Even if you’ve never experienced the joy of opening gifts on Christmas morning, you can probably imagine what it’s like for little kids. Surprise isn’t essential, but it helps. With an inch of snow on the lawn and yesterday’s Cactus League game between the Sox and Cubs, I couldn’t help but dream of the beautiful blue skies in Phoenix.

I think for adults traveling to Florida for a Disney inspired vacation or a vacation to either Arizona or Florida for ST baseball, that first day in town is the same. Unless you’re a snowbird or someone that spends more than a week in either state, you’re going to settle in first.

I have a young friend, a Disney veteran, who is heading to Orlando with her 16-month-old son and brother. She said that the first thing they will do upon arrival at their off campus resort is hit the pool for some R&R. Disney is all about the planning and exertion of energy. From everything I’ve read and heard from family and friends, you have to plan every minute so as to best avail yourself of the theme park.

If you are in Florida or Arizona for baseball and only have a certain amount of time, pre-planning is a must. The difference between theme parks and ST baseball is the passive nature of the latter. You may climb Camelback before an afternoon at the ballpark, but watching a game in the sun, should be relaxing. Whereas bouncing from line to line at Disney is anything but stress free-even if you are a 4 Star VIP with all the line passes.

With all the travel hassles these days, merely getting boots on the ground might be relaxing enough for some. But for many of us who’ve made the trip(s) before, routine is essential to our relaxation.

Editor’s note: I haven’t been to Disney property since 1974 and that was in California. That was the only time I’ve been to a ML game in California.

A friend of mine who went to Disney-Orlando every year with family had a very specific ritual upon arrival. They’d share a first dinner together as family members arrived from different cities. In principle, they’d be ready to go the following morning at dawn.

My routines for Arizona are different for when I’m working (in the fall) or in March for ST, but one thing remains the same. After figuring out the specifics of my rental car and getting bad directions from the agent, I crank the window and turn on the radio and depending on where I have to be upon landing, I get to In-N-Out, Jack in the Box or Whataburger for soul-enrichening nourishment.

Years ago, when I thought it clever to bring my own golf clubs, I raced to a tee time at ASU Karstens golf course in Tempe. I was forced to change clothes in the parking lot because I only had about 6 minutes to spare. Amazingly, I birdied two of the first seven holes, but immediately imploded after that and suffered through the most stressful round of vacation golf in my life.

That was the last time I began any Arizona trip with an immediate round of golf. And after five years of beginning my AFL, fall trips on Sunday mornings, I decided arriving on Saturday(s) and getting some work done at the ballpark immediately was better-even if it meant putting off pool time until later in the afternoon.

Over the years, I’ve done a better job of coordinating flights with first pitches, check in times, breakfast and postgame activities. Looking at the crowd at yesterday’s game, the fans in attendance seemed to have mastered the art of relaxation.