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Category Archives: Tips and Tricks
Disney Planning & Photos: Do You Have What it Takes to Walk Through The World?
What’s the number one planning tip I would give to anyone anticipating or planning a Disney trip? You need to start walking way before your feet ever hit Main Street, U.S.A, to run and grab a Fastpass at Space Mountain.
Walt Disney World is comprised of 92 miles of theme parks, resorts, restaurants, shopping, water parks, and mini-golf. Everything is spread out so that even when you take your own car, you’re still going to do a lot of walking. You’ll walk from the Disney bus to the restaurant to your room. You’ll walk from the monorail to the gate. You’ll walk mile after mile just to get to the rides. And on…and on…and on you walk, propelled sometimes only by Pixie Dust and cupcake sugar. If you go in the summer, the Florida heat and humidity can make each step feel like two, especially in direct sun, so you had better start training like you’re going to walk a marathon.
On my last Disney trip, I did walk a marathon. In fact, I walked the mileage equivalent of over 3 marathons: 110 miles in 11 days. Will you walk that much? Certainly not, but you can average upwards of five to seven miles a day. Are you really ready for that much physical activity on vacation?
About 2 months before you leave, start walking every day. You need to get your kids walking with you if they won’t have the privilege of riding in a stroller. Most children are not accustomed to walking 3-7 miles a day, and while they will not suffer as much as older adults, at least in my experience, all these miles can add up to tired, cranky kids.
Buy some socks with Wicking so you don’t develop blisters.
Drink lots of water if you’re there in the summer, because all that walking and the heat really take it right out of you.
Disney can be an absolute blast, and you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime. But you will enjoy your trip more if you starting some conditioning now. You can rest when you get back home and unpack, right after the depression sets in.
Love Disney World photography? Join Mouze Kateerz on Facebook, mouzekateerz.com, and Mouze Kateerz on Pinterest. If you have some fabulous Disney photographs you’d like to share, send an email of your favorite Disney location to mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.
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Vacationing at Disney World with Special Needs: ASD/ADHD
Families with special needs children may find the idea of traveling daunting. Vacation planning should be a fun time and something to look forward to, not fear or dread.
As a travel agent, I have been blessed to find families with special needs very open about their unique situation and the dynamic elements required to make a dream vacation.
No amount of reading and researching could ever give me the knowledge even close to what the family knows and lives with every day. It’s a task I don’t even attempt to undertake. I’ve found the best way to plan a vacation for children with special needs is to prepare the parents. No one knows a child better than his parent, and knowledge is power. Combining Disney parks knowledge with parental knowledge and you’ve got the answer to virtually any potential vacation problem.
Parents are often very anxious at the prospect of bringing children with sensory issues to a place like Walt Disney World. It can be crowded, noisy and it’s certainly overstimulating, these things seem like a formula for disaster, but rest assured your vacation can be just as magical as you imagine, you just have to do a little prep work.
Individually, special needs can vary quite broadly and it would be impossible to address each one of them. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) are broad disorders that can have the following effects: impulsiveness, hyperactivity, inattention, ultra-sensitivity to noises, lights, smells and objects. ASD can also include: impairments in thinking, feeling, language and social interactions repetitive movements, abnormal reactions to sound, touch and extreme emotional responses.
Regardless of what your family needs are every family will experience certain standard things on vacation: eat, sleep and play. So let’s combine what we know about special needs and standard vacation elements.
Eat: You have to eat and if you are in the parks you are most likely eating in the parks, which could raise a whole new set of challenges.
Make Advanced Dining Reservations at “off” dining times. Even with a reservation you could still have to wait for your table to become available, eating at an “off” time will be less crowded and will be less sensory overload. You’re also more likely to be seated quickly.
Pick your place - When you make your dining reservations make notes of your special needs, if your child has issues with being touched, request a booth (if available) you are less likely to be bumped or touched by strangers. If sitting with strangers is a problem for your child, be cautious of places like Biergarten in Epcot, The Spirit of Aloha show, or Hoop-Dee-Doo Review, if you are interested in these experiences ask the dining reservation-ist if you can have a separate table. Disney does try to accommodate special requests, of course nothing is guaranteed; but explaining there is a medical issue will help.
