5 Lessons Learned the Hard Way

A Disney Parks vacation is the most magical family vacation, in my opinion. Nothing whisks you away from reality quite like Disney does. Most of our trips have been filled top to bottom with amazing memories and so much fun. BUT...... we have experienced unpleasantness, too. You can't always escape it or even prevent it, but you can be prepared.

Here are my top 5 lessons learned the hard way :( Hopefully you can learn from them.

#1- Rain

It rains in Florida. Sometimes just a little. Sometimes a lot. It depends on the time of year. But if you're traveling in rainy/hurricane season, which can be anywhere from July to November, you need to be prepared for inclement weather. I always knew it could happen, so we always brought dollar store ponchos. Those teenie tiny clear plastic things that are almost as thin as Saran wrap. I'm sure you know where this is going. Some years they were fine, but not when there is a torrential downpour. If you will be traveling during rainy season, please invest in some good ponchos or rain coats. Something with some weight to it. Even better if the sleeves are gathered at the wrist so they can't blow all around. And bring some kind of footwear that does not need to be worn with socks. Water shoes, good flip flops, Crocs, Keens, etc.. Even if you just throw them in your bag or stroller and change into them only if necessary. It is NOT fun to walk through unavoidable deep puddles in sneakers and socks.

#2- Sick Kids

Many trips are great and no one gets sick. But it's happened. Minor things to almost as bad as you can imagine. Once I woke in the middle of the night to my daughter scrambling to get to the bathroom to vomit. Another trip my son's breathing issues had become so bad due to the high Florida humidity that he had to be taken to Celebration hospital, then transferred to Orlando hospital. We spent the first 3 days of our trip there.

My only advice is to take preventative measures ahead of time and load up on Vitamin D, Airborne, etc...(but I'm still not convinced that really works) and have a plan just in case. When my daughter was sick, my mother in law volunteered to stay with her so we could visit Magic Kingdom with my parents that day, who were only at Disney with us for 2 days. My husband had planned on doing it until she offered. When my son was hospitalized, we rented a car and took turns staying with him while the other took our daughter to the parks. Pack every med you might need, even though they do sell most common medications at the resort gift shop.

It makes me so sad to look at this awesome pic and my daughter and mother in law are not in it :(

He looks pretty happy in his hospital bed :) He had some good moments, but much of the experience he was miserable :(

Here he is the day he was released from the hospital. We headed to Magic Kingdom and he had a great time!

#3- Heat

It's unavoidable. It's hot in Florida, especially if you travel between April and October. All you can do is be prepared. Dress in light fabrics and colors. I prefer skirts and sundresses in the summer months. Bring sunglasses and hats. Purchase personal misting fans at home or buy the ones they sell in the parks. Take breaks. Especially midday. If you don't want to leave the park to go back to the resort and swim, do some indoor attractions. It's a great chance to do those things you might have skipped otherwise. Get a Fastpass for water attractions midday- like Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids. Stay hydrated. The kids WILL whine about the heat, so prepare yourself for that too! Listen to your body and don't overdo it.

#4- Sore Feet

Another inevitable thing. They say the average person walks an average of 10 miles per day! That's a lot of time on your feet! Not counting the standing in place, which is worse in my opinion. My solution is to wear a different pair of shoes every day. I don't mean you need a different pair for each day of the trip, but at least 2...3 is better. Never wear the same pair two days in a row. And decent shoes. Not cheap flip flops. I actually have fabulous flips flops from Teva and Clarks, and those are great. I love my Crocs sandals and ballet flats. Hubby swears by his Keen sandals. Bring a stroller for the kids, even if they are way too old for it. Kids don't have the stamina we do, and severely lack the ability to keep their complaints to themselves. It's better for everyone to have it. I have no shame in admitting I brought a double stroller to accommodate both kids until my daughter was 9-1/2. (She has always been very petite) And our last trip with the stroller for my son was when he was 5-1/2.

#5- Cold

Believe it or not, Florida can get downright cold, especially if you're traveling between December and February. One trip, there was unusually cold weather the entire winter and it got downright chilly. Lows in the 30's! Even as life-long north-easterners, we weren't quite prepared, and had not brought anything heavier than sweatshirts. I remember the coldest day that week...we all had on two long sleeve tees, two sweatshirts- one with a hood- and the kids were in the double side by side stroller with a fleece blanket tucked around them. I think the Photopass photographer thought we were completely nuts because we shed our sweatshirts for one photo. We all had homemade matching shirts on and I wanted at least one picture of them! We bought hats and gloves. We had to. So my advice for that time of year- bring coats and hats and gloves. Bring long johns! Bring an extra suitcase if you need to. You might regret not doing it.

