14 Ways You Can Create the Magic of Disney at Home
There is something about a Disney trip that feels almost impossible to put into words. It’s not just the rides or the castles—it’s that unmistakable, goosebump-inducing magic that wraps around you the moment you arrive. And honestly? I think we could all use a little of that magic right now.
When the parks closed and families everywhere had to cancel trips they’d been dreaming about for months—or even years—my heart broke right along with theirs. I know how devastating it feels to let go of a long-awaited Disney vacation.
Earlier in our relationship, Mitch had an accident that completely shattered his leg. Multiple surgeries, months of recovery… and in the middle of it, we had to cancel the Disneyland birthday trip we’d been planning for ages.
He ended up being released from the hospital on his actual birthday, and I was determined to give him something magical. As a surprise, I transformed our tiny North End apartment in Boston into our own version of Disneyland. Each little corner became a “land”—the entryway was Main Street USA, surrounded by faux-brick walls and a balloon display with a few lollipops. We entered Fantasyland through a posterboard cutout of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, where I held a Mad Tea Party for the two of us. New Orleans Square was home to a game of Clue (the Haunted Mansion edition, of course), with a side of Monte Cristo sandwiches and beignets.
We had so much fun that, for an evening, we forgot all about the trip we had missed—and felt like we were right back in the Happiest Place on Earth.
So whether you’ve had to cancel a trip, postpone a big celebration, or you’re simply home looking for something to spark joy, there are ways to bring that unmistakable Disney magic into your own living room.
And I promise—you don’t need a castle, a parade, or perfect timing. Just a little creativity…and maybe a few snacks.
Start the Day with Mickey Waffles
Whenever my family and I take a trip to Disney, a plate of Mickey waffles is always on our list. When I need a Disney fix, I break out my Mickey Waffle iron and special waffle mix. If you too need a Disney fix, check out Disney Food Blog’s post to making these iconic waffles at home!
Ride Your Favorite Attractions
While you may not actually be able to ride your favorite attractions, you can pretend to! Break out a few spare boxes (or more than a few…I get a LOT of Amazon orders), pull up a few reference photos, and let your kids decorate the boxes like their favorite ride vehicles. There are some great ride POV (point-of-view) videos on YouTube, so set your ride vehicle in front of the TV and have fun with it!
Theme Park Review Youtube Channel
Recreate Your Favorite Foods
My favorite thing about Walt Disney World has always been the food. I plan my vacations around new restaurants and exciting dining reservations, and the internet is teeming with copycat recipes of popular Disney dishes. Take a look at the menus for the restaurants you were planning to visit and pick a dish to recreate. Personally, my favorite is Ohana Bread Pudding!
Have a Themed Movie Night
Theming is what sets Disney apart from other amusement parks, and I love how all the details tie in to create a magical, one-of-a-kind experience! If you’re struggling to entertain your children, choose a theme for the day and plan activities around it. Before you watch Frozen 2 on Disney+, learn about Norway and Norse Mythology, do a science experience where you create crystals, build a snowman with paper plates, bake Princess Anna’s favorite chocolate dessert, and plan your dinner menu around the movie. For something slightly more low-key, make pasta and meatballs and watch Lady and the Tramp.
Check out the Queen of Movie Night, my friend Esther, at A Magical Kingdom Called Home.
Walk Around the Park
I find that most of the magic of Disney isn’t found on the rides or in restaurants, but in the details. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that sitting on Main Street just taking in the atmosphere is my happy place. Disney released Disneyland for the Xbox One Kinect years and years ago, letting Disney-lovers walk through the parks from the comfort of their own home. You could even complete a series of challenges, ride attractions to collect items for Mickey, and help the characters who called the land home. Although the Kinect was discontinued, you can still get the accessory and the game for very cheap.
Learn to Say Hello
Prepare yourself for your next adventure to EPCOT or beyond—spend some time learning about the cultures represented in the World Showcase, and get your kids excited to fill their passport by learning how to say hello in each of the languages. National Geographic has a great Country Explorers platform that teaches you about the geography and culture of many nations, including those in the World Showcase! Just make sure you write down any questions that come up so they can ask the representatives when the parks finally reopen.
National Geographic Kids Country Explorers
Draw Your Favorite Characters
The Disney Animation Academy has been reincarnated in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but this reminds me so much of the good old days of Hollywood Studios. I love how Hollywood Studios celebrated the Golden Age of Hollywood, but it was also an actual working studio. Brother Bear, Lilo & Stitch, and Mulan were almost fully animated from the park. Animation can be tricky, but you can learn to draw your favorite characters online!
