Disney Countdown Calendar

I tended to get a little overexcited.  Possibly because of that, or simply because I just can’t stop myself, I couldn’t resist all the reading, researching, planning, organizing, etc.  And therefore I now present the Disney Countdown Calendar.

My mom thought it was adorable (I agree) and posted a picture to Facebook where she got tons of compliments and questions.  So here’s the rundown. 

Calendar was created in Microsoft Word using a table that I spread across four pages.  (I wanted the month-long calendar to be bigger than a single page)

Table 1: I found a simple black Mickey using google images and pasted it into each cell, then used WordArt to add the countdown number on top of that.  (Right click on your picture and use “text wrapping” to stack your pictures behind each other.)  These squares were cut apart and taped over the corresponding day to hide the activity.  (Alternatively, I saw on Pinterest that Home Depot has Mickey-shaped paint samples which could add lots of fun color.)

Table 2: I typed activities on each day (I had to plan ahead for our busiest days/out of town/movies for long car rides/etc.)  Then using google images again, found Disney character to match and cut and paste them into each cell.

Suggested activities:

1. Write a letter to your favorite character   Mary Poppins
2. Give your favorite stuffed animal a check up   Doc McStuffins
3. Go on a treasure hunt   Peter Pan
4. Receive a Disney gift   Robin Hood
5. Decorate princess crowns   Sofia
6. Do something nice to surprise your sister   Stepsisters
7. Do extra chores to earn Disney dollars   Cinderella  (we used this multiple times)
8. Watch Wreck It Ralph and build block towers   Ralph
9. Build snowman snacks (marshmallows, pretzel sticks and chocolate chips)   Olaf
10. Read your favorite Disney stories   Belle
11. Watch Lilo & Stitch and practice your hula  Lilo
12. Make Mickey pancakes   Mickey
13. Watch Frozen and cut out snowflakes   Elsa and Anna
14. Watch Dumbo and eat cotton candy   Dumbo
15. Play games at www.disney.go/games   Wilbur Robinson
16. Eat spaghetti for dinner   Lady & the Tramp
17. Eat Ratatouille for dinner   Remy
18. Make magic dust cookies (Snickerdoodles)   Zarina
19. Decorate Mickey cookies (sugar cookies)   Minnie
20. Check out the rides on YouTube   Pluto
21. Make a list of the characters you want to meet   Pooh
22. Explore your Disney Resort online   Pongo
23. Watch the Tigger Movie and practice your bounce   Tigger
24. Watch Toy Story with your favorite toys   Buzz & Woody
25. Watch a Tinkerbell movie with Tinkerbell fruit snacks   Silvermist
26. Have a tea party   Alice & Mad Hatter
27. Do Disney puzzles   Donald
28. Play Mickey match   Mrs. Potts and Chip
29. Have your own Bippity Boppity Boutique!   Fairy Godmother
30. Do a Monster Mash (dance in the dark with glow bracelets)   Mike & Sully
31. Go swimming   Nemo
32. Color a picture   Boo
33. Go for a nature walk   Pocahontas
34. Play Disney Just Dance on the Wii   Baloo
35. Play Dazzling Princess (board game)   Jasmine
36. Play Disney Bingo   Daisy
37. Play Disney Scene It   Chip & Dale\
38. Watch the Little Mermaid and eat cheesy shells   Ariel
39. Make Mickey sandwiches (use a cookie cutter) Goofy
40. Go for a picnic   Bambi
41. Paint a picture with watercolors   Rapunzel
42. Go to the zoo   Rafiki
43. Eat princess spaghetti-os for lunch   Aurora
44. Watch Mickey shorts on YouTube (the original cartoons)   Donald
45. Make a race course for your toy cars   Cars
46. Make homemade beignets   Tiana
47. Make race car snacks (twinkie as the car, pretzel for steering wheel, oreo tires, etc.)   Vanellope
48. Make fruit wands (skewer blueberries and use a cookie cutter for a watermelon star top)   Tinkerbell
49. Make pirate ship snacks (apple wedge with a cheese/toothpick sail/mast)   Jake
50. Make Mickey cupcakes (red cupcake liner, chocolate frosting mini-oreos for ears)   Mr. Incredible
51. Make Mickey Popcorn (drizzle with chocolate and sprinkle red and yellow M&Ms)   Bolt
52. Watch Brave and eat chocolate teddy grahams   Merida
53. Watch Finding Nemo and eat goldfish crackers   Nemo
54. Make Snow White apples (rice crispy treats w red food coloring, add a tootsie roll stem) Snow White
55. Play with Mr. Potato Head and have a potato bar for dinner   Mr. Potato Head
56. Watch The Lion King and eat animal cookies   Simba
57. Build a fort  Tarzan
58. Have Chinese food for dinner   Mulan
59. Create an obstacle course   Hercules 
60. Visit the aquarium  Crush
61. Pack your suitcase and activity bag for the trip!   Dusty