Tips about Budget, Magic Kingdom and Souvenirs

Magic Kingdom - After my trip to the World last week with my sister, I have a couple tips.

1) A lot of people leave the Magic Kingdom right after Wishes, but if you wait a little bit longer, you'll be treated to a replay of "The Magic, the Memories and You" on certain nights (and not just Extra Magic Hour nights). Best of all, you'll get excellent views during the second show! Last Thursday, Wishes was at 10 p.m. and the park would close at 11 p.m. We stayed around for a while and they announced they would be replaying TMTMAY. Since the Hub was virtually empty at that point, we could just lie down in front of the castle and watch as it was filled with magic all over again. That moment was one of the highlights of our trip!

2) Your writer Jack Spence always says to stop and smell the roses, and we took his advice to heart on this trip. We're glad we did! On Monday during EMH night, we were walking about Frontierland when we noticed the checkers board in front of the Shootin' Arcade. Our initial reaction was to just keep going to the next ride (we can play checkers while at home, right?), but then we decided to pause and play a little. It was so much fun! At one point a cast member stopped by to ask who was winning. In the end I won, and now my sister wants revenge on our next visit. That brief "stop and smell the roses" moment has now turned into a tradition that we'll have to repeat on our next trips to the World. - Patricia Ogura

My husband and I did the 2015 four-day Disney Vacation Club Member's Cruise and then spent five days at the BoardWalk Villas. We realized that our shopping and all the DVC gifts we received during the cruise were not going to fit in our luggage and would add a lot of extra weight. I asked in the gift shop about mailing cruise items and was directed to the business center that is part of the Convention Center at the BoardWalk. We took all of our bags to the business center, including two pieces of art. They were carefully wrapped and put in a big box that we sent FedEx ground. The box arrived the same day we got home. It was so was nice to have our purchases right away. - Annette A.

We've found it helpful to bring address labels from home to use in the gift shops. Rather than writing out our address each time we send our purchase back to the room, we just peel and stick. It saves a lot of time. - Gavin Shannon

As a cast member who frequently responds, "I'm sorry, we don't have that size," "I'm sorry, we sold out of those yesterday," and "Yes, those are the only ones we have left. I'm sorry," I want to recommend that if you are visiting to compete in a sporting event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, buy event-specific merchandise the first day, as soon as you can. It happens with every event -- we run out of event merchandise as soon as the event starts, so get yours as soon as possible! - Anonymouse

At Magic Kingdom, there is a small bench big enough for two kids at the very back of the WDW train, where my kids love sitting. You might have to wait for someone to get off at a stop to get a turn. And, if the cast member/conductor in the back doesn't ask, don't be shy to ask if your child/children can help out by saying, "All aboard!" And then ask for the "Railroad Guest Conductor" card. - Annette Reifsteck-Chalk

We have always saved all of our "major" shopping for World of Disney where we can use our Annual Pass to received a 10 percent discount. Imagine my surprise, when on our last trip when I was checking out at MouseGear the Cast Member asked me if I had any discounts. I said, "I don't know, do I? What qualifies?" It turns out that I was able to get an Annual Pass discount there. I was also able to use it at the stores at Hollywood Studios, and even at our resort. I wish I had known that earlier in the week! - Tanya Thomas

EDITOR'S NOTE: The 10 percent Annual Passholder discount is being offered at many merchandise locations around Walt Disney World now through January 10, 2011. Premium Passholders can save 20 percent on select merchandise at Walt Disney Resort stores while this offer lasts. Be sure to ask about its availability when checking out. This offer has already been extended twice and may be extended again. It always pays to ask.

