Tips about Epcot, FastPass+, Food & Beverage, Magic Kingdom, Planning and Souvenirs

The My Disney Experience app now can show you where the pressed penny machines are located. Launch the app, click on the magnifying glass at the top to search. Type in: coin press. The map will now show you all the coin press machines in Walt Disney World. - Jean

A unique fireworks experience is to watch them from in front of Gaston's Tavern at Magic Kingdom. I am not a big fireworks fan myself, but I love this view. It's like being INSIDE the display as they go off. - Leann Runyanwood

Hubby and I went to WDW a few weeks ago and we discovered that if you buy the $10 souvenir popcorn bucket you can get refills for only $1.50. Same bucket/same deal at any park! This is great if you are paying out of pocket for snacks and meals (and love popcorn!). - Michelle Henshaw

I recently had the chance to spend a night doing the Highway in the Sky Dine Around. I have been going to Disney World for 20 years now, usually twice a year for the festivals. I have to say this event was one of the best things I have ever done at Disney, although dessert had few choices. I hope that they keep this event going as I would surely do this again. Totally awesome experience. - Mike Emerson

In response to a tip a few weeks ago, I just wanted to throw in an additional tip. If you receive a FastPass+ recovery because of an attraction downtime, you must be very careful with any other FastPasses you have in that park! For example, a Frozen "recovery" FastPass would be good at any other FP attraction in the park. For example, if you also had a FastPass for Spaceship Earth at 2 p.m. and tried to use it by checking in at 1:59, your Frozen recovery FP would be used, not your Spaceship Earth FP. Make sure if you have any recovery FP you are waiting to use that you check in for your other FP a few minutes AFTER the windows open. - Amanda

My wife and I had FastPass+ for Frozen at Epcot recently. Unfortunately, Elsa was acting up and froze the ride and kept it from running most of the day. Fortunately, I checked my email on my phone in the middle of the afternoon and saw an email from Walt Disney World informing me that I could use the Fastpass+ at either Frozen, if it was working at some point the rest of the day, or I could use it on any other FastPass+ ride in the park. No changes to the Fastpass was required. Just show up at a ride sometime and use it. Almost seemed too easy to be true, but we went over to Soarin' and sure enough it worked when we matched our Mickey on the bands to the Mickey at the Fastpass+ entrance! Definitely pays to check your emails during the day if your Fastpass+ attraction is down. - Mark Harder

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is actually normal procedure -- if an attraction that you have a FastPass+ for is down during your assigned time, you will be notified by email as to what your alternatives are. As Mark notes, it pays to check your email and/or your My Disney Experience account if you're carrying a smart phone with you!

I have read several tips about using water mister fans in the parks, but my family has found a way to cool off that we think works just as well with the added benefits of being cheaper and more convenient. We use the small (about 4" tall) pump-type bottles one can usually find in the "travel and trial size" section at the grocery store or pharmacy. The bottles are inexpensive ($1-$2) so it is not a big deal if one is lost (as happened to me on Tom Sawyer Island) and require no batteries. They are very lightweight, just a couple of ounces even when filled with water, and small enough to fit into a pocket. One or two quick spritzes on the face, back of the neck, arms and legs is all it takes to make even the hottest day enjoyable. To make it even better, the bottles can be used for other things after vacation is over, which really can't be said about the mister fans. - K.

I have read several tips about using water mister fans in the parks, but my family has found a way to cool off that we think works just as well with the added benefits of being cheaper and more convenient. We use the small (about 4" tall) pump-type bottles one can usually find in the "travel and trial size" section at the grocery store or pharmacy. The bottles are inexpensive ($1-$2) so it is not a big deal if one is lost (as happened to me on Tom Sawyer Island) and require no batteries. They are very lightweight, just a couple of ounces even when filled with water, and small enough to fit into a pocket. One or two quick spritzes on the face, back of the neck, arms and legs is all it takes to make even the hottest day enjoyable. To make it even better, the bottles can be used for other things after vacation is over, which really can't be said about the mister fans. - K.

This tip about tips for visitors traveling from the U.K.: This isn't specifically Disney-related, but it is important, especially if you're new to the U.S. Servers expect to be tipped; it's how they really earn their wages. Don't try to avoid it or make lame excuses, if you receive an average/good service, a reasonable tip is 15 percent, if very good/excellent, at least 20 percent. Even if you buy a beer, tip! - Phill Barnett

We always carry a cinch-sack to the parks. To help us get through the security bag check a little faster, my husband put all our items in two large zipper-top bags before we put them in the sack. Several security guards commented that it was a great idea. It made their job easier by being able to just look at the bags instead of digging through the cinch-sack. - Chris

We always carry a cinch-sack to the parks. To help us get through the security bag check a little faster, my husband put all our items in two large zipper-top bags before we put them in the sack. Several security guards commented that it was a great idea. It made their job easier by being able to just look at the bags instead of digging through the cinch-sack. - Chris

We always carry a cinch-sack to the parks. To help us get through the security bag check a little faster, my husband put all our items in two large zipper-top bags before we put them in the sack. Several security guards commented that it was a great idea. It made their job easier by being able to just look at the bags instead of digging through the cinch-sack. - Chris

We always carry a cinch-sack to the parks. To help us get through the security bag check a little faster, my husband put all our items in two large zipper-top bags before we put them in the sack. Several security guards commented that it was a great idea. It made their job easier by being able to just look at the bags instead of digging through the cinch-sack. - Chris

Just got back from our first trip to the Magic Kingdom with a toddler. He goes down for a nap each afternoon and after not getting him to nap while going around Fantasyland/Tomorrowland in a stroller (probably too much noise and visual stimulation), we were going to go back to the hotel. On our way back toward the exit we strolled through the Tomorrowland Terrace. Less noise, no visual stimulation and protected from the sun, it was the perfect place for our son to finally fall asleep! It was also a good place for an adult to rest. It probably saved us an hour round-trip to the hotel and back. - Doug Chen

A tip "for when you are almost on the ride and it gets stopped for bad weather": This happened on our last visit. We were just about to board Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the ride was stopped due to storms. Although the wait was around an hour, my wife and daughter got chatting to others in the queue, and soon one of the girls opened up a game app on her phone. It kept quite a few people busy and the wait just flew by. It's worth loading a couple of games onto your mobile device for delays like this, especially if you have young children, to keep them occupied. - Tony M.