Monday, October 29, 2012

A Magical Meltdown

Sometimes, it's best to cut your losses early


 "Abort the touring plan!" my husband joked, as I tossed my raging daughter over my shoulder and made a mad dash for Epcot's front gates.  Our morning had been stressful, to say the least.  We'd been introduced to a different side of Sadie that we'd never seen before, one whose fundamental goal was apparently to shock and embarrass her parents.  The last few hours had been consumed with reprimands, time-outs, and even (I'm ashamed to admit) a few desperate bribes in an attempt to appease my beast-daughter.  Unfortunately, the demon presence that had temporarily inhabited my daughter's body did not respond to the same palliatives and consequences that "normal Sadie" would have.  Finally, after a hurried lunch that culminated in the loudest temper tantrum that Sadie had ever unleashed (in arguably the most crowded location in all of Epcot), we decided to spare the public from any further exposure to our hot mess, and we bolted for the gates.


Now difficult to believe, the day had truly begun with such promise.  That morning, the sunlight had warmed our backs as we dined on cinnamon rolls and waited for Epcot to open for the day.  Fueled with Disney adrenaline, my son had not stopped talking since he woke up two hours ago.  Jack had been looking forward to this day since he first saw images of Epcot on the Disney planning DVD.  A science and information nut, he was immediately drawn to Epcot's vibe.


Starting our morning early at Epcot
Tip Time: Many first-time visitors shy away from Epcot because they think that their children will be bored.  Not true!!  Even if you don't have a little scientist in your family, your children will find plenty to love at Epcot.  Epcot offers character meets, kids' activities, and family-friendly attractions, complete with those little magical touches that make Disney parks so unique.

As Jack chattered away in the background, I glanced down at my daughter.  The contrast in the demeanor of my two children could not have been more pronounced.  While Jack had spent the morning bouncing around like a wind-up toy, Sadie had barely summoned the energy to drag herself out of the stroller.  My intuition told me that she was on the brink of a major meltdown.  I could almost see the cloud of doom slowly building around her, threatening to destroy everything in its path.

Streamers, streamers everywhere!
I'd started to realize that the last few days had taken their toll on Sadie.  When designing our touring plans, I'd decided to make "rope drop" ("Disney Speak" for park opening) a priority.  I knew that we could accomplish more in the first few hours of each day than we could in the entire afternoon and evening combined.  Besides, our kids were early risers at home; if they slept until 7:00am, I was grateful.  What I'd failed to consider was that, even though my kids were used to early mornings, they were not accustomed to all of the walking they'd done and the stimulation they'd been exposed to over the last few days.  My daughter, especially, was starting to fatigue.

Tip Time: If you are staying at Disney World for more than four days, consider taking a mid-week break.  Plan a non-park day where you can sleep in (or at least be lazy in the morning), swim in the pool, visit Downtown Disney, or play a few rounds of miniature golf.  

Then suddenly..."look!!!!" Jack yelled at the top of his lungs.  The Epcot Welcome Show had ended, showering the crowd with streamers.  As if on cue, Sadie leaped out of the stroller, hands flailing, a smile spreading across her face.  I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized that, at least for now, the impending meltdown had been avoided, courtesy only of the colorful pieces of paper that were floating to the ground around her.  Realizing, however, that this reprieve could be short-lived, we decided to start the day with a little Disney magic, heading immediately to the Epcot Character Spot to meet the Fab Five.

Starting the morning at Epcot Character Spot
Tip Time: Currently under refurbishment, the Character Spot at Epcot is one of the best places to meet the five "biggies": Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy.

After feeding her character addiction, Sadie's mood was much improved (at least temporarily).  So, I pulled out our touring plan, and off we went again!  Epcot is divided into two distinct sections: Future World (containing pavilions that celebrate innovation and technology) and World Showcase (boasting detailed pavilions celebrating eleven different nations).  World Showcase typically opens at 11:00am, so our general plan was to spend the morning in Future World, return to the hotel to rest in the afternoon, and visit World Showcase in the evening.  Once again, the touring plan was a tremendous success, allowing us to walk right on to most of the headliner rides.  Furthermore, because we stayed ahead of the crowds, we were able to leisurely explore Future World's unique exhibits.  Jack was in heaven.

Loving Epcot's exhibits
By mid-morning, however, Sadie had started to deteriorate again.  If one of us looked at her the wrong way, she began to cry.  If she didn't get her way, an angry outburst ensued.  Once again, our family was faced with a conundrum.  Should we scrap the rest of the touring plan and return to the hotel early?  Or should we power through the morning as planned and leave the park after lunch?  Since this was our only day at Epcot and Jack was having such a great time, we decided to soldier on and try to deal with Sadie's behavior in a calm but firm manner.

Fast-forward three hours later, and we were seriously regretting that decision.  Although we'd completed our touring plan (and my son had really enjoyed himself), my husband and I were a frazzled mess by the time we boarded the monorail for the ride back to our hotel.  Frustrated and tired, I stared out of the window as the monorail began to move.  That morning, we'd employed all of the parenting strategies in our repertoire to no avail.  On a normal day, these strategies would have quickly curbed any poor behavior, but not today.  I was at a complete loss for what to do next.

"Hey," my husband whispered, gesturing toward the stroller.  "Look."  Fully prepared to be met with yet another scowl, I glanced down at my daughter.  What I saw instead was the sweet face of my exhausted little girl, head flung back, mouth wide open, totally passed out.  Suddenly, it hit me.  The reason that my normal parenting strategies had failed was because this day was nowhere near normal.  For the last three days, our kids had been bombarded with near-constant stimulation.  This can be exhausting for people of all ages; for some children (like Sadie), it can become completely overwhelming.  Even though we'd kept reasonable bedtime hours and provided our children with afternoon breaks, the stimulation had caught up with Sadie, and she was simply fried.         

Tip Time: If it becomes obvious that one of your children is inconsolable, consider sending that child back to the hotel with a parent and allowing other children to continue enjoying the parks with another adult.  Although this is not an ideal situation, it may be a better option than powering through the morning like we did.      

