There is an entire industry built around helping people figure out when and how to go to Walt Disney World (WDW). Books, websites, travel agents. Now that we've been there with kids, I can see why. To sort through the factors that played into our vacation -- and help you parents who are contemplating such a leap -- here are a few lists about our trip (and then I'll stop talking about WDW)...Reasons we went
1. Josh was going on business
2. Noah is old enough to love it but still free admission
3. Grandparents were available to come with us
4. We both grew up going to WDW
Ways we made it easier (in order of importance)1. Off-peak season: short lines, not super hot
2. Grandparents: extra love, extra hands, extra hotel
3. 1-bedroom Suite with kitchen: faster/cheaper meals & better sleep
4. Monorail hotel option for naps: grandparents at Contemporary Resort
5. Rented a car to avoid waiting for buses (& for trips to SuperTarget)
6. Direct flights
7. 6-day park hopper tickets (after 3 days, each addt'l day is $3/per)
8. Noise machines
9. Character meals: stress-free, air-conditioned, surefire way to see Mickey & friends (reserve in advance!)
10. Stroller: lightweight double, big awnings, backs recline, folds easily
11. Cell phones: used like walkie-talkies
12. PB balls*: easy, healthy, non-refrigerated snack
13. Spray sunscreen: like hairspray so no rubbing (awesome)
14. Laptop DVD-player w/subtitles: because each night we were stuck in a dark, quiet room with two sleeping boys by 9pm.
What surprised me- how much Noah understood and loved
- how long it takes to get in/out of the park (45min even staying in WDW)
- how poor the fast food is in all but Epcot World Showcase (and long lines for it)
- how well Aaron handled the late hours
- how stressed I was over their lack of sleep
- logistical gymnastics: you take the bus, I'll get the fastpass, fold the stroller, I'll take Aaron, nap in your room, etc. Adaptability and creativity are key.
- darker elements of rides: ask or read 'cause some would surprise you
- biometrics: don't buy tix from eBay or Craigslist! They scan your tix and your finger every time you enter the park.
What I'd do differently
- maybe go to Sea World - I've heard it's baby-friendly
- pack lunches and reserve dinners
THE BOTTOM LINE: To me, the ideal Disney vacation will be during off-peak season when our kids can stay in the park all day without a nap, are potty-trained enough to "hold it," and we can stay for a week, preferably walking-distance from the parks. Even so, we had a blast this time and would do it again.
*Updated Peanut Butter Balls (our go-to snack or meal replacement in a pinch)
• 1-1 1/2 cups flaxmeal
• 1 cup pecans, ground (in blender or food processor)
• 1/2 cup oatmeal, ground (in blender or food processor)
• 1/3 cup agave (liquid sugar, at Costco)
• 1 cup peanut butter (I used unsweetened from Costco)
• 1 tsp vanilla
Mix ingredients in a bowl. Use hands to form balls (like meatballs).
We made your peanut butter balls for our day trip to Sesame Place this weekend and they worked fabulously!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING. I do have a few questions:
ReplyDelete1. Do you use sugar free natural pbutter? I had some sugar free and some sugar so I just made up the difference of what I was missing with the sugar-free with the sugar and it was sweet so I wondered the the pbutter needed to be sweet at all(we can buy either kind of natural)
2. I measured and then I ground ingredients up - I think that is what you meant the way you wrote it but wasn't sure - is that right??? OR do you grind and then measure?
3. The texture was not hard - more soft but they did stick in a ball...but a little oily on the hands. Are they supposed to be that way?? I thought they'd be more like no-bake cookies in texture but they weren't. It was more like the inside of a protein bar texture.
A tip for anyone else: Avoid crunchy pbutter...that's the sugar kind I had on hand...I think it would be better without peanut chunks! LOL!!!
Meg - I'm so glad you liked them! Great questions...
ReplyDelete1. I used natural, organic, creamy pb with no sugar (from Costco).
2. The measurements are for the ground ingredients but if it worked the other way, great!
3. Their texture is not hard unless they're refrigerated (which I only do if we're keeping them for a long time), and they do tend to be oily.
By the way, I've tried them with walnuts, pecans, or almonds, and I liked them best with pecans. Walnuts made them too dark (like meatballs) and almonds were too hard to grind up well. Pecans were just right.
Happy snacking! ;)
-Carolyn
p.s. If you have any healthy snack recipes, please feel free to send them my way, I'm always looking!
Hm...I will definitely try again and see how it changes. It worked but I just kept thinking that maybe I should add more of dry ingredients...it just felt that way. Almonds is what we had on hand - but they were the pre-sliced kind you might use baking and I will say that they grind up very easily!!
ReplyDeleteHow long do you keep them?
I'm always on the lookout too!!
By the way, I've since learned that honey is healthier than agave (and tastes better with the PB), so I use that instead.
ReplyDelete