So we left the kids with my parents and my husband and I went to Aquatica in Orlando. It is just AWESOME. It’s definitely family-friendly and I saw a lot of teeny kids in life vests, but to get the most enjoyment out of the attractions 48″ and taller is the best height.

First off, it’s clean, attractive and everything is in tip-top condition. The Aquatica staff was courteous, knowledgeable and helpful.

We went on a Friday and the longest wait was around 45 minutes – that was for the Dolphin Plunge.

The Dolphin Plunge is a huge drop that goes down a dark tube… suddenly it lights up and you find yourself…under water with Commerson Dolphins swimming by! You get a quick peek at them … as they look at you in return… then splash out into the pool on the bottom. It is amazing! Here is a video so you get the idea.

The next longest wait was for Tassie’s Twisters. It is just a cool ride that you can ride single or double on. You sit in a tube for this one. You shoot down the slide into a giant bowl where, depending on friction, weight and speed, you go around…around…around…and maybe around one or two more times …. then you get sucked down ANOTHER slide into a lazy river below. I was so dizzy after that one … in a good way! Here is the best video I could find to show you the “bowl” part.

The rest of the rides had around 20 minute waits, which went by real quick. There was a line for Walhalla Wave & HooRoo Run. Both are circle raft rides – but one is for 3 or 4 people while the other is 1 or 2 people. I forget which one was which … but obviously we went on the one for two people, with hubby sitting across from me. It’s pretty much a straight shoot down on the raft, but we definitely got air. Lots of fun!

Tamauta Racer was another SCARY one. I did see kids coming back down, since they got scared and wouldn’t go through with it. You have a special foam mat that you lie on, holding onto handle bars. And you go ZOOMING down this slide – 8 people go at a time, each in a different lane. It’s a race to see who gets down the fastest. Heavier people do have an advantage here! I definitely needed to get some courage to face this downhill slide, but it was SO WORTH IT. Want to see it? Check out the video below.

Whanua Way was another ride that you can go down inner tubes as a single or double. I went down with hubby behind me – and there are definitely surprises as you zoom down this slide with bumps that make you fly into the air – you think you are going to hit your head as you go down the next enclosed tube – but you always land in time. Loads of fun! We went on this twice! I will say that if you have a lot of shorties, they will have trouble maneuvering the steps with their inner tubes, so adult supervision and assistance required. I saw lots of dads holding two tubes at a time. (Hehe)

Finally, you can’t forget OMAKA ROCKA. Omaka Rocka is a waterslide taste of half-pipe, near-vertical thrills previously experienced in the past only by daring skateboarders and snowboarders. You speed down flumes into massive funnels, sliding high up one side and then the other, rocking back and forth, feeling a sensation of near weightlessness. Coming out of the funnel, you skim into a drenching splashdown. I have to say, I went down backwards half the time and it was unnerving … in a fun way. Like you couldn’t see what was coming. Can we say … AWESOME!

Omaka Rocka

There are also two “rivers” – one lazy and the other “rapids”. Plus an AWESOME kids area that I could see from high atop some of the slides. They had water pouring, things to climb, water guns to shoot and smaller slides. The little ones looked like they could have hours of fun in Kata’s Kookaburra Cove – where you have to be under 48″ to enjoy.

Tickets start at $41.95 for this fun experience. Adults might be able to get away without renting a locker, if you wear your bathing suit in, keep a credit card and idea in your shorts, spray lotion at the parking lot and don’t use a towel. That said, we rented a locker to hold our shoes, lotion, sunglasses and dry clothes.  Locker rentals are approximately $10, depending on the size needed, though. Parking was $12.

Overall, Aquatica is unbelievable. My husband is already talking about going back. It was such a blast and a great idea to cool off this summer.  And you can also save more with Aquatica’s After 2 p.m. Pass, which will give you unlimited Aquatica thrills and fun and no black out dates for the rest of 2010, all for $49.95, adult and kids. That’s only slightly more than a day’s admission. There’s no better way to beat the heat than with Florida’s coolest beach – and rock the all-new Omaka Rocka – again and again, all year long.

