preschoolers

Posts Tagged ‘preschoolers’

Go Baby Go! Giveaway Winner

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Go Baby Go! makes vacationing with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers easier for parents. To streamline your travels, this San Diego company offers such handy rentable items as full-size cribs (or travel cribs), high chairs, bouncy seats, humidifiers, and even beach necessities. Baby equipment rentals save on baggage fees and the stress and backaches caused by lugging gobs of gear through the airport. Plus, some children just sleep better in a full-size crib or refuse to nap without a baby swing.

Go Baby Go! logo

Take a peek at all that Go Baby Go! has to offer. To receive a 15% discount off your travel gear rental order, just enter “Travel Mamas” at check-out.

Go Baby Go! winner

Congratulations to Susan @ Real Life Travels! You are the winner of a $75 baby equipment rental from Go Baby Go!

The winner of the Go Baby Go! Giveaway was chosen at random using Random.org. If the winner does not claim the prize within 48 hours of notification another winner will be selected.

Epcot’s Best Rides & Hidden Treasures for Kids

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

With a couple of notable exceptions, my family’s most memorable Epcot moments happened when exploring the less-known, low-key, hands-on stuff more than when riding the popular rides. When traveling with children to any of the Disney parks, it’s best to do some research and develop a list of must-see attractions and then let your kids’ energy level and interests guide the way.

In planning your visit, keep in mind that Epcot is huge. In fact, it’s double the size of the Magic Kingdom. On two separate days I thought I could get away with using just one single stroller for my toddler, and twice I wound up renting a second stroller for my preschooler’s tired tootsies. To maximize your walking efforts, here are eight attractions and simple pleasures that you might want to squeeze into a visit any Epcot visit with children.

World Showcase Attractions

Street Performers
Each of the 11 pavilions representing different countries in Epcot’s World Showcase has its own culturally-inspired form of live entertainment. While it’s tempting to hurry the kids along to the next country on the park’s map, take a moment to stop and watch these performances as you come across them. My kids were enthralled by the Chair Balancing Act in France, the Taiko Drummers in Japan, and the Dragon Legend Acrobats in China.

The Taiko Drummers in the Japan Pavilion

The United Kingdom’s Hedge Maze & Toy Shop
It’s easy to miss the hedge maze tucked in the back corner of the United Kingdom. Despite its small size, my kids could have played here for at least an hour if I hadn’t nudged them along after a few giggle-infested run-throughs. Afterwards, be sure to pop into the UK’s darling toy shop, The Toy Soldier, especially if your little one is obsessed with trains as is my son. Why? There’s a Thomas the Tank Engine table complete with wooden tracks and choo-choos aplenty. If you need a reprieve from the lines, the heat, the cold, or the whining – a visit here will buy you some time as the kids zoom the trains around the tracks.

My daughter zipping through the United Kingdom Pavilion’s hedge maze

Germany’s Model Railroad
Speaking of trains…the model railroad in the Germany pavilion is another delightful low-key attraction that young children adore. My kids literally jumped for joy when they first caught sight of the miniature trains chugging around a scaled-down version of a German village.

The miniature train in the Germany Pavilion

The Outpost’s Drums
The Outpost is not one of the main country pavilions. This little area representing African cultures is sandwiched between the Germany and China pavilions. Its only restaurant is a fast food stand called the Refreshment Outpost. But The Outpost does have one major draw for kids of all ages…big ol’ drums! It was hard to pull my kids away from the joy of thumping on these instruments! There are drums and other African-inspired instruments for sale at an adjoining store.

My son beating a drum in The Outpost

Mexico’s Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
This ride featuring Donald Duck and two other animated “cowboy” bird characters is reminiscent of another toddler favorite, It’s a Small World (minus the annoying song). The Gran Fiesta Tour is one of only two rides in the World Showcase. The other one, the Maelstrom in Norway next door, should be avoided with very young children. While it’s not a very fast ride, the troll and dark theme frightened both my kids to pieces.

The Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion

Future World Attractions

Living with the Land
I was surprised by how much both my children were intrigued by Living with the Land. Teens looking for thrill rides might find this one boring, but my young kids enjoyed naming all of the veggies in site on this mellow 14-minute boat tour of futuristic greenhouses that grow real plants.

