Disney Countdown

We've been planning on a trip to Disney World for awhile now.  We told Dylan about it a long time ago and then received the constant question of "Are we going today?".  It became apparent to him that Disney was just one of those things that would be forever far away.  So when the time started drawing near I wanted to do something for him that would help him with the realization that its getting closer & closer for us to go.  Something to rev up his excitement about the trip.  I looked all over online for ideas for a countdown.  I didn't really see anything that was just quite what I was looking for.  A friend of mine suggested doing some sort of a large paper garland (think of the paper ring christmas garland you made as a kid) and taking one down per day, so the child is able to see it get smaller and smaller.  I took that idea along with some others that I saw and this is what I came up with.

(This is not the best representation of just how large it was...it actually wrapped around to the foot of the bed as well)

I saw an idea to use the Disney paint chips from Home Depot and immediately loved the idea.  I must have went to about SIX different Home Depot's in the area and was not able to find one Disney paint chip!! And of course, once I get an idea in my mind to do, I must do it.  So I decided to give up looking for the Disney paint chips and just grab regular paint chips (frugal!) and cut out the Disney logo myself. 

(My assembly and  you can see a better example of just how long it was)

I grabbed a bunch of black, white, yellow & red paint chips.  You should have seen me walking out of the store, afraid someone would stop me for taking so many!  Then I downloaded a copy of the Mickey Mouse ears and printed it out and traced it onto the paint chips.  Next cut the ears out and glue them to another paint chip.  I chose to go with contrasting colors to make the Mickey ears "pop" a little more.

I started the countdown at 40 days.  The entire thing wrapped around the front side & foot of the bed.  It made for a good milestone when Dylan finally was able to turn the corner & start taking days off from the front of the bed.  The days are dwindling down and we are almost there!

(This morning a very sleepy Dylan showing me there's only THREE more days!)