Realizing that my daughter desperately needed a break from the frenetic pace we'd been keeping, we decided to take an extra-long afternoon break.  When we returned to Epcot that evening, we tossed out my touring plan and completely avoided Future World, choosing instead to leisurely stroll through the relatively low-key World Showcase.  Jack had a blast participating in a few Kim Possible missions **, and Sadie loved the craft stations at each of the nation's pavilions.  By the end of the night, we had all recuperated enough to stay and enjoy IllumiNations, Epcot's nighttime fireworks show.  As my kids munched on popcorn, the light from the fireworks reflecting in their eyes, I once again breathed a sigh of relief.  Our relaxing evening had restored my daughter's sanity, and all was right with the world again.

Later that evening...

** Kim Possible Missions, recently reconceived as Agent P Missions (from Disney's Phineas and Ferb) provide children with an engaging opportunity to help save World Showcase from doom.  Kids are assigned a device (similar to a cell phone) that connects them to the game. 

The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Character Conundrums and The Main Street Electrical Blockade

A Magical Morning Spent Ahead of the Crowds
Our day had begun seven hours earlier at the crack of dawn with a wake-up call, courtesy of my daughter's unbridled excitement.  One princess breakfast, a converted prince, two sets of FASTPASSES, a dozen rides, a Castle Forecourt show, four teacups, and one important lesson about "commando touring" later, and we were ready for a break.  Because we'd arrived early to the Magic Kingdom that morning, we'd been able to completely "stay ahead of the crowds."  Now, instead of spending our afternoon waiting in hot lines with hordes of people, we were cooling off in our resort's pool and napping in our air-conditioned hotel room.

Tip TimeIf you plan to take a daily break, and you don't want Mousekeeping to arrive while you are resting in your room, you can request that they service your room in the mornings.  Mousekeeping cannot guarantee time slots, but they will do their best to accommodate you.  

Afternoons are best spent in the pool
Four hours later, we were refreshed and ready for some more magic in the parks!  Because we did not add the Park Hopper option to our tickets (more on the Park Hopper in a later post), our only choice that afternoon was to return to the same park we'd visited earlier in the day--the Magic Kingdom.  On our walk back to the park, I reviewed our touring plans for the evening.  While researching our trip, I'd learned that the Magic Kingdom offers spectacular nighttime entertainment.  On select evenings (and almost every night during busier times of the year), over half-a-million twinkling lights illuminate the park during The Main Street Electrical Parade.  Every night, Cinderella Castle is silhouetted by a truly amazing fireworks display called Wishes Nighttime Spectacular (unless it is replaced by a special holiday fireworks show).  Since we'd planned two full days at Magic Kingdom, however, I'd decided that we would save the evening entertainment for our second night.  On this night, while most people were watching the parade, I planned to take advantage of the light crowds in the other areas of the park and experience some attractions with (hopefully) very little wait.

Our little character junkie with her favorite chipmunks
When we arrived at the gates of the Magic Kingdom for the second time that day, we noticed that Chip and Dale were greeting guests outside the Main Street Railroad Station.  By this point in our vacation, our daughter had become a full-fledged character junkie.  Over the past two days, our three-year-old had developed an uncanny internal radar, capable of locating any character present within a two-mile radius.  Therefore, it came as no surprise that, as soon as Sadie caught a glimpse of those chipmunks, she was physically incapable of resisting their magnetic pull.  In contrast, with the possible exception of his favorite mermaid (on whom he'd developed a bit of a "guppy crush"), my son had showed little interest in the characters so far.  This disparity had the potential to create quite a character conundrum, as it does for many families.  Before we left for Disney World, however, I'd considered the possibility that we may be faced with a dilemma like this.  Once again, having a touring plan helped me come up with a guideline for meeting characters.

As I'd learned that morning, it is crucial to allow room in your touring plans for a certain level of spontaneity.  However, if you acquiesce to riding each attraction ten times or you agree to meet every character that you happen to see, your morning will fall apart, and you will completely defeat the purpose of a having a touring plan.  To avoid this, I identified the most popular characters whose lines typically become prohibitively long in the afternoons and evenings, and I worked them into our morning touring plans.  I explained to the kids that, while we would try to meet all of the important characters at some point, we would not be stopping for furry creatures in the mornings.  Then, in the evenings, we could be more flexible and Sadie could meet a few characters on impulse.

Tip Time: Arriving early and following a touring plan allows you to enjoy the headliner rides in the morning with very little wait.  Consequently, your evenings will be much more relaxed, with plenty of time for spontaneous diversions like giant chipmunks.

The castle, all aglow
After enjoying some quality time with Chip and Dale, we spent the entire evening riding high-capacity attractions, browsing shops for souvenirs, and appreciating all of the little details that make Disney World so magical.  As the sun began to set over the Magic Kingdom, the castle started to glow in a variety of changing colors...and our kids began to fall apart.  The parade had just finished, and we decided that we should get our sleepy kids into bed before they melted down completely, so we started to head back toward Main Street.

Unfortunately, unbeknownst to us, Main Street becomes completely clogged immediately after the parade, morphing rapidly into the Main Street Electrical Blockade.  A wall of people are trying to move toward the exit, while another wall of people are attempting to head toward the castle for the fireworks.  When we hit the Castle Forecourt that night, we came to a veritable standstill where we remained for nearly ten minutes.  When we finally started moving, we inched along for almost a half hour until we finally reached the entrance.  Needless to say, this was a decidedly un-magical way to end our day.

Tip Time: Since that evening, I have discovered multiple strategies for avoiding the Main Street Electrical Blockade.  The content of your touring plan dictates which strategy is best for your family.

Finally free of the crowd, we began our walk back to the Contemporary Resort, feeling frustrated and grumpy from being trapped in a logjam of people.  When we had almost reached the lobby of our hotel, however, the first "boom" of the Magic Kingdom fireworks shattered our bad moods.

"Look, Mom!" my son exclaimed, as he looked behind him, squinting between the trees that blocked the barely visible Wishes Nighttime Spectacular.  "Fireworks!"  Realizing that we could catch the fireworks finale from our balcony if we hurried, we began racing through the lobby to hop on the next elevator to our floor, the kids laughing with abandon.  When we reached our room, we flung open the door and tore to our balcony, just in time to watch the night sky explode with color.  Huddled together, we stared at Cinderella Castle as it shimmered in the night, not moving until the last ember dissolved in the sky, all of our frustration melting away with it.

