3. Stop and Smell the Roses

Image: Disney

This phrase is often associated with people who need to pause and enjoy the small things around them.  This could also be taught to many theme park guests.  Often, when making plans, guests only think about and plan their days around their favorite rides, shows, and restaurants.  And while Orlando is known for its attractions and dining, there are so many other things for people to enjoy.

I notice that in the parks and online that there is a strong group of Disney over-planners.  They like to plan every attraction and meal right down to the moment.  And while this is certainly an efficient way of planning, it does leave very little room for people to really enjoy the small things that are also magical.

On a personal note, one of the best days I ever spent at Disney World was exploring the resorts with my dad as a teenager.  We took a bus from the resort we were staying at (All-Star Music) over to the Ticket and Transportation Center.  We then took a monorail to Disney's Polynesian Resort (now Disney's Polynesian Village Resort) and walked to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.  We then took the monorail to Magic Kingdom, walked to Disney's Contemporary Resort and took a boat to Disney's Wilderness Lodge.  We had no real plan or agenda, we just had fun walking and enjoying the little things the resorts had to offer.

I have seen kids have a blast dancing around at a dance party or interacting with the street performers in Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Off the beaten path in SeaWorld you may find a team member holding a small that you would miss if you weren't paying attention.  Walking around Epcot's World Showcase you may notice the entertainers and street performers, plus the lovely cast members who are always willing to answer questions about their home county.   The character interactions at Universal Studios can be a little hard to plan, and sometimes the best way to find them is to just walk through the park while keeping a sharp eye out.

If you are traveling with small children, you might be surprised by what they find exciting.  I've seen kids have a blast standing in the splash zones by the Journey to Atlantis ride at SeaWorld and the Jurassic Park River Adventure in Islands of Adventure.  I've also seen kids love playing with cast members who have bubbles and hula hoops.  Most parks have some type of jungle gyms and play areas, and although they may be similar to a slide in a local park or playground, kids will refuse to leave.

Either way, while serious planning will help your theme park trip run smoothly, it's also worth leaving some time open to experience the little, unplanned things.  And this is true for your daily life.  Sometimes it's worth leaving time unplanned to stop and smell the roses.  Maybe take the long, scenic drive instead of the fast highway, or sit down and people watch in the mall.  You might be surprised by what you see.

4.  Patience is Important

Image: Disney

The Orlando theme parks are an international tourist attraction, which means that guests come from all around the world, often speaking different languages and having different cultural mannerisms.  This can often take a lot of patience to deal with.  One of my jobs at Disney World was to work at the view stations in the parks where guests can view their PhotoPass pictures.  While it seems easy, there is a lot of communication that needs to take place, especially when guests want to add a feature to their photos or ask about prices of photo packets.  Unfortunately, I  don't speak Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Japanese, or any other language besides English.  Still, my job was to assist the guests in any way possible.  It may take twice the time, and there may have been a few frustrated people here and there (me included) but by taking things slowly, being patient, and listening we were always able to complete the task.

Sometimes, patience can be absolutely vital.  Telling guests that a ride is down or a character isn't making a scheduled appearance can be hard.  You have to deal with frustrated parents, angry kids, and managers and coworkers who are running around trying their best to fix the situation.  Although I would want to crawl into a ball in the corner and hide, the only thing that you can do is smile, speak calmly, and explain the situation.  I learned quickly while working at the parks that sometimes people just have bad days, and although they may yell and make a scene, they are generally nice, understanding people.  When talking to guests, just being patient and spending a few minutes to explain the situation and taking the time to listen to their problem makes them feel better.

From what I experienced, more people could use patience in their life.  I've seen people yell at waiters or waitresses because their order came out wrong or get angry and frustrated at a cash register because a bar code wouldn't scan or a coupon isn't working.  In almost every situation, just staying calm and being patient will help everyone out.  Unless there is a life-or-death emergency, they is no need to hurry someone along, and yelling doesn't help anyone.  Take a breath, put yourself into someone else's shoes, and deal with it.  Usually if you are patient, the situation will resolve itself.