Tips about ChildId, Epcot, Food & Beverage, Magic Kingdom and Planning

After doing Disney for years and years we decided to do a photo scrapbook of Disney Dining... We started doing just the desserts everywhere we ate; now we've added other edible items of interest and fun. We're hoping to add some Happiest Celebration desserts to the album in May! - Betsy Vancura

Epcot - Since we're passholders, the kids have been so many times it can get boring for them. They've done the masks and passports at Epcot over and over. What I do before each trip is make up a new passport. I include a picture on the page and certain facts about the country that they need to find. It's interactive with the Cast Members in that country and they enjoy teaching the kids! For instance, in China, learn how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese. In Germany, have a Cast Member tell you about the wall that used to separate their country. In America, what does the Liberty Bell stand for? As I said, the Cast Members love the interaction with the kids. They are proud to talk about their countries. As a prior homeschooling mom, I am always trying to sneak in a learning experience when I can and Epcot is the perfect place to do so without the kids realizing it! - Julie Turbide

Epcot - Since we're passholders, the kids have been so many times it can get boring for them. They've done the masks and passports at Epcot over and over. What I do before each trip is make up a new passport. I include a picture on the page and certain facts about the country that they need to find. It's interactive with the Cast Members in that country and they enjoy teaching the kids! For instance, in China, learn how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese. In Germany, have a Cast Member tell you about the wall that used to separate their country. In America, what does the Liberty Bell stand for? As I said, the Cast Members love the interaction with the kids. They are proud to talk about their countries. As a prior homeschooling mom, I am always trying to sneak in a learning experience when I can and Epcot is the perfect place to do so without the kids realizing it! - Julie Turbide

One way my mom and I got ready for our trip to Disney World was to make a list of every animated Disney movie (in order of when each came out) and watch a movie a day until the trip! It helps you remember the magic of the movies while you get ready to experience the magic of the parks! - Chelsea

ALL PARKS - My tip is for keeping track of your hats while on rides or shows at the World... I bought some carabiners that we put on the strap of our fanny packs. I learned the hard way to put it through a part of the strap so that the carabiner is trapped and can't fall off when you take the fanny pack off. When we step inside at WDW, we both take off our hats, and snap them to the carabiner on our fanny packs -- it's easy to keep track of, and we don't worry about losing our hats or leaving them behind. We even do this on the rides, and find we can ride most things with our fanny packs (and hats) left on our waist. For wet rides, we put the hat over our fanny pack, and it helps keep splashes off. - Jill Neill

ALL PARKS - My tip is for keeping track of your hats while on rides or shows at the World... I bought some carabiners that we put on the strap of our fanny packs. I learned the hard way to put it through a part of the strap so that the carabiner is trapped and can't fall off when you take the fanny pack off. When we step inside at WDW, we both take off our hats, and snap them to the carabiner on our fanny packs -- it's easy to keep track of, and we don't worry about losing our hats or leaving them behind. We even do this on the rides, and find we can ride most things with our fanny packs (and hats) left on our waist. For wet rides, we put the hat over our fanny pack, and it helps keep splashes off. - Jill Neill

I have a 2-year-old who doesn't eat much. The kids' meals at the counter service restaurants are always too much for her, and we feel like we're wasting our money. One day we discovered that we could order a SIDE order of macaroni and cheese for only $1.79 (at Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom). It wasn't on the printed menu, but when we asked, they had no problem ringing it up. I am sure we could do this at most other counter service restaurants as well. This saves us from wasting money and food! - Renee Lunsford

The nametag idea for lost children/parents is a good idea; however, it might be good to let people know that they also sell a similar nametag at several stores in the parks that are personalized with names. They are a little different than the Cast Member tags, but a child could get confused. - Jody Wickett

EDITOR'S NOTE: Good point, Jody. A Cast Member friend of ours concurs: "Parents come up to us all the time to point out our nametags to their kids. Invariably they say something like, "If you are lost, look for someone with a Disney nametag." I like to point out to them that children with lost parents should look for someone with a WHITE Disney nametag, as Disney does offer personalized nametags in our merchandise locations that are similar to the real ones, and these can be purchased by anyone. It's the white ones (with the current celebration, like "Happiest Celebration on Earth") that will be worn only by a Cast Member."

