More Fun Ideas for Disney World Countdowns

Several months ago I published a post of ideas for counting down your trip to Disney. If you missed it, you can catch it here. Although a formal countdown certainly isn’t required, adding one to the weeks (or months!) before your trip can help build excitement for your travel party. Plus, it’s super fun. And, it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive either. You don’t even have to make it some elaborate every day thing. Just pick a few days sometime before your trip when you have the time and go for it. Now that I think about it, why wouldn’t you count down your Disney trip? Today’s post shares a few more fun ideas for your Disney World countdown.

Cupcake Countdown

Cupcake countdown has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? There are tons of cute and easy variations to this one. The first option is just simple paper cupcake toppers. I found a variety of Disney images on line, added some numbers and printed them at home. If you want to use these same toppers, you can download the cut outs here.

I like this idea because if you’re already making or purchasing cupcakes for a different event, you can easily set a few aside and celebrate however many days you have left before your trip! Yes, it really was 47 days before our last trip when I took this picture. Round numbers are so overrated, don’t you think?

If you want to make this idea even easier, there are TONS of numbered cupcake toppers available at party supply stores these days.

Seriously. I took pictures. Here’s a shot of the massive wall of options at Party City. Most of them only cost a $1 or $2 each. Choosing which ones you want may be the hardest part of this easy task.

You may even have some random numbers still in a drawer somewhere from a previous party. Why not pull them out and use them? It’s fun to have something to look forward to, even if it’s a long time away.

Chocolate Numbers

Unintentionally sticking with the dessert theme, another idea for a Disney World countdown is chocolate numbers. I found this fun candy mold at Hobby Lobby and gave it a try.

The candy mold (that sounds gross, I mean the plastic piece that shapes the candy) cost about $2. The candy melts and sticks totaled another $5. There are usually a variety of colors and stick styles from which to choose. It took me less than 30 minutes, including cooling time, from start to finish. Cheap, easy and fun! Kind of like a trip to Disney World, well, except for the “cheap” and “easy” parts!

If you took me up on that Disney signatures craft  in a previous post, you can use your autographed container to display the chocolate numbers. (With or without fun props of course!) If not, you can easily substitute whatever vase, mug or jar you have on hand. The sticks I used were too short to work in a Disney refillable mug, but if you choose the longer ones that could be fun too. Of course you could always try them on top of a cake as well.

The numbers are also easy to store, if you want to spread out some of the fun over different days. It also gives you the option to make them in advance and then use them to easily count down the last week before your trip!

Or you can skip making them altogether and buy some that are already made from that massive number wall at Party City.

Number Art

If you’re saving up your dessert calories until you’re actually at Disney World, there are tons of fun and easy non-food countdown options too. These sparkly number signs are technically cake toppers, but they are certainly large enough to use for other applications too. Try placing them somewhere around the house to surprise your travel mates and add a little magic to their day. A folded basket of laundry, perhaps? Sticking out of your child’s backpack in the morning? A small action can have a big impact, particularly on a not-so-fun day.

Speaking of big, you could also try some of these fun cardboard numbers I found at the craft store. I think they are intended for paper mache projects, but that’s not in my skill set, nor does it fit my claim of “easy” countdown ideas. Instead, you could just leave them plain. Earthy brown is kind of in right now anyway, right? I suppose you could paint them too.

Or you can go even bigger by making your own number art with paper plates. I’ve seen this done several times at birthday parties. It works just as well for a countdown. All you need is a pack of plates (so many fun Disney options here!) and a small amount of painters tape. Go big or go home! Or in this case, go big AT home.

Another idea borrowed from the birthday party aisle is number-shaped balloons. According to the packaging on this option, you can even inflate them yourself with an included straw.

Strange that they needed to point that out, but there you go.

Hand Written

So maybe you don’t want to lend your air, your oven or any attention at all to your Disney World countdown. You certainly have enough other things to think about before your vacation, right? If you don’t have the time or energy to do any of the fun ideas I’ve already shared, why not try a few things that take less than a few minutes?

Chalkboard countdown, anyone? White board? You may already have one of these options available at home. Just update the number whenever you think about it. Don’t sweat keeping it updated every day.

Sticky notes work too!

As you can see, I get a little excited about trips to Disney World. Maybe even too much sometimes (wait, what?!). We certainly spend enough time and money on Disney World vacations. Why not spread out the fun and enjoy it as long as you can? If you can add to the magic in easy, inexpensive ways that’s even better.

Your Disney World countdown doesn’t have to be fancy, perfect or planned. Sometimes just the act of figuring out how many days you have left before a Disney World trip is enough to brighten your mood. I hope this post inspired you to give it a try, even for a day or two, during the time leading up to your trip. Or maybe it just made you smile at my ridiculousness.

I’m not picky.

Add a little (countdown) magic to your world!