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What you can do to make vacations less stressful

August 29, 2021 by Elissa Colón Leave a Comment

I, like so many of you, am a parent. We live in a day and age where everything that we do as parents is posted on social media almost the instant we do it. We get inspiration for things to do with our children from Pinterest, order them matching shirts on Etsy and spend hours micro planning every detail of our day because we somehow feel if we don’t we will be judged for not doing so, or worse, we will let our children down. What does all of this bring us- nothing but stress! This stress is intensified when we try to plan the perfect vacation for our children. I will let you all in on a little secret though. It is possible to plan your dream vacation without it being a stress filled, panic attack, melt down experience. Here are some ways it can be done.

Extend Your Time

While not always an option, taking longer vacations can eliminate a lot of the stress associated with your trip. In general people take two types of vacations. The first is where they plan to do as little as possible. The second and more common one is where they plan to do as much as possible. Whether it be on a cruise, in an all inclusive resort or at a theme park the temptation to see and do everything is great. When you plan a shorter vacation and then add in this temptation it is easy to become stressed. The goal of trying to fit everything in and not leave anything out in a small time frame can absolutely ruin a vacation. Adding in even j

ust one day of rest in the middle of your vacation can elevate that problem. Adding a few extra days makes the problem non-existent from the very beginning.

Go with the Flow

If you are a planner this is easier said than done. However the reality is that just because you are on vacation

the every day life events that pop up in your regular life that cause you to change your plans, don’t disappear when you are on vacation. Maybe its a change in the weather, or your spouse forgets the room key, or kid number one is screaming because they wanted the blue one and kid number two has the blue one. Whatever it is that causes a sudden change in your plans, go with it. A willingness to change your plans on the spot to accommodate whatever has happened is a great way to save your vacation.The more flexible you are the less stressed and upset you will become if there is a change of plans during your trip. This will allow you to enjoy the moment instead of focusing on the what could have been. Not one single ride, parade, meal, or attraction has to ruin your vacation. Your vacation memories are made by a collection of moments; not a single event.

Lower your Expectations

I can hear the gasp that just escaped your mouth, but hear me out. I know you have spent thousands of dollars on this vacation, you have planned every detail, bought new clothes and shoes, and are ready to

have the perfect vacation. However the reality is that nothing, absolutely nothing in this world is perfect. If you begin your trip with the idea that everything must be perfect or you will in someway failed (either as a parent, spouse, planner,etc.) then you will stress over every minute of your trip trying to ensure that it is in fact perfect so that you in turn do not fail. However, if you take the view point that there will be things that might go wrong (lost luggage, cranky child, bad weather) and that these things do not reflect on you or your desire to give your family a memorable vacation you will be able to roll with these moments and truly enjoy your time with your loved ones. Even terrible vacations can turn into cherished family memories that you can laugh together over for years to come. Having the mindset that there is no such thing as a perfect vacation will help you to have a much less stressful and way more enjoyable vacation. And as I said above, not one single ride, parade, meal, or attraction has to ruin your vacation. Your vacation memories are made by a collection of moments; not a single event.

Book with a Travel Advisor

We are here to help make your vacation as stress free as possible. There are so many benefits to booking your vacation with a DWB Vacations travel advisor, but perhaps the largest one is that you are able to receive our expert planning, advice, and problem solving.

We plan as much or as little as you would like so we are perfect for both the clients who want to plan every detail themselves, and the one who just wants to show up to a wonderfully planned vacation.

are on call 24/7 for you while you are traveling. So if you do have an emergency or have something go terribly wrong, we are able to step in and fix the problem, while you continue your vacation. Having a travel advisor is like having your own personal fairy godmother watching over you, making sure you are protected from things that can ruin your vacation.

Vacations are suppose to be a time to enjoy and relax with your loved ones. While they can be stressful at times it is important to remove that stress so that you are able to unwind and recharge. Following these few simple suggestions can help to erase some major stresses learning to a much more enjoyable vacation. Of course booking your vacation with a DWB Vacations advisor can help ensure that not only is the vacation less stressful, but the planning is too.

