The Ugly Truth about Disney Vacations

As a member of a popular online Disney community I came across a post that sort of made me laugh a little. The gist of the message was that this particular person was upset because one of her relatives came back from a Disney vacation and all she said was that she was “very worn out”. It didn’t say she had a bad time, but nothing about how exhilarating the experience was or how magical of a time she had experienced. The poster was upset because she was missing her Disney fix and couldn’t believe how ungrateful this relative was being. The overwhelming response was that of disbelief, how could she not appreciate this trip and what was she thinking being “tired!”.

Let me be honest...We were there less than a week ago. And when I came back - I was tired. I mean jet laggy, spacy, I left my card in the ATM machine and drove off tired. It was HOT - 107 degrees hot. My 4 year old didn’t go for more than 20 minutes at a time without throwing a major tantrum because she was so uncomfortable. We have one family picture with Mickey Mouse and I swear she would have smacked him upside the head with her autograph book if we would have let her. She was over it.

And based on the conversations we heard around us. Many of the kids were over it and so were the parents. I don’t think I have experienced a trip to Disney where I personally overheard so many children being yelled at, parents bickering, overall crankiness in the air.

I know as a person who books travel this isn’t the best story to “sell”, but honestly I’m a mom first and foremost and to “sell” the idea that a Disney vacation will be perfect and have a happily ever after ending just isn’t always realistic. But here is the other side of the story....

In the same trip, my 4 year olds star struck glaze as she got Cinderella’s autograph couldn’t help but make me smile, the goose bumps I got watching Tinker Bell fly before the nightly fireworks show was truly a magical experience and the joy my 6 year old exhibited when I was drenched going on Splash Mountain with her for our annual ride gives me something to look back on with fondness. Every trip we take with the kids mark new milestones. Whether its that they grow a couple of inches and they are able to experience some of the new attractions, or they have a new obsession with a Disney character and they get the chance to meet them during the trip, or the fact that as they get older they are able to do more and appreciate all of the little extras Disney has to offer.

The thing about at Walt Disney World vacation is that there is always the good, the bad and the ugly moments (that we forget about when we think back on our vacation memories). But there is something about the Disney magic that leaves you wanting more even during the most tiring of trips.

Magic Kingdom - Dining with Kids

Kids and Eating... One of the biggest dilemmas that parents deal with on a daily basis. From picky eaters to over eaters, eating and diet seems to be a universal challenge in the parenting world. My kids are no exception. At 6, my oldest is the epitome of picky eating. She likes chicken, but only if it is in the form of a nugget, loves macaroni and cheese (but only the Kraft variety) and she considers ranch dressing one of the basic food groups. The kids menu at most restaurants are ideal for her palette and provide all of the choices she is looking for in a meal. The 4 year old on the other hand is more adventurous and would prefer to eat pretty much whatever we are eating as opposed to the kids choices.

So as a traveling mom, learning about all of the different options available is very important to me. Food eats up (no pun intended) a large chunk of the vacation budget so finding good, kid friendly locations with food the kids will actually eat is key to a successful vacation experience. As frequent travelers to the Walt Disney World Resort, we have had an opportunity to take our kids to many of the restaurants. Here are our a few of new favorite meal options at the Magic Kingdom Park:

Tony's Town Square - Located in the front of the Magic Kingdom, Tony's Town Square somehow has always been overlooked by our family. Perhaps because we have been more quick serve type people in trips past, and always seem to be somewhere in Tomorrowland during lunchtime. However this trip we found with the tremendous heat factor that having a sit down meal is a great way to give everyone a break and have a more relaxed, enjoyable meal than a quick serve location can offer.

Based on the restaurant from the Lady and the Tramp. The decor and surroundings were quite relaxed and comfortable. The kids menu offered some good choices. For a full menu be sure to check out AllEarsNet.com. Our kids chose the Spaghetti and Meatball option with the side of carrots, celery and ranch dressing. What I have to say I really liked about this restaurant is that the potions were big enough that the kids could share one of the meals instead of having to order two. The other finding we had was that the kids meals include dessert in the price. We opted out of dessert, knowing we would most likely get a "sugar" treat later in the day and as a mom I try to limit those treats to one per day. Sorry kids :( But the fact that it was included in the price made the cost very reasonable.

