Syracuse Parent and CNY Family

Jennifer Wing, editor of "Syracuse Parent" and "Mother Knows Best," lives in Manlius with her husband, Eric, and children, Cassidy, 7, and Jacob, 5. She has worked at Eagle Newspapers since 2005. You can leave comments below. She may also be reached at editor@syracuseparent.net

Thinking of visiting the mouse this spring?
Posted on Thu, January 21st, 2010
Written by: Jennifer Wing, Editor
email: editor@syracuseparent.net

One ‘Disneyphile’s’ tips for a great family trip
With the days melting into one another, and work, school and everyday chores intruding on our family life, it is sometimes difficult to take a deep breath, relax and just spend time enjoying each others’ company.
Fortunately, we have been able to reconnect each year when we take our family trip to Walt Disney World. The trip has proven to be a great way to not only have fun and relax, but strengthen the ties in our family, which can become somewhat tested by everyday stresses. These yearly journeys to the “most magical place on earth” have turned me into somewhat of a “Disneyphile,” or person with a near-obsessive affection for, and interest in, all things Disney.
And it turns out I am not alone. One need only hop onto the many message boards about Walt Disney World, such as DISboards.com, passporter.com, wdwmagic.com, wdisneyw.com/forums and intercot.com to find many people who not only love Disney, but have many wonderful tips, ideas and even reviews of the many attractions and restaurants in the World.
With my experience and knowledge of Disney, I have compiled a list of the top 10 tips for planning your trip to Walt Disney World. They are:
1. Buy a Disney guide (or borrow one from your local library.) My favorite guide is Birnbaum’s Disney World 2010, pictured left, which gives you all the maps of the four parks and two water parks, descriptions of the attractions, shows and restaurants and helpful tips for everything from stroller and locker rentals to when the lines will be the longest.
2. Stay at Disney, if you can. It might be a bit more expensive than staying in a hotel in nearby Kissimmee, but there are many benefits. Those benefits include being able to use the complimentary Magical Express shuttle to and from the airport, convenient shuttles to and from the parks and Extra Magic Hours on special days where the parks are open early and/or late for Disney Resort guests only. Also, you should look into getting a Park Hopper Pass instead of the traditional park pass. This will allow you to visit any of the parks each day and gives you the Fast Pass option (see number 8 on the list.)
3. Book early and look out for specials. I use a travel agent, because you need only put down a deposit on the trip, and can change the details up until the date when your final payment is due. Also, Disney usually runs specials each season. For instance, right now you can receive up to a $750 gift card if you book a five-night, six-day Disney vacation at select Disney resorts. Visit disneyworld.disney.go.com for more information.
4. Make dinner reservations early. One thing that is great about Disney is the food. There are many awesome restaurants, especially in Epcot, which has the World Showcase, featuring attractions and restaurants from around the globe. Because of the popularity of these eateries, Disney Dining allows you to make reservations up to 180 days before the start of your trip. Call (407)WDW-DINE to make your reservations, and make sure to have alternate times in mind in case your first choice is booked.
5. Try to get a non-stop flight. Any parent will tell you that layovers are murder when you have young children in tow. The only airline that offers nonstop flights from Syracuse currently is Jetblue, so these flights tend to fill up early.
6. Pack wisely. If you know it’s going to be hot during the day, but might get cooler at night, don’t overpack by bringing a bunch of bulky sweatshirts along. Instead, bring a hooded jacket that can be thrown over lighter clothes to keep warm. One thing you’ll be doing a lot of is walking, so make sure your footwear is comfortable. I usually will wear sneakers on the plane and pack a pair of comfortable sandals for going out to dinner.
When packing the kids’ clothes, I place one outfit per child per day in a freezer bag, then pack the bags in the suitcase. This way, when we’re rushing to get ready in the morning, I just throw the bags at them and tell them to get dressed. It’s a huge time saver!
When it comes to toiletries, I pack plenty of sunscreen and travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and hair spray. I pack a full-sized soap and toothpaste, as that will get used by all, and travel sizes are just about as expensive.
7. Plan your strategy. I try to have at least an idea of which parks I’ll visit each day. Depending upon the length of your stay, you might be able to visit a park more than once. Decide which parks have the most attractions you and your family will be interested in. For example, Magic Kingdom has a lot of the more traditional, tamer rides like the tea cups and the Dumbo ride, but Animal Kingdom has Expedition Everest (an exciting roller coaster) and Kali River Rapids, where you’re sure to get wet.
8. Use the “Fast Pass” option. This will cut your wait in line significantly. When you insert your Park Hopper Pass into the Fast Pass machine, a ticket will come out that gives you a window of time to come back to the ride and move to the front of the line. It’s important to try to get a Fast Pass early, as many attractions, such as Soarin’ in Epcot, run out of Fast Passes early.
9. Make time to relax. I’ve found that if you don’t have a bit of down time, you end up coming home more tired than when you left. Spend an evening at your hotel pool, watching the kids splash and play. Or better yet, hit the hot tub, then enjoy a glass of wine in your hotel’s restaurant before turning in. A little wine and conversation can be the perfect ending to a busy, fun-filled day at the parks.
10. Shop wisely. If you are planning on bringing souvenirs home for yourself and others, have a budget. The shops can get pricey, and it’s easy to overspend. The largest shop is Mouse Gear in Epcot, with the best, most varied selection, although all of the parks certainly have stores scattered throughout.
Last but not least, make sure to keep your kids safe. The park can get very crowded, and it’s easy to lose track of members of your party. In the case of young children, make sure you always have them within sight and arm’s reach. With older kids, make sure you have a meet-up spot in case you get separated. Cell phones are a wonder for this purpose.

Jennifer Wing, editor of "Syracuse Parent" and "Mother Knows Best," lives in Manlius with her husband, Eric, and children, Cassidy, 7, and Jacob, 5. She has worked at Eagle Newspapers since 2005.