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An age-by-age guide to Disney World activities

continued from page 5
Preteens and Teens (10 and over):

Keep In Mind: Kids will want the independence to explore, without you beside them. Depending on their maturity and your level of comfort, consider giving kids the opportunity to ride some attractions alone or with siblings. Understand that kids this age are very self-conscious and often feel embarrassed by their parents. So think twice before donning that Goofy hat!

Parks You Should See: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach water park, and the Disney Quest arcade located at Downtown Disney.

Touring Strategies: Hit the parks early and head for the most popular thrill rides first. Utilise the Fast Pass system to minimise waiting time. Older teens can run ahead and the secure the Fast Passes for the whole family.

Don't Miss:
In the Magic Kingdom: Space Mountain; Splash Mountain; Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; Haunted Mansion

In Disney-MGM Studios: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror; Rock 'n' Roller Coaster; Star Tours; Disney Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-Play It!; The Great Movie Ride; Walt Disney: One Man's Dream (which contains interesting architectural models of Disney theme parks); Studios Backlot Tour

In the Animal Kingdom: Kali River Rapids; Kilimanjaro Safaris; Dinosaur; It's Tough to be a Bug

In Epcot Center: Space Ship Earth; Test Track; Body Wars; Illuminations; Honey I Shrunk the Audience; Innoventions; Cranium Command

Parades to Catch: Disney Stars and Motor cars parade at Disney-MGM Studios, with cool cars, Star Wars characters, and hard-to-find villains, such as Hades from Hercules.

Skip: Character shows (kids will claim they're too babyish)

Kids May Be Scared By: Alien Encounter and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Meal Plans: Restaurants with all-you-can eat buffets will satisfy teens' varied tastes and big appetites! Try out the brand-new Boma at the African Kingdom Lodge Hotel, which features African dishes along with American classics. Ethnic restaurants are fun to sample, since kids are more adventurous eaters at this age. (There are plenty to choose from in Epcot's World Showcase!) And, if you have sports-loving sons or daughters, make sure you eat at the ESPN Club at Disney's Boardwalk. It's a fan's paradise, with televisions everywhere (even in the bathrooms!)

Best Spots to Greet Characters: Parades - especially the nighttime SpectroMagic in Magic Kingdom. Kids this age still love seeing characters, but don't always want to admit it. Parades allow them to view their favourites, without having to pose with them.

Places to Chill Out: Water parks - especially Blizzard Beach (where daredevils will zoom down the 120-foot Summit Plummit waterslide at speeds up to 60 miles an hour).

Hot Tips:

If possible, have kids travel with friends, or other family members close in age.

Get a pair of two-way radios, so mature, responsible kids can venture off a bit on their own, yet still stay in constant contact.

Check the age-by-age guides for the lastest tips and hints to make the most of your next Disney vacation:

(Ages Birth to 2 Years)

(Ages 3 to 6 Years)

(Ages 7 to 10 Years)

(10 and over)