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Seeing everything DisneyWorld has to offer is a daunting task at best. The author took her three children for a return trip to Orlando, Florida to see what they could accomplish in a weekend. The answer: a lot.

We were a family with a mission. Two adults, three children, three days. Would the two older children (8 and 11) be bored with their third trip to Orlando? Wisely, the family put their Florida itinerary in my hands. What follows is an aggressive plan for the Disney parks that works, but feel free to mix and match for your family's individual needs.

Friday

Late arrival. We checked into an Epcot Resort hotel (The Beach Club) because we like the proximity to Epcot at night. This part of Disney World isn't as much of a lure for very young children, so it's nice to be able to walk there in the early evening with toddlers in strollers.

Saturday

Morning: Up early for a visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios, formerly called Disney-MGM Studios. Arrived at 8:15 for a 9am opening. Disney characters sign autographs and pose for pictures, including the sometimes elusive Mickey and Minnie, to keep the waiting crowds happy. My husband and daughter headed straight for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror which, at that early hour, she was able to ride twice. Meanwhile, I made lunch reservations on Sunset Boulevard, then took my 8 and 3-year-old boys to the first show of Voyage of the Little Mermaid. (No Mermaid fans? Go straight to Jim Henson's Muppets.)

After the 20-minute show we reunited for the Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour whose highlight is a realistic oil tanker explosion and tidal wave. (First timers board the Great Movie Ride before hopping on the Backstage tram.) Before continuing with the second part of the tour, stop at the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" playground where kids can jump on overgrown bugs and slide through huge film canisters. The snack area just behind it is a good rest and refreshment stop.

Afternoon: Lunchtime (anywhere from 11am on) propelled us to one of the movie theme restaurants. We chose the 50's Prime Time Cafe where waitresses nag you to eat. Another option is Toy Story Pizza Planet (no reservations taken) and an early visit guarantees a seat. By the time lunch ended, the sun was starting to scorch. We were just in time for "The Toy Story" Parade. Excited by seeing Buzz and Woody up close the 3-year-old now wanted to see the sold-out "Hunchback of Notre Dame" stage show. Check the stand-by line (we did and managed to slip in just before the opening.) No Quasimodo fans? Skip it. [FTF Note: Parade themes and stage shows change occasionally. 2009 offers the "Block Party Bash" and the "Beauty and the Beast" stage show.] By now it was almost 2:30. We left the park for the hotel and a swim.

Night: After a buffet dinner at our hotel, on to Epcot. The "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" film in the Journey into Imagination Pavilion is a 3D attraction, which can be a little scary for young children as there is a very realistic simulation of mice running through the audience, plus some shaking and rolling. This pavilion also houses the Figment ride which children love. Imageworks, just upstairs and rarely crowded in the evening, has a series of hands-on exhibits. Next stop, the Living Seas [FTF Note: The Living Seas is now knows as "The Seas with Nemo and Friends."] with incredible views of the ocean floor. Our kids remembered the Maelstrom ride at the Norwegian exhibit, so we walked back to Norway while Dad staked out a good spot around the Lagoon for the laser show, IllumiNations. It is a spectacular combination of lasers, fireworks and music. When it ends, Epcot closes. To avoid the crush of the exiting crowds, walk toward the Disney Boardwalk. The highlights here: a game arcade, ice cream parlor, and bikes for two, four, or six peddlers (with a basket in front for the little ones.)