Getting There is Half the Fun Part 2

For part 1 of “Getting There is Half the Fun,” please scroll down to the previous entry.

Now that everyone is entertained, time to concentrate on keeping everyone’s stomach happy. After all, you don’t want to be so hungry that you could eat a sandwich from a gas station, do you?

Snacks that work well for kids are; granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, raisins, and popcorn. The best items are the ones that don’t need refrigerated and can be stored in a Ziploc bag. Adults may prefer chips, pretzels, Hostess fruit pies, and other items. For drinks, a cooler will do wonders. We bring two small portable coolers with ice packs. One in back by the kids for milk and juice and one in between the driver and passenger seats with soft drinks for the adults.

As for the actual driving, nothing is more exciting than passing through the major cities on the way. Forget about the bypass (unless traffic is extremely backed up). On our way down to Florida we drive through Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta. Seeing the skyscrapers and billboards of the major cities breaks up the monotony of grass, trees, and pavement. It also breaks the trip down into smaller goals, which gives the driver something to shoot for. It’s easier and more fun to set a goal of reaching Chicago in 3 hours than it is to dwell on the fact that you have 22 hours until you reach WDW.  The next goal is then three hours to Indianapolis, two hours to Louisville and so on. 

Also, be sure to stop at the State Welcoming Centers. This is a great opportunity to get out, stretch, and take bathroom breaks while learning about what each state has to offer. Pick up any brochures or coupon books of area attractions to page through while you drive to the next state. The Florida Welcoming Center is a must do. Visitors can sample freshly squeezed Florida orange juice and pick up some WDW and other Florida attractions brochures.

If you choose to drive straight through, a great idea is to have one person drive through the night while the other sleeps. In the morning find a suitable place to stop for breakfast, then switch drivers before heading out. If you decide to break up the trip over two days, I highly recommend travelling beyond the halfway point the first day. Traffic can get congested the closer you get to Central Florida. The extra time spent driving the day before will help even out the amount of time spent in the car between the two days. After an hour and a half of driving beyond the Florida Welcoming Center it would be a great idea to take a quick restroom break before you hit the Central Florida traffic. The last thing you want to do is try to fight your way through the traffic to find an exit, then have to fight your way back in several minutes later.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) is also highly recommended. They come in handy locating the nearest McDonalds or Target for those occasions when the kids want to eat lunch or when you suddenly remember a must have item you forgot. They also do a fantastic job keeping the driver on the right course. If you do not have a GPS, a United States Road Atlas is a nice option. You never know when you may miss an exit or merge on to the wrong freeway. Who knows, you could end up in a different state, like the time we ended up in Michigan when my brother and I were discussing fantasy football instead of paying attention to the road signs.

No matter who goes along for the ride, or how long the drive takes, just remember that a happy family makes for a happy vacation.

To coin a phrase from Clark W. Griswold, “Getting there is half the fun, you know that!"

Getting There is Half the Fun Part 1

In one week, the family truckster will be burning dust, forcing all others left behind to eat rubber. There will be no time to stop and visit Cousin Eddie or to pick up Aunt Edna. It will be an epic 22-hour voyage from the tundra of the mid-west to the warm glow of the sunshine state. Joining me on the trip will be the wife and my two sons. Oh yeah, my mother is going too (yikes!). And the mother-in-law (double YIKES!). Hey, two backseat drivers are better than one, right? Cousin Eddie and Aunt Edna sound pretty good about now don’t they?

All joking aside, it will be such fun listening to Mom scold me for driving too close to the semi in front of us while having the mother-in-law scream for me to pick one lane and stay in it. Only a fool and the fool who follows him are foolish enough to travel a whole day and night with two moms. Of course, I’m joking. Mom and I get along great and I’ve learned to somewhat tolerate the mother-in-law over the years (again...joking). It won’t be so bad. This is why some smart person invented earplugs. Besides, a great deal of the driving occurs while they sleep. My music will drown out their snoring, gurgling, burping, and gas passing. Nose plugs anyone?