Sleep: Being on property could be the best decision you could make. Consider your resort wisely, if you prefer quieter calmer environments consider a moderate or deluxe resort in a room that’s in a more secluded location (not facing the pool, etc). These rooms are more likely to be affordable, available and apt to fit your special needs. View pictures of your choice resort online, familiarize your child with what the rooms will look like, etc.
Consider your transportation options when choosing your resort. If your child won’t be able to handle a bus ride consider a deluxe resort on the monorail system or with water access.
Play: This could be the most difficult vacation element because the variables are endless. There are a few preparations you can make to prepare for your park time. For children with ASD and ADHD structure is very important.
Although you are on vacation and might not want to stick to a stringent schedule set a pattern of park touring that works for you follow it daily, regardless of what park you are in. For example, set breakfast for the same time each morning, try to accomplish a certain amount of rides before your mid-morning break, and a certain amount after, set lunch at the same time each day, etc and decide what you’re going to do after dinner. Although the daily experiences will change your pattern will be the same.
Before you start touring the park, stop in guest services and get a Guest Assistance Card. This card will be issued to someone in the party and is valid for 5 people in the party (for example, a single family would most likely only need 1 pass if everyone is touring the parks together). Explain to the cast member at guest services you’d like a GAC, and what your special need is (an alternate entrance, a quiet place to wait for your turn on the ride, etc.) and they will accommodate you. It’s not necessary to parade your child into guest services and put on a display of what you need and why. One member of the family can obtain the card and you simply show the pass at the attraction and the cast member will give you instructions from there.
Give your children maps of the parks and let them get familiar with them. Some children find that knowing where they are going is empowering and they’re less likely to have a meltdown. Order the planning DVD and watch it, as many times as it takes to work out the kinks and questions that your child might have about your vacation.
Share your plans if you think your child can handle it (we’re going to have breakfast then try to do rides in Fantasyland, then after lunch we’re going to try to rides in Frontierland, etc.). This will give more structure and having a set pattern may help keep the stimulation under control and ease anxiety.
Your vacation should be a magical experience from start to finish, including planning. If you find the process overwhelming or would like assistance, find a reputable travel agent that specializes in Disney travel, like Pixie Vacations. An experienced agent will be able to assist you with reservations, touring plans, itineraries, and take the planning and preparation pressure off of you. Have fun at the happiest place on earth!
For more detailed information, try Passporters “Open Mouse”. These are just a few of the issues and tips for the ADHD/ASD spectrum, we’d love to hear your tips and tricks!
Related articles
- Tips for Choosing your Walt Disney World Resort (chipandco.com)
- The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney World Vacationing (chipandco.com)
Tips for Choosing your Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World presents visitors with a breathtaking range of options. From theme parks to dining to resorts, there’s something for every taste and almost every budget. But all those choices can be more than a little overwhelming. You’ve decided you want to stay on property, but looking at the long list of Disney resorts, how do you decide which one is best for your family and offers your perfect vacation?
Yacht & Beach Club
Before you even start looking at the wide range of choices offered to you by Disney resorts, you need to think about two things.
First, what are your expectations of your resort? Do you need just want a hotel on property with bus transportation, do you want to be coddled and treated like royalty, do you want to spend every moment of your vacation with rich Disney theming? Part of choosing the right place for your family is knowing what you want out of your experience.
Second, how much can you spend? You may want to be coddled and treated like royalty, but if you can’t afford it, you can always rest assured that Disney’s customer service treats all its guests as if they’re special. Disney tries to offer resorts targeted at a wide range of budgets, and you need to know where your affordability range lies.
