Last Disney post, I PROMISE. But I've received several e-mails and comments from people that you'd like to do a Disney trip yourself. While it's still relatively fresh on my mind, I thought I'd share what I learned.
- Absolutely, first and foremost, realize ahead of time that you SIMPLY CANNOT SEE EVERYTHING. Unless, of course, you're planning to stay for six months. Realize you'll have to pick and choose; otherwise, you'll be exhausted. And realize your kids might enjoy things you didn't think they would--be flexible.
- Contrary to what the books and websites would indicate, you do NOT need to be a logistical engineer to have a successful Disney vacation. You do NOT need to know everything about every ride and every restaurant and every character to enjoy yourself. In fact, I really believe now that over-researching may only cause stress. My advice? Find a friend who is knowledgable about Disney (in my case, it was Chilihead). Ask him or her for the "highlights"; what you MUST know. The rest is just gravy.
- Stay on-site, and get the dining plan. It seems like a lot of money up front, but it is actually a great value.
- Travel with another family! We went with dear friends, and it was extra fun. Having more adults on hand to help out makes a big difference.
- As for individual rides and attractions, every family is different. Go to www.allearsnet.com to get the run-down on individual rides. Actually, that website is indispensible for all things Disney. Surprisingly, the official Disney site is hard to navigate and essentially useless.
- Rent a stroller, even if your kids are typically too old for one. You do SO much walking at Disney World that it's just too much for little legs. We rented a double stroller for our 8, 7 and 4 year old, and it was the best money we spent all week.
- Buy the Park-Hopper variety of park tickets. It allows you to go back and forth freely between your hotel and all the parks. This is especially nice when you're pooped by 3 pm and need a rest before evening activities.
- One word: FIREWORKS. Find out when they are at each park, and don't miss 'em. Ever.
- If time or budget requires that you miss a park, I'd recommend passing on Animal Kingdom. It's certainly fun, but it's essentially a glorified zoo. (Though read up on this for yourself--if you're a real animal lover you might have a different opinion). Also, we skipped the water parks on our trip, and we were glad we did--for us, five days wasn't enough to have included that.
- Take a deep breath, and have fun!