Learn more at aquaticabyseaworld.com.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received no compensation for this buzz. The Mom Buzz was invited to check out Aquatica with her husband with a complimentary visit. Photos and videos were provided from YouTube or supplied from Aquatica. Omaka Rocka photo by Jason Collier.

When we went for a sneak peek we were greeted with exotic birds, a larger-than-life stiltwalker, and enjoyed music and Polynesian dancing. A family-friendly DJ lead the party with games and music on the beach, and dancers encouraged guests of all ages to learn their new moves. There is even a skilled fire performer!

On Mango Joe’s deck, there was a live band performing a variety of music, from Latin to beach party music. And there was a sampling of food, like coconut shrimp and conch fritters. My husband and I only enjoyed the fresh fruit, though, because of our diet. But, the other guests were really chowing down!

Island Nights is designed to be a fun night-time escape for all ages and admission is included with any daily park admission or Adventure Island Pass. With an Adventure Island Weekday Pass you pay for a day and you can come back any weekday – that’s any Thursday or Friday of Island Nights – all season long. Visit AdventureIsland.com for more information.

Adventure Island is located right across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Adventure Island has 30 acres of water-drenched fun featuring high-speed thrills and tranquil surroundings for guests of all ages. Thrilling slides and tube rides include Riptide, Wahoo Run, Key West Rapids, Runaway Rapids, Everglides, Calypso Coaster, Aruba Tuba, Caribbean Corkscrew, Water Moccasin and Gulf Scream. Guests can also stretch out on the beach or in the 17,000-square-foot wave pool, play on professional sand volleyball courts, breeze through tropical gift shops or let the current sweep them through a half-mile of “river” on the Rambling Bayou.

Enjoying a snack to re-energize.

To really enjoy the water-filled experience you will probably want to rent a locker to protect valuables, cameras, wallets and your change of clothes. We rented a locker for $12, which is for “all day”. You can lock and unlock as needed. When you return your locker key you receive a $3 card to use at the park at a later time.

Now, you know the Mom Buzz has shorties, so it was easiest to stick to attractions meant for their size. Definitely check out the size requirements in advance, since sometimes there is a minimum height, other times little ones are allowed to ride with a parent, and other times little ones have to ride with a parent and wear a life vest. My family enjoyed the Rambling Bayou, where you either tube or swim through the shade. But the kids loved spending an hour of playtime at Fabian’s Fun Port. It’s a fun zone of splashing and getting soaked with water sprayers, buckets, a wade pool and lots of ways to have water sprayed and splashed. I do suggest parents keep an eye on their kids, since older ones can get carried away with younger kids.

For the ultimate Island Nights experience, your family can enjoy an exclusive cabana. Each of the 15 VIP cabanas includes four chaise lounges, a locker, a mini-fridge with assorted drinks and four souvenir towels. Daily rental prices range from $149.99 to $179.99, based on the time of year.

Overall, Island Nights are bound to be a fun way to stay cool this summer! I suggest Island Nights for tweens, teens and college kids – and for anyone else who wants to cool off in 90+ degree weather.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received no compensation for this buzz. The Mom Buzz was invited to a Media Event showcasing Island Nights.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 21-June 13, 2010, Disney’s Hollywood Studios becomes the galaxy’s home for out-of-this-world characters including Sith, Bith, droids, bounty hunters, Twi’leks and Rodians. Dates are May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6 and June 11-13. This year’s event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back,” which first appeared in theaters May 21, 1980.

We went opening weekend. We knew:

1. It would be hot. May and June in Florida can leave you drenched in sweat in minutes.

2. It would be crowded. Fans of all ages would be there to celebrate the magic. But we also knew that Memorial Day weekend would probably be even busier than opening weekend.