Top 5 Reasons Why I Switched From Giving Gifts to Giving Experiences

September 29, 2016 by Elissa Colón

We have all been there: birthdays, Christmas, Easter, watching as our children unwrap gift after gift after gift. If your children are anything like mine, they get so excited after opening each one but in a day or three the excitement fades and you are left with the task or adding these new gifts to the abundance of “stuff” your children already own. Even if you’re one of those on top of it moms who weeds out the junk before the overabundance of gifts arrive or you’re one of those moms who are great about rotating toys and clothes, the bottom line is our children just have too much stuff. To help combat this, I have implemented a change in my house. I no longer buy my children gifts; instead, I buy them experiences. Whether it’s a season pass to an amusement park, or a vacation to some awesome location, my children have been having a blast! Here are my top five reasons why I think you should join me and make the change:

Clean up the clutter

By giving my children experiences I have seriously cut down on the clutter in my house. My children now have toys that they actually play with and enjoy. Plus since there aren’t so many (there are still a ton) they are able to play more freely and without having to yell “mom I can’t find my (insert random toy here)”! I also have found that my children now play longer without coming to find me. It seems that since they have less they aren’t as overwhelmed and they are really able to enjoy their stuff!

Experiences are more meaningful

Let’s just be honest. That toy little Johnny just has to have or he will die, we all know if we are lucky he will play with it for a couple of weeks and then it will join the bin of forgotten toys. I remember for Christmas I bought my son a $50 Paw Patrol truck. By Easter he told me he was done with it and I could hand it down to his cousin! Seriously! But with an experience you are giving your child something that they will be able to enjoy and build awesome memories from. That’s something that a piece of plastic will never give you.

It’s the same cost

Again let’s be honest, as parents most of us spend way too much money on our children. We go into debt giving them piles of gifts so we can post on social media how beautiful our trees are and what a great celebration our children have. So why not spend that money on a vacation? I’ve had clients tell me that a Disney trip costs too much, but once I point out how much they spent on birthdays and Christmas they realize its usually the same (or cheaper). Still there are the hold outs that say “but my child enjoys opening gifts, I can’t just give them a piece of paper”. To this I say get creative. If you want to give them things to open then give them items they will use on their trip!

Family Memories

When your child is all grown up and they start to have little ones of their own ( I know, scary thought) are they really going to remember that beloved item that they just had to have? The chances are pretty slim. But chances are they will remember that awesome trip to Universal Studios, or that Disney cruise or that year long season pass to Bush Gardens. They will remember the time they spent with their parents, their siblings, and their extended family. They will remember the laughs, the inside jokes that come from experiences and even all the mishaps that eventually become treasured memories, for the rest of their lives. What’s better is they will relive these memories with their siblings for years to come and will often reenact them with their children.

Time is Ever Ticking Away

And with it your children’s childhoods. Before you know it they will be grown up and (hopefully) out of your house. The days of tripping over toys will be gone, but so will the days to take their pictures with a favorite character, or snuggle close with them during that firework show. My eight year old today told me the Disney princess were fiction, but she would still pretend they were real the next time we go to Disney. I swear it was a punch to my gut. I can only hope that on our next trip the magic returns for her. But that’s how quickly it can happen. One day our children are these bubbly wide eyed beings amazed by everything around them, and the next they are starting to look at life with a critical eye. So what are you going to do with the time you have left with them in the wonder and amazement phase? Are you going to waste that moment on pieces of plastic that will be forgotten, or are you going to spend it making memories that will last both of you the rest of your lives?

~Elissa Colón

Star Wars at Sea on Disney Cruise Line

February 12, 2015 by crystal

Have you heard??

Disney Cruise Line is introducing Star Wars Day at Sea on eight Disney Fantasy sailings this spring!

Star Wars Day at Sea will be on Disney Fantasy cruises sailing on January 9, 23; February 6, 20; March 5, 19; April 2 and 16, 2016. Departing from Port Canaveral, the seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and our private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

For more information, check out the Disney Parks Blog!

Cruising To Disney’s Castaway Cay (part 3)

June 2, 2013 by crystal

Many cruise lines have their own “private island” in the Caribbean where they stop for their guests to enjoy a day of peaceful relaxation but just like with everything, Disney takes it up a notch.

