Traveling with Kids in Tow?
Be sure to work with your family’s usual routine. Don’t expect that if your children are late risers and a bit slow to get going in the morning, that they will suddenly be bright eyed and bushytailed, ready to be on the move by eight o’clock in the morning. On the other hand if your family likes to rise and shine with the sun, or at least rather bright and early, by all means take advantage as you may just be first in line to see all the sights.

On the flip side, don’t then expect them to be full of vim and vigor much after the dinner hour. If you’ve been trekking through the parks since dawn, it’s quite likely that you won’t be closing the parks. Those who are late risers however may find that spending a relaxing morning at their hotel, resting up, having a leisurely breakfast, or playing in the pool, will be able to tackle the parks well into the evening hours (often until closing).

Keep your children’s ages in mind. If you have younger children who still require a nap just to function, know now that quality naptime is at a premium when you’re at the parks and on the go. If they require a quiet place to nap, plan for this well ahead of time so you can actually find a quiet spot (which will be difficult though not impossible) to allow them a likely much needed break from all the action. If you are staying at a hotel that’s located on theme park property or sight seeing somewhere that’s reasonably close to your hotel, I highly recommend taking a break and heading back to your room. A missed nap can make or break your day (and theirs), not to mention your evening.

The larger theme parks are a major undertaking, and are exhausting both physically and mentally. Try your best not to schedule more than two days in a row at places like Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando. Sprinkle in a down day (a day where you rest, relax, head to the smaller less intensive attractions, play miniature golf, and rejuvenate for the next big day ahead). Now, I know you’re muttering to yourself right about now that there is simply no way to schedule in a “down day” if you want to see and do it all in the time you have …well, you’re right. This however, is the moment when you must
understand that you can’t do it all, and if you try to, you and your family will likely end up rather miserable attempting to do so. Take a day to slowdown the pace, relax, and rest up - this is especially necessary if you have younger children in tow.

Make sure your expectations are truly realistic. You and your children both have limitations with regard to what you can actually accomplish. Be reasonable and do your best not to go overboard when you’re planning your itinerary -- it can (and will) come back to bite you. Be sure to read through the theme park survival guide (which you’ll find just a few pages further on) for some helpful (and realistic) tips on how to best manage your time, and most importantly how to survive your vacation with your mind and your body remaining in tack. in tact.

A Word About the Rides
While some kids may truly be adrenalin junkies, quite comfortable riding those gigantic winding coasters and wild rides, be aware that many of the shows and rides (especially those with rather intense visual or sensory effects) may very well provoke a far different reaction. For example, my now 9 year old absolutely loves the coasters (which we discovered however when he was only 7) including The Hulk, Dueling Dragons (both located at Universal Orlando), and plenty of others sprinkled throughout Walt Disney World, but send him into a dark and scary environment (heaven forbid it be mixed with sensory effects) and be prepared for the worst. Knowing your children is the key to knowing how they will handle the attractions. They may very well love plummeting from stories high drops, careening along intertwining metal tracks, or twisting, turning, and dangling their feet while they reach speeds of up to 60 miler per hour, however if a puff of air hits them in the neck while there in a darkened setting or watching a 3-D movie – tears may very well be streaming down their cheeks in only seconds.

Divide and Conquer
For those of you with multiple children of various ages, tackling the theme parks can be a tremendous challenge to say the least. The younger kids are tugging at your shorts, pleading with you to fly off to Neverland on Peter Pan’s Flight (in Fantasyland) while the older kids are begging to conquer the universe at Space Mountain or brave the waves at Splash Mountain – so what is a family to do? I have to be honest - it’s completely idyllic to think that you’re going to spend each and every waking moment of your family vacation all together – especially if you’ve got kids of varying ages. If you prepare yourself now and follow the ?divide and conquer? strategy you might actually survive the whole experience with your sanity in tact. Now that’s not to say that you have to follow this strategy every minute, from start to finish, of your vacation, but there will be times when this may be the only way to get through the parks in a timely fashion.

This is also a strategy that works quite well should you find that your little ones are in need of a nap before the day is out. If you’re staying at one of the Walt Disney World resorts (or at one of the resorts located along Hotel Plaza Boulevard), it’s a relatively painless process (in most cases) to head back to your room so that the younger members of your family (and in some cases the older ones too) can rest, relax, and take their afternoon nap - while those with the stamina of a superhero can continue tackling and touring the theme parks.