Next Up: Epcot

The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Monday, October 22, 2012

The Great Mad Tea Party Touring-Plan Destroyer

After a leisurely walk down an uncrowded Main Street, a carefree romp at the Castle Forecourt, and a sunrise breakfast with our favorite princesses, we were ready to tackle our first day at the Magic Kingdom!  I'd reserved the earliest possible slot for breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table, so we'd been granted entry into the park before it even officially opened for the day.  Consequently, by 8:50am, we had finished our meal and were lined up at the entrance to Fantasyland**.  When the Cast Members pulled back the rope at 9:00am, we would be among the first people to enter Fantasyland while everyone else would still be walking down Main Street.  While we waited, I pulled out my touring plan for our first day at the Magic Kingdom and reviewed it.   

Tip TimeAnimal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios can easily be tackled in one day.  You can tour Epcot in one day, but we like to allot a day and a half if we can.  Magic Kingdom takes longer, especially for first time visitors.  To fully soak up all of the magic, plan to devote two full days to Magic Kingdom if possible. 

As I discussed in an earlier post, a touring plan is simply a list of attractions that you wish to visit and shows that you want to see, written down in the order of when you plan to visit them.  Start by making a "wish list" of "must-do" attractions and shows that are the most important to you; you can also designate some "hope-to-do" attractions that you plan on visiting if you have time.  Then, decide which of these attractions you're going to visit first, second, third, and so on (be sure to check Disney entertainment schedules before you leave so that you can insert shows into your touring plans at the right times).  As a general rule of thumb, you should prioritize attractions that will quickly build prohibitively long lines, working in FASTPASSES for headliner rides that you can't get to in the early morning (more on FASTPASS in a later post).  The process of designing a touring plan can quickly become overwhelming, but there are experts (like me) who can craft one for you based on the needs and preferences of your group.

Excited for another magical day at the parks!
At Hollywood Studios, I had experienced first-hand the benefits of having a touring plan: we spent significantly less time waiting in line, and we were able to enjoy many more attractions than we would have without a plan; this ultimately led to an exponentially more memorable, stress-free day at the park.  Consequently, I could not wait to try out my Magic Kingdom touring plan!

Our first ride at Magic Kingdom!








When the rope finally "dropped", I noticed that several families still had their maps out and were discussing which attraction to visit first.  By the time they came to a decision, we had already grabbed our first FASTPASSES and were boarding our first ride of the day. 

Tip Time: Once you design a plan, share it with your family so that you are not wasting precious park touring time arguing about which ride to visit next.  If your children are very young and would be overwhelmed with an entire touring plan, consider telling them: "First, we're going on __________.  Then, we'll head to _________.  After that, I'll tell you what our next step is."

As I had hoped, everything went very smoothly for most of the morning.  We walked onto almost every ride, never waiting in line for more than a few minutes.  It seemed like the crowds were always several steps behind us.  Because we were saving so much time, we were able to relax and enjoy ourselves.  Instead of spending most of our day waiting in line, we had time to soak up all of the little magical details that Disney World offers.  My kids were happy.  My husband was happy.  I was happy.  Everything was right with the world.  And then, it happened.  We stumbled upon our first major roadblock: "The Great Mad Tea Party Touring-Plan Destroyer". 

It began innocently enough.  As we boarded our teacup, we waved to Alice and the Mad Hatter (who were just finishing their morning teacup spin).  The ride began, the kids spun the teacup so fast that I thought I was in danger of losing my breakfast, everyone laughed at my expense...you know, normal stuff.  When our teacup screeched to a halt, signifying the end of the ride, I climbed out and started to say, "OK, now we're going to head over to It's a Small World and then...".  Before I could finish my sentence, two adamant voices interrupted me, screaming, "Again!  Again!  We want to ride again!"

Our third (or maybe fourth) Tea Party ride
"Well," I responded, glancing down at my plan.  "We spent a lot of time looking for Hidden Mickeys over by the carousel, and if we don't get to It's a Small World now, we may not be able to get another FASTPASS for Peter Pan's Flight, which means..."  My husband cleared his throat, and I looked up, straight into the pleading eyes of my children.    

In that moment, another crucial lesson dawned on me.  When you are following a touring plan, it is easy to fall into the "commando touring trap."  Sometimes, you have to take a step back and remember that your touring plan is written on a piece of paper, not engraved in stone.  While touring plans are essential guides and are crucial to a successful day at Disney World, they are just plans, and they can be altered. 

Tip Time: Always remember that you are on vacation, so you should be having fun.  Allow yourself a certain level of spontaneity; if you deviate from your plan at times, your vacation will not be ruined.  The touring plan gods will not strike you down.  Ultimately, the purpose of a touring plan is to help you and your family enjoy your vacation as much as possible; if you let the plan take over your entire trip, you are defeating its purpose. 

I knew that the answer I gave to my children's request would effectively set the tone for the rest of the vacation.  As we whirled around in a teacup for the fourth time in a row, my children laughing that deep guttural laugh that only comes out when they are genuinely happy, I knew that I'd made the right decision.

All of the wonder without the wait!
When the kids had finally exhausted their desire to make me vomit in a teacup, we moved on to the next step of our plan.  Because we'd arrived at the park before rope drop and toured efficiently in the first few uncrowded hours of the morning, we truly hadn't lost much time.  We were still able to experience every attraction on our morning "wish list" before lunch.  By then, the crowds had started to build significantly and the hot sun was turning my daughter into a sweaty puddle of grumpiness, so we decided to return to our hotel for an afternoon break.  As we headed out of the park, I couldn't help but notice the throngs of people moving down Main Street toward Fantasyland.  I knew that, by the time we returned to the Magic Kingdom that evening, rested and refreshed, many of those people would have spent most of their afternoon baking in long lines for attractions that we were able to walk onto in the cooler morning.

