Thursday's Tip

Here's a simple but important tip for anyone traveling to one of the Disney Parks: stay hydrated. For those of us not from Florida, the heat can be a bit of a shock to our system. Staying hydrated is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to beat the heat. (That and sunscreen...really important for this pale girl!) But besides the obvious affects of the Florida heat, mild dehydration can cause a myriad of other issues that we don't always thing about: headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and grumpiness. Yes, I said grumpiness--the enemy of any family vacation!

And here's the catch: if you're thirsty, you're probably already mildly dehydrated. So it's best to head off thirst before it hits you. Bring along a refillable water bottle (we love our Britta filter bottle) and fill it up each time you take a restroom break. (By the way, if you find that you're not needing restroom breaks very often, that's another sign of mild dehydration.)  

Here's something else to think about: caffeinated beverages can actually do more harm than good, as caffeine is a diuretic that pulls the moisture from your body. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a Coke at WDW--just follow it up with a couple of glasses of water next time.

Don't let a simple lack of liquids be the downfall of your family fun time. Be smart: hydrate!