OK, now that I have all the humor out of my system, it’s time to get serious and offer a few suggestions for making the car ride to Walt Disney World live up to Clark W. Griswold’s claim that “Getting there is half the fun.”

Start with entertainment. A well-entertained family is a happy family. Make sure the Ipod or MP3 player is charged and loaded with several playlists. Start the trip with music the whole family enjoys. I play Walt Disney World music or songs from Disney movies to get the family in the right mood. Once everybody starts doing their own things or fall asleep, I switch the playlist to my favorite songs.

To keep children (and adults) entertained throughout the long journey; portable DVD players do the trick. Just pack their favorite movies and shows and the kids will be set for hours. Portable game systems work well also, as do books, and a pad of paper or coloring book with crayons. For repeat visitors to WDW, I highly recommend “The Walt Disney World Trivia Books Volumes 1 & 2” by Lou Mongello. Make a game of it by having one person read the questions (hopefully, not the driver) while the others try to be the first to answer, or take turns reading and answering them. Walt Disney World guidebooks are a fun way to kill time. If you have park maps from a previous visit, bring them along or print some from the many websites available on-line. Kids enjoy looking at the attractions they’ll soon be visiting and it is a great way to spark a planning session or a top 10 favorite attractions discussion. Iphones and other portable electronics entertain for lengthy periods as well.  

Now that I’ve glorified portable devices and electronic gadgets as a way to entertain during the car ride, it’s time to discourage their use once the family truckster reaches its WDW destination. With so much to see and do at the resort, I encourage all to leave their DSI’s at the hotel and their phones in their pockets or carrying case. The main point of a WDW vacation is to enjoy the attractions and build lasting memories with the family. So instead of “Little Johnny” gluing his eyes to the DSI screen while Mom or Dad play “Crazy Birds” on their Iphones, take a good look at the queue lines or strike up a conversation about favorite attractions or where the family should go next or where the family should eat lunch.

For part 2 of “Getting There is Half the Fun,” please scroll up to the next entry.

A Stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Escape to an authentic, 39 acre, South Seas paradise.  Your luxurious retreat begins in the Great Ceremonial House where you mosey past a waterfall cascading down a three-story garden.  The chirping of live tropical birds sets your sights on the thatched ceiling of the A-framed roof.  Hawaiian-style music soothes the airwaves as you step in rhythm on the sleek, rock-tiled floor and out the glass doors onto a winding path adorned with tiki torches and swaying palm trees.  The pleasant stroll along the sandy white shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon brings a caressing breeze that welcomes you to your South Seas Island longhouse. 

The comfortable, queen-size canopy bed invites you over for a short snooze.  But the captivating view of a distant Cinderella’s Castle from the balcony beckons you across your 410 square foot room.  While relaxing on a wicker patio chair, the engaging ambiance of swimmers splashing in the nearby pool lures you in for a refreshing dunk.  What’s that?  Do your ears deceive you?  Polynesian music is playing…underwater!  After a plunge down the volcano waterslide, your poolside fun gives way to an early evening rest on one of the gently swinging hammocks along the beach.  The sloshing waves hypnotize you into a peaceful state of mind. 

Suddenly, the mouthwatering scent of lanai chicken and island pork ribs reminds you of your dinner reservations at the Spirit of Aloha Show.  The open air theater comes alive with Polynesian drummers thumping a fast paced rhythm, hula dancers shaking their hips, and flame throwers twirling hot torches.  The entertainment continues even as you enjoy a South Seas feast of tropical appetizers, sautéed vegetables, savory meats, and bread pudding—a delicacy your taste buds won’t soon forget.

Your wondrous day ends climactically with a beachside seat to the Electrical Water Pageant, a parade of colorful, shimmering floats drifting along the Seven Seas Lagoon.  You turn in for a cozy night’s sleep beneath the revolving ceiling fan, excited about tomorrow’s festivities: catching the monorail on the 2^nd floor of the Great Ceremonial House to the Magic Kingdom.  You drift happily off to sleep wondering if it could possibly get any better than this.