A day at the parks

• If you are traveling with small children, make sure they know what to expect. 

Plan to go to the farthest spot within the park, then work your way back towards the entrance as the day progresses - that way, when your little ones are finished for the day, you'll be closer to the park entrance and closer to your hotel!

• Next, make sure the kids all know what is actually available to do, and let them help make the choices about where to go.

Don't try to fit too much in to one visit - otherwise it will be a blur for everyone and you may not remember some of the most rewarding parts of the trip. 

• Let each child choose one attraction for the morning, and one for the afternoon.  Take turns so everyone is happy. 

And don't forget some of the attractions can be scary, so know what your child can tolerate, and respect those limits.

• At most of the rides you'll have to wait in lines, so make sure your children know to expect this, and plan strategies to keep them amused while waiting.  If one of the family members is not able to enjoy a particular ride, you can still wait in line as a family, then one parent can wait while the other goes on the ride, taking advantage of a cool shaded place to sit and rest.

And don't forget the fast-pass option on some of the major rides - it lets you go to the popular attractions, and get a scheduled time later in the day to go back, without having to wait in the long lines.

• If you do want to take in the parade, be sure to arrive early to get a good spot where everyone in your party can clearly see and not be blocking the sidewalk traffic behind you.

This is a good time for some quiet activities, and even a good chance to munch on a snack.

• Don't forget to allow plenty of time to rest, even though everyone is excited and wants to keep going!  You'll be able to get more done if you focus your attention to one area at a time, then take plenty of rest breaks.

Central Florida can be especially tiring when the temperatures reach 90 and the humidity is high - keep cool, and DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.  A soda is fine with a meal, but stay away from too many sugary treats and drinks.

• You can find bottled water throughout the parks, and many have special straps so you can keep track of your bottle throughout the day.

A good plan for those with really small children is to plan a quiet breakfast, the morning at one of the parks, then head back to the hotel for a lunch time siesta - maybe a nap for the little ones, or even a cool refreshing dip in the pool.  Then around 2:00 head back to the park and pick up where you left off.

• A good tip - buy your souvenirs in the morning when the shops are less crowded, and have your purchases delivered back to your hotel room, if you are staying on Disney property.  Remember, you won't want to do the the last two days of your trip, or your purchases won't catch up with you!

Allot a budget for each person for special mementos - and make sure your child knows what this is ahead of time, so there won't be any disappointment at the last minute.  Maybe plan on getting one really special gift for each person, and few smaller one.

• Some souvenirs are available only within the parks, so you'll want to make special purchases there.  Otherwise, the Downtown Disney shops have great selections, and you can go home with everything you'd ever dream of!

Spend some time planning for A Day at the Park....