Tips about Food & Beverage, Kids, Magic Kingdom and Souvenirs

I personally think Disney pins are a bit too expensive (and the clothes, too). Well, the answer to my problem was found on a trip to the Belz Outlet Mall right outside of WDW. We decided to stop at a shop called Character Warehouse. I ended up finding a few cheap shirts for about $5-$6 that sold for about $13 at WDW! And I also found Disney Pins for $.99! Some were even LIMITED EDITION! So, if you are a bargain hunter, this is a must-see! - Rachel
http://allears.net/btp/cware.htm

Use your camera phone to take pictures of items you think you want. First, take a picture of the sign of the store where it is located. Then take pictures of the item and the tag of the item. Review nightly or at the end of your trip. Best of all, you can buy it from Disney Mail Order Merchandise when you're back home if you forget! - Crissy Stout

ALL PARKS - I mistakenly left my video camera in a locker after Fantasmic last April at the Studios. The following morning, after a harried cab ride and security escort back to the locker rental (I was checking out and flying home that day), I was surprised to find out that they do not clean out the lockers each evening. It is up to the next rental guest to turn in left packages, etc. It was even more difficult, as the manager could only open one locker at a time (there was no master key) and I couldn't remember the exact locker number.TIP: Take a digital photo of your locker number in case you lose your key or, like me, leave articles in it overnight. That way the manager can go directly to that locker and find your personal belongings. The next guest DID turn in my things, the manager called my cell phone immediately, and WDW shipped my articles back to me at no charge. I am very grateful for this service, but could have saved everyone a lot of confusion if I had just snapped a quick photo. This is helpful if you jump parks and have different lockers to memorize every day. - Elizabeth Marsh

Wanting our kids to have the items they "needed" at WDW but wanting to build the magic before and during the trip, we decided to bring our own treat box and let the girls "shop" from that box before each day's activities began. I gave each girl a fanny pack or small backpack, water bottle and an autograph book/pen on the airplane. I packed a small shoebox with treats (gum, mints, fruit roll-ups, cookies, etc.) and another with Disney-related trinkets (keychains, playing cards, stickers, personal fan, etc.). Each morning the girls "shopped" for edible treats to place in their backpacks and a trinket -- this sometimes eliminated them even wanting to shop at a gift shop during the day! I saved countless dollars and had a great time selecting the items for the treat boxes. - Diana L. Maslowski

My husband and I were getting married at Disney World and wanted to have one of our wedding photos framed with all the character signatures -- as if they were our guests at our wedding. We went to a local frame shop at home and had the person make a photo mat large enough to fit a 4x6 and all the characters' signatures. It worked perfectly and we carried it in a huge Disney shopping bag that a Cast Member had given to us. We were able to fit Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Cinderella, Belle and Beast, Mary Poppins and Bert, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Snow White, Aurora, Minnie and many others on the back of the mat (and only my husband and I know they are there). It was a challenge to get all of them and a goal magical to accomplish! They usually have these types of mats at any craft store as well, and you can have them cut the way you want -- small or large. - Rob and Amy

On our last trip to WDW, my husband and I quickly tired of our 5-year-old son asking for every fascinating souvenir he saw. We came up with the idea of having our son keep a list of all the souvenirs he liked, and we promised that at the end of the trip we would go back for the one he finally decided was the best. While we still had to stop at a lot of souvenir stands, there was no whining or begging from the time we started the list. Charlie happily added to the list each day, and at the end purchased a wonderfully noisy blaster from the Star Wars shop at the Studios. - Cari Allyn Brooks

As a vegetarian I was very concerned when my family wanted to go to the German pavilion in Epcot to have supper. Germans are known for their love of meat! I went in and asked the man at the front about vegetarian choices. He turned out to be the chef, who asked me what I liked to eat and then told me to get anything I would like from the buffet and he would be back. Oh my gosh, he came back with the best pasta dish I have ever eaten in my life! (I tried to coax him home with me, but to no avail.) If you don't see anything that you prefer on the buffet line, just ask. We now stop here every year when we come. - Lori Beros

I just got off the phone with WDW Dining and they have changed how far in advance you can book the Hoop Dee Do Revue -- from two years to 180 days. - Rich

EDITOR'S NOTE: You can now book seatings at most WDW sit down restaurants up to 180 days in advance.

