Tips about Christmas, Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Mousecellaneous

CHRISTMAS - I like to get to the (Osborne) lights later rather than earlier because of the crowds. If you are there when they turn on the lights, it is like being in a herd of wildebeests. Wait until a half hour or so before the lights go off (which is usually when the park closes) and then you can still see the dancing lights and snow with fewer people. I also like to go during the Extra Magic Hours in the evening as it is less crowded. I always check at the resort concierge to make sure the lights will be on during EMH. - Sue Van Vleet

CHRISTMAS - I have a small tip for seeing the Osborne Spectacle of Lights at Hollywood Studios. We were there back in 2006, and the perfect time for us to see the lights was when Fantasmic! was going on. So, plan for dinner right when the fireworks show is starting, visit the light show, and then go to the later showing of Fantasmic! - A.C. Williams

CHRISTMAS - On our last visit to Disney, we booked a 7:30 p.m. dinner at the Sci Fi Dine in Theater. After our meal, the park was ready to close and was almost completely empty. We walked around the corner from the restaurant to the Osborne Lights and to our amazement we practically had the place to ourselves. Music was still playing and the lights seemed to be glowing just for my family and friends. It was magical to stand there in the radiance of those lights and the holiday spirit was certainly upon us. - Eileen Fuzer from NJ

CHRISTMAS - Our favorite way to see the Osborne Lights is to spend the afternoon at the Hollywood Studios. Make an Advance Dining Reservation at either Mama Melrose or The Hollywood Brown Derby and enjoy the rest of the afternoon riding our favorite rides or seeing a couple of shows. About 30 minutes before the scheduled lighting, head over to the Streets of America Backlot area and stand near the Muppet Vision/Star Tours end of the street. Enjoy all the dancing lights and music. Stay in this general area for a while until the crowds thin a bit. Get some hot chocolate in a souvenir mug and have a good time watching the people watching the lights. If you wait for about 30 minutes after the lights start, you should have no problem walking through the rest of the display without any trouble. Happy Holidays! - Debbie Wills (not Deb Wills!)

CHRISTMAS - This tip is helpful any time of year, but for Christmas season we use red and green glow sticks or necklaces and tie them to our stroller to help us find it a little easier in the dark! We used pink for my daughter's birthday visit while at the Pirate & Princess Party. Any added touch to personalize your stroller is helpful, especially when the strollers are moved around while you are on the ride (the stroller parking in Fantasyland is always busy and the cast members constantly keep things organized to run smoothly). - Suzanne from NH

Epcot - Let me start by saying, like so many others, I always look forward to your newsletter. After reading one of the "tips" this week, I was reminded of a really special Father's Day gift we did for my husband the last time we were in Disney. (Father's Day just happened to be during our trip) I purchased a khaki hat with the little Mickey on the front and we took it to every country in Epcot and had them write "Happy Father's Day" in their native language. They were all more than happy to do it for us & thought it was the neatest idea they ever saw. Now there is a special keepsake for my Disney loving hubby! - Sheri H.

Epcot - Let me start by saying, like so many others, I always look forward to your newsletter. After reading one of the "tips" this week, I was reminded of a really special Father's Day gift we did for my husband the last time we were in Disney. (Father's Day just happened to be during our trip) I purchased a khaki hat with the little Mickey on the front and we took it to every country in Epcot and had them write "Happy Father's Day" in their native language. They were all more than happy to do it for us & thought it was the neatest idea they ever saw. Now there is a special keepsake for my Disney loving hubby! - Sheri H.

Epcot - While paying for a purchase for my wife at Morocco in the World Showcase, the cast member asked if I would like to have her name, written in Arabic, on the inside of the box? It gave me an idea. I purchased some Disney stationery and went to every country asking for a cast member to write my wife's name in their native language. They all cheerfully did this! Then I placed it in a Mickey frame. Needless to say it was a very inexpensive gift and my wife loved it! - Gene Scott

Epcot - While paying for a purchase for my wife at Morocco in the World Showcase, the cast member asked if I would like to have her name, written in Arabic, on the inside of the box? It gave me an idea. I purchased some Disney stationery and went to every country asking for a cast member to write my wife's name in their native language. They all cheerfully did this! Then I placed it in a Mickey frame. Needless to say it was a very inexpensive gift and my wife loved it! - Gene Scott

The plastic weight tags on the Disney balloons make wonderful decorative ties on curtains and blinds at home. - Andrea M. Eis

My family and I have always enjoyed looking for Hidden Mickeys around Disney World. I had a great idea for a Hidden Mickeys activity for the readers. We all hate when our trip to Disney is over and we have to go back to the real world, but that's no reason we have to let go of the magic. While visiting Chicago, my wife and I were standing outside a restaurant and I noticed a Hidden Mickey on the sidewalk in a grate around a tree. I'm sure if we look around we can find Hidden Mickeys all over. Just a thought. - Mike L.

On our way out of the park, my daughter and I spied a silhouette cart down a side alley of Main Street, USA. It was after midnight, but the young woman was still doing silhouettes. We hurried over and she cheerily did one more silhouette for us. We were done in about 15 minutes, and for only about $15 including a frame, I think it's one of the best and most unique souvenirs at Walt Disney World. It's a special keepsake for my 9-year-old daughter of our fun marathon day at Magic Kingdom. - Natalie H.

We always get a ton of round Mickey stickers from cast members and I feel guilty wasting them at the end of each night when I pull them off of everything the kids have stuck them to. Now, I keep them and use them to repair torn game boxes at home. They are the perfect size, are durable, and remind us of our Disney trip each time we pull out a game with a repaired box! - Kari Svinarich

Magic Kingdom - I enjoyed reading the article on bashful travelers (AllEars Newsletter Issue #460), as I am one myself. I had a comment that might help people who want to see the Monsters, Inc. show in Tomorrowland. There are tabletops in front of everyone when you sit down in the theater. On the tables, there are "reading" lamps every so often. Those conceal the cameras that they use to interact with guests. Avoid sitting directly behind one of those and you should be fine. - Mandy Blank

If you're a teenage girl (like me) and you're going to Disney, bring your cellphone or iPod with you! It's nice to be able to listen to your music while waiting in line. Another thing: make sure you put your name and address on everything -- with iPods or mp3 players, stick some white tape on the back and write your info with a pen or marker, because Disney will return items if they find them! - Stephanie