My best friend’s family will be traveling from their home in Hawaii to Southern California the day after Christmas. They decided to do away with exchanging Christmas gifts, and instead are using the money they would have spent on presents to take a family trip to Disneyland, SeaWorld, and Legoland. It’s going to be quite a vacation. But, the truth is, I’m not really all that jealous. While I would love to escape the bone-chilling temps this winter I also know southern California (and Florida) can be a stressful destination during the last week of December and first week of January. The crowds are enormous and the costs can be staggering.
However, there is a way to keep your holiday vacation memories jolly and bright provided you plan wisely.
Pace Yourself. When you are traveling on a tight time schedule it’s hard not to try to cram in a ton of activities in a single day. But, let’s face it; you can’t do it all. You could try, but you’ll likely collapse from fatigue if you do. Instead, draw up a loose itinerary and let the chips fall where they may. For example, if you’re going to more than one theme park consider purchasing those multiple-day tickets. They not only save you money, most give you the opportunity to hit the parks for a few hours, go back to your room to rest and come back later or on a different day. Also, before you start your day at a specific theme park create a “must-do” list that details which rides and shows you absolutely can’t leave the park without experiencing.
Know Before You Go. Educate yourself about ride restrictions before you enter the theme park. All major theme parks have rides with minimum height requirements in addition to various health warnings. For example, Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure has height restrictions on more than half of its rides, including the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons, which require riders to be at least 54 inches tall. Before you leave on your vacation visit the theme park’s website. By doing so you can avoid the drama that comes with having to break the bad news to your 7-year-old that he’s too small to board the ride he had his heart set on.
Money, Money, Money. A family vacation to any theme park is not cheap. Daily expenses (admission, hotel and meals) can cost a family of four upwards of $1000. You can save some money by spending your non-theme park days at free or low-cost attractions in the area you are visiting. For example, if you are planning a weeklong trip to Orlando and have tickets to Disney for 4-days consider spending an off day watching the March of the Peabody Ducks—-it’s free at the Peabody Hotel. Or you could visit the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey and pack a picnic lunch to share in one of the center’s grassy areas.
Avoiding Traffic. Southern California traffic is nightmarish, even when you don’t throw in the holiday travelers. Try to avoid the highways during major gridlock hours, usually 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. During these times of day tourists and daily commuters racing to their jobs create a virtual parking lot on area roadways. If you are traveling to Florida try to avoid Interstate 4, John Young Parkway, U.S. 17/92 during rush hour.
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