 |
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. |
|
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. |
|
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! |
|
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! |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
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! |
|
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! |
|
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! |
