Take the Grandchildren to Walt Disney World

Kids love swimming pools, and Disney resorts come with some of the best. Children's favorites: the Volcano Pool at Disney's Polynesian Resort featuring a smoking volcano slide, underwater music, and sparkling waterfall, all with a superb view of the Seven Seas Lagoon; the Wilderness Lodge's boulder-lined pool featuring glistening waterfalls, rocky overlooks, a fun water slide, and nearby geyser; the eye-popping Stormalong Bay, a mini-water park complex that meanders between the Yacht and Beach Club, offering three acres of winding, watery delight including sandy bottom pools, a giant "shipwreck" waterslide, tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide next to the beach, and enough length to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart's delight.

When you take the grandchildren to Walt Disney World, if you're traveling with young children, at least one or two character meals are a must. These extremely popular dining spots, offered at both the theme parks and the Walt Disney World resort hotels, are a perfect way for the grandchildren to spend extra time with their favorite characters.

Young ladies don their favorite Disney princess costumes at Restaurant Akershus in Epcot's Norway pavilion to dine with Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle, while both boys and girls alike adore the Fantasyland breakfast offered at the Magic Kingdom's Cinderella's Castle. Just be sure to call 407-WDW-DINE exactly 90 days prior at 7 a.m. Eastern time to assure yourselves a spot at these coveted venues.

Gather 'round the campfire each evening at Disney's Ft. Wilderness for a sing-along, marshmallow roast, and a Disney animated movie. It's complimentary to all Walt Disney World resort guests.

Each morning one of Disney's theme parks opens an hour early only for guests staying at a Disney resort. The Magic Kingdom's early open days are Sunday and Thursday, a perfect opportunity to knock off the children's attractions in Fantasyland where waits can sometimes be extremely lengthy during normal park hours.

The wonderful Share a Dream Come True parade is Walt Disney World's best where giant floats topped with rotating globes, twinkling lights, and live Disney characters are accompanied by over a hundred walking characters and a medley of classic Disney songs. And the Jiminy Cricket narrated nighttime fireworks display is probably the most magical experience in all of Disney when you take the grandchildren to Walt Disney World.

Rent one of these two-seater mini-power boats for zipping around one of Disney's waterways. The grandkids will love you for it. They're available at the Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, the Yacht and Beach Club, Downtown Disney, and the Wilderness Lodge.

Disney has two of the most fantastic water parks imaginable, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, each offering their own brand of wonder. At Blizzard Beach you'll find quite a few tame attractions along with wild, rushing water and death-defying slides. Typhoon Lagoon offers a whopper of a surf pool. But both have wonderful children's areas with smaller versions of the adult attractions. There are even areas for the adolescent set.

About the author: Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.

The guys will tell you it's just a couple of hours - don't you believe it. Disney tickets cost hundreds of dollars, why would they just give them away???