The one pic we all took our sweatshirts off to take. It looks so deceiving. Sunny, but very very cold!

So there ya have it. My top five lessons. Hope they help you!!

Magic Bands!!!

If you haven't been to Walt Disney World in the last few years, you might not understand what all the hoopla is about Magic Bands. Well....I'm here to help you!

In the simplest of terms- Magic Bands are everything at Disney World. Your park ticket, room key, Fastpasses, dining...and a way to charge purchases to your room if you so desire. It's a flexible bracelet of sorts, comparable to a Fitbit. They're pretty lightweight and very adjustable. They can be made small enough for the tiniest of wrists.

To use it, you simple press the Mickey head on your band to the scanner...which will also have a Mickey head on it. The scanner will glow green when its verified. That's pretty much it! (I'll explain the rest below.)

Your first experience using the band will most likely be Magical Express. You don't need to have it on...your boarding pass from your voucher book will be sufficient. We didn't wear them the first time, but did the second time, and I preferred using the band. I didn't have to fidget with the booklet. And I felt kinda special already having it on....and I wasn't even on Disney property yet!

Next you'll use it to enter your Disney resort room. You'll see the same Mickey head on your door. Hold your band to it and wait to hear the click of the lock, then walk on in. No glowing green light here :(

Next up! The parks! When you approach the turnstiles, you'll see that same Mickey head scanner. He'll glow bright green and the you'll be prompted to scan your finger. Security! Gotta have it! That way, if you lose your band and someone else finds it, they can't use it.

I LOVE the Magic Band for Fastpasses! No more papers to keep track of and pull out. They're all linked to your Magic Band. Just scan your band and walk right in!

If you have a Disney Dining plan attached to your reservation, you use it for that too! For snacks and counter service meals, the cashier will have a Mickey scanner. They will then have you key in your pin number, chosen at check in. Everyone who is on your reservation must use the same pin number, so make sure everyone knows it. Or they won't have access to their dining credits. For sit down meals, the waiter or waitress will scan your band at the table and ask for a pin, then print out a receipt right then and there. Proceed just as you have in the past with gratuity.

Photos! Every time you pose for a photo with a Photopass photographer, he or she will scan your band and wahlah! It appears in your My Disney Experience account.

You can use your band to purchase souvenirs too! Or anything! When you check in, you can link a credit card to your reservation and choose which guests on the reservation have charging privileges. When you make a purchase, simply scan your band, just like with your dining credits, and punch in your pin number. Done! I'd like to point out that your credit card will not be changed immediately...but rather the purchase is charged to your room. You can then choose to pay the balance any way you'd like, or just have Disney charge your credit car on check out day.

Magic Bands come in several colors: red, orange, yellow, green,. blue, purple, pink, and gray. You must customize in your My Disney Experience account ahead of time or they will come in the default grey. Or you can purchase a specialty band online. They range in price and have all kinds of characters on them. Visit Disney's website or the Shopping tab on the My Disney Experience app. There are also D-Tech locations inside Disney world where you can purchase a custom band. There are also ALL kinds of trinkets and charms to decorate your band with.

Disney Quick Service Dining plan!

I love to eat. I find zero shame in admitting that. And I especially love to eat in Disney World! The Disney Dining Plan has made eating very easy! Here are 4 reasons why I love the Quick Service Dining Plan!

1- SAVES TIME! For shorter Disney trips, we like to soak up every minute we can and use them to our fullest ability. Counter meals are just faster, especially if you dine during off times. We usually eat early lunches. Most counter places open at 11, some are 11:30. We get there right after opening. The lines are short and we have no trouble getting a table. Same with dinner. We'll shoot for 4:30-5 ish, after the lunch crowd has dined and the dinner crowd isn't ready. We can be in and out in maybe 45 minutes, as opposed to the hour and a half it takes at most sit down restaurants.

2- YOU GET MORE! I've done the math. Even if we all ordered the cheapest meal, shared drinks, skipped dessert (or at least only treated ourselves occasionally) we don't come out ahead of what the Quick Service plan costs. I don't know about you, but I would much rather spend the same amount of money and get MORE! Especially now that the plans include an alcoholic beverage with every meal!

3- RESORT MUG! Yep! Even the Quick Service plan comes with a refillable resort mug for every guest on the plan! It is only fillable at your resort, but it is definitely a great perk!

4- SNACKS! For me, a Disney trip is special because of all the fun treats I don't get to experience at home. Dole Whips, Mickey Bars, Smoothies, Floats, every awesome treat in World Showcase! There are a thousand different things to try and you get to try one every day of your trip!