I grabbed my son's hand as we headed out of the turnstiles.  "Mommy," he said as he looked up at me.  "This was a great morning.  I can't wait to come back."  Me neither, kiddo, I thought.  Me neither.

Next Up: Main Street Electrical Blockade: An Evening at the Magic Kingdom

** The Magic Kingdom is divided into six distinct lands: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Storybook Circus.
 

The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Mommy, We're The Only Ones Here!


"IT'S PRINCESS DAY!!!!  I'M HAVING BREAKFAST WITH THE PRINCESSES!!"  My daughter's voice pierced the silence of our hotel room...at 6:00am, on the dot.

"Ugh," my son sighed, and rolled back over.  "I hate princesses," he groaned.

I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't seen this coming.  I had planned two days at Magic Kingdom: one focused on princesses and fantasy, and the other centered around pirates and adventure; the night before, I'd shared this plan with the kids.  Naturally, I had assumed that Sadie would be fonder of the first day and that the second day would appeal more to Jack, but I was confident that there would be lots for each of them to appreciate on both days.  I also knew, however, that Jack's personality would prevent him from from having a positive attitude about anything that didn't initially appeal to him.  Sure enough, when the envelope from Cinderella arrived the evening before, inviting the kids to attend a royal breakfast the next morning at her castle (that's right--you can actually eat in the castle!), Jack's chagrin set in.


Ready to meet the princesses!
Tip Time: Add a little pixie dust to your trip by making your own invitations to character meals or special events that you'll be attending while at Disney World.  When the kids aren't paying attention, put the envelope by the door and then pretend that it was just delivered!

Consequently, as I helped Sadie put on her princess dress and crown that morning, we were treated to the enchanting background noise of Jack's moaning.  I had to remind myself of the resolution I'd made two nights before at the Wilderness Lodge; regardless of how much time and energy I'd invested in making this the most magical trip ever darn it, the kids were still kids, and I needed to accept the fact that they were not going to be happy every single minute.  So, I ignored the whining, and off we went to Magic Kingdom!!

The Contemporary Resort is within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom, so we decided to take the walkway to the park.  Once again, I was absolutely astounded by the friendliness of the Cast Members that we encountered.  Everyone from the concierge desk to the grounds crew on the walkway greeted Sadie with a "good morning, princess" and told Jack to "have a magical day".  By 7:30am, we'd passed through Magic Kingdom security and were on our way to the front gates**.  We took a moment to gaze at the Main Street Train Station of the Walt Disney World Railroad, our excitement building as I read the words aloud: "Let The Memories Begin!"  


The Main Street Train Station
To make the most of our day, I'd booked the earliest possible breakfast reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table.  This allowed us to enter the park before it even officially opened for the day!  So, after taking everything in on the outside, we strolled down a completely empty Main Street toward Cinderella Castle, the kids skipping ahead of us in the morning sunlight.

Tip Time: All four parks offer character breakfasts that begin about an hour before regular park opening.  Not only is this a truly magical way to start your day, but you get to be one of the few people to enter the park before it opens to the general public.  Nothing quite compares to walking down a virtually empty Main Street at Magic Kingdom or strolling through Epcot's World Showcase by yourselves.  Moreover, if you finish eating in time, you get to be the first in line for the #1 attraction on your list!


Sadie, with the castle all to herself
When we finally reached the castle, Sadie stopped skipping in her tracks.  Slowly, she walked toward the Castle Forecourt and froze, just staring at the castle.  We were all quiet for a moment.  Suddenly, Jack's excited voice broke the silence.  "Mommy, we're the only ones here!!!" he exclaimed.  "I'm gonna run around!!!"

For the next five minutes, Jack and Sadie did something that would be impossible during the other 13 hours and 50 minutes that the park was open that day.  They skipped around the Forecourt, throwing their heads back in pure joy, completely free.  It was, without a doubt, one of my favorite moments of the whole trip. 


I'm gonna run around!
After the kids tired of gallivanting, we headed over to the castle entrance for breakfast.  Once inside, we were greeted by Cinderella herself.  Then we were led upstairs to our table, right next to a stained glass window that overlooked Fantasyland.  As we ate our breakfast and watched the sun continue to rise over the Kingdom, we were visited by four more princesses: Belle, Ariel, Snow White, and Aurora.  Predictably, Sadie was completely enchanted with each new arrival.  And I was totally impressed with the way that the princesses engaged Jack.  Ariel, for example, referred to him as her "little guppy" and invited him to "slap fins" instead of  giving her a "high-five".  Aurora asked him how many dragons he'd slayed that morning.  And Snow White wanted to make sure that he hadn't eaten any apples before he came.  He laughed and smiled throughout the entire meal, in spite of himself.  Let's just say that, by the time breakfast was over, Jack was quite taken with the ladies after all.
    
Jack, "slapping fins" with Ariel
As we finished our last few bites of french toast and scrambled eggs, and prepared to head out to Fantasyland, Jack smiled and said, "I really liked Ariel.  Let's go!!"  My husband and I exchanged satisfied glances as we got up from the table.  The breakfast had filled us up (in more ways than one), and the stage was set for a memorable, magical day!  And what a magical day it was!!

Next Up: Staying Ahead of the Crowds in Fantasyland



Sadie and her favorite princess
**Remember, the best way to ensure that you get to experience all of the attractions on your "wish list" is to arrive at the parks early on as many days as possible.  Try to arrive 30 minutes before rope drop (40-60 minutes during busier times of the year), giving yourself plenty of time to get through security and line up at the turnstiles.  Park buses usually begin running 1-2 hours before opening.  Don't worry, however, if you have sleepy heads that you just can't rouse for an early park arrival; you still can have a memorable, stress-free vacation as long as you have realistic expectations for what you will be able to accomplish and, most importantly, you follow a touring plan.




