There is a rhythm to planning a Disney parks trip.
If you’re a seasoned Disney veteran, you know what I’m talking about. You know what to book, in what order, at what time. It becomes as easy as breathing after a while, with comfort in the routine that brings as much happiness as walking through the main gates themselves.
You may even delight in this routine so much that you get a wee bit giddy when helping others plan their Disney adventures, as it’s an excuse to mentally escape to the parks, if only in your mind for a few moments.
So here’s the thing… we are creatures of habit. We like turning right (or left, or heading straight to Fantasyland) when we hit the hub. We don’t eat at some restaurants because of horrifying food moments that happened to us there and haven’t explored some parts of the parks due to our perceptions of it not reflecting our personal interests. (*cough* DinoLand USA *cough*) Some snacks find their way into our hearts and hands every time, while others we’ll try “next time”… and never do.
Ok, to be fair… DinoLand USA really does come to life IF you understand it’s complicated backstory. Long and short of it: Chester and Hester are an elderly couple with a failing Dinoco gas station in the middle of nowhere. In 1947, amateur fossil hunters discover bones in their town, and while the Dino Institute sets up camp for a professional dig, they decide to capitalize on the newfound popularity with a ridiculous amount of roadside attractions. Which is why the whole place looks and feels tacky… it’s supposed to. Whether you love or hate this part of the park, the area is worth a walk-through just for the sheer amount of effort the Imagineers put into bringing this story to life.
There’s comfort in the familiar. We love the nostalgia of doing what we’ve done before, and it’s not only beloved but also safe. No disappointment is possible in the already-explored wilderness.
But.
What if we ventured beyond our comfort zone? Took a path we never bothered with before? (I’m looking at you, secret temporarily-closed stroll from Tomorrowland to Storybook circus!) Ate a snack others rave about but we’ve always passed over?
What if we broke the ghost rules we’ve set for ourselves for our Disney vacations?
This post wouldn’t be complete without some actual ghosts! This pet cemetery is a special one… the toad on the hill in the back left is an homage to J. Thaddeus Toad, featured in the (sadly) extinct Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction. Rumor has it the statue hosts a hidden inscription that says, “Here lies Toad, it’s sad but true. Not nearly as marketable as Winnie the Pooh”.
This is where I will pause, because, undoubtedly, many of you are wondering what “ghost rules” are. No, they’re not any of the 999 Happy Haunts in residence at the Haunted Mansion. Simply put, ghost rules are expectations we’ve designed for ourselves that we must adhere to, even though no one ever told us to do so.
This idea of ghost rules is not my own, it’s a leadership concept I learned from Todd Henry of Accidental Creative. He states ghost rules are “invisible limitations that people… place upon themselves for no good reason. Sometimes these rules become baked-in… assumptions about what is and isn’t possible.”
My question to you is… what would it look like if you didn’t stay at your favorite resort? Or didn’t rope drop one day (the HORROR!)? Or had a coconut dole whip instead of a pineapple one? Would your trip truly be ruined, or would you, perhaps, find an element of freedom and inspiration in rediscovering Disney through a different-colored lens?
I remember the first time I ever had a solo Disney trip. My husband had a conference to attend, so I was on my own for a day. At first, I did what we usually do… ticked the “done!” boxes on my touring plan, one after another, as I moved through my Disneyland day with military precision. But then, on a whim, I hopped aboard the classic Mark Twain because I realized I’d never taken a trip around the Rivers of America by boat. And that, for any well-respecting Disnerd, was unacceptable.
A few days after Disneyland’s opening day in 1955, cast members allowed 500 people on board the Mark Twain, causing the vessel to sink close to the waterline. While traversing the Rivers of America, it broke free of its track and ran aground in the muddy banks. The 300 guest capacity was then established and has been held ever since.
The ride was life-changing! I watched the paddlewheels splash happily in the water, marveled at the historic photos, climbed the decks, and sat in blissful peace as we chugged along past gnawing beavers, burning houses, and, to my utter surprise, abandoned TRACKS from the original Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland!