Edible flowers and herbs growing in the Living with the Land greenhouse ride

Club Cool
This is a tasty little distraction for all ages. Go here for free samples of Coca-Cola Company drinks from around the world. Even my 23-month-old got a kick out of putting his little cup up to the dispenser and pressing the button to fill it up (with my help)…again…and again…and again. My favorite was the red berry Fanta Colita from Costa Rica but my kids, who had never tried soda before and didn’t like the bubbles, preferred the non-carbonated Japanese Vegitabeta health drink.

Free refreshments and fun at Club Cool

The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
This ride was the absolute highlight of my daughter’s Walt Disney World vacation. In fact, it is because of The Seas with Nemo & Friends Ride that Karissa has declared her preference for Epcot over the Magic Kingdom. Her Grandma Ellen took her on this ride six times in a row, thanks to short lines on a very chilly February day. Both she and her brother were mesmerized by the Nemo characters interspersed with real-live fish, as they rode along in their huge clamshells. Afterwards, we walked through the 5.7 million-gallon Sea Base and Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium to view more fish, sharks, manatees, and dolphins. Don’t miss Turtle Talk with Crush for an interactive, animated 3-D show where kids can really chat with Crush, the surfer-dude turtle from the Finding Nemo movie.

Real-live “Nemo” fish in the aquarium in the Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion

There is so much to see and experience at Walt Disney World, it’s easy for kids to become over-stimulated and for parents to feel frazzled. My favorite Disney vacation memories occur when I slow down and focus on the little moments…like the look of pride on my son’s face when he held out his little cup to fill it up with a colorful drink at Club Cool all by himself (well, with a little help)…and the joyous sound in my daughter’s voice when she asked (for the fifth time), “Can we ride Nemo again?”…and the way my kids jumped up and down, and shouted, ”Choo-choo!” when they spied the miniature train in the Germany Pavilion. That’s what Disney magic is all about.

What is your favorite Epcot ride, attraction, or memory? Leave a comment below!

How to Plan a Disney World Vacation

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

When people ask me what’s the most important thing to know about Disney World, the answer comes easily, “You’ve got to plan!” Orlando’s Walt Disney World is more than an amusement park – it really is a vacation experience. There are four major theme parks, two water parks, and a dining and shopping district. Guests can choose to enjoy unique and wide-ranging special events, recreational activities, dining experiences, top-notch shows, parades, and character meets. Have I convinced you yet that you need to research and plan to take advantage of everything Disney World has to offer?

Here are some tips on how to prepare for a Disney World vacation to make your experience magical, memorable, and enjoyable for everyone in your family:

Create Your Own Pixie Dust
Anticipation is an exciting part of a Disney vacation! Get out your craft supplies and create a customized welcome letter from Mickey Mouse and invitations to special events your family will be attending. With stealth and a little luck, you can slip these onto your kids’ pillows for a magical surprise. You could also make a Disney-inspired tear-away calendar for a fun way to count down to D-for-Disney-Day.

Pick Your Tickets
The longer you stay, the less you pay – per day that is. The daily rate for theme park admission tickets decreases the more days you purchase. You can choose a base ticket only or add on a Park Hopper option. With the base ticket, you can visit a single park per day. With the Park Hopper option, you can visit any combination of the four theme parks each day.

Get Ready to WALK
The Disney World website lets you download customized park maps before you leave home. Prepare for the miles of walking you’ll be doing at the parks and bond with your family at the same time by “training” for Disney World with daily walks.

Create a Must-Do List
Avoid cries of “Why do we always do what he wants?” by creating a list of each family member’s must-dos. You don’t have to see and do everything; if you do, you’ll probably be so exhausted you won’t enjoy the trip.

Consider spending more than one day at a favorite park and leaving other parks for a future visit. Since dining at theme park restaurants requires park admission, knowing which park you’ll be visiting each day will help you make dining reservations.

Make Advanced Dining Reservations
At Disney World, you can eat breakfast with princesses, watch sci-fi flicks in a ‘50s drive-in during lunch, and enjoy an evening at a Polynesian luau. Selecting the Disney dining options that are best for your family will make your trip one to remember. To ensure a table at your preferred restaurants, making Advance Dining Reservations is a must! Book online or call 407-WDW-DINE up to 180 days in advance. Popular meals fill up quickly!

