We're Going Back: Part One!

Click.  With a push of my finger on the mouse, it was official!  In ten months, we would be going to Walt Disney World!!  Again!!

It had barely been four weeks since we had trudged through the lobby of the Contemporary Resort for the last time, my son sobbing over our impending departure from the happiest place on earth.  Taking pity on my devastated child, one of the Contemporary's Cast Members ran over, gave Jack a hug, and said, "Oh, honey.  You drank the Kool-Aid for sure!!."  Then, with a wink and a smile, she whispered in my ear, "Don't worry.  You'll be back soon."  And she was absolutely right, although I didn't know it then!

We're going to Disney World--again!!

When I began planning our first Disney trip, I was operating under the naive assumption that this vacation would be a "once-in-a-childhood" experience for the McCutcheon household.  Approximately two days into our amazing trip, however, I abandoned this assumption entirely.  The touring plans had been incredibly successful.  They'd alleviated tons of stress, allowing us to experience more attractions and spend less time waiting in line.  Moreover, because we spent very little time in line, we had much more time to relax and explore the plethora of magical details that make Disney vacation destinations so unique.  We'd truly gotten the most out of our vacation, and I knew that I wanted to help other people get the most out of their Disney vacations, too.  I realized that I'd found my passion in the field of travel.  I also knew, however, that if I wanted to seriously pursue this passion as a career, I would need some formal training, so I enrolled in travel school.  Of course, I'd also convinced myself that nothing could compare to hands-on experience, which led me to an obvious conclusion: for the sake of my budding business, we needed to go back.  And this time, Grandma was coming along, too!

It was an easy decision to bring my mother with us on our second trip.  Although she is a lifelong Disney fan, my mom never had the opportunity to visit Disney World.  My parents had always wanted to take my brother and me when we were little, but it just wasn't financially feasible for them.  I knew that spending a vacation at Disney World with her grandchildren would truly be a dream-come-true for my mom.

Confident that I would finally get the wild reaction I'd hoped for the first time (see "The First Taste: Our Inaugural Trip to Disney World, The Big Announcement" on October 1st), I couldn't wait to break the news to Jack and Sadie.  This time, I was definitely not disappointed.  Jack and Sadie screamed and jumped and fell on the floor...everything I'd ever dreamed of.  To be fair, however, I'm still not sure who was more excited (my mom or the kids) when we officially invited Grandma to come with us.  After the hysterics ended, it was time to tackle a few basic decisions, the most pressing of which was lodging.  Specifically, we needed to determine whether we were going to stay at an onsite or on offsite hotel this time.

The Wilderness Lodge, one of Disney's 26 onsite properties

Tip Time: My Disney clients often ask me for hotel advice, usually wondering about the difference between onsite and offsite properties.  Impeccably clean and beautifully themed, Disney World offers lodging options at multiple price points to fit every budget.  Furthermore, with 26 properties (including 17 resorts, eight villas, and one campground), everyone is sure to find a Disney resort that caters to his or her own style.  In addition, all Disney resort guests qualify for exclusive perks such as Extra Magic Hours (during which a select park opens early or stays open late on certain days).  Finally, Disney provides free and dependable transportation from its resort hotels to its theme parks, water parks, and Downtown Disney area (but if you do choose to rent a car, parking fees are waived for resort guests).  While offsite hotels may sometimes offer attractive deals, shuttle service from many of these properties is less dependable (and sometimes nonexistent), frequently making it necessary to rent a car.  When car rental and parking fees are factored in, oftentimes the savings of staying offsite is negligible.  While there are exceptional circumstances (large groups or guests who intend to visit other Orlando-area attractions) under which staying offsite might be beneficial, I would almost always recommend booking an onsite hotel when visiting Walt Disney World.

After careful research, we decided that staying onsite was the best choice for our family.  The obvious next question was which hotel should we choose?  Because this was my mom's first trip to Disney World, I wanted to make it as special and memorable as possible.  I knew that one way to do this would be to stay at one of Disney's Deluxe Resorts, and I had a specific one in mind.

Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht and Beach Clubs

On the last day of our first vacation, we visited Disney's Beach Club Resort for a character breakfast at one of its restaurants, the Cape May Cafe (see "Until Our Next Glass" on November 9th).  We immediately fell in love with the resort's light and airy feel, its beachy theme, and Stormalong Bay (the gigantic pool complex share by the Beach Club and the adjacent Yacht Club).  The Beach Club's close proximity to the culturally-inspired fare at the numerous restaurants of Epcot's World Showcase was also a bonus, especially for "date night" when my mom would be enjoying special time with her grandchildren.

The only question remaining for now was when should we go?  Although I'm a strong believer that people should vacation when they can and that pulling young children out of school for a family vacation is by no means the end of the world, I couldn't quite justify allowing the kids to miss another week of school for another Disney vacation in the same year.  On the other hand, the thought of battling the intense summer crowds made me cringe.  So I was faced with a dilemma.  Should we wait until the following school year (when the crowds and rates would be lower) or should we put my touring plans (and our wallets) to the ultimate test by visiting Disney World during the high summer season?  After some more research, I came up with a viable solution, one that I was sure would please everybody...

Next Up: "We're Going Back: Part Two", including tips on the best times of year to visit Disney World

Note To My Readership: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, "Drinking the Kool:Aid" is taking a one-week break and will return on Friday, November 30th.  Have a magical and safe Thanksgiving!   

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Until Our Next Glass..

On our last morning at Walt Disney World, we all woke up in a serious funk, already experiencing the first pangs of Disney withdrawal.  It was hard to believe that only five days earlier, we'd broken the exciting news to the kids, donned our "mouse gear", and set off on our biggest adventure yet.  From princesses to pirates, ponchos to parades, and meltdowns to magic, our trip had been a wonderful success.  We'd made amazing memories that we would never forget (and learned some valuable lessons along the way).  Now, it was time to fly back to reality. 

At the start of our grand adventure

Fortunately, I had one more surprise up my sleeve to (hopefully) dull the pang of our impending departure.  As a way to bid a fond farewell to our Disney friends, I'd made a reservation for the character breakfast at the Cape May Cafe in Disney's Beach Club resort.  What better way to end a Disney trip than chowing down on bacon and waffles with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy?

Tip Time: Attending a character breakfast at a Disney hotel is a wonderful way to end a Disney vacation.  Unlike character meals inside Disney parks, no park ticket is required for meals at hotel restaurants.  Furthermore, since you're not rushing to make "rope drop" at a park, you can completely relax, enjoying your breakfast and the characters at a leisurely pace.  As a bonus, you have an opportunity to check out other Disney properties for your next trip!  When choosing a reservation time, however, keep in mind that if you are taking Disney's Magical Express back to the airport, you need to board the bus three hours prior to your flight's departure time.

At Disney World, you can dine with some combination of the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy) at the following locations: Tusker House in Animal Kingdom, Chef Mickey at Disney's Contemporary Resort, and Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club.  While each of these locations offer something special and unique, I'd chosen the Beach Club for its relaxed atmosphere and greater character-guest ratio.

So, that last morning, we hopped in our rental car and set off for Disney's Beach Club Resort to enjoy one last celebratory meal.  In a previous post, I mentioned that the roads on Disney property can sometimes be confusing, harboring the potential for great frustration and marital strife.  I strongly believe that the single most confusing stretch of road in the entire country is located between Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort.  Consequently, we arrived about 10 minutes late for our breakfast reservation, slightly frazzled.

A magical ending to our vacation

Fortunately, the waitstaff at Cape May Cafe was able to accommodate us, and we were seated within 15 minutes of our arrival.  Almost immediately, Minnie joined us at our table, followed soon after by Mickey and Donald.  My daughter was thoroughly starstruck.  My son, however, was holding out for his Fab Five hero, Goofy.  Ever since Jack was a toddler in his playpen, the mere sight of Goofy on the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse would send him into uncontrollable laughing fits.  So when Goofy rounded the corner and started walking toward our table, Jack leaped up from his seat with abandon, a giant grin spreading across his face.  Jack was so thrilled that he didn't even mind it when Goofy accidentally poked him in the eye with one of his whiskers! 

