Tips about Countdown, Epcot, Food & Beverage, Mousecellaneous, Resorts and Souvenirs

If you are a Florida resident we have a great deal for you. My family and I are annual passholders and frequently visit WDW. We have the Tables in Wonderland and it save's us 20% at most sit down restaurants. This card is $125.00 for the year. We saved that in one weekend. - The Hill's

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tables in Wonderland is now available to all annual passholders as well as to all Florida Residents.

When we went to WDW last fall, my wife made a calendar out of posterboard and taped small treats to each day. Our two children we able to take one treat off the calendar each day after dinner during the last month. It really made for a quite an event each day after dinner. - Robert Hopson

We take pictures off the net and write letters from all of our girls favorite Disney characters. As the weeks go buy they get a letter daily telling them to hurry down and visit, it is a joy to see there faces light up when the mail arrives. - Shane Curtis

We just returned from WDW, and wanted to tell everyone interested in character dining to not give up, thinking it is too late to get reservation for a meal. My girlfriend called at 6 p.m. and got us a reservation for 7:30 p.m. at the Liberty Tree Tavern. So even on the day of, and just hours before, it is still possible. Never assume that it is too late. - Dustin Wilson

My family and I have vacationed in WDW more than a dozen times in the last 8 years. A month or 2 before we leave, I create a Disney Countdown that we mark off each morning so the children can see how many days are left before we go. Then as we wake up the children on the day we leave we have a big presentation while marking off the last day. The children love it and it helps stop the questions about how many days until we leave. - KKWash

Don't forget to mention that a trip to the Kennedy Space Center is worth it. It's only an hour's drive and the backlot bus tour for the $20 was well worth it. Wow, unbelievable what this day trip offered. Not a lot of walking (so go after a day of hard walking around WDW. - David

Since our daughter is almost 12 years old, she didn't want an autograph book or EPCOT passport this trip. We bought her the Pressed Penny book and set out to collect at least one penny from each place we visited. We found most of them, but then discovered that Guest Services and cast members in gift shops throughout EPCOT and MK have lists of where the machines are and what their pennies look like. This made it even easier for her to complete her collection! - Lisa Heisel, Succasunna, NJ

I love to collect the smashed pennies at Walt Disney World, but hated always fumbling through my wallet for the correct change (two quarters and one penny, preferably bright and shiny!). Now, a few months before my trip I start to put aside my quarters and pennies. I store them in empty film canisters and then just toss the canisters into my backpack. Now when I'm at the park I just pull out one of the little canisters of coins and have the change right at my finger tips with no searching. - KrisAnne Warren

When you see something you want at the parks/hotels, buy it - Too many times I said I'll buy it later and it was gone or I forgot where I saw it. - Anonymous

Save all your shopping at the World of Disney for one day. If you ship everything home, $8.95 for under $100 or $13.95 for anything over $100, you will save sales tax and not have to worry about packing everything in a suitcase!! This was a big plus for us. Discounts are sometimes available.

Suggest your child start a collection - whether it's key chains, postcards, or whatever. It may be a bit pricey (esp. key chains) but they can collect them or give them as presents. - Keely

Before you spend too much money in the gift shops in and around the world, I'd recommend checking out the character warehouse shop in the Beltz outlet mall. On our last trip, I found some identical items to the ones on sale in the world at 50 - 75% off! There was quite a variety of items, but as with most outlet mall shopping, you have to do some digging. Items available included themepark clothing, resort logo clothing, plush characters, pins, and lots of character themed clothing. - Boris Beckert

ALL RESORTS - Be sure and take plenty of one dollar bills for tipping the castmembers in your hotel. We stayed at the Beach Club and the castmembers there are so helpful & friendly that I found myself wanting to tip everybody!! I left an envelope for the maid everyday that I had printed on the computer with Disney graphics on the front that said "Merry Mousekeeping" for the maid. The maid did a super job!! I ordered from room service several times during our stay & the service was impeccable. Each time I was delivered my order promptly & the tray always had a fresh flower on it & plenty of food! - Margaret Wilkins

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