Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
217
Relax . . . Think Fun, not Frantic
It's finally here, the dream vacation to the “Happiest Place on Ear th!” Whether
you're 6 or 60, it's hard to keep from getting caught up in the excitement, even
when you're the one responsible for the (seemingly) endless planning stage.
Once you arrive and enter the theme park(s), k ids—and plenty of adults—
seem to kick into warp speed. But sensory overload doesn't mean you should
abandon common sense. Here are just a f ew suggestions t o avoid common
pitfalls:
•
Write Down Your Car's Location:
When you're rushing t o jump the tram
for the park, it's easy to forget that your section/row/floor looks exactly like
dozens of others in the park ing lot or struc ture. Take a sec ond t o writ e
down your parking location, because you'll be absorbing a lot of memories
between now and the exhaust ed end of the da y.
•
Don't O verplan:
Only the most stubbornly ener getic park -goers (and if
you have small childr en in t ow, this is definit ely not y ou) can manage t o
see ev erything at Disneyland in one da y. C alifornia A dventure is mor e
manageable, but can also be time -consuming at peak capacit y. Agree as
a g roup t o sev eral “must-do” rides and ac tivities each da y, so no one is
disappointed by missing their fa vorite ride or attrac tion.
•
Pace Yourself:
First thing in the morning . . . wh y are those f olks running
to catch the parking lot tram? Relax, the theme parks aren't going anywhere,
and trams run c onstantly during peak arrival and depar ture hours. While
inside the park, stagger long waits in line with easy- entry shows and rides,
and remember to sit with a r efreshing drink ev ery now and then. I t may
seem like a good idea t o head right f or another “must-do,” but ev en the
best ride is less fun if y ou've been crank y for 45 minut es in line .
•
Set a Spending Limit:
Kids should k now they ha ve a c ertain amount t o
spend on between-meal snacks and Disney souvenirs, so they'll look around
and carefully decide which trinket is the one they can 't live without.
•
Dress Comfortably:
We mean
really
comfortably, so y ou can sta y that wa y
throughout a long, hot day with lots of walk ing and lots of standing. Reliable
walking shoes (sneakers or walk ing sandals ar e best), la yered clothing (a
sweatshirt or sw eater for evening can be w elcome, even in summer), and a
hat and/or sunglasses t o protect against sunburn ar e all must-h aves.
8
eating places, with a city hall, a fir e station, and an old-time silent cinema. Liv e perfor-
mances include piano playing at the Carnation ice-cr eam parlor and Dapper Dan's bar-
bershop quartet along the str eet. A mixed-media attraction combines a pr esentation on
the life of Walt Disney (The Walt Disney Story) with a patriotic r emembrance of Abra-
ham Lincoln. Horse-drawn trolleys, fire engines, and horseless carriages giv e rides along
Main Street and transpor t visitors to the central hub (pr operly known as the Central
Plaza).
