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Happiest Tips on Earth

About the Column

Congratulations! You're going to Disney World, the Happiest Place on Earth! Now what? Do you have a plan? Do you know what to expect? Are you determined to 'see it all' or die trying? Lesley Sawhook has 'been there, done that' so many times that in her sleep she counts marching Mickeys, not leaping sheep. Her years of experience as a Disney mom, a Disney planner, and a Disney Certified Travel Agent make her uniquely qualified to dispense the Happiest Tips on Earth. Learn from Lesley how to have the Happiest Time at the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Soothing the Screamers

Lesley Sawhook shares tips for letting the magic happen

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I'm happy to introduce the first of several new columns on Disney Dispatch that will address the most important issue of 'em all: how to make your Disney trip magical. Lesley Sawhook knows the secret and shares a little more of it with us weekly in the Happiest Tips on Earth.

Today, she shares a truth that many just won't accept: you'll never see everything you want to see in a single vacation - or in many vacations. So... relax! Let the magic happen.

When walking through the Happiest Place on Earth, sometimes you hear ... screaming.

For example:

I've seen children scream as their parents drag them to places where they don't want to go. The angry parents scream back: "I paid too much for this vacation to hear you throwing a fit!". Then, having finally made it to Tower of Terror, the children scream again when they realize with fear what's in store for them, and the angry parents scream back: "We HAVE to ride this ride!".

I don't know about you, but as a parent of two young children, that is not the memory I want them to have of our Disney World family vacation.

click an image to expand and read notes:

Smiling

Lesley's Daughter Is Smiling!

Dancing

Lesley's Son Is Dancing!

Happy

Lesley's Children Are Happy!

Success

Example of a Happiest Trip on Earth

As parents, what can we do to make our children love Disney as much as we do?

Happiest Tip: Take It Easy!

My advice: take it easy. Don't go commando.

I realize you spent a lot of money on this vacation and you have a mile-long list of rides and attractions that each member of your family wants to see, but I suggest making a daily 'must do' list.

Each morning, perhaps while you're waiting for the bus or grabbing a quick breakfast, look over the park map with your family and let each person pick the number one thing they want to do that day.

Make it a priority to get it done.

Then determine which rides you should head for right away and which you should postpone until you've gotten Fast Passes.

For example, if your daughter wants to ride Dumbo, waiting until noon is not a good idea - go immediately to Fantasyland and get it done right away because that ride doesn't offer Fast Passes. If your son wants to ride Space Mountain, however, then a Fast Pass is a great idea.

Happiest Tip: Designate a Runner!

Don't drag your entire family as you trek through the park picking up Fast Passes. If you do, you'll have tired and cranky children on your hands very quickly. Instead, designate one family member as a 'runner', give him ('him' because it's often Dad!) all your park passes, and promise to meet him at the next scheduled attraction. While the runner is away, the rest of the family can relax a bit, have a snack or drink break, maybe hit the restrooms, or hop on a ride the runner doesn't enjoy.

Happiest Tip: Do the Parent Swap!

If your children are scared of a ride, don't force them on it or you'll traumatize them for the entire trip. Have a back-up plan. For example, if you're in line for the Haunted Mansion and your child starts to cry, decide in advance which adult will skip the ride and take the kid for ice cream. Use Disney's parent swap option so the entire family doesn't miss out on what they want to do just because one member of the group isn't tall enough or brave enough to ride.

Happiest Tip: Make the Memory Happen!

We've been to Disney countless times and we still haven't seen it all. You will not see everything, either. It's impossible. Don't even try it. Instead, relax - take the time to see what you really want to see and don't worry about falling behind on your 'schedule'. Don't skip a meet 'n greet with your child's favorite character just because the line is long and you're rushing somewhere else: make the memory happen. Let your children trade pins, get autographs, enjoy a Mickey bar, see the fireworks, and do whatever they want to do.

Isn't that what going to Disney World as a family is ALL about?

Lesley's Exclusive Food & Wine Festival Vacation Deal

The Happiest Tips on Earth can only get you partway to the Happiest Place on Earth. For the rest, you need Destination Magic. Drop Lesley a line and see what magic she can make for you when you're planning your next Disney trip!

Don't stop there! Check out more Happiest Tips on Earth...

