Kids splash in the bowling pool at Disney World's Pop Century hotel in Florida. -- Photos courtesy fo Walt Disney Co.

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"Oh... are you sure that's a good time to go?" a colleague at work inquired.

"That's really brave of you," another remarked.

These comments were the result of telling people that my family would be visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, on a summer weekend with a three-year-old in tow.

But it was the brutal, albeit eye-opening quip, "You must be absolutely nuts," that really got me thinking that maybe we should go into this adventure with a plan. It turned out those well-meaning observations were coming from those who had been there, done it and barely survived.

Summer weekends are peak periods at Walt Disney World. You have the local kids, who are out of school visiting, along with other visitors from all around the world taking their summer vacations.

This all translates into very long line-ups at not only the rides, but restaurants, stores and especially character visits. Add to the crowds, uncomfortable humid, heat and volatile weather (thunderstorms are common) and Walt Disney World can present the perfect conditions for CPM -- continuous preschooler melt-downs.

To avert the tantrums, line-ups, crowds (ok, this you probably can't avoid) here are some tips:

Magical Beginnings

Knowing where you will be going, what you will be seeing and what to expect is imperative to making sure the visit is enjoyable for the whole family. To make things super-easy for families with small children, a new program has been introduced at Walt Disney World called Magical Beginnings.

This interactive, easy-to-navigate tool on Disney's website (disneyworld.com) allows the whole family to take a sneak peak at the attractions at all the different theme parks. With every click of the mouse (no pun intended) it's easy to create a personalized itinerary after viewing descriptions detailing rides, shows and restaurants suitable for the littlest of Mouseketeers.

Don't Rush

Running around to catch every show, secure every character's autograph and get on every ride at Walt Disney World will result in your child having more meltdowns than an ice-cream shop without electricity.

Keep in mind that if your to-do list isn't completely crossed out by the time your visit is over, it won't mean perpetual banishment from the land of Mickey.

To help in the quest to see as much as possible without rushing around, Walt Disney World will have a special program in place from August 13 to September 30 for resort guests. Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom Park will be open one hour earlier on certain days.

As well, using the free FASTPASS service offered at some of the rides at the parks is the best way to avoid the line-ups.

This is how it works: insert your park ticket into the FASTPASS machine and a paper slip will spit out with your time to return, within a one hour window. Talk about feeling like a VIP... when you come back, you and the little ones will be ushered into a different queue bypassing all the line-ups.

Playing Around

If everyone is a little tired of waiting to get on rides, take a break at one of many playgrounds at Walt Disney World.

A particular favourite with the under-five crowd is "Pooh's Playful Spot," a Hundred-Acre Wood-themed playground (located in the Magic Kingdom) where Tigger, Eeyore and the Winnie are known to put in special appearances.

As well, The Boneyard, in the Animal Kingdom, is a huge playground made to look like a dinosaur dig. Kids will love exploring the caves, climbing up stairs and zipping down huge slides in this self-contained area. For tired parents, there are plenty of benches to sit on and watch their brood having the time of their life.

For our family, two days spent at Walt Disney World, with a preschooler during a peak period, resulted in only one post-parade tantrum. Did we see and do everything we wanted to? Not even close, but we thoroughly enjoyed what we did experience and, in the end, that's all that matters when it comes to memories.

Travel writer A.P. Rodrigues can be contacted through R + R Creative

Disney's Magical Express waits for guests at the Orlando airport.