Sunday, March 29, 2015

The Warm Weather Travel with Children Packing List


If Checking Bags- pack the following separately:
o  Casual Clothing in layers, one or two outfits per day (especially in the hot summer months)
o  Pajamas
o  Underwear
o  Any dressy outfits for special nights out
o  Toiletries, especially liquids
o  Medication (liquids)
o  Comfortable shoes
o  Flip flops, water shoes or tevas
o  Swim gear - goggles, small toys
o  Swimsuits
o  Sun block- spray, lotion and/or stick
o  Bug Repellent (small bottle)
o  Hats
o  Collapsible bag for return souvenirs
o  Rain coats or ponchos (by at $1 store)
o  Stain Stick
o  Breakfast items- juice boxes, small cereals, granola bars, etc.
o  Snacks
o  Ziplocks for wet suits, etc.
o  Phone/electronic chargers
o  Camera charger/extra memory cards
o  Diapers/Baby Items if travelling with infant/toddler

Carry On the Plane
o  Tickets, maps, books etc.
o  Beach Bag for pool with items for easy access on plane
o  Medication
o  Hand Sanitizer, sanitizer wipes for armrests and tray
o  Backpack/Bag for parks (clear works well through airport and Disney World security)
o  Small change purse to hold hotel cards/tickets
o  Hair Brush
o  iPad/Headphones for airplane
o  Jewelry
o  Money/Cash for Tipping
o  Personal ID
o  Pen or Pencil
o  Camera/Phones
o  Prescriptions, toiletries (non-liquid)
o  Change of clothes
o  Sunglasses
o  Books, toys, games (individual backpack per kid if they are able to carry it)
o  Snuggly toys/blanket
o  Meals/Snacks for flight
o  Swimsuits
o  Diaper Bag if travelling with infant/toddler

Extra Helpers If There Is Space
o  Tip  Envelopes/$Cash for Cleaning Staff
o  Pop Up Laundry Basket
o  Small flashlights for late night reading/scary rides
o  Little Stuffed Animals/Gifts
o  Night Lights
o  Light Sticks/Bracelets for night time fun
o  Plastic cutlery/bowls/plates for room
o  Sticky notes to cover automatic flush for anyone being potty trained
o  Over the door shoe holder to hold lots of small items- frees up counter space in the hotel room

Once You're There - For Each Day
o  Tickets/Room Keys/ Maps/Itinerary
o  Backpack/Bag
o  Suntan lotion/Sunglasses
o  Ponchos/raincoats
o  Stroller
o  Snacks,  juice boxes
o  Lines with no whine survival bag- small bag for each child with chalk, bubbles, stickers and items to keep them amused on lines and in restaurants
o  Autograph books/Pens/Pins/Pressed Pennies
o  Camera in Ziploc
o  Phones
o  Diaper Bag if travelling with infant/toddler

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Why Planning Matters at Disney? - Justine Fellows


I recently helped a friend plan a trip to Disney World. It was her family's first time to the world with her husband and three young children. She is the ultimate procrastinator, understandably though, she leads a busy city life with a large family. I helped her with the basics- hotels, park passes, to dining plan or not to dining plan. I pushed her to make some basic park decisions and dining reservations with no luck. I sent emails with nice links. Lead her to books I recommended. Nothing. Finally I took it upon myself to make her a nice little plan complete with dining reservations - I was so worried that they wouldn't be able to get into any restaurants at a reasonable time, they wouldn't know which parks to visit and their first Disney experience would be horrible.

 It's so hard for a planner to help a non-planner. For any other trip I can let go- but not for Disney. I can't seem to get across to my friends how a little planning goes a long way. They think I'm rigid, obsessive compulsive, a bit loony. Until they get there.

I always wonder about how people who have never been to Disney must picture it. I assume they've seen the photos on the website but obviously these are pretty limited. Based on the website pictures alone, I have to imagine they think everyone is happy, it's clean, there are always balloons in the daytime and fireworks at night. Based on pictures, a monorail takes you everywhere and the castle is always nearby, so close that you can touch it. The online Disney World is amazing, no waits, perfect skies, perfect temperatures, healthy grandparents, lots of hand holding. No wonder my friends think they don't need to plan. It's simple, wake up, eat with Mickey, ride some rides, carry balloon, eat dinner with a princess, watch fireworks, sleep.

Don't get me wrong- I obviously love Disney but that ain't Disney, as my friend soon found out.

Here are some statistics- Covering 47 square miles, Walt Disney World Resort is about the size of San Francisco or two Manhattan islands. There are four major theme parks- Magic Kingdom Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios,  two water parks, Downtown Disney, two miniature golf courses, a Boardwalk area, over 32 resorts, 99 holes of world class golf, more than 230 buses, 12 monorails, a lot of boats and over 54,000 employees. I can go on and on.

There are so many options, so many choices, so much that over stimulates that I often see adults and kids alike melt down. Instead of beating the crowds to the early hour park, non-planners argue over which park to go to and then join the masses. Instead of relaxing by the pool and enjoying an afternoon nap, non-planners tear through maps and guide books trying to figure out which direction to turn. Non-planners find themselves eating in their third or fourth restaurant choice at 4pm or 9pm.

OK, I'm probably preaching to the choir, but let me clarify two things. Planning does not take the place of spontaneity - spontaneity happens everywhere in Disney. Let's boogey over to the Spaceship Earth ride and try to catch a show before dinner, let's exit this way and ride the monorail, let's grab a cold one in United Kingdom while the kids shop in the toy store. Once your in a park, once you've found your way spontaneity will find you! Two, planning is not a burden- it can take just a few hours and will allow your family to make decisions together leading up to the excitement of the trip. You only need some basics- which parks on what days, where should we eat- let's make reservations and you are good to go.

When my friend returned from Disney she called me and the first words out of her mouth were in the form of an apology, "Oh my gosh, I so didn't get it, next time your planning the whole thing!"