Category Archives: Family

Disney FastPass – large family edition

14 Friday Aug 2015

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First, let me say that I’ve never booked a Disney FastPass.  So, it is certainly possible that the current method is an improvement over whatever existed before.  And, I admit that the process got smoother as I understood it better.  But, for a group that is not doing exactly the same thing each day, it is highly unintuitive.

First, the good.  If you have a group (regardless of size) where everyone is doing the same thing each day, FastPass booking is great – smooth & quick.  Similarly, if your group is split into subgroups where each is doing their own thing with no overlap, it works well.

The real challenge lies when the group wants at least one activity together and at least one activity in subgroups.  And, to make matters worse, this is not explained (only the plain vanilla easy option is).  Really, Disney would do well to set up a tutorial with a mock family of two adults and two kids with a handful of rides to choose from so one could practice / figure it out before the booking window opens.  Because, midnight is not a good time for high frustration.

I’ll lay out the problems.  Then, I’ll present the solution (as best I determined).  Finally, I’ll lay out how it should be done.

  • Fast passes are booked three at a time.  This is highly counter-intuitive especially when the family wants to do one ride together and two separately.
  • It also means that you inevitably end up with extra Fast Passes for the preferred rides, which you may modify or not (if there’s nothing else to switch too), taking space away from properly sized/aged people who would actually use the ride.
  • Similarly, if you only want to book two Fast Passes, the system will stick you on something else anyway.  Why, when there are loads of other people trying to book these things?
  • Then, when you want to modify the Fast Pass so different subgroups can do different rides, you have to change the ride time first.  So, to put the entire family on Toy Story, but not sign your preschooler up for Space Mountain, the first step is to pick a different time to go on Space Mountain with your preschooler.  Then you change rides, and maybe have to change times again.  NO!  The only step should be to pick a different ride in the same Fast Pass timeslot, which you could then modify later if needed.

The Solution (keep in mind that this is my best recommendation given the constraints, it is by no means a perfect solution)

  1. Figure out what attractions everyone wants to go on each day.
  2. Book everyone on the same three attractions – either the ones most people want to go to OR the most popular ones.  Since you can adjust the times later, don’t sweat the assigned Options too much.
  3. Use the modify feature to change the time on the Fast Pass(es) for only those group members who will not use the pass(es) in question.  Note that it doesn’t matter what new time you choose as once you’ve selected a new attraction you’ll have to choose a new time anyway.
  4. Then change the attraction and choose a new time, preferably as close to the original time as possible.
  5. One you have all the attractions and people sorted out its fairly easy to adjust the times to fit your daily schedule as you can see everything on one screen.  It is getting everyone into the correct attractions that presents the challenge.
  6. Note that as far as I can tell it will identify conflicts with Fast Passes, but not conflicts with meal reservations.

The Way I’d Like to See the Fast Passes Work

  1. Keep the current system, because if everyone wants the same thing it is great.
  2. But, allow people to book one Fast Pass at a time.  That way, you could book everyone in your group into The Mine Train without having to grab the same number of Anna/Elsa tickets (for example).  Then let people add Fast Passes, up to three total per person.
  3. This option would also let folks grab the critical (to them) Fast Passes and then think about how to flesh out their schedule later.
  4. Similarly, if you copy a Fast Pass over to another member of your group, you should be able to copy only one ride vs the entire set.  And, you should be able to choose which one of their Fast Passes is being replaced, rather than losing the whole set.  As it stands, if subgroup 1 books critical attraction A and subgroup 2 books attraction B, there is no way to regroup them and switch one of their Fast Passes to a shared attraction without attempting to get overlapping Fast Pass time slots (or losing the critical attractions already reserved).
  5. If you find later that you need to split the group, you should be able to switch attractions before switching time slots.  Ie, your tall preschooler refuses to ride The Mine Train at the last minute – the app should let you quickly see what other Fast Passes you can get for the current timeslot, or slightly later.  Families often want to spend time together so being able to ride in parallel is highly beneficial.

