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Mentally Preparing for Disney World

One thing that is oft overlooked in preparing for a Disney World trip is the mental preparation. Disney World is an experience unlike any other and, for most of us, not part of our daily routine. Thinking through and mentally preparing for the challenges you may face when touring the parks will help you navigate those bumps in the road as they pop up. Here are a few tips to do just that:

It is going to be hot and humid, and probably rain.
It is Florida. It is swamp country. It’s going to be hot, even in the winter months. Bring your personal fans and your cooling towels. Drink and refill your water bottle often. Stop in a shop to check out souvenirs in the air conditioning and avoid getting drenched; pull out your poncho (or buy a souvenir Mickey poncho) if you have to. It is totally manageable to navigate the heat and the rain; you just have to be prepared.

There are going to be lots of people.
No matter what time of year you visit Disney World, there are going to be a LOT of people there. It truly is that magical, so everyone wants to experience it. You will get bumped and jostled around. You will have to wait in line. But, you will have fun people watching, connecting with strangers, and possibly even make some new friends.

Things are going to go wrong.
You will miss the bus you wanted to get on. You will get caught in one of those unpredictable Florida afternoon thunderstorms. You will *gasp* DROP YOUR DOLE WHIP ON THE GROUND. The magic of Disney doesn’t necessarily mean everything will be perfect. But when you are prepared for something to go wrong, you can recognize it, work through it in the moment, and ultimately laugh about it when you get home.

You’re (probably) going to break down.
A trip to WDW is filled with emotions, food, memories, and so much more. Seeing your princess meet her favorite princess, combined with the heat, and the sheer amount of walking you will do (that photo is from a "short" day) can get to the best of us. And that’s okay. Take a few minutes for yourself. Get a Mickey Ice Cream Bar to replace the Dole Whip that fell on the ground, and then carry on. And remember to give your child or your husband the same grace and opportunity to recover as you needed when their turn comes around.

You will have to come back. :)
Walt Disney World is comprised of four theme parks, two water parks, 25 (soon to be 26) resorts, the Disney Springs shopping and entertainment district, and more than 200 places to find food. Disney World is 40 square miles….that’s the size of San Francisco. The point is: you will not be able to see and do EVERYTHING in this trip. In fact, you could do something new every day for an entire year and STILL not have experienced everything at WDW. So, figure out your “musts” and focus on doing those. Everything else you get to do will be gravy, and everything you missed will be an incentive to come back soon!

To start planning your trip contact your On The Road Travel Agent. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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