The Plaza Restaurant - Another great hit with the kiddos! Located at the end of Main Street. The Plaza is themed as a typical ice cream parlor but has some great food choices for meals too for kids and adults alike. This time the kids got their own meals instead of sharing. They each got the kids turkey sandwich which was shaped like Mickey Mouse and the perfect size so that they each actually ate the whole thing! Their meals started out with a cup of Chicken and Rice soup which wasn't listed on the menu, but seems to be a normal alternative to the Tomato soup that is listed on the menu as the starter for the meal. After their soup they had the turkey sandwich with a side of apples and carrots and celery. Very healthy and they enjoyed it all. At the end they each got a fun dessert which included an ice cream sundae with a cone on top and chocolate ears. A fun way to end dinner and it all was included with the meal!

Those are 2 of our new favorites...stay tuned for more!

Travel Sites We Love :)

As a Disney certified Travel Agent I am always reviewing resources for family travel. I came across the Travel Mamas site which is filled with great tools and resources for young families. Go check it out at http://www.travelmamas.com.

And...don't forget to book your Disney vacation and take advantage of some great deals including free dining for trips to Walt Disney World this fall. Contact me at teri@timeless-tales.com or go to the Main Street Travel Co. web page for more details!!

Big Kids Have Fun at Disney Too

For the last 6, almost 7 years, trips to Disney World have been about the kids. As in "oh look at that?", "Do you want to see Mickey Mouse?", "Well we can take turns on this ride...". Park visits have been earlier with more breaks, include mastering the art of stroller navigation and relocation "where did they put our stroller now?", and being out of the park before the fireworks when the tears start because they are just "too loud mommy!".
That is not to say that we haven't had fun with the kids, but it is a different experience for sure. So when my parents graciously offered (after only asking once) to watch the kids so we could travel to the World without them we were packed and ready to go.

Some benefits to a grown up vacation at Disney World include:

1. No plan... Really just walk in the gate and meander through the shops, actually observe what is happening and make the choice to go on the attraction depending on the length of the line. However, still make sure to utilize the fast pass system for the really popular rides.
2. Have the freedom of making fewer dining choices ahead of time, but do plan those "special" meals in advance. Not having whining, hungry kids in tow when meal time comes is a huge freedom.
2a. 3 meals a day isn't mandatory without the kids. Eat breakfast later, enjoy more snacks and have happy hour treats.
3. Go on rides together. Instead of doing the rider switch, enjoy being able to stand in line together.
4. Watch the fireworks.
5. Go to bed whenever you want without the bedtime battles.

Road Trip to FL or Bust

Well we made our 3rd trip to the Walt Disney World Resort this Fall. This is what I have learned. You can overdo Disney and I think we have. It is time to take a break - oh nothing major - maybe just waiting until next summer or fall. I don't think we could go a whole year without a Disney fix, but doing Disney every 3 months seems to take away a bit of the magic.

However if you are going to Disney every 3 months taking advantage of the different resort options is key. This time we stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. This resort is an adventure in itself. Being able to look out the window first thing in the morning and see the animals roaming the savanna is just an amazing experience for kids and adults alike. And the resort also has great opportunities for the kids to earn beads by participating in various activities including playing authentic African instruments and doing different crafts. Of course these are the activities we never had enough time to participate in but always wish we had more time to do.

One surprising aspect of the trip was the level of crowds. Columbus Day weekend seems to be a new busy time as many schools have fall breaks or long weekends and the crowd level definitely showed it. Still an enjoyable trip, but something to be considered when making next years fall plans.

Want to share your favorite Disney adventures! Send me a message to post it here.

