Tag Archives: Friday Five

5 MORE Ways to be Irritating at WDW

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Belle and GastonDisclaimer:  I’m joking.  This post is for entertainment purposes only and should in no way be misinterpreted as containing advice I’d actually like you to take.  This information is directed at the rude, uncouth, coarse, and inconsiderate among the general population – none of those people read this blog.

Many of you will remember this post where I helped readers here at Living a Disney Life learn how to be irritating at Walt Disney World.  So well received and, based on my last couple of visits to the World, well heeded.  You were listening and you are beasts at being annoying!  So proud of you.  You deserve a little something special.  After mastering the first set of annoyances, I will unlock for you the next steps necessary for you to master the program and reach your full irritation potential!  Today I give to you…

5 MORE Ways to be Irritating at WDW

1.  Sit in the Middle.  You won’t be sorry!  It is SO annoying!  Have your camera ready to capture the wide variety of dirty looks you will receive.  RM-Mickey's-PhilharMagicAfter those Cast Members in Mickey’s PhilharMagic (or any and all other movies and shows) tell you to move all the way to the end of the row before sitting down, stop in the middle – the best seats are right there and you paid the same as everyone else to be there.  You deserve the best seats in the house!  If anyone dares to say something to you or suggest that you get up and move, respond with complete silence.  Pretend you don’t speak English!  Sitting in the middle of ride queues, on railings, on stairs…it’s all good.  And irritating.  Do it!

2. Feed the Birds.  I’ll let you in on a little secret – the birds at Walt Disney World are no where near aggressive enough!  The really – I’m talking seriously dangerous – aggressive birds are at Sea World.  Those winged devils will dive-bomb your head and smash into you to make you drop the fish you just paid a fortune for (not for you to eat, but to feed to the sea critters) and then they’ll actually laugh as they gobble your expensive fish up off the ground.  Disney birds are tame!  DSCN3907They love people and merely want to make friends – Like Snow White and her band of helpful woodland creatures, go ahead and be buddies with your new feathered friends.  Especially in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion at the Cantina de San Angel…those birds are the best!

3. Get that Perfect Picture – No Matter What!  Everyone understands how crucial your Disney vacation photos are and you’ve paid big bucks to be here – make the most of it!  Line your little ones up for that perfect shot in front of Cinderella Castle – who cares if it’s in the middle of the walkway or how long it takes – everyone else will either stop or go around.  No worries!  These are your vacation pictures!  Make sure every single person in your party of 15 gets an individual photo with every character!

4. Never EVER Walk in a Straight Line.  You are on vacation!  Mosey, meander, zig, zag, and don’t neglect the ever-important diagonal walking!  Didn’t they tell you to pay close attention to all those Disney details?  While you’re getting from points A to B, look up, look right and left – for sure, look down at your cell phone – that My Disney Experience app needs your attention!  At all times.Walt Disney World Summer Crowd

5. Personal Space?  Nah!  Look around you – Disney World is one über-crowded place full of happy people having fun!  This is not the time or the place to worry about getting too close to your neighbor.  If you leave too much space between you and another guest, someone else might slip in there and cut in line!  Go ahead, we’re all friends in a Disney park, move on in there and aggressively guard your place in every queue.  Or for parade viewing. Or during a character meet-and-greet.  ‘S okay!  ‘Cause I said so.IMG_2614

Bonus suggestion:  You’re going to be hot and sweaty at Walt Disney World during most months of the year.  Here’s a great way to save time and money while being incredibly irritating at the same time – forego personal hygiene until you get home!  (Oh, and don’t forget #5!)

 

Five Things I’ve Learned From Running

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Princess-Half-RunnersIn just a couple of months, registration will open for Walt Disney World’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events.  I’m excited about it!  I’ll be returning again for the Glass Slipper Challenge in February, but this time I won’t be running alone.  Nick and Dave, my buddies (and co-hosts) from The Disney Exchange Podcast are planning to be there and we’re inviting you to come along for the running or at least a meet-up.  So if you’re thinking about a 2016 runDisney event or a February Disney vacation – we want to see you there!