Once you’ve determined those two things, you can start narrowing down your options. Disney groups its resorts into value, moderate, and deluxe categories, and villa resorts (part of the Disney Vacation Club) can also sometimes be rented if they are not full of DVC guests. All of the Disney resorts offer transportation to the parks and Downtown Disney, and all of them offer Disney quality service and amenities. But there are deep differences in the resorts, and once you know your expectations and your budget, you can choose the place that will be the best home for you and yours.
How much time will you spend there? Consider the way that you and your family vacation. Are you pavement-pounders? Do you stay at a park from open to close? Or do you like to take an afternoon break or spend time resting in the room? Many park guests view a hotel room as no more than a place to sleep, but Disney resorts are not just hotels. They’re resorts. They offer a variety of options for rest and recreation away from the parks. Are you planning on taking advantage of those things? If so, you might want to consider investing a little more in your resort.
Pool at Coronado Springs
Take, for example, Coronado Springs (a moderate resort). The resort boasts a spectacular pool area centered around a water fall pyramid, and cast members provide games and activities for poolgoers on most afternoons. Or consider Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge (deluxe resorts) where historical tours, food tastings, storytelling, and craft making sessions are offered free of charge to resort guests. And, of course, many resorts offer free evening movies at the pool or on the beach. One of the things that makes Disney a repeat vacation destination is the variety of experiences offered. If you’re planning on taking a break from the parks and doing more than sleeping in your room, think about the kind of place you want to spend your time.
How much space do you need? If you view your resort as more than just a place to sleep, as your Disney home, you should consider your family’s space needs. Regardless of your budget, take the time to look around the internet for square footage and room floor plans at different resorts. Do you need the 520 foot family suite at the All Star Music Resort (value)? Did you know that Old Key West Resort offers the most living space for your dollar among the deluxe/villa resorts? Is it important to you that there is little difference between the 314 square foot rooms at the Coronado Springs Resort (moderate) and the 340 square foot rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge (deluxe)?
Renovated Old Key West room
Go back to what you expect out of your home-away-from-home. Do you want room to unpack and spread out? Are your kids going to want space to play with their newly acquired Disney toys? Do you want a balcony to relax on, or are you going to be focused on the bed, desk, and television when you’re in the room? Don’t just consider the listed number of people who can fit into the room – look at how well they’re going to fit, and how the space suits your needs.
Do you want easy access to particular park(s)? If you’ve visited Walt Disney World, you probably have a favorite park. And, if you’ve invested in the Park Hopper option, you may find yourself returning to your favorite location for that one last ride on Space Mountain…or the Tower of Terror…or Soarin’…or a final safari. If you’ve got a favorite place to visit, you might want to take a good look at a map of Walt Disney World property and see which resorts are closest to your chosen destination. Yes, all Disney resorts offer park transportation…but transportation to different locations on property is far from equal. If you love the Magic Kingdom, the Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Contemporary offer quick monorail delivery to the front gate, skipping the boat/monorail crowds from the parking lot. The Wilderness lodge offers a quick, pleasant boat ride to the same location. If you love Epcot, the Beach Club, Yacht club, and Boardwalk offer a quick walk to World Showcase as well as boat transportation to Hollywood Studios (and Epcot). Animal Kingdom Lodge is not only close to its namesake park, but its savannahs make guests feel as if they are almost in the park, and Coronado Springs provides quick access to Animal Kingdom as well.
Remember, Disney bus service may far outstrip your local city’s public transportation, but getting to a park (or back to your resort from one) may be a 30 to 40 minute journey…and if you’re leaving a park after a night time show, it may be an overcrowded, harrowing journey at that. If you want quick, repeated access to a particular location, include that in your decision making.
What theme/resort layout do you prefer? One of the most remarkable things about Disney resorts is their theming. Like most other things on property, Disney resorts are dedicated to creating an environment and experience. From the
Lobby of Animal Kingdom Lodge
ability to sit on your hotel room balcony and watch eland, zebra, and giraffe at Animal Kingdom Lodge to the newly themed “Royal Rooms” coming to the new Art of Animation Resort (value, opening 2012), Disney resorts offer an immersion in the signature “magic” that guests can find few other places.
