If you have enough trouble getting your kids out of the house in the morning, dragging them thousands of miles away may seem like an insurmountable challenge. But family travel can be immensely rewarding, giving you new ways of seeing the world through smaller pairs of eyes.

No city in the world is geared more to family travel than Orlando. In addition to its theme parks, Orlando's recreational facilities provide an abundance of opportunities for family fun. Most restaurants have lower-priced ($4-$7) children's menus (if not the appetizer menu works just as well) and fun distractions such as placemats to color while younger diners wait for their food. Many of the hotels and resorts offer children's activity centers.

Keep an eye out for coupons discounting meals and attractions, they can be found practically everywhere. The Calendar section in Friday's Orlando Sentinel newspaper often contains coupons and good deals. Many restaurants, especially those in tourist areas, offer great discounts that are yours for the clipping. Check the information you receive from the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, including free or cheap things to do. Additionally, many hotel lobbies and attractions have free coupon books for the taking.

Some theme parks offer parent-swap programs in which one parent can ride without the children, then switch off and let the other parent ride without returning to the end of the line. Inquire at Guest Services or Guest Relations, near the park entrances for details on which rides are included.

Here are more suggestions for making traveling with children easier:

Are Your Kids Old Enough? -- Do you really want to bring an infant or toddler to the parks? If you plan on visiting Disney several times as your children grow, then the best age for a first visit to Disney is just about three years old. Why? Because the kids are old enough to walk around, enjoy the sights and sounds, and a good deal of the rides and shows as well. The thrill rides would most likely frighten them, but most inappropriate rides for the tiny tot set have height restrictions that prevent any unfortunate mistakes. If, however, this trip is going to be a one-time trip, then I recommend waiting until your child is between 7 and 12. They'll still be able to appreciate the magic and wonder of the experience, but won't have reached the stage where all they'll want is chills and thrills.

Some of the characters walking about may make young kids a bit nervous, though most will run right up to Donald or Mickey and give them a big hug. Younger kids may need a nap just when you want to see a show or hop on an attraction, but if you have kids this is nothing new to you. When you plan your day's activities, be sure to account for necessary breaks and naps. Will your whole family be able to enjoy the experiences that Disney, along with the other parks, have to offer? This is something you will have to decide. My five kids range in age from 3 to 11, and we have traveled with just about every age combination you can think of. On our first family trip, my oldest (now 11) was 4, and his two younger siblings were ages 3 and 1. While the one-year-old has absolutely no recollection of the trip, he was thoroughly amused by the sights and sounds everywhere we went. The 3-year-old (now 9) still remembers plenty. You'll need to take into account your kids' stamina, interest, and tolerance levels before you decide whether to make the trip, and when planning your daily itineraries. My kids could go well into the evening inside the parks, but many other children can't, so it may take you longer to cover a park (it took me 2-3 days to do Magic Kingdom when my youngest was 2). My 7-year-old nephew was petrified by some of the rides in the parks, and even my own kids, who'll try anything once and have never been weary of rides, freak out at attractions involving sensory effects. It may be repetitious, but I'll say it again: Know your own child before deciding whether he or she's ready for this sort of trip. Not every child will fall in love with Disney World at first sight, and it's a rather large expense to incur if junior's going to be frightened, sleepy, or cranky for the whole trip.

Planning Ahead -- Make reservations for "character breakfasts" at Disney as soon as possible. Disney usually accepts them up to 90 days in advance, and many are booked minutes after the 90-day window opens so mark your calendar to call. Also, in any park, check the daily schedule for character appearances (all of the major ones post them on maps or boards near the entrances) and make sure the kids know when they're going to get to meet their heroes. It's often the highlight of their day. (Be wary, however, of promising specific characters, as schedules and character line-ups can change.) Advance planning will help you avoid running after every character you see. The "in" thing of late is getting character autographs. The lines can be quite long so you may want to pick and choose just a couple of favorite characters to do this with.

Packing -- Although your home may be toddler-proof, hotel accommodations aren't. Bring blank plugs to cover outlets and whatever else is necessary to prevent an accident from occurring in your room. Most hotels have some type of cribs available, however they are usually limited in number. As well, some hotels have bedrails available, though they are not available as readily as cribs are. Locals can spot tourists by their bright red, just-toasted sunburn; both parents and children should heed this reminder: Don't forget to bring and use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 30. If you do forget it, it's available at convenience stores, drugstores, and some theme-park shops. Young children should be slathered, even if they're in a stroller, and be sure to pack a wide-brim hat for infants and toddlers. Adults and children alike should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Accommodations -- Kids under 12, and, in many cases, those as old as 17, stay free in their parent's room in most hotels, but to be certain, ask when you book your room. Most hotels have pools and other recreational facilities that will give you a little no-extra-cost downtime. If you want to skip a rental car and aren't staying at Disney, International Drive and Lake Buena Vista are the places to stay. Hotels often offer family discounts, and some provide free or moderate-cost shuttle service to the major attractions. International drive also has the I-Drive Trolley, which travels the length of the road, and makes numerous stops along the way.

