Tip Tuesday: Get a Planning DVD

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

In my continuing series about ways to get excited and geared up for a trip to Walt Disney World, I wanted to talk about another Disney freebie -- the vacation planning DVD.

As you start to plan a trip to Walt Disney World, you might not know that Disney will send you a free DVD with planning tips, resort vignettes and much more.

These are great videos to have and watch as the days tick off to your next trip to WDW. Further, they are a nice collectible to have on hand to see how Walt Disney World has changed over the years. I get the planning DVD every year for that very reason.

So how do you get the planning DVD? It's pretty simple.

First, go to the Vacation Planning DVD page on Disneyworld.com. On this page, you can sign up for a DVD. For anyone wanting the 2010 planning DVD, I don't think it's out just yet. You might want to wait until mid November or even December. Even though the 2010 promotion has been announced (Give a Day, Get at Disney Day), sometimes it takes a month or two before the new DVD is ready.

In years past, there were two planning DVD's, one for Walt Disney World and one for Disneyland. In 2008 with the launch of the Year of a Million Dreams, Disney merged the two DVD's into one. So when you get your planning DVD, it also will have an entire section about Disneyland.

Parents -- are you giving your kids a trip to WDW for Christmas? Here's a little bonus tip for how to spring the big surprise. After the kids go to bed (and before Santa comes -- you need to be in bed too, you know!), take the customized maps you've already ordered (see last week's tip) and place them opened up in the Christmas tree. Then, on Christmas morning, have the planning video running as the kids come in.

Surprise!!! We're going to Walt Disney World!!!

Next week, we'll look at another way to build the excitement for your next trip to Walt Disney World!

Tip Tuesday: Customized maps

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This will be the first installment in a series of Tip Tuesday posts dealing with building excitement for an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World (of course, some of us don't need any help getting excited - that's why we do blogs, podcasts and magazines!).

This week, I'd like to discuss a little freebie and keepsake that not too many people are aware of or take advantage of - customized maps.

Kids, especially those who have never been to Walt Disney World, may not an appreciation for just how much there is to do. In a similar manner, many first-timers may not have an appreciation for just how big WDW is and how much planning may be needed to make sure a WDW trip is as enjoyable as possible.

One way to help get kids excited about an upcoming trip is to order customized maps from the Disney Web site. Best of all, they're FREE!

Once you go to the online site, you can select which items on the map you would like highlighted as your "favorites." Even if you don't choose any favorites, all the different attractions will be included. Once you have selected your favorites, you'll need to select which layout you want. The classic layout (see image above) has the feel of an old pirate map, while the characters layout (see image below), is more whimsical, featuring different Disney characters.


Each set comes with five maps (one for each park and then an overall map). Each map is personalized with the family name (i.e., The Smith Family's guide to the Magic Kingdom).

For my first trip to WDW, I ordered a set of maps and then brought them with me to have different characters sign it. This made for a very unique keepsake. I'm still trying to find a frame to fit the map - it's a bit of an odd size.

The one small downside of this opportunity is that the maps come folded. I contacted Disney to see if it was possible to get a rolled copy (which is better for framing). Unfortunately, the maps can only be delivered in a folded form.

As you're planning your next trip to Walt Disney World, order the customizable maps - they're a great way to get geared up for a trip to the world's number one vacation destination!