Disney Parks How to Draw Youtube Series
Decorate a ‘Disney’ Space
Take this time to have some fun re-decorating a space in your house! It can just be a temporary display for quarantine, or you can add some permanent decor. Have the kids help think of a theme and then pick the items you want to add. You can redecorate the playroom to be Walt Disney World for a few days (like I did for Mitch) or add some subtle Disney love to your home permanently. My guest room is Beauty and the Beast-inspired with a Be Our Guest farmhouse sign over the bed, yellow rose accent pillows to reflect Belle’s dress and teapots, and candelabras and clocks adorn the bookcase.
The Artistic Sparrow has some of my favorite home decor pieces, but they only open occasionally, so be sure to join their email list!
Listen to a Disney Park Loop
Have you ever noticed how the background music at Walt Disney World instantly transports you there? If you want that feeling at home, add the DParkRadio skill to your Amazon Echo. Open the Alexa app, search “DParkRadio,” enable it, and say, “Alexa, play channel 2.”
That’s the background music loop—your own little slice of Main Street, U.S.A., right at home.
Head to their website to learn more and check out what’s playing right now!
Light a Candle
They say that your olfactory glands—your sense of smell—trigger more vivid, emotional memories than any of your other senses. To tap into that, try a candle inspired by the Disney parks—my favorite is Wishes Candle Co!
Dress as your Favorite Disney Character
Photo Credit: Polka Dot Pixie Shop
There is no more iconic souvenir than Mickey Ears. Break out your favorite Disney t-shirt, princess dress, superhero suit, Jedi robes, or a pair of Mickey ears to bring a bit of the magic of Disney to your living room.
If you already wear plenty of Disney merch or feel like shaking it up a little, try Disneybounding! Disneybounding is a subtle way for fans to show their love for Disney while adhering to the parks’ ban on costumes for adults. To Disneybound, just wear an everyday outfit inspired by a particular character. According to Leslie Kay, the creator of Disneybounding, “it uses clothes to recreate the outfits of your favorite Disney characters without being costume-y. You could go to school or the mall in a Disneybound and not get pegged for being in costume.” To Disneybound as Snow White, wear a yellow skirt, navy shirt, red cardigan, and a red headband; to Disneybound as Elsa, wear your hair in a braid and don a sparkly blue outfit and shoes, and so on!
If you need some Disneybounding inspiration or just want to see what others have come up with, check out Polka Dot Pixie Dust!
End Your Day with Fireworks
End the day the same way you would if you were in a Disney Park—under spectacular skies. When I need a Disney fix, I watch videos of the fireworks before bed. It isn’t quite as amazing as the real thing, but as an added bonus, there are no crowds, no overly-tired toddlers (assuming they agreed to naptime, that is), and no long walk back to the busses to get back to the hotel! You can find dozens of full videos of the fireworks on YouTube.
Start Saving for Your Next Vacation
Everyone is being hit hard by the Coronavirus. Many small businesses are wondering how they’re going to survive, so it may take some extra creativity to save for your next trip. Go online and look for ways to earn money through rewards programs, and take this time to learn a new skill or craft that may earn you a bit of extra money.
If you want to make your kids a part of the saving process (after all, money matters!), help them start planning a lemonade stand or car wash for when social distancing is a thing of the past. To make it a math lesson, let them figure out cost, margins, and develop a marketing plan. Brainstorm, and get creative! Let them have whatever they make as spending money.
Start Planning
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to bringing Disney Home to your family. I’m constantly pinning new ideas to my Disney at Home Pinterest Board, so make sure you give it a follow to keep up on new ideas!
Speaking of ideas—when it comes to Disney vacations, the best thing you can do to tide you over until your next visit is to start planning it. I’m a planner by nature, but my favorite thing to do between trips is to plan. Even when I didn’t have the money (especially in college), I would plan elaborate dream trips that I still hope to take someday. Currently, Disney packages are available through December 2020, and the dining window is coming up for Sept/Oct trips within the next few weeks. With a Disney trip, the earlier you can begin planning, the easier it will be. So schedule a FREE Dream Trip Chat, and let’s start planning together!
Who is Christina?
Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists. After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!
She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, and Europe and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.