As you can see - there are most definitely times when splitting up and going your separate ways can work to your advantage (and it’s the perfect time to use those walkietalkies, 2-way radios, or cell phones that you brought along – you did bring them along didn’t you?).

AAA; The American Automobile Association
The American Automobile Association, or AAA as they are often referred to, offers a wide variety of vacation packages to not only Disney but to an array of destinations throughout central Florida as well. While membership is not prerequisite to plan or book your vacation with AAA, AAA members do enjoy an array of additional benefits when they book a Disney vacation through the auto club.

The following are just a sampling of the member benefits available when you book a Disney Vacation through AAA (for complete and current information go to www.aaa.com):

-The AAA Vacations Diamond Card; Special savings and discounts on meals, merchandise, and entertainment are available to those holding this card (at select locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort).

-AAA Preferred Parking; Members booking their vacation with AAA can park in the AAA Diamond lot located near the front entrance of each of the 4 major Walt Disney World theme parks.

-The AAA VIP Lounge; Here members can are allowed a complimentary drink and a quick break from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. It’s located in the back right corner of Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom -- though you’ll have to look carefully as it’s hidden rather well.

-AAA Disney Magic Moment Savings; As a AAA member you can receive special discounts at the Walt Disney World resorts when you purchase select Disney vacation packages.

-Disney Dollars; If you book select vacation packages of 7 nights or more at the WDW Swan or WDW Dolphin you will receive $200.00 in Disney Dollars to spend as you like. AAA also offers discounts at a variety of Orlando area hotels, resorts, parks, attractions, and recreational venues to its members. A variety of travel related services, not the least of which includes free maps, tour guides, and trip tiks, as well as planning services and roadside assistance (though roadside assistance may at times may have fees associated with it), are available to members as well.

For information on how to join call 800-222-1134 for details, or check their Website at www.aaa.com.

I’ve belonged to AAA for as long as I can remember and I would highly recommend that anyone who travels or even simply drives a car, should join. They have prevented countless mishaps from becoming complete disasters over the years. They’ve jump started our car after having left the lights on accidentally (including on a few times at the theme parks), retrieved our car keys (after inadvertently leaving them in the car - the doors of course locked), towed our car after having been hit from behind, and because of the level of our membership they, on one occasion, actually paid a portion of our expenses when our car was undrivable (due to the accident) and required substantial repairs simply to drive home - the list is practically endless. This is of course in addition to the numerous maps, trip tiks, and tourguides that our membership has allowed.

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Staying Safe When You’re Traveling
Even though you’re vacationing in the most magical place on Earth, don’t find yourself lulled into a false sense of security. You are still traveling in unfamiliar territory, filled with tens of thousands of tourists from all parts of the world.

The following simple guidelines should help to prevent any unfortunate incidents while you’re on your vacation:

Pick up Plenty of Maps
Even though I suggest sending for information, including area maps, months ahead of your departure, if you haven’t already done so make sure to get maps immediately upon your arrival. Most car-rental companies will provide an area map that will at least highlight the route to your hotel. Others have a computerized service that will spit out both mapped and written directions for you when you enter the name of your hotel or resort. Once you arrive at the hotel, be sure to ask for any and all maps they can provide when you check in. You may be directed to guest services, the bell stand, or the concierge to pick them up. Also be sure to stop by the brochure racks (usually in or around the lobby area), where you will inevitably find several maps of the most popular tourist hot spots amongst the gazillion other brochures. Most of the area maps can be found within the attractions or dining guides, so be sure not to overlook them.

Take the time to really look at the maps you’ve gathered. Plan your route prior to venturing out to alleviate some of the difficulties of driving in an unfamiliar area. It also helps if you actually write down the directions. They’re easier to refer to at a glance than on a complicated map in miniscule print. It can be difficult at best, not to mention really dangerous, to attempt to read a map while you’re driving, particularly with many other tourists trying to do the very same thing. The combination of unfamiliar roads and at times horrible congestion, combined with the frustration of trying to reach your destination, all make driving difficult enough. Sticking a map in front of your face instead of paying attention to the road is simply asking for trouble. If you need to pull over and take a better look at the map, then do it. Just remember to pull over in a well-lit and populated area and to keep your doors locked at all times. I also suggest sticking to the main roads as much as possible. With the exception of a few shortcuts that I’ve listed here and there throughout the guide (and even those are on main roadways), it’s unwise to venture too far off the beaten path. Back streets and smaller roads that aren’t included on any of the maps may very well lead to areas you simply shouldn’t be in.

