Tag Archives: Traveling with Kids

5 Things We Taught Our Kids at Disney World

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5 Things We Taught Our Kids at Disney World

Dinoland-U.S.A.The Fam and I don’t consciously go on vacation to learn stuff.  Anytime we travel though, there’s an opportunity to experience new things – a byproduct of which is usually learning something.  Everyday life can be challenging.  Spending the time and money to travel, for us, means getting away from the stress of the daily grind and enjoying each other’s company in a way we can rarely experience at home.  This has been constant through the years and part of why we love to travel together.

1. Money is better spent on experiences – Even before this article hit social media, we whole-heartedly believed in this concept.  We weren’t going to be the family with a new car everyRM-Fun-on-the-Monorail couple of years – we drive a vehicle, on average, about 10 years (or longer).  The latest video games, a backyard pool or trampoline, dinners out every week, and expensive blue jeans were not in our budget.  It was easier to pass on things knowing we’d have incredible new experiences in our future.  We love Disney World and Disney Cruise Line.  The excitement of a new possession diminishes over time, unlike the memories of our collective vacation experiences (and the excitement of planning more of them for the future).

2. Waiting is easier when you learn to make it entertaining – Call us crazy, but some of ourThese Feet are TIRED best times have been in ride queues and on Disney transportation.  We look for hidden Mickeys, quiz each other on Disney trivia, search for tiny, magical details or special Disney touches (like footprints, funny signs and posters, sight gags).  We’ve learned to look up, look down, and just enjoy being in the moment.  Together.  At Walt Disney World.  (We also taught good manners at every opportunity, like giving up your seat on a bus for someone else.)

3. Eating dinner together as a family is one of the best things in life – and at are house, a rather rare occurrence.  We had super active kids!  During the early years of family DisneyRM-Meg-and-Joe vacations we realized that we loved having a sit-down meal together at the end of every day.  We could relax, recap the days’ excitements and highlights, discuss what we were most looking forward to for the next day, and enjoy some awesome Disney food and service.  If you asked, each of us would say that many of those meals are some of our most precious vacation memories.

4. Making friends with people from other countries and cultures is awesome – We were probably the most paranoid “stranger danger” parents on the planet, but we tried to demonstrate safe ways to interact with other guests and Cast Members while waiting in line, pin trading, sitting in a restaurant, or waiting for a parade or nighttime spectacular to start.  A common love for Disney usually brought us together and we had the pleasure of visiting a while and exchanging thoughts and opinions about favorite rides, attractions, shows.

wd008wdw2014146790617265. Facing and conquering fears is rewarding! – Megan was leery of heights and Joseph was mortally afraid of trying new foods.  Both were very unsure about character interactions.  When Megan learned to love the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Disney’s Hollywood Studios), we were there to cheer her on and see the pride and amazement she felt at overcoming her fear.  Joseph learned to try, and in many cases love, all kinds of seafood, cheeses, and exotic flavors (like wild boar and buffalo).  Both of them RM-Character-Breakfastovercame their wariness about meeting Disney characters.  This might not sound like a big deal, but believe me, it was.  The ability to draw upon these experiences when faced with challenges in everyday life has been invaluable.

As you can imagine, there were many more things we all learned on our Disney vacations, but I’ll save those for another day.  What’s the best thing you’ve learned (or taught) at Disney World?

The Lost Boys – Keeping up With Your Children at DisneyWorld

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Stroller Jockeys at Walt Disney WorldYou don’t want any Lost Boys!

This
post was actually Raymond’s idea. We’ve been watching ABC’c Once Upon a Time (love it!) and the main characters are currently trying to escape from Neverland where Peter Pan and the Lost Boys are a little bit Lord of the Flies-ish. For some reason, it made Raymond think about one extremely memorable visit to Disney World when we witnessed first hand what NOT to do when your child gets lost.

Each member of The Fam can, to this day, recall the specifics of our encounter with the parents of a missing little girl named Sarah – the entire incident was so
disturbing it is burned forever into our memories. We were just
coming out of Mickey’s Philharmagic – right there near the exit, in
the middle of Fantasyland, Sarah’s mom and dad had let the worst
thing possible happen (no, not the fact that they lost Sarah) –
they panicked. Number one thing NOT to do if your child gets lost.
Do. Not. Panic. Sarah’s dad was frantically running back and forth,
up and down the walkway, calling for Sarah in a very upset tone of
voice. Sarah’s mom was standing in one place screaming Sarah’s name
over and over – Now, when I say screaming, I’m talking a scream
straight out of Friday the 13th – top of her lungs, abject terror, over and over and over – eyes closed, just screaming. Within seconds (literally), a Disney Cast Member was
beside Sarah’s mom – Ma’am? It’s OKAY! Here’s Sarah – and, of
course, had the beloved and much-missed Sarah in tow.IMG_2608

There are eyes and EARS
(ha!) everywhere at Disney World – never doubt it. Cast Members are very well trained in dealing with lost family members of any age. So here are my tips for keeping up with your children and what to do if you lose your child in Disney World:

1. DO NOT PANIC. Remain calm. Panic makes you irrational and unproductive. Let your imagination run away and you will not make good decisions. Carry your cell phone with you and take a picture of your child as you arrive at a park each day – this will help keep panic at bay and allow you to answer the simplest question with ease (just in
case) – what does your child look like?

2. If your child is not old enough to know your full name and cell phone number,
label them. Yep, I said slap a label on ’em. This can be a sticky label on a belt or a shoe
or a sewn-onto-clothing label, a pinned on label, or a marks-a-lot-message-written-on-their-skin label. Our kids were not prone to running off as toddlers, so we weren’t worried much about
losing them at that age, but be saw plenty of runners that needed labels.

3. Use those cute little backpacks with leashes. Years ago, when our kids were small, there were only actual kid leashes and I just could NOT go there. When I saw Joseph looking at a child about his age that had a big strap on his arm attached to a leash, being pulled along,
I said, “See what happens to children who won’t stay close and hold hands?” – Worked like a charm. (Oh, please, my children turned out fine.) But now they have these adorable furry animal backpacks that have a leash attached – looks less cruel and kids seem to actually
like them.

IMG_19444. For kids a little older – Make sure they can recognize Cast Members and know what to say if/when lost. The Cast Members at
Disney are top notch – if you ask them for a practice run, they’ll be glad to play along. Find a willing Cast Member, tell them what
you’re doing, then have your child go up to them and say whatever “I’m lost” script you like. Have the Cast Member explain what would happen in the event of an actual “losing”.

5. For kids even older than that – have a meeting place picked out. When our children were about 9 and 13, I remember we told them at the Magic Kingdom that if we got separated
for any reason, we would meet at the park bench with the Roy and Minnie statues on it. This is also good when you get to the point of allowing them a little freedom in the parks on their own. (After age 14 now according to Disney rules) Make sure they have a way of contacting you before you turn them loose, then give them a meeting time and place.

You should know – if Cast Members cannot find the parents of a lost child immediately, they escort the child to a certain area (Baby Care Center) in the park. Alert a cast member immediately if your child is missing and ask them for directions to where your
child will be taken. If you’re not alone, have someone stay where the child was last seen while you go check at the Baby Care Center.

Children and parents become separated at Disney World all the time. If you’re headed there on vacation, please make like a good Boy Scout and be prepared.