Tips about Christmas, Epcot, Planning and Resorts

POLYNESIAN RESORT - Watching Fireworks from Polynesian - The view is wonderful; the fireworks will appear right above Cinderella Castle. I'd recommend starting at the pool, and working your way along the beach toward the Contemporary until you find a comfortable spot with a good view of the castle. The music is piped through the speakers along the path, but it's not very loud so if you want to hear it, find a spot near a speaker. No need to go early, unless you want to be sure to get a beach chair or a hammock. We find that beach towels on the sand work just fine too, and there are always plenty of great spots left at fireworks time. At the end of January, when we were there, the beach was actually deserted for the fireworks. Last May, it was a little more crowded but still no trouble finding a spot. - Joyce Ruppert

ALL RESORTS - If you're staying at a WDW hotel, be SURE to request a wake-up call, ESPECIALLY if you have kids. I won't spoil the fun by going into detail about who calls or what the message is, but trust me - it's GREAT! If you have more than one kid, let a different one answer the phone each day. This is a WONDERFUL way to start a Disney Day, even if - ESPECIALLY if - you don't actually NEED a wake-up call. - Brenda Burchett

ALL RESORTS - Each morning wanted our daughter to be awakened by Mickey. However, we, the parents, needed to be up earlier than our little one. Each day we would set the alarm clock and quickly turn it off. Our wake up call from Mickey was set to come a little later when we knew Emily would be waking up or needing to get up. It worked well and the smile on her face each morning as Mickey urged her up was wonderful. - Lisa Stewart

ALL RESORTS - THE PHONES IN THE ROOM: Any phone with a button for ordering pizza is okay by me! Joining the pizza button was the Housekeeping button and the Guest Information button, and the Wake up Call button. The Guest Information button is the general operator for the resort. They are know all, see all, do all. It's like calling 411 without the guilt or charge. Example: My 11 year daughter was having a problem with her braces. She needed Braces Wax to cover a wire that was digging into her cheek. Who ya gonna Call? They gave me the name of 2 drug stores and called them for me. I called back and ordered a taxi and 10 minutes later I was off to Walgreens for the Wax. I called them for park opening times, baby sitter info, movie information. Each time they came through like a champ.

ALL RESORTS - All hotels say there check out time is 11am. This can actually be extended until 1pm at no additional charge to accommodate your flight schedules. I even extended my stay until 3pm and paid 1/2 price. Not bad to enjoy the hotel pool and spa one last time before boarding my plane back to reality. It was worth it. - AHalton EDITOR'S NOTE: With the new Magic Bands be aware that they will stop working automatically at 11am on your check out day. If you get an extension please check with the desk about access. Remember that during busy times resorts will not be able to honor requests for late checkouts.

ALL RESORTS - When you check in make sure you ask for early housekeeping, if you are early risers, most people are up and out early, this will ensure that if you return for an afternoon rest your room will be clean. - AHalton

ALL RESORTS - Get Maps and Schedules at Guest Services - When you arrive at your WDW hotel, have someone in your party go to Guest Services and ask for the current maps and timetables for all the parks. If you're interested in visiting the water parks or PI, be sure to check on the WDW transportation schedule also.

ALL PARKS - I found that if you get tired of waiting in long lines, and you don't mind splitting up your party ( maybe to 1, 2,or even 3) some attractions offer singles lines. These lines help fill up unused space. I tried this at Test Track and the normal wait time was 70 minutes. It took me 5 minutes on the singles line and I still got a seat with my parents. - Matthew

ALL RESORTS - My name is Malorie Boutwell and I am 13 years old and have been going to Disney World on vacation ever since I was little and love it. I think that a helpful hint I have to offer is that you stay in a Disney Resort so you can get early admission to each park on the designated days also so you can get there before it begins to crowd.

ALL RESORTS - My name is Malorie Boutwell and I am 13 years old and have been going to Disney World on vacation ever since I was little and love it. I think that a helpful hint I have to offer is that you stay in a Disney Resort so you can get early admission to each park on the designated days also so you can get there before it begins to crowd.

CHRISTMAS - Nothing beats Disney at Christmas - the music throughout all the parks - decorations - everything - it's wonderful - We will never go back in the summer again. - AHalton

CHRISTMAS - Buy a Christmas ornament that commemorates that year in one of the Christmas shops. My father started this back in the early '90s and when I got married. He gave me all of them from the trips just the two of us made. Now every year when my husband, son and I decorate our Christmas tree it reminds me of each trip we have taken to the park. - Megan Kelley

I found this out a few years ago, while doing research for my trip. I have severe food allergies and asthma, which can be triggered by dust, mold, etc. If you have severe allergies or asthma (or both), phone in, instead of booking online, when making your reservation. You can request what they call a "VIP Room Clean." Your entire room is basically deep cleaned before you arrive, top to bottom, to remove any traces of allergens, dust, etc. You can also request, as part of this clean, to have different pillows (non-feather) put in, all scented things completely removed, etc. You can request linens be specially washed, or completely removed if you want to bring your own. It is no longer available to book online, it has to be done over the phone. Best of all, it's completely free. - Laura

CHRISTMAS - Several years ago for a mid-December trip to Disney World we took along a huge Christmas stocking (about 3 feet long). This was our first Christmas trip (our girls were 4 and 7) to Disney World. Each day during the trip, my husband and I would purchase small items such as candy, stickers and other items related to the trip or to what we had done on that particular day. We would also purchase one larger item for each of the girls (water toys, balls, etc., or something they might have seen during the day). Each morning we would stuff the stocking full of all the fun goodies and hang it outside the room on the doorknob. Then once the girls' "Mickey wake - up call" came, they would spring out of bed to see if their "Secret Disney Santa" had come, which he had every morning. I'm not really sure who got the biggest kick out of it, the girls, or Mom and Dad! - Jan Reynolds

CHRISTMAS - I had two little ones at the time who were very scared that Santa could not find them at Walt Disney World, so we sent Santa a letter telling him where we would be on Christmas morning.

My husband and I packed an entire bag full of presents. My sister and I packed a three-foot artificial Christmas tree, and we had collected several ornaments prior to our trip. Add some Christmas lights, and it was a miniature version of home! We set it up late Christmas Eve, when everyone was asleep. You can imagine their surprise when they saw it Christmas morning complete with gifts! We even strung some lights in our hotel window! We just had it shipped home when our trip was over so we didn't have to deal with it on the plane. My mother has set it up along with her real tree every year since! - Laura Bonke