Here are my top 5 tips for taking kids to the festival:

1. Don’t miss the topiaries. There are two dozen of them sprinkled around EPCOT, and while your kids may not be patient enough for a walking tour of all of them, be sure to pick out a few favorite characters and go take a look. Our favorites this year are the “American Gothic” Mickey and Minnie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Bambi and friends. Older kids can take a close look and try to figure out how EPCOT’s horticulturists make them happen.

2. Playgrounds, playgrounds, playgrounds. Part of the magic of the Flower and Garden Festival are the children’s playsets sprinkled around the park for kids. There’s one on the walkway between the Canada Pavilion and Future World (behind the Fantasia topiaries), on in the Living Green area near the France Pavilion and one near the Fairy Garden in Future World. Truth be told, I think the EPCOT experience for kids would be improved if one or more of these play areas became a permanent fixture.

3. Speaking of the Fairy Garden, be sure to see the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden! I love, love, loved the colorful, tiny Tink and friends topiaries here. And there’s an interactive art project – kids can pick up a sheet and move around the garden doing rubbings to complete a picture. Also in this area is the butterfly house, where you can see butterflies flutter by, and Princess Tiana’s Wedding Showcase, which is a great area for pictures.

4. By the way, take pictures with your kids at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. Ask them to pose like the characters they are standing in front of or just be silly. And it’s never too early to be thinking about that Christmas card photo. So much for Santa, Christmas sweaters and snow — when it’s cold outside at Christmas, you can send everyone a picture of the Florida sunshine. I met a mom with six kids at EPCOT last week, she was lining them all up in front of Mrs. Potts and the Beauty and the Beast topiaries. The six little stair-steps were all doing their best “I’m a little teapot” pose, and the mom told me that was definitely going to be her Christmas card picture this year.

5. Take time to sing and dance. Don’t forget to take your kids to one of the Flower Power concerts held on weekend evenings during the festival. Sure, they may not know who David Cassidy is, but that doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy the music. Do an Internet search and stream a Partridge Family episode or a little “I Think I Love You” audio to get your kids familiar with who they will be watching.

The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival continues at Walt Disney World through May 16.

If you want to see more of what’s in store, check out this story and photo gallery.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite parks for younger children because of all of the animal sightings and the great shows. Here are a couple of rides that the preschool set will enjoy:

Kilimanjaro Safaris: Climb into an off-road vehicle for this safari through 100 acres of savannah in Animal Kingdom’s Africa area. You and your child could see giraffes, elephants, flamingos, rhinos, antelope and maybe even a lion or two. This attraction is best experienced in the morning, when the animals are more active and easily seen.

Triceratop Spin: Little ones will enjoy making their dino go up and down on this circular ride in the DinoLand U.S.A. area of Animal Kingdom. This gentle ride is similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant in the Magic Kingdom.

Wildlife Express Train: What child doesn’t love a train? This one runs every 5-7 minutes and takes you between the Harambe, Africa area and Rafiki’s Planet Watch. You can get off the train at Rafiki’s Planet Watch to take part in some educational activities and learn about animal conservation.

This post is part of “Under 5 Friday,” a series of posts with my best tips for taking young children to Walt Disney World.

Are you planning your first trip to Walt Disney World? One of the best ways to be sure you are getting the most out of your vacation (and your time and money) is to use a a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations, like the folks at Enchanted Destinations.

There is a lot to see and do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including a couple of great rides that even children under age 5 can enjoy:

Star Tours: Star Wars fans will enjoy this motion-simulator ride to the moon of Endor. When your pilot takes a wrong turn, you blast-off to an entirely new adventure. This ride is in a vehicle that simulates twists and turns without actually going anywhere. The ride queue is filled with Star Wars props and familiar characters, which can also be fun for your jedis.

Toy Story Midway Mania!: Join Woody and other friends from Toy Story on this ride through classic carnival games. You will use a shooter on your car to pop balloons and shoot water in 3-D. Children will need to wear 3-D glasses to get the full effect of this slow-moving ride.

