Planning your baby’s Orlando holiday
Orlando really is packed with entertainment. If you’re going on a two week holiday, especially with young kids, there’s no way you’re going to fit it all in. Plan in some ‘down time’ for babies and toddlers because the excitement, sights and sounds can be quite overwhelming and they could get tired and irritable if they do too much. Here are our top hints and tips on ways to look after your baby at the theme parks.
A good plan could be to consider a ‘one day on, one day off’ approach to the holiday, taking in a theme park every other day, then relaxing by the hotel pool, eating out, or going shopping on your days ‘off’. On your first day, the chances are that your family will wake up really early due to the time difference, and that’s a good chance to get to the parks when the doors open. Plus, you’ll be too excited not to! But, by mid-afternoon, you will probably be quite tired so you might want to head back to your hotel. If you can, keep the children awake until a reasonable bed time so they can start to adjust to the time difference.
On Day Two, it is sensible to schedule some time to go shopping and buy all your baby essentials and take a look around Orlando. You can also start to try to put your baby into his or her ‘holiday routine’ (whatever that might be). If you are driving, it is likely your baby will drop off to sleep on the way back from the parks. You may also find that during the second afternoon, you will start to feel tired. It’s just the jet lag, but recognising the cause can help you deal with it.
Many theme park tickets allow you to come and go during the day, so you can schedule in an afternoon nap back at the hotel, before returning to the park for late afternoon/evening entertainment.
Be aware that with young children, different parks will require a different pace. For example, Disney’s Magic Kingdom is perfect for little ones, with shows, rides and the parade aimed at young children. Your time here will probably be taken at a faster pace because there is so much that you will want to do with your kids. Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers fabulous safari themed attractions with live animals to see, and there’s a little bit more shade and quiet walking time, with opportunities to wander and chat. Epcot is a great choice for families of mixed ages and there’s lots of interactivity which the little ones will enjoy, such as the interactive Turtle Talk with Crush and A Voyage Under the Sea with Nemo and Friends. SeaWorld is big and sprawling and there’s a huge range of things to see and do. Babies will be particularly delighted to see the fish up close and wonder at the playful dolphins.
For a day away from the hustle and bustle of Orlando, it is worth considering a drive out to Tampa Bay to visit Busch Gardens®. Busch Gardens is about an hour away from Orlando and for those not wishing to drive, a door-to-door luxury coach service is available daily from SeaWorld® and other convenient Orlando locations.
Although the park is known for its rollercoasters too, the zoo is a fantastic attraction in its own right and they have recently opened the Sesame Street Safari of Fun which is a perfect playland for little ones. Again, there’s a different pace here. The size of the park is very manageable (especially if you are bypassing all the rollercoasters) and the gardens are beautifully landscaped and tranquil. It makes a lovely, relaxing break in the middle of your holiday.
Both Universal’s Islands of Adventure® and Universal Studios® provide attractions and play areas for children. Planning recommendations can be found in the travel planning section of www.universalorlando.com
Certain parks are also busier on certain days of the week. Magic Kingdom is busiest on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. EPCOT on Tuesday and Friday. Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday and Wednesday, Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. SeaWorld, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are busiest over the weekends. You may decide to structure your time to avoid being outside during the mid–day heat. In July and August, you can often find mid-afternoon rain showers. They are fairly short lived, but worth considering when you are planning your day.
Whatever you choose to do, you’ll find Orlando like no other place on earth and you need to be prepared that, however much stamina they may seem to have, your children are going to get tired. Taking them away from the excitement and the heat before exhaustion kicks in is going to make for a much better holiday for all of you.