The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Monday, October 15, 2012

A Room with a View

While we were dancing on the sidelines of the afternoon parade at Hollywood Studios, I received a text message that our room at the Contemporary Resort was ready.  It was only 3:30pm, but we had stayed ahead of the crowds with my touring plan, already experiencing every attraction on our wish list and then some (more about attraction "wish lists" later).  One look at my sweat-drenched kids, and I knew it was time that we hopped in our car and headed back to the hotel.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we decided to rent a car on this trip.  I knew that renting a car was not a necessity since Disney provides free transportation both between Orlando International Airport and its resort hotels (via its Magical Express shuttle) and between its resort hotels, theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney area.  Regardless, I was drawn to the convenience of having a car at our disposal.  I quickly learned, however, that there are pros and cons to renting a car in Disney World.

First, the pros. We were able to get from the airport to our hotel faster in our own car.  In most cases, having a car also saved us some commuting time from our hotel to the parks.**.   Finally, I will be the first to admit that my personality sometimes makes it difficult for me to relinquish control, so I thought I would be less stressed with my own car, as it allowed us to come and go as we pleased.

Now, the cons.  First, renting a car is not cheap; it will definitely add to the cost of any trip.  Next, we often found it stressful to navigate Disney World's sometimes-confusing roads.  We got lost no less than three times; one time, we almost missed a character breakfast reservation.   Finally, when we did use Disney transportation on a few occasions, we did not have to leave the magical "Disney cocoon"; nothing puts a damper on Disney magic like having to trek across a steaming hot parking lot and crawl into a steaming hot car at the end of a steaming hot day touring steaming hot parks.

So, to rent or not to rent?  The answer depends on many factors.  If you are staying offsite, you should seriously consider renting a car.  Even if your offsite hotel provides shuttles to the Disney parks, it is usually not as frequent or efficient as Disney transportation.  If you are planning to take a side trip (to Universal Studios, Sea World, the ocean, etc.), renting a car would probably be in your best interest.  However, if you are staying at a Disney resort and you are planning to vacation solely within Disney World, I would caution against renting a car.  Initially, I thought it would be comforting to stay in control of our transportation, but I found it infinitely more enjoyable on the occasions when someone else was in control (you are on vacation, after all).  Furthermore, the small amount of commuting time that we saved by driving ourselves to the parks was negated by the time it took to find a parking spot, hop on a parking lot tram (or walk across the lot), and trek to the front gates of the park.

So, there we were, dragging ourselves across the baking parking lot to our inferno of a car, after a long night of being abused by that blasted pink bunny lovey and a tiring (albeit truly magical) day of touring at Hollywood Studios.  When we finally arrived at the Contemporary Hotel, we were completely wiped out and a little cranky from the hot car ride.  OK, a lot cranky.

Our magical view
All of that melted away, however, when we opened the door to our hotel room.   The first thing we noticed was how impeccably clean and tidy the room was, and it didn't take long for Jack and Sadie to notice the special little details left by housekeeping: "towel animals" on the beds, a welcome note on the nightstand, candy on the pillows, just to name a few.
A special touch from Mousekeeping

Tip Time: Disney housekeeping (dubbed "Mousekeeping") is well-known for its dedication to cleanliness, attention to detail, and propensity for leaving that "little extra touch".  In return for such exceptional service, we like to share a "little extra touch" as well.  Before we leave for a Disney trip, we visit The Mouse for Less and download fun templates for gratuity envelopes.

Nothing could have prepared us, however, for the magic that befell us when we stepped onto our balcony.  Because we were traveling in the off-season, we had gotten an incredible deal on our room (more on how to get the best Disney discounts in a later post).  At that point, I was still under the delusion that this would be our only trip to Disney World while the kids were still young (haha), so I decided to use the money we'd saved to upgrade to a "castle view room".  Even though I knew that we would be able to see the castle from our room, my breath still caught in my chest when I pulled back the curtains for the first time.

We spent the next half hour on our balcony, the kids sprawled out lazily on our laps, just staring at the castle.  At this point, we were so exhausted that we barely had the energy to stand, so we decided to spend the evening exploring our surroundings instead of returning to the parks.
 
Tip Time: Disney parks are the hottest and most crowded in the afternoon, even during the off-season.  I strongly suggest that you arrive at rope drop, take an afternoon break (we usually leave the parks from around 1:00pm to around 5:00pm), and return refreshed in the evening.  If you want to stay past 1:00pm in a park to see an afternoon parade (like we did on this day at Hollywood Studios), finish your park touring by 4:00pm and then leave for the day.  Instead of returning to the parks that evening, spend time relaxing at your resort and swimming in the pool.  This is the best way to keep your vacation feeling like a vacation instead of an over-scheduled frenzy. 

After a monorail ride, an early quick-service dinner at the Polynesian Resort (another hotel on the monorail), and some more time relaxing on our balcony, the kids were completely spent.  We had an early morning planned at the Magic Kingdom the next day (complete with a pre-park opening breakfast at Cinderella Castle), so we tucked them into bed before it was even completely dark.

As my husband and I sank back into our balcony chairs, enjoying a glass of wine and rehashing our favorite parts of the day, I found myself holding back tears.  This may be hard to believe, but I am generally not a very nostalgic person.  However, watching the castle change colors in the night and turning to glance at my sleeping children, I was suddenly acutely aware of how special these moments together were.  I knew that our children were never going to be this innocent again.  If we ever returned to Disney World (yes, I was still delusional), I knew that they would be wiser and more skeptical.  Mickey would just be a person in a costume and the pixie dust would have lost some of its power.  This trip symbolized the innocence of their entire childhoods, and I was loving every minute of it.   

The castle at night
Next Up: A Magical Morning at the Magic Kingdom!!


**Magic Kingdom is the exception to this rule.  If you drive to Magic Kingdom, you will have to park at the Ticket and Transportation Center, take a tram to the front of the parking lot, and board a monorail to the Magic Kingdom.  If you are staying at a Disney resort, you can ride a bus to the Magic Kingdom gates, completely bypassing the Ticket and Transportation Center, saving at least 20-30 minutes.

The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Thursday, October 11, 2012

And the Magic Begins!

After a truly magical start to our day on the observation deck of the Contemporary Resort hotel, we were excited to hit the parks.  Before our trip, I had devoted countless hours to researching and planning our itinerary.  My initial instinct was to visit The Magic Kingdom first, but after sifting through copious amounts of information, I decided that Hollywood Studios would be the best choice for our first day.  In the beginning, I had been a little uneasy about the appropriateness of Hollywood Studios for young children.  I just wasn't sure how much my kids would be able to do (or want to do, for that matter).  However, I had learned about a few child-friendly gems at the Studios that I just knew my kids would love, so I added the park to our itinerary.

