Scouts can build their own theme park ride! Visit Epcots Innovention building and stop by Sum of All Thrills. This is where scouts and their ride partners will take a turn in the Designer Lab creating their one-of-a-kind ride experience. Using an interactive touchscreen design panel, …
Have you heard? Timon and Pumbaa are Wild About Safety. Safety is part of their problem-free philosophy and they want it to be part of yours too. Safety is an important part of the Scouting experience. The best way to stay safe in the outdoors is to …
Cub Scout Cooking & Nutrition During your Walt Disney World vacation, your scout will have the opportunity to practice his cooking & nutrition skills as you plan for your vacation, while traveling to WDW, dining at the restaurants, and visiting the parks. Throughout the Cub Scout ranks, …
DISNEY HOMESCHOOLING Recently a mom in our Facebook group asked other homeschoolers to share their best tips for studying about Walt Disney World Resorts & Parks before and during a family vacation. Here’s what they shared: At time of publication, links to outside pages were quickly …
Certainly, the way to Disney is filled with anticipation and excitement. My son has always been a wonderful passenger. Even with his pleasant temperament, we were pretty strategic in our travel plans.
Is it almost time to pack up the car and start your magical vacation?
My family and I have driven to Walt Disney World several times over the past few years. A 16+ hour drive from New Jersey is part of the fun . . . right?
Well, it should be! Here are a few driving tips to help your family enjoy (ahem, survive) your journey in the car.
Map your route & tentatively plan your time in the vehicle.
add your starting and ending location addresses into your GSP / MAP app
have ‘backup’ directions, just in case you travel through an area with little or no connectivity to your electronic mapping program
consider midnight or really early am start – traveling during “sleep time” will help pass some of the hours for the kiddos. BE SURE to know your own travel style and only drive when you are refreshed and awake to keep your family safe. Just know that the first couple of hours may be exciting and they may have trouble getting to sleep.
keep your schedule flexible for planned and unplanned stops…restrooms, leg stretching and Krispy Kreme doughnuts are all really good excuses for a quick pitstop.
Organize your car.
with snacks, a small cooler, pillows, and things to pass the time: audiobooks, Disney podcasts, movies, and non-electronic choices too: coloring books, word games (I Spy, license plate game, etc)
a photo at a Florida signpost (located safely inside most rest stops) may become a tradition!
Keep your Magic Bands handy!
Remember – keep your Magic Bands with you. Do not pack your Magic Bands in your checked luggage, as they will be used at the resort parking lot security gate, to check in at your resort and to unlock your room when you arrive at your Disney Resort hotel.
Driving in Florida
Be prepared for the toll roads. Major roads around the Walt Disney World / Lake Buena Vista area, Interstate 4, Highways 192, 417, and 492, all require tolls.
Visit SunPass.com for more information, including details on preordering or purchasing SunPass Transponders locally.
Driving Home Tips
Make plans for your next Disney vacation…no matter if it will be one year or ten years before you return to Disney…planning your next trip is part of reliving the magic!
Which rides & attractions are on your “must-do again” list?
What things do you want to add to your vacation schedule next time?
Make plans for your next non-Disney vacation. What are your Bucket List vacation spots?
Tip: You can always talk about the countries you have already visited during your day at Epcot.
Save one last surprise treat for the trip home…tuck away one last souvenir or touch of pixie dust to make the journey home magical
Tip: if you have leftover snack credits, use them for Mickey-shaped Krispy treats that travel well.
Start reliving the memories by scrapbooking in the car. My favorite way to scrap is on the ProjectLife digital app. If most of your photos are already on your smartphone, this is an easy way to start what could be an overwhelming project. Add the digital prints (available directly in the app) to your traditional scrapbooks or print an album just for the kiddos.
Of course, I’ll be here, ready to help you plan your next vacation!
Spending the day at Epcot is fun for older and younger guests alike! Epcot is a wonderful place for your family to find rides, attractions, and plenty of fun with the Characters. Character Dining There are two character dining locations in Epcot. Both have characters …
Don’t even think of skipping Epcot because you think it’s not for little kids! There is lots of fun to be had for younger guests. Beyond rides, there are many attractions which are just perfect for your little ones to enjoy at Epcot! Other Attractions …
Have you heard this before? “Epcot is just for older kids and adults.”
It’s a popular misconception among parents of young children, but I couldn’t disagree more!
Many parents of young children are worried that their kids will not enjoy Epcot as much as the other theme parks.
While it’s true that Epcot does have a lot of experiences that make it appealing for adults and older kids, it would be a mistake to assume that little ones won’t enjoy their day here as well.
Rides
One of the reasons many parents think Epcot won’t be as enjoyable for younger kids is that there aren’t as many rides in this park as there are in the Magic Kingdom. Many attractions are just perfect for your little ones to enjoy at Epcot!
Here are some of the top attractions for younger guests:
Spaceship Earth, the giant geosphere that dominates the entrance to the park, is a slow-moving ride that takes you through scenes showing how communication has developed over time. It’s dark, cool, and calming… a perfect mid-day break for little ones who need a rest. It’s also an ideal ride for nursing moms who want a relaxed and private place to feed the baby!
The Seas with Nemo and Friends is always a favorite for the younger crowd! Board a clamshell for this slow-moving ride following Nemo along on his under-seas adventures. You’ll see favorite characters from the movies as well as real-life sea creatures from the Living Seas exhibit.
Frozen Ever After is Epcot’s newest ride. Any young Frozen fans will love this boat ride to Arendelle featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and other characters from the movie. They’ll enjoy seeing Elsa use her magical powers to make it snow during the hottest part of the year. Given the popularity of the film, this attraction can have exceptionally long lines so be sure to grab a FastPass+ reservation if you’ve got a little Frozen fan!
Soarin’ Around the World has a 40” height requirement, but for those who are tall enough, it’s not to be missed! This simulated motion ride feels like you are flying over scenic locations from all around the world. It’s important to note that the ride does lift you fairly high off the ground (you are securely buckled into a seat with armrests and a high back) so it may be frightening for children with a fear of heights. Soarin’ is one of the parks more popular attractions so plan to use a FastPass+ reservation or expect an extended wait in line.
Test Track also has a 40” height requirement, but this mild thrill ride is a favorite of lots of kids. You’ll have a chance to design your own virtual car and then see how it would fare in the different maneuverability challenges as your ride vehicle goes through them too. You’ll go over bumpy pavement, quick stops, turns, and then the highlight of the ride is a zip around the building in a banked turn at about 60 mph. Kids can be seated next to Mom and Dad and are, of course, securely buckled in. It’s a great introductory thrill ride!
Remember, it’s not all about the rides!
There’s a lot more younger kids are sure to enjoy.
For most people, a Walt Disney World vacation conjures up images of strolling down Main Street USA pushing a stroller, or holding the hand of a young child decked out in clothing featuring their favorite character. You think of riding Dumbo with your toddler or …