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PLAN PLAN PLAN
-- If you're staying in the park, you get the bonus of the
early entry but make sure you read the details because only
one park opens early each day. Plan your morning around that
park and make sure to focus in on the really busy rides and
then go, go, go. You might even get to ride them all twice
before the park opens for the crowds. Then you ride the less
popular rides while all the newly arrived folk are queuing
up for the biggies. |
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ROMANCE AFTER NINE
-- Planning a grown-up romantic dinner? Try one of the hotels
instead of EPCOT restaurants that close at 9pm sharp. Book
your fancier restaurant meals in advance and allow ample time
for transportation if you're not driving. Transfer times between
various modes of transportation within the Park start to add
up, and don't forget the possible fifteen minute walk through
one of the parks to the actual restaurant. |
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CARRY A CELL PHONE AND IMPORTANT
NUMBERS -- We were on a bus on our way to
Cinderella's Castle for lunch and realized that we might be
late for our reservation. With our trusty cell and list of
important Disney numbers we were able to call ahead and keep
our table. Phew! |
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BUDGET FOR MORE COSTLY HIGHLIGHTS
-- Don't miss out on a character breakfast. Our three year
old almost melted with joy when Tigger and Pooh hugged her
at breakfast. Watching her happiness and excitement was the
true essence of what Disney is all about. And the pictures
we took with her and the characters will be memories to last
a lifetime. Well worth any cost! |
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TAKE A BOAT
-- If you can, take the boat back to your hotel at the end
of the day. Not only is it less crowded than the monorail,
but it's a tranquil way to make the return trip and can help
calm your sugar-crazed children. Our hotel choice was perfect.
The boat made a stop at the Polynesian Resort and the kids
loved the experience. |
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EVERYBODY CARRIES A BACKPACK
-- Don't carry too much stuff. Each day I noticed we carried
less and less. There's alot of walking, so make it easier
on yourself. In our party all the adults carried a backpack.
We realized we needed only one tube of sunscreen, one package
of bandaids (not four ) so we all ended up with lighter loads.
We carried water bottles filled with ice cubes from the hotel
and topped up our supply at all the fountains in the Parks.
Worked perfectly. |
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LITTLE ONES LOVE THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
-- Don't forget about the simple merry-go-round for kiddies.
It's very simple, yet very beautiful, gentle yet thrilling
for a three year old, and we could stand/ride right beside
her so she started off as the shy clingy girl and wound up
as the independent horse woman. The fact that there was a
short line-up so she could go more than once just enhanced
the fun. |
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WE LOVED THE PARADES
-- Watching all the Disney favourites go by, shouting out
their names (as if no one else knew who they were), being
amazed by all of them and almost in disbelief that they were
actually there (Look...it's Snow White AND Cinderella AND
Pooh AND...) And of course, the sitting on daddy's shoulders
while smearing an ice-cream bar in the general vicinity of
her mouth. |
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IT'S A SMALL WORLD
-- Finally seeing and experiencing "It's a Small World"
ride through a child's eyes. Now the song doesn't drive me
nuts and I actually get the point. For our daughter the experience
was like the world was being served up on a platter and the
questions she asked about culture, costumes and language were
great for learning! |
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FABULOUS EXPERIENCE FOR OUR
FIVE YEAR OLD SON
-- Our son is a big
fan of princesses so his biggest thrill was meeting Cinderella
in person. Disney World offered him a real interaction with
a fairy princess and he couldn't believe his good fortune.
Then, if that wasn't enough he was called onto the stage during
the (free) musical show, Beauty and the Beast. He got the
opportunity to play the role of Gaston and shared the stage
with Belle. He was totally in love. Then his swash-buckling
side emerged as we went on the Peter Pan ride. Later, he met
Merlin and tried to pull the sword from the stone.
Imagine how that ignited his imagination! |
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FABULOUS EXPERIENCE FOR
US -- Watching the fireworks at the
edge of the lake in
Epcot Center with a glass of wine in one hand and a lovely
lady on my arm and lingering behind a bit to walk back to
the monorail. The fireworks were spectacular and, despite
being an early evening, the leisurely stroll back past the
pavilions (no large crowd, most people were rushing away)
taking the long way around was a lovely stroll. Very romantic!
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