Tip Time: Planning an itinerary before you embark on a Disney vacation is crucial to the success of your trip.  Many people feel compelled to visit The Magic Kingdom on the first day of  their vacation, but it is not always the best choice.  Numerous factors influence crowd levels at any park on any given day, including day of the week, special events, and park hours.  Picking the wrong park could be the difference between a frustrating day and an enjoyable one.  Planning an itinerary can be overwhelming, but there are experts available (like me) to help you.

A few days before our trip, however, panic struck.  I was cuddled up on the couch with the kids, watching TV, when a commercial for Disney World aired, featuring scenes from Hollywood Studios.  I almost could not contain my excitement; it took all of my willpower not to yell out, "We will be there, in Hollywood Studios, in three days!!!"  I slipped away in thought, imagining my children holding hands, running through the iconic Sorcerer's Hat.  Suddenly, my idyllic daydream was pulverized by the piercing voices of my children.  "I hope we never go to Hollywood Studios.  It has Disney Junior stuff.  That's for babies," my first-grade son proclaimed. 

"Yeah," my daughter griped.  "It has Star Wars.  I HATE Star Wars." 

Needless to say, as we strolled down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I quickly pushed these worries aside, though, because the time had come to put my first touring plan into action!  When I started researching for our vacation, I balked at the idea of a touring plan.  This is supposed to be a vacation, I thought.  Who wants to plan every minute of their trip?  As I continued reading about Disney World, however, it became clear to me that a trip to Disney World is unlike any other vacation.  Even in the off-season, Disney World is crowded; it's just relatively less crowded than peak season.  The difference between having a touring plan and not having a touring plan (even during the less busy times of year) is simple: if you have a plan, you will spend significantly less time waiting in line and more time enjoying yourself.  I also realized that I didn't have to plan every single minute; I just needed to have a general idea of which attractions we wanted to visit, listed in an order than would most likely decrease our overall wait time.  Most importantly, I knew that my touring plans needed to allow for spontaneity.  If we decided to skip an attraction or spend extra time with a character, we would adjust; if we didn't get to experience every attraction on the plan, we would accept that.  So, after tons more research and countless more hours, I had created a detailed touring plan for each day of our trip.

Tip Time: A touring plan includes all of the attractions you plan to visit, listed in order of when you plan to visit them.  These plans can be as detailed (or as simple) as you want.  Most importantly, you need to know which attractions to visit first if you want to avoid long waits later in the day; it is also crucial to learn how to most effectively utilize the Disney FASTPASS system.  A touring plan for each day of your vacation is essential for "staying ahead of the crowds".  Again, experts (like me) exist to help you with these plans so that you can make the most of your vacation.

So into action we went, following each step on my touring plan.  I was utterly amazed by how smoothly our day went.  By 1:15pm, we had visited five major attractions, met two characters, stopped for a snack, played on a themed playground, and eaten lunch with the Disney Junior characters.  (On a side note, take a look at my son who had insisted that he would never meet the "babyish" Disney Junior characters).

Just look at that smile!
This left us with an entire afternoon to relax, see some shows and revisit some of our favorite attractions (using Disney's FASTPASS system).  I did not realize just how essential my touring plan had been, however, until I was waiting in line to use the bathroom with my daughter after lunch (which was truly the longest wait we had all day).  Sadie had made a little friend in line, so I started talking with the girl's mother.  "I just feel so frustrated," she said.  "We really only got to do two things this morning, and we haven't even met any characters.  The lines are just so long."

Meeting all our favorite characters
"Can I take a look at your touring plan?"  I asked.

"What's a touring plan?"  she responded.

I was immediately brought back to the conversation I'd had with the dad of my son's classmate a few days before we left for Disney World (the man who told me that, on their trip, his family was only able to experience one attraction per hour).  I realized that the difference between our experience at Hollywood Studios and this woman's experience boiled down to one element: our touring plan.

As my daughter and I skipped up the steps of Theater of the Stars (where Beauty and the Beast, one of Hollywood Studios' headliner shows, is currently playing), singing "Be Our Guest", I knew that all of my planning had truly paid off.  I could not have asked for a more stress-free, magical day.  Little did I know, however, that our day was about to get infinitely more magical.

When we got to the top of the stairs, two Cast Members bowed down to my daughter and said, "Could we ask you a favor, sweetheart?  Will you be Belle's princess for the show?"  Of course, she agreed, and we were led to a special seat in the front of the theater, Cast Members bowing to her at each section along the way.  Throughout the show, the performers winked and waved at her. The highlight of this experience, however, came at the very end.  During the curtain call, a Cast Member took my daughter by the hand and led her to the stage.  Belle bowed to her, and the prince handed her a red rose as a memento.  Sadie turned and looked at me, pure joy spreading across her face.  This was the unexpected moment of wonder that I had been waiting for; this is what people mean when they talk about "Disney Magic", and it truly is everywhere.

When we met back up with my husband and son for the afternoon parade, the kids started talking all at once.  "I fought Darth Vader with a Light Saber!" my son exclaimed.  "I'm Belle's most favorite princess!!" screamed my daughter.  And then, "Look, there's WOODY AND JESSIE!" they both shouted, at the top of their lungs.  

The afternoon parade
My husband and I looked at each other and smiled as our kids danced to the parade music, pointing out the characters as they passed and high-fiving Cast Members who were walking in the parade.  If the kids lacked excitement for the trip initially, they were certainly making up for it now.  We were hooked, and there was no turning back!




Next Up: A Room with a View!!

The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Monday, October 8, 2012

The First Taste, Part Three: The Great Hotel Switch-Off

Did I mention that, at this time in her life, my then three-year-old daughter had a charming insomnia habit that emerged on the first night of every vacation?  And that, since my children absolutely can NOT share a bed, it was always my good fortune to be her sleeping partner?  Oh, and that she had this pink rattle-head rabbit "lovey" that she would re-purpose as a mace, battering the head of whomever lay next to her.  So, that first night (after an early morning, an arduous day of travel, and a memorable late-night family swim) I finally collapsed into bed, closed my eyes, and slowly drifted off into...the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge where Sadie and I spent most of the night reading, soothed only by the low hum of the night staff vacuuming around us.