When we visit the World. we usually spend about 12 days there. We "shop" the entire trip, jotting down what we want to buy and a couple of days before heading home we head to the World of Disney store at Disney Springs to buy all our MUSTHAVES. We use our annual pass for the 10 percent shopping discount and then ship everything home. The shipping cost offsets the Florida sales tax that we would have to pay if we took everything home ourselves. Also, packing to go home is a lot easier and when the package arrives, and we open each treasure. It's like we are still there! - Bobbie Ann Young

At the parks in Walt Disney World, there are numerous gift shops that sell princess dresses for little girls. Well, let me just tell you, I purchased an Elsa dress at the Disney Store beforehand for $45.95. A similar dress was $104 in the parks, for what I thought was a lesser-quality version. I suggest you buy your own in advance! - Vanessa

To survive large crowds, I suggest that you go out early, at the time the parks open. Bring just a snack for breakfast if you can't manage to get up early enough to eat breakfast at your resort. You then will have 3-4 hours of park time before lunch. Since lunch is when the crowd volume really picks up, this is when you should go back to your resort to refresh and relax by the pool, or you could go shopping. Then go back to a park after you eat dinner. Leave the park before any fireworks shows to avoid long waits at the bus stops. Of course, if you want to experience more, then you will have to get out in the crowds. I've been so many years (at all times of year) and I've learned my lesson. The one thing that will drain your energy and make you more ill and fussy, is fighting a crowd daily. That's no vacation. Find time to rest and relax. - Melody Moore

Magic Kingdom - My son is afraid of fireworks, but we wanted to stay in the Magic Kingdom. A cast member directed us to the Baby Care Center. The walls are soundproof for nursing moms. There was a TV and lots of books to entertain him. My son didn't hear a thing, and the rest of the night was tons of fun! - Mary Locker

I wanted to add a suggestion to Marjorie Degnan's entry about Disney gift cards. On our last trip in February, we stayed at Shades of Green. Guests of Shades are not able to charge anything on Disney property to their room. Knowing this beforehand, we put all of our food budget on a Disney gift card (we chose Ratatouille). Then we each picked a card and put each person's shopping money on their individual gift cards. After each purchase and/or meal, your remaining gift card balance is printed on the receipt. It worked out so well! We are going again in December and will do the same! The bonus is, if you overestimate your food money then you have the remainder to shop more on the last day or put it aside for the next trip(s)! Thanks Deb and AllEars® staff for a great site and newsletter! You are always my first resource for ANYTHING Disney! - Casie Crowder

Magic Kingdom - I read about another reader having problems making reservations for the Harmony Barber Shop. I called 407-WDW-PLAY and the cast member helped me immediately, there was no confusion. She also told me that there are some appointments available BEFORE 9 a.m., some days as early as 8:05 a.m. Might give you a head start on your Magic Kingdom day. - Marianne

Magic Kingdom - I read about another reader having problems making reservations for the Harmony Barber Shop. I called 407-WDW-PLAY and the cast member helped me immediately, there was no confusion. She also told me that there are some appointments available BEFORE 9 a.m., some days as early as 8:05 a.m. Might give you a head start on your Magic Kingdom day. - Marianne

Shopping in the World is an adventure in itself! We have found some shops offer discounts that are not always advertised. My solution is to ask whenever I am making a purchase. Since we are DVC members, have a Disney Visa and have been Annual Passholders, it never hurts to ask if there are any shopping discounts. Most times, the cast member will ask to see the card before the purchase. It's much easier to ask before the transaction, than to remember when you're walking away. - jsbow

I have two little Disney fans, 2 and 4 years old who love the night lights. Buying new light toys at each park can get expensive, not to mention they take up room in the luggage when we have to leave. To save money and room, I started bringing our own light toys. I bought a pack of 10 light bracelets from a discount store for $1. The container hides nicely in the diaper bag, and the kids don't know I have them. When the kids see the light carts on the streets, I bring out my surprise and they love it. They each get four bracelets, one for each arm and leg, and one left for Mom and Dad. The kids get so much attention going home on the bus, because they have something different. We've even had people ask us where we purchased them. We have also saved our light sticks from Halloween and used them at Disney. As long as they stay sealed they are good for up to a year. - Kelly Pride