A trip to Disney World can mean a new experience for people, even if they have been to a dozen amusement parks previously.

With modern technology that gives way to animatronics and photo opportunities with Disney characters, there is always something to seek out.

People that visit are not referred to as customers, but guests. Employees are known as cast members; this is only the beginning of what you may notice that helps Disney stand out from the competition.

To help make your holiday even more enjoyable, the tips below may help.

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1. Choose the Time of Your Visit Carefully

As with many other holiday destinations, some months or days of the year will be more crowded than others. If you do not like to have too many people around you, make sure that you are aware of special occasions that America observes. Labour Day Weekend and Halloween, for example, are more likely to be busy and thus frustrating. The time that you have to spend in queue to be let on a ride can be extended significantly, and making reservations at a restaurant may also prove difficult. Avoid waiting until the last minute to plan.

2. Differentiate Your Child’s Stroller

Because a lot of families go to Disney World, you can expect to see a lot of small children being pushed around in strollers. Some people, if they do not live too far away, bring their own strollers. However, many others choose to rent a stroller from Disney before they enter a park. These strollers are very similar and it is easy to lose track of your own. For this reason, it is important that you make your own stroller stand out. You can do this by attaching a piece of cloth to a handle. If this is not possible, a parent or older child can stand by the stroller while somebody goes on a ride or gets food. 

3. Plan Ahead For Hot Days

When walking around a Disney park – particularly Animal Kingdom – a person can feel very hot very quickly. They may start to sweat and lose their enthusiasm or ability to walk. It is important for at least one member of the party to bring along water for people to drink. There are many cooling areas in the Disney parks, but it is still important to remain hydrated. If possible, the water should be taken from the hotel room sink or at a local store outside of the parks; otherwise the cost to get bottled water can be high. People should drink even if they are not thirsty, to avoid problems later down the line. 

4. Use Caution When Looking At Souvenirs

Because souvenirs in the Disney parks can be expensive, only buy what you really want and can realistically fit into your luggage. Some people purchase a lot out of excitement, but this can lead to regret and should be noted.

Book amazing Disney holidays with Travel City Direct and see how much you could save!

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Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Too many Disney fans I know return from Disney World needing a vacation, after their vacation. As much as we love Disney World, our family has found that the daily grind of rushing to featured attractions at early park openings, fighting the crowds at meal time, and braving the Florida heat makes a Disney trip seem less like a vacation and more like a competition.

What I propose is a far more relaxing plan for visiting the parks. You will enjoy your stay, have ample relaxation time, fight crowds less, and even save money. In this article I will explain how our family prefers to visit Disney World, and how we make our vacations more fun and relaxing.

10-Day Park Hopper

Probably the most important of all our tips, we prefer to purchase the 10-Day Park Hopper tickets with the no expiration option added. If you are not familiar with Disney World ticket options, that last sentence probably just blew your mind! Sorry about that. Let me explain.

Disney offers a ticket called the “Park Hopper” which allows guests to get into any Disney World park that day on a single ticket. So for instance you could start your morning in The Magic Kingdom, and finish up at the Epcot World Showcase for dinner and fireworks.

Disney sells its Park Hopper tickets in lengths from 1-day to 10-day packages. The more days you choose to purchase, the cheaper the price per day. For a nominal fee, you can add on a “No Expiration Option” to each ticket, which means of course that they never expire. Otherwise you will need to use your tickets within 14 days of purchase.

We choose to purchase the 10-day ticket even if we only plan on spending 5 days in the park because the cost is not much more at all ($516 for 10 days versus $366 per 5 days). This allows us to bring the tickets back with us for a future trip, and still have 5 days of park fun left at no additional cost.

Stay On Site

Disney World offers a large choice of on property resorts at which to stay. They fall under the categories of Value, Moderate, and Luxury. As you might imagine, the price points for each increase significantly. The Value resorts (including the All Stars) are competitively priced with budget hotels off property. The moderate resorts are priced similar to a higher end hotels. And the luxury resorts are pricey, but absolutely stunning.

We have stayed at Disney World resorts from each category and have never been disappointed. The grounds are beautiful, and 24-hour security keeps the area safe for family and children. You won’t have to worry about paying for parking at the theme parks, or fighting traffic on your way in and out. Disney provides free transportation to and from the parks to all its resorts. It’s a huge convenience, as well as a money saver.

Parks Every Other Day

Kick up the relaxation quotient by dividing your 10 days of park tickets over two trips, then make reservations to stay twice as long if you can afford it. For instance, make a reservation for 10 nights at the Value category All Star resorts, then spend 5 days in the park. If you cannot afford to stay 10 nights, how about 8 nights with 4 days spent in the park?