Ground Rules -- Set firm rules before leaving home regarding things such as bedtime and souvenirs. Your kids are going to be on an adrenaline high -- you may be, too -- so don't let giddiness seize your senses. Having the kids earn their own money or at least allotting a specific pre-arranged amount for them to spend works wonders. Making them part of your decisions also works wonders. They won't feel dragged around as much when you all end up doing something other than their first choice, and will understand that everyone gets to help choose the family activities, which may mean a compromise on their part.

At the Parks -- Getting lost is as easy as remembering your name. For adults and older kids, arrange a lost-and-found meeting place as soon as you land, and if you become separated, head there immediately. Make sure your kids know to find a staff member (point out the special name-tags staff members wear) to help them. Attach a name-tag with the child's first name and your cellphone (or hotel) number to the inside of younger kids' T-shirts and tell them to find a park employee (and only a park employee) immediately and show them the tag if they become lost.

Read the Signs -- Most rides explain height restrictions, if any, or identify those that may unsettle youngsters. Save yourself and your kids some grief before you get in line and are disappointed. A bad experience, whether it be a dark, scary section of a ride, the loop-de-loop of a roller coaster, or too big of a drop, can cause your child long-lasting anxiety. It can also put a damper on things for the rest of the afternoon.

I've explained to my older boys that if they hear adults screaming, a ride probably isn't for them. With younger kids you have to be steadfast in your decisions. With the older ones, well, you may have to indulge them a bit and let them ride one of the thrillers to truly get the point across. Note that once you get past the height restriction, age is not always as much of a deciding factor when it comes to rides as one might think. It really depends on your child's previous experiences and their personalities. I've seen 5-year-olds squeal with glee on rides that I can't even stomach; on the other hand, I've observed kids around age 8 or 10 come out of some of the "touchy feely" effects movies practically in tears.

Take a Break -- The Disney parks, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld have fabulous interactive play areas offering both parents and young kids a break. Schedule some time for them, it can be a great release for the kids to be able to run around, and a nice break for you (if you can sit down to watch them that is). Many of these kid zones include water toys, and some parks offer major water-related attractions, so you'd be smart to pack a change of clothes or even a bathing suit. Rent a locker ($7 or less) for storing the spares until you need them. During summer, the Florida humidity can keep you feeling soggy all day, so you'll still appreciate the fresh clothing even if you don't go near any water.

Show Time -- Schedule an inside air-conditioned show two or three times a day, especially mid-afternoons in the summer. You may even get your littlest tikes to nap in the darkened theater. For all shows, arrive at least 20 minutes early to get the better seats, but not so early that the kids are tired of waiting (most waits are outside in the heat at Disney, while Universal has covered queue areas at most attractions).

Snack Times -- When dreaming of your vacation, you probably don't envision hours spent standing in lines, waiting and waiting (unless you have done this before that is). It helps to store some lightweight snacks in a fanny pack, backpack, or in the stroller if you have one, especially when traveling with small children. This may save you some headaches, as kids get the hungriest just when you are the furthest from food. It will also be much healthier, and will certainly save you money, as the parks' prices are quite high.

Bring Your Own? -- While you will have to haul it to and from the car and on and off trams, trains, or monorails at Disney, having your own stroller can be a tremendous help. It will be with you when you need it -- say, back in the hotel room as a high chair, or for an infant in a restaurant when a highchair is inappropriate. Remember to bring the right stroller, too. It should be lightweight, easy to fold and unfold with one hand, have a canopy, be able to recline for naps, and have plenty of storage space. The parks offer stroller rentals for around $7, however these are hard and uncomfortable. They do not recline and have little or no storage space for the gear that goes along with bringing the kids. And they are absolutely inappropriate for infants and young toddlers. They are good, however, if you have older kids who may just need an occasional break from walking. For infants and small toddlers, you may want to bring a snugly sling or backpack-type carrier for use in traveling to and from parking lots and while you're standing in line for attractions.

Recommended Reading -- The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids is a good source of additional information as is Frommer's Walt Disney World with Kids.

Kid-Friendly Tours -- SeaWorld earns its reputation as an education-friendly park with a variety of small-group tours. One of the most interesting is the Polar Expedition Guided Tour. This hour-long trek gives kids a chance to come face-to-face with a penguin and get a behind-the-scenes look at polar bears and beluga whales. Animal Rescue, another hour-long tour, lets guests see some of the park's rescue and rehabilitation work with several species, including manatees and sea turtles. Both cost $15 per person, plus park admission (tel. 800/406-2244; www.seaworld.com). Both tours are kid-friendly, though the latter may appeal more to the older ones. Both are on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your place at the Guided Tour Information Desk when you enter the park. In June, July, and August, Camp SeaWorld has 200 classes including sleepover programs and family courses (tel. 800/406-2244; www.seaworld.com).

At Walt Disney World, the kid-friendliest tour is the Family Magic Tour, an interactive scavenger hunt that costs $25 per person, plus admission (tel. 407/939-8687; www.disneyworld.com).

Flying With Kids -- Many airlines will allow you to board ahead of other passengers if you are traveling with small children. Usually, the cutoff is if you have at least one child under the age of 4, and sometimes, as at Southwest Airlines, under age 5. This helps a great deal if you have extra bags, car seats, or strollers to contend with.