Philadelphia – 2015

07 Friday Aug 2015

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We had planned a day in downtown Philadelphia after Sesame Place, but the weather forced our hand a bit so we put it in the middle.  The heavy rain also changed our downtown plans.  We had intended to visit the Liberty Bell and some of the other more historic sites, but opted for the larger indoor museums instead.

We started at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  First we ran the Rocky Steps.  Well, the older three boys ran them.  I walked up them and Peter took the younger two in the stroller around them.

Inside one of the twins wanted to take a picture of the statue.

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We had planned to eat lunch there, but found the restaurant not kid friendly.  So we moved on to The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University.  Here they did have a kid-friendly cafeteria, which was fine.  The museum was small, but the boys enjoyed the exhibits, especially the dinosaurs.

At this point the rain was really coming down so we made the actual decision not to visit the Liberty Bell.  Instead we went next door to the Franklin Institute.  The place was packed!  Thankfully, we were able to speed through the members line using our reciprocal privileges.  Inside were loads of rooms the boys enjoyed – gears & levers, trains, and airplanes.  We could easily go back again and this was hands down their favorite museum of the day.  We stayed until closing.

Sesame Place – 2015 Review

31 Friday Jul 2015

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This will be the first of a few reviews covering the various places in New York and Pennsylvania we traveled to in June.

I wrote a preview of Sesame Place based on our previous visits roughly two months back.  This, therefore, is more of an update than a complete review.

We had a wonderful trip to Sesame Place.  Once again we purchased a standard ticket which gained us two days entry to the park.  I did, this time, have a few “free” passes which I’d “purchased” via my Pampers diapers points so we did not need to actually purchase tickets for everyone.  We had intended to be there Friday & Saturday, with Sunday in Philadelphia, but it rained hard on Saturday so we chose to go to Philadelphia instead and Sesame Place on Sunday.  The weather both Friday and Sunday was lovely – warm enough to enjoy the water rides, but not so hot as to be unbearable.

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In general we enjoyed the changes to the park.  The biggest downside was that the cargo nets have been replaced by the Monster Clubhouse, which is not nearly as interesting.  In fact, my guys weren’t interested in visiting it the second day.  But, the new rides underneath were enjoyed by all and a definite improvement to the dated climbing structures that were there earlier.

That being said, they’re obviously not quite done because while Big Bird’s Balloon Race has been renamed Flying Cookie Jars and the balloon tops have been repainted, the bottoms are original and should be redone to look like cookie jars.  Moving through the park we didn’t observe any other significant changes.  Now the twiddle bug areas look the most in need of revamping as the Twiddle Tracks and Silly Sand Slides feel dated. The boys did take in more of the water slides, which were much enjoyed, as they are now older, taller, and better swimmers.

The younger two and I took in two shows – Elmo Rocks! and Elmo the Musical! (which were new to us and quite good) as well as Let’s Play Together! which we did last time also.  We also enjoyed the parade both days and got photos taken with Big Bird and Elmo.

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The food remains fairly dull amusement park fair.  We ate lunch at Captain Ernie’s Bistro both days.  The weather was nice for outdoor seating and it avoids the pitfalls of going indoors – tables set for 4 and little stroller space.

In summary, a positive trip, though we’re reaching the point where two days may no longer make sense if we can figure a way to get enough one day tickets.

Last Day of School

24 Wednesday Jun 2015

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I know the boys are excited, but I am too this year.  It’s been a grueling last two months.  I’m looking forward to a more relaxing summer, mostly not really having to have anyone anyplace specific at a specific time.

The twins brought home some radishes they’ve been growing for science so we can add those to our produce collection.

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I also got the standard pile of end of year papers, which I’m happy to say that I mostly dealt with immediately, vs putting in my bin for later sorting.  I feel quite good about that as I don’t think I’ve ever been quite that prompt.  Though, there’s still much of the year’s worth of papers to be sorted so I’m not off the hook.

Tomorrow we’ll all take a breather and then start enjoying the outdoors and general unstructured time.

3D Art

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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I suspect this is a dilemma facing all parents.  What to do with the unending supply of papers that come home from school?

