Disney World 101

As Matt and I were looking forward to our move last April we decided that leaving our home of almost 3 years just wasn't enough.  We needed something more exciting.  Finally we struck on something great.  The fates aligned and the only suitable (now known to be decidedly UNsuitable) rental home we could find in Little Rock wouldn't be ready until June 1st.  We'd have to spend 6 weeks apart (Matt in L.R. working and us in Utah languishing).  That added a little sizzle, but we wanted to kick things up.  Way up.  So, our logical conclusion was to add a trip to Disney World and a visit to Alabama between Chicago and Utah.  Voila!

We decided not to tell the boys where we were going ahead of time in part because we were secretly hoping for a magical moment like they show in the Disney World commercials (didn't happen) and also because we knew they'd have no idea what it was.  Those were the days before the word "Disney" sent their hearts a racing.  Ah such simple times.

We went with Grandma Jan and Aunt Rhada and really had a blast.  We can't thank them enough for joining us in our crazy.

While we did take Jacob to Disneyland a million years ago, it really was a million years ago.  The glory days when no one talked back and everyone communicated in smiles and frowns.  And by everyone, I mean my one and only child.  Needless to say, things have changed!

I was really nervous about our foray into Disney theme parkery.  I wanted it to be great.  So much so that, in order to achieve such greatness, I really considered following one bit of advice I found online to have my kids wear fanny packs.  Dark days.  Thankfully I chilled in time for the big day and we had a great time.  A fanny pack free great time.

I feel that now I need to pass on my wisdom as I share our memories.  Because I've got it.  Hard won and real.  Shall we?  A lot of this wisdom is more of the "what to expect" variety rather than the "here's what to do" variety.  Okay, so it's more a list of bossy observations and commands.  Sorry.

1.  Dress your kids in the same clothes.  No brainer, right?  But really, just do it.  It makes everything easier.  In addition to that, make sure you brand them accordingly.  This is your big chance to tell your fellow line-waiters who you are!  Don't blow it!  We went for a school theme and had them sporting University of Alabama, University of Chicago and BYU shirts.  Whatever it is, don't let it be the 4th of July shirts from Old Navy.  Please.

(On the bus before our very first day.  Just ho hummin' it.  Completely unaware of what was coming.)

2.  Your kids will not behave perfectly because you are doing such an awesome thing for them.  In fact, they are clueless to your sacrifices (financial and otherwise), so don't expect them to get it.

(Here Nico is crying on the monorail BEFORE getting into the park.)

3.  They will reward your sacrifices with joy, delight and excitement beyond your wildest dreams.  When we entered the park they were still really confused about what we were doing.  I was not and was surprised to feel embarrassingly emotional.  Just a little weepy.  A circle of life sort of moment.  I defy you not to feel the same on your visit.  Anyway, as I was pulling myself together, they started seeing Mickey Mouse signs all over.  We ran straight to the Mickey and Minnie character station and it hit them.  This was going to be the best day of their lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  and the worst.

Waiting "backstage" to meet the big man and his gal.

4.  Someone in your family will probably be afraid of the characters.  Can you tell who that is in our family?

5.  Do the characters anyway!  It is insulting to wait in line to shake Winnie the Pooh's hand, but just do it if your child likes the character.  Jacob whined and moaned all through the line to meet these guys, but then look at his awe once he finally had his moment.  (By the way, Benjamin had to be escorted away to the shade of a quiet tree by his mother because he was so upset at the sight of these guys.  A week later at Grandma Jan's we learned he was afraid of stuffed animals.  Terrified, really.  He'd close his eyes and bat them away like they were hot pokers when we gave them to him.)

6.  Go on your birthday!  We ended up going on my birthday due to scheduling, and it rocked.  Get a pin from "city hall" and then all of the ride workers wish you happy birthday all day.  I mean, do that if you like having complete strangers say, "Happy Birthday [insert your name]" as your Thunder Mountain car takes off.  I liked it.

7.  Your kids will love It's a Small World.  Even your boys.  Even though it's basically a ride dedicated to dolls. 

8.  If you go anytime between March and October it will potentially be hot.  Hot, hot, hot.  So hot that you will go to the Hall of Presidents presentation just to escape the heat.  So hot that you will, like my Aunt LuAnn, wonder why you decided to take a vacation to hell.

To cool the heat come prepared with water bottles, but also come knowing that YOU CAN GET A FREE CUP OF ICE WATER AT ANY DISNEY WORLD EATERY.  A big one with a lid, a straw and a smile. Take advantage of this!

Also, just buy the dang ice cream.  Budget a small fortune into your daily expenses and enjoy a nice cold one (of ice cream) each afternoon.  No amount of grapes, nuts or berries that you squirreled away in your bag will fill them up and cool them off so well.

