Tips about Disney Springs, Kids, Mousecellaneous, Planning, Resorts and Souvenirs

Do not assume that all ride reviews apply to your child. Our 10-year-old son, who will ride any thrill ride again and again, got off the Haunted Mansion (one of my favorites) and was very upset. - Beth

Walt Disney World occasionally changes the contractor that runs the spa at the various resorts. As of 2015,it's best to look up the spa you are considering on Disney's official website for details and phone numbers: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/spas/

FORT WILDERNESS - On a recent trip to Disney, we stayed in a cabin at Fort Wilderness. We decided one evening to take a wagon ride around the campgrounds. In addition to seeing all the decorations the campers put up for the holidays (some of them are fantastic), we pulled up along the lake and were joined by a Cast Member with a boom box. After just a few minutes, the fireworks began at the Magic Kingdom right across the lake. The boom box gave us the music along with the fireworks. It was fantastic! The fireworks ride is not offered every night, so be sure and check with the Cast Members there. You cannot make reservations ahead -- just show up early and enjoy! - Vicki Stark

http://allears.net/btp/carriage.htm

Did you forget to purchase that special souvenir? Although Walt Disney World does NOT have an Internet shopping site, nor do they have a catalog of park items, they do have a Mail Order Merchandise Department that can get most items for you. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) and may be reached by phone, fax or e-mail.
Telephone: 407-363-6200
Fax: 407-352-6369
Email: [email protected]

Shipping charges are $8.95 to $13.95 for UPS, and $13.95, $18.95, $22.95 and $27.95 for Federal Express charges, depending on the value of the order and the service requested. - Glo from Miami

The Earl of Sandwich, located in the Marketplace at Disney Springs, is a great place for a great sandwich. The sandwiches were a good size and filled us up. They also offer salads at a reasonable price. We ate there three times and enjoyed it every time. It is a counter service style restaurant right next to the Once Upon a Toy store. Also, if you booked your trip through AAA and received a AAA Diamond Discount card, you can save 10% there. - Kristen Secrist

http://allears.net/dining/location/earl-of-sandwich

If the kids are old enough to drop off at DisneyQuest, drop them off and have an enjoyable evening at your favorite Disney Springs restaurant. There is a food counter in DisneyQuest if the kids get hungry, and you can meet up with them later, inside, for a family "Pirates of the Caribbean" excursion. Our favorite restaurants are the Portobello Yacht Club and House of Blues -- the Voodoo Shrimp appetizer is a must and large enough to be a meal! - Pam Lau

Here is my plan of attack: Go immediately to Basin and purchase some of those wonderful bath bombs! (Peace of Mind is the best -- so relaxing after a long day in the parks or a long day at work.) I then grab a margarita or other beverage and walk around the entire Disney Springs complex, soaking in the atmosphere and getting a little exercise. I usually end with a souvenir stop at the Christmas shop or World of Disney -- or both! - Hilary Huffman

For neat and different things, we always check out the shop at DisneyQuest. They have the coolest items -- T-shirts, mugs, paper -- some are Disney related and some aren't. If you need or want something different, this is the place -- and it's very reasonable too! - Candy Selby

For a peaceful break from the crowds and a nice rest for your kids, take the boat over to Saratoga Springs for a treat at Artist's Palette or down to Old Key West for key lime pie at Olivia's -- then back to shopping! - Jennifer Maxwell

During the summer, when the "non shoppers" or the "got it done quickly" shoppers are waiting for the "real shoppers," they can go outside and enjoy the concerts and entertainment. The kids dance down front where it is easy to see them, the adults sit and relax, and the shoppers have time to browse and enjoy. - Faye P.

We generally start planning at least a year in advance. I have a plastic tub that is labeled "WDW stuff." I place our heavy-duty hotel mugs in it so they are already packed. I also buy things throughout the year for the trip: toothbrushes, toothpaste, magic gloves and whatever else we normally use during our week-long trip. I also go to my local laundromat and pick up boxes of laundry detergent for $.50 a box. One box cleans two loads and is a lot cheaper than the hotel laundry dispenser. I also pack several dryer sheets in a freezer bag and place them in my suitcase. It keeps the clothes smelling nice and I have dryer sheets for use while there. One nice thing about the bin is that, for those times that we drive to WDW, we just put the lid on it and pack it in the van. After we arrive to the hotel we empty it out and use that as our clothes hamper for dirty clothes. It works great for those trips to the hotel laundry. - Sirena Penn

Epcot - If your kids aren't big enough to ride Test Track go into the gift shop/exit. I thought it was just a gift shop, and I was wrong. My 3-year-old was thrilled to be able to sit in a Hummer and a Saab. All he talks about are the cool cars he played in at Test Track. I am so glad I didn't walk by this attraction. - Robin from Deltona, FL

Epcot - If your kids aren't big enough to ride Test Track go into the gift shop/exit. I thought it was just a gift shop, and I was wrong. My 3-year-old was thrilled to be able to sit in a Hummer and a Saab. All he talks about are the cool cars he played in at Test Track. I am so glad I didn't walk by this attraction. - Robin from Deltona, FL

Our 3-year-old is very scared of fireworks, but she loved Wishes. This year we took the Wishes soundtrack and she listened to it on headphones while we watched our local fireworks. It worked like a charm and made the 4th of July fireworks enjoyable for all. This also works with the Fantasmic! soundtrack. - Konni Liechty

We took them all home, also, but what we used them for was to "wrap" our everyday photo album with our pictures in it from our vacation! This lets us know exactly which album is our "Disney" album among our other ones. - CapeGoofy5