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For papers, or flat items, there are endless ideas online.  However, 3D art seems trickier.  For one, its hard to capture it as well in a photo.  Second, its just plain hard to store.  Third, its often hard to display.  So what do you do?

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I have the usual array of pinch pots, painted flower pots, and plates.  But, more recently I’ve started getting 3D cardboard and papermache structures – beyond the usual clay formations.  Some are to large for diaper boxes even.

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I guess push will come to shove and some will definitely hit the trash.  For others – I’m thinking more durable, but smaller items – I will store them for a bit to see if the boys miss them.  If the papers are any guide they won’t.

What to Buy for Twins after a Singleton

27 Wednesday May 2015

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It’s very different having twins after a singleton, vs having twins first.  You have a toddler to deal with, which necessitates different activities.  More relevant to this discussion, though, is that you already have some things and you’ve developed preferences for what you actually use.

Here goes on the double question (after a singleton). Some of this will depend on your preferences.

I need 2 of: car seat, crib, pack n play, high chair, bouncy seat.  Most of these are safety issues so they can’t really be debated.  I think most people would like a second bouncy seat, vs other locations for infants, but there is some personal preference here.

Need more of, but not double: bibs, crib sheets (I went from 4 total to 6 total), bottles (personally I like to only have to wash once per day, but that’s up to you)

Nice to have with twins that I didn’t have with one: swing (one is enough as your child might not like it anyway but they’re great when there’s one adult and they’re both crying), two bumbos.  Not everybody likes the bumbos, but I found them invaluable for storytime with three.  I could set them up in front of me like you see at library storytime vs trying to cram them all on my lap.  That never worked very well.

Things you likely have that you don’t need more of: activity mat, exersaucer/jumper, changing pad covers (assuming you have more than 2 already), carrier so you can carry one and put the other in the stroller/shopping cart/etc (unless both adults are willing to carry).

You’ll also need a double stroller, or triple if your kids are too close together.  I’d vote for the double if at all possible.  If necessary you can put one twin and the older one in the stroller and carry the twin.  The older one will learn to walk soon enough and triple strollers are even more expensive and bulky than doubles.

This Weekend Has been Gorgeous!

25 Monday May 2015

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After moving almost directly from winter to summer, things have settled out and the weather has largely been in the 70s.  (Actually, its been cold enough sometimes that we still debate putting the heat on at night.)  So far we’ve had six days above 80; three more are forecast through the end of June.  While long term weather forecasting is not super reliable, this is enough for me to postpone my summer oven hiatus until after July 4.  Of course, I will be mindful and if it starts getting near 90 this will go into place.

This weekend we’ve enjoyed three days of BBQ – hamburgers on the grill; ribs and pulled pork from the smoker.  Don’t they look yummy!

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Last week the younger boys and I visited the DPW for Public Works week, which was very fun.  (Unfortunately I couldn’t stand far enough away from the vehicles to get a great picture as they might have escaped.)  Here’s one in the backhoe – balloon and plastic hard hat courtesy of the DPW.  I never did figure out what the hose contraption was, though I don’t think its related.

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My Practical Advice on Preparing for Twins

21 Thursday May 2015

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My oldest turned two right when our twins were born. My super practical recommendation is to think about where you go by yourself and how you will navigate those places with three kids. Fundamentally, there will be places that go off your list until the twins can walk.

It is key to determine who does, and does not have automatic doors. You’ll be amazed at all the doors that are a complete pain in the ass with a double stroller that weren’t so bad with a single. You basically have to wait for someone rather than wiggle yourself and the stroller through a manual door.

Second, think about places that your oldest likes that you can manage with two buckets and no stroller. Yes, you get even more stares than with a double stroller! But, I found it doable to carry one bucket in each hand pretty much until they outgrew them; you’re actually better balanced than with one. So, places like McDonald’s where you can park right near a door and then just plunk everyone down at a table make for good outings. The grocery store is also manageable if you can put your oldest in the plastic car, one bucket on top, and the second baby in a bucket in the basket or a carrier. My oldest liked being in charge of the canned goods and other stuff he could stash in the car without worry.

Finally, get to know the drivethroughs. I’m not talking about fast food here, but banks and other errands that don’t require getting the kids out of the car. It helps to have a stash of these types of errands in the car for when they all fall asleep. I kept a crossword or such for myself also in case I ended up just parked someplace.

The oldest may or may not be helpful with the twins.  The twins will learn to walk at some point.  At some later point they will learn to walk together; this is your big goal and will really enable you to go places you’ve left off your list for years.

Yes, I have a Minivan

08 Friday May 2015

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I never really wanted one.  And, now having one for four years, I’m still not convinced.  But, I understand why we have it; I just might not buy another one.

Our minivan of choice is a Honda Odyssey.  This was, in two ways, the lesser of the evils.  First, I determined that we needed a minivan rather than an SUV.  This was primarily because we had three children who could not buckle their own seatbelt and I did not relish the idea of climbing into the back of an SUV multiple times per day.  That being said, I definitely prefer the look and cargo configuration of an SUV.  Second, I drove a few minivans and determined that the Odyssey was the least offensive.

Pros:

  • It has 8 seats so we can take people with us.  It’s nice not to have to take 2 cars so often.
  • It has 5 LATCH points.  I really liked that there were two at the sides of the 3rd vs a single more centered one.  This means we can have two car seats and a 3rd person sitting, at least for short distances.  In my mind at the time, the 3rd LATCH in the 2nd row was a bonus that gave us extra flexibility for seating, though now we have three across in that row.  We’ve always used the center seat with one or two of the sides, vs maintaining an aisle.
  • I LOVE the backup camera, especially how it enables me to parallel park fast even on a curve.
  • I do like sliding doors.
  • I like Bluetooth.

Cons:

  • It is a family car, vs anything fun.
  • My #1 pet peeve of this minivan is the locking mechanisms.  There are a couple of configurations, but none fix the fact that when you open the slider on the passenger side, it only unlocks the passenger door.  Why on earth does it not unlock the driver’s door?  Is someone really going to jump in my vehicle?  I still have the keys and I’m right there because the remote doesn’t work from that far away.  I don’t think it’s getting hot wired that fast.
  • Similarly, why is there a lock on the fuel cap?  I haven’t seen that in years.  I have no concerns with someone stealing fuel.
  • Finally, how is it that Lexus invented a method of accessing the 3rd row with a car seat installed and not Honda?  I’ve never HAD to put a LATCHed seat in the captain’s chair that I need to fold/slide to access the third row, but I’d appreciate the flexibility to do so.
  • The storage capacity is only so-so.  I realize by cubic feet it is comparable to an SUV.  But, I like horizontal rather than vertical storage.  Yes, we fit everything we needed in the back for our big road trip last summer, including three sets of golf clubs.  If what you have can stack/be stacked on it works.  But, when I buy milk at BJs (and we know I buy alot), I can’t stack the rest of the items on top of them.  And, the milk really needs to be on the bottom since its a flat surface.

All in all, I’d choose the minivan again given our situation.  I’m just not sure I’ll get another one when this one needs to be replaced.

The Joys of Spring

01 Friday May 2015

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Tomorrow is Little League Opening Day.  A much bigger to-do is made of this than it really needs with the parade, speeches, and such.  We do tend to skip those.  But, what it really means is that my six weeks of spring sports schedule hell (with a small respite on Memorial Day weekend) is beginning.  There will be very few family dinners and Saturdays the adults will be split to handle the two sets of activities.  Starting tomorrow most weeks we will have:

Monday evening – soccer practice for oldest; baseball game for twins (thankfully they’re on the same team); unfortunately these are at the same time, but not the same place so I’ll have to sort out how everyone is getting where they need to be

Tuesday evening – meeting for Mom (different each week, but somehow, thankfully, all on Tuesday which doesn’t have another conflict)

Wednesday evening – baseball game for oldest

Thursday evening – soccer practice for oldest

Saturday (needs a list) – soccer & baseball games x three kids

Sunday – baseball practice for oldest

Amazingly, we have very few conflicts.  We were anticipating having to make some tough decisions with the increased time commitments required of 3rd grade sports.