Building the Momentum for a Disney World Vacation: Anticipation is Half the Fun!

There is a rush of activity when you plan a trip to Disney World. When to go? Where to stay? What kind of tickets to buy? Dining Plan? No Dining Plan? Once these decisions are complete, up pop more. Which airline to fly? Early or late flight? Rental car or Disney transportation? Once everything is decided it's time to sit back, take a breath and get excited. But where to start?

Disney Movie Night. Get your family ready for the characters they'll meet with some Disney films. Chip and Dale are everywhere in the parks, but kids who don't watch Rescue Rangers may not be familiar with these popular park favorites. Pick up some collections that include Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and the rest and your kids will be revved up when they finally have the chance to encounter the gang. Some suggestions that will add to your trip include: Swiss Family Robinson, all Pixar Animation films, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Snow White, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tower of Terror and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Disney Treats. Fill lunchboxes with rice krispie treats in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Buy Mickey shaped cheese and Disney fruit snacks. Plan meals in the theme of your resort. If you're staying at the Polynesian, try a dinner featuring South Seas accents. Is the Animal Kingdom Lodge your destination? Do an internet search for African Recipes and give them a spin! Search for Disney World recipes and pick some from restaurants you plan to visit.

Disney Shopping. If you have a local Disney Store, spend some time there picking up small items as they go on clearance. Collecting Disney clothing for the trip and small gifts and toys to keep your kids excited now and entertained on the airplane or in the car can really get you in the mood. No Disney Store nearby? Try hitting disneyshopping.com to find some real treasures.

Disney on Ice. Check out your nearest ticket seller and do a search for Disney on Ice productions near you. These traveling shows bring Disney magic to the ice rink and many of the classic and new Disney films come to life in front of you. Prices generally start around $12.50 for very good seats and go up from there. The quality is outstanding and the show is a very enjoyable afternoon or evening. And an extra bonus? The shows usually are introduced by Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, looking exactly like they do in the parks.

Create your own Must Do lists. A tradition my family and I have begun doing before every trip is to create individual Must Do lists. We're Disney veterans, but even families planning their first trip can do this. Have each member of the family choose five to ten things they absolutely must do before the trip is over. There are so many things to choose. Have a drink at the Germany Pavilion in Epcot. Spend an entire afternoon by the pool. Ride all three mountains at the Magic Kingdom. You can research items to add to these lists from Disney World guide books, the Disney World website and fansites all over the web. Type up all the lists, print, and on your vacaton, check the item off as it is completed. The Must Do list gives each family member a chance to pick their favorites and you may see more of the parks than you imagined.

Watch the Disney Planning dvd together. Pop some popcorn and spend some time with the Walt Disney World planning dvd. You can search out the resorts, check out the rides and really create a feeling of familiarity and excitement! The resort comes alive with sound and action and your family can imagine themselves there, having a great time. The dvd is free from Disney, and well worth the time to check it all out.

Read all about it. Check out fansites and articles on the web. Associated Content has a tremendous variety of articles about Disney World, from planning to dining to enjoying! You're here now...why not check out a few more? After reading, share what you've learned with your family and get their anticipation going too.

My husband, six year old son and I love Walt Disney World and vacation there often. When asked why we love it so much, I say "because all three of us love it equally, yet in completely different ways." Take some time to get to know Disney and get excited about all the different things your whole family can experience. And enjoy all that anticipation!