How to Throw The Coolest-Ever Playdate {In Partnership With Disney}

We recently visited Disney World as a family (post coming soon!), so my kids are definitely feeling the residual effects and are realllly into all things Disney right now. So, when Disney recently invited me to create a "Disney Kids Preschool Playdate," I knew we had to do it. (After all, we know how much I love to throw a good kid's party!)

To get us started, Disney sent us an American Tourister Stormtrooper suitcase (which my son now keeps on display in his room) filled with some party supplies to inspire us (many of which you'll see below) and a few fun surprises like this Dory Pillow Pet. Then, I started planning. I debated whether I was going to throw a big all-out bash or a smaller event, and in the end, I decided to go little. I set out to invite just a handful of friends and create the coolest, most fun playdate ever! After all, why do playdates always have to be the same old thing? With this one, I learned pretty fast that a few decorations and a couple of fun extras elevate a ho-hum playdate to hall-of-fame status.

Now, because it still was a playdate, not a party, I didn't go crazy with the decor and kept it pretty simple. I used the Disney tablecloth, paper plates, napkins, and swirly hanging decorations that had been provided. Then, I supplemented those with my own finds: Pez dispensers, plus a bunch of souvenirs (hats, light-up wands, etc) that we had just bought on our trip, all of which I repurposed as decor. I also ordered some (very affordable) printables off Etsy for the food labels and water bottle/juice box wraps. (FYI, wrapping drink containers is one of my favorite ways to make a party look more festive and cohesive. It's also stupid easy, but looks hard, which is pretty much the ultimate, right?)

For eats, we had Mickey-shaped veggie chips, tri-colored tortilla chips (Mickey colors!), "Hot Diggity Dogs" (a.k.a. frozen pigs in a blanket), "Minnie" PB&J sandwiches (I used this cookie cutter), some PopSecret popcorn, and Mickey-shaped watermelon (praise that cookie cutter!). For dessert, we snacked on these yummy Disney cookies, plus cupcakes, which I dressed up with these adorable Disney wrappers and toppers. 

For activities, we started with a fun, easy craft: making Mickey sorcerer hats by decorating blue party hats with glow-in-the-dark stars. Then, we moved on to a matching game (I used pictures of Disney attractions that I simply printed off the computer and cut out) and a rousing game of Hidden Mickey. (I had taped a bunch of blue Mickey heads--again, just printed off the computer--around the yard, and they loved running around as a group to find them!)

And because every souped-up playdate needs goody bags, we had 'em! The kids left with Good Health Mickey-Shaped Veggie Chips, Disney Pez, a Mickey lollipop, Disney Junior Play Packs, and a box of HP Social Media Snapshots--sticky-backed photo paper, which will allow mom and dad to print out their favorite pics from Instagram. (These are really cool, BTW!)

And most importantly, the kids had a blast. Now, does every playdate need a theme and goody bags and decorated juice boxes? Of course not. I am definitely not doing this for every playdate going forward! But once in awhile, it's fun to step it up a bit, right? Now and then, it's kind of nice to create a little wonder and surprise, and turn your home into your own, well, Magic Kingdom. :)

Have you guys ever thrown a themed playdate for your kids? Tell me about it below! 

Thank you to Disney for partnering with me on this post!