Tip Time: This was our first buffet of the trip, and I was a little concerned about my son's peanut allergies.  I quickly learned that my fears were completely unfounded.  Almost immediately upon our arrival, the chef visited our table and walked me through the buffet, pointing out the items that my son should avoid.  He even offered to make Jack an alternate plate of food prepared with non-contaminated utensils and pans.  Disney dining is extraordinarily accommodating to families with food allergies, bending over backwards to ensure that all guests have a safe, enjoyable dining experience.

It's so hard to say good-bye...

Since we had nowhere to rush off to, we were able to really take our time at this meal; Goofy even visited our table twice, much to my son's delight!  After breakfast, we returned to our hotel and planned out the rest of our short day.  Since our flight did not depart until later in the afternoon, we spent the next few hours swimming and exploring some other nearby resorts.  Before we knew it, however, it was time to head to the airport.  As we walked through the lobby of the Contemporary Resort for the last time, Jack became completely devastated.  Even hugs from the Contemporary's cast members did little to ease his sadness. 

I would be lying if I said that I didn't have a few tears in my eyes as well.  This vacation had exceeded all of my expectations.  All of those countless hours of advance planning had truly paid off.  We'd stayed ahead of the crowds throughout our entire trip, never waiting in line for more than 10 minutes, even during the busiest times of the day.  More importantly, however, we'd had an opportunity to spend four days together as a family, free of real-world obligations, in the most magical place on earth.  By the third day of our vacation, I knew that we would return to Disney World soon.  I also knew, however, that when we did return, the kids would be older and wiser, and the magic would never be exactly the same.  Jack probably wouldn't be quite as excited to see Goofy.  Sadie might be a little less inclined to believe that Cinderella actually lives in that castle at the end of Main Street.  And the lights of the Main Street Electrical Parade would not be reflected in either of their eyes quite as brightly.

On our way home

As soon as we walked in the door of our home, I started dreaming about our next trip to Disney World.  More importantly, I began thinking about how I could help other people have the same magical experience that we did.  So, I helped a few friends plan their Disney vacations.  I received such positive feedback that I began a Disney vacation planning business called The Magic Minus the Mayhem.  Perhaps most significantly, I decided that I was not going to return to my career as an educator, at least not for awhile.  Instead, I chose to follow my passion for travel.  I enrolled in travel school and eventually joined a local full-service travel agency called Ginger's Getaways, where I specialize in booking and planning Disney vacations.  I absolutely love turning people's Disney dreams into reality.

We took our second trip to Disney World last August, less than a year after our first Disney vacation, and we had a fantastic time.  Currently, we're planning a combination Walt Disney World/Disney Cruise trip in May.  Batch after batch, I've never gotten tired of that Disney Kool-Aid, and I doubt I ever will.     

Next Up: Trip Number Two and Grandma's Coming, Too!

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It's Raining, It's Pouring, But We're Still Touring!

Sighing heavily, I glared at the daunting pile of dirty clothes and souvenirs that lay before me on the floor of our hotel room, trying hard to focus on the positive.  We'd had an amazing morning at the Magic Kingdom.  Once again, we'd stayed ahead of the crowds with my touring plan and rode all of the headliner attractions on our "wish list" with little to no wait, giving us time to enjoy some truly memorable moments at the Pirates' League.  By lunchtime, however, a nagging feeling of dread was growing inside of me.  Tomorrow morning, we would have to leave our magical Disney cocoon and fly home.  Now, I was faced with my first dose of reality as I began packing our mountain of things.  And when I say "mountain", I am truly not exaggerating.  About halfway through our vacation, our small collection of souvenirs began a growth spurt that had quickly spiraled out of control.    

Our giant pile of loot led us to set some limits on our next trip

Tip Time: Before we left on our second trip, my husband and I made a conscious decision to limit souvenirs.  One of the best ways to do this is to give children a predetermined amount of money and let them make their own purchasing decisions (of course, younger children will need more guidance).  When the money is gone, it's gone.  This encourages kids to weigh their purchases carefully and discourages impulse buying.  

Realizing that I could not procrastinate any longer, I started tackling the challenge of stuffing our giant souvenir-mountain into two already-full suitcases.  As I worked, I periodically glanced over at my napping children.  Although I was sad about tomorrow's departure, I knew that our vacation was not over quite yet.  We still had an entire evening at the Magic Kingdom stretched out in front of us, giving us one last night of memory-making.  And tonight, I'd planned...absolutely nothing.  Tonight, we'd revisit our favorite attractions and celebrate our most magical memories, ending the evening with the Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes Nighttime Spectacular (the Magic Kingdom's fireworks show).

