Tips about Characters, Kids, Magic Kingdom, Resorts and Souvenirs

Even though my children (ages 11 and 8) have just returned from their sixth trip to WDW, there are still so many things we haven't done -- and not just the EXTRA things like the water parks. So now in addition to our must-do list, we put together a "New Things to Do" list. With each trip we try to do a few new things. This trip we tried California Grill and Teppan Edo, met Jiminy Cricket in Animal Kingdom, and actually used our rain ponchos in the rain! We are revising and adding to our lists for our next trip. - Janice Dion

My children love looking for "hidden Mickeys." We have discovered a way to practice searching while at home. We realized that there are a number of hidden Mickeys placed in the Playhouse Disney show, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." Apart from the more obvious ones, there are other Mickeys in the backgrounds of scenes that are more subtle and fleeting, but every bit as legitimate. Sometimes we even go so far as to try to count how many we can find in each episode! - Chris Morris

Magic Kingdom - We have a GREAT spot for the afternoon parade in the Magic Kingdom but you have to get there early. After you cross over the bridge into Liberty Square there is a little cart where they handpaint umbrellas. Well, next to that cart is a much larger umbrella mounted into the ground -- SHADE! Even Lady Tremaine, Drizella and Anastasia thought it was a good spot -- while we were viewing the parade in June, they stopped and told us we were the smartest peasants they had seen all day. How kind!! Then the last float in the parade stopped right in front of us and all the characters came off to dance and interact with the crowd. It was awesome!! I am sharing this with everyone on one condition - you have to promise to let us have our spot when we are there next June. - Sharon Stieg

Only purchase things once. We repack the light-up toys we bought a few years ago. Same with the water bottle lanyards, pin lanyards, etc. Anything that you will repeatedly need each year, SAVE IT. We have a small container that is decorated as the "Disney Box." Since we drive to WDW, it goes with us every year. As soon as we get home, the autograph books, lanyards, light-up toys, etc. go in the box for the next trip. Taped to the underside of the lid is a list that I start replenishing with the very next grocery trip. I choose one or two things each trip, that way it doesn't eat into our budget (extra batteries, rain ponchos, refills for the first aid kit, and snacks closer to the trip). - DShealer

Wilderness Lodge - Select resorts now have a Resort Photo Session that can be booked up to 30 days in advance of your stay. I just called and spoke to Sheri at the Wilderness Lodge Photo Pass Desk (it's in the lobby by the Mercantile) and was quoted the following: 20 minute private photo session at your resort. 2 Packages available: $49.95 includes sitting fee and 7 - 5x7's $99.95 includes above PLUS all the photos they took on a CD/ROM and the rights to the photo's so you can print them up later. I was told that they take no less than 50 pictures, so if this is a special occassion it might just be worth it to get the $99.95 package! - Elizabeth Kozdron

Magic Kingdom - I recently found out a service that the Magic Kingdom watch store offers. My husband's pin fell out of his glasses. The nearest glasses store was 20 minutes away and we did not have a car. I asked the front desk if there was a watch store in one of the parks. They directed me to the one in the Magic Kingdom. I thought maybe a watch store would have the tools to put the pin back in. The store told me to bring the glasses over. The man had the tools and many pins to try. He fixed the glasses free of charge. We were so, so happy! - Teresa Norman

Just a tip: one year, instead of using autograph books, we used the park maps to have autographed at the locations we saw the characters. The four park maps ended up being one of our favorite memories, and they were free, too! - Kim Camp

Birthday souvenir idea for Epcot: When we recently went to Epcot for my husband's birthday, I made him a birthday tag (4x6 size) which I laminated and attached to a lanyard (you can find those at a craft store or make your own). On one side, it had his picture superimposed over a picture we had taken from an earlier trip at Epcot, and it said "I'm Celebrating My Birthday at Epcot!" On the back, I listed all the countries in order on the left side, leaving a space between. Then on our visit, as we traveled to every country, he asked a Disney Cast Member to wish him Happy Birthday in their native language! It is one of our favorite keepsakes ever, and we've prominently displayed it in our vacation scrapbook. - Beth Adams

