“I have young kids- where should I take them?”
If the kids are not yet teens, I recommend taking them to Disney World- specifically, Magic Kingdom. They have many rides that are kid-safe and many things to see and do, such as parades, being read to by Belle, meeting the princesses and other characters, musical shows, fireworks, boat rides, and so much more- they’re sure to love their vacation, and so are you.

“My kids are older/adults, where should we go?”
For the older kids- including the adult ‘kids’- I recommend Universal Escape Orlando, especially Islands of Adventure. Universal Studios is geared more toward younger teens, Islands of Adventure is full of rollercoasters and other, more adult rides, and there’s always CityWalk- which has a movie theater and is full of shops, bars, and clubs. CityWalk closes at 2am most nights.

“Where should we go to eat- in the parks or out?”
Definitely out of the parks, if you’re on a budget. Downtown Disney has some nice restaurants that aren’t too expensive, but are still more upscale than, say, a McDonald’s (which they also have). Or you can go around and find some nearby restaurants. International Drive is chock full of places to eat, along with many tourist attractions. Ask some of the locals (or reservations specialists) for their personal favorites and enjoy!

Orlando has hot, generally humid summers. It’s great for people who tan well, but can be a bit painful for those people who turn into peeling lobsters instead. As for the sunshine state part… well.

Florida has very sunny summers, but there are usually about four ‘summer rains’ per week. A summer rain can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but generally no more than that. Almost as soon as they started, they’re over- and often it’s still sunny even as it’s raining! The good part is that many theme park attractions stay open, and when the crowds run for cover you can have many rides all to yourself.

To get the most out of your Orlando vacation, there are a few essential items. Ready, everyone?

1) Sunscreen. It may seem trivial, but it could be the difference between a great Orlando theme park vacation and a painful one.

2) A poncho. 24-hour stores all over Orlando, such as Walgreens, usually sell these, and for much cheaper than at the theme parks. Also related: a change of clothing can’t hurt.

3) Water. You can get it for free at pretty much any restaurant or food counter, though the smaller food stands might not have any. Just ask for a cup of water. Or be smart about it and bring your own water bottle, refillable with cups of ice or at water fountains. The most dangerous part of the Florida heat is dehydration.

Follow these tips and make the best of your Orlando vacation!

Some tips for getting autographs include using big markers- many costumes don’t lend much flexibility for gripping pens or thinner markers- and bringing your own camera, film, and an extra memory card or two. Just in case. At the parks, even a one-use Kodak camera can cost an arm and a leg.

Small children can easily be frightened by characters, who are way bigger than they are and therefore can be rather intimidating and scary. For their sakes- and those of us waiting in line to take our own photos- don’t force them to meet the non-human characters! If little Billy or Anna is too scared, try your luck with the princesses and princes- they can relate more easily to them, and shorter people are often cast in those roles.

Please, don’t shove at costumed characters- who can fall over and hurt themselves or others- and remember that they don’t always have the best vision from inside the costumes. There’s a reason they have cast members following them around and helping them out. There was even a lawsuit after a child yanked at the back of a costume and the character turned around, accidentally hitting him on the head. (The suit was quickly dropped.)

Check with Guest Relations when you get to the parks for an updated schedule of character locations and times.

Yep- The Wait is one of the most grueling times before a vacation. You sit and work and dream about your Orlando vacation; you feed the kids and imagine going out to an amazing dinner show instead; you visit our web site and re-read the park information and can Hardly Wait for the fun to begin. What to do with yourself?

Here are some ways to make The Wait easier on yourself!

+ If you have kids, go on eBay and buy cheap Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld toys; then, every time your kids earn a reward, you can give them one- or just hide them in their backpacks, lunch boxes, dresser drawers, etc. for an early vacation surprise

+ Get the soundtrack to your favorite park and play it in the car or while at work (when allowed, of course!) to get into the spirit of things early.

+ Definitely start crossing days off on a calendar. Or use themed stickers- Mickey Mouse, dolphins and killer whales, or one of the many Universal mascots.

+ Buy themed board games, such as Disney or Universal trivia, and play them once a week or just have a marathon a few days before you go!

The second biggest expense, hands down, is eating at the theme parks.

It isn’t really possible- or feasible- to leave the parks and find a cheap place to dine when everyone gets hungry; and it can be all too tempting to splurge on fries and burgers at the nearest dining area. But it adds up fast, and it can be a huge black hole for your money. Fries are as much as $4 in some places, bottles of water about $2.50.

We suggest bringing snacks and even lunch to the parks- while coolers are usually not allowed at the parks, food is not prohibited; neither are drinks (except alcoholic beverages). Snacks high in protein will keep energy levels high without a resulting crash. This saves you money for a nice dinner at a restaurant, or for delicious ice cream treats throughout the hot summer day (my Disney favorite is Mickey‘s Premium Ice-Cream Bars). You can also cave in and buy some sodas without the feeling of regret one feels after a bad purchase.

Put carrots, grapes, pretzels, and some nuts into plastic baggies (one each per person). Include some granola bars as well if desired. Bring water along to counteract the saltiness of the nuts and pretzels.

Could you have picked too much to do in too few days?

Say that you picked a total of 7 theme parks in 7 days- that’s a whole week; surely that’s enough time to enjoy all four Disney World parks and both Universal Orlando theme parks, right?

Consider this: it can take a full day to experience one park. Some parks, especially Disney World parks, require two days to get the most out of them. So you might find yourself leaving some of the parks early. And what about Busch Gardens or SeaWorld? The virtual DisneyQuest? The Kennedy Space Center?

