Happy Leap Day, 2012! How are you planning to celebrate this rare holiday? If today is your birthday – Happy Birthday! Disney is planning to celebrate Leap Day with One More Disney Day! Starting at 6 a.m. today Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World will be open for twenty four hours.
There will be extra fireworks displays, more parades, an all-night dance party, and of course, lots of time to ride all the attractions. Everyone will be very tired by 6 a.m. tomorrow morning and tired people often become grumpy people. The happiest place on earth is no place for grumpies (unless you are a dwarf) so here are five tips to staying happy while spending a long day in the parks.
1) Wear good shoes. Most of the time that you are at the parks you are going to be walking or standing on concrete. This is not the place to wear your strappy sandals that are so cute, but cause blisters after a few hours. Tennis shoes are always a good idea, but any shoe or sandal with a cushioned sole will keep your feet happy. And if your feet are happy you are happy.
2) Bring enough clothing. It is tempting to think of Florida and California as warm areas and just wear shorts and T-shirts. But the truth is the temperature varies and so it is a good idea to bring warmer clothes for when the sun goes down. No one is ever happy when they are shivering. If you don’t want to carry a jacket around the parks all day consider renting a locker. They are found at the entrance to all the parks and are very handy for storing extra clothes, food, and any purchases you make.
3) Drink lots of water. There is plenty of places to eat and drink at the parks, but I find that people often get grumpy when they are dehydrated. While it is convenient to buy soda and coffee it can get expensive and these drinks don’t tend to help as much as water. There are water fountains everywhere and bottled water is for sale, also. Buy a water in the morning and then fill it up at the fountains. Have everyone drink lots of water and you’ll have a happy group.
4) Pace yourself. If you are only going to be in a park for a few hours then rushing around from ride to ride may be necessary. However, if you are going to be in a park for twelve hours or more slow down. The rides aren’t going anywhere. Break up all the walking by watching a parade or sitting down and enjoying a snack. By pacing yourself you won’t leave the park feeling like a zombie.
5) Rest. It’s 2 p.m. and you’ve been in the parks since 7 a.m. You’ve ridden a ton of rides, had a filling lunch, and now no one seems to have the energy to walk to the next ride. It may be time to take a break. The park is going to be open late into the night so you won’t be missing anything. Head back to your hotel for a short nap or a relaxing swim. You’ll come back to the the park with more energy and a happy attitude.
These five tips will help you survive a long day in the parks. You’ll leave with a spring in your step wishing the park could be open longer instead of dragging your feet wondering how you are going to make it back to your hotel. Happy Leap Day!
A Goofy Joke: (Of course we will be watching the Princess and the Frog today)
Q: What is Tiana and Naveen’s favorite holiday?
A: Leap Day!