Guest Hook Travel Guides The Magic of Central Florida | Page 7

SARAH & KEN'S THEME PARK TIPS... The theme parks are fantastic, but there's nothing like a lack of preparation and planning to ruin any visit. Here are some of our top tips to get you through the parks with maximum enjoyment and minimum stress. No guarantees, but some pointers! TOP 1 TIP # Disney's Fast Pass Plus Disney allows guests to book advance reservations for up to 3 attractions a day, 30 days in advance, using the "Fast Pass Plus" program. It's is totally free, so do make use of it. As soon as you have purchased your tickets, register on www.StartYourDisneyExperience.com or download the My Disney Experience App. Try and plan while looking at a theme park map so you are not zig zagging all over the park to get to attractions on time. TOP 2 TIP # Universal's ExpressPass Universal offer two options to help you skip to the front of the lines. ExpressPass allows you to bypass the lines on each ride once, ExpressPassUnlimited allows you to bypass the lines as often as you like. Prices vary on different days, so check the Universal Website. Depending on how many days you are going, make sure you compare bundles that already include the ExpressPass, it can give you considerable savings. Read more... TOP 3 TIP # Purchase Tickets in Advance Make sure you get your tickets in advance. Not only will it be slightly cheaper, but it will save you having to wait in line at the ticket booths. There is very little room for profit on the theme parks, so most sites tend to be similar in price, but do read the small print for delivery fees, admin and taxes, which can all bump the cost up. MULTI-DAY tickets are much better value than single-day tickets. TOP 4 TIP # Work Your Way Backwards Studies have shown that most people turn left when they enter a park and work their way around clockwise. Do the opposite and head straight to the back of the park and work you way around in the opposite direction to the crowd. 10 QUICK TIPS 1. Plan ahead - it's half the battle! 2. Write your phone number on your kids wrists in case they get lost. 3. Look for single rider lines if you don't mind splitting up. 4. Plan a meet up spot in case you get separated 5. Attractions will be quiet during parades and firework shows. 6. If you want to do a ride but can't take the kids, check out Universal's Child Swap program or Disney's Rider Switch. 7. Pack a poncho! Perfect for summer storms and wet rides. 8. Head to the parks early morning and have a break in the afternoon. 9. Realize just how BIG the parks are! 10. Be prepared for heat, humidity and showers. TOP 5 TIP # Remember where you park! Take an image with your phone or camera of the row and section of where you park. The theme parks make it a little easier to remember by naming the parking sections after memorable characters. However, it can be a daunting prospect trying to find your car amongst thousands of others if you forgot where you parked 8 hours earlier! A snapshot from hours earlier will make it easy to find your car.