Stuff Not to Skip

Comments (9)

These are incredibly simple tips that are very easily forgotten by most people when they visit Disney. It's always good to remind people of them. Great job, Lesley!
Jeff Heimbuch - 2/4/2011 @ 11:37 AM
ALL of these are so true....it can be overwhelming without simple planning......Lesley knows it all, any advice needed, she has the answers!
Lisa B - 2/4/2011 @ 12:14 PM
I absolutely love the fact that so many sources claim it is impossible to see everything at Disney in one vacation. There might be a little truth to that. However, I am a Disney Cast Member and I personally can say that I have honestly seen everything there is to see at Animal Kingdom in ONE day (it was an extra magic hours night). Now granted you won't be able to see every single thing at Disney including everything at the parks, visit every resort, view every single show, enjoy every single piece of entertainment, eat at every restaurant, etc in a 7 day vacation... yet. I will be sure to report back on that in a few weeks. Heck, I might even get my own article on Disney Dispatch! See you all soon!
Disney Person - 2/4/2011 @ 12:41 PM
I love the new column, and I think these are great tips for anyone going to Disney, but especially families. As for the previous post, being a Cast Member you aren't the "normal" guest who shows up for a day at the parks. So to say that you did Animal Kingdom in one day with extra magic hours as a added bonus, isn't quite an legit argument that you could see everything at Disney in one trip. In my opinion, no one person/family will ever see everything at Disney on a seven day trip. But, good luck!!
Parent Who Loves Disney - 2/4/2011 @ 1:04 PM
What I am trying to do Parent Who Loves Disney is take myself out of the "Disney Cast Member" position and into a guests perspective... at least in the mind. That is what I do every single day I do not work, I am a Disney Guest. I am making a honest effort to find out how much time it would take to do and see everything with careful planning, timing, and considering every possible outcome as a Disney guest. With the information I gathered from Animal Kingdom in one day, it was information from a guest's perspective, not a cast member's. As a theme park guest, if you have the right planning and everything, it is possible (on an extra magic hours night) to do and see everything at Animal Kingdom.
Disney Person - 2/4/2011 @ 2:16 PM
Ok Disney Person, if that is what you are doing it sounds great and you might learn a lot with that mind set. But, in your original post you did say that at all. You said "I am a Disney Cast Member and I personally can say that I have honestly seen everything there is to see at Animal Kingdom in ONE day (it was an extra magic hours night)." So, to me it didn't sound like a normal guest experience at all. Anyway, I look forward to more Disney tips and discussion in the future from Disney Dispatch.
Parent Who Loves Disney - 2/4/2011 @ 2:55 PM
While I agree that the Animal Kingdom is a smaller park, I believe that the author of the column is speaking from a famil perspective. Smaller children mean many distractions, bathroom breaks, character meet and greets and so on. While you as a cast member can zip through the park, stop for a minute and consider how much traveling with a family with varying interests can detour even the best of plans. I also think that Lesley was referring to not be able to see everything Walt Disney World has to offer in one trip, not just one park. Kudos Lesley, I truly believe these tips are family friendly and very true! Looking forward to the next installment!
njdisneymom - 2/4/2011 @ 6:35 PM
Wow - great tips! I would never have thought to do a runner - or think that far ahead as to who would "skip" the ride if a child gets upset! Very helpful! Thanks so much! Look forward to more posts!
Rachel S - 2/4/2011 @ 8:46 PM
Wow... How can an well-intended, informative article bring about so much DRAMA? Ladies...REALLY? Put the claws away!!

GREAT PIECE Leslie! Its great advice from someone whose been there many times!
My 3 girls are all grown up now. But it was always something I "planned" to do...take the girls down for a DISNEY VACATION!! I went as a child in the early 70's and I know its grown tremendously since then.
But mothers PLEASE...don't procrastinate too long. Before I turned around twice it seemed, my girls were grown and busy with jobs and families of their own. I so regret that we never did take that trip with our girls. If we had gone, Leslies column could have saved the day!! Could have made the difference between a hurried rushed trip or a nice relaxing family vacation.
Now...I am grandmother to EIGHT grandchildren. And I'm still hoping for a HUGE FAMILY VACATION for about 15 people... all on grandma & grandpa's dime!!
A regretful Mom - 2/11/2011 @ 6:25 PM
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