Family Adventures: Disney Travel Tips – How to Get Grumpy to Have a Good Time at Disneyland
“Disneyland? Are you KIDDING me? Humph! I’d rather go for a quiet walk in the woods or even a long walk on a short pier. Disneyland is too crowded, too expensive, too commercial!”
Sound familiar?
That’s what my Grumpy (aka Darling Husband) said when I first broached the topic of taking our daughter to Disneyland. Recognizing that eventually he would have to take her to Disneyland, he rallied for taking her “When she was older and could go on more rides” and won. Temporarily.
So what do you do? You want to take your child to Disneyland, your child REALLY wants to go to Disneyland and you really want Grumpy to experience the magic and wonder of the Happiest Place on Earth with you both.
But do you really want to go on holiday with Grumpy?
How to Make Sure Grumpy has a Good Time at Disneyland…
Plan Ahead to Avoid Crowds
Nothing makes Grumpy grumpier than big crowds so plan your trip to avoid them!
* Go during Low Season – Visit the park when school is ‘in’. September is the best time to travel with toddlers. School breaks and holidays is a definite no-no for traveling with Grumpy.
* Take Advantage of Early Entry – Stay in one of the Disneyland hotels and take advantage of early morning park entry. Use that extra time to ride the most popular rides before the line-ups start.
* Plan your Route through the Park – Go against the flow of traffic by starting at the far end of the park and work your way back to the entry.
Never EVER Stand in a Long Line-up
Excited kids plus long lines add up to “Are we there yet?” line of questioning that drives Grumpy crazy. Never EVER wait in a long line.
* Use FASTPASS – Think of a FastPass as the popular line equivalent of a restaurant
reservation. Just get a FastPass ticket and return during the specified window of time to jump ahead in the line.
* Stick to High Volume Rides – Not all long lines are a recipe for disaster. If you must jump in a line, stick to ‘high volume’ rides like Pirates of the Caribbean that can accommodate a lot of people.
* Dine with Characters – Avoid the throngs of kids vying for the attention and autograph of their favorite Disney characters by dining with them! Goofy’s Kitchen and Ariel’s Grotto let kids dine with their favorite characters.
Take Advantage of the Free Shows
Not everything at Disneyland costs an arm and a leg. Take advantage of the amazing spectacular shows and entertainment.
* The Disney Traditions – Take in the one of the twice-daily parades through Main Street or the evening fireworks over the castle.
* World of Color – Do NOT miss seeing the World of Color. That alone will cheer up any Grumpy!
Schedule in Disney Downtime
Everyone needs downtime including Grumpy. A Disney day is a long day for both parents and kids to plan a bit of slow time in your day.
* Tom Sawyer Island – Hop on the boat and avoid the crowds exploring the hidden treasures on Tom Sawyer’s island.
* Go for a Splash – Head back to the hotel for a splash in the Mickey pool in the afternoon when the park is at maximum capacity.
The best advice for making sure Grumpy has a good time at Disney is taking advantage of all the amazing planning resources at Disneyland.ca!
Gadget Guide: Top Picks for Traveling to Conferences – Conference Survival Essentials!
Want to make the most out of your conference attendance? Add our top picks for conference survival essentials to your packing list! We go WAY beyond the basics of business cards and comfortable shoes!
Top Picks for Conference Survival Essentials
iPod – Load up your iPod with your favorite podcasts, teleseminars and audio recordings and use your solo travel time to catch up on learning while waiting in those long airport lines.
Conference Hashtag – Okay – so you can’t actually ‘pack’ a hashtag, but it is handy to know it. Beforehand, tune in and use it to determine who you want to network with and during the conference, use it to communicate via social media with other participants and share relevant tidbits with your followers.
Refillable water bottle – Find a ‘purse-size’ stainless steel water bottle for toting around and tucking away while power networking during session breaks.
Power snacks – Somehow between the early start and the line-up at the lunch buffet, you neglected to eat! Sneak a few of your favorite toddler snacks for when mommy gets a little hungry. Fruit leather and trail mix are our portable favorites!
