Vacation Not As Planned: Tips and Lessons

So, this is a bit of a follow-up to my last article which was inspired by our recent trip to Orlando, Florida. I say a bit because that article was about memories and losing your mind. Well, this article is about memories and losing your mind too though not inspired by the drive but by the vacation itself. 

First, I have to say that we LOVE going to Orlando, i.e., Disney World and Universal Studios. Our family has been very blessed to be able to visit many times over the past several years. We are getting to know our way around Orlando pretty well. Our “home away from home” lets us feel right at home with the neighborhood Publix, Target, a mall and a pretty awesome YMCA. We’ve even been to the Emergency Room there in Celebration.   

And then there are the theme parks.

Let me suggest that if you have planned a summer vacation for a theme park that you change it—now; unless it’s somewhere that doesn’t get above 75 degrees. Seriously, I hate to admit that we’ve done this more than once. And each time, starting with the first June visit to Disney, we said never again. This time we had a free week of accommodations and had to use it before August, so June just happened to be when we could schedule it.  

And this time, I can’t even blame the soaring temperatures for some of the “unhappy” at the “happiest place on earth”. The temperatures were pretty mild while we were there, in fact it was hotter here at home than Orlando. Being the pro at navigating Disney that I am (wink, wink), I know to pack snacks, sunscreen, drinking water, rain ponchos and a couple of spray/fan water bottles. 

What are some of your most memorable vacations with the kids. Share in the comments!

The tips I’m about to give you are especially great for Orlando area theme parks but really could be just as handy here at SixFlags Over Georgia or any other theme park you’re going to this summer.

Big tip number one is to buy those spray/fan water bottles at Target, Wal-Mart or anywhere else offsite because you’ll only buy one at a theme park and that’s if you’re desperate enough to pay $15. I am always stunned by how expensive everything is inside the parks. And they are the world’s greatest invention on a hot, humid Orlando day with kids in the theme parks.

Big tip number two would be the rain ponchos.  Make the investment—you’ll use them over and over again. Like the spray/fan water bottles, you can find them cheaper offsite. Again, you’ll be marveling at what an awesome idea those plastic ghost-like costumes are when you start out with the most beautiful day God has ever created and you get maybe 20 minutes into having fun and suddenly the sky seems to have a serious mood swing and throws it all your way.

Our first day at the Magic Kingdom was all “zip-a-dee- doo- dah” for about 20 minutes until it proceeded to downpour off and on with a constant drizzle for the next 5 hours. But we were determined to enjoy every minute despite frizzy hair, dripping mascara, the waterfall gushing out of our shoes and the beautiful ponchos with a smiling Mickey on the back. 

We weren’t alone. 

The minions of poncho clad crazy people braving long lines to experience the magic of Disney were all around us.

Which leads me to my last tip—enjoy life rain or shine!