Tips about Christmas, Kids, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous and Souvenirs

Just learned that if you go to a park prior to checking in to your Disney resort they will reimburse you for parking! Did this myself this past weekend when we stayed at Art of Animation and worked perfectly! Couldn't quite get up early enough to do check-in before park opening and I didn't want to waste any of my theme park time! - Mary

EDITOR'S NOTE: this is also true if you are going to purchase an annual pass that includes parking. Just bring your parking receipt to the Guest Relations window and they will credit what you paid for parking that day towards your annual pass.

On a recent trip to Disney my 5-year-old discovered several things she wanted to buy and, like most parents, we told her we would "think about it" as we moved on to the next part of our trip. Because I had my computer with me I was able to visit the Disney Store website the last night of our trip and order many of the things she had seen in the parks, as both Christmas and her birthday were coming up. I was thrilled to receive free shipping and knowing that I didn't have to try to "hide" these presents in our suitcases. But the icing on the cake was that several of the items were actually cheaper on the website than they would have been had we bought them at the park! - Kim Meyerholtz

On a recent trip to Disney my 5-year-old discovered several things she wanted to buy and, like most parents, we told her we would "think about it" as we moved on to the next part of our trip. Because I had my computer with me I was able to visit the Disney Store website the last night of our trip and order many of the things she had seen in the parks, as both Christmas and her birthday were coming up. I was thrilled to receive free shipping and knowing that I didn't have to try to "hide" these presents in our suitcases. But the icing on the cake was that several of the items were actually cheaper on the website than they would have been had we bought them at the park! - Kim Meyerholtz

On our recent Magic Kingdom visit my two children really wanted to get their faces painted. We first tried the Pirates' League in Adventureland, but it closed at 3:30 p.m. on the day we visited. However, we found a face painting area tucked away next to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland. And the best part -- just keep your receipt, and they'll touch up your face paint throughout the day for no extra charge! - Laura Gjere

On our recent Magic Kingdom visit my two children really wanted to get their faces painted. We first tried the Pirates' League in Adventureland, but it closed at 3:30 p.m. on the day we visited. However, we found a face painting area tucked away next to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland. And the best part -- just keep your receipt, and they'll touch up your face paint throughout the day for no extra charge! - Laura Gjere

On a recent trip to Walt Disney World I was stymied as to what to get our neighbors as a "thank you for house- and pet-sitting" gift. They don't have the same affinity for Disney products as we do, so finding a gift that didn't have a character printed on it was challenging -- until I went into The Pantry at Disney Springs. There I found a great collection of items at the Spice and Tea Exchange section of the store. They have a variety of "collection packs" of 3 types of "something" (like interesting sugars, or curries, or salts, or a Hot and Spicy) for a reduced price. I ended up buying the "Grilling Rub" pack for our neighbors, and a "Super Duper Catnip" package for our furry felines we vacationed without. - Michelle B.

Wanted to pass along a tip for inexpensive souvenirs. When we go on vacation, I always like to buy a Christmas ornament for each of our kids. However, Christmas ornaments can get pricy at Disney ($12 and up), which adds up for three kids. One way I have found to keep costs down is by picking out keychains instead (around $5). When I get home, I just replace the chain with a ribbon and voila! Perfect for hanging on the tree. It is fun to "go down memory lane" when we decorate the tree.- Barb H.

Epcot - If going to Epcot with elementary school-aged kids, play Agent P! Even if you have never watched Phineas and Ferb, you should play the game. It made the World Showcase so much more interesting for my 8- and 10-year-olds. I enjoyed it also and my husband liked the fact that he could sit and have a beer at the Rose and Crown while we did our secret agent thing in the United Kingdom. - Margaret

Epcot - If going to Epcot with elementary school-aged kids, play Agent P! Even if you have never watched Phineas and Ferb, you should play the game. It made the World Showcase so much more interesting for my 8- and 10-year-olds. I enjoyed it also and my husband liked the fact that he could sit and have a beer at the Rose and Crown while we did our secret agent thing in the United Kingdom. - Margaret

I am writing to post a comment about the Disney website. It seems that ever since the My Disney Experience portion was launched, the website has become very slow and unresponsive. I have ended up calling to make my dining reservations since the system keeps timing out and Donald Duck appears to tell me the server has become too busy. The cast member told me to try using Google Chrome as my browser. While I have still not been able to make any dining reservations through a computer (neither a home or office one), Google Chrome definitely is faster than Internet Explorer. The cast member told me that many people are complaining about the same issues and that hopefully Disney is listening, as all the calls are recorded. - Tracey Etchberger

My adult daughter got this idea when her daughter was 5 and it's worked for several trips. She rounds up all of her daughter's Disney-themed t-shirts and her Disney beanie babies (luckily we can drive to Walt Disney World) and brings them along on the trip. Each morning a special friend or two get to go to the parks with her daughter. She seldom HAS to have something she sees in a store. - Kim from Missouri

Epcot - NEW in 2013 is the Holiday Passport. If you visited Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival or the Food and Wine Festival you'll be familiar with this little booklet. It is available at various kiosks around World Showcase. The passport points out special holiday snacks and beverages, special merchandise, entertainment and a holiday photo op. Don't forget to get your country stamp, too! - Deb Wills

Epcot - When entering the park, be sure to pick up the Epcot Holidays Around the World Guide. - Deb Wills

Epcot - Don't overlook the Gingerbread Village set up in the upper floor of the Land Pavilion in Epcot's Future World. - Deb Wills

Epcot - The Storytellers making presentations on Hanukkah and Kwanzaa will hand out special pamphlets on those holidays -- just ask for one after they've finished. - Deb Wills