To Utah, FL and Back Again

Wow its been a whirlwind summer! First we went to SLC, Utah to visit my parents and then over to WDW to visit the parks while on a business trip. It was a little overwhelming to say the least! But here's how it ended up...

Utah Trip: Always fun to visit grandma and grandpa, the kids enjoyed playing all day while we enjoyed a little time off. What I love about visiting UT is not only the grandparents, but also we get to eat at our favorite restaurants. Our favorite pizza place Sweet Home Chicago is a highlight of the trip. We also love Chin Wah, Chinese, but unfortunately we picked the only week of the year that they are closed :( And of course a Costa Vida Taco Salad ranks high on the list.

Other less fattening activities of the trip included a trip up in the mountains for a picnic and gold mining expedition. Kellie really wants to find gold. I think grandpa found a few "golden" flecks for her. We also visited The Gateway for some shopping fun. (Had to hit the Apple store) and also went to Thanksgiving Point where the kids enjoyed the petting zoo which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Then, on to the mouse 2 days after the first trip ended. Which for you travelers with kids, or even without, 2 days is not enough! While it is possible to get the laundry done and the suitcases repacked, I would recommend at least 4-5 days between vacation if you have to do them that close together. The kids weren't even back on their normal sleep schedule which made for a difficult 2nd journey....

We stayed at the Boardwalk Resort which is a beautiful resort, but not my first pick for a vacation with kids. While we did enjoy the daybed for another sleeping option for the kids so they didn't have to sleep together, we found the options at the resort to be more appropriate for an older set. We missed having a food court, although if you have the refillable mugs you can refill them at the Bakery (they actually give you a second disposable cup instead of refilling the mug). There is a pool on the Inn side (the quiet pool), but the kiddie pool is over on the Villa side which was a bit of a walk from our room.

The kids and I were on our own for a couple of days so we hit Epcot and did the Kidcot Fun Stops. The kids, ages 3 & 5 loved stopping and coloring. At each stop around the countries, the kids got a stamp and a new mask. We also started collecting the pressed pennies found in each country. The secret, I've decided, to taking the kids to a theme park on my own, is finding the small stuff that the kids will enjoy. This is what is so great about Disney. They have these little extras that you can enjoy without having to go on the rides. Epcot was a great highlight of the trip!

The downside of our trip was definitely the weather! Orlando in July is very, very hot and not the time I would recommend for a family vacation. However if not extremely hot, it was also raining which is very common this time of year as well. We were either soaked with rain or sweat...neither of which leads to very happy campers...

As the grand finale of our adventure, my husband took the kids for a couple of hours so that I could visit the Disney Saratoga Springs Spa. This was awesome! Very relaxed environment, wonderful services. If you are planning a trip and can work it into the plan I would highly recommend it!

So that was our Disney/Utah travel adventure of Summer 2008! Traveling to 2 cities across the country: Exhausting, Getting back home to our own comfy beds: Priceless

Its No Fun to Fly Anymore

Flying used to be fun. Granted I'm not a business traveler and I usually average about 2 flights a year, but it used to be fun - an adventure to look forward to. I loved packing to get ready, spending time at the airport with friends and family who would hug you good bye at the gate and be there to greet you as you exited the plane. Watching the movie and in flight entertainment was fun, even eating was fun. The food was usually not good, but it was interesting to see what you got to eat, and to open all of the packages.

Now, you have to be interrogated going thru security. Take off your shoes, don't carry liquids, don't dare think of bringing a drink on board!! Don't pack too much because you will be charged by the bag, don't bring too large of a carry on and only one please. If you're hungry you can now buy some food on the plane, if you want to watch a movie you can now buy that too. And when you land, there is no longer the fun and excitement of seeing your friends and families faces as you exit the plane after a long journey. Now you have to wind thru the airport to the baggage claim area where you can finally meet up with your pick up ride, although most seem to opt for just being picked up at the curb. Why pay to park??

Flying is no longer an adventure, but just a means to get from here to there. I wish my kids could have known a different world.