That ride on the Mark Twain was an awakening for me. The rest of the day I determined to do things I’d never done, breaking the ghost rules I’d set in place about how to tour the parks “properly”. I grabbed some powdered sugar beignets and tapped my toes to the jazz music in New Orleans Square. I wandered around the Disney Gallery and explored every single historic Disney artifact I could find. I finally (FINALLY!) gasped in awe as an animatronic President Lincoln stood up on stage (I’d had small children at the time and could never imagine keeping them quiet long enough for any great moments with Mr. Lincoln to occur). And, to end the day, I sat in a rocking chair on Main Street USA and people-watched for a full half-hour, simply enjoying the act of just being in a place so many love, and watching them delight in it thoroughly.
Disney friends, I know you may need some familiar magic right now. You may be desperate for a Dole Whip after months of deprivation and too many days at home. Certainly, we must not throw ALL our beloved Disney rituals out with the bathwater.
But what if we tried a few new ways to discover the magic?
Something I have continued to tell my children during this pandemic (especially when they complain about… well… anything) is that this experience is making them resilient and resourceful. It’s made us all resilient and resourceful, really. We’ve had to learn how to adapt our everyday lives to that which is available and shift our routines to live in a new way we never could have imagined before.
Shouldn’t that translate to our Disney Park adventures, too?
This moment brought to you courtesy of a broken ghost rule of keeping to the touring plan. My kids wanted to check out the then stationary Disneyland Railroad train cars. We got to climb inside the engine and talk to an engineer about the mechanics and history of the train. The C.K Holliday (Engine No. 1) is named after a founder of the Sante Fe Railroad. It was designed by WED Enterprises after the locomotive in Walt’s own backyard, called the Lilly Belle. This historic engine joined the Disneyland Railroad on opening day, July 17, 1955.
Maybe we can see the changes in the parks as an opportunity to change our minds about the assumptions we’ve made. A chance to find new ways to explore and love the parks we know so well.
So this is my challenge to you. Eat at a new restaurant. Wear a different set of Mickey ears or a Disney bounding outfit you’ve believed was too impractical for a Disney day. Seek out parts of the parks you’ve never bothered with and discover new favorites.
Break your ghost rules.
Because life isn’t about comfort or the familiar, it’s about venturing into the unknown, and finding it has more for us than we ever expected.
What are some of the “ghost rules” that you follow every time you travel to Disney? What is something you’ve always wondered about doing, or put on the shelf for “someday”? What’s keeping you from pursuing that dream?
Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you! ?
I’m praying they bring back the talented Jim Umohundro on piano at Casey’s Corner as soon as possible. Listening to him play was an unexpected moment that has since turned into a must-do for me every time we are in the Magic Kingdom!
A Cast Member once told me that a Disney trip is like a marathon, and truer words have never been spoken. While I love pounding the pavement and progressing through my touring plans as much as the next girl, the truth is, without preparation and a few emergency tools on hand, my Disney day can quickly go from a joyful adventure to a desperate slog at the drop of a hat.
Part of my purpose behind this blog is to help YOU have a more magical time at Disney, and that includes passing on the knowledge I’ve gleaned over the years so that you don’t have to make the mistakes I did! Because Disney friends don’t let Disney friends trudge unhappily through the parks.
I’m currently packing for my next Disney trip in less than a month (woohoo!!), which means today I pulled out my “Disney Travel” bag stocked with necessities for venturing into the parks. If you are already planning your 2021 “Revenge Travel” (so weird to think of it that way!), read ahead for 10 helpful items to have with you to keep your day magical!
I need to preface this list with a few caveats… if you are a Disney Minimalist and carry nothing but a magic band and a smile into the parks, you may balk at some of these. I get it. I used to be you, roughing it in the great outdoors… er… parks! But as my family has grown and I’ve gotten a bit older, my desire for comfort has outweighed my desire to carry nothing.
Consider this list somewhere between Glamping and Survivalist on the scale of Disney preparation… car camping may be the best way to look at it. Like when you want to experience nature, but you still want to charge your cell phone.
I’m also including links to items just for your own personal ease in case you don’t want to hunt them down on your own. These aren’t affiliate links or anything, and I’m not paid anything to recommend any of them, I just want to help make your planning a little easier!
