Walt Disney World Vacation Field Guides books for families and kids

As much as my family loves Disney World and as often as we've been there, I have never experienced Disney World with an adventurer or explorer's mind. Now that I have two excellent books by Tracie A. Cook, though, my family's next vacation in Disney World is going to be more interesting and exciting!

Cook, a former teacher and perennial Disney enthusiast, has written Walt Disney World Adventure: A Field Guide and Activity Book for Explorers and Kid Tips for Walt Disney World: Touring Advice by Kids for Kids.

Walt Disney World Adventure is a unique guide book to the four theme parks because it also includes educational learning activities for kids. Try decoding the hieroglyphic secret message related to Epcot's Spaceship Earth ride, the Animal Kingdom Kali River Rapids fractions, a Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion addition problem chart or the Hollywood Studios Studio Backlot Tour crossword puzzle. There are fun facts and tips for each attraction or ride. (Did you know that in the Germany pavilion in Epcot, the statue there depicts Saint George on a horse, slaying a dragon -- because almost every German village has such a statue?)

Although my two- and four-year-old boys are too young for many of the book's activities, we can do some of them together as a family. I like the list of ideas to choose from for making our visit more environmentally friendly, the "scavenger hunt" for pictures to spot while walking around Fantasyland and Adventureland, and the challenge to list animals that are in the following four categories: spots or stripes, migrate, water and herds. My family can also use all the good tips throughout the book, like which lines are shorter, where to sit for certain attractions and what kids typically enjoy about each attraction.

Kid Tips for Walt Disney World is another great resource for families because it's full of tips from a kid's point of view -- it's written by kids. Boys and girls 7-15 tell it like it is for not only theme park attractions, but also the Disney water parks, resorts, character meals and more. Kids who are old enough to read well should enjoy this book to prepare for an upcoming vacation, while parents and group chaperones can use this guide to know what will be the most fun.

Some sample kid tips:

- Go on a Kim Possible mission the Epcot World Showcase to hunt down bad guys!

- Stitch's Great Escape in the Magic Kingdom might be scary to some little kids.

- Take time to watch the Hollywood Studios street performers -- they are fun and sometimes make kids part of the show!

- Visit the water parks while it's raining to avoid crowds.

- Get a Hidden Mickey sheet from the front desk at the Polynesian Resort.

Kids give other great general tips about visiting Disney World.

For families looking to get more out of a Disney World trip than just time spent standing in line, a sunburn and some family photos, Walt Disney World Adventure and Kid Tips are good resources to have.

Vacation Field Guides provided me these two books for review. Opinions and silliness are my own.

My preschooler's 9 trips to Disney World

On my family's most recent trip to Disney World a couple weeks ago, I found myself thinking my oldest son had now been to Disney 10 times.

And I was a little shocked. So I started thinking about that.

He is four and a half, so that averages out to be about two times per year. Going to Disney World twice a year doesn't really sound that impossible. Disney World is a three-hour drive from our home ... our boys don't like to sit still for long trips ... Disney is a kid-friendly place to go ... we get Florida resident, seasonal pass holder and Disney Visa card member discounts.

Does it sound less outrageous now? I hope so.

My preschooler's first trip to Disney World was when he was 15 months old. He discovered the splash pad at the now-defunct Pooh's Playful Spot in Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom:



I had to buy him a new outfit in the gift shop across the way at the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride because my boy was soaked through, and it turned out to be a cool evening.

My family liked going so much that we decided to make it an annual holiday-time trip. We love Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!

So we went back the next holiday season (when he was two years old), and I was pregnant with his little brother. It was cold, but we waited for the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party parade to begin:



...And the next holiday season, after my big boy had stopped being afraid of costumed characters (and was now a big brother):



We returned a few months later, and we always, always have to ride the train at the Magic Kingdom:



We went back again in the spring, when he was three and a half:



(That trip would be my baby's third trip to Disney World before he turned one year old!)