3. The boys would get tired easily.

Because of the reasons above, we opted to stay on-site at a hotel. We chose Animal Kingdom Lodge since we stayed there before and love it. You can get a Safari View to enjoy in the morning and evening. And the pool is awesome with a gentle decline into the water and 60 foot water slide. I thought that would be awesome to let the boys cool off sometime during the steamy day. And when you stay at a hotel, there are extra magic hours at certain parks. As a hotel guests you check the schedule to see which parks are open earlier and later for you. Lucky us, Hollywood Studios was going to open 1-hour earlier for hotel guests on Saturday!

We actually arrived May 20th in the late afternoon. We ate in Downtown Disney, T-Rex Cafe. They currently have a Cotton Candy Martinin available in three flavors – a plus for mom. They had lots of great food – a plus for dad who was off his diet that evening. And then the dinosaurs and meteor showers are just awesome for the kids. A great (loud) distraction.

The next morning we woke up bright and early thanks to excited boys. We had breakfast in our room. There is a fridge that we could keep drinks and food cool. Then we went to Hollywood Studios. We drove so that we could easily transport our HUGE Easywalker double stroller. We wanted the most comfortable stroller for the boys so that they could doze if needed. Plus, it cut down on a rental cost for a stroller at Disney. Kids will get tired faster and grumpy in the heat, especially if walking. And it is almost impossible to hold them the whole time. I definitely suggest strollers for 5 and under.

The park had a huge line, but it moved quickly allowing entrance. Once inside I saw that they were doing the Star Wars Jedi Training differently. Normally they pick from the crowd, or so I thought. But this time there was a sign-in area. When I was talking to a guest later in the day she told me she tried to get her son in, but the whole day was filled quickly. So, if you want to sign-up during Star Wars Weekend look for the sign-up area. The Jedi Training is for ages 4 to 12. I decided not to fight the crowd and try to get my son into the training at a later date, since we are annual passholders.

Most of the characters wouldn’t really be available to meet until 9:00 or 9:30, so we made our way to the Tatooine Traders by Star Tours. There we decided to let the boys make their own lightsabers. They had a chance to choose options for the grip and their blade color. We were second and third on line there and immediately it filled up behind us. The price was excellent, at under $25 a piece for a lightsaber that glows and makes sounds when in action. My little one chose purple, like his favorite character Mace Windu. My oldest chose red – like the Sith.

After we bumped a few people on the heads and backs on the way out with their light sabers (oops) we started looking for characters. In the backlot we immediately ran into Clone Commander Cody and Mace Windu. I learned then that although my kids will run up to any Disney Character for hugs and love – they are a little more in awe of the Star Wars characters. They loved looking from afar, but up close was … a little too close. But we got some pictures, although Mace Windu had to play a “Jedi Mind Trick” to get Keegan (the 4 year old) to get in the picture. “You will come forth.” Boy was everyone, including Mace, happily surprised when that worked!

CHARACTERS: Now, when I read about this event I thought characters would be EVERYWHERE walking. In the morning, that doesn’t happen. If you want to see a Star Wars character, find a line. In the afternoon it is like they wake up, though. We had gone to the hotel for a change of clothes, lunch and a dip in the pool from noon – 2pm. When we got back to the park, we saw Storm Troopers, Bounty Hunters, the Cantina Band, Chewbacca and Ewoks roaming around. There were supposed to be Jawas that you could trade “shiny objects” with, but we never caught up with them. The boys were asleep around this time, but we got some cute shots. If you want to know what characters are available to see in the park, find a Cast Member with an iPad and she or he can give you more information.

Darth Vader’s line is HUGE in the morning. We almost stood on it, but the boys just weren’t ready for it yet. After we went to the hotel and pool and cooled off, we returned. The boys were so relaxed they fell asleep. My husband and I caught a bite to eat, roamed around and then went on the Darth Vader line which went from being a 120  minute wait to a 20 minute wait in the later afternoon. The boys woke up just in time to see one of their favorite characters.