Flip Video Camera – Tuck your Flip video camera in your purse for impromptu interviews and video blog posts from the event. It’s a perfect way to recruit guest bloggers to contribute without extra effort on their part!
Stylish Scarf – Use it to add a splash of color to a plain Jane outfit for a style upgrade, or sling it around your shoulders when the air conditioning kicks into overdrive.
Business Card Scanner App – Maximize your networking efforts by scanning and following up immediately.
Mini stapler – Use it to attach business cards to detailed networking notes, bundle together conference handouts and sort your tax deductible receipts for travel expenses.
Sticky Notes – Between the speakers and talking to other attendees, often you will be brimming with ideas. Use sticky notes to structure the random ideas and create a idea map for immediate implementation.
Thank you cards – Take 15 minutes every evening to write a handful of personal thank you notes to the most interesting, influential or helpful people you met that day so they are ready to pop in the mail when you return to your office.
Family Friday– The one list every family needs, but few ever create!
What is the most priceless gift you can give your children (besides life and unconditional love)? Experience – plain and simple.
Both the once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary adventures and somewhat ordinary everyday living that shape their worldview. Experience that gives them firsthand knowledge of the infinite colors, shapes and textures of life and what it means to live theirs to the fullest.
Thinking about this made me realize that although I had created a ‘Bucket List’ for myself, I neglected to create a similar list that documented what I want to share with my daughter before she left home. A ‘Family Bucket List’ so to speak, without the morbid connotation.
Our Family Adventure List (in no particular order)…
• Participate in an act of hands-on charity
• See the Wonders of the World (Maybe not all of them, but attempt to give her a head start!)
• Meet an artist
• Eat something really weird
• Build a secret fort
• Attend a world festival
• Experience culture shock
• See wildlife outside the zoo
• Ride a horse
• Tell ghost stories around a campfire
• Interview a public figure
• Live in a foreign country
• Try something difficult (The mom in me says nothing dangerous though!)
• Go to summer camp
• Learning another language outside the classroom
• Sit on the top of a mountain
• Build something by hand
• Play Monopoly
• Explore a metropolitan city on foot
• Write a travel journal
• Spend a summer reading books
• Compete in a science fair
• Bake a pie
• Rescue an animal
• About creating a Family Adventure List
Writing a Family Adventure list is more than creating an 18-year to-do list – it’s about connecting with your values, about what you want for your children. I want my daughter to try (and possibly fail) at difficult challenges and learn a love of life by exploring the wonders of the world (official and unofficial).
I purposely included everyday seemingly mundane activities, like baking a pie and reading books, and things from my childhood that I would love to share with my daughter, like riding a horse and playing monopoly. I left out the life lessons she would experience without me, the normal growing up stuff that just happens.
Take a moment to think about your Family Adventure List and share your thoughts in our comments below! We’d love to hear what you think!
Weekend Warrior: Once in a Lifetime Olympic Experience
The ultimate experience of a lifetime…watching Canada win GOLD
Watching your country win GOLD at the Winter Olympics is an amazing experience – one made even better because I could share it with my husband and our daughter.
MOMeo’s Top 2010 Family Vacations
Holiday decorations have been packed away, resolutions made – and for some already broken – as the New Year wears on, so does the need for personal renewal.
A family vacation – whether taken on a warm, sunny beach or in the halls of one of North America’s most interesting museums – is one of the best ways to achieve just that. For many MOMeos, finding the perfect destination is just another chore on the already overwhelming to-do list.
This year we have made it as simple as 1, 2, 3. Decide which type of vacation suits your family best, choose from our list of top destinations and pack your bags – relaxation awaits.
Surf, Sand and Seafood
The beaches of North America are as varied as her coastlines. From the heat, sun and fine white sands of Hawaii’s best beaches to the wild, hike-worthy beaches of the Pacific Northwest and south, the seashore offers something to every type of family. For some, that means soaking up some rays, or relaxing among grassy dunes, or beachcombing for treasures.