My family returned to Disney World for our annual holiday pilgrimage last year. This time, my preschooler got a special certificate from the engineers for the Animal Kingdom Wildlife Express train:



And he was wearing the same train shirt the next month (this past January) at Epcot:



This past May, my family visited with the hope of meeting up with some of the moms who got into the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. My boy was fearless in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area in Hollywood Studios:



And we visited the Magic Kingdom a couple weeks ago for one day because we happened to be in town. Here's my boy on the It's a Small World ride:



I don't know when my family will go back to Disney World. We will likely keep our holiday-time vacation tradition, but we might visit before then (maybe around my son's fifth birthday?). Whenever that 10th visit mark is, though, I know it will be just as magical as the first visit!

Cars 2

...Two days until the premier of Cars 2! I saw this huge Cars 2 poster in Downtown Disney when my family was there a couple weeks ago. (My husband would call it gigananormous.)

From Kung Fu Panda 2, to Mr. Popper's Penguins (which I took my boys to see when it opened on Friday!), Cars 2 and Winnie the Pooh and others, there are a lot of kid-oriented movies this summer. Which do you want to see?

SeaWorld's Aquatica is the best waterpark for kids!

Crazy confession: There are fewer things I love more than waterslides. (Yes, I'm 11 years old on the inside.) I could live at a waterpark, and I think my favorite waterpark is Aquatica -- at least this point in my life -- because of all the major waterparks in Florida, I think Aquatica has the most for little kids.

My family and some friends went to Aquatica last week. It was the second time my husband and preschooler had gone. The first time, I was eight months pregnant with my baby -- so no waterslides for me. We loved the South Pacific theme of the park and the variety of places to get something to eat. So this time, I couldn't wait to hand off the kids to my husband (who doesn't do waterslides) for a short while so I could try out all of Aquatica's fun waterslides like Dolphin Plunge (where a clear tube slide sends you through a pool where Commerson's dolphins play) and Omaka Rocka (a fast tube and tunnel slide).

Somehow, it just didn't work out that way. Sniff sniff....

Together with our friends, however, my family did have fun floating down Loggerhead Lane, a lazy river.





All the kids love Walkabout Waters!



I couldn't even fit the whole water play structure in the picture. (And don't you love waterproof camera water spots!)



Kata's Kooaburra Cove was the perfect place to play with my toddler, who was eager to go down the "baby" slides.





My preschooler loved Kata's Kookaburra Cove too.



Another fun thing about Aquatica is you can learn about wildlife, like the macaws and Commerson's dolphins.



My family and friends had a great time at Aquatica. One of these days when I visit, I will actually go down the big waterslides. One of these days....

Cheetah Hunt, Busch Gardens' newest roller coaster, opens today!

Cheetahs will be big this summer with today's opening of Busch Gardens' newest roller coaster, Cheetah Hunt and real cheetah attraction, Cheetah Run. Sure wish I was there today to ride it! I hope I can take my family this summer (and sneak in a ride, because my boys are too little and my husband is not a coaster fan!).

Cheetahs are the fastest land animal, and that's what inspired the new coaster. Cheetah Hunt uses repelling magnets to go up to 60 miles per hour! Riders go up the 102-foot Windcatcher Tower, down into four underground trenches, over Busch Gardens’ Skyride, around a whitewater canyon and through a roll inversion.

The new ride is the longest coaster at Busch Gardens (in Tampa) at 4,429 feet, covering 13 acres. It also has a shorter height requirement (48 inches) than the park's other large coasters. So, it should be a memorable experience for families. Or moms seeking a thrill ride apart from their families. [cough cough]

The other part of the new attraction is Cheetah Run, where 14 cheetahs are at home in a habitat that looks like ancient temple ruins. Several times a day, lures will attract the cheetahs and urge them to sprint, showing off their speed and agility. Large glass windows let park visitors see the cheetahs up close. Wouldn't you love to come face to face with this furry speedster?

