Post Disney withdrawal...

I posted this picture before. It's Paige just as we arrived at the Toronto airport, excited to leave for Orlando, but not really knowing what would really await us at our destination. I love this picture as it reminds me of what it felt like to finally be leaving on our vacation after months of anticipation and anxiety. Our vacation was underway! As much as we had prepared Paige and talked about Disney and showed her pictures and videos of rides, she had no idea what kind of Disney overload was about to hit her.

As you know, we had a fantastic time. No need to reiterate that. But now we are left with a slight issue. It is hard to explain to a kid that we aren't going back any time soon. She asks to go back to Disney pretty much daily. She talks about the rides she will go on next time. She asks exactly when we will be going back and enquires as to whether next year is "the day after this day". She does get it in a way. She knows that it takes 3 hours to get there by plane and that we need a ticket to get on a plane. She knows that it costs money. But still....what does that mean to an almost 4 year old?

The weather here is cold. Paige notices the weather is cold and says with giddy excitement..."it's warm in Disneyworld!! (insert squeal and jumping here). I think she's hoping to convince us to go back.

Sometimes Paige says "People are in the Haunted Mansion right now!". She takes after me as I always think about things like that...what people are enjoying after we leave. It's especially gut wrencing coming home from a cruise and walking through the cruise terminal seeing the next lot of people ready for their 1 week vacation.

Sometimes I feed into it and say with equally giddy excitement..."I can't wait till we go back again!!". It's always tough to come back to regular life. Luckily when you're a kid, everything is exciting and every day is a vacation.

Good travellers...

If I learned one thing from our trip, besides leaving even earlier to go to the airport if you actually want a coffee or a 5 second break, it's that our kids are really good travellers. I take it for granted that we can just pack them up and go. Of course Rose is a baby and they are generally very portable, but I assume it will continue as we keep travelling.

Paige with her new Princess Suitcase at the Toronto airport ready for 10 days of fun!

I hear from lots of other moms that their kids are either really horribly impatient in the car, constantly needing to be entertained, or they're complaining constantly about hunger, heat, cold, etc. Lots of people avoid travel altogether thinking that it is just a disaster waiting to happen. That sucks and I wonder whether it is the kids or just the parents not preparing, or forgetting what it takes to travel with kids.

I think with Paige I have learned a few things:

1. It is key to have a nice mix of snacks ready on hand, as well as the willingness to buy treats or yummy food like cookies or muffins, to keep the excitement and sugar levels up. Don't really worry about nutrition while on an airplane or in the car.

2. It is never a good idea to bust out the coveted travel distractions, like television shows until well into the journey. Thus giving child time to fall asleep, or exhaust basic things like looking out the window or talking about the vacation. Paige is such a seasoned traveller now (16-18 flights) that she isn't all that excited about take off anymore. If she has a tv in front of her she'll just keep watching it. And take breaks with tv to do things like special craft books.

3. Never, ever, assume you will have time to stop for the bathroom or a meal in the airport. Too many variables. Once you're in the check-in/security/customs circuit you don't want to stop. Eat at home before you go.

4. Bring toys that are good for all children. We brought some baby toys for Rose on this trip, but made sure that all of Paige's toys were big and also good for Rose to play with. I didn't have to worry when they were strewn all over the hotel.

5. Have a surprise toy for halfway through the trip. In orlando, I had a huge ziplock bag of crafy odds and ends, and Disney stickers. Paige was super excited for the new influx of fun.

6. Husbands who travel often for business need to be placated with food, coffee etc. as the kids cramp their usually sweet travelling style.