But what kind of magic are you looking for? Do a few internet image searches for the resorts you’re considering. Look at the resort maps. What does your family’s dream environment look like? Disney resorts have personality. For some guests, the sprawl of buildings clustered around the lake at Coronado springs or the sprinkling of resort rooms across Bayou trails at Port Orleans provides a sense of place and privacy. For others, the strongly centralized soaring lobbies of the Wilderness or Animal Kingdom lodges creates a warmth and drama that seems like home. Do you like the Victorian elegance and luxury of the Grand Floridian, or do all those flowers and starched aprons make you feel uncomfortable?
Theming and environment may be an intangible element, but it’s an important one. The “world” in Walt Disney World is more than just semantics; visiting the World is intended to be a break from everyday life, and choosing to stay on property is partially a choice to immerse yourself in that world. Take the time to think about what environment is going to make your family most happy. If you could be home anywhere…where would it be? The pacific northwest? The south seas? A world of Pop culture?
So choose your adventure. Take the time to think about your resort options, and then select where you’re going to be most content. A Disney vacation is a precious memory in the making – be sure that your chosen home away from home makes that experience even better!
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The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney World Vacationing
Disney is the one place where planning is non-negotiable. The people who have a miserable time at Disney World are the ones who just show up and wander around, or stupidly stand in hour + lines at Splash Mountain. People who “never want to go back to Disney World” most likely committed one of the 7 deadly sins of WDW vacationing:
Those sins are: Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy & Gluttony.
Wrath – People who hate WDW spend a large amount of time yelling at (or being yelled at by) their families & friends. They don’t listen to the Disney Diva and take mid-day naps, nor do they take the steps to head off WDW Melt-Downs before they happen(* READ TIPS HERE*). They are exhausted, broke, disillusioned and overstimulated. They don’t see Disney World as a vacation so much as as a giant, never-ending checklist of rides they must ride, foods they must eat, and things they must see before they can be considered a “good parent”.
There are three tips to avoiding committing these sins: 1) Plan in advance (and include your kids in planning (read How your kids can SAVE you money at Disney World HERE), 2) know your way around the park. and 3) Set realistic goals and take mid-day naps.
Greed – People who hate WDW spend too much money unnecessarily. They don’t really think ahead about how much room they need, or how close they need to be to a park(get help on this Planning your WDW post). They don’t make good choices on what they should pack both in their suitcases (Packing Checklists) or in their day backpack (Perfect WDW backpack) which forces them to have to spend money in-park on essentials such as suntan-lotion or sweatshirts. They don’t set impulse-buy budgets for themselves or their children so they come home to an astronomical credit card bill and a glazed over look while exclaiming how to everyone “expensive everything at Disney World is”.
How do you avoid this sin?
PLAN PLAN PLAN. Set budgets for yourself and your family. Think about if its really worth the additional to be on the monorail loop or could you tolerate a longer bus ride? Too many people take the position of “this is a once in a lifetime trip, lets spend every dime we’ve got”. Don’t do it. Stuff for the sake of stuff just ends up in a yard-sale in a year or two. Spend more on creating memories and less on stuff.
Sloth – Sleeping in…Sleeping in makes me beyond furious. You absolutely must not… MUST NOT sleep in!! People who hate WDW stroll into a park at about 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning, right when lines are starting to get long. Then they have the nerve to complain about how all the lines are insanely long. They don’t think its important to be there for park opening. Sleeping in is a no no at WDW.
So how do you avoid this sin?
Sleep during mid-day naps, lines are shortest at the beginning and the ending of the day, which means THAT’S when you should be in the parks.
Pride – People who hate WDW don’t allow their plans to change. They have their Pride and are unwilling to change things around even when everybody has said their tired, or they hate this park. On days when they finish a park a lot faster than they planned they still require people to return to the park as scheduled. They don’t allow the flexibility for an unplanned parade dance-along or get a last minute dining reservation.
How to avoid?
