Mission: Space is sponsored by hp, and actually has nothing to do with NASA. Head to the Kennedy Space Center to see some real kick ass stuff (okay, in the historical sense - nothing like standing underneath an actual Saturn V rocket to give you goosebumps and a sense of awe. Or looking into a capsule for a sense of claustrophobia.
Having said that, a little advice (and please note my location 
):
[ul]
[li] You said family - how old are the kids? Different ages have different tolerances of fun and patience. [/li]
[li] Are they staying on-site or at a nearby hotel (I-Drive, 192. Hotel Plaza Boulevard?) If he is onsite at Disney, he can use the internal transportation, but none of it goes to any of the other (non-Disney) parks, restaurants, dinner theatres, or beaches. Taxi service can get costly, and Lynx (local bus service) is very limited in the Disney area. Also, Rte. 192 is undergoing major construction in several parts. Even a normally placid driver like myself is getting a bit hot under the collar.[/li]
[li] Speaking of hot – it is. (Hel-LO! This IS Florida!!!) It is going to be 85 and sticky today (5/17/04). Get ready for more. June might be a bit cooler than August, but probably not. Both have an equal chance of rain, although August is further into the hurricane season. (So far, we’ve been lucky!) Sunscreen is your friend, as are hats, sunglasses, and requent water breaks.[/li]
[li] Gas prices are going to be higher around the Disney area. Much higher. I’ve seen as much as 30 cents difference between the station near my house, and the stations near Downtown Disney/Lake Buena Vista (Rte. 535).[/li]
[li] With the internal transportation, allow at least an hour for the buses or water taxis. I am not kidding. Not only does it take time to get from one place to another, but you are also in line with many, many other people (especially if you are staying at one of the value resorts (PopCentury, All-Stars, Caribbean Beach). I’ve had to wait for two or three buses by the time I got to the head of the line to board the bus, plus the general traffic in the summer is murder.[/li]
[li] Read several different guidebooks (both the official and the unofficial guides. Then throw out all the books. Most of the information is completely out-of-date by the time the book is published, and I see people walking around with books held together with a rubber band, still touting “20K under the Sea” and the “Ghostbusters” attraction with the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man (both attractions LONG gone!). Call the parks ahead of time to see which attractions are down for seasonal maintenance (“it’s a small world” will be reopening in 2005; it is currently undergoing a MAJOR and MUCH NEEDED overhaul), and please allow for periodic stops on a ride - sometimes (rarely!) will there be a mechanical breakdown, or they may need to load or unload a guest needing special assistance. Of course, it happens when I am on a ride, but ya know, with all of the moving parts on a ride, sometimes grease happens.[/li]
[li] Bring extra socks. Nothing like changing your socks at three in the afternoon. Your feet will love you.[/li]
[li] Buy your film, disposible cameras, and ponchos off-site at Wal*Mart, Target, K-Mart, Publix, etc. Yes, I work at the parks, but I would rather see you spend your hard-earned money on something more memorable.[/li]
[li] Put your name or some mark (flower, smiley) on the disposable cameras. In lost and found, they all look alike.[/li]
[li] Have a picture of your children with you, in case you get separated. Know what they are wearing that day. All of the parks have an excellent BOLO system, and word gets out quickly to all security and management, as well as the employees.[/li]
[li] No, the games are NOT rigged. We have no reason to rig them. They are there for fun and diversion. Yes, they cost money. Yes, we want you to win. The more you win, the less we have to inventory at night.[/li]
[li] If you buy anything (non-perishable items) at any of the parks, have it shipped to the front of the park, or your on-site hotel room. Save yourself from carrying it around all day, having it get wet, lost, dirty or taken (yes, this does happen - surprise, there are bad people in the world, and they also go to the theme parks), or running around at the end of the day trying to remember which gift shop you saw had that really cool t-shirt for Aunt Mabel. Pick it up at the end of the day (allow at least 3 hours delivery for Disney, 2 hours for Universal, dunno, I think it’s three hours for SeaWorld). Allow yourself extra time at the end of the day, since smart people will have used package pick-up (saves you from dealing with a locker or leaving packages with a non-rider).[/li]
[li] Stow all loose articles before getting on a thrill ride. I’m serious. The net underneath “Incredible Hulk” usually has a couple of hats, sunglasses, and wallets by the end of the day. The lockers are there for your convenince.[/li]
[li] Wear comfortable shoes. You are going to be walking on concrete all day and all night, and standing in line for most of it. The parks are NOT the place to break in new shoes you bought just for the vacation.[/li]
[li] Ladies, do NOT wear high heels to the park. I see this with the folks who want to be the latest fashion statement. It’s not pretty watching people wobble on heels, and besides, concrete is murder on stilettos.[/li]
[li] Please DO NOT FORCE A CHILD TO RIDE AN ATTRACTION IF S/HE IS FRIGHTENED OR PETRIFIED!!! Yes, you paid umpteen hundred dollars for the vacation, but coercing, berating, cajoling, teasing or threatening your child is not going to endear you to your child or the people around you. Some of the attractions are very intense (I spent 2.5 hours one morning as a human sandbag for “The Revenge of the Mummy”, and I can tell you, it’s pretty intense. Cool, but intense. Rode it after work the other night, and of the 16 people on the car, most were whooping and hollering (yay! woo! let’s go again!) and one adult was quite shaken and pale). Everybody has his/her own level of tolerance. Besides, remember, your child will likely be the one picking out your retirement home…[/li]
[li] If he is staying on Disney property, he can make dining reservations up to 90 days in advance. All Disney restaurants were totally booked one week in advance of Mother’s Day, and my friend (Disney dining reservations agent) advises calling well ahead for the popular restaurants, especially the character dining. They fill up very quickly.[/li]
[li] Above all, relax. Yes, the parks are crowded (barring unforeseen circumstances), yes, it’s hot, yes, the lines are long, yes, the food is expensive. The parks will be there all day and all night. Take your time. Sit down. Watch people walk by. Pretend you are sitting in an Italian bistro/French cafe/outer space station while you are having your meal or coffee. Relax. It’s only a vacation. Would you rather remember the fun stuff you did, or how much everyone was bitching at each other?. [/li][/ul]
E-mail me off board for more insider stuff. I just ought to write a pamphlet. Actually, I have today off. I just might!
sincerely,
screech “theme park queen” -owl
Bosda - hey, I enjoy EPCOT! There’s lots to do there. And MGM shut down the animation department tour - there went MY gig. :mad:
