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Thanks to all who responded! Here's the collection. Recommended Books The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger Birnbaum's Walt Disney World: Expert Advice from the Inside Source Recommended Web Sites www.disneyworld.com www.mousesavers.com www.intercot.com www.allearsnet.com http://www.ticketmomma.com/walt-disney-world.htm http://www.wdwinfo.com/ http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1370 http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/parkListing?id=EPAttractionListingPage http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/parkListing?id=MGMAttractionListingPage http://travelwithkids.about.com/b/a/186966.htm http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index?bhcp=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/27O4XCX60A7R0/104-9160489-9487104?%5Fencoding=UTF8 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076156358X/104-9160489-9487104?v=glance&n=283155 http://www.disboards.com/ Tips You might want to look into the dining plan. It is expensive up front, but with older children, you could very easily get your moneys worth. The best place for meal vouchers is Hotwire savings club. I bought my Disney all week passport from Billy Boys, located in Orlando. He has the best prices on 3 to 7 day passes. Plan a character meal, and reserve now! This is the easiest way to see lots of the Disney characters up close (they come to you). The best, and most popular is Chef Mickey at the Contemporary Resort. The food is good (buffet style, all you can eat) and it has the best characters. In October we went to the Grand Floridian breakfast which features Alice in Wonderland characters, Pooh characters, and Goofy. I understand that the afternoon tea with the princesses is very good. Of course if you have boys they may not go for this. Even if you're not staying at the hotel you can park there for free. The gate guard will have your name on a list and you will be able to park. One of the evening events we did was Capone's Dinner Theatre, http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38467.asp For really great info on planning a Disney trip do a web search for DIS boards, join up and start posting questions there. This is a great board for everything disney. Sign up for mouse savers which is a once of month newsletter that will give you suggestions on how to save on your vacation from your hotel choice to your tickets. http://www.mousesavers.com/newsletter.html If you have a fan of princesses in your group, I would recommend the princess breakfast. Blizzard Beach is a must visit with those ages-everyone will enjoy it! Wear water shoes because the walking surfaces can get HOT! Also, waiting in line to purchase tickets is torture in the hot sun. There is a fantastic hands-on science museum also in Orlando the kids will enjoy. Try Wonderworks in Orlando: This upside-down oddity on International Drive (the result of a run in with a tornado, so they say!) contains dozens of interactive games and displays that are fun and educational for the whole family. All areas of the 3-story building are very hands-on and challenge kids both mentally and physically. The design and ride your own rollercoaster gets good reviews, as does the laser tag. http://wonderworks-orlando.visit-orlando-florida.com/ We always get to the parks early and go to the back section of the park. Lots of other visitors will stop at the first things in the front, first things they come to and it will be crowded. If you do the park backwards it is often easier. Don't worry about having big meals in the big restaurants. The small sidewalk type of places have great food and plenty of it so you will save money by doing that. One big meal a day works well, too. Be sure to go to the night time fireworks displays and programs that each park will feature. They are wonderful. You will have to arrive early to get a good place to watch from. The parade in fantasy land is also magical. When you arrive at Epcot, go straight to guest services to book meal reservations. China has a great restaurant! Purchase a Park Hopper pass! Go to Disneyworld.com and check prices of tickets, when you are going, etc. A Park Hopper lets you go to Magic Kingdom in the AM and afternoon and then Epcot for the fireworks later. Plan to spend the WHOLE day every day when you are at the parks. Drink lots of water! Disney MGM is easily done in one day. High points: Tower of Terror and the 3-D Muppet movie. I love the Great Movie Ride. The "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" is also fun. As for Magic Kingdom, you might need 1 1/2 days there. It can be done in a day but no one will be happy. Depending on how long you are visiting, another great day could be spent at the Gaylord Palms. During the summer weekends they have a special program, Best of Florida Live during July and August. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms/things_to_do/FloridaLive.cfm AAA members can get a 10 percent discount on admission tickets, as well as meals and merchandise, at Universal Orlando. My best advice, and everyone always thanks me for giving it, if you are going to Epcot AND the Magic Kingdom...go to Epcot first. It is great, but would be a little bit of a let down to little ones who had just been to the Magic Kingdom. At Animal Kingdom be sure to take the truck safari and ride among the rhinos, elephants, giraffes, etc., and see the Lion King show (the best acrobatics I have EVER seen). In Epcot, be sure to visit the exhibit with Bill Nye and Ellen De Generas about dinosaurs. It is a ride and educational. At Universal the best rides are the HULK and the Spiderman ride (in 3-D) Cecilia Hoff English teacher Westfield HS Chantilly, VA cecilia.hoff@verizon.net -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------