We have accumulated so many Disney photo keychains over the years that I decided to use them to decorate our Christmas tree. I crochet around the keyring with red and green yarn. I make a loop and it is all set to hang. Now I have my own Disney Memories ornaments. - Joanne Dillon

In response to the tip from PJ from Huntsville, AL, regarding asking a restaurant for children's food even if it's not on the menu, that may be true for SOME of the restaurants, but definitely NOT true at Akershus in Norway at Epcot. We were at the Princess Lunch there, and there was nothing on the menu that my daughter would eat. I asked the server if it would be possible to get chicken fingers, french fries, anything at all, and she said no, only the food on the menu was available. So be warned -- if you have a picky eater, skip the Princess Lunch at Akershus in Norway, or at least eat before you go in -- and understand you will be paying just for your little one to meet the Princesses and not eat! An extra note: it is a great meet and greet -- five princesses were there (Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Aurora and Jasmine), and they were gracious, beautiful, and in no rush -- every single child got a picture and conversation with each of them. It was my daughter's birthday, and every single one of them wished her, "Happy Birthday, Princess!" It made her day, and mine! - DM from Mamaroneck, NY

In response to Shawna's tip from last week regarding children's foods at 'Ohana, we recently found out that this should be available at all WDW restaurants. We were dining at the Hollywood Brown Derby and asked our waiter what the children's menu was like since we are expecting our first child and would hate to have to give up our favorite restaurants for a while. Our waiter told us that most WDW sit down restaurants can make most typical children's food favorites -- hot dogs, mac & cheese, chicken fingers, etc. -- whether they are on the menu or not. Just ask! - PJ

ALL PARKS - My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon at WDW and had a MAGICAL time! One thing that I would like to share concerns the "Magical Wishes" pins that you can pick up from Guest Relations at the theme parks. My advice is that everyone celebrating a special event -- honeymoon, anniversary, birthday -- pick up one of these buttons. Everywhere we went in WDW we were warmly congratulated by Cast Members! We had an incredible time! I would recommend WDW to any couple who wants a truly special honeymoon! - Christina Church

EDITOR'S NOTE: There are many styles of buttons available at Guest Relations. Among the more popular: "Best Wishes,""Congratulations," "1st Visit", "Happy Anniversary" and "Today is My Birthday."

I am not a "ride person," so when we are at the parks at night I'm usually waiting somewhere in the crowd when my husband and son come off the rides. I stock up on glow sticks at our local dollar store, and as long as I remember what color my son is wearing, can spot him easily, especially when he waves it in the air! Perhaps I should be wearing one as well? - Cindy Strong

For parents interested in eating at 'Ohana at the Polynesian Resort, we just learned while there last week that they do have a few items available for children that are not listed on the menu. So, if you have picky eaters, be sure to ask. Macaroni and cheese and PB&J can be more appealing to some kids than the Polynesian fare 'Ohana has to offer. - Shawna

Goofy's Candy Co. in Disney Springs has an area next to the cash register that offers large danish and pastries, bagels, coffee, etc., that you can purchase and save for a great breakfast the next morning in your room. The cost was extremely reasonable: danish - $1.25, huge sticky buns - $1.50, and bagels were only $1.00. All were very delicious and filling. They even include butter and cream cheese along with utensils and napkins. If your day of arrival to Disney is late in the day or early evening and you don't want to use a hopper pass for only a few evening hours in a major park, try Disney Springs instead. It's a great way to get in some "Disney," shop, eat, see a fireworks display at midnight, and get breakfast items for the next day to have with the in-room coffee. These sweet treats also came in handy to keep in our room to satisfy a late evening sweet tooth craving after being in the parks all day. - Susan Fadel