By Christine Dayao
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? To add a bigger jolt of excitement to the vacation before you even leave home, incorporate these fun activities into your everyday routine.
1. Listen to music from the parks. We love the Walt Disney World Official Album (2013), which includes tracks for iconic attractions like Spaceship Earth, The American Adventure, The Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain, among others. Music streaming app Pandora also has Disney songs on its Happiest Tunes on Earth station.
2. Watch ride-through videos on YouTube. Think you’ll be too scared to ride Tower of Terror or Space Mountain, or just want to know what to expect from the attractions? Do a web search of the desired attraction along with the words “ride-through” or “POV” and you’ll be taking a virtual trip in no time.
3. Have a visible countdown. Our favorite way of doing this is with a whiteboard, but a chalkboard also comes in handy. Before you go to bed each night, tick off the days.
4. Follow the resort on social media. You’ll get to see lots of cool photos across its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
5. Stay up to date with the Disney Parks Blog. From merchandise releases to the debut of new points of interest, the blog is one of the best resources for resort news and information.
6. Tune into a fan podcast. Our favorite ones are the Disney Dish and Be Our Guest podcasts, both of which delve into specific topics like resort history, on-site hotels, rumors, and more.
7. Grab a book about Walt Disney World history. This may be for some serious fanatics, but your knowledge will surely impress family and friends. Start with “Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real.”
8. Use the Shop Disney Parks app. Offering special promotions from time to time, this is a great way to get a jump on souvenir shopping.
