Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
write about, start a discussion; otherwise, let them write or draw whatever they want to
remember from the day's events.
2.
Collect mementos along the way and create a treasure box in a small tin or cigar box.
Months or years later, it's fun to look at postcards, pins, seashells, or ticket stubs to jump-
start a memory.
3.
Addinexpensivepostcardstoyourphotographstocreateanalbum;thenwriteafewwords
on each page to accompany the images.
4.
Giveeachchildadisposablecameratorecordhisorherversionofthetrip.One5-year-old
snapped an entire series of photos that never showed anyone above the waist—his view
of the world and the photos were priceless.
5.
Nowadays, many families travel with a camcorder ormake videos with their smartphones/
tablets, though we recommend using one sparingly—parents end up viewing the trip
through the lens rather than being in the moment. If you must, take your device of choice
along, but record only a few moments of major sights (too much is boring anyway). And
let the kids record and narrate. On the topic of narration, speak loudly so as to be heard
over the not insignificant background noise of the parks. Make use of lockers at all of the
parks when the recorder becomes a burden or when you're going to experience an attrac-
tion that might damage it or get it wet. Unless you've got a waterproof camcorder or smart
device, leave it behind on Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids, and any other ride where
water is involved.
6.
Another inexpensive way to record memories is a palm-size voice recorder. Let all family
members describe their experiences. Hearing a small child's voice years later is so endear-
ing, and those recorded descriptions will trigger an album's worth of memories, far more
focused than what many novices capture on video.
Finally, when it comes to taking photos and collecting mementos, don't let the
tail wag the dog. You're not going to Disney World to build the biggest scrapbook in
history. Or as this Houston mom put it:
Tell your readers to get a grip on the photography thing. We were so busy shooting
pictures that we kind of lost the thread.
BOB
Liliane will throw a party at the least provocation—Groundhog Day,
National Tulip Day, Bless the Reptiles Day, you name it. But scheduling a
wingding the weekend before you go to Disney World is to me like holding