More importantly, videos and touch-screen stations teach about the cheetah's drop in population and how Busch Gardens’ partnership with the Cheetah Conservation Fund is helping the cats. So it's not all screams and oohs and ahhs.

If you have little kids like mine, they can ride the Air Grover coaster that's in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area in Busch Gardens. Kids as short as 38 inches tall can ride with an adult. And before you know it, they'll be lining up to go on Cheetah Run!

SeaWorld sea star

My family saw this beautiful sea star (starfish) at SeaWorld Orlando last year.

Where can young children get out and play in Disney World?

My family loves going to Disney World, but one of the "gotchas" about taking very young children is that it's too busy and crowded to let them walk on their own -- they get trampled (I've seen it happen!) or worse, they can get lost. That's why when we were in the Magic Kingdom, we made it a point to visit Pooh's Playful Spot in Fantasyland:



and the play area in Mickey's Toontown Fair, where the little ones could safely run around, go down slides and make new friends.



However, both of these play areas have closed as Disney World expands Fantasyland.

Cue sad face.

Going around the theme parks, it's not fun for a toddler or young preschooler to go from carrier to stroller to high chair to lap -- without ever getting a chance to release some energy, run around and play. In my experience, a kid who doesn't get physical activity during the day is a cranky kid who has a hard time falling asleep at night. And all parents know that isn't part of the recipe for a fun vacation.

However, my kids still get to enjoy physical play at these spots around the Magic Kingdom:

1. Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland is a great place for kids of all ages to stretch their legs. The ground is uneven in some places, and there are stairs, so wobbly toddlers will need some help. However, there are bridges, tunnels and pretty views on the island (you take a pontoon "raft" across the river near Splash Mountain), so it's really fun to explore. My four-year-old loved the bridge made out of barrels and walked across it several times. He also loved the fort. My one-year-old couldn't walk across the barrel bridge but enjoyed the challenge of the stairs that are placed throughout the island.



2. There is a small playground under the train station in Frontierland where kids play. You have to walk under the train station to get to Splash Mountain, and the play area has a Splash Mountain Brer Rabbit theme to it. It's not very big, but it's in the shade. Score!

3. In Tomorrowland, the stage area (on the far side, near the railroad tracks) is often where characters will come out and start a dance party. If your kids like to get their groove on, just follow the music. Check the weekly schedule, available at your resort or near the entrance of each theme park, for times and locations of character appearances.

4. If your child is good with stairs, definitely climb up the Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland. The stairs are narrow, really allowing only single file, and are well-contained, so you don't have to worry about your child falling from the top of the tree. Once you've exerted yourself with climbing up, the stairs then lead you back down. It's so fun, your family might want to go back a second time!

There are places for little ones to play in the other Disney World theme parks too. We like the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area in Hollywood Studios:



The Affection Section petting zoo area in Conservation Station, Animal Kingdom, is a place where kids can walk around and touch goats, sheep and other animals:



The Boneyard, where kids can play in the sand and pretend to be paleontologists uncovering fossils, is another choice at Animal Kingdom.

All Disney World resorts have playgrounds in addition to their spectacular pools, like this one at the French Quarter (notice the Mardi Gras colors -- Disney thinks of everything!):



so families can let kids get the wiggles out.

It's fun to experience the magic of Disney World with little ones, who definitely have more fun when they get the chance to get out of the stroller and play. It makes for a better overall family vacation.

Disneyphiles, what are other safe places for young children to play?

Disney World things I've never done

There are plenty of lists of top "must-dos" at Disney World. And in the almost two dozen or so times I've been to Disney World, I have seen and done a lot. My husband thinks we've already done everything there is to do, but I know there is plenty we haven't tried, or seen, or experienced.

We're headed back to Disney World in a couple weeks, the same time as the Disney Social Media Moms conference. I couldn't get into the conference even though I tried for two hours to register -- while my family was in Disney World celebrating my birthday, no less -- but I'm hoping to meet up with some bloggy peeps. So I started wondering what attractions I hadn't ever done....

