Take Time Out

Most touring strategies espoused by guidebooks mean having to descend upon the Parks like a special-ops commando. This is a very tempting strategy after you've just spent all your life savings to get to Disney World. It's also very exhausting, which is why you often find the guidebooks recommending an afternoon nap.

I'm not much of a napper, although my daughter is. And it's perfectly possible to enjoy a whole day at a Park without wearing yourself out. The way to do that is to tell yourself that it's okay not to see everything. To be flexible. The true magic to Disney is not in going on as many attractions as you can. It's about a vacation, not a chore.

If you are so intent on getting on the Kali River Rapids after the Safari and fitting in Expedition Everest as well, you'll rush along to Asia in Animal Kingdom. But then you'll miss DiVine, a performer who looks and acts like a living vine wrapped around a tree. You have to be sharp eyed to see her and her performance is beautiful. Many kids love seeing DiVine and taking pictures with her. But it may be that if you stay too long, you'll miss out on Kali.

Or perhaps you want to make sure you get on both the Tower of Terror, the Rock N' Rollercoaster and see the Extreme Stunt Show in time so that you can be sure to also return to your room for a nap and then see the parade when you come back. But then you miss the ambience of New York Street and triggering the umbrella that showers water down while "Singin' in the Rain" plays. If you are over in New York, you may miss your fastpass time for Rock N' Rollercoaster!

The truth is, if you don't have a list of attractions you didn't get to, you're working too hard and there are a lot of things you missed out on that would have refreshed you and given you a time to rest and be on a vacation. I find my best Disney moments have been when I was forced to stop while my daughter slept in her stroller preventing me from going on an attraction. There's something to be said for merely watching the Fountain of Nations' choreographed water sprays instead of waiting in line to see characters at the Character Connection or trying to get onto Test Track.

If my mom and I had been intent on seeing Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and making sure to head back over in time for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, it could have easily been accomplished. My nephew would have missed out on discussing which Ninja Turtle was better with the Talking Trash Can in Tomorrowland. Which is going to be the longer lasting memory?