Keep Your Kids Safe
Never ever leave your children unattended in the car. Not only would they be unprotected, but the Florida heat (even in the cooler months) can pose a deadly threat. The heat inside of a car even with windows cracked can reach well upward of 130 degrees in just a matter of a very few minutes, which can lead to heat stroke and, in too many unfortunate instances, death.

Park It and Pack It
Never leave anything of value in your car. It’s simply too irresistible an invitation for thieves to break in and take what they want. Even coins or credit card receipts that you’ve left out can tempt a burglar to break in. If you’ve left these items in plain view, a thief may wonder what other valuables await in the car. Valuables can be anything from money, credit cards, and travelers checks, to jewelry, cameras, computers, and practically everything in between. Items with your personal information printed on them should definitely be considered a valuable, especially with identity theft on the rise. Make sure that no personal identification or travel documents, tickets (of any sort), receipts, and credit cards are ever left in the car or your hotel room.

If you don’t want or need to carry these things with you, then lock them in the safe at your hotel--merely placing these items in your suitcase, even if it’s zipped closed or snapped shut, is just as risky since the hotel staff go in and out of your room, generally leaving the door open while they clean.

As A Note
When you are out and about, always have your key in hand and ready as you approach your car. This will allow you to get into your car quickly and easily, which is especially important at night.

On the Road
If someone is waving at you, trying to get your attention and making you think that there is something wrong with your car--particularly in an unpopulated area where there are few other cars or people--drive away immediately. Often this is simply a ruse to get you to stop and step out of your car--making you the perfect target for carjackers. Just to be safe, though, you should check your car over once you’ve reached an appropriate, well-lit location. If your car seems OK, it would be a good idea to report the incident to the local police.

Take a cell phone with you. In this day and age, technology allows you to call almost anyone from almost anywhere. If you are lost, having car trouble, or have an unexpected medical emergency, a cell phone may be the easiest, the most efficient, or even the only way for you to get in touch with someone who can help. If you are one of the few who still don’t own a cell phone and still really don’t want one, consider renting one just for your trip. Many car-rental companies offer phone rentals, but be aware that the prices are often quite high.

Sun Safety
Florida’s isn’t called the Sunshine State for nothing. Its bright sunny skies and warm weather draw tourists here by the thousands. But the southern Florida sun brings with it both intense heat and powerful UV rays. Protection from both is an absolute necessity.

To get through your vacation without experiencing the painful effects of sunburn or possibly even heat stroke, bring along the hats and most definitely the sunscreen (with an SPF of at least 30 for the adults, 50 for the kids) to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Remember to apply it to every exposed part of your body, or you may find yourself (or your kids) feeling like a lobster by day’s end. I can’t tell you how unhappy my husband was when he badly sunburned the tops of his feet during a day at the beach. Feet, toes, ears, and your scalp can easily go overlooked with unfortunate and often painful results. Keep in mind that, without the proper protection, even a cloudy day canresult in a bad burn. The clouds won’t protect you from the penetrating UV rays. The heat can take quite a toll on everyone too, and rather quickly, especially when thehumidity kicks in. Make sure everyone drinks plenty of water throughout the day. Even though you or your kids may not be particularly thirsty, it’s extremely important to keep hydrated on a hot, humid day. This may take some encouragement and reminding on your part, but it’s far easier to ward off heat exhaustion than to deal with it after the fact.My 8-year-old is particularly susceptible to the heat, and if he doesn’t drink often enough throughout the day and keep reasonably cool, it’s inevitable that he’ll feel sick to his stomach later on in the day. Unfortunately, we discovered this only after he became ill one evening, not realizing at first what had happened. Luckily it was only a mild case.

This is not at all uncommon, especially in children, but it can easily be avoided. Even the slightest symptoms of heat exhaustion or dehydration should be addressed immediately since the consequences of both can be serious, even life-threatening. Again, it’s easier to prevent such ailments than to recover from them.

Keep in mind that the sun is at its strongest between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Now, obviously you can’t stay out of the sun during those hours every day, but you could plan around it a bit. Head to the indoor attractions or rides, consider taking an early lunch, and, if the parks are open late, consider taking an afternoon break back at your hotel and returning to the park after an early dinner--you get the idea.

