Resort Tips for Parents?

[Ladyhawke10]

I posted this on the concierge thread, but it was closed before anyone had a chance to respond...so I wanted to start again!

What are some tips for parents to make their vacations go as stress-free as possible?

I had listed the concierge experience as one of the best things for a single parent (me). I don't have to worry about taking my son down to the lobby to find coffee, I can just get him ready and he's happy watching the CL lounge cartoons while I am drinking my morning caffeine

I love that we can get him drinks at night or snacks in the afternoon so easily, and even take them back to our room. We are even set up w/ water if he wants a drink in the middle of the night!

Anyone else have any tips for parents at the WDW resorts?

 

[Reflection]

My suggestions are:

Don't over plan.
Balance/tailor daily activities to reflect needs/interests/age-appropriateness of all people in your group.
When you or your child(ren) are tired, take breaks as necessary.

Remember, vacations are supposed to be fun--don't 'sweat the small stuff.'

 

[Ladyhawke10]

My suggestions are:

Don't over plan.
Balance/tailor daily activities to reflect needs/interests/age-appropriateness of all people in your group.
When you or your child(ren) are tired, take breaks as necessary.

Remember, vacations are supposed to be fun--don't 'sweat the small stuff.'

Good point! I remember when we started first going to WDW we felt we had to try everything...now I just relax and if we miss a parade...ah, well, we'll see it next trip

 

[Reflection]

Good point! I remember when we started first going to WDW we felt we had to try everything...now I just relax and if we miss a parade...ah, well, we'll see it next trip

Ladyhawke10, , 'ah, well, we'll see it next trip,' that is my attitude as well. Also, it is just my daughter and I, so we either have an annual pass--or the last two years, we had the different Fairy Tale Packages with length of stay tickets--so if we wanted to use a park admission to do just one ride/or attraction (I've been known to go to Animal Kingdom, just to see Festival of the Lion King)--we're not stressing over ticket use.

 

[mikesmom]

I used to take my son by myself when he was much younger (before I re-married). Budgets were very tight, so we didn't even stay onsite. One of the things that cost very little and we both remember as great fun was a relaxing of the rules attitude because it was vacation. Stay up 'til midnight? Have banana splits as dinner? Go with the flow, it's vacation!

Don't get me wrong, I didn't let good sense get so far gone that we had meltdowns (he wasn't a baby, we went every other year from the time he was 7), but we did turn our normal schedules upside down enough that he thought it was great fun. Vacations meant fun without having to spend a lot of money on souvenirs.