There is a lot of fun to be had at Disney World, Disney Land or one of the many other Disney properties around the globe. And there is no doubt that the experience brings families together in a way that can’t be replicated elsewhere. But, unless you moved to Florida just to be at Disney every spare moment of your life, you can’t always be around the magic. So how do you create your own magic during the off-season (i.e. the other 51 weeks a year)? Here are five activities that will bring a little fun into the life of your family and bring you all closer together.
- Around the World – Whether you hit the local elementary school’s playground or dust off your own portable basketball hoop, a game of Around the World is a great way to have family fun. Also, the rules can be modified based on age and skill level to even the odds.
- Bologna – Teaching your kids to bluff early will pay dividends later in life! How better way to teach this skill than with a game of bologna. You need one deck of cards and at least three players.
- Modified Monopoly – Yes, this classic game can take three hours, but you can speed it up by adding three simple rules that you thought were there all along.
– The bank pays the center $500 at all times;
– Double payout if you land directly on Go;
– Trading property is allowed at anytime, by anyone, before anyone’s turn.
And a fourth, which is my personal favorite.
– A Get Out of Jail Free Card doubles as a “move ahead, or back three spaces” card and can even be used after the dice are thrown by its owner. The owner can also sell the card for whatever price he/she can negotiate to anyone, at anytime.
- Home Made Cracker Jacks – a twist on classic cake decorating. Home Made Cracker Jacks will allow you to “decorate” your own popcorn. You just need liquid caramel and fudge, as well as salted peanuts and of course, popcorn.
- Ghost Stories – Remember the rule of three: 1) there must be a ghost that encountered a mysterious demise, 2) the ghost cannot be anyone you knew, and 3) they lived in a location where you are currently (like a hotel) but they don’t live in the residence where you live permanently (you don’t want to traumatize the kids every night). Everything else is fair game… Around a fire with the lights out is of course the best.
Have fun with the family, it’s times like these that make the best memories and stories later on in life…