RIDES: There actually aren’t too many rides for wee ones to go on. Mine are both 36″. We did the Muppet’s 3-D Adventure in the morning – no wait. My oldest also wanted to go on The Great Movie Ride, which was a very short line – under 10 minutes. Toy Story Mania was … just that …mania. The line to go on was often over an hour. When we first walked in there was even a line to get a Fast Pass – I am talking a 30  minute line at least. My husband offered to stay on the Fast Pass line while I walked around, but I refused. We were there as FAMILY. So instead we went on the other two rides (Muppets and Great Movie Ride) and then we grabbed a Fast Pass after that. There was no longer a Fast Pass Line, but the time slot we got was 5:35pm! It was great, though, because that gave us time to go back to the hotel and relax at the pool.

Toy Story Mania was excellent. It is a 4-D ride vehicle where you play through a gallery of midway-style games. Four people fit in a car, two facing one direction and two facing the other. My oldest sat with my husband, each having a gun to shoot. I sat with my youngest and we each had a gun to shoot too. You wear 3-D glasses through the ride and both boys kept them on the whole time. I definitely suggest grabbing the Fast Pass for this ride.

For a complete list of attractions at Hollywood Studios, visit: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/

FOOD: On such a hot day, you really  need to keep hydrated. We had a variety of snacks and juice boxes for the boys. I carried everything in my backpack. But if you decide to eat in the park my FAVORITE restaurant is the Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant. You can eat in “cars”, like a drive-in. And they play portions of scary flicks on the big screen. The portions are huge and the air is nice and cool. I’ve only eaten there with my husband, though. For a quick bite in cool air-conditioning, try the ABC Commissary.

CELEBRITY MOTORCADE: The Star Wars parade happens at 11:40. If you want to see the celebrity welcome, try to get a spot by the Jedi Training Academy. Otherwise, grab a spot anywhere on the route. You want to stake out a place at least 20 minutes early if you want to be at the front when the characters go by. The parade was the last thing we did before heading to the hotel. It really got the boys psyched up to see hundreds of characters go by.

HYPERSPACE HOOPLA: This has to be the FUNNIEST event. You can go on YouTube to watch past Hoopla’s. This is where you see a Dance-Off between Star Wars characters, with Jawas, Chewbacca, the ladies of Star Wars (Ashoka, Princess Leia, Queen Amidala, Bounty Huntresses), Storm Troopers, Darth Vader and more. It is funny! You have to get there before the last Jedi Training Academy class starts though, because NO ONE BUDGES after that class – they all stay for the Hyperspace Hoopla which is held in the same spot. And once people put their kids on their shoulders, it’s hard to see from the back.

Overall, I LOVED Star Wars Weekend. My boys got to meet characters, get cool toys, lots of laughs and just a memorable time. We are definitely returning for the experience and look forward to more surprises as they work to keep the experience fresh and new each year. You do not have to pay extra for this event, it is included with a regular ticket. For more information on Star Wars Weekend and Hollywood Studios visit the links below.

Star Wars Weekend

Hollywood Studios

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz family is an annual passholder at Walt Disney World and a fan of Star Wars.

Dates are May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6 and June 11-13. This year’s event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back,” which first appeared in theaters May 21, 1980.

More than 50 Star Wars characters will roam the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities. Also featured: the chance to purchase special- and limited-edition Star Wars memorabilia, Star Wars trivia contests, Jedi Training Academy, Star Wars parades, rides aboard Star Tours and the popular “Hyperspace Hoopla” dance party.

Celebrities from the Star Wars films and creative geniuses who helped create the saga will be on hand each weekend for star conversations and autograph sessions.

Event activities are included in theme park admission. For more information, guests may go online to starwars.com, disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends or disneyparks.com/blog.