This post is part of “Under 5 Friday,” a series of posts designed to give advice on taking children ages 5 and under to theme parks.

How do you know it's cold at the Magic Kingdom? You'll see the parade dancers wearing skin-colored bodysuits under their costumes.

In case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere warm, I’ll start this post by noting that much of the United States has been in a pattern of unusual cold weather for the past two weeks. Central Florida has had temperatures below freezing at night since the first of the year. Last week, the high temps barely reached 45 degrees many days.

And I talked to several Walt Disney World visitors who were in complete shock.

Today, it’s going to be 70 degrees and gorgeous. Exactly what you expect when you plant a winter visit to Walt Disney World, right?

But after living in Florida for 16 winters, I’m here to tell you that freezing weather does happen here. It happens every year for at least a day or two.

So here are some tips for dealing with cold during your Walt Disney World visit:

Pay attention to Orlando’s weather forecast before you leave home and pack accordingly. Don’t expect that because you’re coming to Florida, all you will need are shorts and tank tops. I talked with one family at the Magic Kingdom this weekend who had left their winter gear behind in Indiana, assuming temperatures would be in the 70s. One cab ride and $400 Wal-mart shopping trip later, they were all clothed in long pants, jackets and hats on their vacation, trying to decide whether to pay an extra bag fee or leave the new stuff behind.

Wear layers to the parks. Even on the coldest days of this cold snap, there was a 20 degree difference between the morning and afternoon temperatures most days, so bring some layers you can shed. On our Sunday visit to the Magic Kingdom, my daughter and I opted for three layers on top (long-john top, long-sleeved shirt, fleece hoodie) rather than a winter coat, because we figured at some point we would be carrying those coats around rather than wearing them. We wore long-johns under our pants, two pairs of socks and hats. We stayed warm, even when we were waiting for the afternoon parade.

Take advantage of the activities inside the resorts in the mornings and evenings, while heading to the theme parks during the warmer afternoons. Even people who have stayed at Walt Disney World resorts multiple times are surprised to find out about the many free activities offered at their resorts. So take a look at that activity schedule you were given when you checked in – you and your kids can play wildlife games at Kidani Village or learn to make a lei at the Polynesian.

Don’t forget sunscreen, and add lip balm to your pack. Even though you are freezing, the Florida sun can still be brutal. And the cold weather means drier air and chapped lips.

Parents, check your attitude. I talked to a lot of cold, happy people this weekend at Walt Disney World, but I also encountered some very unhappy families. Grown-ups, remember that it’s your job to make the best of your vacation, even if it is not turning out as you expected. There is lots of fun to be had at Walt Disney World during very hot weather, very cold weather, monsoons or hurricanes. You just need to be open to changing your plans and finding it. You are going to set the tone for how your children remember this trip, so make the best of it for everyone involved. (And remember that even Disney still can’t control the weather!)

A day at EPCOT is fun for all ages, with plenty of sights, sounds, shows and international food to sample. And while EPCOT is really known for these things over the many rides in Fantasyland, there are still a couple of “must-see” rides here for younger children.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros: This gentle boat ride takes families through a tour of many Mexican landmarks. Riders are accompanied by a cartoon Donald Duck, who is trying to catch up with his two Spanish-speaking friends Jose Carioca and Panchito. There’s nothing to fear here, and preschoolers will delight in the indoor “fireworks” at the end of the cruise.

Journey Into Imagination with Figment: The mischievous purple dragon Figment takes over a ride-through tour of the Imagination Institute. This slow-moving ride shows children how all the senses influence imagination. A portion at the end where Figment takes you through his upside-down world uses neon colors, bright lights and loud music, which could momentarily frighten sensitive youngsters.

Living with the Land: This boat-ride shows you how food is grown in the many ecosystems on earth. The real treat is at the end of the ride, when you journey through laboratories where scientists are experimenting with new ways to grow food.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends: Ride in a clamshell under the sea, where you’ll join the hunt for the loveable clown fish Nemo. This is a gentle, ride-through attraction, and it ends with an amazing sight – many characters from Finding Nemo swimming with real fish inside a giant aqaurium.

