Take
the Grandchildren to Walt Disney World
by: Cara Goldsbury
What
better opportunity to spoil the grandchildren than a trip
to “The Most Magical Place on Earth”. And
spoil them you can with so many things to see and do that
children as well as adults will absolutely love. It’s
a vacation guaranteed to create lasting memories. Here
are some suggestions that will make this very special
trip one to remember for a lifetime:
Book
a Resort with a Great Pool
Kids
love swimming pools, and Disney resorts come with some
of the best. Children’s favorites: the Volcano Pool
at Disney’s Polynesian Resort featuring a smoking
volcano slide, underwater music, and sparkling waterfall,
all with a superb view of the Seven Seas Lagoon; the Wilderness
Lodge’s boulder-lined pool featuring glistening
waterfalls, rocky overlooks, a fun water slide, and nearby
geyser; the eye-popping Stormalong Bay, a mini-water park
complex that meanders between the Yacht and Beach Club,
offering three acres of winding, watery delight including
sandy bottom pools, a giant “shipwreck” waterslide,
tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with
its own slide next to the beach, and enough length to
float lazily in inner tubes to your heart’s delight.
Start
Your Day Together at a Character Breakfast
If
you’re traveling with young children, at least one
or two character meals are a must. These extremely popular
dining spots, offered at both the theme parks and the
Disney resort hotels, are a perfect way for the grandchildren
to spend extra time with their favorite characters. Young
ladies don their favorite Disney princess costumes at
Restaurant Akershus in Epcot’s Norway pavilion to
dine with Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle, while
both boys and girls alike adore the Fantasyland breakfast
offered at the Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella’s
Castle. Just be sure to call 407-WDW-DINE exactly 90 days
prior at 7 a.m. Eastern time to assure yourselves a spot
at these coveted venues.
Head
Over to Ft. Wilderness for a Campfire Sing-along
Gather
'round the campfire each evening at Disney’s Ft.
Wilderness for a sing-along, marshmallow roast, and a
Disney animated movie. It’s complimentary to all
Walt Disney World resort guests.
Start
Your Day Early at the Magic Kingdom
Each
morning one of Disney’s theme parks opens an hour
early only for guests staying at a Disney resort. The
Magic Kingdom’s early open days are Sunday and Thursday,
a perfect opportunity to knock off the children’s
attractions in Fantasyland where waits can sometimes be
extremely lengthy during normal park hours.
Don’t
Miss the Magic Kingdom’s Afternoon Parade and Evening
Fireworks Presentation
The
wonderful Share a Dream Come True parade is Disney’s
best where giant floats topped with rotating globes, twinkling
lights, and live Disney characters are accompanied by
over a hundred walking characters and a medley of classic
Disney songs. And the Jiminy Cricket narrated nighttime
fireworks display is probably the most magical experience
in all of Disney.
Take
a Spin on a WaterMouse Boat
Rent
one of these two-seater mini-power boats for zipping around
one of Disney’s waterways. The grandkids will love
you for it. They’re available at the Contemporary,
Polynesian, Grand Floridian, the Yacht and Beach Club,
Downtown Disney, and the Wilderness Lodge.
Head
to a Water Park for a Splashing Good Time
Disney
has two of the most fantastic water parks imaginable,
Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, each offering their
own brand of wonder. At Blizzard Beach you’ll find
quite a few tame attractions along with wild, rushing
water and death-defying slides. Typhoon Lagoon offers
a whopper of a surf pool. But both have wonderful children’s
areas with smaller versions of the adult attractions.
There are even areas for the adolescent set.