A Slower Pace
For families looking to step back in both time and pace, Amish Country, Pennsylvania and the not-so-wild west of Montana and 
Wyoming are excellent choices.
The quaint inns of Amish country and the simple, charming dude ranches of the west offer rest of a different kind. Cozy up around a campfire, saddle up and work cattle or indulge in good Amish cooking and entertaining theater.
Either way, enjoy a momentary break from the fast-paced world. Immerse yourself in a slower, simpler time. One when work was still hard, but deadlines perhaps a little less rigid.
Shop Until You Drop
For shopaholics, there’s no better vacation than one spent around some of the continent’s best shops.
The shiny storefronts of the Big Apple, Chicago and Hollywood will remain, but it’s possible to find a more family-friendly shop-mosphere. Check out the quirky independent districts of San Francisco and Toronto, but the flea markets in Shipshewana, Indiana may just reign supreme.
A Winter Wonderland
For some, “vacation” means escaping snow and ice. For others with the right gear (and attitude) the white stuff is reason to
celebrate.
Strap on snowshoes or cross-country skis and trek across any one of many winter wonderlands. Hit Colorado’s slopes in skis, snowboards and tubes as a family for faster-paced fun.
The Great Outdoors
Mother Nature has given us much to admire. Redwood forests, a Grand Canyon, and the vast wilderness that spans much of Canada and Alaska.
In 2010, why not consider admiring her works from within? Mammoth Cave – and many others – located in Kentucky, offers a glimpse at Nature’s underbelly.
Fun in Learning
Do you love learning as a family? Can’t justify a school-free week for the kids just after the holiday season? Combine family fun 
and learning by visiting one of North America’s most history-rich cities.
Consider Washington, D.C. ripe with national monuments and museums. Its only rival? Montreal, Quebec, one of the most beautiful and history-rich old towns outside Europe.
No matter the destination or itinerary, the key to a successful vacation is enjoying time with family. Takea technology break, soak in your surroundings and engage wholly in whatever you choose.
Portable Games : Diversions and Distractions for Back Seat Passengers
Diversions and distractions for your backseat passengers, from diapers to college tuition
HIGH-TECH
Nintendo DSYeah, it’s a portable video game system. But if you ever take long car trips with kids, you know these can be a godsend. At the risk of over-generalization, Nintendo game titles tend to be a little more family-friendly – less blood, more cartoony – and the DS does more than just play games. They’re not unlike little palm pilots; each model comes with a stylus which kids can use to write, spell, or draw to their heart’s content.
Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP)
Sony’s series of handheld video game systems is more “traditional,” if you like, than the DS. Sony’s market is geared more toward gamers than is Nintendo, and if your kids are more interested in the latest, hottest titles they see advertised, the PSP might be a smarter choice. Gaming’s not just for boys anymore, Check out the Limited Edition Hannah Montana PSPEntertainment Pack. Aspiring divas can book, plan, and perform in concerts around the world.
Chances are either you or your kids have one. If you don’t feel like shelling out for a(nother) video game console, there’s an ever-growing library of downloadable games for your iPod. Some are multi-player family games, like Monopoly and Uno, and some are standard issue Italian plumbers jumping on mushrooms. Most cost $5.99 to download.
OLD SCHOOL
Scrabble: game folio edition
Come on, who doesn’t love Scrabble? It’s fun, but it’s also a great lesson in spelling, vocabulary, and thinking on the fly. Due to the dozens of small woodblock letter pieces, Scrabble’s never been a travel-friendly game. The game folio edition has snap in place tiles – which stay in place even if you have to fold up and take a break midgame.
Carcassonne: travel version
Forget Risk, this is the ultimate in strategy games – yet it even toddlers can enjoy it, with some direction from you. Essentially, Carcassonne is an intricate tile-laying game, which requires strategic and forward thinking. Carcassonne, a walled city in the south of France, is famous for its beautiful and striking fortifications. The players develop the area around Carcassonne and deploy their followers on the roads, in the cities, in the cloisters, and in the fields.
