If you’re like me, you can get lost for hours on Pinterest. So much eye candy . . . so many projects you’ll never finish (oh wait, maybe that’s just me.)
Anyway, if there were two things that were ever made for each other, it’s Disney and Pinterest. From vacation tips to crafts to Halloween costumes ideas, Pinterest is full of great ideas. It’s also full of not so great ideas, or ideas that will sap the fun out of your vacation planning (and your trip) faster than you can down a churro.
So how do you separate the best ideas from those that belong in the “yeah,right!” bin? We’re here to help and Doctor Disney is also on Pinterest too.
Here are the five best Pinterest tips that I’ve found (and used) on our Disney vacations.
1. The Dollar Store is Your Friend.
There are plenty of pins about how the dollar store can help you plan for Disney, and it’s true: You can find treasures for a buck that will make your trip more organized and more fun. Some of the items I’ve picked up (and used) at our local Dollar Tree include glow sticks, a pop up hamper, toiletries and cases, plastic sandwich bags, trinkets to keep the small person occupied on the plane, and candy. We had a lot of fun handing out dollar store glow sticks and wands during the parade. They may not be as cool as the $25 light-up Buzz Lightyear toys that the vendors are selling, but they also aren’t $25 and guaranteed to break the minute you get home.
2. Think Outside the Autograph Book
Autograph books are fun. Who doesn’t love collecting signatures from the characters? But honestly, what do you do with the book when you get home? If you’re like us, the books just collect dust on the shelf. Thanks to Pinterest, we used photo mats on our last trip. Now, all of the character signatures are in a frame with a photo from the trip, and displayed on the wall – and we have great memories every time we pass the photo. Try using a pillowcase, T-shirt, hat, tote bag, or other item instead of a book. Just be polite, and have it ready for the character to sign with a large pen.
And speaking of character interactions, Pinterest has lots of fun ideas for unique character photos. Check out what other visitors have done, or one of the lists of creative interaction ideas for more memorable interactions and photos.
3. Pack Smart
If you’ve traveled with small children, especially several small children, you know that keeping suitcases organized can be an exercise in futility. That’s why I love the idea I saw on Pinterest to organize children’s clothing in gallon size plastic bags. Put a complete outfit in each bag, including underwear, socks, and accessories. Then all you need to do each day is pull out a bag, and there’s no mad search or trying to determine what’s clean or dirty. Speaking of dirty, that’s where the dollar store pop up hamper comes in. Just toss your dirty clothes in, and you can easily carry it to the laundry room if you want – or just keep dirty and clean separate until it’s time to go home.
4. Countdowns and Surprises
There are two schools of thought when telling the kids about a Disney trip: Surprise them at the last minute, or help them count down the days. We’re counter-downers in this house, and Pinterest has some cute ideas for doing that. We did Disney movie nights leading up to our cruise earlier this year: Every weekend, we watched a movie and had dinner and snacks themed to it. It was a fun way to get into the spirit and build excitement for the trip. If you want to go the surprise route, Pinterest has some fun ideas for that, too.
5. Dress Up Fun
If you’re heading to the parks on Halloween, want to try Disney Bounding, or just want to pack some outfits for the kids that aren’t going to leave every other item in your suitcase covered with glitter, Pinterest is full of ideas. When we took our first Disney Cruise last year, we found the perfect idea for our costumes for Pirate Night. If you just can’t think of a great idea, or you’re on a budget, there are tons of creative ideas on Pinterest.
You can find literally thousands of Disney-related pins on Pinterest, and not all of them are great ideas. You don’t have to fall down the proverbial rabbit hole, though. Search the site with purpose, and don’t feel like you have to copy everything exactly. You can have an amazing trip without crafting yourself into a frenzy – or even looking at the site at all. Do it right, though, and you can add to the fun.
Join the “I’m So Disney…” group on Facebook to discuss this and many other Disney things with anyone and everyone.