Tip Time: Bring one suitcase full of non-perishable food items, travel toiletries, activities for the kids, and other disposable items.  When your vacation is over, this suitcase will be empty, and you can fill it with your souvenirs and mementos.  

An hour later, I'd made a small dent in the mountain, and the kids were recharged and excited to embark on our final Disney adventure.  They skipped down the hallway to the elevator, raced through the lobby, and bounded outside into...a rainstorm.  By all appearances, this was not one of those short-lived Orlando thunderstorms; we were in for a wet night.  It seemed as if the same weather that had greeted us on our first night at the Wilderness Lodge had returned on our last night to bid us farewell.   

Making Disney memories, even in the rain!

At first, I found it difficult to hide my disappointment.  I knew that some of our favorite outdoor rides would close due to the storm.  Even worse, if the rain didn't stop, the Main Street Electrical Parade would be cancelled.  Jack and Sadie looked up at us, disappointment and concern spreading across their faces.  In that moment, Eric and I were faced with a decision about how we were going to react to this setback, and I knew that our choice would set the tone for the final night of our vacation.

We all stared at each other for another moment.  Then, "Ponchos out!" Eric declared.  "We're walking to the Magic Kingdom in the rain!" The kids cheered as they donned their rain gear and hopped into the stroller for the ten-minute trek to the park, the rain beating down on us the whole way.
   
Tip Time: Rainy days can provide the perfect opportunity to explore the parks at Disney World.  Crowds will be lower, and indoor attractions remain open in the rain. 

The rest of the evening was a wet blur, as we ran from one indoor attraction to another.  Although I can't recall the specific attractions we visited that night, there are some things I do remember.  I remember stomping through puddles in front of Cinderella Castle.  I remember sticking our tongues out to catch raindrops.  And I remember laughing harder than we did on any other night of our vacation.  The rain persisted all night, until about 15 minutes before the Main Street Electrical Parade was scheduled to begin.  Then, as if by magic, it simply stopped.  As the parade floated down Main Steet, lighting up the night with hundreds of thousands of lights, I peered down into the stroller at Jack and Sadie.  Still besieged by fits of laughter, they smiled back at me with giant goofy grins on their faces.  I realized that, while the parade and fireworks were a wonderful way to end our last night of vacation, they weren't truly important.  I'd learned a few other things that night, too.  I learned that dripping ponchos should be removed carefully.  I learned that wet ice cream really doesn't taste that bad when you're eating it with people you love.  And, most importantly, I learned that the best memories are never planned.

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Aarrrrgh, Matey--This Pirate Has to Go Potty

The early morning sun cast shadows on the ground as we stood in line just outside Magic Kingdom's gates, waiting for our Pirate Day to begin.  Our first day at Magic Kingdom had been devoted primarily to princesses and fantasy, so today was all about pirates and adventure.  This was our last day at Walt Disney World, and I'd wanted it to be extra special, so I'd made a reservation at the Pirates' League inside Magic Kingdom, where kids (and adults) can shed their landlubber exteriors and be transformed into true buccaneers.  In an effort to stay ahead of the crowds and make the most of our day, we'd arrived at the turnstiles about 35 minutes early, toting activities to occupy the kids while we waited.  The time had passed relatively quickly, and the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show was about fifteen minutes away, signaling the start to our adventure-packed day.  My mind began to wander through my touring plan as I imagined us strolling down Main Street toward Adventureland (one of Magic Kingdom's six distinct areas) where we would enjoy a few headliner rides, grab a couple of FASTPASSES, and meet a character or two before checking in at the Pirates' League.  It was shaping up to be another magical day.

Yo-ho!  Yo-ho!  Hooray for Pirate Day!