So...what do you think? Have you done the Quick Service Dining Plan before? Would you do it again? What's your favorite use of a snack credit???

Little ones at Disney World!

Taken in September 2009. My daughter was 6 and my son was 20 months :)

Many parents state they are not taking their children to Disney World until they are old enough to remember it all. This seems kinda silly to me. Kids who are 1 or 2, even 3, don't remember anything from that age, so any vacation they're taken on will be a long forgotten trip. So why not go to Disney?

To me, vacations are all about family bonding, fun, togetherness, enjoying each other without the responsibilities of home, whether it's an amusement park, a beach, camping, historical sites, museums, parks. The point is to be together and have fun. And young children aren't going to remember playing in the sand or roasting marshmallows either.

Here are 4 great reasons to take your young kids to Disney World!

#1- Disney knows how to cater to families. 

We've done family vacations to other places...not so easy. The restaurants aren't entertaining and the kids get bored. It's not always easy to find a bathroom or somewhere to change a diaper or nurse a baby. People give you dirty looks if your kid cries or throws a little tantrum. Strollers are frowned upon and often hard to maneuver in many places. And if you've ever tried to take a stroller on a sandy beach, you know it's nearly impossible! Disney makes traveling and touring with kids so easy...effortless. Which allows parents more time to relax and enjoy themselves.

#2- Compared to other amusement parks, Disney does it right when it comes to families and small children. 

If you go to any Six Flags or other similar park, you're lucky if you find 2-3 family friendly rides. Mostly they have thrill rides or rides just for small children. There is rarely anything parents and kids can enjoy together. The majority of Disney attractions are family friendly. We even took our son on most things when he was only 9 months old. Obviously the roller coasters are out, and a few others, but Disney knows how to make attractions and Broadway-style shows that families can enjoy together.

#3- Money and the money-saving aspects of taking young kids to Disney. 

This is the only time you can take them to Disney World and not pay for them. Once the kids turn 3, they need a park pass. And if you decide to do the Disney Dining Plan, you need to pay for a plan for them, too. When the kids are under 3, all you pay for is the adults and kids 3 and up. 

#4- Memories.

The kids will not remember it...we already established that. They won't remember anything from that age. But you as a parent...you sure will remember it, and remember the smiles on their faces going on fun rides for the first time and experiencing it together. You will have pictures of your toddler with Mickey and Donald, excited and happy with a pure joy that wanes as kids get older. You will remember how it it felt to sit in front of the castle at night as fireworks explode above, cradling your sleeping child in your arms.

Souvenirs!!

In my opinion, you can't go to Disney World and NOT buy anything. Most trips I have to really control myself and not buy every single awesome thing I see....which is very difficult because there are awesome things EVERYWHERE!! But over the years I have become really skilled at asking myself if I really need something before I buy it. Will I actually use it at home, or will it collect dust?

So here's my list of the best souvenir buys for your next Disney vacation!

* Photo Albums

I am a huge fan of photos. Always have been. And I need them printed and in albums. We usually get Memory Maker so I can have all the fun photos. I buy a photo album (or two!) every trip. Usually I buy the one with the year on it. I display all the albums on a shelf in my living room. They're so pretty!

* Ornaments 
I just started this a few years ago. It started simple with one ornament with the year on it. And well..... Now I buy like 5 or 6 every trip. I love all the fun ornaments they have! I have the show, ear hat, and purse collections!

* Jewelry
I have a few pieces I've bought during our trips. They're not expensive pieces, but I love them. I love wearing them :) My favorite is a necklace that says "Love" in rhinestones with a tiny Mickey head off the "L".

*Housewares
We all have a kitchen at home. We all use dishes. So this is definitely a souvenir that gets used. I have a few mugs, some kitchen clips, a set of vintage Disney glasses, a Mickey pancake mold. There's a set of Mickey flatware I've had my eye on for a couple years, but have yet to actually buy it.

* Sweatshirt 

Where I'm from, it's cold for many months out of the year. And even in the warm months, it's chilly at night. So we own sweatshirts...lots of them. Disney sweatshirts are pricey, but they're good quality and we get lots of use out of them.

* Pressed Pennies
I got kind of obsessed about this one for a while ;) Disney has Pressed Penny machines all over it's property. Don't know what a Pressed Penny is? Basically the machine takes your penny...and 50 cents... and squishes it. When it come out it has a new picture pressed into it. All kinds of pictures, from Mickey and friends to princesses, to attraction logos and other fun stuff. They even sell books to hold all your pennies. I have a few. I counted once. I think I had over 300 different pennies just from Disney World. And there were tons I hadn't gotten. The machines are easy to spot. Make sure you have tons of quarters on you and nice shiny pennies.