This post is part of “Under 5 Friday,” a series of posts designed to give advice on taking children ages 5 and under to theme parks.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin: This neon-colored ride based on the “Toy Story” movies puts you inside a video game. Use the laser cannons in your space cruisers to shoot at Zurg’s robots. Buzz Lightyear’s space cruisers spin and move quickly, but there are no “roller-coaster” moves here. The ride is immersive and has loud noises and bright colors, which may disturb children prone to over-stimulation.

Cinderella’s Golden Carousel: No theme park visit is complete without a spin on the carousel. This classic, antique version features 90 prancing horses and classic Disney music. Parents can ride standing next to their little ones, and there are benches for those desiring a calmer ride.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Ride inside Dumbo as he takes to the skies and circles around a circus ball. Parents can ride alongside their children on this fanciful ride, which turns in circles and rises up and down. Kids afraid of Disney’s indoor “dark rides” may find this outdoors ride more to their liking.

It’s A Small World: This classic ride is all Disney. Hundreds of dolls dressed in international costumes sing while you cruise through in a slow-moving boat. This ride represents children from more than 100 countries, with a message of the common themes that unite us all. The only thing that may cause a little family disharmony is the good chance that “It’s a Small World” could be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Mad Tea Party: Whirling tea cups spin around and around on this outdoor ride in Fantasyland. Even the smallest children delight in this easy-going ride, where you can control how fast your cup spins.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin: Discover a whole new world as a magic carpet ride takes you high above Adventureland. The carpets fly up, down and around on this gently moving attraction.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Ride inside a hunny pot right into the pages of a Winnie the Pooh storybook. This is a slow-moving “dark ride” that takes you inside scenes featuring A.A. Milne’s classic characters. The “very blustery day” storm section may scare some young children.

Peter Pan’s Flight: Join Wendy Darling and Peter Pan on a flight over Big Ben, London Bridge and more sights of nighttime in London. This is another of Disney’s indoor, slow-moving “dark rides.” Be sure to get a Fastpass, because this is one of the most popular rides in the park.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority: This ride is essentially an elevated train that takes you in and out of the attractions in Tomorrowland. Little ones who are intrigued by Space Mountain, but still too small to ride, will appreciate the dark glimpse inside Walt Disney World’s famous rollercoaster.

Disney is calling 2010 the “Year to Volunteer,” and Disney Parks is rewarding those who serve with free Disney tickets.

This campaign is a big boon for families, because it allows all members of the family to go to Walt Disney World or Disneyland for free on the same day. This differs from the birthday campaign last year, where only the birthday boy or girl got in free.

Disney has teamed up with the HandsOn Network for this promotion. I have worked with the Hands-On Network to volunteer in the past, and I love it. It’s an easy way to become involved in your community and to “sample” different types of community service organizations before committing to volunteer long-term for one.

Here’s how the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” campaign works:

1. Sign up for a volunteer opportunity online. Opportunities are offered in communities throughout the United States and Canada. You must sign up for an approved opportunity through this site. There is no alternate way to document volunteer hours.
2. Complete your volunteer service and do some good in your community!
3. The volunteer organization will verify your service and you’ll get an e-mail from Disney with a voucher.
4. Redeem your voucher for a 1-day, 1-park ticket and have some fun!

Some tips about using Disney’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program for a free ticket:

