Travel Guide - Disney Magical Memories Don't Have to Be Expensive

Just the mention of a Walt Disney World vacation conjures up images of magical moments. After all, the resort is the result of Walt Disney's imagination and Disney's advertising relies on promoting magical moments and enchanted dreams. Unfortunately the magic often comes with a hefty price tag. The good news is that you can add a bit of extra magic to your family's Walt Disney World trip without breaking the bank.

Below are a few of the activities that Disney World addicts use to enhance their magical journeys.

Mousekeeping Envelopes: Just like at other hotels, guests often leave a tip for the housekeeping staff (Mousekeeping in Disney World terms). You can start the Disney magic early by having your kids help create special daily envelopes to leave for the staff. Stickers placed on envelopes are fun and easy but kids also have a great time drawing their own favorite Disney characters. You can find printable designs online. Kids love to help with the trip planning and this craft project helps them feel like they are part of the action. If you have your park tour plan ready, it can be fun for the mousekeeping envelopes to match your plan for the day. A Lion King inspired envelope is perfect for a day spent in Animal Kingdom. Breakfast with Pooh at the Crystal Palace on your agenda? Plan a Winnie the Pooh and Piglet envelope. Coordinating the envelopes with your daily plans will also help the little ones identify what is planned for each day.

Disney Travel Games: Online puzzle makers will allow you to enter your child's favorite Disney character names or other Disney related words to create a custom word puzzle. A variety of other printable Disney related travel games can also be found on a variety of websites. What better way to spend your travel time than with Disney games?

Tinkerbell's Fairy Dust: Bring along a small tube of glitter and sprinkle a tiny amount on a pillow or near the window. Younger children will be excited to see that Tink made a visit while they were sleeping. You can also add a little bit of glitter to your princess's hair by spraying with a tiny bit of hairspray and then sprinkling with the glitter. Remember, a little glitter goes a long way and can be messy to clean up so less is truly more in this case.

Gifts from Mickey & Minnie (or Tink): A tradition among many Disney families is to have a special daily gift from Mickey and Minnie in their room. A little bit of pre-trip shopping at the local dollar store, Walmart or Disney Store can reap great benefits. Like mousekeeping envelopes, these gifts can be coordinated with the day's events or just be fun items. The bonus for this idea is that the gifts can help reduce souvenir requests. One family magically receives Disney themed pajamas on the day of their arrival. Another receives books for character autographs on their first full day. Glow necklaces and light-up toys are great for days when evening events are planned and save on the cost of purchasing high-priced gadgets in the parks. The best part of the gifts is the magical moment when your child's face lights up upon seeing a special gift waiting. Even the big kids look forward to this.

Special Snacks: Packing a few snacks to keep in the room is a great for those times when your family needs to sit back and relax. Surprising the crew with some Disney themed food items will be a hit. A trip through the local grocery nets some great ideas. Fruit snacks are available in several Disney themed packages. Cookies, crackers and cereal are also available with favorite character shapes. Additionally, there is usually a large assortment of candy and other snacks featuring the most recent Disney release stocked in nearly every aisle of the store. These treats are especially a hit with the younger kids.

Walt Disney World is full of special treats and activities. Disney does promote many of the more expensive activities but a little research time can result in memorable moments that don't cost a dime. For example, riding in the front car of the monorail is a special honor but really just requires patience and good timing. Each day a guest family at the Wilderness Lodge has the honor of helping raise the flag. The Polynesian often has children's activities going on in the lobby during busy check-in times. There are many "hidden" surprises at Walt Disney World. Online research at will help you find special things that fit your family's interest. Additionally, the most recent edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is a must-have for every fairy godmother.

A Walt Disney World vacation should always be filled with magic but a little advance planning and work can help you create extra special magical moments your entire family will remember forever.