One last thing… you don’t have to agree with all these items! This is simply what has worked for me, and I’d LOVE to hear what your must-haves are in the comments below! Take what is helpful, leave the rest. Agreed? Ok, let’s get to it!
1. Disposable Rain Ponchos
These super handy, small, and lightweight ponchos are an absolute necessity when traveling to the Florida parks, and are a helpful item at Disneyland. Afternoon thundershowers happen often in Orlando, and you’ll be so grateful to have this little guy on hand to keep you from walking around damp the rest of the day if you get caught in one. You’ll also look like you have your life together as your stroll past all those poor unfortunate souls huddled in a corner waiting for the storm to pass while wasting precious park time.
As a bonus, these double as splash-free covers for any wet ride (Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids, Grizzly River Run, etc) for those who prefer to not get soaked. You can simply toss them when you’re done, or stuff them back in a baggie and dry them out back in your hotel at the end of the day.
If you don’t like to get wet when riding Splash Mountain, ask a Cast Member if you can sit in the back! You may feel a few drops here and there but likely won’t get soaked. Those in the front seat, however, are almost guaranteed a splashy ride! Disney also turns the extra sprayers down/off when it is cold outside so that guests won’t get so wet (see the inactive one pictured here in the briar patch)!
For all you parents out there, ponchos are also helpful to cover strollers when the sky looks ominous to keep your ride (and 16 million kid accessories in the bottom basket) dry. Or, if you forget to throw it on and your stroller gets soaked, they make a great makeshift barrier between your kid and a soaking-wet seat (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything…)
I’ve also used disposable ponchos in a pinch to sit on the curb to wait for parades (pre-COVID of course) if I don’t happen to have my lightweight packable blanket with me.
2. Mini personal fans
I didn’t use to consider personal fans a must-have until I experienced a Floridian summer with a mask on (I don’t recommend it, by the way… travel in cooler months if you can!). Fans are also life-savers for those in your travel party who cannot tolerate heat long. There are several options available, but my favorite is this one by O2 Cool because it is small enough to slide into my bag, hands-free, and cheap enough that it’s not a heartbreaker if it succumbs to the rigor of the parks.
UPDATE: Misting fans are also a great option for Disney! We like these small ones for the kids or bringing a bigger one to share for the whole family.
3. Cooling Towels
Speaking of beating the heat, reusable cooling towels are life-savers whether you’re standing in the sun in line or traversing around the World Showcase at Epcot in the afternoon. You simply need to get them wet, wring them out, and then snap them to make them instantly cold! Lay one over your neck for instant relief, then re-snap and reapply once the cooling effect wears off for a refresher.
If the cooling towel doesn’t get you cool enough, a Mickey bar might! These are perfect mask-free photo ops right now… just find a socially-distanced spot to sit, open your treat, and snap an adorable pic! Just make sure to mask up before moving again.
These towels are particularly helpful if any of your travel mates is prone to heat rash as they keep the skin cool and covered. And they are an absolute must for hot, cranky kids (and adults)! Cooling towels alone have saved my vacation with my son who wilts easily under the California/Florida sun.
I’d recommend washing these in the sink with some detergent once you’re back at your resort for the evening and laying it out to dry completely each night. They might smell not so magical after a few days if you don’t. ?
4. Magic Band Savers
Regardless of the great “Magic Band: Do we still need one now that they aren’t free?” debate, I think it’s safe to say these magical vacation emblems will be around for a while yet. Enter Magic Band savers. These small, inexpensive pieces of silicone slip over the strap of your magic band and keep it securely in place! This is particularly helpful for small children and for when you’re scrambling quickly in and out of rides because nothing is worse than your magic band popping off at an inopportune moment.
Speaking of magic bands, if you are having a tough time fitting one on kid-sized wrists, here is a tutorial on how to make them smaller by removing the outer rubber part of the band!
4. Hand Sanitizer
Ok, this feels like a no-brainer in 2021, and for sure Disney is providing LOTS of hand sanitizer everywhere in the parks, including in ride queues and exits. But when I sit down to eat or if a sanitizing station is not handy, I keep this coconut lemon spray sanitizer at the ready in the outside pocket of my park bag. It’s not sticky and doesn’t leave a residue, so it’s perfect for multiple uses, plus it smells like a vacation in a bottle! Added bonus: It’s the only sanitizer my kids don’t complain about having on their hands.
