When you plan your trip to Florida consider several things. First, the weather. Central Florida is just above the tropic zone. Summer here is hot and humid with very little breeze if you're not on the coast. The temperatures range from 76 degrees at night to upwards of 100 degrees in the height of the day. These temps may not seem extreme but 97 degrees in Florida is much more oppressive than in New York or Wisconsin. The key is hydration. To be outside in the Florida heat it's recommended to drink 8-12 ounces every hour. That's for those who live here. One tip I can give you is to drink consistently. Many folks get up, go to breakfast, drink coffee or tea, and don't drink for another hour or two. Heat stroke or heat exhaustion creeps up on you and by the time you take in anything you tend to drink like a camel. Now you're sloshing around feeling way too full and still not feeling well. So, drink moderately throughout the day, keep an eye on the little ones, and you should be alright. Also, stick to water or Gatorade, not soda or pop. The body doesn't absorb it as quickly and some of the ingredients can make you feel worse.
Then there's the sun itself. You're considerably closer to the equator so the sun will actually appear larger, especially to those from northern Europe. A good hat is recommended (try one with a good brim made of straw). It keeps the sun from beating directly on your head. You can buy them at any local store for very little. Just make sure you take it off before you get on the rides or you'll need a new hat when you get off it!
Sunblock is a must for anyone including the locals. I don't recommend any particular brand because it's not important but get something with a minimum SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 35 or higher. It'll say so right on the bottle. Again, buy them outside the theme parks where you can get them for as much as 50% less than inside. My favorite is Wal-Mart brand called No-Ad. You can get a huge bottle for about $8.00. That can keep the whole crowd going all week.
If you have pets and are coming from not too far away, check with the hotels you reserve with and ask their pet policies. I know for a fact that most of them do not have pet accomodations but can suggest boarding kennels. If you're local then all the parks have day boarding usually about $15-20.00/day. Better to leave the pets at home or with a caretaker.
Carry very little cash when you travel. You're relatively safe in the parks but Orlando is a large city and has a fair amount of crime. I hate to admit it but, like anywhere you have a lot of tourists, there are those who will prey on them. The local authorities concentrate heavily on this and they have police Officer details dedicated to just keeping the visitors safe. You know they can't be everywhere so don't carry anything a thief can use. Use traveler's checks, or credit cards. I'll finish this tomorrow so check back and thanks. I hope this is helpful.