The Mom Buzz will be there with the family – our first time ever at a Star Wars Weekend! We’ll be getting there Friday night and staying at Animal Kindgom Lodge. The next day we’ll be checking out the dance off, parade and more at Hollywood Studios. I am hoping to let the boys build their own lightsaber when we are there. I’ll post pictures and more when we get back!

(press and photos provided from WDWNEWS)

Peter van Roden, Vice President of Themed Entertainment at Sesame Workshop, has experience implementing live Sesame Street adventures into theme parks all over the world. Van Roden has helped keep Jim Henson’s love of theme parks and Sesame Street alive with the newest, coolest, just-in-time-for-summer attraction in Tampa Bay

The attraction was built with the intention of being the biggest and best children’s park, according to Mark Rose, Busch Gardens Vice President of Design and Engineering. He succeeded, as what used to be just an hour stop at Land of Dragons has turned into hours of fun for young children. Highlights in this fun 2.5 acres of land include:

Air Grover: The new junior roller coaster designed for parents and children to soar together. The minimum height is 38 inches to ride. My boys are a puny 36 inches, so we just watched. It looks WAY cool!

Air Grover

Oscar’s Swamp Stomp: Located under and around the tree house, kids can jump through the water and cool off.

Bert & Ernie’s Watering Hole: Your kids are guaranteed to get soaked, so bring a change of clothes and towels! There are bubblers, geysers, water shooters, jets, dumping buckets and more.

Big Bird’s 123-Smile with Me: A photography studio that gives kids the chance to share a hug, smiles and memories with Sesame Street Friends.

The Count’s Zambezi Rally – 4 cars go around the track. 2 children can sit per car. I think the “minimum” is that they are old enough to sit and not get out. The maximum height requirement is 56 inches. The boys LOVED this when we went. They rode together and separately. Here is a video of them in the Count’s car.

My Youngest on the Safari Go Round

Zoe-patra & the Hippos of the Nile: A splashy flume/hippo ride through the famed river. The height requirement is between 36 and 56 inches tall. The boys and I watched it, but I read the height requirement wrong when I was there. I am sure they would have loved this ride.

Snuffy’s Elephant Romp: Fly around and around and up and down on Snuffy’s fun elephant friends. Min. height is 36 inches.

Elmo’s Safari Go-Round: Another ride that the boys went on. It is a tribal-inspired carousel with safari animals that are obviously muppet-inspired. Your child can go on at 36″ if accompanied by an adult, 56″ by themselves. There are no handles on these safari friends, so you definitely want to make sure they don’t slide off!

Rosita’s Djembe Fly-Away: A swing ride through the jungle that sends kids whirling above the African canopy. Kids must be under 42″ to ride – I admit I was leery to put the kids on this one! I am an over protective chicken mom. It looked safe, just scary!

Big Bird’s Whirly Birdie: This is a small Ferris Wheel, perfect for kids. Minimum height is 36″, when accompanied by an adult.

Telly’s Jungle Jam: Explore sounds, shaped and shadows in this engaging play area for kids of all abilities.

Elmo’s Treehouse Trek: The boys could have stayed in here forever. I admit, keeping track of a 2 year old and a 3 year old by myself was challenging! They both wanted to go in different directions, but this is where they spent most of their time. They loved climbing, exploring and climbing some more. It really got them moving. It’s 3-stories with a bird’s eye view of the Safari of Fun. Check out my view with this shaky video:

Tree House Trek

Cookie Monster’s Canopy Crawl: Climb, crawl and explore this 3-story net climb. If the boys weren’t trekking around the treehouse, they were here. There is a maximum height on this one, so that little ones don’t get run over by over rambunctious tweens and teens … and adults. It’s hard for the kids to get by you here, since there is only one exit. Got to love that! And there are benches so you can watch them climb.

Sunny Day Theater: Musical performances bring tales of adventure to life. Now featuring “A is for Africa”, an approximately 15-minute stage show starring Elmo, Abby, Zoe, Grover and Cookie Monster presented several times a day, followed by a character meet and greet. My kids LOVED this part. Elmo and Big Bird WILL BE MOBBED. Try to get some good shots with Cookie Monster, Gonzo and the Count when that happens!

