison photos over the years.

[gopherit]

1) Spread-sheet Mama here goes into Excel high gear at least 12 mos before every trip. I do this to (a) satisfy my lust for planning and (b) give my kids one more thing to poke fun at Mom about her royal OCDness.

2) I always poll my herd for the top 3 things they must see/do, top 3 places where they want to eat. I do my best to include all of these in the itinerary / spread sheet. They in turn then know their primary desires are "in the plan", and that everything else they see/eat is "gravy", and anything we miss is just a reason to come back again. There are some things that are nearly unanimous and always seem to make the list - like eating at Beaches and Cream, or having a frozen lemon granita in Italy with a funnel cake from America (ritual!); or seeing the fireworks or riding the 3 Mountains @ MK (Spash,Space, BT) - and some that are very person-specific (like the way my guys like to compete over anything that keeps "score", such as TSM, Buzz Ltyr, or back in the day, WWTBAM... or me, with my need to see the World Showcase PLayers in Epcot! My family knows that's a sacred part of the trips for Mom!)

3) We always take 1 day to pool-hop; it's a DVC perk that we truly do use. We have also given our kids the transportation map before and said, "wherever you want to go - let's go". Be it monorail, boats, or buses, we just cruise all the WDW properties and enjoy the ride(s)!

4) Before we leave - we decide which resort we will stay in on our next visit (that helps me plan the next spreadsheet and get the points calculated!) We vote on what was the best meal of the trip (and worst!)... what should stay in the eternal "playlist", or anything we missed and want to be sure to dial in next visit. And we vote on what our favorite DVC resort is... funny thing is, we do this every trip. And usually - we stay in a different DVC resort every trip. And the favorites list does NOT stay the same. Seems like when we stay at one place or another, we find new things to love, and yet another resort will also catch our eye, perhaps one we haven't been to in a while, and that becomes the new "got to go there next!" destination.

5) I have a pin and a print from each DVC resort we stay in. I stay fairly current (as they open, we usually stay in them... although Hawaii may take me a while!) Resort pins are about the only pins I collect, oddly enough.

ONe ritual I only recently abandoned, from when our pups were younger - I used to shop around for Disney items pre-trip, as well as a few items when we would arrive @ WDW. I would give each child a plain gift bag and Disney stickers to decorate. Each night, they would put the bags out... and in the morning, there would be a small Disney item or two in the bag. Might be a snack or a toy... At the end of the trip, it would be something a bit larger, like a stuffed animal or light toy,etc. I found that this little bit of novelty each morning helped get the kids up each day (what's in the bag today?!?)and reduced some of those "gimmees"at the parks (plus - I could usually fare better by buying in advance. I would shop at Disney outlets and such and save moolah vs park pricing.) Now that we have another lil' guy in tow, may need to revisit the plan, I guess!

[pchivvy]

I have loved reading these.

It makes me quite sad that at this could well be our last family holiday (kids are now nearly 20 and 16) that we didn't have more.

We have always had pizza and drink budweiser on our first night, we sort of fell into this by accident our first year and it is now 'law' apparently.

We always try and do one thing that is different every year. This year it is a deep sea fishing trip for my husband, and of course our first stay of many at DVC.

[zgoodfella75]

awesome....

I have 3 children and I had set a side a ride for all 3 that I took them on for the 1st time....All in MK and we do them EVERYTIME

DD6 - Its a small world
DD1 - Peter Pan
DS1 - Pirates of the Carribean

the twins have been twice so far so a farely new tradition....but DD6 we do it everytime....

[pacman]

Originally Posted by pchivvy

I have loved reading these.

It makes me quite sad that at this could well be our last family holiday (kids are now nearly 20 and 16) that we didn't have more.

We have always had pizza and drink budweiser on our first night, we sort of fell into this by accident our first year and it is now 'law' apparently.

We always try and do one thing that is different every year. This year it is a deep sea fishing trip for my husband, and of course our first stay of many at DVC.

Where do you get your pizza from ?