5. Ziplock Bags
Ziplock bags are one of my most important park essentials, as they are multi-purpose! Currently, I use them to store clean masks in one and dirty masks in another, as I switch them out throughout the day and don’t want them to touch in my bag. When eating, I turn my mask inside-out and slip it inside one at my table to keep it clean while I enjoy my delicious dole whip/grey stuff/Canadian cheddar cheese soup.
Plastic bags are also handy for keeping you phone dry on wet rides, storing wet plastic ponchos, or tucking away a treat you couldn’t quite finish to enjoy later.
6. Foot Glide
Walking an average of 10-14 miles per day at Disney, your feet will be working overtime to get you to and from the magic! Treat them right before you step into the parks by protecting yourself from blisters with this miracle anti-chafe stick. Simply put it on like deodorant, but on your feet, covering all the places your shoes might rub, and magically prevent blisters from forming by reducing friction! I rarely have blisters anymore since I started using it.
I will also pause to mention here that having the right shoes really does make a difference, and everyone’s feet are unique so it’s tough to recommend the “perfect” Disney footwear. Whatever shoes you choose, make sure you break them in at least a month in advance, go waterproof/fast dry if possible, and pick comfort over fashion!
7. Blister Bandages
While you’re waiting in line for rides, look down! Each boarding area has it’s own uniquely designed numbers to match the attraction’s theme. We like to capture our journey with a photo of our feet on each number before we board. Let me know in the comments if you recognize where this pic was taken!
These blister bandages are a MUST in my park bag every day because sometimes I miss a spot with the foot glide, or someone I’m traveling with gets an unexpected blister. Rather than suffer through foot pain the rest of the day, put on one of these cushiony bandages to protect the injured area and prevent further friction. Voila! Instant relief.
If you’re traveling with children, make sure you do frequent “hot spot checks”, asking them how their feet are feeling. Catching blisters early will help keep your park days be fun for all!
8. Stainless Steel Travel Straw
Travel straws are a new arrival to my must-haves list because of the plastic straw embargo at Disney. Paper straws are the WORST, even if they are better for the environment. I carry this little collapsible stainless steel straw with me so I can enjoy the bottom third of my drink without the disposable straw collapsing like a soggy paper tragedy.
Some people swear by the ones with the rubber tip at the end so you don’t get the shock of cold drinks… to each his own! You’re also free to brave the paper version if you’d like, or go commando with no straw at all. ?
Le Fou’s Brew (AKA Red’s Apple Freeze if you’re in Radiator Springs!) is a perfect opportunity to use a collapsible straw. To make this delicious apple-flavored drink at home, check out the recipe here!
2. Phone Power Bank
Mobile ordering, checking wait times, and snapping pics will eat up your battery life on your phone even if it usually lasts all day. Solve the problem by carrying a power bank and charger cord in your park bag to power-up on the go! Just make sure to recharge every night once you’re back at your resort. I prefer this power bank, it’s served us well and has the capacity to charge two phones at once, plus it’s reasonably priced. But really, any power bank will do!
1. Sun Protection
The sun is a harsh mistress at the Disney parks on both coasts. Even on cloudy days, protecting your skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun is still critically important! I usually layer an SPF face lotion under my makeup, then apply a dry-touch sunscreen everywhere else.
If you’re extra sensitive to the sun, consider a small UV blocking umbrella. I wouldn’t normally recommend umbrellas because they tend to accidentally poke others as you’re walking around, but with social distancing, that isn’t really a problem at the moment!
Some Disney friends also recommend hats and light shirts to keep out the rays. Whatever you do, keep an eye on everyone throughout the day, and reapply after sweating/getting wet so no one looks like lobsters in your Photopass photos!
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few items that didn’t quite make the top 10, but are still staples of my trips!
A set of quality, comfortable masks until this pandemic thing is behind us ? I usually take 3-4 per day to switch out, depending on how hot it is outside, and then wash them in the sink in the evenings to prep for the next day!
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