Consider the Disney Dining Plans
Look into the Disney Dining Plans which allow guests to purchase credits for meals at a discounted rate. Whether quick or table service meals are your pleasure, Disney has a dining plan available. Crunch the numbers – a dining plan is not for every family.

Dine In
Consider having groceries, especially beverages, delivered to your Disney hotel room from a local grocery store. You can even ship items to the hotel, which can store items until you arrive from companies such as JetSetBabies and Babies Travel Lite. Refrigerators are available by request in all Walt Disney World lodging.

Use Magic Hours
Disney offers guests staying on-site a perk called Extra Magic Hours. Each day, one of the theme parks either opens an hour early or has extended evening hours. Disney posts a calendar of these hours about six months in advance.

Avoid Ride Overload
Mix things up by taking in an indoor show, visiting a playground, or having a light snack after enjoying a couple of rides to prevent attraction overload.

Use a FASTPASS
Using Disney’s FASTPASS system is an absolute must. Pick up a FASTPASS and return to the attraction during the designated timeframe to bypass the regular line. Before your trip, research which attractions offer FASTPASS to make the most of your time at the parks.

Make Time for Play Time
Mini golf. Outdoor movies. Sing-a-longs. Princess or pirate makeovers. Boating. Afternoon teas. All of these recreational activities and more are available at Walt Disney World. Though some of these distinctively Disney activities are costly, many are free or low-cost. Don’t overlook the exceptional afternoon parades or the awesome nightly fireworks shows.

Prepare for Special Needs
Disney goes out of its way to make every guest comfortable. If you have little ones, read up on stroller rentals, childcare options, and Disney’s Baby Care Centers. Disney’s policies make sure guests with food allergies or dietary restrictions can dine safely and enjoyably. From Electronic Convenience Vehicle (ECV) rentals and assisted listening or video captioning devices, to attractions that accommodate guests with differing mobility and more, Disney World is accessible to guests with special needs.

Get Your Questions Answered
For answers to specific questions, check out Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Between them, these moms and dads have experienced all aspects of Disney World and enjoy nothing more than passing their extensive knowledge on to others.

Win a Copy of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers
Enter to win one of two copies of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. Retail value is $15.99. One book will be awarded to an attendee of the 2010 Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World. A second book will be awarded to any Travel Mamas reader. The winner will be contacted via email. Lisa M. Battista will provide the prizes to the winners. The contest ends on Friday, January 29, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected using RANDOM.org and will be announced on TravelMamas.com the following Monday. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

You can enter twice, using each method of entry below once:

1) Make any post-related comment below. All generic comments like, “Thanks for the contest” or “I want to win” will not count as entries. Everyone is welcome to enter! If you are a Disney Social Media Mom, be sure to mention that in your comment!

2) Tweet this contest! Copy and paste the following phrase into Twitter. Be sure to post another comment with a link to your tweet!
Win “Beyond the Attractions” – a Disney World guidebook by @DisneyExplorer http://bit.ly/7DdZA0 on @TravelMamas #DisneySMMoms

Travel Mamas Guest Blogger Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. As a mom of three and frequent Walt Disney World Resort visitor, Lisa is continually searching for new ways to enhance the magic of Walt Disney World trips with children. You can buy her book at Amazon.com or BeyondTheAttractions.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter at @DisneyExplorer for updates about the Walt Disney World Resort.

For more information on this topic see:

• Amusement Park & Disney Resources

• Holidays at Disneyland

• PassPorter’s Top Tips for Doing Disney with Children

• Top 10 Disneyland Attractions for Babies & Toddlers

A note from Colleen Lanin, Creator and Editor of Travel Mamas: I will be attending the Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World in February 2010 along with other blogging moms and dads. The cost to attend this three-day event is $350, which includes conference attendance, lodging for four, some meals, and Park Hopper tickets.

Additionally, I received a copy of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers from Lisa M. Battista. I found it so useful in planning my upcoming trip that I asked her to write this guest blog post. I will be bringing my highlighted, dog-eared copy with me to Orlando!

Orlando Vacations

Tags: Disney Social Media Mom Celebration, disney world, preschoolers, restaurants, special needs
Posted in Family Vacations, Giveaways, Theme Parks, Travel Tips | 38 Comments »