Don’t be a WDW Nazi! Have some flexibility!
Lust – The only way I can think to tie in Lust is to talk about people worrying about how they look while they’re at WDW. Remember Disney World is NOT a fashion show. People who are worried about how they look make stupid mistakes like not wearing clothes that are comfortable and breathe (its really humid at Disney World). They wear skirts, and high heels and spend large amounts of time doing their hair and make-up which will turn into a frizzy/cakey/runny mess by the end of hour one in the park.
How to avoid this sin?
Realize Disney’s not a fashion show. You MUST be comfortable or you will be miserable. Pack smart!! and wear appropriate footwear! You can read all about it at my post about Hoofing it Around Disney World.
Envy – People who don’t use Fast Passes correctly experience large amounts of envy at Disney World! People who fall into huge Disney World Time Pitfalls experience even more. There are few things worse than standing in a queue line and watching, literally, hundreds of people get to ride the ride before you. Fast Pass Envy, its FIERCE and worse than most green-eyed monsters can be.
So how to avoid this sin?
LEARN HOW TO USE FAST PASSES!! For Pete’s sake. Man it can really save you a ton of time and read that article on Avoiding Disney Time Pitfalls, it may be the best thing I’ve ever written.
Gluttony – If you are what you eat that you can turn into one fatty mess at Disney World! Be careful about eating too much fast food at Disney, too many sodas or stuffing yourself at one of the buffets (Buffets are staples at most of the Character Meals). You can really get run-down quickly without enough water and fiber in your diet. Don’t be tricked into thinking that the bazillion of miles you are walking are somehow how working off the calories you’re rapidly in-taking.
How to avoid glutton?
Sit down and really plan out your meals and make sure you’re picking out some good places to get good for you foods and don’t shy away from the fruit stands.
Ok, so now you know about the 7 deadly sins!!! Don’t go committing them!!
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Disney Cruise Tips – Dinner Attire on Disney Cruise Line
New cruisers always ask the same question:
“What do I wear to dinner?”
Before you purchase a new ball gown or a tuxedo…relax and take a deep breath. Disney Cruise Line knows how spiffy you’d look in a floor length sequined gown, they also know that wrangling your child into a high chair while wearing said gown is not practical.
The dining rooms range from casual and comfortable to elegant and your wardrobe will rotate with your dining schedule. So what should you plan to wear to dinner?
Men:
- Regular Dining Attire: Casual open collared shirts (polo style shirts) and slacks (such as khakis). Jeans are ok everywhere but Palo and Remy.
- Dress Up Night: A tad more upscale. Most men don jackets (not required). Jackets are required if you are dining at Palo or Remy.
Women:
Regular Dining Attire: Blouse and skirt or casual dress
- Dress Up Night: A tad more upscale-dresses, skirts, etc. If you are dining at Palo or Remy you’ll want a dress or pantsuit.
General no-no’s:
- No shorts in the dining rooms please
- No swimwear in the dining rooms please
- No open toed shoes at Remy or Palo (particularly for men)
Pirate Night:
- This seems to be everyone favorite night. Could be that Disney Cruise Line is the only ship allowed to set off fireworks at sea, could be the deck parties or the buffet or the general atmosphere on the ship that night. Regardless, you’ll see that anything goes on this night. Red “Pirates IN the Caribbean” bandanas are distributed at dinner and many folks bring pirate attire along with them. On the Disney Fantasy the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will transform into the Pirates League and offer transformations for the entire family.
Have more questions about cruising? Book your vacation with Michele@PixieVacations.com and receive answers to all of your questions as well as onboard credits!
Onboard Credit Offers:
$1,000 to $2,500 = $50 onboard credit (+Disney Cruise Line OBC=$75)
$2,500 to $3,500 =$75 onboard credit (+Disney Cruise Line OBC=$100)
$3,500 to $4,500= $100 onboard credit (+Disney Cruise Line OBC=$125)
$4,500 and up=up to a $200 onboard credit (+Disney Cruise Line OBC=$250)
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