Yahtzee: game folio edition
Yahtzee is another board game classic (well, dice game classic) that never really leant itself to travelling. The game folio edition changes that – it’s easy to play and incredibly fast to set up and put away again.
Othello: travel edition
Also called Reversi and Reverso, Othello is a simple, classic game. Two sides: white and black. The object: finish with more pieces than your opponent. It’s basic, yes, but that just makes it all the more absorbing.
Here’s another game you thought you’d never play – or relax as your kids play – while travelling. Jigsaw puzzles are the very definition of Not Portable. The pieces are small, easily lost, and once one is gone, the whole thing is ruined, or diminished at the very least. The Portable Jigsaw is poster-sized, yet fully vacation-friendly. A collapsible felt roll-up serves as both piece storage and a table to solve the puzzle on. Puzzles are perhaps the best way to acquire a few hours’ worth of uninterrupted silence from the back seat.
ON THE CHEAP
From drawing games like connect the dots to tic-tac-toe, down to “group” games like license plates, 20 Questions, and word games, there are dozens of free game “sheets” and ideas to print and hand out when the time is right. Punch buggy, no returns!
100 things for little children to do on a journey by Usbourne Publishing
More a collection of activity cards than a book, there’s far more than 100 things to do in here. Specifically intended for toddlers, these games, puzzles and quizzes will delight and distract for hours.
Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games and Activities by Carole Terwilliger Meyers
If you don’t want to print out sheets, spend a few bucks and get a bound book absolutely full of them. There are dozens of books like Miles of Smiles out there, and there’s something to suit even the pickiest six-year old backseat driver.
Top Ten Summer Festivals
Karen Rowe
Where to head this summer for festival fun
1. Gloucester Cheese Rolling Festival: Gloucester, England – Last day of May
Year after year, Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire hosts one of the world’s wackiest events, The Cheese Rolling Festival. Five races take place every year, all having the singular and all-important purpose of winning a huge piece of Traditional Double Gloucester Cheese. I know what you’re thinking: where do I sign up?
Competitors have to run down the hill after the piece of cheese has been rolled and cross the finish line first. Sounds easy enough, but the steep slope makes it impossible to stay on your feet all the way down so injuries—yes, injuries!—are quite common. Granted, most of the injuries are minor, but it’s still exciting to think of The Danger™ involved. Most contestants come back to compete year after year. You know what they say: Once a Gloucester Cheese Roller, always a Gloucester Cheese Roller.
Your kids will love the novelty, and the chance to talk about cheese too dangerous for them to play with.
2. The Inca Festival of the Topless Snake Dancer:Cusco, Peru – June 24
Technically, this is called the Inti Raymi Inca Festival of the Sun but, whatever. Grab the sunscreen and get ready to honor the daddy of the Inca world–the Sun God “Inti”–during this annual one-day festival. Occurring on the Winter Solstice of the Southern Hemisphere, it’s considered the second biggest festival in Latin America, after Rio’s Carnival. The celebration gathers hundreds of thousands of people from around Peru and the world, who all come to witness the re-enactment of the ancient Inca ceremony which has roots dating as far back as the 13th century. After you have visited the Inca fortress of Saqsayhuaman (pronounced sexywoman!), you can head down to the market where yes, it is indeed possible to see topless snake dancers, some cowboys, people in bird costumes and any other myriad of festival activities.
3. The Vermont Quilt Festival: Essex Junction, Vermont – Last weekend in June
The Vermont Quilt Festival attracts thousands of quilt enthusiasts from around the world. New England’s oldest and largest annual quilt event offers exhibits of new and antique quilts, lectures and workshops presented by renowned quilt artists, classes for children and a colorful display of wares in its Merchant Mall. Free and informative gallery talks, free vendor demos, appraisals, and the “Booth Hop” add to the excitement. If arts and crafts are your family’s thing, then see what all the fuss is about and get your summer started right.