Gorda Cay, the former name of Castaway Cay, was the setting for the scene in 1984 Tom Hank’s hit “Splash” with Daryl Hannah. Not long after, Disney took possession of the 1,000 acres of land. Over 18 months, 50,000 truck loads of sand from the ocean so that the mighty Disney cruise liner could dock at a port right at the island. Some of the other cruise lines require tendering. Tendering occurs when the ship can not dock, or park” at a dock at the port and must anchor at sea. A smaller boat is used to transport guests between the massive cruise ship and the island. Because of the dredging, Disney’s ships are allowed to dock directly at the island’s port.

Great care was taken in giving the island an authentic Caribbean feeling while mixing the Disney magic to create a cruisers paradise. Buildings were constructed to look as if they has been built using the remains of a shipwrecked boat. At one time the Flying Dutchman (the actual prop) from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise rested in the waters near the family beach but the famous movie prop has since been removed and dismantled due to deterioration from the weather and sea. Two of the submarines from Disney World’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction have been sunk off of Castaway Cay for those exploring the water. A bar designed to look like a air hangar in Serenity Bay adds to the look of the abandoned airstrip. It is reported that Disney spent $25 million designing this ideal deserted island.

It takes a lot to keep paradise in it’s magically perfect state. Approximately 100 cast members live on the island to make sure guests have their ideal Caribbean getaway. To care for these cast members as well as the guests that visit for just a few hours, the island has a sewage treatment plant and 2 facilities that turn salt water into fresh water. There is an HR coordinate to assist the employees and a cook that prepares meals for the cast members living in the paradise. Cast members living on the island are divided into 6 areas… recreation, landscaping, maintenance, animal programs, custodial, and island leadership. While they live in a tropical paradise, their work is never ending. Not only do they have to provide for the arrival of 2700 to 4000 guests on days the ships dock, they have to handle on going maintenance and prepare for all mother nature has in store.

Castaway Cay even has its own post office operated by the Bahamian authorities with its own post mark. So make sure you send yourself a post card so you can remember your day in Disney’s paradise.

Cruising to Disney’s Castaway Cay (part 2)

March 25, 2013 by crystal

If you have been to Disney’s Castaway Cay, you know just how beautiful and peaceful it is. But if you have been on Disney’s little piece of heaven, you probably didn’t realize that only 5.5% of the island is being used. Castaway Cay, formerly known as Gorda Cay, is actually 1,000 acres but Disney only uses 55 of those acres. I’ve been very fascinated with the story of Castaway Cay. Of course like everything Disney, it needed a back story, right? What I found was not always “Disney-like” and the accounts are not necessarily the same from one source to another.

There are various stories about Gorda Cay, near Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, prior to the 1950’s. Some believe that the many hidden alcoves made a great hiding place for pirates waiting to ambush passing merchant ships. It is possible Blackbeard himself walked on the island. Well, that fits in with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme, doesn’t it??

A real estate agent from Nassau, Alvin Tucker, purchased a large portion of the land in the 1960’s and built the 2400 foot airstrip that is still there today (although no longer used). Unfortunately drug smugglers began to take over the tiny area. Tucker’s landing strip was used to help bring narcotics into Florida. Tucker tried to stop the crimes but since the area authorities were involved, there was nothing he could do. Tucker and the other owners of the land supposedly were not even able to visit their own private paradise because of the criminals and their Dobermans would chase them away. An American drug trafficker, Frank Barber, purchased the landing strip from Tucker so he could utilize it for his own gain. Supposedly Barber had plans to turn the island into a resort but his plans were thwarted when there was a drug bust on the island in 1983. Barber went to jail and died before his sentence had ended.

According to the official Disney website the island was used by European settlers in 1783 who were escaping exile from the American Revolution. Now that sounds much more like a Disney story, doesn’t it? Interestingly enough, the official Disney website states that the island of Gorda Cay was used in the filming of the 1984 smash comedy, “Splash” starring Tom Hanks. But Disney did not purchase Gorda Cay until 1996.

In our next installment on Castaway Cay we will talk about what it took to build the paradise we know today.