Our family just returned from our first trip to Disney World and we had a wonderful time! We learned a ton and I researched for hours before we left. Over the next few posts, I want to share what I learned for any other newbie families out there. The Disney experts in my life are Kathy and Debra, so check in with them if you're looking for info that I don't have here.
You know the old saying "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy?" I don't know if that's entirely true, but I do know that my mood can certainly influence the direction of the family. So it's important for me to safeguard my attitude, especially on family trips.
Disney World really is magical, but there are some moments that will try a mom's patience. It is worth the effort for Mom to take special steps to keep her mood magical throughout her family's visit.
(BTW, I think the concept applies to Dads, too, but some of these specific tips will not apply. You'll see.)
You know the old saying "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy?" I don't know if that's entirely true, but I do know that my mood can certainly influence the direction of the family. So it's important for me to safeguard my attitude, especially on family trips.
Disney World really is magical, but there are some moments that will try a mom's patience. It is worth the effort for Mom to take special steps to keep her mood magical throughout her family's visit.
(BTW, I think the concept applies to Dads, too, but some of these specific tips will not apply. You'll see.)
- Shower at night before bed. I assume that if you're savvy enough to log onto the
internet and find a blog, you probably don't need my advice on personal hygiene, so don't be insulted by this. But I found that a nice, warm shower after a full day at the parks calmed me spiritually and kept my muscles from stiffening up while I slept. And it's nice to wash the sweat, sunscreen, and general dirt off before bed. - Bring along a sleep aid. You will be tired at the end of the day, but you'll also be excited and full of adrenaline, so you might have trouble sleeping. A little Tylenol PM may do you wonders. However, if you're like me and kind of weirded out by sleep medications, try an aromatherapy sleep aid. I have a great lavender spray that I got from Bath & Body Works that I love.
- Take care of your feet. I know there are some hard-core Moms who can wear sneakers everyday for a week. I am not one of them. I wore comfortable shoes, but I had a few other tricks that helped save my feet: BAND-AID® Friction Block™ Stick and tingling foot cream. Rub the cream on your feet and ankles in the morning, then use the stick on places that might rub. You'll be ready for the day.
- Pack a small bottle of Woolite. I am not the kind of lady who packs a different bra every day. I tend to travel with my favorite two or three. But after a hot day at the parks, those bras can get a little rank. It's so much nicer to start my day with a fresh, clean bra. So a quick wash with some Woolite during my nightly shower did the trick nicely, thank you.
- Plan some things you like to do. I am a mom of boys. At Disney, I helped Buzz Lightyear battle Zurg. I cheered for Captain Jack Sparrow and booed Darth Maul. I raced around the Test Track and danced with Phineas and Ferb. The only time I saw a Princess all week was during a parade when she was in front of Captain Hook. But I did talk the boys into riding the Teacups with me. And I did make dinner reservations for Tony's, from Lady and the Tramp. It was my magical vacation, too.
- Make coffee arrangements. There is no Starbucks at Disney World. That bears repeating: THERE IS NO STARBUCKS AT DISNEY WORLD. The resorts that host conferences do have espresso bars in the lobby. But if you're not staying at one of those, you're coffee options are the coffee pot in your room and the coffee machines in some of the counter service places in the parks. They did OK in a pinch, but I'll probably take some Via packets next time.
Oh! I need to add Via packets to the backpack list.
We always have them, but they're not for me!
KH