4. L’ardia di San Costantino: Italy (Sardinia) – July 5-7.
Why not head on down to Sardinia and celebrate Constantine’s victory over Maxentious at the Mulvian Bridge in 312 A.D? Lesser-known than most festivals, si, but this Sardinian festival is fraught with danger and meaning for the locals, and a great picture-taking opportunity for tourists. Constantine is reported to have seen a flaming cross inscribed with the words “in this sign thou shall conquer”. Every year, Constantine’s charge is recreated with a monumental horse race held. After many prayers, horses charge down a hill, the man representing Constantine first, his two flag bearers next, then the thundering herd close behind. And don’t miss your opportunity to mingle by an open fire where suckling pigs rotate in wood-fired ovens and live skewered eels writhe over hot coals.
5. Essaouira Gnaoua Music Festival: Essaouira, Morocco – June 22-25
This is just really cool. The Gnawa are the descendents of slaves originating from Black Africa who established brotherhoods throughout Morocco. They are made up of master musicians (maâlem), metal castanet players, clairvoyants, mediums and their followers. So they got together and decided to sing. The Essaouira Gnaoua Music Festival has a laidback, alternative vibe, and the music which brings together a wide range of predominantly folk, jazz and World Music greats) is so worth the trip. Pick up a Fez while you’re there and check one more thing off your ‘Cool Things to Do Before I Die’ list.
6. The Calgary Stampede: Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Second week in July
Lauded as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, this 10-day event is more than just a rodeo. It’s the largest event in Canada and attracts over a million visitors a year. The parade is actually a CIVIC HOLIDAY and almost everyone is given the morning or the day off to see the parade. For kids, the Midway is stocked full of games and rides, and the agricultural exhibition is essentially the world’s biggest petting zoo. The entire city gets into the spirit and businesses far and wide provide free Stampede breakfasts.
The Grandstand show is an impressive extravaganza featuring the Young Canadians, a dance and theatre troupe of hundreds of students aged 7 to 20. Come for the rodeo, stay for the corn dogs.
7. Great Northern Arts Festival: Inuvik, N.W.T, Canada – July
Tell the kids they’re headed straight to bed at sundown. Thanks to the city’s northern location, the sun never sets during the Great Northern Arts Festival, but you sure will have fun trying! Inuvik (place of people) is the homeland of the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in and other aboriginal and non-aboriginal people and cultures. At just two degrees above the Arctic Circle, Inuvik has hosted the Festival for the past 20 years. Known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, it’s a neat place to go and see a range of artists from across the north. For 10 days, over 50 public art workshops, performing arts, traditional dance, an arctic fashion show, northern film screenings, story-telling and readings. And if you’ve ever dreamed of running away with the circus, now might be your chance. It may be your only opportunity to see the ArtCirq, the Arctic Circus!
8. Puck Fair: Killorglin, Ireland – August 10, 11, 12.
Held without fail every year, Puck Fair is considered not only one of Ireland’s most unusual street festivals, but is also one of the oldest and longest celebrated. A quick look at the website shows a programme with dubious events like the Wobbly Circus, Balloon Modelling and the Biddy Bunratty Experience. You and your children will enjoy this free festival for the a horse fair, a parade and a coronation ceremony of King Puck, open air night concerts, fireworks display, children’s competitions, street entertainers and dancing displays. And of course, you will enjoy the Guinness.
9. La Tomatina Festival: Buñol, Spain – Last Wednesday of August.
Return of the killer tomatoes. Oh sure. You could go to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls *or* you could bring some ratty clothes and a pair of goggles and pelt strangers with tomatoes in Buñol. Nobody really knows how the world’s largest food fight got started, but the Tomato Festival has been a strong tradition since 1945. Some 275,000 pounds of ripe tomatoes are available for about 30,000 people to throw at one another. Opportunities to act like a ruffian abound! It may not be the same as getting chased by an angry bull, sure, but it’s gotta be up there. Just remember: it’s all fun and games until somebody gets a squirt in the eye with some tomato juice. Do we really need to explain why your kids will love this?
