Lessons from Disneyland

We were fortunate enough to find the means to take the boys on their first trip to Disneyland last week. We decided to make the seven hour drive and chose to combine the adventure with a visit to their cousins in southern California.

The big surprise was the reaction by Val and three other former nannies, now all approximately 23-24 years old. They couldn't imagine missing out on the boys' first trip to Disneyland, so they pooled their resources and five girls planned a road trip of their own to coincide with ours and to join us at the park for one day to experience it with the boys. Of course, their evening plans were far wilder than ours and details of their 3 a.m. exploits would undoubtedly make far more interesting reading.

Nevertheless, we had a terrific time and it was fun to witness both the boys' delighted reactions to Disneyland and the girls' eagerness to make sure no thrill was overlooked. I observed also that the boys had no problem pairing off with a partner for each ride. I'm not sure what to make of that, but I'm sure it's preparing them for some socialization experience I'd rather not contemplate.

There's no easy way to summarize such an eventful trip, but I can share a few lessons learned along the way, giving a sense of the adventure in the process:

• Read The Unofficial Guide® to Disneyland 2005 beforehand.
  
• Look into AAA or similar clubs for savings packages. We got great discounts and invaluable FASTPASS privileges to multiple attractions.
  
• If you're driving, consider getting audio books. I have three boys who are patient travelers and I'm philosophically opposed to filling one's driving time with prepackaged entertainment (especially DVD's), but still we borrowed the audio book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Unabridged, it delivers over 8 hours of distraction which provide a convenient break from time to time.
  
• Pay attention to the road. We got so busy talking we missed a key exit and by the time we discovered our error, it cost us nearly an extra hour driving time to correct.
  
• Use the FASTPASS system. Why wait in 30 to 90 minute lines?
  
• Go on a weekday—preferably a school day (shhh!). Lines on Thursday were appreciably shorter, no more than 10-15 minutes. By Friday we were starting to see crowds and waiting times of 45 minutes or more (and this was not a peak weekend).
  
• Get lanyards early. We saved time by arranging them through AAA and picking them up at Downtown Disney the night before. Strangers repeatedly stopped us and asked us where we got ours. Tip: on crazier rides, tuck them into the kids' shirts.
  
• Seven is a great age for Disneyland. We didn't have to tend with strollers or complaints about walking; we met most height requirements and the kids were still far from being jaded. Most parents will opt to take their kids at a younger age, but we don't regret waiting.
  
• Prepare to walk. I can't imagine how many miles those boys covered without a single complaint.
  
• Instill the "Stick-Together Rule." We never once felt like we were at risk of losing the boys in the crowds.
  
• Carry water and snacks. Most of the food in and around the park is too expensive and only marginally palatable.
  
• Don't start with Indiana Jones Adventure. Dumb, dumb, dumb. We were so concerned the line would be excessive later we dashed to this attraction before the boys had even begun to get their bearings. We exited the ride with two unprepared little fellas in tears.
  
• Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean are hits. We rode these several times each.
  
• 48 is not too old to try your first 360 degree looping roller coaster. I chuckled to myself when Samantha casually suggested I read the medical requirements—I never found out whether she was more worried about Andrew and Kevin or me.
  
• There's more to consider at Autopia than the 52" height requirement. Andrew met the requirement, but had difficulty reaching and maintaining pressure on the gas pedal by himself. By the end of the ride he was slowing to a snail's pace.
  
• In Disney's California Adventure (new for us), It's Tough to Be a Bug, a 3-D Bug's Life multisensory experience, and Soarin' over California, an IMAX-quality hang glider simulation, were big hits, Dad included. (The former may be too intense for many young ones.)
  
• Peter Pan's Flight is way too short after a 30 minute wait. It's magical for kids, but lasts only two minutes. After rides of 7 minutes at the Haunted Mansion and 14 minutes at Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan felt like it ended just as it was getting started.
  
• Try the Rainforest Cafe. It was one of the few dining experiences that didn't feel like a waste of money. We were able to combine orders and escape for a fair price. Better still, the kids ate the food and enjoyed the surroundings.
  
• Take a break at the hotel. We found taking turns watching the kids in the pool gave us time to recharge our batteries and get ready for evening rides and parades.
  
• Avoid the shops. Do you really need to be tempted to buy expensive Disney-themed items?
  
• Give the kids their own spending money. This saved us a lot of "I want that" conversations. Our boys saved for a year and spent their money wisely, mostly:
  
• Beware the expensive enticements. We made Andrew wait several hours to reconsider purchasing the picture of his face superimposed on Anakin Skywalker's image. But Justin looked at the colorful printing of himself as Obi-Wan Kenobi, agreed to purchase it, and no further than thirty yards past the exit burst into tears of regret over wasting his money, asking repeatedly whether he could return it or somehow earn his money back.
  
• ESPN Zone is addictive, but way too expensive. Kevin and I could have spent a weekend there: it offered rock climbing walls, air hockey, simulated pitching to Barry Bonds, hockey booths, football tossing games, and more. I was lucky to get out for only $10. On the other hand, Val and company returned for Top Shelf Margaritas and who knows what else.
  
• 48 is too old to try The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Hey, we had young women on hand to introduce the boys to that kind of lunacy—and now Kevin has bragging rights that he went on one ride that Dad chose to skip.
  
• There is still magic in Disneyland.
  

That last comment is the real lesson of our trip. It's always easy to find ways to be cynical, especially for a former amusement park employee, but Disney still has the right formula and everyone had a great time.