There is nothing like adding a little Disney Magic to the Holiday season, so we have compiled some ideas for showering your loved ones of all ages with Disney fun:
A Disney Trip!
Whether it's a week at Walt Disney World, a voyage to the stars on the Galactic Star Cruiser, a bucket list trip to Italy, Costa Rica, or the Galapagos with Adventures by Disney, or sailing to Disney’s private island on Disney Cruise Line–no one knows family travel like Disney. There are destinations and experiences for every taste and budget. We highly recommend using a Travel Planner (like Magic Managed), as they can help you find the best options and make your experience smooth and magical!
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Already have a trip planned?
- Wrap up a trip! Magic Bands are a fun way to put Disney under the tree. They are helpful to have on a trip, doing everything from opening your resort room door to getting you into the park. The new Magic Band+ also has lots of cool interactive functions in the parks! Bubble Wands are fun for littles to unwrap and you can often get them for less in advance! If you are going a few months after the holidays you can give the gift of anticipation! Countdown calendars are a great way to gift a trip!
- Trip Essentials! Trip supplies like ponchos, autograph books, the right shoes, and water bottles, are a great gift to get your family excited for your upcoming trip. See Magic Managed’s must haves list for all of our recommendations!
- Wearables! Everyone needs a cute park outfit and matching family shirts (we like Esty for customized options), Ears, and perfect Disney bags (fanny pack, back pack, or sling) make great gifts! We recommend these washable and soft costumes for kids in the parks, as they can easily get around in them (and no glitter to contend with!).
- Park Experiences! Nothing beats an experience gift and adding some extra magic to your WDW trip with a Fireworks Dessert Party or Cruise, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or a Caring for Giants tour at Animal Kingdom. And of course, the ultimate WDW experience, a private VIP Tour. These can be booked through My Disney Experience, a call to signature services, or contact your Travel Planner for assistance.
- Pins! Pin Trading lanyards and packs are exciting to unwrap. Pintrading is also a great way to increase your child’s interaction with Cast Members at the parks–and they always bring the magic! You can get some cool options on ShopDIsney, but also check Ebay for large bags of pins for cheap to get started on!
- A Christmas Souvenir! And while you are at Disney don’t forget to pick up an ornament to commemorate your trip (any time of year!). Ornaments are sold at almost all locations including resorts and attraction shops, but there is also a Christmas store at both Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom–and you can even get your ornament personalized!
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Local Disney Events
Not traveling right now? Disney will come to you! We love giving experiences to our kids for the Holidays. Disney on Ice tickets or tickets to Disney’s Aladdin Broadway show, which will be at Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center April 5-9, 2023.
Disney movies and shows all year round
A Disney+ Subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. Great for all ages, Disney+ has a huge variety of shows and movies available for streaming–including all the classics, Nat Geo, Marvel and more!
Toys and Games for Disney Lovers
Think of all the game nights, hours of independent play, and imaginative story time you can give you kids this season. Toys and games we love for our little ones:
- Games (Disney editions, of course!): Eye Found It , Monopoly, Monopoly Disney Villains, Pretty Pretty Princess, Disney Trivia (this one is only my list!), Codenames, Life, and Candy Land.
- Toys: ALL the Princess dolls, Disney Lego sets, plushes to cuddle, puzzles big and small, dress ups for princess or Star Wars fans, and play sets. The Toniebox is also a great way to gift Disney stories for the littlest Disney Fans and there are cool Disney add ons to the Osmo for older kids, as well as some awesome Disney Nintendo Switch games.
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Disney PJs and Books
My favorite holiday transition is gifting my family pajamas and a book on Christmas Eve. Books our families love for all ages:
- Little ones: Little Golden Books, 5 min stories books (these come in TONS of options and were a fav of my kids), or Read Along books
- Older kids: Kingdom Keepers, guide books, hidden mickeys guide, Where’s Mickey?, or this magical atlas
- Adults: The Imagineering Story, Twisted Tale, Disney drinks cookbook, or Bob Iger’s story
Don’t forget your Favorite Disney Adult (and pre-teen/teen!)
And last but not least–don’t forget those Disney Adults! A gift of Dooney and Burke bags, jewelry, Loungefly, amazing themed dresses are all options for Disney kids at heart! We also love candles that smell like disney resorts and attractions or a fun subscription box!
And, of course, Disney gift cards are always a great choice in a pinch! Happy shopping and Happy Holidays!
**The Amazon links are affiliate links and Magic Managed earns a commission when you purchase them.
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About Lonna Hays, Magic Managed
Lonna is the founder and owner of Magic Managed. Her first big family trip was in September 2015 when her boys were 2 and 3–and it was a massive multi-generational trip with a huge learning curve and intensive planning. It quickly led to a passion for the strategy of Disney planning. She started Magic Managed in March 2017 to share what she had learned with others–and has planned over 800 trips since! Her favorite resort is the Contemporary, her favorite character is Tink, and her favorite ride is a tie between Slinky Dog and Expedition Everest. She is also a Magic Kingdom girl at heart. For her, the appeal of Disney is the mix of magic, whimsy, strategy, and practicality–which is a perfect fit for her personality and strengths. Contact Lonna to get started!
Publisher's Note: Our family used Lonna and Magic Managed to plan our Walt Disney World vacation this fall and it was the best experience we've had to-date. It made for an easy and carefree trip our family will never forget. From start to finish, Lonna's experience showed; her pre-travel videos set us up for an incredible trip and her suggested packing list, accessories and other recommendations helped to keep the magic alive all day and night! She was able to help us maximize the experience for our cost and I'd use her again in a heartbeat - in fact, we will be using her to help plan our Universal Orlando trip as soon as our youngest is tall-enough to ride allllllll the rides!