For today’s Friday Five, I want to talk about running.  (You can read about why I run in this post.)  I’m now in my 18th year of running (Yikes!  I sound ancient!) and while I’m certainly no expert on the sport of running, I have learned a thing or two about me, and life in general, by continually putting one foot in front of the other and while I’m certain there are other items that could be on this list, I’ll just share some random thoughts on…

Five Things I’ve Learned From Running

1.  Body Type Means Nothing.  I have a long torso, short limbs and on a tall day I reach 5 feet, 4 inches in height.  I don’t look like a runner – at least not to me, since I think of tall, skinny people as having the perfect running physique.  Thinking this is silly – I’ve passed plenty of taller and thinner runners in many events and I’ve had my butt kicked by people who were shorter and heavier than I am.  Never let body image issues hold you back – if you want to be a runner, you can be.Princess-Half-Gaston-Runner

2. There Will be Pain.  Running’s a lot like life – There will be perfect, beautiful days of complete happiness.  And there will be pain and crushing disappointment.  If there’s a common running ailment, I’ve probably experienced it at least once, but that’s not the pain I’m talking about.  There’s physical pain with running, sure – sometimes it’s the “good” pain of knowing you’re really working hard and are pushing your limits for speed or distance, but there’s also emotional pain.  Probably the most important and useful lessons I’ve learned from running involve overcoming negative emotions.  When my inner voice is telling me to quit (“you’re tired, you’ve gone far enough, it’s too humid for this today, let’s get something to eat, this shirt’s rubbing my arm, you can run again tomorrow”), it’s hard to convince myself to keep going.  In the early years, negative thoughts kept me from doing my best much more often than physical pain or injury.Princess-Half-Tomorrowland

3.  Running requires no eye-hand coordination.  Tennis is not for me.  Golf just brings the rage.  Running is as easy as walking (maybe not at first, but it gets better).  While I may be unable to throw or catch or hit a ball with any kind of sports equipment, I am extremely competitive.  Running lets me compete against myself everyday.  Then, I can enter races if I want to see how my hard work stacks up against others.  Training hard pays off and that’s never more evident than when I push myself running.  Running relieves stress and gives me time to think, plan, and focus on the day ahead.  There are also great places to be explored, one step at a time.Princess-Half-Corral-F

4. Nike’s “Just Do It” is the best motto!  There are millions of excuses for why staying on the couch is the best decision of the day.  Believe me, I know from personal experience for the first 33 years of my life.  Running isn’t always easy or fun, but I’ve only ever regretted NOT running.  I’ve never gone for a run and when I came home thought, “I wish I hadn’t done that”.  I’ve run in sleet and rain, in the heat, the cold, the dark – it’s not always easy to walk out the door or climb on the dreaded, boring treadmill, but reminding myself to “Just Do It” seems to do the trick.  This also applies to many other unpleasant tasks in life!RM-Stitch-Meet-and-Greet

5.  Support is a critical element to success.  As with nearly everything we do, having someone cheering you on makes running better.  Without the support of my husband, Raymond (Thanks, Honey!), I could never have accomplished many of my goals.  He got the kids to school solo every morning for years so I could go to the gym, he’s been my coach, my bicycle mechanic (and custom-builder), my time-keeper, course explorer, pep-talker, well-wisher, travel-buddy and, with rare exception, has never missed a big race.  Hearing him say, “You’re doing great!” at just the right moment has helped me push myself harder on more occassions than I can count.  Whether it’s a group of work-out friends, your spouse, your mom or dad, your children or your coworkers, find a support system to keep you motivated.  When all else fails, one good support person can make all the difference!

Fellow runners!!!  Is anyone going to Princess Half weekend?  What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from running?

Five Ways You Must Not Be at Disney World

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RM-Fantasyland-CrowdYou know I love a good list.  Most of the time I’m preaching to the choir when I make lists like this.  You’re probably here because you love a Disney vacation as much as I do.  Many of you could teach me a thing or two about Disney travel.  Just in case you’ve stumbled upon this post today and you’ve not yet enjoyed that first trip to Walt Disney World or if your friends and family accuse you of being a grumpy jerk, this post may be for you.

