Tips about Characters, Kids, Mousecellaneous and Planning

First just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the wonderful and very useful tips you post -- I have used more than a few on our trips. My tip is for anyone traveling to WDW by car with kids. A few days before we leave, I head to one of our local "dollar stores" and purchase toys or games they can play in the car. When the inevitable "I'm bored" virus goes around, I pull out a new game/toy and have peace for another hour or so, then repeat the process. The things I buy only cost a dollar or two so if they get "lost" in the car it's no big deal and the joy "mine" of having a peaceful ride... priceless! - Tina McCall

Be careful about leaving valuables in your stroller/wheelchair. On the last day of our trip my camera and my daughter's purse were stolen directly from our wheelchair in the wheelchair area at the exit of the Haunted Mansion. The camera was in one of the drink pockets and her purse was under her backpack that was on the seat. The most valuable items were the pictures themselves, after a week of Disney parks. We have been going there for quite a number of years and never experienced a similar problem (except for one stuffed critter grabbed). Security said that instances like this were rare. - Jim Colman

I've heard of people having the characters sign shirts or postcards and the like. One year, we bought a nice hardback copy of a biography about Walt Disney and got the characters to sign the inside and back covers and blank pages at the beginning and end of the book. It kind of turned into an informal tribute to Walt Disney; having character signatures in a book about the man who started the Disney magic we enjoy today. - Josh Bunting

We just returned from a great five days down at WDW... One thing I discovered this trip was how many cards I ended up carrying around: park ticket, hotel room key, Disney Visa redemption card, Photopass card (or cards, because we always end up with more than one), Fastpasses... whew! That's a lot, and that's not even counting what's usually in my wallet, like a credit card and ID. I was constantly afraid I would lose something. My uncle (I have to credit him on this one) came up with a great solution: he picked up a small business card case (around $5) at an office supply store to keep all of his important cards in. He always had his Fastpasses ready to get in line while the rest of us were still digging through our pockets. I've already picked one up and it's in my "things to take to Walt Disney World" pile for our next trip! - Nathan Jones EDITOR'S NOTE: Magic Bands have eliminated a few cards to carry around the parks. However you will still want to carry your Annual Pass card (for discounts), photo ID, and if you have it, your Tables in Wonderland Card

Try to be the first family in Epcot's character meet and greet! My husband saw the characters go in immediately after the Epcot opening countdown. Everyone was heading towards Soarin', and he suggested we go see the characters first. We were the first family in, and we were in for a surprise... our son got to be with all of the characters at the same time!! He spent a full five minutes with them, and then they dispersed to their regular separate areas before the next child's turn. Being first definitely paid off! - Danielle Mazurek

Our son likes to collect autographs in his Disney autograph book not only of the characters, but also from friends he makes while waiting in line for a ride or waiting for a show to start. The autograph includes their hometown, and maybe an email address or Facebook info so that we can stay in touch and exchange pictures and videos from our trip. It also makes little ones feel special to be asked for their autograph. - Kim & John Dell'Agnese

Instead of having the characters sign a book, our girls collect hugs. The characters love it as they get to interact with people instead of just standing there for a picture, then to try and sign a book that'll just sit on the shelf back home. We take pictures of the hugs and put together a collage that the girls hang on their walls. Much more fun and engaging, and we don't have to lug around two books and pens. One time, we were last in line for the Winnie-the-Pooh characters. Eeyore loved our daughter so much, he sat there hugging her for almost five minutes and playing with her. The handlers kept trying to have the characters go in the back, but he was having too much fun. We have some great pictures and memories. - Mike Palladino

On our last stay, we stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside for 10 nights. We were a bit worried: How could we enjoy some late night TV without waking our 5-year-old daughter? How would she fall asleep with the lights and TV on? We found a great solution. We bought our daughter a small dome tent (it packs up very compactly), which we shipped ahead of our arrival. When we got to the room, there was just enough space (once we rearranged a table and chair) to set her tent up in a corner. She loved it! She put all her "babies" in there each night with her, and couldn't wait to zip herself in for "camping out." Interestingly enough, the housekeeper brought in extra bedding unasked and one of those foam egg-crate pads to soften the "bed" inside the tent. Housekeeping also rearranged the "babies" around the tent each day. - Laura Suffi

The BoardWalk often offers jugglers and magicians in the evening. My son loves just sitting and watching all of the performers. But we just returned from our rainiest Disney trip ever. We certainly thought that the performers would not be on the BoardWalk on those nights. We were right, they weren't -- but, to my son's delight, we found that they perform indoors on those nights. We found the performers near the bar area and also in the lobby. - Kelly

Since my son is too young for an autograph book, we brought 8"x10" photo mats for the characters to sign. I bought two, one for Chef Mickey's and one for Crystal Palace, and markers for the characters to use. Once I got home, I put a picture for our group at the restaurants and they are now proudly displayed in our home. It is a great way to display the autographs and a wonderful way to remember the magic with my son. - Megan P.

One thing you can have the characters sign is a post card. You can then send it to a loved one. They love it and won't be so upset that they didn't get to go. - Diane Williams

It rained on December 4 all day and we had trouble hunting down Princess Tiana. We were told by a number of cast members that she wouldn't be coming out at her usual meet and greet in front of Liberty Square Riverboat. We finally asked a cast member stationed at the tip board, who made a phone call and found out she was at the Town Square Exposition Hall. I never knew what was in there, but we found Princess Tiana, Santa, Pooh and Tigger, Woodland Donald, and Scrooge McDuck with hardly any lines. If it's raining, check there for characters. - Rebekah McMullan

I found a tip that sounds really good especially if you are traveling with little ones. Get a pizza box for each child and you can store crayons, paper and color book in there and they can use the box as a desk when riding in the car. Crayons don't roll around the car and when done it all goes back into the box. I think you could just go to your local pizza store and ask for a clean unused box. - Suzy Kozicki

Our most recent trip to Disney was a very busy one between extra activities and dinner reservations. Before leaving home, I prepared a schedule, which upon arrival I posted on the fridge (we stayed in a villa) with magnets I brought from home. This way, everyone knew where and when they needed to be somewhere. - Ann

Don't be afraid to use GoLynx, the public buses serving Orlando. Using the No. 50 gets you to Seaworld and I-Drive from the Ticket and Transportation Center and Disney Springs. The No. 111 is a direct bus to the Florida Mall. It's cheap, reliable and punctual, and way cheaper than shuttles or taxis. - Diane