Needless to say, I was bleary-eyed the following morning, but the anticipation of our first day in the parks fueled me with much-needed adrenaline for the day ahead.  This brings me to the "worst idea ever" that I alluded to in my previous post.  When I first began planning our vacation, I originally booked four nights at The Contemporary Hotel; due to our flight schedule, this left us with only three days at the parks.  As our vacation crept closer, a nagging sense of inadequacy grew more intense inside of me.  All of the research I'd been doing cumulatively insisted that, for first-time visitors to Disney World, three days in the parks is simply not enough (an edict with which, incidentally, I now completely agree) .  About one month before our trip, I could no longer ignore it: we needed another night.  Unfortunately, there was no availability at The Contemporary, so I decided to book a room at The Wilderness Lodge for the first night, giving us another full day at the parks.  Sounds brilliant in theory, right?  In practice, however, I had created the most chaotic 36-hour beginning to any vacation...ever.  Thus, we arrived at the Wilderness Lodge (a beautiful, welcoming resort) at 5:00pm on the first night, unable to truly settle in due to the impending hotel switch-off looming over us.  Then, to get to Hollywood Studios for "rope drop" (more on that later) the following morning, we had to check out of the Wilderness Lodge, pack up our car **, drive to The Contemporary and check in, grab some breakfast, get back in the car, and drive to Hollywood Studios--all by 8:30am.

Tip Time: When you book your first vacation at Disney World, you might read about the option of a "split-stay"; this allows you to lodge at two resorts during the course of your vacation.  Disney World has so many beautifully-themed accommodation options (18 hotels, 8 villas, and one campground, to be exact) that a "split-stay" is an attractive choice for guests who would like to experience more than one of them during their trip.  I strongly believe that this option is best suited for return guests (who already "know the ropes") and guests without very small children.  It takes many kids a few days to completely settle in to a new environment; if you switch hotels, the adjustment period will start all over again.  

When we arrived at The Contemporary to check in, however, we immediately felt at ease.  Disney is famous for its attention to detail and exemplary customer service; truly, no other vacation destination compares in these respects.  Cast Members ("Disney Speak" for employees) greeted us with a smile and a "Welcome Home"; it felt as if they were waiting just for us.  The Contemporary Resort (like all Disney resorts) is impeccably themed and remarkably clean.  The lobby (like all Disney lobbies) even features a kids' corner where children can watch old Disney cartoons while their parents check in.  In addition to these standards that you will find at any Disney hotel, each resort possesses unique features.  For example, The Contemporary Resort is the only hotel that is within walking distance to The Magic Kingdom; for a fee, guests can even request a room with a view of Cinderella Castle!  By far, the most impressive feature of The Contemporary Resort, however, is that the Disney monorail (one of the modes of Disney transportation) runs right through the building!

Since it was so early in the morning, our room was not ready.  However, we were able to easily obtain our park tickets, and Bell Services was happy to keep our baggage; they even sent us a text message later in the day when our room was ready!  Before hopping back in our car to head to Hollywood Studios, we decided to grab some breakfast in the Contempo Cafe, The Contemporary's quick-service restaurant.  As we munched on breakfast burritos and french toast sticks, we stared in awe at the monorail trains that sped overhead, and we let the magic completely settle in around us.  Perhaps the most defining moment of our vacation, however, came just seconds later.  On our way back to the parking lot, we noticed an outdoor observation deck and decided spontaneously to check it out.  As we stepped outside, I gasped audibly.  There in the distance, in all its glory, stood The Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle.  "Mommy," came a hushed voice from behind me.  "That's where Cinderella lives."  I turned and looked at the expressions on my kids' faces; even though they did not fully comprehend what they were seeing, they could not take their eyes off of it.  As I sipped from my much-needed cup of coffee, I couldn't help but think how much it tasted like Kool-Aid.  

The View from the Deck



Next Up: We Hit The Parks!

** Disney World provides free transportation (by bus, monorail, and/or watercraft) between its hotels, its theme parks, its water parks, and the Downtown Disney area.  Regardless, we chose to rent a car on this vacation.  There are definitely pros and cons to renting a car at Disney World, and I will cover these in more detail in a later post.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

The First Taste, Part Two: Where is the Magic?

"We're going to Disney World!!!!"  For months, I had been dreaming of saying these five words to our children.  This should have been one of the best moments of their childhoods.  We'd seen it on TV; they should have fainted, or at least shed some tears, right?  Instead, their response was only slightly more enthusiastic than the typical reaction I get from them when I make pancakes for dinner.  By the time we reached the airport, however, I had adjusted my expectations.  I had come to the realization that my children had no reference point for what to expect from Disney World, so it was unlikely that their reactions would be full of the joyous frenzy I had anticipated.  But I had also decided to cherish every moment of this vacation because I knew that this would be the only time that we would go to Disney World for the first time.  Would my kids lose all control over their bodily functions when they laid eyes on Cinderella Castle?  Probably not.  But I was confident that there would be quiet moments of innocent wonder that I would always remember.   

On the plane, I began to focus on the exciting day that lay ahead.  We would land in Orlando, the sun blazing in the sky.  We would check into our first hotel, the Wilderness Lodge (more on the "first" part in a later post--worst idea, ever, by the way), change into our bathing suits, and jump into the pool.  After a delicious dinner where we would enthusiastically discuss all of our magical plans for the next four days, we would crawl into bed at a reasonable hour so that we would all be refreshed and ready to hit the parks in the morning.  I held my breath as our plane touched down at Orlando International Airport.  I looked out the window, ready to revel in the gorgeous...rain???? A downpour, to be more accurate.  Oh well, I thought.  It's Florida.  It rains every afternoon for an hour or so.  Then it stops.  Six hours later, as I stared at the still-weeping skies from inside our hotel room, I was no longer convinced of the storm's short duration.  

