Everyone’s been there. You get home from an incredible Disney vacation or simply see a Disney commercial on TV and the desire to be back in the parks is a bit hard to overcome. Unfortunately, we can’t always be in the parks (well… unless you’re lucky enough to live close by), but there are a few things that can make all the difference as you wait for your next chance to head to Walt Disney World. Here’s a closer look at a few of our favorites.
1. Disney “Radio” Stations
-This particular tip is one I’ve used time after time to get a “taste” of the magic while being many many miles away from any of the Disney parks or resorts. Sometimes simply putting on a set of headphones or turning on the music in the car can allow you to close your eyes (please don’t if you’re driving…) and transport yourself, even for a brief moment, back to a place you’ve grown to love in the parks. While not everyone has a random stash of stored Disney resort loops, welcome songs, and on-ride audio, there are so many different ways to find these things online completely free of charge. Perhaps a few of my favorite resources are Pandora (Some favorite stations include: The Tiki, Tiki,Tiki Room, Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman, and The Sherman Brothers…. all specific station names), Youtube (just search for your favorite attraction or even park area loop and you’ll be amazed what may pop up), or even quite possibly the incredible DJ Technoid on SoundCloud (who created a new spin on some classic Disney sounds).
It truly can be a great way to take you back to the parks even for a very brief moment and can certainly cure a small portion of that Disney “desire.”
2. Look Through and Edit Disney Pictures
-This one may seem odd to a few of you but if you’re into photography or even simply take a lot of pictures with your iPhone (which are incredibly capable these days), purchasing a editing software or even a simple iPhone application can be a great way to take in those past Disney memories. The editing process does have a slight learning curve to it, but once you get started it’s a great way to perfect and categorize images of your trip and your family’s vacation as a whole.
3. Help A Friend Plan A Trip
-If you’re a Disney pro or even simply one of the many of us that have been fortunate enough to experience Disney vacations time after time, helping a friend book a vacation can be incredibly rewarding. Not only do you get to share stories and recommend different experiences to your friends, but you also get to share in their memories and get a small taste of the Disney vacation planning process without having to pay for it out of pocket. After years of experience, I’ve helped many friends and extended family get on the right track to an excellent vacation. It’s amazing the response you get back from friends and often times the overwhelming thatks you receive far outweighs the time you put into helping them out.
4. Find A Disney Podcast
-Out of all of these simple tips, this one is by far my favorite. Podcasts and in particular Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio are really what got me interested in starting this site in the first place. While I do not have a podcast and won’t likely start one (unless you want to hear me talk about this type of stuff), the inspiration and encouragement I got from the network of people I met through live shows and even the comments section on podcast posts alone has been truly hard to believe. Of course, this is only one of many different shows on the internet. Some are strictly audio, others have video shows, and some do live shows. Many of them are really outstanding and help you build a community of Disney friends that is truly second to none. You may even learn some unique facts and tips along the way.
5. Find Some Disney Parks Books (Sometimes they can be found at a low cost!)
Every once in a while I get asked where I’ve learned so much about the parks (there’s still a ton to be learned) and the simple answer a majority of the time is research through books over the years. Disney has put out many publications of their own featuring the parks, resorts, imagineering, and so much more for many years. To be quite honest, some of the older material is far more informative that the newer releases. Personally, I have a few books I refer to time and time again when I’m looking to double check a fact or even read about some nostalgic Walt Disney World attraction I may or may not have ever gotten to experience first hand. A few that top my personal favorites list are:
I’ve looked through and read a good portion of each and every one of these and they can really unravel some of the story behind the attractions we’ve all come to know and love. While the links above are affiliate links that benefit me if you choose to purchase through them on Amazon, a great place to buy these books is from a franchise store and website called Half Price Books. They tend to be substantially cheaper. However, availability can be limited outside of Amazon.
If anyone would like to see a full review done of some, if not all, of those books I would be happy to do so.
So, there you have it, our tips for what to do between Walt Disney World trips when you just get that Disney “itch” to be back in the parks but can’t quite make it back. Hopefully a few of these recommendations help you out in some way shape or form or possibly expand a hobby you may already enjoy. As always, these are just things I’ve done and there are many more great options that we’d love for you to share with us in the comments! A few individuals mentioned in this article have become online friends of mine to a certain extent but they have not asked me to mention them. I honestly just enjoy their content.
Hope you all are having a wonderful start to the weekend, and if you enjoyed today’s article, please share it with a friend or two. Thanks!
A few short years ago, I was sitting in a college apartment trying to figure out what was "next" and came up with this idea to share my accumulated knowledge of the Disney Parks and Resorts with others. The end goal was to help others make the most of their Disney experience and it's been quite the journey!