How to Beat the Heat (and the Sun)
-Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
-Check with your pediatrician about using sunscreen on children under 1 year old.

-Keep infants out of the direct sun as much as possible, especially if they are under 3 months old since their sweat glands aren’t yet fully functional and they can’t cool off the way older children and adults can.

-Take a lightweight blanket like a receiving blanket to hang over the hood of the stroller to help protect little ones from the sun--just make certain that the air can flow freely at the same time.

-Take a small cooler (larger ones aren’t allowed to be brought into most parks) filled with water bottles and juice drinks. A soft-sided one works best for packing in the suitcase. If you don’t have a stroller to store it in, make sure it’s small enough to fit in your backpack. Not only is this convenient, as kids get thirsty at the most inopportune moments, but you will find that it will save you a fair amount of money as well. Be sure to freeze the water bottles the previous night so you’ll have ice-cold water for a good part of the day. The added bonus is that the ice helps to keep all the other drinks cold too.

-Take plenty of breaks throughout the day, heading for cover in the shade of a tree or the comfort of an air-conditioned restaurant to cool off.

Hotel Safety
When traveling with kids, especially younger kids, hotel safety is an issue. Be sure to familiarize yourself - and your kids if they are old enough--with the layout of the property. Look to see where the ice and soda machines are, as well as the laundry, bell services, the concierge, the pool, and the restaurants.

If you have toddlers in tow, next on the agenda is to child-proof the room. Hang any shade or curtain pulls (of the string variety) over the top of the curtain and out of reach. Be mindful as well where you place a crib. Your child’s reach will be significantly higher than if they’re simply standing on the floor, so be sure the crib isn’t close enough to anything that they can get into trouble with (outlets, cords, lamps - you name it). Take along a package of outlet covers with you - while you may appreciate all the accessible outlets for your hairdryer or computer, you won’t appreciate your kids sticking their fingers in them. Double-check all window and door locks to make sure nothing was left unsecured previously. My husband has often wondered if I secretly wanted to be a decorator as I immediately rearrange the furniture upon entering a hotel room. While I am certainly not a decorator, I do make sure that tables with sharp corners are put aside; that cords, both electrical and the curly telephone ones, are all out of the way; that glass lamps are out of reach; and that at bedtime there are extra pillows placed between the bed and the dressers so no one knocks their head on any corners in their sleep. Check with your hotel to see if they have bed rails available. If not, I’ve found that placing a chair or two (backwards of course) alongside the bed will achieve the same result.

The following Traveler Safety Tips are provided by the National Crime Prevention Council:
-Don’t answer the door in a hotel room without first verifying who it is. If the person claims to be an employee, check with the front desk to see if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.

-When returning to your hotel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.

-Close the door securely whenever you are in the room and use all of the locking devices provided.

-Don’t needlessly display guest room keys in public or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen.

-Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.

-Do not invite strangers to your room.

-Place all valuables in the room safe or safe deposit box.

-Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

-Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked.

-If you see any suspicious activity, please report your observations to the management.

While most of the larger establishments have security personnel on staff, don’t leave your children’s safety to chance. Children should always be supervised by an adult. Even if you think your older children are capable of watching your younger children, and they may very well be, the distractions of such interesting and unique surroundings can easily lead to disaster. This is especially true in and around the pools and playgrounds, where most accidents tend to occur. Even something as simple as allowing your children walk ahead to your hotel room can lead to lost little ones (even older ones can get mixed up at times).

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Bringing the Baby Gear
If you have younger children who are still in car seats and strollers, you need to decide whether or not to bring the strollers and car seats along on the trip. If you are traveling by plane, you’ll need to decide if you want to check the baby gear along with your luggage, or if you want to gate-check your stroller so you can use it in the airports, and haul along the car seat to use on the aircraft.

If you decide against bringing along your own stroller or car seat, rentals are available at several (though not all) locations once you have arrived. The rental strollers, however, in many instances tend to be made of hard plastic, with no cloth lining or padding for comfort, making napping much more difficult. While they work well enough for older toddlers who spend more time walking than riding, they are not as appropriate for younger children who may spend much of their time sitting in them. Another minus – there is generally little or no storage space for the gear you will inevitably be bringing along. Yet another disadvantage should you decide not to bring your own stroller is that you won’t have access to a stroller should you find yourself outside of the theme parks.

