Drowning Your Wallet
Dehydration is always risk at the parks, though most still charge an arm and a leg to quench your thirst; you might find yourself paying $2.50 for a bottle of Coke each time someone in your party gets thirsty. My advice: bring your own bottled water and refill it with the cool, fresh water in the fountains located all over the park. (By the way, if you happen to be thirsty at Disney’s EPCOT, head over to the Coca-Cola exhibit called "Ice Station Cool." You won’t be able to get good ole American cola, but you can sample products made for other countries -- for free!)
Have A Child? Swap!
Many of you with small children may dream of taking a vacation to the parks, but shy away simply because you won’t get to do the "big kid" rides. Here's the good news: both Disney and Universal use a "baby swap" program. One parent stands in line for the ride, while the other (with child in hand) waits comfortably in the designated area. Once the first parent is done, the parent-in-waiting walks right on the attraction with no wait. If you’re with a group, your entire party gets to experience the ride a second time as well!
When It Comes to Small Children...Rent!
So you have a super-nice stroller, packed with the latest sunshade and assortment of toys to keep your child entertained. My advice is to leave it at the hotel. Strollers are one of the most widely stolen items at theme parks, so don’t put yourself a risk. You can generally rent one for under $10.
Food For Thought
After standing in line for an hour to get on the Peter Pan ride (your five-year-old’s favorite!), nothing can be more frustrating than having to wait another 20 minutes just to get your burger and fries. The best way to approach this little dilemma is to simply plan your meals around off-peak hours. For lunch, either eat a little on the early side (before 11:30 am), or a tad late (after 2 pm). The same goes for dinner, with dining times before 5 pm or after 7 pm generally being less crowded. (Keep in mind that the restaurants usually close about an hour before the park does.)
