While it may be a little late to make resolutions for the new year, it’s never too late to set a few meaningful goals. I’ve been reading The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor, a research-based book about the scientifically-proven power of shifting one’s mindset. It is the author’s contention that by altering our patterns of thought, we can change our brains. We may not be able to change the things that happen to us, but we can change the way we react.
One of the first steps in this process is establishing something to look forward to, something that—for readers of this blog—might involve vacationing at a Disney destination.
Author Shawn Anchor observes that “Often the most enjoyable part of an activity is the anticipation. Even if you can’t take the time for a vacation right now… put something on the calendar. Then whenever you need a boost of happiness, remind yourself about it. Anticipating future rewards can actually light up the pleasure centers in your brain much as the actual reward will.” With this thought in mind, I feel totally justified in setting a few goals for our upcoming visit to Walt Disney World. After all, it’s a scientific fact that planning vacations is good for me!
Goal 1: Slow Down
The resorts of Walt Disney World are first-class destinations in their own right, and even though I advise readers and friends to take breaks from the theme parks to enjoy resort amenities, my family and I often find ourselves en route to one of the parks most every day of our vacation. We’ve learned to pace ourselves, and yet we rarely have as much time as I would like to enjoy our surroundings. This year, I hope to remedy that by planning more down time sunning by the pool, walking the spacious grounds, and reading in a comfy chair in the lovely lobby. The resorts are so wonderfully immersive, so carefully designed, colored, landscaped, and orchestrated that it is easy to lose oneself in the fantasy of actually inhabiting another time and place.
I’ve made reservations at three of our resort’s restaurants as well. While we love the character dining experiences of Chef Mickey’s, the Crystal Palace, and The Liberty Tree Tavern, we thought we’d shake things up a bit. I booked a character meal at 1900 Park Fare in the hopes that we can enjoy the immersive experience of the resort’s theme more completely. By dining “at home” at our resort, we will also save time traveling to and from theme park character meals. I also booked two other dining experiences at our resort: an afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room and a lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe. By taking theme parks off of our itinerary for considerable amounts of time, I look forward to making the most out of our stay at our home away from home.
Goal 2: Less is more, even at the parks.
I confess: until very recently, I was a “dawn until midnight” kind of theme park crusader. It wasn’t enough to experience each attraction once or even twice. No, I wasn’t satisfied until I drove myself into the ground running from place to place. I must admit, it was fun, but there is much to be said about purposefully planning days that allow for less frantic fun. I find this is especially true when planning with the entire family in mind. The kids–or even some of the other adults in the traveling party–may not be up for such a strenuous approach to vacationing. Traveling with small children the past six years has forced me to slow down, and I find that the benefits outweigh the costs. We have taken time to visit out-of-the-way attractions–like the wonderful Tom Sawyer Island–that I might have overlooked in my more frenetic years. We’ve stopped to watch little wonders like the German model train in World Showcase, taken in slower, charming, and very nostalgic shows like The Country Bear Jamboree and the Enchanted Tiki Room, or paused for long periods of time to watch the ducks in one of Epcot’s many lovely fountains. Less can be more.
Another benefit of slowing down is that opportunities for interacting with other guests increases exponentially when we sit down on a bench to wait for a parade, enjoy a leisurely meal at one of the restaurants that offers multi-family seating, or hang at the resort pool. The kids have made friends, we adults enjoy some good conversation, and the entire experience broadens our worlds, which is one of the main benefits of travel.
Goal 3: Experiences vs. Stuff
Let’s face it: traveling, especially traveling to Walt Disney World, is an expensive endeavor. Walt Disney World is a place that can, if you let it, nickel and dime you to death. One obvious way to stick to a budget is to limit purchases; this is easier said than done, especially for those of us who like to collect Disney art, collectibles, or theme park-themed trinkets. Luckily, the temptation to purchase many of these items has lessened over the years, due, in large part, to the lack of innovative, appealing, original merchandise. There’s a maddening sameness about most of the Disney shops that makes curbing excessive spending a little easier for us. We’ve found that sometimes less is more; one special piece for our home is often all we need. Walking by the magnets, baseball caps, t-shirts, kitchen gadgets, and those ubiquitous pins is no longer difficult for us.
Traveling with kids, however, can complicate things a little in the budget department. One tactic we’ve found very successful is the use of gift cards for the kids. They’ve had to learn to make wise choices, deciding whether or not their choice is something they will enjoy for a long time. I learned this trick from my best friends. When their son was small, he spent all of seventy dollars of his vacation money on a Star Wars pin set that he just had to have. On the way back to the resort, he regretted his choice because, as he said, “It doesn’t do anything!” It was a great lesson. By returning the pins, he had enough money to purchase one special thing a day: a Star Wars t-shirt he could wear, a Mickey Mouse basketball he could bounce, and a plush Flounder he could hug.
This year, we’ve also stuck to our goal of using vacation funds for experiences rather than stuff. We’re looking into experiences for the kids–and the big kids–in our family this year. Maybe the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show, or a behind-the-scenes tour of the Walt Disney World Railroad, or a children’s experience will take the place of boxes and bags full of stuff to drag home with us.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these reflections will resonate with you as you look ahead to 2015 and some Disney travel plans. Best wishes to you and yours for 2015. There certainly are some wonderful Vacation Kingdom of the World additions and changes to look forward to this year!
