Tear-Free in Disneyland: A Parent’s Guide To Less Stress and More Fun for the Whole Family - Softcover

As parents, we want to share the promise of Disneyland's magic with our children. We're eager to see their faces light up with delight and wonder. So, we pack up the young ones and dash to the park expecting a "Zip-a-dee-Doo-Dah" day. Instead, some of us are stuck dragging around a bunch of crying, red-faced inconsolable monsters. So much for "the happiest place on earth." Does that mean you shouldn't take young children to Disneyland? Of course not! With just a little knowledge, a little planning, and a few handy tips, you can head to Disneyland confident that your children (and you) will be able to experience the joys, thrills, fun, and magic of Disneyland...without tears.

Forward by Linda L. McDaniels, Masters of Social WorkAs a therapist and parent educator, I have worked with thousands of families in a variety of settings - happy families, sad families, foster families, adoptive families and families who defy an easy description. And, almost without exception, every family I've worked with has dreamed of going to Disneyland and having the time of their lives. They'd save their dimes, buy their airline tickets and then begin to build impossibly high expectations of the perfect Disney experience. I cannot tell you how many horror stores I have heard from families about trying to have the "perfect" day at Disneyland. I remember one mother confessing to me, "Our family had more fun in the hotel pool that we did at Disneyland." Many of these stories have common themes - the kids get too tired, too scared, too bored standing in line, too hungry, too overwhelmed, and then the tears and tantrums erupt. In each case, the parents were surprised by, and totally unprepared for, the challenges of taking their family to Disneyland. Sadly, most of these problems could have been avoided with just a little research and planning. In my opinion, The Walt Disney Company should make Tear-Free in Disneyland required reading before parents are allowed to buy tickets to "the happiest place on earth." This concise guide (short enough that even the busiest parent can read it) will make you laugh, save you time and give you the biggest bang for your buck. Tear-Free in Disneyland is packed with tips and facts that help parents find the activities at Disneyland that best match their child's unique interests and stage of development. After all, a 6-year old child will want and need a different day at Disneyland than a 12-year old child. So, take a few hours and read this book. Then create your own custom-tailored Disneyland itinerary. It's sure to pay off big when your kids (and you! have a relaxing, fun, and tear-free time.