Magic Kingdom

Astro Orbiter. This is the spinning rocket ride high above Tomorrowland. It's like Dumbo, only waaaay up high. Waaaay up. Yeah.

Mad Tea Party. I'm pretty sure I'd love it, but no one I'm with ever wants to spin around in the teacups. My husband in particular has an aversion to spinning.

Liberty Square Riverboat. Maybe, I don't know? ... it just doesn't seem as exciting? I think my family will try to get on the boat next time we visit, though.

Stitch's Great Escape. This used to be the freaky Alien Encounter, which I did several times, mainly with my brother while growing up. But my family hasn't seen any Stitch movies, and I don't think my little ones are ready for this yet.

Epcot

Mission: Space. I don't have a good reason for not going on this ride. Just one of those things.

Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest. Roller coaster fans who never have anyone to ride with, raise your hand! This is my situation. The moment my oldest is tall enough to ride and develops an interest in thrill rides, I am so on this coaster!

Dinosaur, Fossil Fun Games, Primeval Whirl, The Boneyard, Triceratop Spin. I am not really into dinosaurs, so I just don't have an interest in these attractions. The Boneyard (where kids can dig in the sand to uncover (fossils) looks cute, but my preschooler has a tendency to throw sand, so we're going to stay away from it for now.

Kali River Rapids. All I know is the people who come off this ride are drenched. Getting soaking wet, then walking around a theme park doesn't sound like my idea of a fun day!

Hollywood Studios

The Magic of Disney Animation. Just one of those things I never got around to.

Journey Into Narnia. I'm not sure if this is new, but I didn't even know this existed until recently!

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. See above about roller coasters. Sigh.

Toy Story Mania. Every time my family has tried to see this ride, there has been a 70-minute-plus wait. Not gonna happen with a preschooler and a baby. If only my family could get to the park early enough to get a Fast Pass....

The American Idol Experience. I like to sing, but I'm too old for AI. And I guess my family would just rather do other things than watch other people sing.

Downtown Disney

Cirque du Soleil. Some day. When the kids are older and can appreciate how awesome the performers are.

Characters in Flight in Downtown Disney. The past four times (four times!) my family has visited Disney World, I have been dying to go on this stationary hot air balloon ride. I just never make it. Maybe our upcoming trip, I'll finally get the chance.

Miscellaneous

I've been to the water parks and even the race track. I've gone to the Sunday Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney and am making my way around all the resorts so I can say I've stayed in all of them. But I've never done mini golf. Regular golf. The sports arena. The Magic Kingdom Main Street trolley. Various live shows.

As a person who practically grew up going to Disney World (with my first visit being back when the Contemporary Resort was the only hotel -- when you had to buy individual tickets for the different rides -- yeah, I'm old) and who has taken her little ones several times, I think this just shows you that there's always something new to try (or maybe rediscover) at Disney World.

How to go to Disney World for $158

My family is going to Disney World next month, and all we're spending for the weekend is $158 for the resort hotel room for all three nights, plus whatever food we eat.

Last year when we went to Disney, we bought the Florida resident seasonal pass because it was about the same price as the four-day pass or whatever it was we were considering buying at the time. The seasonal pass lets you go to any of the four theme parks any time except for their blackout dates, which are times we wouldn't go anyway (spring break, the dead of summer and the last two weeks of the year). We also used our seasonal passes last month for a quick weekend trip, so they have really already paid for themselves, so to speak.

Well, it turns out that not only do seasonal and annual passholders get discounts at Disney gift shops and restaurants, but also occasional deals like the one Disney just e-mailed me about: 40% off a Disney resort room. So I reserved a room at one of the moderate resorts for $139 a night and had to pay $158 to secure the room.

But!

I also have the Disney Visa, which gives me reward points. You can also use Disney rewards dollars to buy things at Disney stores, the Disney site and many other Disney places. I got $200 just for signing up and getting the card. I use the card when I pay for anything, then pay off the bill at the end of the month. I recently redeemed 300 points, which means $300, and I can use that to pay for the rest of the hotel room (minus a few dollars for taxes, I think).