There are also four amazing waterparks- Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, Universal’s Wet ‘n’ Wild, and SeaWorld’s Aquatica. There are also many areas to visit that don’t charge admission- Disney’s Boardwalk, Downtown Disney, and Universal’s CityWalk. There are many shopping areas, such as outlet malls, the Florida Mall, and the high-end Mall at Millennia.

There are also tons of tourist attractions in the area that many Floridians love to visit- dinner shows (such as the popular Medieval Times), Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, hot air balloon rides, a skydiving simulator, and many other unique places to visit.

It may be best to either take a longer vacation, or break it up over several trips throughout the year- and we have amazing, affordable vacation packages that can make that possible.

Already have plans for New Year’s? While it’s still over two months away, you may want to start thinking about it. Disney World already has events lined up for New Year’s Eve, which are sure to be as popular as every year- “today’s economy” or not!

I found this info online:

Animal Kingdom
*  Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade 3:45 p.m.
* Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Magic Kingdom

* Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! parade and street party (11 a.m., 12:30 and 5:40 p.m.)
* Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (12 noon and 3:30 p.m.)
* SpectroMagic parade of lights and music (7 and 10:30 p.m.)
* Holiday Wishes fireworks (8:30 p.m.)
* Fantasy in the Sky fireworks (11:50 p.m.)
* Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
*  Fantasmic! nighttime musical special effects extravaganza (6:30 p.m.)
* Live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” back-to-back with a DJ at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. (Mulch, Sweat and Shears sets are 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m.; DJ starts at 6:30 p.m.)
* A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show starring Mulch, Sweat and Shears (11:55 p.m.)
* Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-midnight

Epcot
* IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth 7:30
* IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth special edition 11:40 p.m.
* Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

My personal favorite can be achieved by getting the Hopper option added to your tickets- by planning your day carefully, you can spend time at each park, enjoying most of the parades, events, and usual fun, before picking a park to end your night at. I recomment Epcot’s IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth special edition at 11:40 p.m. as your last event- Epcot’s fireworks have always been the most magical in my eyes.

It will also have a Hogsmeade, as well as many popular wizarding stores- including Zonko’s, Honeyduke’s, an Owl Post- where you can send out letters postmarked by Hogsmeade- and Ollivander’s wand shop, which will have interactive and virtual wand-waving. There will also be a Three Broomsticks, which will, naturally, be offering Butterbeer among its themed cuisine- nonalcoholic, of course.

Islands of Adventure’s popular Dueling Dragons will now become Dragon Challenge, its fire and ice dragons morphing into Hungarian Horntail and Chinese Fireball dragons. The young children’s Flying Unicorn will become Flight of the Hippogriff.

The Forbidden Forest will be included as well, and the secretive plans on “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey”- the new ride located inside Hogwarts- are still just that: secret.

While the new Wizarding World remains shrouded a mystery, with the obvious excitement in the air and Universal’s attention to detail, it’s clear that Harry Potter fans will not be disappointed.

For small children, find an indoor show to go to while the child takes their daily nap. It will save you a lot of frustration later!

Try to tell your kids beforehand that their favorite characters- be it Mickey Mouse, Shrek, or anyone else- will be as large as they seem in the movies and on TV. Many kids will be very excited to get an autograph, and then refuse to go near the character when they see how large and realistic they really are. When your kids are used to the costumes, character dinners are a great way for them to interact; your kids will be relaxed by the food and the characters will be able to spend more time with them.

For children that are easily startled or bothered by loud noise, consider buying a small pack of disposable earplugs. They’re also offered at some theme park first aid stations. Not only will you be able to watch loud shows- such as Disney’s Fantasmic! And Universal Studio’s Sinbad- and fireworks, your kids will be able to enjoy them, too!

If it’s darkness that frightens your child, buying small light-up toys- inexpensive at chain stores- is a good way for them to have a “nightlight,” as long as it’s a soft glow and silent so as not to disturb other parkgoers.

Renting a stroller for kids that are just barely young enough for them is a good idea- running around in the hot sun can tire them out quickly, and when they’re walking on their own, it’s a great place to put backpacks and shopping bags.

Sneakers with wheels built into them are not permitted in any theme park in Florida. If your child insists on wearing them, make sure they don’t pop out the wheels- you can be fined more than $100 for these.

If you don’t have a burning need to see the outdoor afternoon parades and shows more than once, skip them after the first day- they’re not too fun with the sun beating down on you!

Let’s face it: Florida summers are hot. Unprepared visitors can be susceptible to too much sun, and occasionally some heat stroke as well. There are easy, inexpensive ways to beat the heat so that you can enjoy your vacation without sweating the small stuff.

First and most importantly, drink plenty of water. The second most important thing is to wear sunblock. Even on relatively cool days, it’s easy to burn, especially when wearing darker colors that attract the sun’s rays. It is much cheaper to avoid sunburn than to treat it- and risk painful vacation memories! If you are especially prone to burning, it may be a good idea to bring sunblock with you to the parks- SPF 50 and above- and reapplying it during the day.

You may see spray misters around the parks: small bottles filled with water that have a battery-powered fan and spray mist. At the parks these can cost over $15. But many large chain stores will sell them for less. They can be filled at the water fountains, and with spare batteries they can last a long time. With rechargeable batteries, you won’t have to pay for overcharged replacements at the parks if they run out in the middle of the day- just pop in the spares and charge them at night.

It may sound silly, but bringing a small travel umbrella is a great way to have shade everywhere you go. Other quick ideas include bringing a small travel-sized deodorant or baby powder and baby wipes to freshen up and cool down a bit. Pack a hat for everyone; if it gets too hot to wear one, soak it in water from the water fountains for a free and instant cool-down.