I was able to have a preview of Disney’s Countdown to Fun as a part of the 2017 Disney Parks Moms Panel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Are you planning your awesome, action-packed, magical family vacation to Walt Disney World? I know I am, and like so many other families creating “Days Until Disney” printables or Disney vacation countdown calendars, we’re counting the days until the magic begins. I’m very fortunate to have visited Walt Disney World so many times before, and the little souvenirs that come home with me play a very big part in my life. Playing the free Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game became a craft opportunity for me, and I was happy to create a Disney Trading Pin Board for my collectibles. If you don’t happen to have much magic lying around the house to inspire you, and you’re not too handy to whip some up, here is a fabulous and authentic way to let the magic into your house BEFORE your vacation starts. It’s Disney’s Countdown to Fun!
The Ultimate Disney Vacation Countdown
Straight from the Imagineering minds of Disney, this Countdown to Fun is made up of six shirt-size boxes and a giant, magical instruction packet. When you purchase the Countdown to Fun from either the Shop Disney Parks App or the Web Store, you’ll pay $99 and it will be shipped right to you.
The 6 boxes were crammed together, but it was easy to find the large envelope. Have only one person (Mom or Dad or Grandma) open the Top Secret Instructions. Here, you will find the Scavenger Hunt, a special letter from Mickey, and a letter for the Head Funseeker. It will be so hard to focus because of your excitement, but be sure to read everything through!
Disney’s Countdown to Fun Scavenger Hunt
One GREAT perk to this Countdown to Fun package is the way you dole out the boxes. If you’ve ever made a Mickey face out of pepperoni on a pizza or tried to drive to Florida without cracking the surprise, here’s a new option. The Countdown to Fun box has nine Scavenger hunt clues (for only six boxes, remember!) so you can customize your hiding spots. Be sure to mock through and check your hunt; you don’t want any holes!)
Customize When You Open the Boxes
Lay out the six boxes and fill in the “open on” dates. This will help you open the advent boxes as a countdown to your vacation. You can choose to open them over six days, six weeks, or barrel through them with excitement by opening them over three days like we did! Put the clues on top of each box, and then… hide away!
We started our hunt in the coat closet… it was a great hidden place. Though it took several minutes for my budding reader to get through the clues, it was worth every moment!
Magical Phone Calls from a Disney Character
Inside each box, you’ll find a card attached inside the lid. Each card, when you flip it over, has a special phone number and code. When you dial the number and are prompted to input the code, you’ll hear a very special message from a Disney character… welcoming you to your Countdown to Disney Fun!

Countdown to Fun Box 1
When it’s finally time to open the boxes, you’ll find them filled with themed merchandise from all four Disney Parks as well as some pre-park fun! Box 1 is all about “cooking up fun” with Mickey. You’ll find cookie cutters, a Mickey glove pot-holder, and instructions for baking. I wish there had been a bag of dry mix, perhaps having me add milk or water to create cookie dough. In any case, it’s a great activity for the whole family!
Countdown to Fun Box 2
Box 2 is all about Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Packed with an woodsy scavenger hunt and Mickey Binoculars, you’ll get into an outdoor state while you prepare for the wonders of the natural world at the park. It was thoughtful how each box was hand packed and cards were hand tied!
Countdown to Fun Box 3
Box 3 preps all Jedi trainees for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Use the force and defeat your family members in special card games using the two decks inside the collector’s tin. While this box may feel slightly empty, the cards come in handy for those hours of travel. Teach your kids Go Fish or play War with your tweens. For a new challenge, follow the directions for “Speeder Sprint.”
Countdown to Fun Box 4
Hola, Holla, Aloha, Nǐ hǎo, Hello! Your Journey into Imagination and the cultural wonders of Epcot continue with Box 4. One of the fuller boxes, you’ll have at least six cards with various languages of the world to explore. Say “hello” and “goodbye” and learn to make your way through Epcot’s World Showcase. Prep your family’s passport for the journey with stickers, stamps, and an official Mickey Epcot button. Personally, I love the World Showcase, so this was a very special box!
Countdown to Fun Box 5
Box 5 included some of my favorite items. Celebrate the magic of Magic Kingdom by defeating villains with Box 5. You’ll find a starter pack of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards and instructions. More than just adding to my customized Sorcerers book with maps, this particular set of cards lets you learn the game and play at home for added fun. Don’t forget to keep calling your secret phone numbers and putting in your special codes. More calls from Disney characters await!
Countdown to Fun Box 6
Your vacation is almost here! Countdown to Fun Box 6 ramps up the excitement with souvenirs and park prep. This was an amazing box to open! Such quality gifts and items that enhance a Walt Disney World vacation were welcomed in our home. Helping to make this particular trip special was a pack of 2017 Disney Trading Pins, a set of four MagicBandits, a car emblem, a 2017 Autograph Book (with a place for printed Memory Maker Photos; here are reasons you should get Memory Maker!) and a packing checklist for more fun.
Recap
Is the box worth it? Heck yeah, it is! I think it appeals to all ages (toddlers through adults) and ramps up the excitement for the whole family. I had some friends wondering if teens were too old for this box, and I said no! Get it, you won’t regret having the souvenirs to pull from your park backpack or travel activities while you wait! But what if you’re going to Disneyland? This might not be the box for you since it’s very central to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. I certainly hope that one day in the future, more box options will be added for an entirely customizable package, but I was swooning with surprise to see what was inside the boxes!
If you want a look at more of my initial unboxing, you can watch the excitement unfold here. I had no idea what was in the boxes, and I was so excited to find out! If you want to purchase a Disney Countdown to Fun box for your family, you can find it here on the web!

Is this just for surprising your kids with the trip? My kiddos already know we’re going but I’m wondering if this can still be used to get them super revved up for the trip 😉
Congrats on your upcoming trip! And thank you so much for leaving a comment and reading along. You don’t have to gear the scavenger hunt towards a vacation announcement, but it is a GUARANTEED ramp up for excitement! There’s all sorts of souvenirs you can play with before, during and after the trip, so it’s well worth buying the set. I hope you love it!
I’m a little confused about the open on date. It sounded like a Disney scavenger hunt. Is it spaced across multiple days? Enjoy your trip!! I can’t wait to try this countdown to Walt Disney World! Like we need anymore excitement!?!?
Oops, sorry about that! You do the Scavenger Hunt all at once, as not to break the clue-chain, but then you can open the boxes slowly to make the magic last… or open them all at once. It’s up to you! PLEASE come back and tell me if you liked it! 🙂 YAY!
I’m thinking about buying this thanks for reviewing! Tim E. D likes this
You are so welcome! I hope you find everything you need, and please let me know if you have questions. Enjoy it!
I’m curious, because I would love to purchase this, but I have two littles. How would you recommend a mother handling that? I’d hate to purchase two.
Hi! I have two little kids, too, and I think a family can easily share the kit. Several of the boxes are “family style” meaning one activity for the whole family, such as the playing cards, cookie baking kit and even the passport for Epcot. The final park goodies box has so much in there you can share, like pins, bandits and more. If you had four or five kids, it would be more of a stretch, but two is doable! Let me know how you like it!
Hello,
I have been trying to find it, but it is out of stock through Disney World. Any idea where else I could buy one?
I’m so sorry about that! ShopDisney.com is sold out at the moment. You can find it on the ShopDisneyParks Mobile App from time to time, but I’d call 877-560-6477 or by email at Merchandise.Guest.Services@DisneyParks.com to try to ask where you can find it. They will know exactly what to do in this case! 🙂