Goofy is probably the first Disney “G” that comes to mind for a lot of people. We are big fans of his, but the geek in me also loves the famous geodesic dome within Epcot. Below are a few “G” memories from recent visits to go along with the theme of the Disney Wordless Wednesday.
Be sure to stop by Focused on the Magic by clicking on the button above to join in the Disney magic this week.
Did you know that, before we got married, TechyDad had never been to Walt Disney World? I know that I find it hard to believe. Eleven years later, he is now a true blue Disney fan who can talk your ear off about planning a Disney vacation.
At the time, I took it for granted watching my new husband taking it all in. Way back then, I insisted on taking my film camera and not TechyDad’s first generation digital camera. Now, I wish we had taken more photos of his first time in front of the castle, first time in front of Spaceship Earth, and other special moments. Sad to say, there were no PhotoPass photographers back during this time period. Luckily, some people along the way made sure that we stopped to get some photos together. Here we are painting an animation cell the old fashioned way.
During our honeymoon, we had many Disney firsts together. We went on several behind the scene tours, saw our first Cirque du Soleil (La Nouba), and explored Disney’s Animal Kingdom together. It truly was a magical time and we knew it when taking a boat back to the Beach Club Resort and saw this beautiful rainbow. It really was a sign.
Our Disney honeymoon was also the first time that we bough matching shirts. It kind of started a tradition of wearing them on our last day in the parks.
While I adore going to Disney World with the boys and other family members, there is just something extra special about an adult only get away there. Spending time with your spouse roaming the streets of World Showcase, not fighting over who gets to sit next to you at dinner, and just relaxing while being a kid at heart.
Have you ever gone to a Disney Park without your children?
This post is part of the fun over at Super Jenn and her Monday’s Magical Moments Meme. To join in the fun and link up, head on over to the linky there.
Money is something that is hard for adults to understand at times, especially working on budgets. That does not mean that we should not teach our children the value of money, how we earn it, save it, and buy something. Two years ago, I started to think about this topic and as we head back into the holiday season, think this topic is quite relevant.
The holiday season is coming. With that, kids will start to make lists of items that they would like as presents. Budgets continue to be tight in a lot of households. This made me think about teaching kids about the real value of money.
What does a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, or dollar really mean to a child?
To many elementary aged children, it may not mean much. They understand that items have prices. They see that we exchange money for services or goods. Still, do they understand what a dollar can really get them and how much time is needed to earn said money? The answer is most likely they do not. In school, teachers show children how to count currency. This is a great start, but real world lessons may work best.
My oldest son is now in fourth grade. When he was in kindergarten, we were planning our first family visit to Walt Disney World. TechyDad and I decided to try something. We did not want to do a traditional allowance system with NHL. Instead, we had goals for things that needed to be done. We rewarded him with specific coins to put away for Disney. Our theory was that he would have the money that he earned to spend on something he wanted, no questions asked. He quickly learned that his desires could not be obtained with the funding he had. NHL was proud of the Mickey Mouse wallet he bought and made a goal to earn more money for something larger next time.
When I was about NHL’s age, I know I received an allowance. I do not really recall what I did to earn my money. I believe it may have been taking care of my parakeets. What I do remember is learning to save money for items. I set goals for items that I really wanted. For over three years, I saved up for my own television. Then, I pooled money for my first Nintendo system.
Through real world experiences, NHL is slowly learning more about the value of money. We keep integrating new items into the mix. One of the possibilities is an allowance.
Does your child have an allowance? If they do, what types of chores do they do and how do you determine the proper amount to pay them?
I would love some input since many of us are probably curious about the same thing. I have to admit that I am not too sure about a traditional allowance. I tend to think that each family member has responsibilities that need to be done within the house. Still, I know having money to earn was a HUGE part of growing up for me.
Disclosure: Parts of this post were previously published on a project I worked on. The text is mostly the same, but I placed a new introduction to go along with a topic that continues to be important.
Trips to Disney are all about having a magical time, especially when you go with family and get to see old friends, and make new ones. Thanks to time at Walt Disney World, I have met some amazing people and had world class meals. Here are some photos of recent trips and our food, beverages, and merriment that go along with the theme of the Disney Wordless Wednesday.
Be sure to stop by Focused on the Magic by clicking on the button above to join in the Disney magic this week.
Long time readers know that I love sharing things about Disney. Disney has been a big part of my life. I went there a lot as a child, honeymooned there, and have magical memories of time with my boys at Walt Disney World. Super Jenn just started a new Monday Meme that looks like a lot of fun.
When we arrived at the Yacht Club Resort in April, we had some time to get lunch before an event that evening. We walked into Epcot and had lunch in France. As we were walking around World Showcase, the boys mentioned that they had never met Duffy the Disney Bear yet. 
This was an item very high on NHL’s much do list for our visit. Since there was a small line, we went over to try to get some photos. The boys were very patient. When the people in front of us were done, NHL ran toward Duffy and TechyDad caught this magical moment.
It truly made NHL’s day to meet Duffy. The little boy who was once too afraid to stand near a Disney character, now running to meet and greet a new one. Of course, it was our first family photo with our PhotoPass.
It was another magical moment from an amazing family trip together. Thank you to Jenn for starting this weekly fun. I look forward to sharing more of my memories next week. To join in this week, click on the Monday’s Magical Moment button at the top to check out Super Jenn.