MORE SESAME STREET FUN IN BUSCH GARDENS:
Also, on what seems to be the opposite side of the park in the Timbuktu 4-D Theater there is a new show called Lights, Camera, Imagination, presented by Sesame Street. I don’t want to spill too many secrets – but I will say YOU WILL GET WET. There is no way out of it. And it can be startling for wee ones. But my kids LOVED it.

Also, the boys and I had a chance to do the Sesame Street Breakfast in SeaWorld, Orlando last year and it was so AWESOME, UNFORGETTABLE, MEMORABLE. So I am THRILLED to learn that you can Dine with Elmo and Friends for lunch or dinner at Busch Gardens. Breakfast is $15 for children, $18 for adults. If the food is like the selection at SeaWorld, it’s yummy. Plus you get a show! Lunch is $17 for children and $23 for adults. Be sure to reserve your spot WAY in advance by calling 1-888-800-5447 or visit SesameStreetSafariofFun.com.  There are also special event dining opportunities for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc.

Meet & Greet with the Big Blue Guy!

And all of that is just one teeny section of Busch Gardens. Once you are in, there are animals, rides and food galore throughout the rest of the park! It’s just that Sesame Street is such a wonderful new addition that your kids will LOVE. Adult admission to Busch Gardens is $74.95 plus tax. Children 2 and younger are admitted free. Normally Children 3 to 9 are $64.95 plus tax, but right now children ages 3 to 5 can be free if you register for a commemorative pass online. You can register for that FREE BUSCH GARDENS PASS by visiting SesameStreetSafariofFun.com. Be sure to follow the directions on the site.

Any other questions about the new Safari of Fun at Busch Gardens – just leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at erintales@themombuzz.com.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received no compensation for this buzz. The Mom Buzz was invited to a Media Event showcasing Safari of Fun.

Thomas the Tank Engine™ To Visit TampaApril 10-11 and 17-18

All aboard for the best birthday party ever! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is coming to town to celebrate with all of his fans.  Thomas, the beloved and courageous storybook engine, is set to roll into Florida Railroad Museum for the Day Out With Thomas™: The Celebration Tour 2010, presented by HIT Entertainment, a worldwide leader in children’s entertainment, and sponsored by Mega.  This fun-filled event offers preschoolers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series. Children will ride along with their favorite hero on his latest adventure.  The tour, now in its 15^th year, will make stops in more than 40 US cities and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers in 2010.  This year also marks Thomas the Tank Engine’s 65^th publishing anniversary and fans are invited to partake in some choo choo-riffic celebratory activities! 

WHO: Thomas the Tank Engine

WHAT: • A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine

• An opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of The Railway

• Activities for the whole family, including arts & crafts, storytelling, video viewing, live music

• A Mini-Museum at every DOWT location celebrating 65 years of Thomas the Tank Engine

• 2010 commemorative merchandise and giveaways, including a Misty Island Mystery mini-view finder giveaway

WHEN: April 10-11 and 17-18

TIME: 9:00, 9:45, 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15, 3:00, 3:45, 4:30

WHERE: 12210 83rd Street East, Parrish, Florida, 34219

Tickets for Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2010 are on sale now and available by calling Ticketweb toll-free 866-468-7630, or by visiting www.ticketweb.com/thomas.html or www.thetumbleweedexpress.com or www.frrm.org Ticket prices are $18 plus tax for ages 2 and up (service charges and fee may apply).

For more information and directions contact the Tumbleweed Express at 612.331.5600 or the Florida Railroad Museum at 941.776.0906.  For information on Thomas & Friends, visit www.thomasandfriends.com

Pretty much, Omaka Rocka is a waterslide taste of half-pipe, near-vertical thrills previously experienced only by daring skateboarders and snowboarders. Sounds heart-pounding! It will be the first waterslide of its kind in the world, so be prepared! Omaka Rocka opens this spring.

