Advice on Advice: What I remembered on my recent trip to Disneyland

The family and I recently took a quick 4 day trip to Disneyland . They had to drag me kicking and screaming. It might be the happiest place on earth for some, but not for me.

The reason I have distaste for Disneyland is that I have always gone there when my kids are young. Despite what every one tells you, young kids are often reduced to exhausted, over stimulated toy buying machines when they visit  “The Mouse”. The second reason I dislike Disney is that I once read some advice about how to handle kids at Disneyland and it was some of the worst advice I have ever read or been given.

Here is the quick story:

Disneyland is a wonderful place and is designed by wonderful people. It also has some of the best marketers and merchandisers in the world. Every attraction, show or ride is carefully supplemented with a well placed “store”. When you get off the Little Mermaid ride, you will find yourself in a well-stocked store filled with Princess costumes, wands, toys and every whatchamacallit in Ariel’s Underwater Grotto. If you stand in line to get an autograph from Snow White, you will be standing in line with kids with Disney purchased autograph books and Cinderella pens. If you drop by the Indiana Jones show, it will inevitably funnel you out where you can pick up a commemorative Harrison Ford hat and lasso.

So here is the advice that I received. In order to combat the Disney merchandisers, you should sit your children down before you go to the park, Tell them how fortunate they are to be at Disneyland. Tell them that is costs a lot of money to come to Disneyland and that they should be very thankful that they are here. Tell them that there are many toys and souvenirs for sale at Disneyland, but there are going to be some rules. Tell them they have a budget of certain dollars or that they are limited to one souvenir. This advice seemed rationale and well reasoned. I gave it a try. Complete Fail.  Not even close.

Here is the problem., Whoever wrote that advice had a) never had kids, b) had kids but had never taken them to Disneyland  or c) had kids well outside two standard deviations of the norm.

Young kids are completely over matched against Disney merchandisers. These merchandisers are outstanding. They have exact replicas of the props from the movies. They are hanging on hooks that are at exact eye height of a 5 or 6 year old child. The store is set up, so that there is no way you can get to the exit without passing he most tempting and expensive souvenirs. The childrens’ still developing brains and associated impulse control are no match versus for Disneyland.  It is Seahawks-Broncos Super Bowl XLVII type matchup!

So here is what is going to happen if you try this advice. Your kids are not going to be able to implement it. You will keep to trying to reason with them and remind them of what you talked about last night and then at some time, there will be a complete child meltdown that includes crying , screaming, and wild body gyrations.

So here is my practical advice. Do not listen to the theory that you will read on line. I suggest you have one of three options.

1 Just buy the stuff. Not all of it, but enough to keep the peace. You can work on your child’s impulse control later when you are not getting ready to stand in a 45 minute line for the Thunder Mountain roller-coaster while sipping a $5 bottled water.

2. Just reconcile yourself to the meltdown. It is happening to a lot of kids there. No need to be embarrassed. Just put them in the stroller and move on.  This is much harder said than done.

3. I never tired this, but I think a blindfold could work. Maybe a Pirates of the Caribbean bandana that must be worn as you exit the rides and shows. They have to put on the blindfold and be carried or wheeled through the toy gauntlet!!!

I am not sure what will work for you, but I can assure you that my practical advice will be much better than the theory I read online.

So,…why I am writing this?  It’s not really to give you parenting advice. It’s to give you Advice on Advice.

Lately, I think we are overwhelmed by business advice: blogs, online articles,  social media, books. Our fiends give us advice,; our investors give us advice, our peers and co-workers give us advice. We hire or employ advisors to give us advice. I think it is too much. Here is my advice on advice: 

1. Advice is good. Be open to it.. You are not as smart as you think you are.
2.  Don’t spend too much time getting advice. Its better to actually do something.
3. Advice from people who have been successful at similar things should be considered heavily.
4. Advice form people who are not trying to solve similar problems or who are from outside your industry can be considered, but usually that advice has to considered more broadly and less tactically or specifically.
5. Advice from people, who have not been successful, should be avoided.
6. Remember the decisions you make are yours to own. So while, you can get advice, in the end you should do what you think is right!

So I “advise” you to read fewer blogs and select your advisors carefully. Seek out people who have done it before, not people who have talked to people who have done it.

And by the way...one more piece of practical advice.: Disneyland is way better when your kids are older.