Tips about Air Travel, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous and Souvenirs

ALL PARKS - For those who have little ones who don't like the "line ride" at the beginning of most attractions or for those who hate waiting in queues themselves, spotting Hidden Mickey's is a wonderful diversion. We made small index card booklets listing all "confirmed" Hidden Mickey's in each park, organized by lands and attractions. They fit easily in a pocket or daypack and can be decorated with character stickers. We took the one for the park(s) we were in each day and looked for HM's in line or checked to see where we could find them once on the ride. An added benefit was getting to meet the numerous other guests who asked what we were reading and pointing at. This decreased the frustration of line-waiting even more. I think we made many other HM fans and also took the opportunity to mention ALL EARS® to them. Hopefully we helped (in a small way) your goal of making the 25,000 subscriber mark! - Gavin Adams

EDITOR'S NOTE:: To learn more about Hidden Mickey's, go to: http://allears.net/btp/hiddenm.htm

We just came back from a 10-day stay in Florida. We flew AirTran, which had us install the car seat on the window side. Going there, it was extremely difficult to install due to the restricted access to one side of the seat. However, on the plane on the way back, the flight attendant gave us a seatbelt extender to help install the car seat. It was much easier as it gave us extra length to feed through the back of the seat. It was a time and frustration saver! - Kim Mazzola

EPCOT - My favorite "overlooked attraction" in Epcot is the talks given in Seabase Alpha (in the Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion). They are free, last about 15-30 minutes and are very informative. The fish feeding one had a diver waving to my 10-year-daughter and the zoologist explaining and answering questions. - Alan from the UK

EPCOT - My favorite "overlooked attraction" in Epcot is the talks given in Seabase Alpha (in the Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion). They are free, last about 15-30 minutes and are very informative. The fish feeding one had a diver waving to my 10-year-daughter and the zoologist explaining and answering questions. - Alan from the UK

EPCOT - An excellent article about Overlooked Attractions at Epcot. I was pleased that you hit most of my favorites, and that I knew about all the ones you had listed. I was surprised, however, that two of my absolute favorites were missing.

The first are the Milestones of Invention. They're located in the ground as you pass through the west portal on your way to The Land. Although there are some inaccuracies in it, it still can be kinda neat as you see where some of history's inventions fit.

The second are a collection of photographs and pictures that adorn the corridor outside the exit to Club Cool. Make a right out of Club Cool and through the doors and look to your right. There are photographs of things ranging from the first multi-plane camera to Walt presenting The Florida Project to the world. The latter includes a fairly good map of his plans. Overhead are banners that illustrate the evolution of ideas, using various Epcot icons as examples. - Allen Firstenberg

EPCOT - An excellent article about Overlooked Attractions at Epcot. I was pleased that you hit most of my favorites, and that I knew about all the ones you had listed. I was surprised, however, that two of my absolute favorites were missing.

The first are the Milestones of Invention. They're located in the ground as you pass through the west portal on your way to The Land. Although there are some inaccuracies in it, it still can be kinda neat as you see where some of history's inventions fit.

The second are a collection of photographs and pictures that adorn the corridor outside the exit to Club Cool. Make a right out of Club Cool and through the doors and look to your right. There are photographs of things ranging from the first multi-plane camera to Walt presenting The Florida Project to the world. The latter includes a fairly good map of his plans. Overhead are banners that illustrate the evolution of ideas, using various Epcot icons as examples. - Allen Firstenberg

EPCOT - I really loved your article on overlooked attractions at EPCOT - we've actually managed to see most of the ones that you mentioned, but we'll be looking for the ones that we've missed. However, while you mentioned the butterfly garden, you didn't mention the rose garden. It's nothing other than a small, alternate path between Innoventions and the World Showcase Lagoon (on the right as you face the World Showcase Lagoon), but it's usually fairly deserted, and it is lined with hundreds of rose bushes, all different varieties.

My husband and I like to walk along this path (OK, I probably enjoy it more than my husband), stopping and looking at the beautiful roses and smelling the different fragrances. Most of the varieties are marked with a small plaque, so if you find something you really like, you could write it down. There are one or two benches along this path (although, there is NO shade), and I've sat and enjoyed the morning while watching families rush along the path completely missing the beautiful flowers. - Jill A. Neill

EPCOT - I really loved your article on overlooked attractions at EPCOT - we've actually managed to see most of the ones that you mentioned, but we'll be looking for the ones that we've missed. However, while you mentioned the butterfly garden, you didn't mention the rose garden. It's nothing other than a small, alternate path between Innoventions and the World Showcase Lagoon (on the right as you face the World Showcase Lagoon), but it's usually fairly deserted, and it is lined with hundreds of rose bushes, all different varieties.

