Not only is it summertime in Orlando, with all the normal hordes of visitors, but it's a long-weekend holiday. Getting through this weekend in one of the most popular family vacation destinations in the world can be tricky, so here are some tips to get you through it with the most fun and the least fuss.

Tip #1: Avoid the parks.
This might sound like a strange tip for an Orlando vacation, but in this case it's very true. If you have other days you can spend in the parks, skipping the 4th of July is a great idea. Everyplace will be PACKED. Lines will be LONG, including lines to get in and get out of the parks -- I remember one Independence Day where leaving The Magic Kingdom by monorail was nearly a three hour wait, and when we finally got out, there were still hundreds waiting. July 4th is a great day to spend at the hotel pool, so give yourself some independence from the crowds if you can.

Tip #2: Pack wisely.
If you are going to brave the parks no matter what, pack wisely for the day. The weather looks like it will be typical for Orlando in July -- hot, humid, and random thunderstorms. Make sure your bag for the day includes water bottles (which you can refill at water fountains throughout the parks), non-perishable snacks (granola bars, apples, etc), PLENTY of sunscreen (especially if it's an overcast day), bandaids in case of blisters, hand sanitizer, umbrellas or ponchos, and ziploc bags (to keep important things like keys, cash, and phones dry). Planning on a lot of water rides? Don't forget your change of clothes. And if you take medications on a schedule, bring extra for your evening dose, just in case you get stuck geting out of the park.

Tip #3: Navigate wisely.
Take advantage of front of line or shorter line access everywhere you can, such as Fastpass at Disney, Express Pass tickets at Universal, and child-swap lines if you qualify. It can save you valiable time. If you can skip parades and fireworks, do it and use the time to get on rides instead; lines will be shorter while everyone else is watching the event. If the park has ride wait times posted, pay attention and plan accordingly. Snack on the go rather than wait in line at restaurants.

Tip #4: Leave early.
This goes for both arrival and departure. In fact, it goes double for departure - the great thing about Orlando is that there are literally dozens, possibly hundreds, of places where you will be able to see the fireworks without trying to cram yourself and your overheated family into space at the parks themselves. Most of the Disney hotels, for example, offer prime viewing from the parking lots, and some have docks (Wilderness Lodge and the Grand Floridian, for example) where lakeside views are lovely. Eat dinner outside on International Drive and you will likely get a view of the fireworks at Sea World or Universal -- maybe even both, depending on where you dine. And if you're lucky enough to be staying at a Grande Lakes hotel, find a balcony (or the Concierge Lounge) for a spectacular view.

Tip #5: Relax.
This is the best tip of all. Lines will be long. It will be hot. People will be cranky and everything will be crowded. Know this going in and be prepared for it. The great thing is you can always come back another day!

Happy Fourth, everyone!

As a long-time fan of Halloween events, I am here to tell you -- nothing ruin the experience faster than guests behaving badly. And there are a lot of bad guests out there. If you are heading to Halloween Horror Nights, HowlOScream, or any of the many other Orlando haunted attractions this year, give this list a read -- consider it an easy way to avoid being that guest (or accidentally bringing that guest along with you).

1. Never touch the actors: This is a big issue every year. Yes, sometimes accidents happen and people bump into each other or someone throws their hands up too fast, too close. But never touch the actors on purpose. For one, someone could get hurt. For another, one touch can ruin makeup or costuming that took hours to complete. Be respectful of personal space -- the actors have been trained to be respectful of yours while still getting in for a good close scare.

2. Keep the line moving: This is another one that seems obvious, yet always happens. depending on the size of the attraction, anywhere from dozens up to thousands of people need to pass through the doors on any given night. While your Vincent Price impression may be the best one on the planet, halfway through the haunted house is not a good place to stop suddenly and perform it. Same with trying to find something in your purse. Wait to get out to a better lit area -- it's too dark in there anyway.

3. No running the corridors: Sometimes this just happens -- the best houses make our fight or flight response kick in, and flight is better than fight (see #1)! But there are also guests who just run through every room at top speed, usually screaming all the way and often eyes closed. Most haunted houses have lots of people (guests and actors), narrow hallways, and limited visibility. Running blind is a great way to get hurt and hurt others. Nobody wants an emergency room visit for Halloween.

4. Don't give away the hiding places: If you spot Freddy or Jason or anybody peeking out of their respective haunted hidey-hole, don't tell! Half the fun of these houses is watching the person who didn't spot them get scared out of their wits. And while we're on the subject...

5. If you've already been through the house, don't give away the secrets: If the house was good enough to warrant going through more than once, they must have some pretty excellent surprises, set up, decor, and actors. Let everyone experience it without your assistance.

6. Mind your alcohol intake: A lot of the bigger Halloween events serve alcohol (notably HHN and HoS), and a lot of people choose to partake in a little liquid courage. The trouble happens when some people opt to indulge in a LOT of it. A stumbling drunk is no fun anywhere, but it's a special kind of problem at Halloween attractions (hitting actors, throwing up in attractions or on other guests, falling down, starting fights, and stripping in the middle of the road are just a few things I have witnessed). Know your limits, be smart, and always have a designated driver. And speaking of inappropriate behavior...

7. Haunted House ≠ Tunnel of Love: Those dark and secret little corners sure do look private, don't they? Guess what? They're not. AT ALL. And nobody wants to see that.  

