You've dreamed about this for the past year, the kids have been bouncing off the walls for weeks and now you have finally made it - you are standing at the gates of Disneyland. Now what? How can you make this the most memorable vacation ever? Well, it would take at least a short book to address every aspect of that question, but how about 10 quick tips sure to get you started in the right direction on your very fun-filled journey?

1) First off, relax. What? That is totally counter-intuitive to what you are probably feeling. Your body and mind (and your children) are telling you to race as quickly as possible to Finding Nemo or Splash Mountain. If that is part of your game plan, fine, walk quickly to your favorite attraction, but try to adopt a relaxed attitude. Breathe deeply and enjoy entering the Happiest Place on Earth. Take in the sights and the sounds. Try not to get rattled by the crowds or the strollers or not knowing where you are going. It is all part of the experience.

2) Have a game plan - or not. If you only have two days and you need to see and do as much as possible, then you may need to try to map out a strategy, but if you have four days or more, you have plenty of time to do things at your own pace. Also, if you are a person who likes to plan, then by all means, make a plan. If you prefer to let things happen as they will, that is OK. Don't let anyone make you feel like you must have a game plan for enjoying Disneyland. Enjoy it your own way!

3) Remember to eat. Sometimes when people get hot and focused on doing as much as possible, they forget to stop and eat. Children, especially, need to eat at regular times. They get cranky if they haven't eaten. So do adults.

4) Plan on enjoying at least one character meal. There are options for breakfast, lunch and dinner at various locations throughout the Disneyland Resort (mostly the hotels). The cost is around $30 per adult and under $20 for children under 10. Note, you are not just paying for the meal; you are paying for the experience. There is generally a lot of character interaction, photo and autograph opportunities and a variety of good food. These are really fun, family experiences.

5) Remember to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is really important, especially on hot days. You can take your own water bottles into the park and refill them, or buy water there, but be warned; they will cost you $3-4 per bottle.

6) Let every member of the family choose at least one thing that they really want to do for that day, and make sure it gets done. It might be going on a particular ride, or watching a parade, or getting an autograph, but it can really mean a lot for children to be included in the planning process.

7) Set a budget for souvenirs, and make sure everyone gets something special that they could not get back home. A shirt or hat is really nice because it will remind them of their vacation, and is less likely to get lost or broken than a toy.

8) Take some time to relax at your hotel's pool or take a nap in the middle of the afternoon, especially if you are there during extended park hours. Getting away from the crowds and resting a bit can make evenings in the park more enjoyable for everyone.

9) Take lots of pictures of your family enjoying Disneyland. Don't worry about getting pictures of the attractions - you can always buy a book or postcards for those kinds of pictures. Instead, capture the moments of your family enjoying fireworks, or ice-cream, or getting hugged by Mickey Mouse.

10) Be a kid again, with your kids. Laugh out loud as you get soaked on Grizzly River Run and scream as you go down Splash Mountain. Buy some candy that you haven't enjoyed since childhood. Buy a glowing necklace before the Electric Parade and wear it proudly. Put on those mouse ears and have fun! That is really what Disneyland is all about.

Enjoy your vacation!