Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The sun shines bright in both California and Florida, which can cause plenty of grief if you're not prepared for it. Bring along sunscreen and broad-brimmed hats for everyone to wear. You're also apt to do a great deal of walking and standing in line, so you should have a pair of comfortable shoes with you. (Leave the 6-inch stilettos at home.) Bottled water, hand-held fans and spray bottles can also help you beat the heat. It rarely rains in California, but Orlando gets a lot of it, particularly during the summer and early fall. An umbrella and/or wet weather clothes are recommended. Finally, if you intend to stay in the parks after dark, pack a sweater or a sweatshirt. Temperatures can drop quite a bit after the sun goes down.
Disney parks pride themselves on recovering "lost parents" quickly, but you can pack materials to help keep your group together. Bring 2-way walkie-talkies or cell phones for everyone to communicate with each other if you get separated. Tag anything expensive (such as a camcorder) with an ID marking it as yours. If you have young kids, use children's leashes or wrist bands to prevent them from wandering off. The Disney parks all offer maps at the entrance, which every member of your party should take, but you should also prepare 3-by-5 cards containing directions to and from your hotel, as well as the phone number to your room.
Every Disney park features costumed mascots like Mickey and Donald who wander about and talk to visitors. If you bring an autograph book along, they will sign it for you: an inexpensive yet memorable souvenir. Include other forms of distraction for those long waits in line or while you're waiting for a parade to begin. Kids appreciate coloring books and activity books, and you might consider a hand-held game as well. Bubble blowers and bottles of bubble fluid make apt distractions, preventing the children from getting too squirrelly while they wait for their favorite rides. While the Disney parks officially forbid outside food, they rarely enforce the policy, and packages of crackers and other snacks make the waits easier to endure as well.