• Kids ages 6 and up can participate. Be sure to look at the minimum age required for the different volunteer opportunities. When browsing the opportunities in my area, I found several that my 6-year-old daughter would enjoy, including visiting with nursing home residents and making crafts and cards for shut-in seniors.
• You must own a residence in the United States or Canada to be eligible, but you do not have to be a U.S. citizen. Citizens of other countries who own vacation homes here can sign up for volunteer service while they are in the United States and take advantage of this program.
• The Web site lists volunteer activities for the next 60 days. There are new ones being added all the time, so if you don’t see something that interests you now, check back later.
• Disney says that the Hands On Network reaches 83 percent of the U.S. population. I have searched some rural areas and found that the closest opportunities were sometimes 50-100 miles away. If you live in a rural area, remember that you can search and sign up for opportunities anywhere. Perhaps you could combine your volunteer service with a family trip you already have planned.
• You will need a driver’s license, government-issued photo ID or passport to redeem your voucher at the ticket window. Children under 18 who don’t have one of these will need a copy of their birth certificate.
• If you have a multi-day ticket or annual pass, you can use your voucher for a FASTPASS special exchange card or a special ear hat figurine with trading pins. Or you can choose to donate your free ticket to a non-profit organization.
• There are blackout dates for this promotion. You cannot use your voucher to get a free ticket March 29-April 8 or July 4 at Walt Disney World. At Disneyland, the blackout dates are Feb. 13-14, March 21, June 21-22, July 4, Nov. 21 and Dec. 11-12.
• This Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promotion ends on Dec. 15, 2009. You must use your ticket voucher by this date.

Here’s one of Disney’s TV ads about the new program. It features some folks I love, the Muppets. And Taye Diggs isn’t so bad to look at either.

The adults golfed and went out to dinner without any worry about who was watching the kids, and the moms got a break.

Fast-forward to my adult life. After becoming a mom, I quickly realized that vacationing still required a lot of work from me. We went on a couple of trips that I would classify as anything but relaxing.

And that’s why I recommend at least one night out for mom and dad during a Central Florida vacation. But who’s going to watch the kids? If you can’t bring a babysitter with you, you have two options: A resort childcare center or an in-room babysitter.

Resort Childcare Centers

A handful of Walt Disney World resorts have childcare centers. They include the Neverland Club at the Polynesian Resort, Cub’s Den at Wilderness Lodge, Sandcastle Club at the Yacht and Beach Club and Simba’s Clubhouse at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. While some of the details vary, these centers are generally open from 4 p.m. or so until midnight. They are for children ages 4 to 12, who must be completely potty-trained (no pull-ups allowed). They serve a kid-friendly dinner and children play games, do crafts and watch movies. There are often video game systems available as well.

The current cost is $11 per hour. It depends on the resort, but, in general, you do not have to be staying at that resort to use the children’s activity center there. For example, you and your husband could plan a quiet dinner at Artist Point and drop off your children at the Cub’s Den while you dine, even if you are staying at Pop Century.

My daughter’s personal favorite childcare center is Camp Dolphin at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. She loves spending evenings there and actually asks when she can go back. And she is enthralled with Miss Thelma, a longtime employee of Camp Dolphin. Camp Dolphin is $10 per hour. One big benefit of using Camp Dolphin is that if you dine at Todd English’s bluezoo, Shula’s Steak House or Il Mulino (all wonderful restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin) OR if you get a spa service at the Mandara Spa, you get two hours of childcare for free. That can really help cut the cost of your date night.

In-Room Babysitting

If your children are too young or you are planning to stay out later than midnight, in-room babysitting may be your best option. There are several services available in the Orlando area, and most hotels have a particular one that they recommend, so check with the concierge at your resort.

While I have not used in-room babysitting, Kid’s Nite Out is the most recommended service. In fact, Kid’s Nite Out is the only service recommended by Walt Disney World, and you know Disney has vetted it very carefully before recommending them.

In general, in-room nannies will come to your room at any time during the day or evening. They will watch your children and keep them entertained, feeding them only as you have authorized and taking them outside the room only if you tell them to. (You can hire nannies to take your children into the parks, etc., if you are comfortable with that.) The employees are screened thoroughly and are required to have first aid and CPR training. Many of the nannies bring toys, games or movies to play with your children.

In-room nannies also allow you to ensure that your children are in bed at a particular time, and the cost can be cheaper than the children’s activities centers if you have multiple children, so be sure to run that comparison.

If you’re looking for a place to go on a date night in Central Florida, my husband and I recently enjoyed a great night out in downtown Celebration, including dinner at the Columbia Restaurant. I wrote about it during my guest-blogging stint at i.seekissimmee.com.