10. Burning Man: Blackrock Desert, Nevada, U.S.A – September
This festival is not for everyone. This ultra-alternative gathering celebrates self-expression, self-reliance and art as the center of community has gone mainstream in recent years. You don’t need to make sculptures out of garbage, drive a car powered by vegetable oil or have solar panels on your roof to attend, but…wouldn’t hurt. Either way, Burning Man is the antithesis of traditional corporate sponsorship-mad festivals. It’s also not Woodstock. Contrary to what you might think, it’s also very family-friendly, with dozens of games and events specifically for kids. Held in the middle of the Nevada desert, the flat plain becomes a virtual community for a week, with off-beat art exhibits, music performances and all sorts of random mayhem. Random mayhem! One thing you won’t need for this festival, believe it or not, is MONEY. Burning Man actually runs on a full barter system and the only things you can buy are water and ice. Even cooler, the festival culminates with the burning of a massive, building-sized effigy.
Mobile Work Tools
Maclean Kay
Maclean Kay
Is your car your ‘real’ office? Here are some ways to make your mobile work life easier.
HP iPAQ Business Messenger Smartphone
The key to working effectively on the road is twofold: portability and consolidation. A smartphone can combine your phone (duh), GPS system, laptop and organizer in one sleek model. HP’s Business Messenger isn’t the only smartphone on the market, but it’s one of the best.
Plantronics Explorer Bluetooth
This is all about safety. Many jurisdictions have (or are considering) banned handheld cell phones while driving. The latest models are lightweight, comfortable to use , and even look kind of snazzy. They can work up to 10 metres away from your designated mobile phone. Hands-free or not, please use caution when talking while driving.
Asus Eee PC
What’s even smaller than a laptop? A netbook. Still relatively new to the North American market, netbooks (also called subnotebooks) are basically smaller, lighter laptops with fewer bells and whistles. A lot of manufacturers make them now, but Asus is the undisputed leader in design and affordability.
Auto Exec Express Car Desk
Ask any MOMeo worth her salt where her “other” desk is, and you’ll get an embarrassed smile. It’s the mess on the passenger seat of her car. No need to be ashamed any longer – the car desk is here to help. Store your laptop, notebooks, pens, your phone – you name it – all in this masterpiece of ergonomics. Even better –those handles mean you can take it with you.
Traveler CoolPad
This is another twofer: two useful tools in one. First, it’s a heat dissipater. Laptops generate heat, which you know if you’ve ever tried to work with one actually on your lap. The CoolPad increases the space between the laptop and work surface, giving excess heat somewhere to escape. Plus, it’s fitted with no-slip rubber pads to keep the laptop in place – even on the slipperiest airplane tray.
RAM Vehicle Laptop Mount
Some people joke “I live and work in my car.” For some, it’s almost 100% serious. If you log a lot of hours in your car, mounting your laptop in your car might be an attractive solution. Most police services now do the same for their officers, and for exactly the same reason – they spend a lot of time working out of their cars.
StarTech Wi-Fi Detective
How many hours have you wasted searching in vain for accessible wireless networks? Forget Road Rage – Offline Rage is a true modern-day plague. The Wi-Fi detective does your dirty work for you. The SSID, signal strength, network type, network mode, operating channel and number of access points are detected. No longer do you need to fire up your laptop to search for available wireless networks.
A.Saks Expandable Wheeled Duffel Bag
Now this is multi-use luggage. It’s wheeled. It’s expandable. It’s compact enough to fit in the most ungenerous of overhead compartments. It’s modular. It’s even pretty good-looking.
Trunki Luggage for Little People
If you ever take little ones on business trips – look no further. Trunki makes luggage they can ride – you heard me – thus ending “Mom, I’m bored” complaints in the waiting lounge. Designed for family vacations, children can pack, sit-on and ride their own luggage, whilst parents can keep them in tow. Trunki’s light weight and durable design is hand luggage approved, with generous space inside for toys, games, books and spare clothes.
-
-
-
-
- I love that @AlyPain tells it like it is --> STOP Blaming Your Children - Why YOUR Failure Isn't THEIR Fault - http://t.co/LPo51mgI
- Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, "Make me feel important." ~Mary Kay Ash
