The bed last night wasn’t uncomfortable, but it’s not yours.
The breakfast wasn’t quite worth what you paid for. The mad dash with the
family, getting them up, showered, dressed, fed, into the car and on your way
to your “Magical” place isn’t panning out. You find yourself thinking “I’m
never doing this again” and then you feel guilty for thinking it. After all,
you’re here to have fun DAMN IT! We’ve been saving up for years for this trip
and I’m not going to let so-and-so ruin it!
Fuse lit, explosion impending.
You are not alone my friend. I know, I know…. Other people
are so cheerful and full of “pixie dust” you just want to shove it down their
throat. Why do they get to have such a great vacation and yours is sinking?
They’re lying! They’re in the same sun. They’re in the same lines. Their food
was under or over cooked too. They just aren’t letting it bother them…or worse…
they’re faking it.
I’ve discovered the secret. Tell all your friends. Write it
down in a book and make millions in sales. Ready?
Screw it.
Make some shirts up. Print some bumper stickers. Once you
buy into it, you’re golden. Accept the fact that you are not going to do
everything, ride everything, and enjoy every second of the trip. Those people
you see all over their Facebook page… they’re lying. They spent money like you
did and they won’t admit there were some hitches to the plan. They won’t admit
the kids didn’t go to the bathroom for two days and then made up for it in one.
They won’t say how they lost their glasses on Spaceship Earth. They’re not
going to admit the hot dogs at Casey’s aren’t as good as the last trip.
You can plan all week on those few days in the parks, but
you’re going to run into a snag. Your online research isn’t 100% but it’s ok.
Screw it. You need to work in some “Meander” time. Some of the parks are
rigorously scheduled (like Hollywood Studios) and you are going to get hung up
rushing from show to show. A parade you didn’t read about is going to clog Main
Street as you try to get to your dinner reservation at Tony’s. It happens. It’s
not bad planning. It’s Disney. You cannot possible plan for each second of the
day. Yeah I know, that lady’s page said… Liar!
Meander time is your friend. The stress will fall right off
you if you realize you aren’t going to do and see everything. I’ve been going
for years now and still haven’t seen everything or done it. I’ve been in lines
for 30 minutes just to have my kids change their mind and not want to ride “Buzz”
anymore. “We are going to ride Buzz, and you are going to have fun, now just
shut up and wait,” I hear myself say in my head. Screw it. They won’t remember
how much fun the few minutes on the ride were. They will remember how Dad was “pissy”
for half the day.
You’ll find that as you meander, you’ll see and happen
across stuff you weren’t expecting. The man drawing Mickey faces in the street
with water and a broom. Winnie the Pooh on his way to the meet and greet spot,
and only two people in line. Princess Tiana putting a soft hand on your
shoulder as she walks by……..um… what were we talking about?
Eventually you’ll get things. You will. You have “extra
magic hours” and the parks might be open later than you thought. Skip the
fireworks tomorrow and do the extra rides and notice how empty they are.
Avoid the blow up.