Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ by Tim Foster

Is planning and anticipation of a Disney trip half the fun for you, as it is me?

Would your kids enjoy a guide geared especially towards them, which could be used both before the trip to build excitement, and also during their trip with fun activities?

Guide to the Magic for Kids is a Disney World guide book, trip journal, autograph book, sticker book and activity book all rolled into one.

Packed with over 200 pages in a colorful, spiral bound notebook format – you and your kids will both enjoy the Disney Park content this delightful book includes.

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Color Coded Park Sections

Your Guide to the Magic for Kids contains sections for each of Disney World’s four theme parks.  The pages are colored and labeled along the outer edge for easy orientation and navigation.

Color stands for the park, but the edge label will also include a more specific description of where (in that park) the attraction is located.

 

Every attraction in the park is featured.  You’ll find photos, facts, tips, and icons letting your child know what to expect on each ride.   And even tidbits like “Looking for a snack?”

Note the icons along the top for “boat”, “dark”, and “spooky”.  If you’ve been on the Jungle Cruise before, you will quickly deduce that they are erring on the side of caution here.  However, after experiencing a very frightened child after a poorly chosen attraction experience at Disney – I feel this is spot on.

For said timid kids, I think this is an especially helpful feature.  Let them get a feel for the icons and what they represent, read about each attraction for themselves ahead of time, and have some time to decide whether they think this option is for them.

Then after experiencing the ride, they can check off “Did It!”, along with recording their personal thumbs up or down recommendation.

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Maps

Each section is introduced with a kids version of a park map.

Easy icons lay out the highlights, and will are great fun for them to explore and plan out their action packed days.

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Journal & Memory Keeper

I love the Daily Journal found towards the back of the book.  I’m sure it would depend on the child – some kids may not feel like filling something like this out while on vacation.  Personally, I would have totally ate this up, as a kid!

It’s brief, fun, and follows the same format for each day.

They have funny weather icons to circle and record what type of day it was, check boxes to record what locations they visited, and even a corner to jot notes on what souvenirs they scored.

You will even find prompts to write down what they ate that day (my family and I have always been all about the food on our trips, even when we’re at Disney).

And last, a spot to write down what your child’s favorite thing was from that special Disney Day.

There are 14 days worth of daily journal pages at the back of the Guide to the Magic for Kids.  Oh, that my Disney trips would last a full 2 weeks!

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Tips & Special Features

I especially enjoyed the section on tips, geared towards youth.  It includes such morsels as

• Small souvenirs you can get
• Getaway spots just for kids.
• Introductory lesson on “Hidden Mickeys”, along with some sample photos.
• Monorail chart – Sharpen their powers of observation; here they can record which colors they saw, and which colors they rode.
• Check list of characters – my personal favorite.  How many can they spot?  (Although if your young child is crazy about characters … this could blossom into a Character Seeking Quest that you may, or may not, be overly enthused about!)

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Stickers

Last but not least … what kid doesn’t love stickers?

Two full sheets are found at the back of the guide.  Kids can use them to mark off which attractions they visited, with special places earning a thumbs up sticker noting them as a favorite.

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Recommended?

Yes.  I’ve never seen anything quite like this, and my daughter and I have both thoroughly enjoyed it.

We haven’t had a Disney trip since receiving this guide, but will definitely be putting it to even greater use during our next Disney World vacation.

While there are several blank pages to use for autographs in the back, due to size and weight – I don’t think we would actually bring it with us during the days, to the park.

But I do think I’d bring it along on the trip, for my daughter to relive and capture some of the day’s highlights in the journal each evening.  Taking just a little time to do so, would truly transform this book into a unique and memorable souvenir of our trip.

I definitely recommend this as a kids Disney Travel Guide.   As parents, I think you will enjoy it, too.

Guide to the Magic for Kids ~ Where to Find It

Newly updated, you can order your copy of Guide to the Magic for Kids online.  It is currently available for a reduced price of $19.95 (plus $7.00 shipping).

Enjoy!

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I received a complimentary copy of “Guide to the Magic for Kids” for the purposes of this review.  But all opinions are my own.