Five Ways You Must Not Be at Disney World

1. Don’t Be In a Hurry – This one’s my biggest downfall. I was born in a hurry. I want to get from points A to B in as little time as possible. Always. Allowing yourself to be rushed is a big problem at Walt Disney World. Crowds will not part for you, lines will not shorten, and running after rope-drop has been banned. There are actually Cast Members in Magic Kingdom who escort the first park guests to rides and attractions after park opening. There is no walking quickly as these Cast Members, by their own admission, specialize in “mosey”. If you’re using Disney transportation, busses seemingly go slower if you’re trying to get somewhere quickly. Over-planning is the biggest cause of this first item on today’s list. Underestimating how long it takes to get somewhere is also common.  Attempting to squeeze just one more ride into the plan often results in being tardy for an important event – I’m guilty!RM-Russell-Animal-Kingdom

2. Don’t Be Unprepared – We all need to make like a good Boy Scout and be prepared for the Florida sun and heat, sudden rain showers, hunger and thirst, and coping with allergies. But we also need to be prepared for unanticipated vacation-happiness-killers like high prices, long waits, major crowds, closed or broken rides, and changes in plans. Flexibility is a virtue anytime, but on a Disney vacation, it’s an invaluable skill! One last thought before I move on – ALL kinds of people vacation at Walt Disney World, including not-so-nice and dishonest ones. There’s no magic bubble of protectiveness around your stuff. Do not leave valuables unattended in a stroller and watch your bags, backpacks, and purses. Being the victim of a crime will never be a fun or happy vacation memory. Oh, and use that in-room safe at your resort when leaving anything important behind in your room.Walt Disney World Summer Crowd

3. Don’t Be Uncomfortable – There might not be a way to avoid being at least a little uncomfortable some of the time, but there are things you can do before and during your trip that will make a huge difference! Low hanging fruit here: Wear sunscreen, comfortable clothing and shoes, bring pain-relievers and snacks, and drink plenty of water. Food for thought – if you are not used to walking long distances, you might consider using the weeks/months leading up to your vacation to get ready for the major amount of walking required to see and do all the great activities Walt Disney World has to offer. In October, we took it easy during our Disney vacation and still averaged over 8 miles of walking each day. I’ll confess I wore really cute sandals on our first day there. I’ve always subscribed to the old adage “it’s far better to look good than feel good”. Well, I’m an idiot. Don’t do as I do, do as I say. Please – protect your feet with sensible and comfortable shoes!Nighttime in the Magic Kingdome at WDW

4. Don’t Be Distracted – Sounds silly to mention this one, doesn’t it? There are a million awesome sights and sounds in the World! Distractions are part of the fun, right? I’m actually talking about being so distracted by your cell phone that you miss the amazing Disney details. So distracted working out the logistics of making that next FastPass on time that you don’t realize your child has wandered off (or is touching the bottom of the person in front of them in line. Repeatedly). The kind of distracted that allows you ram people in the backs of their legs with your stroller. For best Disney vacation results – pay attention to your travel party as well as what’s going on around you.Entrance to DHS

5. Don’t Be THAT Guy (or THOSE people) – If you insist on doing any of the following, expect to be reviled by your fellow Disney guests:

  • Hold your iPad up over your head to film parades and shows so the people behind you cannot see.
  • Use flash photography in dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean or Spaceship Earth.
  • Walk three or four side-by-side and block anyone who may need to pass you.
  • Leave your trash behind on tables at counter service restaurants.
  • Stop or hang out in the middle of busy, crowded walkways.
  • Cut in line.
  • Stand by and pretend not to notice while your children misbehave.
  • Yell, scream, chant, cheer, or act in any other unnecessarily loud and disruptive manner.
  • Change your baby’s diaper in any dining area – especially on the table.

If there’s a time to be a friendly, patient, polite, prepared, glass-half-full kind of person, it’s at Walt Disney World. The point of going, after all, is to soak up that Disney magic and have some pure, old-fashioned fun.