And then it's just a three-hour drive from our home.

This is going to be the cheapest trip I think my family has ever taken!

10 best Magic Kingdom attractions to do with a baby

The first time my husband and I took a child to Disney World, our first son was 14 months old. And because Disney World is such a kid-friendly place to take a vacation, we have been back several times -- including three times before our second son (who came with us) was a year old.

Many people will debate the best age to take a child to Disney World, but even if you go at that perfect age (whatever it is), s/he might have a younger sibling who's a baby -- like our family. Some people think taking a baby to Disney World is great because babies (some of them!) tend to sleep a lot and go with the flow of whatever you're doing. And everyone under age 3 gets in free!

In any case, if you are taking a baby to Disney World's Magic Kingdom, consider these the top sights where it's easy to take a baby. You may not get to do 10 things in one day -- and that's fine! On our first trips with a baby, my husband and I found that we could do about three attractions in Disney World before it was time for a meal or a nap. Put your baby's needs first so s/he will be happy in the Happiest Place on Earth, and that will mean you'll enjoy your time in the park too.

1. Jungle Cruise (Adventureland). Hold your baby on your lap for this slow-moving cruise featuring the best corny jokes and puns.

2. Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland). If your baby doesn't mind the dark, this ride is OK. There's a short slide down once you're in the "boat," but otherwise, this is a mild ride.

3. Country Bear Jamboree (Frontierland). Singing animatronic bears? Your baby will probably love them.

4. It's a Small World (Fantasyland). This has to be the ultimate attraction for babies. For toddlers. For preschoolers. Heck, even my boys' grandma says this is her favorite ride!

5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Fantasyland). Pooh Bear is great for babies, and this is a mild ride -- a little wiggly and bumpy at times, but nothing a baby can't handle. The waiting line area has recently been revamped to be more interactive and fun.

6. Prince Charming Regal Carousel (Fantasyland). If you can find a seat on the carousel or if you can sit your baby up on a horse, this is a great, classic ride.

7. Minnie and Mickey's Country Houses (Mickey's Toontown Fair). Walk your baby through Mickey's and Minnie's houses. Point out what you see!

8. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (Tomorrowland). This is another gentle ride, an open "car" on a conveyor belt that goes inside and outside. You get a tour of Tomorrowland from up high, and you can stay on if it's not busy -- maybe this one will put your baby to sleep!

9. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (Tomorrowland). This is more for you as parents because it's all about the jokes. Enjoy the "stand-up" while you and your baby enjoy sitting down.

10. Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street). Like the carousel, this is a simple, classic ride. It will take you all the way around the Magic Kingdom, with stops at Main Street, Frontierland and Mickey's Toontown Fair. You can stay on the train as long as you like! Be warned, it's not easy to take your stroller with you on this ride, so you might consider parking it and coming back to it.

Speaking of strollers, look for stroller parking areas for most of these attractions, and carry your baby in your arms or in a wrap or sling for the ride or event.

Is there an attraction you want to go on that's not good for your baby? You should know about the Rider Swap program. Wait in line while your spouse/partner/friend/relative watches the baby, and then when it's their turn, they don't have to wait in line. Check with a Cast Member at each attraction about if the Rider Swap is available and how to do it.

Your baby may also enjoy the garden areas/landscaping of the Magic Kingdom and shopping on Main Street. My second son didn't like the parades at all because they are loud -- and that scared him. You know your baby's personality best, and that is the best guide of all when choosing what to do at Disney World.

For more tips, check out the Disney World Traveling with Little Ones page.

Fun new additions at Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove

My family lives about a three-hour drive away from the Orlando area where the theme parks are, and they just keep getting better and better, which is great for us!

Case in point: Discovery Cove just announced it's going to add a new addition called the Grand Reef, to open next June.

