We are taking our daughter on her first holiday ,any advice greatly recieved!

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, We won a holiday on mumsnet and will be going to Florida soon with our 5 year old daughter. We've never taken her on holiday before, so we'd be really greatfull of any tips for what to take, what to do etc. Things like, what about a child seat for the hire car etc.
Also does anyone know how much a day ticket to Disney world/ Universal is?
Thanks in advance for any advice. We are sooo excited!

bump

Anyone? I have no experience of traveling with a young child. She also has SEN's and is more likely to run off, and will probubly need a bit more entertaining on the flight.

Congratulations on winning
Just make sure you have a passport in time - get her one NOW.
No experience of Florida, but all hire car companies will supply a car seat if you book it when you book the car.
You will be fine - and just use your common sense about small interesting toys / activities to pack for the flight. There will be a saet-back screen and a choice of films and cartoons.

Thank you. Sounds great! Good idea about storys on CD, that will give me a break too.

And if yours and DH's passports are old - nearly out of date - check that they are acceptable for U.S entry - a Post Office that checks passports should be able to tell you.

Thank you Blu, I am going to apply for her passport now. It's great that she can watch DVD's!

look on www.thedibb.co.uk and Walt Disney World website for info on park tickets - don't just buy one day tickets though - guarantee you will spend more than a day there - there is a 14 day for the price of 7 day ticket offer at the moment.

We are going on May 18!!

We are going for a week though. We already have unlimited access to sea world, busch Gardens and a giant water park for free. I just wanted my daughter to see Disney, and I love Universal studios, I last went when I was 13.
I've looked on the net but it dosn't tell you about single day passes. If I remember rightly, last time we bought a day ticket for Disney and got one free.

\Dineyworld

You can buy tickets direct with them or if you google you may get some deals.

Good site for all things Disneyworld: here

Universal

Seaworld

You can just take a booster cushion with you for the car, or hire one via the car rental company. Some of the cars have inbuilt boosters.

Let her take a bag forthe plane with toys and books. Chose a few little ones, rather than one or two big ones. If she has a DS it is good.

Who are you flying with? There will be films for her on the plane to watch, and TV programmes. Some flights are better than others.

There isn't a huge amount to do in Orlando other than the parks IME. But the parks can keep you busyf or ages.

Disney is best for little ones as there are more rides for them. Universal is better for older cidlren and adults.

Busch Gardens is quite a drive. The rides are mainly bigger ones IIRR, but the zoo part is supposed to be good.

Quick google; here says that you can buy a 3 day ticket for $266.62. You get 2 days free (so 5 days in total)

2 days for $122
1 day for $92 (child is $77)

Each of the above also includes an extra day's free entry into one of the two Disney Water parks.

Thanks everyone, I'm really looking forward to it. I'm not sure when we're going yet. Hopefully during the Easter holliday.