"What NOW?????????" two whiny voices demanded from behind me.  I turned around and studied the grumpy faces of my children, trying hard not to be annoyed by the near-constant complaining that had dominated the last six hours.  The dinner that I had imagined would inaugurate our vacation with great fanfare was less than magical, to say the least.  The restaurant was so noisy that we could barely talk, Sadie didn't like anything on the menu, and Jack could not sit still.  Our visit to the arcade had quickly degenerated, melting down into two child-size puddles named Jack and Sadie.  What is the matter with these kids? I found myself thinking.  I had accepted that they were not going to be overwhelmed with joy at every second on our trip, but come on, we're at Disney World!!  I thought.  So what if we can't go swimming?  This is supposed to be the most magical place on earth!!!!!  Where was the magic????

"Let's go," I heard my husband announce, pulling me out of my self-pity and preventing a near imminent mental breakdown.  "We're going on an adventure."

For a moment, I thought he had completely lost his mind.  "Um, it's raining," I pointed out.  "Where could we possibly be going?"

"Somewhere quiet," he answered.

Making our own (quiet) magic
So off we went to explore the less-populated areas of our resort, discovering little treasures along the way.  Who knew that, behind our hotel, expertly-crafted topiaries dotted covered walkways?  I never imagined that Sadie would be so thrilled to have her picture taken with Mickey for the first time, at least not with a Mickey who didn't move and was made out of, well, a bush.  And who would have thought that finding all of the hidden Mickey silhouettes in the carpet and on the hallway walls would provide almost a solid hour of entertainment for Jack?

Before we knew it, bedtime was upon us, and I had learned another valuable lesson.   When you first arrive at Disney World, your children may be grumpy.  Resist the temptation to swear to yourself that you will never ever take them on another vacation again!  Try to understand that they are just kids.  This morning, they were comfortable in their own beds; tonight, they are adjusting to a brand-new place.  Heck, you are adjusting to a brand-new place.  Allow yourselves times to decompress.  Think twice before making reservations at the most boisterous, high-energy restaurant on property.  Instead, consider setting off on an adventure, exploring your surroundings and taking pleasure in the little surprises that Disney offers.  Above all, at least for a few moments, be spontaneous---even if, like me, it goes against your very nature!  Which brings me to the most memorable part of our evening.

When we got back to our hotel room, Jack looked at us with his big, brown eyes and pleaded, "Guys, do we have time for just a little swim?"  I looked out the window: it was still raining, but barely.  It was dark, but the pool was still open for another hour or so.  On the other hand, I had wanted to get the kids to bed early...

Fifteen minutes later, I was spinning my laughing daughter around in the pool and hearing my son scream with delight as he flew through the air in a cannonball, the warm rain softly falling on the inky water all around us.  My husband and I looked at each other and smiled.  And I realized that the magic had been there all along.  We just had to relax enough to let it in.

Finding magic in the little things

 








The Magic Minus the Mayhem
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Monday, October 1, 2012

The First Taste: Our Inaugural Trip to Disney World, The Big Announcement

After countless hours of planning, the big day had finally arrived.  We were going to Disney World!  I felt completely prepared and confident in the touring plans that I had designed to help our family stay ahead of the crowds.  My biggest accomplishment during the planning phase, however, was that I had kept the trip a secret from our kids.  To prepare them for the experience, I had shown them the official Disney planning DVD, priming them by expressing my desire to visit...someday.  Eric (my husband) and I planned to wake Jack and Sadie up on the morning of our departure, bags already packed, and surprise them with the news.  I had been anticipating this moment for months.

The night before, I made a series of one-word signs that together spelled out "We Are Going to Disney World", and I hung them going down the hallway and the stairs.  I envisioned my son reading the signs aloud to my daughter, the realization slowly hitting them that they were about to embark on the vacation of a lifetime.

Finally, the big moment came.  We woke the kids up and told them it was time to get ready for school.  Groggy and grumpy, the kids emerged from their rooms.  Jack saw the first sign almost immediately and demanded, "What's this?"  I told him to just read it, a smile spreading across my face.  He read it aloud: "We."  I was elated; my dream was coming true!  Slowly, the kids tiptoed down the hallway to the next sign.  Jack read again: "Are."  And then my dream exploded.

"I know what this is going to say," Jack announced.  "We are going to Disney World." 

"You're right!!"  I responded, even though I was a little disappointed that he had figured the mystery out so quickly.  "TODAY!!".  I braced myself for the ginormous response that I was about to get.

"Yay," they said.  And nothing else.  I get a bigger reaction when I tell them that we're going to the Dairy Queen.

At first, I felt completely deflated.  Then, I realized that, even though I had already began "mixing up the Disney Kool-Aid", the kids had no reference point for this trip; they really didn't understand why they should be excited.

Jack and Sadie: excited (sort of) for our trip

I realized that I needed to adjust my expectations.  So I handed them their personalized mouse ears and their "I'm Going to Walt Disney World Shirts", and I took their picture in our foyer.  I knew that, no matter what happened on our trip, this was still a moment I wanted to remember forever.  And I was right.

So, here's my first piece of advice: personalize those mouse ears, buy those T-shirts, make those signs, and get excited.  You should be excited.  You've prepared, you've planned, and you're going to have an amazing vacation.  Sure, there will probably be other trips that are more glamorous and educational.  But you only go to Disney World with your children for the first time once.  And there is nothing else like it.  You will never have those same moments of wonder, amazement and innocence again with your kids.  Your children will never again believe that Cinderella really lives in that beautiful castle or that elephants can really fly.  You will never see the exact same expressions of wonder on their faces when they ride "It's a Small World" or watch The Main Street Electrical Parade float past them for the first time.

Only, your kids don't know this yet.  They have no idea what to expect.  This brings me to my second piece of advice: Do not anticipate a gigantic reaction from your children when you tell them that they are going to Disney World.  You will probably not get it----the first time.  The giant reaction comes when you tell them that they are going back to Disney World for the SECOND time.  Because, by then, you will all have drunk the Kool-Aid!  And there is no turning back....


Next Up: The First Taste, Part Two: What Magic?

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