A friend was visiting the USA, so we had to show her DISNEY WORLD! She wanted to meet the Princesses, so we saw Belle, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella at Toon Town. (You get to see them in a small, less crowded setting. Uber cool.) The boys were some of the few “Princes” there. All the princesses swore they were more charming than Prince Charming and Braver than Beast.

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Disney Visit - May 2008

As many of you know, I actively bring my boys to theme parks. Most of last year was spent at SeaWorld. This year is our Disney year! We’ve already been to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, plus we attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. When my oldest had turned 1, we spend a whole week at the park, staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. And this year, we are planning a week-long stay at the Wilderness Lodge.

So, I was highly interested when author Lisa Battista told me she wrote a book called Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2010). Like her, I have heard from other moms so often that they want to wait til their children are older to visit the parks. I had one mom say that Disney is for ADULTS. Huh? I swear, you haven’t experienced Disney until you’ve gone with toddlers and preschoolers. That’s when the magic of Disney is most apparent, as the kids look in awe at the parades, Mickey and fireworks. That’s when standing on line to see a character in costume is more fun than standing on a line to a roller coaster, since the expression on their face is priceless when they get that first hug! Honestly, if it wasn’t fun to go with preschoolers, would I have gotten an annual pass?

Like I said, the first time my oldest son went to Disney World, he was 1. When my little one went for the first time, he was only 5 months. It was EASY, if you know what you are doing. That’s where the guide comes in. After reading it, not only did I agree with a lot of her tips regarding distractions, travels, rides, attractions and more – I also learned some new tips that I plan to incorporate into my week stay later this year. Plus, I discovered some things that I HAVE to share with my sister, since she has a little girl. For example, you can wake up Tinker Bell at Tinker Bell’s Fairy Treasures Shop. Once you arrive, you just have to ask a cast member. There is a short ceremony, she flies around, pixie dust is involved and it would make a great memory.

Boys with Holiday Mickey

Another piece of advice I loved was to bring a backpack with as few zippers and pockets as possible. The backpack is the most comfortable thing you can carry. And I carry one made for preschoolers – only two pockets. It’s bright and easy to spot and we get through the bag line quickly!

Finally, if you stay for a length of time and on-site, don’t feel rushed to get through EVERYTHING. When we stayed for a week, we would leave the parks every day around 2pm. We would go back to the hotel and see if my oldest wanted to nap. (My little one was in my belly, I was around 2 months pregnant with him during our week long stay.) If he didn’t want to nap, we would go to the hotel pool. And in the evenings we often went to Downtown Disney for dinner, a snack and a stroll. Everything went smoothly, because we never felt pressure to rush. Remember, you are there for the kids! Just relax and enjoy this memorable trip!

For more tips, you have to read the book. Chapters include Preparation, Disney Lodging, Transportation, Touring, Hidden Activities, Recreation, Parades and Character Greetings, Dining, Playgrounds and Pools, Child Care, Safety and Seasonal Events.You can purchase Beyond the Attractions at Amazon for $15.99.

One Buzz Reader will win a copy of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney with Preschoolers (2010)

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY: Post a comment here telling me when you are planning to go to Walt Disney World and who is going with you.

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per HOUR is allowed)
• Blog about the contest – add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
• Visit Beyond the Attractions official website and tell me something you learned.
• Follow DisneyExplorer on Twitter – Tweet her: @DisneyExplorer I read your about your book @theMomBuzz
• Sign up for Sponsored Tweets with my Referral: Make Money with Sponsored Tweets!
• Help my friend become the next Mamavation Mom so she can get fit this year! Visit Mamavation and vote for @LisaSamples in the Right-Hand Sidebar
• Enter to win a trip to Orlando from Suave.

Contest ends 2/03/10. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received Norman Phartephant, Volume 1 for review.

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