A Walt Disney World Survival Guide!

Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Orlando, Florida, USA

A Walt Disney World Survival Guide!

Get some Disney 'insider info' from Simon and Susan Veness - who live just 5 minutes away from Disney World, Florida!

Photo Credit: Photoshot

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Get some Disney 'insider info' from Simon and Susan Veness - who live just 5 minutes away from Disney World, Florida!

By Simon and Susan Veness

The vast Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is the world's favourite holiday playground. But, at 47 square miles, it can also be a tough proposition with its dazzling but bewildering array of four theme parks, two water parks, a big shopping and entertainment district, sports, elaborate hotels and more besides.

To get the most out of any visit here you need a 10-Point Plan to ensure you can (almost) Do It All, and live to tell the tale! So let's get started....

1. Do your homework

It sounds silly, but you should read as much as possible to know what you're getting into. Many people think they can walk from park to park but that is simply not on; the huge scale of Disney World is mind-boggling, as are the crowds at peak periods.

2. Know your parks

The four main theme parks are: the essential fantasy of the Magic Kingdom; the exploration and world journey of Epcot; the film-based Disney's Hollywood Studios; and the epic adventure of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Each needs at least one full day to see, even at quiet times.

Epcot Centre, Disney World, Florida

3. Make an itinerary

It doesn't have to be complicated and you don't need to stick rigidly to it, but a basic plan of what to do on each day of your holiday is an essential aid to Disney survival. Give yourself a break every few days - by your resort or villa pool, at the shops or at a water park - to relax.

4. Wear comfy shoes

You will walk a lot, queue a lot and stand a lot. This is NOT the time to break in new trainers!

5. Arrive early

You will be ahead of the worst of the crowds if you get to each park around 30 minutes before the 9am opening time. Take a break in mid-afternoon if necessary and then return for the evening entertainment.

Arrive early to avoid the queues!

→ Next Page: How to skip big queues!

6. Avoid main meal-times

From noon-1.30pm and 5.30-7pm, the restaurants are packed. Try to eat outside these times to avoid more queues; better still, visit a Guest Relations office to book a nice sit-down restaurant in advance at a time to suit you.

7. Use Disney's FastPass system

Many of the top attractions have a system whereby you get a ticket to return at a certain time to ride with only minimal queuing. Look out for these around all 4 parks, as they are free to use and many people overlook them.

8. Ride early, sit late

Try to do most of the big rides early in the day before the queues build up. Save the shows for the hotter parts of the day, so you get a sit-down in air-conditioned comfort when you need it most.

A 'Cinderellabration' performance takes place in Disney World, Florida

9. Drink lots of water

All that walking in the hot Florida sun also takes its toll in terms of dehydration. Disney provides lots of drinking fountains and you need to stop here regularly. Or just take a water bottle and refill it at intervals.

10. Be early on parade

Each park features a signature parade or night-time spectacular, but you need to stake out a good viewing spot for these up to an hour in advance.

A brass band perform on Main Street

Finally, don't rush it. It's tempting to try to dash from attraction to attraction to ensure you ‘do it all,' but Disney parks truly reward those who plan, take their time and stop from time to time to appreciate all the amazing artistry there is to see as well as do. Stick to our 10-Point Plan and you'll come home in great shape after a genuine ‘holiday of a lifetime.'

Simon and Susan Veness live in Orlando and are acknowledged as Britain's foremost experts on Orlando and Central Florida through their guidebook ‘A Brit Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World' and website www.askdaisy.net/orlando.

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Getting There:

Holidays to Florida can be booked through Sky Travel in association with Cosmos Holidays, just head to the web site and select destination USA (Florida)

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Multi-centre holidays in Florida are popular, these can be booked through the Sky Travel in assocuation with Premier Holidays web site.

→ Book a multi-centre Florida holiday

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