Tips about Disney Dining Plan, Epcot, Kids, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous and Planning

As an avid visitor to the world, we have found a few ways to save a buck or two. We have found the dining plan is a money-saver and we do not travel to Disney without it. We just returned from a trip and tried the counter service dining plan and enjoyed it just as much, if not more than, the sit-down dinners. Also, trade in those left-over snacks for some take-home magic! - Jodi from Louisiana

We are going on our next trip in June and are taking advantage of the quick service dining plan. We did our math and it seems like a pretty good deal. We've done the regular dining plan before, but this time around our pocketbooks (and our time... we're only there for five days) couldn't afford it. We'll have to see how we like this dining plan! - Laura Amlung

I have found that over the past several years that it's great to go during the "Free Dining Plan." The schedule works out very well for us. We have not changed our eating habits, only the amount of money we spend. We use the counter service credit for lunch time and then have a nice sit-down dinner (with the table service credit). I still find that paying for the meal plan is still a good savings. - Dianne Spawn

We used the basic Disney Dining Plan this trip. After having a quick-service lunch the first day, we decided we didn't need the dessert that came with our meal. If we were in a place such as Starring Rolls Cafe or Sunshine Seasons, we chose a muffin for our dessert, bagged it up with napkins, forks, and knives and saved it to have for our next morning's breakfast along with a cup of tea we could get with our resort mug. Voila -- free breakfast. - Fran

Just a comment on the sale of shuttle launch tickets. Any follower of the shuttle program knows that tickets can sell out quickly. NOT TO FRET! If you don't have a ticket to get onto the Cape Canaveral grounds, you can stop anywhere along the river at any parking area, or park and see the launch. You will see the shuttle as soon as it crosses your horizon and you will hear it. It is an amazing sight! You might even be better off not getting a ticket, because there is always a chance the launch will not happen for some reason. Go to a park, bring a blanket, some coffee (early morning launch) and enjoy the time. Go early and you will meet some interesting people along the way! - Geri Preisser

My tip is to take a deep breath, relax, and let the magic come to YOU. So many people go to Disney World frantically searching for it and hunting it down, meanwhile they're missing it! It's passing them right by. The most magical moments happen when you least expect them. Experiencing the magic that happens shouldn't be stressful. It shouldn't be work or effort. People who have never been, hear so much about other people's experiences and memories. My tip for them is don't go looking for those particular things that you've heard about. So much can happen there -- let your OWN memories happen. Forget about what other people experience. You'll have your own stories to tell when you get back. And for people who have been a million times, they might go back trying to recapture the fond memories they've had from past trips. So my tip to them is keep those experiences as fond memories and every time you go back, create NEW memories. Just let the magic happen. Don't force it and don't rush it, because believe me, it WILL happen. - Twincess

We just returned from a short trip to Walt Disney World. We had purchased the dining plan and on the last day, each person had two counter-service meals remaining. We found out that last morning that each adult counter service can be "exchanged" for four snacks. Wish we had known this earlier because we ran out of snacks and ended up paying for numerous bottles of water on the last full day. - Nancy

I just finished reading my newsletter, and was especially interested in the letters from families with infants concerning diapers. It reminded me of a lesson that I learned the hard way a few years ago. We were traveling to WDW with our two children, the youngest of whom was 6 months old at the time. In order to save space in our luggage, I decided to only carry with me enough diapers and formula to get us through the day. Whenever we arrive in Orlando, our first stop is always at a local grocery store, where we stock up on bottled water, fruit, snacks, etc. I figured that I would just pick up a large bag of diapers and more formula when I was doing my shopping. I wasn't concerned about finding our particular brand of formula, because it is a very commonly used formula. I didn't have any trouble getting the diapers, but I couldn't find the formula anywhere. I asked a manager for help, and she had never even heard of the brand that was so common at home. I had to read the labels, and pick out another formula that appeared to be similar to what the baby was used to. Luckily, our daughter adjusted well to the new formula, and we all had a great trip. If she had not adjusted well, it could have ruined our trip. Tip for parents: Never assume that the baby items you need will be readily available at WDW or in the Orlando area. This may especially be important if your child must use a specific formula, or needs a certain type of diapers. If your child has sensitive skin, or allergies, you may also want to pack a specific sunscreen, soap or detergent. It's much safer to bring these items from home, or mail them ahead of you to your hotel. - Shannon Barrett