So what are your favorite souvenirs??

Disney is only for kids??? NO WAY!!!!!

So far, I have visited Disney World, Disneyland, or sailed on the Disney Cruise line without my children 8 times. And let me tell you....it was awesome!

There is a HUGE misconception that Disney vacations are only for families with kids. That is SO not true! There are so many amazing things to do that aren't even designed for kids. And yeah...we have a ton of fun doing the kid stuff without them, too!

So here's a list of awesome things to experience without the kids!

~ Epcot's World Showcase.  Let's be real here. Despite Disney's efforts, World Showcase is just not that exciting for the kids. My kids have always enjoyed it. They loved exploring each country and it's shops. They love filling their passports and participating in the KidCot stations and the Agent P Adventure, but many do not. During the trip with just me and my mom, we spend an entire day in World Showcase, eating, browsing, seeing all the films. It was an amazing day. With my hubby, we try all the fun drinks. I love the atmosphere. I love to just sit and relax and soak it in.

~ Bars, Lounges, and Beverage Stands. I openly admit I enjoy adult beverages, and Disney has some amazing ones in 3 of their parks- Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. (Magic Kingdom is a dry park except for the sit down restaurants.) Plus all the unique options at Disney Springs and the resorts. So many fun options! And how about the Disney Cruise Line? They really have some great places with yummy offerings!

~ Adult Only Pools on the Disney Cruise Line. Yep. Every Disney ship has pool areas only for adults, where you can rest and relax in the sun and some drinks, and no kids.

~ Adult Only Entertainment on the Disney Cruise Line. There are all kinds of shows and games that are only for adults. Trivia, interactive games, comedians, etc. SO much fun!

~ Signature Dining Experiences. There are restaurants at Disney World and on the Disney Cruise line where children are not allowed. Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian is for those 10 and over only. Also, Remy and Palo on the Disney Cruise Line are for adults only.

~ Tours. Oh my! So many fun tours to do, and many are not for kids or only for those 12 and up! Backstage Magic, Keys to the Kingdom, Backstage Magic Trains tour, Epcot Sea Adventures, Wilderness Back Trail Adventure, plus many more! On the Disney Cruise Line there are several port adventures that young children are not allowed to participate in.

In general, we enjoy going without our kids because we can go at our own pace, sit and relax instead of running off to the next attraction. We don't mind waiting in long lines because we don't have kids complaining or in need of entertaining. There's no one complaining about the heat or how much their feet hurt. There's no one asking for every souvenir they see. We can ride Tower of Terror 10 times in a row if we want (though we only made it to 5). We can eat at all the unique places without worrying if they have something the kids will like.

But with all that said, every time I'm there without my kids, I can't wait to plan the next trip so we can have a great family adventure :)

Character Autographs!

One of the most fun--and most inexpensive--things for kids to do in Disney is collect character autographs! Almost every character they encounter will be more than happy to scribble their name for you. Some even drawn pictures! And it makes the whole meet n greet experience even better.

Most importantly, you need an autograph book! They are sold in every gift shop on Disney property. There are simple books filled with blank pages. They hold the most autographs. Or there are photo/autograph combo books. These are the ones I like! One side has a blank page for signing, the other a clear sleeve for you to place a photo of you and the character. These books do hold less autographs though. There are lots of other options for autograph books, if you don't want one from Disney. There are tons of websites that sell them. There are even hand-made ones on sites like etsy. Or a fun notepad works, too. If you want to get creative, make your own!!

Next, make sure you have a signing implement on hand. Something thick works best, like a Sharpie or fat pen. Characters sometimes have a hard time holding small pens, pencils, or markers.

After you've waited patiently in line and it's your turn, have your book open to the page you'd like the character to sign on and hand them your pen or Sharpie. Face characters (like princesses, who do not have a full mask or "head") will often ask your name and chat while they sign. It's a fun experience. They always do autographs first, then pose for photos.

An FYI...certain characters do not sign autographs because they are physically unable, like Mike and Sully, Buzz Lightyear, Baymax, and Beast.

Young kids, maybe up to age 4, don't really "get" what's going on with autographs. I suggest waiting until they are older and really understand. My daughter had no interest until she was five. She noticed other kids getting autographs and just had to do it too! Not to say some younger kids won't be interested, but honestly, if they are real little, it might be better just to focus on them meeting and interacting with the characters.