For Mia and Kathleen and a Bunch of Other People
Apparently if you take your kid to Disney World four times in five years (Which, OMG. Spoiled much?) (YES.), people get the impression that you maybe know a thing or two about planning a Disney vacation.
Um, no.
Each time we go, I find a dozen things I didn't know, come across ideas for the future, and change my opinion on stuff that I thought I had all figured out. It's kind of funny because Disney World is full of "experts" who are more than willing to do things like argue with you that the 3:00 parade starts at 2:00, are animate that they rode the monorail to Downtown Disney, and are all too willing to tell you that they saw a Tweety Bird t-shirt in the store that morning and where did it go? (All actual "discussions" I had with guests when I worked at Walt Disney World in college.) (People are stupid.)
Anyway, while I'm no expert, a few people have asked me to post some Disney tips. I'm going to do exactly that in the next few days. Which, if you find it boring and annoying, BLAME THEM. It wasn't my idea. I'm just too lazy to write the same email more than twice, so posting it is.
Tip #1: Remind yourself frequently why you're going, and then remind yourself why you're there constantly.
Are you going to have fun? Are you going because you want your kid to have fun? Are you going just to get a break from the every day? It doesn't matter what your why is, you just need to keep it in mind.
For example, there is this thing that I saw when I worked there that used to drive me absolutely crazy. People feel like they have to squeeze every possible second out of Disney World. It costs a crap-ton of money to be there, so they make sure they are there when the first park opens in the morning, drag their kid to another park until late into the night, and then head over to Downtown Disney until it closes at midnight or later. If you think about it, dragging a kid around anywhere (even the happiest place on earth) 16-18 hours in a day is a recipe for disaster. I saw way more disasters than I could ever begin to count. Tired, exhausted kids would get drug all through the store, screaming and crying. The parents would be annoyed and yelling at the kids for being crabby. Then the parent would complain that they were spending all that money so the kids could have a good time, but look at all that sobbing!
The thing is, you're there for the experience. You want to remember that experience as a good thing.
Set yourself up for a good experience (read: RELAXING!) and then be willing to change your plans if you find things going downhill. If you start seeing faces like this:
It is time to regroup. Go back to the hotel (you are paying for it, after all--why not make use of it?), sit down for a meal, do something. Just don't jump in a long line thinking that riding Space Mountain is going to fix it all. Misery multiplies when it's waiting in a line.
(Side track: the story behind the teary photo is that She Who Wouldn't Stop Running once again decided to find out the hard way that I was giving good advice when I told her it wasn't safe to run in the park. She crashed into an older boy at full speed, knocking both herself and him over. He was totally fine, as was she, except that she was horribly embarrassed. Also, she HATES it when I'm right. Thus, sob city for about half an hour.)
So. Relax. Enjoy yourself. Don't stress out. Don't be afraid to change plans if the situation warrants. Know why you're there and remind yourself of it often.
And just have fun.
More tips to come, but if you have a specific question, ask it in comments or on Facebook please and thank you and y'all are the bestest.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Reader Comments (12)
Doesn't have to be DisneyWorld for that advice to be totally true!
That's actually one of the first things I tell people who ask me advice. Take your time, and take a mid-day break. There's not reason to try to shove everything in at once. I always tell people make a plan, as in do some research on the parks and pick attractions that are "must dos" to them and the rest will be a bonus.
I couldn't resist posting a comment on WDW vacation planning advice. Haha
Reading this series with definite interest. 2012! WOO!
Good advice! I'd like to know how you book your trip. Do you use a travel agent, or do it online? Do you use a Disney planning website, or book airfare, and hotel separate? Do so many people get fast passes, that you still end up standing in a long line?
As someone who went to Disney four times in six years, I completely agree that you will ALWAYS find something new to try each time you are in Disney World.
I'm quite interested to see your tips. We are (hopefully) planning a trip in March 2012. It will be our first trip with the boys and although in my head I know the common sense things to do with kids at Disney (like not drag them all over the parks for 16 hours), I would love to hear tips from someone who has taken a toddler/pre-schooler to Disney.
Perfect advise! I really have to remind myself of that anytime we take the kids to any fun activity. It really is important. But I suppose when you add in the crapload of money spent the pressure is on a bit more. But you are 100% right!
We are the park commando types that you advise against, but the difference is, we are ALL that way. Well, mostly - Ed is the most likely to get tired, so the kids and I happily send him off to the hotel or a bar or whatever and let him regroup while we continue on. If the kids weren't crazy like me, I would definitely take a mid-day break. We do always make sure to sit down and relax and eat during the day to regroup a little. And when we're in MK, we ride the TTA a bunch of times, because it's a nice way to relax while still "doing something"
As for planning/booking, I always use Magical Journeys - they are a Disney only travel agency and you can book and forget it - they will keep checking for any discounts or deal that come out and take care of them for you. On my last trip, they ended up saving me over $1000 from the time we booked to the time we went.
Perfect! The first time we went with our then-one-year-old, we totally admitted it was all about us, and went with it. And then dang if the kids didn't start voicing OPINIONS and such! The nerve! Our focus changes every time and when the stomach flu comes along and changes your focus FOR you, well, you learn to roll with it. I have never gone and NOT accomplished the few things on my must-do list but I keep it very realistic. Like the year we got the stomach flu I only wanted two things: Baby Girl's first haircut and the boys to ride in the front of the monorail (which they did while we were in the ER).
Next Must-Do? Bibbidy-Boppity- Boutique. YES!!
Absolutely! My husband and I actually met at Disney World (both students on the same high school band trip) and have been back four or five times since then. The first time we went with one of our own children, it was our oldest. He was only 18 months at the time, plus we had a ton of family with us, so he was happy to hang out in the stoller with the grandmas while my hubby and I did our normal 16-hour days of Disney. Fast forward almost three years later, where he and his little sister are now along for the ride. It took us less than one (definitely not-16 hour) day to realize that those Disney trips will never be the same. And you know what? I actually enjoy these trips more because I get to actually enjoy the parks instead of running frantically from ride to ride.
Awesome tip. Most people forget that. My parents were really good at spreading it out...sometimes we had an awesome time just chilling in the hotel...definitely don't want to make the happiest place on earth into a dismal memory!!
I'm definitely interested in reading the rest of the tips! It'll be my first trip back to the Mouse since I was a toddler with my parents (and well, by now, the memory of it is more than hazy). So any information and tips would be a wonderful help.
Great advice as always! However, get back to the lists of tips for each park would ya - LOL! No seriously make with the lists. ; p