Eileen Ogintz - Kids Guide to Orlando

Thanks to Regina Yemma for games and research help, and to Heather Kick for fact-checking.

All the information in this guidebook is subject to change. We recommend that you call ahead to obtain current information before traveling.

Copyright 2013 Eileen Ogintz

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Editor: Amy Lyons
Project Editor: Lauren Brancato
Layout: Maggie Peterson
Text Design: Sheryl Kober
Illustrations licensed by Shutterstock.com

e-ISBN 978-0-7627-9271-9

All those months of planning that long plane ride and now youre really here on a big cruise ship.

A lot of families combine a Disney Cruise or one on another cruise line with a visit to Orlando. You can cruise from Port Canaveral, about an hour from Orlando on Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, as well as on a Disney Cruise.

Look around at all the other kids. There may be hundreds on board who want to make new friends, just like you! On Disneys ships, your favorite characters and princesses will be sailing with you too.

DID YOU KNOW?

Well over a million kids cruise each year.

DID YOU KNOW?

The rear end of a ship is called the stern; the bow is the front of the ship. The bridge is the area where the captain and his officers navigate, and the kitchen is called a galley.

It seems like the whole crewand there are a lot of themare smiling at you as you board the ship. Theyre from all over the world and may not get to see their families for months at a time. Ask them to show you pictures of their kids.

Youll see a lot of people in white uniforms. They have all different jobs, from mopping the deck to serving drinks to figuring out the ships route. The captain is the boss. Youll probably hear him on the loudspeakers making announcements.

Whats Cool? Cruise ships are big, and it is easy to get lost. So kids can put pictures or decorations on the door to their staterooms (thats what rooms are called on board) to make it easier to find. Bring along some tape!

The ship is huge more like a floating hotel or even a small town. There are restaurants and swimming pools, movie theaters and libraries, Internet cafes, musical theaters and, most important, huge Kids Clubs.

The first thing you need to do is figure out where your stateroom is. Its probably smaller than your room at home, but its so cozy! Does your bed fold down from the wall at night? If youre lucky, youll discover a towel-animal when you go to bed. Ask your stewardthe person who takes care of your cabinto show how to make a monkey or a duck. Some kids put a picture on their door so they know which stateroom is theirs because they all look alike.

DID YOU KNOW?

A baby giraffe can be over six feet tall! You might meet one at during a stop at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Every night, your steward will leave you a schedule of the next days activitiesspecialized for your age group at the Kids Club. You can stay busy from morning until late at night! Take your pick: scavenger hunts, game night, dinners, karaoke, talent shows, the latest computer and arcade games. The counselors here can help you to meet some kidsespecially if youre shy. The Kids Club is probably the second place you want to find on board after your stateroom. A lot of times its on one of the top decks, near the pool. And the counselors usually have an open house the first afternoon or night of the cruise.

Theres also a lot to do with your familyshows at night, karaoke, basketball and shuffleboard, table tennis, and the hot tubs.

Youll be just as busy off the ship exploring the ports with your family. You may go to the cruise lines private island too. Fun!

Whats Cool? On board ship, your meals, except at certain places, have already been paid for so you can order whatever you liketheres no extra chargeeven for seconds! A cruise is a great time to try foods you may not have eaten before!

The other good news on board is you should never be hungry. Theres food somewhere all day and all evening pizza, ice cream, cookies, sandwiches, fruit You can order room service for free too. Some kids like to order a snack when they get back from exploring the ports with their families.

A lot of kids like to go to the Kids Clubs just so they can hang out with their friendsand without their moms and dads. The clubs are open at night so you can eat dinner with your family and then meet up with your friends.

Even though the ship is big, youll have it figured out in a day or so. Quick tip: A lot of times its faster to go up and down the stairs than to wait for the elevators.

Another tip: If youre really hungry in the morning, go to the buffet where you can get a lot of different food fast.

Mickey-shaped waffles anybody?

Whats Cool? The inside cabins of Disneys newest ships have virtual portholes where you might see your favorite characters float by.

TELL THE ADULTS:

• Soon after you board ship, there will be a safety drill where you will all gather at your muster stations with your life veststhe same place you would go in an emergency. It is important to make sure everyone in your family knows how to get there and what to do if there is an emergency because kids and parents on board ship likely wont be together all the time with all the activities on board.