A tip from Disney VIP Guide Maureen Murphy (Yes, Disney offers VIP guide service to steer you through the parks, though they don't offer front-of-the-line access): the Princess Storybook meals at Epcot's castle-like Akerhus Royal Banquet Hall are an easier reservation to get.

CHARACTER MEALS

We opted for Chef Mickey's breakfast at the Contemporary Resort where the kids were so enthralled by Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and the rest of their pals, getting autographs and hugs, posing for pictures, that it was tough to get them to eat their breakfast, which was surprisingly good.

Choose your character meals (and you probably will never pay more for the kids' eggs and pancakes!) based on your kids' favorite characters -- Breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom or Lilo and Stitch at the Polynesian Resort; lunch with Chip n' Dale in Epcot, or the gang from Playhouse Disney at Hollywood and Vine at Hollywood Studios, Dinner with Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort.

Be prepared with cameras, autograph books (we filled up two) and pens. Rest assured that the characters will stop at your table. These meals, while pricey, are a great way to get those autographs, hugs and pictures (with mom and dad too!) without waiting on the inevitable lines in the parks.

Another tip: If you are planning to spend your entire time at Walt Disney World (or Disneyland in California) consider the well-priced meal plans that you can add on to your room/tickets package that even include a daily ''snack.'' Disney officials say you can save as much as 40 percent at more than 100 restaurants and quick-food places throughout the resort. (Visit www.disneyworld.com or www.disneyland.com for details.

Two drawbacks: If you have any junior foodies under 10 in the group, they'll be limited to the kids' menus. The other: It seems so many people are opting for the dining plan that reservations are needed. Remember, you are really booking a ''priority seating'' time, which means you may need to wait when you arrive, as we did several times. It's always good to get there a little early, especially with hungry kids in tow.

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Dining Guide ($11.95) is a good resource, as is www.disboards.com, the Internet's largest unofficial guide to Disney World, where you can search restaurants by menus, meal type, location and chat with families who have been there and eaten that.

See you at the Castle. I'll be the one chatting up Cinderella.

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