We haven't been to Discovery Cove yet because my husband and I wanted to make sure our sons were comfortable with swimming (they both just finished an intensive five-day swimming course, and I'm happy to say they can at least swim to the wall of the pool and get out if they have to!), but when we are ready, look out! We are going to be like a family of fish swimming and snorkeling in the amazing reefs there alongside our colorful, exotic gilled cousins. I can't wait to watch the dolphins and sharks and see the beautiful tropical landscaping.

The Grand Reef is going to have an underwater walking tour called SeaVenture. My husband and I saw something like this when we visited St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands five years ago. You put on a helmet with an attached air line, allowing you to breathe normally without needing to know how to SCUBA. It's genius! I imagine SeaVenture is going to be one of the most popular options at Discovery Cove (next to the dolphin encounter, of course!).

Also, when you buy a Discovery Cove ticket, you get admission to sister parks SeaWorld or Aquatica. (Have you seen SeaWorld's new blog?) My family hearts Aquatica.

Speaking of sister parks, Busch Gardens in Tampa (about a 45-minute drive from the Orlando area) also has something new in the works called Cheetah Run and Cheetah Hunt, set to open in the spring.



Cheetah Run will be a new habitat that lets you get close to cheetahs, the fastest land animal on earth! Like some of Busch Gardens' other habitats, there will be elevated, glass-paneled viewing areas where you could be face to face with a cheetah! Trainers will conduct daily sprints with the cheetahs so everyone can see how amazingly fast cheetahs really are.

Cheetah Hunt is (drumroll...) the new roller coaster under construction! If you ask me, Busch Gardens is known for its coasters, and they do them right. Cheetah Hunt will be long -- really long -- more than three-quarters of a mile! And just like the cheetah, it will go fast -- from 0 to 60 miles an hour three times during the ride. It goes up 10 stories, then plunges 130 feet. Gulp!

I'm thinking road trip for my family next spring and summer!

Hand feed a kangaroo at Busch Gardens in Tampa

I've been to zoos that let you hand feed goats and even giraffes, but here's a new one: kangaroos -- at Busch Gardens in Tampa!

Here, and you can discover unique animals that are native to the Land Down Under at the new Walkabout Way, an immersive animal attraction that opened today. You can hand feed kangaroos and wallabies, laugh along with a kookaburra and encounter magpie geese, Australian black swans and other Australian species. A cool part of Walkabout Way is Kangaloom, where you'll find red and grey kangaroos and Bennett’s wallabies. In fact, you might even see wallabies hopping right along the sidewalk!

If you're 5 or older, visit Walkabout Way during daily scheduled feedings, buy a cup of food for $5 and hand feed both kangaroos and wallabies. Check the feeding schedule at the park’s entrance.

Also in Walkabout Way is The Kookaburra’s Nest, a free-flight aviary featuring species native to Australia and other parts of the world. At Aussie Station, guests can have up-close encounters with the park’s animal ambassadors, such as small Australian parrots, a tawny frogmouth, cockatoos and other exotic animals.

SeaWorld Orlando offers $5 children's tickets to help wildlife

If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids -- and help out wildlife at the same time -- just head to SeaWorld in Orlando before the end of the year to take advantage of a new $5 children's ticket price. Now through Dec. 31, 2010, with each full-paid, SeaWorld Orlando single-day, adult admission purchased online, any child age 12 and younger gets a $5 admission, the amount which goes to fund non-profit organizations that are working on wildlife conservation projects. Families even can choose which wildlife conservation effort receives their donation.

A hundred percent of each child’s ticket sold goes to wildlife conservation project of your choice!

Complete details are available at SeaWorldCares.com.

With your discounted tickets, your family can check out SeaWorld AfterDark this summer (May 29-Aug. 15), with a nighttime rock ‘n' roll extravaganza, a high-energy Shamu show, a hilarious sea lion show and a mystifying fireworks finale. That's in addition to being able to experience all that's awesome day and night, like Manta, up-close animal encounters and spectacular shows.