Spending every other day out of the parks enjoying your resort will completely recharge your family. The hustle and heat of the parks requires some time away to keep the vacation relaxing. Ordering burgers or dessert and drinks from pool side while soaking up the Florida sun will make you wonder why anyone spends all their time in the parks, when so much free entertainment is offered as part of the resort experience.

Disney resorts make it worth your while. All Disney resorts have a pool area, and many are almost miniature water parks complete with large slides and waterfalls. The beautiful resort grounds are meant to be explored, and many have long paths which are great for morning and evening strolls.

Bring a Sandwich or Burger Maker

Eating in your resort room not only saves you a lot of money, it also makes for a more relaxing trip. Just a few meals in the room rather than at a restaurant or in the parks can make all the difference. You don’t have to fight crowds, and you won’t have to worry about reservations.

We like to bring a small Foreman grill or a sandwich maker with us. Most Disney resorts have small refrigerators but only the expensive villas have kitchens. So you will need a way to cook your meals. You can easily fit a sandwich maker into a suitcase. A little creativity will allow for many meals with this one device.

A small, lightweight microwave is also a good idea too. But check ahead first to see if your resort room has a microwave included.

Conclusion

We used to return from Disney World physically, mentally, and monetarily spent. Not anymore. By making simple changes to where we stay, how often we visit the parks, and by bringing a few helpful items along with us, our Disney World vacations are more relaxing and fulfilling. The next time you visit the Disney World resort complex, take the time to smell the flowers. You will be glad you did.

Daniel Padavona is a fan of all-things Disney. When he is not in the parks, you can find him teaching others how to save money on their vacations and enjoy their trips more. Daniel is the founder of Warmpicture, which licenses high quality royalty-free vacation photos.

Walt Disney World is known as the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” so it’s not surprising that they are so much more than just an amusement park.

Even if you’ve been to other theme parks, you’ll find details on rides and innovation at Disney like you’d never expect.

Here are some of the most exciting, unique rides that you can experience at Disney World:

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1. Kilimanjaro Safaris

Located in the Animal Kingdom, this ride gives you the chance to experience an African safari without actually being in Africa.

You’ll travel through various terrains and areas on board a tram driven by a Disney employee and see a wide variety of animals.

Your guide will point out interesting things to you and teach you about the animals as you go past elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, warthogs, and many more!

2. Mission: Space

Ever wanted to know what it would feel like to get in a rocket ship and blast off into outer space?

Mission: Space is a ride that comes close to capturing what that experience is really like. In fact, the ride is so intense that they’ve now created a less intense side.

Everyone on the ride has a “job,” such as navigator, and you travel together to Mars.

3. Tower of Terror

Perhaps you’ve been on a free fall drop before, but you’ve never done it like this.

One of the great things the Tower of Terror has going for it is the theme – you’re in a creepy old hotel elevator that has come right out of the Twilight Zone.

When you get to the top, right before the fall, the doors open up briefly and you can look out at the park and whatever else is 13 stories below you. Then be prepared for a wild ride.

You’ll be dropped more than once and how often and how far changes every time you ride, so you always get a different experience.

4. Rockin’ Roller Coaster

Disney doesn’t have many intense roller coasters, but if you’re a fan of coasters then this is the one that you don’t want to miss.

The ride power launches you onto an indoor track, where you’ll do loops and twists all while Aerosmith music is blasting in your ears. The ride is in darkness with the exception of some neon signs and lights.

5. Splash Mountain

This log flume ride is a classic located at the Magic Kingdom.

It’s based on a little known Disney movie called Song of the South. You travel through the story of Brer Rabbit and his friends for the first five minutes of the ride before finally coming to be the big plunge at the end.

If it’s a hot day try to snag a seat in the front row so you can cool down from the splash!

Book Disneyland Florida with Travel City Direct and see how much you could save!

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Most people only see the 4 miles of Sin City.

But there are actually some hidden gems away from the Strip.

For example: the picturesque Lake Las Vegas.

This private, 320-acre lake located in Henderson, Nevada.

And it’s only about 25 minutes from the Strip.

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Relax in Style

Loews Lake Las Vegas Hotel is a resort complete with dining, spa, and golf course. Their Moulay Spa has a good selection of services and packages to help you relax. And it’s also pet friendly!

The Aston MonteLago Resort sits next to the MonteLago village. They have suites and condos complete with kitchenettes. These give you all the comforts of home, but on a relaxing, beautiful lake-front!

Enjoy the Outdoors

Hoover Dam is only a 20 minute drive from Lake Las Vegas. This concrete dam was originally constructed between 1931 and 1935 during the Great Depression.

