DH,DS 10, DS 7, and I have been to WDW twice during these times and are planning again for July 2005. The parks are crowded and the weather is hot, but there are ways to make your trip great.
1. Stay at a disney hotel. This allows you to take advantage of early entry(EE). We go to the EE park, stay until lunch then go back to hotel for a swim or nap. We then go to another park in the late afternoon/ evening. We switch parks because the EE park usually stays
crowded all day.
2. Use Fastpass(FP). The most popular attractions are crowded most of the day. If you use FP you could see a less crowded attraction while waiting for your FP return time, thus eliminating wasted time.
3. PLAN,PLAN,PLAN. Use this board as well as others to get as many tips as you can. I read this board every day for 9 months before our second trip with the kids (DH & I had been to WDW many times before they were born) and what a differance it made! I also bought a passporter book and read other travel books. We knew what attractions were MUST DOs, LIKE TO DOs and CAN SKIP.
4. REST,REST, REST. Plan to take plenty of breaks throught the day. See indoor attractions during the heat of the afternoon, leave outdoor, uncovered attractions for early morning or evening. Go back to the hotel to recharge yourself by napping or swimming. Remember the parks stay open later during the summer months so taking a break in the middle of the day is essential with kids.
5. Realize that there won't be enough time to see and do everything. WDW has soooooooo much, even if you were touring 24/7 for a week , you would only see a fraction of what THE WORLD has to offer.
6. ENJOY. Remember that this is your family's vacation. Don't stress out. Take the cues from your kids. If they are acting out or crying, they need a break. And going in the summertime, you need many breaks. Find a cool spot, get a cold drink and sit and enjoy whats around you. Sometimes, these moments are the one's to cherish.
Good Luck!
Debbie