Please share with your readers that they will only find diapers in size 3 and 4 on Disney property. We were staying for 8 days and I decided that bringing all of the diapers I would need would waste valuable luggage space. I figured I would pay a premium price but would just resupply at the gift shop in the hotel. When I realized they only had size 3 or 4 I went on an exhaustive phone search to find something bigger (my 2-1/2 year-old is in size 6, or size 5 in an emergency). I was finally told by the woman at the child care center in Magic Kingdom that I would not find them anywhere - Disney properties only stock sizes 3 and 4. I finally had to take a taxi to Walgreens where they were nearly out of size 5 and 6 as well! I had to buy a brand I wasn't familiar with -- although they worked just fine. - Holly

I have a tip for anyone traveling with a child in diapers. I didn't want to take up space and weight in our suitcases, so I sent a box of diapers and wipes to Pop Century three days before we traveled to Walt Disney World. I called Pop Century and I was told to address the box to my attention with our reservation confirmation number and arrival date and they would make sure it was waiting for me when I checked-in. When I checked-in, I told the Cast Member that I sent a box via UPS, she retrieved the box and told me it would be delivered to our room when the room became available. I plan on doing the same thing when we travel to Walt Disney World in September 2009. - Dan Szczepaniak

In these difficult economic times, a trip to the World can be a difficult goal to accomplish, even without adding in all the extra expenses like a trip to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. On our recent trip we decided that this was one of the extras we would have to forgo. Needless to say, my nine-year-old daughter was very disappointed! On the advice of a cast member, we took her and her younger brother to the Main Street Barbershop instead. My daughter had her hair pulled back and striped with colors of her choice, topped off with a liberal sprinkling of pixie dust for less than $20. Plus, she got at least as much, if not more attention than if we had gone with the traditional Boutique style! - Christie Lamphier

Just wanted to mention that readers of this newsletter in the UK can use MouseFanTravel.com to get quotes or book trips to WDW (as well as those readers in the US). The prices are very competitive and often better offers or packages are available than here in the UK. It seems that some of the deals that Disney offers are not recognised by UK travel agents. - Mark Burden, Dorset, UK

ALL PARKS - This is a tip for anyone who celebrates a special day or occasion on the same day every year at one of the Disney parks. My wife and I have celebrated every one of our 11 wedding anniversaries at Disneyland. To add to our tradition, we get a Fastpass that is marked for that day and covers the time that we were married, i.e. 4 p.m. Then we have a cast member take a picture of us in front of that attraction at the exact time that we said our "I Do's." Between the photo and the Fastpasses, it makes a nice keepsake of that specific day and time. The only drawback is we can see how we have aged over the years. Go out and CELEBRATE! - Michael Greening

ALL PARKS - This is a tip for anyone who celebrates a special day or occasion on the same day every year at one of the Disney parks. My wife and I have celebrated every one of our 11 wedding anniversaries at Disneyland. To add to our tradition, we get a Fastpass that is marked for that day and covers the time that we were married, i.e. 4 p.m. Then we have a cast member take a picture of us in front of that attraction at the exact time that we said our "I Do's." Between the photo and the Fastpasses, it makes a nice keepsake of that specific day and time. The only drawback is we can see how we have aged over the years. Go out and CELEBRATE! - Michael Greening

Be careful while driving on Disney property. We were there this past weekend and they had a speed trap set up right before the Contemporary resort. There were four or five sheriffs and one had a radar gun. They had a car pulled over and that person had a ticket in his hand and did not look too happy. The next day we saw two sheriffs over by Pop Century. Just drive the speed limit. - Suzy