9.  You should spend your time at Mickey's Philarmagic to beat the heat rather than at the Hall of the Presidents.  Watch it twice!  Just avoid the Hall of the Presidents (and the Carousel of Progress for that matter) unless your crowd is all over 30 years old.

10.  Get over it and ride the carousel.  Yes, carousels are plentiful at state fairs, smaller amusement parks and even malls.  Yes, you don't want to waste one second on something so pedestrian.  But do it.  The line is short.  It's shaded.  There's a breeze.  And your kids will love it.

11.  The teacups are important, albeit sort of lame. 

12.  Back to the characters.  Keep on doing them. 

13.  I think the enormity of the park reminds your family how important each member is.  You wait in lines together.  You laugh on rides together.  You eat together.  And you stick together.  Cute things like this come of those feelings.

14.  It's possible that your kids will be way, way excited about the beds, pool and even bathtub at the hotel.  I found this unfathomable.  I mean, guys, we're at Disney World!  Who cares about the pool?!  I learned to not fight this too hard by, um, the last day.  Maybe I didn't learn it.  But hindsight get your money's worth at the parks, but let them enjoy their leisure...despite how much it might bother you.  Because your idea of "money's worth" is probably wrong.

15.  If possible, go with people who love you and love your kids.  Grandma Jan and Rhada were so much fun to have along.  They were a huge help, too.  They even allowed Matt and me to stay at the park one evening while they put the kids to bed.  True kindness.

Rhada even lugged this bag of bones up and down the Swiss Family Robinson tree house.  I don't think I could thank her enough.  Not for the faint hearted.

16.  I mean it about the characters.  By the way, Nico ended up being our only character guy.  Still worth it.

17.  Bring the stroller.  Unless your youngest is over the age of 15, bring the stroller.  I saw men carrying around sleeping 10 year olds like sacks of potatoes.  Plus, it provides storage space for food and other essentials.  You'll be glad you did.  It's way cooler than a fanny pack.  And if you have a crummy old stroller I'd bring that one.  The one you bring to Disney World will get covered in the ice cream you buy (see item 8).

18.  Give them what they want (within reason).  If they want the blue dumbo, make it happen!  If not, you'll just end up waiting in line and riding it again to pay them back for the "orange dumbo affair".  

19.  The baby is like a really cute handbag at Disney World.  They've got the sass knocked out of them by the heat and sensory overload and so they just allow themselves to be where you want to be.  And really, if a baby can ride Pirates of the Caribbean there just isn't much they can't do.

20.  Beg your kids to go on rides that you want to go on.  You see people doing it all the time and you judge at first.  Then there comes a ride you KNOW they'll love and they simply won't do it.  Lose your pride and barter, bribe, or demand.  So was our experience with the "People Mover".  This was actually Nico chosen and I wasn't about to let Jacob's aversion to it deprive Nico of a ride.  Who knew that, in all of its tame and lameness, it would be a complete favorite.  The ride that we possibly rode more than anything else.

21. The Electric Parade is incredibly dated.  Like Pete's Dragon dated. 

22. There are lots of photo ops (obviously this post proves that), but I personally was grateful to have brought my cheap camera.  It was tiny and did a good enough job.  Good enough to capture even these faces!

Or this classy moment!  Matt thought his mom was taking a picture and, lucky for us (?), she was!

23. If you ride the Motor Speedway alone with two kids they'll let you stay in the car and go around again so they both can have a turn at the wheel.  Well, they did it for me, so make it happen for you!

24. Oh, get the silhouettes! My parents always got our silhouettes done when we went to Disneyland and I was fascinated by them as a child.  The boys had theirs done for not much time or money and I love them.  Surprisingly accurate!  I can't even imagine Benjo's silhouette now that he has so much more hair. 

They're also surprisingly accurate.  Check out Jacob then and now:

 What 4.5 years hath wrought!

 25.  As if you needed to know this, but everyone will sleep well.  So well that they won't realize that they are either a. being used as a pillow or b. using their brother as a pillow.

 

Months later (hopefully I'll be getting to many old posts in the coming weeks) it still warms my heart and was totally a great trip.  Thanks again to Grandma Jan and Aunt Rhada for joining us and helping us!  We love you!

And Tracy, I posted this after months of it sitting in my draft file in honor of your Disneyland trip.  I hope it's wonderful!  

POST EDIT: I almost forgot!  Use the FastPass system!  Matt and I really shied away from it and didn't understand it for the first few days.  It's your friend.  And you can use your fast pass any time after the start time, there's no end time to it despite the times they post.  Learn it, use it, and love it.  And use the single rider line if you're swapping kid duty and on your own.  Much shorter waits.  OK, I, um, think that's everything.  Sigh.