Then, suddenly, "Mom, I have to go to the bathroom," my son announced, propelling me back into reality.  "Right NOW!"  Perfect timing, as usual.  As I took my son by the hand, I couldn't help thinking that this diversion would throw a small kink in our plans.  Not only were we going to miss the Welcome Show, but we would no longer be one of the first families to enter Magic Kingdom, so we would probably experience longer waits at some of the headliner attractions we'd planned to visit.  Nevertheless, I'd traveled with my kids enough times to know that potty breaks are non-negotiable!  Unfortunately, at this point, the crowds were building inside the turnstiles, making it difficult to locate the nearest bathroom.  As my son started to squirm, I knew we were running out of time, so I approached the nearest Cast Member ("Disney Speak" for employee) and asked her for help.

"The closest restrooms are all the way on the other side of the train station," she pointed, indicating a spot about 500 yards away, blocked almost entirely by the hordes of people who had now lined up at the gates.  Normally, we could cover this distance quickly, especially when faced with such a dire
potty emergency, but I knew that we would never be able to navigate these rapidly-growing crowds and make it to the bathroom in time.  Meanwhile, Jack's squirming had turned into full-on jumping, a look of panic creeping across his face.

An empty Main Street - again!!

"You know what," the Cast Member said, looking at Jack with empathy (and perhaps a little fear), "there's a bathroom right inside the gates.  Come on."  In true Disney spirit, she grabbed Jack's hand, walked us through the gates, and pointed out the restroom.  Filled with gratitude, we made a mad dash for the bathroom, not even stopping to realize that, once again, we were among the only guests in the park.  Five minutes later, a potty tragedy avoided, Jack and I found a spot on Main Street to wait for my husband and daughter.  I knew that Jack would be disappointed about missing the Welcome Show, but I also realized that we would never make it back through the crowds to my husband and daughter before the show began.

As we sat next to each other on the curb, taking in the impeccably detailed storefronts on an empty Main Street, we heard the Welcome Show begin.  I glanced at my son warily, preparing myself for a potential meltdown.  Instead, I was greeted with a smile.  "Mom," he said.  "It's ok that I missed the show 'cause look--you and me are the only ones here again!"  Jack leaned his head on my shoulder and put his hand in mine.  As I looked down at my son, I knew that we'd just made another magical Disney memory, courtesy of that Cast Member who extended herself.  At most other theme parks, employees would have shown indifference to my son's plight, but not at Disney.  Because of that Cast Member, we were able to spend a quiet moment on our last day of vacation without characters or rides or music, just "drinking the Kool-Aid" together.  A minute later, more Cast Members took their places in anticipation of the crowds that would soon burst into the park, and the moment passed, but I knew that I would never forget spending those few minutes alone with Jack on that empty Main Street curb.

Suddenly, the park was bustling with people, but since my husband and daughter had stayed near the front of the line, we hadn't lost any time at all.  We were officially off on our next adventure!!  After a morning of walking right on to headliner attractions in Adventureland and meeting a few of our favorite characters with little wait, it was time for the Pirates' League!

The Pirates' League

At the Pirates' League, kids embark on the ultimate pirate adventure led by their own Pirate Guides.  They begin by participating in a "ancient tradition" in which they discover their true pirate name.  Next, it's off to hair and makeup, where they are transformed into buccaneers and pirate empresses.  Finally, they are led into a secret room where they take their pirate oath, have their picture taken, and receive their official pirate papers.  An alternative to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the Pirates' League appeals to both girls and boys and is a memorable addition to any touring plan.

Kat Gunskull, our little pirate empress

Jack and Sadie (a.k.a "Chris Warloather" and "Kat Gunskull") were completely awed by the whole experience.  Jack's Pirate Guide kept him entertained with silly pirate jokes, and Sadie loved getting a makeover, complete with nail polish and makeup.  And they both took the oath very seriously; Sadie actually refused to break character for the rest of the day!

After a quick lunch, our little buccaneers were starting to fade, so we decided to hop aboard our pirate ship (a.k.a. our stroller) and begin the journey back to our hotel for a mid-afternoon break.  Tomorrow, we would have to leave Disney World and fly back to reality.  But tonight, we would return to the Magic Kingdom for one final celebration, complete with the Main Street Electrical Parade and the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular.  I knew, however, that no mater how magical our last night would be, it would not compare to that morning on the curb with my potty-pirate boy.

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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. 

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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 Time: If 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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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 Time:  Animal 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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