My husband and I like to walk along this path (OK, I probably enjoy it more than my husband), stopping and looking at the beautiful roses and smelling the different fragrances. Most of the varieties are marked with a small plaque, so if you find something you really like, you could write it down. There are one or two benches along this path (although, there is NO shade), and I've sat and enjoyed the morning while watching families rush along the path completely missing the beautiful flowers. - Jill A. Neill

We secured one of those D-ring keychain clips to the stroller handle with a Velcro strap. It was a handy place to hang all of our souvenir shopping bags that we would accumulate! - Jackie Beering

I was a lucky kid -- visited Disney three times before graduating high school... One of my favorite souvenirs from Disney is my sterling silver Doc charm. My sisters and I got silver charm bracelets while in elementary school, and whenever there was an "event" or trip we'd get a silver charm to commemorate it. I've since married and have three daughters of my own. The girls each have a silver charm bracelet and plan on adding another character charm for each of our visits to Disney. Who knows? Maybe someday we'll be adding charms to their daughters' bracelets! - Suzanne Vallillo

During my December trip to WDW, I found out that American Airlines would only allow me to check two bags at no charge. I suppose it wouldn't matter as much for a family traveling together (usually the case for me), but if you're a solo traveler, remember that American's baggage limit is two bags. - Mary Waite

EDITOR'S NOTE: This tip was submitted prior to the airlines charging extra for the first and/or second bags. Each airline has slightly different rules, so make sure you know them in advance!

I enjoyed the tip on customizing your luggage. One simple way we have found to personalize our luggage is to buy the iron-on character patches found in the Disney World gift shops. The patches run from $6 to $10, depending on the size. We use fabric glue to attach them on both sides of our suitcases. We now have a whole set of Mickey and Pooh themed luggage at much less cost than those selling in the parks. And it sure makes packing for those special trips more fun! - Joan F. of St. Louis, MO

When you arrive at Orlando airport, you'll find that your brand new Wal-Mart Samsonite is the same navy blue as 200 others coming out on that carousel! When you buy the bag, stop at the craft department and pick up a plastic stencil and a 3 oz. bottle of yellow craft paint. Stencil a design on the wide sides of each bag and beside each handle -- we also add a colorful braided bandanna to the handle. When we get to that baggage carousel we can spot our bags in a jiffy, and there's no way someone can grab ours by accident! - Brian Phillips

In this age of heightened security, authorities -- whether we like it or not -- are saying that locks on luggage may be destroyed if they feel the need to search your luggage. At the same time, people feel skittish about letting their luggage make the trip unprotected. Our solution has been to secure luggage with cable (or "zip") ties -- small enough to run through almost any zipper, or anywhere a padlock should go. They are easily removed by security personnel, if need be, at no great loss to you. In fact, on a recent trip, they added one of their own next to one of mine, and cinched it tighter than mine. You also can tell if someone has been through your bag with these. It also does not leave it vulnerable to others for the rest of the trip. One tip, however -- make sure you have either blunt-edge scissors (remember security!) or something else in your carry-on to remove them, or ask for help at the front desk of your hotel when you arrive. EDITOR'S NOTE: You can now purchase TSA approved locks to secure your suitcase. If TSA needs to open it for any reason they use a simple tool and will again close and lock the suitcase when finished.

I have just returned (today!) from traveling to Florida from the Midwest. Sadly, this trip did not include a stop at Disney World -- don't worry, I will make that up! I would, however, like to warn future visitors to Disney World who are traveling by air that current wartime security measures SLOW YOU DOWN! Plan for double the normal time required to check-in for tickets and going through security inspections at the airport. You might even consider coming up with a "bag of tricks" for the long waits in line for your little ones, similar to the things you would do while in line for Big Thunder Mountain, etc. It might be worth the extra thought to pack some surprises and goodies in their backpacks -- nutrition bars, juice boxes, small puzzle books. I always found that if I kept those goodies hidden and a mystery until travel time, the kids were kept busy for a long time. Good luck, and don't let the delays get you down. After all, it is all for the best, and just think of it as "Basic Training" for those long lines you may encounter at Disney. - Gombars