Photo by Eccentric Scholar

Travel bloggers around the Web are writing about their three best travel secrets, and I was recently tagged by Shannon Lane of ShannonLane.com to reveal mine. There have been tales of relaxing on deserted beach Legzira Plage in Morrocco and hiking through the beautiful Skocjan Cave in Slovenia. And Shannon shared a secret for finding a delicious rendition of my favorite comfort food, risotto, in a place where it’s not even on the menu.

So in thinking about the travel secrets I could share, I decided to go with what I really know. And that’s Orlando and Walt Disney World – the vacationland teeming with noisy tourists and screaming children. Yes, I love it. But I am willing to admit that it’s noisy, and mama needs a few minutes of peace every now and again.

So, without further adieu, here are my three secret places to steal a quiet moment in Orlando:

1. Lobby of the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
   Orlando’s airport is, let’s face it, more kid-filled than many other airports in the country because of its proximity to the Most Magical Place on Earth. And that means more noise. And crying. And lost balloons. So when you find yourself with some time to kill before you need to head to your gate, head to this hotel lobby on the fourth floor. There are plenty of quiet corners with comfortable seating, wi-fi and a bar where you can get a cup of coffee or a drink.
   Bonus tip: The hotel lobby bathrooms are also cleaner, quieter and less-crowded than those inside the airport itself.
2. Lakefront in Celebration, Florida
   This waterfront shopping and dining district can be crowded, but head to the edges of the district – the small park at the end of Market Street, the benches near the fountain on Front Street – and you’ll find peace and great people-watching.
   Bonus tip: Be sure to stop into the Columbia Restaurant on Front Street for the best mojito in the U.S. or a glass of their housemade sangria.
3. Plaza Rose Garden in Disney’s Magic Kingdom
   Believe it or not, there is peace to be found at the base of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World. Nestled below the street level in between the paths from Main Street U.S.A. to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, the Plaza Rose Garden offers a quiet respite from the busy Magic Kingdom park. It’s not surprising that this is a favorite place for popping the question at Walt Disney World. The waterfall at the entrance to Tomorrowland drowns out the noise of the crowds above you, and you can gaze at the prize-winning roses and take a needed break.
   Bonus tip: The Plaza Rose Garden is also an excellent place to watch the Wishes fireworks show each night at the Magic Kingdom.

The 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets meme was started by Katie from Tripbase.com.  You can hop over there to see a list of the other bloggers who have been tagged to participate. As for me, I’m tagging three more travel bloggers to share their secrets:

• Heather from Chick Vacations
• James from ManTripping
• CanCan from Mom Most Traveled

My daughter and I tested a Guardian Angel Bracelet ID during a weeklong vacation at Walt Disney World.

The bracelets are durable plastic wristbands that are waterproof and have a plastic lock on them. They come in a package with a permanent marker.

The idea here is simple: Write your cell phone number on the bracelet and put it on your child. It’s easy to cut off the excess length on the bracelet and get a good fit.

The second key to this bracelet working is to talk to your child about the bracelet and its purpose. Tell your children that if they get lost, they should find a police officer, security guard or another mommy with kids, ask for help, and show the bracelet.

We put the bracelet on my 6-year-old daughter on a Sunday. She wore it on theme park rides, in the bath, shower and pool and even to a college football game before we cut it off the next Sunday night. The bracelet was still in great shape. My phone number had faded slightly, but was still perfectly readable.

We have tested a number of products to help children in the event they become lost, and Guardian Angel Bracelet ID is far and away my favorite. It is a simple concept that is easy for kids to understand. It is also comfortable for them to wear, and yet there’s no risk of it falling off or them being able to take it off, as with other devices we have tried.

While my daughter knows my cell phone number, I have no way of knowing if she would panic and forget it if she were to get lost, so a bracelet like this gives us both piece of mind when we are in a crowded or unfamiliar place.

You can buy the Guardian Angel Bracelet ID online. They are sold in a pack of 10 with a marker for $9.95. Larger packs for schools or groups are also available.

Disclosure notice: I was sent a free package of Guardian Angel Bracelet IDs by the company, in the hopes that I would review their product. This review represents my honest opinion of this product, and I was not compensated for it in any way.