8. Don't use your phone: Treat the haunted house like a movie theater or a live theater experience. Silence your phone and please -- for the love of the Great Pumpkin -- don't text in the hallways!  

9. We know it's not real: Being the guy who has to point out -- loudly -- how fake everything is doesn't make you smart. It just makes you a jerk. There are places to go if your want realism. This is not one of them.

10. If you don't actually like Haunted attractions, don't go to them: This seems simple, right? Yet every year, every visit, I hear at least one person per house complaining -- these things are stupid, it's so fake, this is lame, etc etc etc. If that's you, do everyone a favor and please stay home. Don't be the guest who ruins everyone else's good time.

Marcy Palino was a late bloomer, as far as Disney is concerned. "My first trip to WDW was in 2004. My husband surprised me with a week long trip there for our first anniversary. I was immediately hooked! We've made seven more tips since then." Now that she and her husband have added two beautiful daughters to their family, Disney trips are truly a magical occasion for everyone. But traveling with two girls under the age of five is never easy. Marcy shares her tips on how to manage it successfully.

Tip #1 -- Preparation!
For every visit, we've used a website www.tourguidemike.com to help us plan. There are a lot of websites devoted to Disney trip planning. Disney has a Moms Panel made up of moms who have a lot of experience and are committed to answering questions from those who have been there, done that. I plan to check them out before our next trip. http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/

Tip #2 -- Consider your hotel needs
We've stayed both on site [at WDW] and off. I prefer on site to take advantage of Disney's Magical Express, eliminating the need for a rental car and parking. Disney has buses, monorails and watercraft to take her every where you need to go. I've stayed in all three levels of Disney resorts. The different levels have different amenities. For our family, we simply need a place to shower and sleep, so we've decided that the Value resorts are right for us.

Tip #3 -- Consider the parks one at a time.
I want to enjoy myself and go where the crowds aren't. I recommend checking websites that specialize in trip planning. At the very least, find out what attractions are going to be closed for refurbishment, lest you have a disappointed fan! Call guest services for each park a day before you travel so you can plan with the most up to date information.


We've traveled with an infant more than once. Find out where the Baby Care centers are on the map. They are quiet, cool and a great place to take a break and beat the heat while taking care of your wee one. They have changing areas, large family bathrooms, high chairs, baby food and supplies, bottle warmers, etc. There is also a quiet nursing area (although Florida state law does allow moms to breastfeed anywhere they are otherwise authorized to be).

You can take a baby on any ride that does not have a height requirement. A good start is a ride like It's a Small World. It's not very quiet, and you'll be able to see what your child can handle. Our one year old went on every ride she was allowed and loved the lights and colors. She's a big Haunted Mansion fan now!

Tip #4 - Be early birds
I recommend starting early. Get up, get to breakfast and get to the park as close to opening as possible. Kids are usually chomping at the bit to get there, and you'll get a jump on the late sleepers. If you are staying on site, check for Extra Magic Hours--this can save you loads of time and get you ahead of the crowds, especially during high capacity seasons.

Tip #5 -- Known when to throw away your plan
More than anything, and I can't stress this enough, is to be flexible. Let your vacation happen. Let your kids enjoy themselves. If you've got other plans, like an advanced dining reservation, but aren't going to make it, don't stress out, (but do use your cell to call 40-WDW-DINE or stop by Guest Services to let them know so that another party can take your seat!) Remember, it's supposed to be fun!

If it's the hot and steamy season (which is most of the year in Florida,) consider taking a break midday. Go back to the hotel and enjoy the pool. Encourage a nap unless you know that your children are old enough for a marathon day.

Tip #6 -- Take advantage of food and drink options
Disney allows you to bring water into the parks. We usually contact a local grocery that does delivery to bring us a case of bottled water. This is also a great chance to get snacks and breakfast items delivered, as well as heavy/bulky items like formula, nursery water and diapers that take up a lot of room in your luggage. Now that airlines are charging per bag, this is an especially good idea.

Eat early. Eat before the crowds! An ADR only gets you the next available table, so we try to get there early during the mealtime hours. We eat lunch at 11am and dinner at 5pm. The great thing about WDW is that everyone expects that there will be children dining there, so it's a lot less stress than eating in finer establishments in your home town. Disney Dining does not pay lip service to being child friendly. They have a wide selection of child pleasing favorites, as well as some more adventurous items. They have also ensured that there are healthy options available. We do not have any food allergy issues in our family, but I have heard that the chefs are very accommodating to these issues. If you don't see what you are looking for, just ask!

The only exception to the child rule is Victoria and Albert's, which now has an age requirement.

Tip #7 -- Be prepared for an emergency
If you experience an illness, there are services that will provide house calls, as well as a pharmacy that delivers. There are also minor emergency clinics nearby that provide transportation to and from their clinic from area resorts.

Tip #8--Don't forget, it's your vacation too!
We usually go for a week, typically around our anniversary. We use Kids Night Out to provide in room babysitting for our baby. They are the preferred WDW childcare provider (they can be there any time, day or night.) We have used them several times since 2006 and have always been pleased. We go out for a romantic dinner, and a friendly, qualified care provider cares for our child. When our kids get older, we'll check out the kids clubs that Disney has at several of the resorts. If you aren't comfortable with that idea, you can try to go with another family and swap kids for an evening so that everyone can have some quiet time.

I can personally recommend the spa at the Grand Floridian. Go get a massage!

Part 2 of this article to follow in a couple of days...

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