If you’re looking for a romantic, outdoor activity, then take that special someone on a Gondola ride. The Gondolas cruise along the Lake, and may come with a meal, and champagne.

Outdoor lovers can learn how to fly-fish. The three hour course will teach you the basics and let you practice catching carp and bass.

The MonteLago Village is a small community that resembles old European villages. It’s complete with cobblestone streets, restaurants and shops along the water.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

A long distance road trip with the kids isn’t for the faint of heart but it’s often the only practical choice to get your gang from point A to point B.

If you’re planning on traveling with your children this holiday season, try these tips for keeping your children happy and entertained so that you arrive at your destination with a minimum of frazzle.

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Make sure that everyone in the family is well-rested and fed before starting your journey. It often backfires to try and tire out a child in the hopes that they sleep through the trip and you wind up with fussy, whiny children and frustrated, exhausted parents. Not only is this unpleasant, it can also be dangerous.

Likewise, it’s tempting to travel through the night however many experts advise against this as the risks of sleepy parents driving is not inconsiderable – up to 60% of highway accidents can be attributed to drowsy driving. If you must drive overnight, do so with a partner and make sure both front seat passengers stay alert and awake the entire time.

Bring plenty of snacks and drinks and plan on taking time to stop to eat, use the restroom and stretch your legs. Your trip might take longer this way but it’s bound to be much more enjoyable.

2. Use screen time judiciously.

In small amounts it can be quite entertaining and make the time fly by for your children. Too much and you’ve got a meltdown on your hands. You can relax your usual screen time rules for the journey but don’t let things get out of hand, especially if your child has proven himself or herself prone to meltdowns after too much screen time in the past.

In fact, if your child has reacted poorly to video games or excessive videos poorly in the past or has never experienced them, it’s probably more prudent to avoid them altogether.

3. Look for travel versions of popular boardgames that your child can play alone or with siblings and parents.

  A wooden Memory game is a good choice for the preschool set and Hangman is easy for children to play with parents while sitting in the backseat. It’s a good idea to choose games that your child is familiar with as the road isn’t generally conducive to figuring out how to play a new game.

Don’t forget old favorites such as I spy, the alphabet game or 20 questions that don’t require any equipment to play. Before your trip, prepare yourself by packing a small bag with your travel games as well as a printed list of traditional car games including the rules.

4. Be prepared!

Make sure that each family members has a full change of clothes in an easy to access place along with diapers, wipes, pullups or any other personal care items you’ll be sure to need.

Hand sanitizer or wipes will serve well to clean your hands without running water before you eat. A first aid kit with bandages and over the counter medicines for common remedies is also very useful as you can’t count on finding children’s medications at highway rest stops.

Knock wood that you’ll never need it, but be sure that your car is equipped with an emergency kit fully stocked for the climates you’ll be traveling in. It might not keep your kids happier and easier to travel with, but it could save your life.

5. Take advantage of the time together to bond as a family.

Sing silly songs. Tell embarrassing stories about your childhood. Take turns talking about your hopes and dreams. A box of conversation starters can be a good way to get the ball rolling, especially for children who need a bit of prompting to engage in conversation. You might be surprised at how fast the time flies when you are having a good conversation with the people that you love.

If your children aren’t old enough for “real” conversation yet, you can still have quite a bit of fun singing songs, trading animal noises back and forth or even just blowing raspberries at each other.

6. Books are a time honored way to while away travel time.

But be aware that some kids and adults experience extreme car sickness if they attempt to read in a moving vehicle. Come prepared with books on CD or downloaded to your MP3 player. If possible, look for a story that is appropriate for all members of the family so that you can enjoy it together.

Authors Jacob and Carol Maslow are the proud parents of five preteen children who have learned from experience that real toys don’t require batteries. Carol works as a therapist, specializing in integrating developmentally delayed preschoolers with their classmates. Jacob works at online retailer Today’s Concept, where parents can find the classic Melissa and Doug Toys.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration reports that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages three to fourteen.

Child car seats minimize infant car crash fatalities by seventy-one percent and for toddlers one to four years old by fifty-four percent. Familiarize yourself on the specifics about car seat safety with some of the information below.

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Position

Many children are injured while in their car seat during an accident due to improper positioning and fastening.

• The waist belt should be fitted low to protect their abdominal cavity.
• The shoulder strap should run along their torso and not their neck (there are safety tested accessories to enable this).

Age and Weight

Each car seat has a specific age and weight protocol. Never put a car seat in the front passenger seat. A deployed air bag can be lethal.

