A to Z Obscure Disney World Tips: F

F is for: Flexibility

I'm a mega-planner when it comes to Walt Disney World.  There's so much to do and a limited amount of time in which to do it, so after getting input from the family, I type up detailed daily itineraries (I'd show you a sample, but I like you and don't want you to be frightened of me). I've learned, however, that the most important part of any plan is to know when it's time to take a slight detour or even abandon the ship entirely.

For example, for our first morning at the Magic Kingdom, "the plan" was: Step 1 - Go to Space Mountain, go directly to Space Mountain, do not pass Go, with a carefully orchestrated set of steps immediately following. Yet as my husband examined the park schedule while we waited for the ropes to drop, he informed us that Rapunzel would be at the castle for character greetings, and my daughter squealed (she's 15---I'd thought we were past waiting in line for characters). My eye twitched, just a little, but I smiled and said, "Great."

Then my mother explained that if we all wanted to ride Peter Pan together like we'd been planning (Step 8 - Grab a FastPass for Peter Pan; Step 16 - Ride Peter Pan), we better do it first thing because she and my dad had to head back to the resort at some point to take care of a room issue.  Smile in place, I mentally rearranged my steps and replied, "Okay, fine."

And you know what?  I meant it.  Because how stupid would it be to blow an opportunity to fly on a fleet of tiny ships over London and Neverland with the people I love most in this world?  And why, oh why, would I deny my baby girl one last chance to get giggly while having her picture snapped next to her favorite Disney princess?

Besides, I still got on the new & improved Space Mountain 3 times that day. ;)

Disney Trivia:

In 2004, Disney Editions published the first book in a (really great) series that provides a re-imagined history of Peter Pan.  What was the name of that book and series?