My daughter took a poster of all the princesses to Epcot. We unrolled it for each princess and the ladies said it was a good idea. We rolled it back up and kept it in a locker for the day. In the hotel we kept it in a frame. We drove so it was not an issue to take home. We just kept it in the frame. One of my daughter's favorite souvenirs of all of our trips. - Kim Peacock

Some trips to Disney may not include all members of your family, such as the special trip my cousin took her oldest daughter on due to meeting goals with the Girl Scouts. The younger daughter had to stay home. I just had to share what my cousin did for the one at home: She created a gift bag that contained one gift for each day they would be gone. She was allowed to open one gift per day. She was thrilled to receive a gift card to go out to dinner with Grandma, a bracelet, a picture frame with her and Mom in the photo and more! We got an update each night regarding which gift she discovered that day. This was a great way to show that we were thinking of the one left at home, and for her to have some magic of her own. - Shawna Mott

I've read some great tips about bringing items (other than autograph books) for the characters to sign. We have also found that the books get forgotten once the vacation is over, so we've tried several different items. Here are a couple of additional thoughts: If you are bringing a shirt, they will not sign it if the child (or adult) is wearing it. Also if you are enjoying a character dinner, you will already know which characters you'll meet. Try to find a shirt that has those characters on it so each character can sign next to their image. When bringing an item (such as a t-shirt, hat, photo frame or ball) for the characters to sign, get the large chisel-tip markers. They are BIG so it's easier for the characters to grip and the signature shows up much better on the item. Don't be afraid to get creative! If you sew, bring fabric squares and make a quilt. How about buying the kids Disney backpacks or totes for the characters to sign? It will encourage them to carry their own stuff. Whatever you bring, just make sure it's something you don't mind hauling around the parks. So that Disney comforter is probably out of the question -- the pillowcase however... - Anne Cline Peterson

If you want any characters to sign clothing/pillowcases, you might want to invest in an embroidery hoop set (those two plastic or wooden rings that hold fabric taut). They're relatively cheap and come in all sizes. That, paired with a thicker marker will make it much easier for Mickey or Minnie to sign with their gloves. - Rachel L. Fridkin

I wanted to pass along that characters may not sign the shirt if a child is wearing it. Back in 2005 I did the same thing for my older daughter. She was 7 at the time. She wore a princess t-shirt that we'd purchased at the Disney Store to our breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table. When we asked Snow White to sign the shirt, she said she couldn't if my daughter was wearing the shirt at the time. She said it was a rule that Disney has, I guess to protect the kids from inappropriate touching. So if you want a signed shirt, make sure you take the shirt instead of wearing it. - Beth McMeekin

When visiting a princess breakfast, bring along a Princess T-shirt from the Disney Store back home. Using a Sharpie, we asked the princesses to sign the shirt instead of an autograph book. (Our daughter is 3 and cannot read anyway.) Emma wore her Cinderella dress from home with shorts under to the breakfast. When the meal was over, we changed into the newly signed shirt and sent the Cinderella dress plus some new magnets back to the resort. She got compliments on the shirt all day long. Using a permanent Sharpie keeps the signatures looking like new. - Tracy Boylan

EDITOR'S NOTE: What really helps is if you have the shirt against something hard to write on, like the table or a clipboard. Also be sure to stretch out the fabric while it's being signed. Remember, not all characters may be able to sign T-shirts due to their "hands."

When we leave Disney with all of our souvenirs, they seem to go by the wayside once we get home, so I have started putting all of the "Disney stuff" away in a bag. When we go back to the magical land, it's ready to pack and take back with us. My kids have usually forgotten about everything, so it seems like new and I don't have to repurchase all the stuff. This also works well with Disney plush toys, hats and light-up gadgets. I also like to purchase Disney-related things throughout the year as I see them and add them to the bag. - Deb Gorman