• Infant seat -An infant remains in this seat until age one, a weight of twenty-pounds and must be in a rear facing position. No newborn infant is allowed to leave the hospital unless secured in this seat.
• Toddler seat – Toddlers between the ages of one and four who are anywhere between twenty and forty pounds use this seat.
• Booster seat - This seat does just what it says, it simply boosts a child high enough to fit into a standard seat belt. It is for ages four to at least eight or until a child reaches four feet nine inches.

Installation

Every car and every car seat has an installation manual. It is imperative to thoroughly read both as some vehicles have specific built in attachment anchors (as of 2002 cars were mandated to include steel car seat anchors inbetween the seats).

• Pull the top seat belt out to full slack.
• Place the car seat on the vehicle seat and firmly press your knee into the middle of the car seat.
• Pull the lap portion of the seat belt through the proper car seat holding holes without letting it slack and lock into the seat belt clip.
• Follow directions for placement of shoulder strap and release to tighten.

If you find it too difficult to install your car seat, most local police stations will offer assistance if you ask.

The Law

Each state has specific laws regarding child car seat safety. Contact your chamber of commerce town hall, AAA or the company that made your car seat for further information. You can also check the IIHS list of state laws for vehicle restraints.

Recalls

Over the years there have been a handful of car seat recalls. Your car seat may have been the most expensive model but this is still no guarantee that it is safe. Check the NHTSA recall list as well as your car seat’s manufacturer found in the owner’s manual.

Keep your child out of harm’s way and take the necessary time to properly install and use your car seat. It can make a life saving difference.

About the Author: Euna Bisby is a professional writer with a passion for parenting and all things concerning children. She also work sas an IT specialist and recomments IT staff augmentation services to businesses looking to enhance their professional staff.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Finding kid-friendly activities in a new city is tough. Luckily, Phoenix has a variety of great things to do with your kids this summer. Just try to stay cool while doing it!

Read the Top 7 Free Summer Activities in Phoenix

Summer can be a lot of fun in Phoenix. But when the kids want to go out to the amusement park every day, it can get too expensive for comfort with the paid rides. And if you have driven down to the city to enjoy a holiday in Phoenix, demands such as this can send your vacation budget for a toss. Check out some activities for yourself and the kids that you can do for free in Phoenix.

Read the Top 5 Free Museums in Phoenix

Traveling with kids and entertaining them easily gets very expensive. Especially when your wallet is a little tighter, it does help to visit museums or children’s places on their free admission days. But when are they, and for which places? For Rent A Car has prepared an overview of free kid-friendly museums in Phoenix.

Read the Top 5 Free Phoenix Attractions for Kids

Phoenix is full of entertaining family activities. However, you may want to save up a few bucks and also take advantage of the free things to do in Phoenix while you are there! Here is a list of the top 5 free attractions for kids in Phoenix presented by Fox Rent A Car.

About Fox Rent A Car

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Please congratulate the winners!

Here’s what you’ve been looking for. Our new rental car discounts are now available!

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

The City of Sin.

And tacky lights. And nonstop partying. And spending all your money.

And really incredible show and attractions. Things won’t see anywhere else.

And they’re all free.

Las Vegas has some of the best free shows and attractions that you’ll ever see

Big Elvis

Big Elvis is the best free show you’ve never heard of. Pete Vallee performs weekdays at the classy Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. He always delivers hilarious, clean humor and a huge personality that has landed him on the Time Magazine List of Top 10 Elvis Impersonators. His one hour shows run Monday through Friday at 3:00, 5:00 and 6:30PM.

Silverton Aquarium

Just south of the Strip is the Silverton Aquarium, located at the Silverton Hotel and Casino.. The aquarium is 117,000 gallons, and features over 4,000 fish including 3 different species of stingrays and 3 species of sharks. From Thursday to Sunday, real-life (ok, not really) mermaids join the fish for a 15 minute show.

Conservatory at Bellagio

Pictures are worth 1,000 words. So just look at these from the Convservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio.

Bellagio Fountains

You’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful show than the Bellagio Fountains. Set to music over the picturesque 8.5-acre lake. The 1,214 different individual water fountains shoot as high as 460 feet. Watching the fountains just get’s better each time you see it.

Fremont Street Experience

Located over Downtown Las Vegas, the Freemont Street Experience is an incredible light and music display that you have to see to believe.

The Sirens of TI

The Sirens of TI is a sexy, interactive pop opera located directly on the Strip.

Volcano at the Mirage

One of the original shows located directly on the Strip, the Mirage Volcano still explodes nightly to the delight of thousands of guests. Be transported to the beautiful Polynesia and be entertained by the fire and choreography.

Fox Rent A Car Las Vegas

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.