Prepare for crowds at Disney World

In no way is what you're about to read meant to deter you from traveling to Walt Disney World. But if you indeed are thinking about, or have been planning, this apple pie and Mickey Mouse getaway to Orlando, read on -- and be prepared for some tough love.

Chances are good that neither you nor others in your entourage, including children, are going to have nonstop fun. In fact, on my family's last trip to Disney World, I used my own unscientific method -- watching other families, a lot -- to determine that many, many folks had some very difficult days, exemplified by crying children and testy adults.

The problem, you see, is that the place is so darn crowded. People are everywhere, clogging the theme-park streets and creating waiting lines for rides that can often exceed 140 minutes -- that's two hours and 20 minutes -- for one ride. Couple the wait times with central Florida's typical heat and humidity -- even during spring break -- and many families end up more frustrated than elated with what they thought would be a magical trip.

If you are one of the lucky traveling troupes that can get to Walt Disney World (WDW) during off-peak times -- shortly before Thanksgiving or in early winter -- you're probably in for a less-crowded, more enjoyable experience. If you're like most of us, though, you don't have much of a choice but to visit during spring break.

As my family and I made our way through Disney's multiple theme parks during Spring Break 2007, we felt sincere sympathy for the multitudes. We saw the looks of frustration on their faces. We even ran into a family we know from Minnesota that said they would have rather stayed home.

And the Mugford family? We had a great time. In fact, one day we took two rides on my 10-year-old son Jack's all-time favorite, Expedition Everest in the Animal Kingdom. When we left Everest after our second ride, the wait time had increased to 150 minutes. We'd taken two rides in less than 20 minutes.

So what's our secret? "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World," by Bob Sehlinger with Len Testa. The guidebook's most important information is in the back, where the writers provide game plans for attacking each of Disney World's theme parks. The book calls them "touring plans," and they provide daily itineraries, including what time to arrive at a specific park, which ride to go on first, and so on.

Our typical day consisted of riding a dozen or so attractions by noon, having lunch and heading back to our hotel, the Hilton Disney World near Downtown Disney. There, we'd rest or jump in the pool. That left our nights free for dinner, shopping and other entertainment in places such as Downtown Disney, where there are plenty of street performers and activities. (Jack even won a Hula-Hoop contest.) As we bounded out of one of the theme parks one early afternoon and saw unhappy, waiting families, my 11-year-old daughter Lucy looked around and said, "I almost feel sorry for them."

The book's daily schedule for Disney World's most famous theme park, the Magic Kingdom, urges groups to arrive at the front gates 50 to 70 minutes before the park opens. We followed the touring plans for adults because our children, at ages 10 and 11, were mobile enough to follow such a schedule. There are also touring plans for families with young children, and two-day touring plans.

At the Magic Kingdom, the Unofficial Guide instructed us to ride Space Mountain first, then Buzz Lightyear, then Winnie-the-Pooh, and so on. Step No. 8 calls for riding Splash Mountain -- unless the wait is more than 20 minutes. If it is, the book advises grabbing FastPasses for that ride and heading to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

FastPasses, which allow you to pick up ride tickets in advance, are a great innovation. For example, at 10 a.m. a person might be able to pick up four tickets to ride the Rock 'N Roll Roller Coaster in Disney-MGM Studios between 1 and 3 p.m. When you arrive at the ride after 1 p.m., you enter through a special FastPass line that typically takes just 5 to 10 minutes.

However, you can hold just one set of FastPasses at a time, meaning you cannot simply accumulate a pocketful of them early in the day and use them accordingly. The Unofficial Guide does a good job of strategically using FastPasses, often suggesting that the group get in line for one ride while one person gathers FastPasses for the group at another.

It's amazing how well the touring plans work. The writers obviously spent many long days researching their plans. Their approach might seem too regimented and laborious for what is supposed to be a fun-filled family vacation at one of the world's most famous destinations. Sure, a trip to Disney World should be more than just packing in as many rides as possible. Visitors should also take in the characters and sights, such as the parades and street performers and, in Epcot, the "Illuminations" nighttime fireworks and laser light show.

But then again, standing in excruciatingly long lines each day isn't fun.

The Unofficial Guide strongly suggests that folks who plan a trip to Disney World stay in one of the Disney hotels, mainly because they allow guests to take advantage of Disney's Extra Magic Hours plan. The plan allows early entry and late-night stays at certain theme parks on certain days. Some of the Unofficial Guide's daily touring plans are predicated on getting into the parks earlier than the general public can.

While many of the Disney hotels can be quite expensive, there are also economical lodging options, such as the All-Star Resort hotels.

We stayed at the Hilton Disney World across the street from Downtown Disney. It is a fairly economical choice, and it is the only non-Disney hotel that offers the Extra Magic Hours program.

Because too many 5 a.m. wake-up calls can be grueling, you might want to take a couple of days to see other non-Disney sites in Florida. We stayed at Disney World for four days, spending the rest of our eight days in Florida taking in two Minnesota Twins spring training games, visiting relatives in Sarasota and lounging at the beach.

But make the most of your WDW days by using the Unofficial Guide. Don't worry that too many people might be following the daily touring plans. The authors of the book address that concern, stating that even if thousands of people use the plan each day, that's still a small number compared with those who don't have a clue on how to manage a day at one of the world's most popular theme resorts. They're the folks my daughter felt sorry for.