So I’m finally on my way! Heading to Florida to sample the delights of SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Discovery Cove. Excited doesn’t even cover it And the best bit? I’m going with friends (Englishmum, Jo, Laura, Tara and Liz).

I knew we were in for a trip and a half when on arriving at Yotel I found them on a balcony (inside the airport) drinking wine, eating cupcakes, and talking about *cough* things I couldn’t possibly repeat.

Check out my room in Yotel, a hotel where the rooms are cabins and about five foot squared!

Last year I went on a VIP bloggers trip to Disneyworld, Florida. Here are the top tips for parents I picked up during the trip. Feel free to add your own in the comments….

Get Organised

1. Buy tickets in advance, it saves queuing when you get there, same applies for character breakfasts, which may sell out if you don’t book early.

2. Go with an itenerary, it will be invaluable, however basic.

3. Measure your child’s height before you go, that way you’ll know exactly which rides they can go on, you should incorporate this information into your itenerary.

4. Don’t try and do everything, pick parks and attractions that are ideal for the ages of the party and focus on them.

5. Utilise the free maps at the entrance to the parks and the tip boards located around the parks which will advise on wait times.

Getting Around & Beating the Queues

6. Do the opposite to everyonelse to avoid queues and crowds. Start at the back of the park or travel anti-clockwise, except at Epcot’s World Showcase where you should go clockwise!

7. If you can, avoid parks on a Saturday when they are busiest due to locals visiting.

8. Avoid Magic Kingdom on a Monday, most holidaymakers head there at the beginning of their break.

9. Use the complimentary Disney transportation network which includes the monorail, buses and boats.

10. Utilise the fastpass system, always have one valid fastpass at a time to ensure minimum waits.

11. Use the ‘Baby Switch’ service. Parents can take turns on a ride but only queue once. Just ask a cast member.

Health & Safety

13. Don’t forget hats, suncream and comfortable shoes, there’s a lot of walking to be done!

14. If you are staying for a couple of weeks, consider a ‘day on, day off’ routine to give everyone (especially young children) the chance to rest and recuperate. Happy kids = happy parents!

15. Use the baby centres located around the parks, they offer superb changing facilities and lovely rooms to breastfeed, feed toddlers or just take some time out.

Save Money

16. You can hire strollers at Disney World for $15 per day, however if you’re staying for a while a better option may be to pick up a cheap stroller at a nearby supermarket.

17. Pre-order Disney photopass to save $25 and receive free international shipping

18. Share a refillable cup with the whole family, a cup at Typhoon Lagoon is a little more than $10.

19. Take your own snacks to keep you going during the day.

20. Book your stay during a free Disney
Dining period.

21. Visit on your birthday and have your entrance free waived (take proof though!)

More Magic

22. Arrive very early to Magic Kingdom and you may just be asked to open the park! The lucky family gets to ride the train with all the Disney characters.

23. The first person to ask at Tinker Bell?s Treasure?s gets to wave a wand and wake Tinkerbell. They also get a certificate.

24. Sit in the last carriage of the Railroad train and you may get to be the guest conductor.

25. Do the Kidcot stops all around world showcase. Children get a mask to colour and a small symbol from each country to add to their mask, once complete they get a lovely certificate/picture.

26. Photo Pass Tip: Ask for the ‘Tinkerbell Shot’

This morning we headed for a buffet breakfast, I was absolutely starving having been awake blogging since 4.30am so I had pancakes, bacon and maple syrup followed by scrambled eggs, potatoes and more bacon, plus two cups of coffee. Here’s a picture of Erin eating multi-coloured jelly for breakfast, this was after a bowl of rice crispies, melon and a pancake!

Afterwards we went for a long walk down International Drive, on the way back we stopped at the largest McDonalds for a drink, the upstairs has a soft play and an amusement arcade.

We got back and decided to get changed to go to the hotel pool, the news has been threatening record temperatures for this weekend, before we could leave the phone rang, at first I thought it might be the police to arrest us for toll booth evasion, but no, it was just reception letting us know that our ‘Princess’ and ‘Mary Poppins’ packages had arrived from Disney World. Sarah has been at it again this time we received a beach bag full of edible goodies and Erin ripped open her package of tinkerbell album, flashing tiara and princess pen before I could take a photo. Here’s one with her tiara on instead.

After all the excitement I managed to forget to put suncream on my chest and shoulders and am now slightly singed after our swim and sunbathe.

We couldn’t be bothered going far for lunch after our long walk this morning so we nipped next door to KFC where I had the best fast food meal I think I’ve ever had; Honey BBQ Boneless Wings with coleslaw and a ‘biscuit’ which is like a super soft and warm scone, it was amazing. I can see myself needing two seats on the way back or perhaps just one of those beds you get in upper class.

After all that food we headed back to the room, this afternoon’s temperatures are expected to be sky high, according to this website it’s currently 97.6 degrees.

This evening we’re planning to go and see some baby alligators and then we’re going to head to chili’s for dinner, I can’t wait any longer for a strawberry daquiri!

So the flight was fine, Erin was exceptional and loved both the take off and the landing (phew!). Security was a nightmare as always and we were stung for $70 to hire a car seat – you’ve been warned! The real fun began when we got to our car, which the Alamo representative insisted was way to small, it’s actually bigger than our car at home, Americans eh! This was Alex’ first time driving on the right, it was slightly (very) hairy as we tried to navigate our way to I-Drive whilst watching for maniac drivers cutting in on us and poor Alex just about veering into the next door lane, yeah, it was fun, not, and it got worse when we (he) went into the lane for ‘passes’ completely evading a 75 cent toll booth, we’re half expecting the bizzy’s to chap the door any minute, look I’m even spaking like a ‘crim’ now.

By the time we arrived to say we were frazzled was an understatement, a good meal of ribs, chips, salad and chicken wings and tortilla chips….and a multitude of other foodstuffs lifted our spirits.

Erin’s fast asleep, it’s 8.07pm and Alex and I are struggling to stay awake, looking forward to a day hanging about international drive and swimming in the hotel pool, did I mention it’s 31 degrees?