Top tips only............Please

[Blunds]

I'm off to Orlando in three weeks time with eight other members of my family. The ages range from two - mid Forties (sorry Julie). I was hoping that as this is such a great forum the experts out there amongst you could give me/us some advise on how to get the best out of our five day world hoppers.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[msnsmile2][msncool]

[fiona]

Well pace yourselves. Work round the tinies because if they are happy so will you be!

As you will be up early ([msnwink]) get to the parks early. Depending on where your villa is, you can return to it for the afternoon and return after a relaxing swim (or sleep) refreshed for the evening entertainment.

If this is not an option, I presume you will be having buggies, you will need to ensure some sleeping time! So one adult could be i/c sleeping youngsters while the others get a chance to go on some of the rides for "bigger persons".

Make sure you have plenty of drinks, the weather should be warm by then, so think of sunhats and sunscreen, fluids are the most important.

Wear comfortable shoes!

[esprit]

The early bird catches the worm!! Get there as early as possible , especially important for Animal Kingdom if you want to see any animals. Do the Safari first as the animals retreat into the interior as soon as it heats up. Animal Kingdom opens earlier than the other parks, check the website. Come out at middday and go for food ( Disney food is dear) and a rest and then go back later for the late afternoon evening. A full day is often too much with a small child. A carpark pass lasts a full day. The parks are not so busy at present that you would not be able to get back in again.

[george]

Leave the kids on day 1 and pick'em up on day 5 !!!
You will have a relaxing time.[msnsmile2][}][}][msnsmile]

[Nostromo]

1 day each for MK, AK and MGM and two for EPCOT. Look up the Disney website and avoid EMH (Extra Magic Hour) days unless you're staying in a Disney Resort. If you have Hopper PLUS passes, you'll be allowed visits to Pleasure Island and the Water parks as well. I suggest Blizzard Beach. For MK, choose a non-EMH day where the 'Wishes' fireworks show is on (Check the schedule on the Disney site) and, if possible, the Spectromagic parade.

If you have not bought a guide yet, I suggest Simon Venness' Brit's Guide to Orlando & WDW (2004 edition). It will be a great investment.

[neilandkay]

Fiona and Julie have given you some valuable tips. Do look after the litte ones as your priority and if they are not happy, then be prepared to change plans. Everyone will enjoy themselves more.

If the wait times for rides are long, use the fastpass system to the fullest advantage.

Several areas in the Disney Parks give younger ones the chance to run around in water and get wet. We find this great for our 3yr old. If he is a little tired, this helps him perk up or just wait for things like the fireworks. Take spare clothes/swimsuits, a bag to put wet items in and a small towel for these places (some places they may insist that the child wears shoes so take water shoes or spare sandals for these areas too).

If you want to see the fireworks, try to get the little ones to sleep during the day or be prepared that you may not see the fireworks.

Magic Kingdom has a great kids area (Toontown) I would plan to take the young ones there after doing Fantasyland (when the lines at Fantasyland are too long). MGM has a gread toddler show - Playhouse Disney.

Take water bottles to refill at the fountains.

Although you are officially not allowed to take food into the park, pack some child friendly snacks and treats. We always pack some small things to keep the little one happy. (Sometimes the lines for food can be long and a little one cannot wait). They don't seem to worry too much about snacks for kids, but if you pack a full picnic for the whole group, they may not let it in.

--Kay

[chrisj]

As mentioned above and we do it

Get to a park as soon as it opens, then mid afternoon go back to your villa or hotel for
a few hours rest and then go back for the evening

I wouls also suggest some total rest days during your holiday where you wake up late
and have a really lazy day and recharge your batteries

[Amirah]

See the maps of the parks and see which attractions best suit your group ahead of time. Early park research helps too.

[Blunds]

Thanks for all the useful advice, we can't wait now, 19 days and counting

[8D]

[Kickstart]

I was surprised at the comment about taking your own food in. We usually take a packed lunch and then book a meal somewhere in Disney for about 4:30 - 5:00. The lines are a little shorter for an hour or so whilst everyone else eats, you should then be OK for the fireworks.

Best advice get there really early and have a good plan of which rides you want to go on first. If you do this you will get most of the best rides ticked off before lunchtime.