Tips about Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous and Souvenirs

ANIMAL KINGDOM - When the park opens in the morning, take time to explore the area and watch the animals, especially at the Discovery Island Trails. Everyone else is rushing off to ride the Safari or Expedition Everest....you'll have a wonderful quiet time all to yourself!

ANIMAL KINGDOM - It's Tough to be a Bug - To lessen your child's experience, try sitting them on your lap. By doing so, they will miss a couple of the potential scary effects.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - It's Tough to be a Bug - If you have small children who might be scared, sit in the back of the theater. When the show grows intense, the special effects are less harsh in the back. The most intense seats are forward on the right side. (Sammantha)

ANIMAL KINGDOM - At It's Tough to be a Bug, don't miss the creative movie posters in the waiting area: "A Stinkbug Named Desire," "Web Side Story," "Beauty and the Bee" and "My Fair Lady Bug."

ANIMAL KINGDOM - At Conservation Station, be sure to stop in at the listening booths to hear Grandmother Willow's presentation of the Sounds of the Rainforest. Slip on the earphones and the cool, dark room almost convinces you to take a snooze --until you hear the eerily realistic rain, booming thunder and the buzzing insects.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - After getting drenched on the Kali River Rapids, be sure to stop on the bridge after exiting the ride. You'll find two elephants whose trunks will spout water at the unsuspecting riders below if you push their buttons.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Kali River Rapids - is actually one of the BEST places in all Animal Kingdom to linger! The details and thought that went into designing the queue are evident. Be sure to note the Kali Tiger Temple, the Balinese puppets, the prayer wheel and the brass gongs as you meander through the various chambers. And don't miss Mr. Panika's office -- the owner of the "business" may be "out to temple" as the signs indicate, but the two resident geckos who reside in his gecko cabinet are in all the time.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Across from the Dawa Bar in Harambe is what appears to be an old fort. Don't assume that the area's off limits -- there are actually tables and chairs in there! It's the perfect quiet spot to take a cool drink or a snack and get out of the flow of traffic.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Visit the restaurant Pizzafari, one of the most brilliantly decorated buildings in the Animal Kingdom. The bright colors are eye-catching, of course, but stop in *before* the lunch crowds gather so that you can study the different rooms with their ornate murals, walls and ceilings. Can you identify which room is which? The Home Room, Nocturnal Room, Upside-Down Room, Camouflage Room, Four Seasons Room, and Bug Room.

Instead of buying a T-shirt or some other small expensive trinket that the kids will get bored with in a short time, I buy BEACH TOWELS. At Disney, they are $20 each and you can even get them at specific attractions. I have a huge collection from every place we have been and use them on an everyday basis. It's a great way to remember all the great vacations we have taken. Some of these towels have lasted 10 years! I have recently started storing the new ones I buy to give to my grandkids someday. - Pauline Sheehan

CHRISTMAS - We had our own Christmas ornament idea. We bought the official attraction collectibles -- the ones that look like a ride car -- tied clear string and a hook to them, and hung them on our tree. These only cost about $5 each! - Bill Fosbenner

CHRISTMAS - Our family always checks out the key rings at WDW. A lot of the key rings are suitable to be used as Christmas ornaments or jewelry. On our most recent trip we purchased a monorail key ring to use as a Christmas ornament. We saw a glass monorail ornament that was twice the price and I wasn't sure it would survive the plane trip home. We also bought a key ring that had a Tinker Bell charm on it. I removed the charm (silver) and placed it on a chain to wear as a necklace. The key ring cost $6 compared to the actual Tinker Bell charms that were $12. - Ronda

As great as zipper-top bags are for holding snacks, you might want to think about hard plastic storage containers for them or something equally sturdy. I've witnessed a squirrel literally rip a hole in a reusable supermarket bag to get at the chips inside, no matter how many times we shooed him away. Anytime you're in a show or a ride with a long line the squirrels and birds have PLENTY of time to mess with your stuff that you've left in your stroller or scooter. - Aren

As great as zipper-top bags are for holding snacks, you might want to think about hard plastic storage containers for them or something equally sturdy. I've witnessed a squirrel literally rip a hole in a reusable supermarket bag to get at the chips inside, no matter how many times we shooed him away. Anytime you're in a show or a ride with a long line the squirrels and birds have PLENTY of time to mess with your stuff that you've left in your stroller or scooter. - Aren

ANIMAL KINGDOM - See how many animals you can find in the Tree of Life.