| Wow a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. | | | | I also recommend a book called Pass Porter. You can |
| That is many a kids dream come true. No matter the | | | | find it at most book stores and they also have a |
| age this vacation destination has everything a family | | | | web site. This book is full of information and as a |
| could want to do. Trouble is how to figure out what | | | | bonus the book is set up to assist you with making |
| to do and when to do it. | | | | memories of the trip. I have one of these for the |
| Living in Florida has many advantages, not the least | | | | last 10 years too! Better than a scrap book I think! |
| of which is the proximity to the mouse. Annual pass | | | | If you have small kids the worse thing you can try is |
| holders have the distinct advantage of going often | | | | to open and close each park each day. By the |
| and learning the tricks of the kingdom. The number | | | | second or third day your body is mush and the kids |
| one key to a stress free vacation is... drum roll | | | | as well as you are too tired to enjoy the Happiest |
| please... ADVANCED PLANNING. Yes I said it. | | | | Place on Earth. If you are lucky enough to have 7 |
| Advanced planning. Not just where to stay and that | | | | days in Orlando I suggest only getting a 5 day Park |
| Disney is your destination. But daily details of what | | | | Hopper pass. Disney changes the names of the |
| park to visit, where to eat, what rides to ride, what | | | | passes often so make sure you can visit more than |
| shows to see. Details, details, details. Down to what | | | | one park each day. This has advantages and is worth |
| time to get up and what time to leave the parks. | | | | the price increase. |
| Research hotels, parks, attractions, ages and height | | | | Here are some planning tips I have found very useful |
| restrictions and anything else your family may need. | | | | and these will make for a more enjoyable vacation. |
| Having been to see the mouse several hundred times | | | | - Don't go to Magic Kingdom on Monday or Saturday |
| the last 10 years I still plan the vacation details right | | | | if you can help it. These tend to be the busiest day |
| up until we leave. Now here is the secret for a stress | | | | for this park. |
| free vacation... Understand the plan MUST BE | | | | - Schedule a visit to Animal Kingdom the day before |
| FLEXIBLE. No matter how detailed your research is | | | | you plan to open another park. Animal Kingdom |
| and how detailed your plan is, you must be flexible. | | | | closes around dark so you will be well rested for the |
| Once in the parks there are all kinds of wrenches | | | | opening of another park. |
| that could be tossed into the works of your plans. | | | | - Schedule your park visits only 2 days in a row, then |
| Rides will break down, shows rescheduled, | | | | have an "off day" of shopping at DownTown Disney |
| reservation times will be late, lines will be just too | | | | or what ever else you consider as relaxing. This way |
| long or you will notice something unexpected and it | | | | you will be rested for the next 2 days. |
| takes up times you have not planned. | | | | - Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios all |
| Knowledge is power. You must be an expert on the | | | | have a "closing" show to end the day so think of |
| parks to make sure each of the different age groups | | | | these as you determine what time to get up and go |
| in your party get the best vacation possible. So once | | | | to the parks. |
| the decision is made to go the Walt Disney World | | | | - Don't be afraid to return to your room for a power |
| you have several decisions to make before setting | | | | nap if needed. (Another reason to stay on property) |
| foot in any park. Some of the more important | | | | - Schedule EPCOT after closing a park. EPCOT has 2 |
| decisions are: | | | | distinct areas and each area has a different opening |
| - Are you staying on property or off? Both have | | | | time. Wait until the entire park is open before going |
| advantages and disadvantages. You have to decide | | | | here. While EPCOT has the THE 2 best rides in all of |
| what is most important to you and your budget. If | | | | WDW if you use the Fast Pass you will be able to |
| you can afford it stay on property. Even the Value | | | | ride these with out a problem. So there is really no |
| Resorts, while more expensive than most hotels off | | | | need to open this park. |
| property, are significantly better than a like priced off | | | | - Save the 5th day of your pass to visit only the |
| property motel. | | | | favorites of each person at each park. Make this day |
| - Do you plan to have a character dining experience? | | | | an adventure. Here is what we still talk about as the |
| There is nothing like watching your children as they | | | | single best day of any vacation. We parked at Magic |
| interact with the characters. I have yearly pictures of | | | | Kingdom and DID NOT enter the park instead we |
| my son at Chef Mickey's from the tender age of 4 | | | | rode the monorail to EPCOT and rode only Mission |
| weeks to last year when he was 9. | | | | SPACE, Soarin' and Maelstrom (Norway). We took |
| - Who do you want to see at the meal? Different | | | | the water Taxi to Hollywood Studios and rode only |
| restaurants have different characters as well as | | | | Tower of Terror, Rockin' Rollercoaster and saw |
| different priority seating arrangements and call time | | | | Beauty and the Beast show. After a short bus trip to |
| frames. What ever the time frame is I suggest you | | | | Animal Kingdom, we rode only Everest, Kilimanjaro |
| call the minute they lines open on the first day you | | | | Safari and Kali River. Back on the bus to the Magic |
| are allowed to call. If you are allowed to call 60 days | | | | Kingdom where we rode the "mountains" of Splash, |
| in advance then call 60 days out. Understand | | | | Space and Thunder. Finally as the day ended we |
| Cinderella is much more difficult than Crystal Palace | | | | watched the fireworks and returned to the resort |
| where you will find Pooh. | | | | for a well deserved rest. |
| - What other restaurants do you want to try that do | | | | That last tip hit everyone's favorite ride or show and |
| not have characters? Same advice call as soon as | | | | still is a topic of discussion when we talk about |
| you can. | | | | Disney. The trick is to have a plan, know it will HAVE |
| - What are the top 3 must do's of each person going | | | | to be flexible and include "off" days from the parks. |
| on the trip? Hopefully some will over lap, but you | | | | You must also understand the parks are so crammed |
| should include these must do items in your park plans. | | | | full of details and unique items that your well thought |
| - Are there any restrictions to be considered? Age, | | | | up plan may get tossed as you discover something |
| accessibility or height. | | | | you really have to do. We spent one of our days |
| - And anything else you can think of that requires | | | | just looking for the penny presses in all the store and |
| planning. | | | | restaurants of the Magic Kingdom. This was not |
| To assist you with planning and making the most of | | | | planned but really was fun! |
| your vacation. I suggest you order the vacation | | | | So the keys are use research of the internet and the |
| planner from Disney. com. I have one from each of | | | | Disney web site, buy a book on the parks, plan and |
| the last 10 years. Now I know what I need to know | | | | plan some more and finally toss the plan if the fancy |
| about Disney World but there is something akin to | | | | strikes. After all you are there to create memories |
| Christmas morning when that DVD arrives. We all | | | | and have fun. |
| watch it as if we have never been. | | | | |