After reading your information about "lost parents", it made me think of our last trip to Disney. My then 2-1/2 year-old daughter got separated from us -- she just walked quietly away, while we were looking at our map. This happened as we were exiting the Magic Kingdom and immediate panic struck me, because she could have been headed toward a bus, a boat or the monorail. I immediately alerted any Cast Member I could find and then a "tourist" walked over to me and offered to go back into the park to look for her, while my husband searched outside the gate. I thought to myself, "How nice of this man to take time out of his vacation to help a stranger." Sure enough, our daughter was standing right inside with a crowd around her. I thanked the man for taking the time to help me and then he explained to me that he was an undercover security guard. He told me that there are many people like him all through the parks, just looking for cases like this. That made me feel relieved to know that there are people looking out for our kids! - Cindy Boyer

We printed dog tags at Wal-Mart for about $5, then laced them through the kids' shoelaces near the toe so they wouldn't come off if their shoe was untied. The tags had names and cell numbers on them and the children were told to show the numbers to a Cast Member. My children were both old enough to know our numbers but the tags gave us both a little extra sense of peace. This is a cheap and easy way to make your little ones safe. - Heather Pitts

EDITOR'S NOTE: Now with Magic Bands you can write your cell number inside of the band.

As a former Disney College Program Cast Member, I had a family approach me one day while I was standing on Main Street, and the mother asked if she could borrow me for a second. I said yes, and she proceeded to point out my name tag and costume to her young daughter saying, "OK, sweetheart -- if you ever become separated from Mommy and Daddy, look for someone with one of these, OK? They will help you." I thought this was a very good idea because it lets kids know that there are people throughout the park who they can trust to get them back to their parents.

Also, along the missing parents subject, I had a young girl come up to me one day whose father had become lost. As I was talking with her, she pulled out a laminated card from her lanyard, and handed it to me. The card had her name, her parents' names, and also her father's cell phone number. She had been told by her parents to give the card to a Cast Member should she become separated from the rest of the group. This card helped us find her parents very quickly. I know it may be a bit of a hassle to write that information down and figure out how to attach it to your child, but believe me, if you are ever separated from your child, you will be SO glad that you took the time. It makes reuniting families so much easier and quicker! - Ann

EDITOR'S NOTE: We wholeheartedly agree with the suggestion to familiarize young children with what Cast Member nametags look like. Just last weekend, ALL EARS(R) Researcher Kenny says he saw two separate "lost parent" incidents in Disney's Animal Kingdom, and adds that it might also be helpful to point out certain Cast Member costumes. "Guest Relations, Custodial, Outdoor Vending and Security tend to have similar costumes parkwide," he notes. "All Cast Members with nametags can help (and can at least make sure the child gets to an appropriate Cast Member). And all Cast Members with radios should be able to transmit a lost child bulletin parkwide to all other Cast Members with radios."

Epcot - I just returned from a day at Epcot and wanted to give you a tip about Test Track. When I (5'3", 315 lbs.) asked the Cast Member at the end of the queue if I would fit, he told me that there was a mock car I could sit in. He called another Cast Member who escorted me to a private area. The car wasn't an exact copy of the cars in use, but was close. I found that I did not fit enough to be comfortable. The Cast Member showed me the side exit and I went on about my day. It was handled with care and privacy and I was never made to feel embarrassed. - L.

Epcot - I just returned from a day at Epcot and wanted to give you a tip about Test Track. When I (5'3", 315 lbs.) asked the Cast Member at the end of the queue if I would fit, he told me that there was a mock car I could sit in. He called another Cast Member who escorted me to a private area. The car wasn't an exact copy of the cars in use, but was close. I found that I did not fit enough to be comfortable. The Cast Member showed me the side exit and I went on about my day. It was handled with care and privacy and I was never made to feel embarrassed. - L.

Magic Kingdom - If you have small children who like to ride the roller coasters, but don't want to wait in long lines, head over to the Great Goofini's Barnstormer after the first evening parade or Wishes if the park is open late, and they can ride it over and over again (sometimes without having to get off). My daughter is 5 and we do this a couple of times every time we visit. It's also fun to watch the fireworks from the roller coaster! - Keith King

After having almost missed dinner because we did not have our confirmation number and they could not find us in the computer, I now keep all of our confirmation numbers, dining places, and times in the calendar on my cell phone. That way when I am in the park I have dining reservations literally a fingertip away -- no more forgetting them in the room. - pigget74