If you have a smaller child, especially a child not yet able to walk, a stroller can be invaluable at restaurants, shopping centers, or smaller attractions that don’t provide rentals.

The Pros and Cons of Bringing Along Your Own Stroller

The Pros
-Having a stroller - especially if you’re traveling with active toddlers - will help you check in, get to your gate, and generally retain your sanity.

-It frees up your hands to carry any necessary luggage and provides a place to help hold all the gear that goes along with traveling with children, such as diaper bags and bottles.

-It’s helpful at airport stopovers on the way to your final destination. You can gate-check your stroller so that it will be available for you right as you depart the plane either at the next airport or at your final destination.

-It offers even children who have “outgrown” their strollers a place to rest after hours of walking around the parks in the heat of the day.

-It provides great storage space for the gear necessary for the day’s adventure and for all of those souvenirs you will be accumulating.

-It provides a reasonably comfortable place to rest, relax, and nap for your child wherever you happen to be at the time.

-It doubles as a highchair at restaurants and in your hotel room.

-The cost of the average stroller or travel stroller (unless it’s an extremely high-end model or brand) is generally far less than renting one for 5 or more days through most rental companies (whether a car rental or baby gear rental company).

The Cons
-It creates added work at the security checkpoints. It needs to be folded up and put through the X-ray machine, which means taking out your child, sleeping or not, along with all the gear packed in or on it.

-It’s one more item to drag along If you’re bringing a stroller, be sure you bring the right one!

-It should be quick and easy to set up and if possible with only one hand

-It should be easily folded down, again with one hand if possible

-It should have a hood or cover of some sort in order to protect against the hot Florida sun and its UV rays

-It should have ample storage space for all of the gear and souvenirs you will find yourself hauling along with you throughout the day - to be sure if your idea of ample is truly adequate; grab a jacket or two, a diaper bag filled with gear, a small blanket, a couple of stuffed toys, and a handful of additional items - can you fit it all in and still have room for the kids?

-It should recline and be comfortable enough for napping, resting, and relaxing The average everyday umbrella stroller doesn’t follow a single guideline listed above so if that’s all you have, consider investing in something a bit more substantial (though only if you intend to bring a stroller along). Now, you certainly don’t have to go out and spend a fortune on the fanciest model on the market, but you should adhere to the guidelines listed above to ensure that you don’t find yourself spitting and sputtering about the model you did purchase. If you still want an umbrella style stroller, there are plenty that meet the guidelines listed above, all of which are lightweight and relatively compact.
Just be sure to choose one that has both a hood as well as built in storage space. If you prefer a sturdier stroller, make sure that it’s travel friendly (meaning that it doesn’t weigh as much as an SUV, it doesn’t require an instruction manual as thick as the phone book, that it folds up into a relatively compact position, and that it has wheels capable of maneuvering any type of terrain you may encounter).

Car Seats
Provided that your children are still of car-seat or booster-seat age, you will need to consider whether or not you want them to sit in their own seat (which they can easily get out of) or if you prefer them to be seated in their car seat. As a note - booster seats are not approved for use on airplanes. These will need to be checked along with your luggage.

Car Seat Pros
As with strollers, there are pros and cons to bringing them along:
- A car seat provides the safest seat for your toddler.

- Holding an infant on your lap for an extended (or even a short) flight is both extremely demanding and very restrictive. And if you are thinking that your soft front baby carrier is the answer, think again - slings or front baby carriers are not allowed for use during the majority of the flight. Having your own car seat along will enable you to enjoy a bit of freedom, with your child safely buckled in.

-It’s readily available for you upon arrival.

-There are no costs involved in bringing it along.

-You can check it through if you don’t want to carry it with you through the airport.

Car Seat Cons
-It’s one more bulky item to drag along with you through the airport.

-It takes extra time and effort to properly secure the car seat on the plane.

-There is always the possibility of damage or loss (though after 12 years of hauling one along myself, I have never experienced a problem) if it is checked with your luggage.

Many car-rental companies rent car seats if you don’t want to bring your own along, but keep in mind that they can be costly. Depending on how long you are vacationing, the cost of renting one could actually add up to the cost of purchasing a new one. It’s also a risky proposition – the rentals are generally (though not always) available only on a firstcome, first-served basis, so if there isn’t one available at the time of your arrival, you’re out of luck.