Tips about Epcot, Food & Beverage, Kids, Packing and Resorts

A tip for UK visitors: In shops, kids struggle to work out the cost of something in British pounds, as they have to add the sales tax and then do the currency conversion. When ours were younger I made little conversion charts with the GBP equivalent (with sales tax added) of up to $20. As long as they can add up, they can then work out what things are going to cost from their spending allowance without having to ask Mum or Dad all the time. - Juli Williamson

Even though the price of a single bottle of water is now $3.00, there are 1.1 liter (51 oz.) bottles of water in some of the shops that are $4.50. They are a much better value than the single bottles sold at stands in the parks. And if you have any type of discount available to you -- such as Annual Pass, DVC, etc., you can get the 1.1 liter bottle for $3.60. - Mary Waite

Magic Kingdom - A not-well-publicized event that is fun to see for the little kids (and those kids at heart such as myself) is the opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom. It occurs about 10-15 minutes before what Disney refers to as the "rope drop" (the time that they let people through the arches and into the park). The train arrives at the Main Street station above the floral displays with all the characters on board, with Disney music playing. They stop and wave to everyone waiting to enter the park. They let people through the turnstiles into the queue area about 20-30 minutes prior to the park opening. So get there a few minutes early if you want to see it. I believe it is worth seeing. - Mike

If you are taking your own pillow(s) along with you to one of the resorts -- or any hotel for that matter -- put it in a colored pillowcase. I forgot to do this on my last trip to Walt Disney World and left my pillow behind because it was in a white pillowcase like the resort pillows. I contacted the resort when I got home later that day, but they weren't able to locate it, despite the fact that my pillowcase had eyelet trim on it and the pillow was a special feather pillow. - Lisa Cash

If you need to drive to the park to drop someone off, Disney provides very convenient guest drop-off areas at each of the four parks. It's as easy as telling the toll booth cast member at the main parking entrance that you're dropping someone off. They'll give you instructions on how to get to that park's area. At the Magic Kingdom, you need to be in the lanes on the right and they'll direct you down the road going to the Transportation and Ticket Center. At the other three parks, they'll send you into the regular parking area where you'll tell the second cast member you're dropping someone off, and they'll direct you to the spot at the front of the lot near the entrance. - Laurie Jennings

Remember, if you forget where you parked your car, tell a parking attendant about what time you parked. They can then usually tell you about where you parked within a row or so. - Fred

We recently visited Fort Wilderness for the Campfire Sing-a-long. We headed over early, and were surprised to find that they were playing games and Chip and Dale were there. My daughter was able to play with Chip for more than five minutes all by herself. She was in love! - Robin Tater

For all those folks writing about nightlight options -- Make sure your wall-mounted hair dryer is plugged in! Each room I've ever stayed in, regardless of pixie dust level, has the built-in night light feature. Though, as a retired teacher, I admit that the cyalume sticks (glow sticks) are always fun! - Scott Stuart

I have found that the battery-operated tea lights make great nightlights in hotels where the toilet is in a separate room from the sinks. Often these bathrooms don't have any plugs (the plugs are in the sink area, probably due to safety concerns about electricity and water). For me the tea lights provide just enough light to see to go to the bathroom at night. - Nancy Yetman

Bringing a night light for your room was a recent tip here. We pick up a tube of "swizzle stick"-sized glow sticks at our dollar store. You get about 10 sticks in the tube. Just activate two or three and drop them on the floor close to the walls. You will be surprised how much of a glow they give off. Kids love them and they help take away the scariness of a strange room, while lighting the way to the bathroom! - Brian Phillips

At many of the Disney Resort rooms the drapes don't always come together enough to ensure privacy, especially the ones that are right next to the entrance door or the ones on corner rooms. I always bring along a couple of clothespins to clip them together at night. Then I can use them to hang up wet bathing suits on the line over the tub, too. - Marlene Culver

At many of the Disney Resort rooms the drapes don't always come together enough to ensure privacy, especially the ones that are right next to the entrance door or the ones on corner rooms. I always bring along a couple of clothespins to clip them together at night. Then I can use them to hang up wet bathing suits on the line over the tub, too. - Marlene Culver

At any Disney resort, the room at night can get pretty dark. The first time we visited I tried leaving the bathroom light on so my kids could see in the middle of the night if they needed to get up to use the bathroom. But sometimes with the fan that also runs, and the door a crack, it was too loud and too bright. Now I always bring a little night light to plug in right next to the sink area. Just the right amount of light for those who get up to light their way without tripping over suitcases or Mickey hats, and no noise from the bathroom fan to keep me up all night! - Karen P.

I always bring one of those micro cloths with me to wipe the mirror with. They are cheap and really useful; they clear up the steamy surface quickly with no streaks. I always hated taking a shower, then not being able to see in the mirror to finish up. - Ruth Morehart

When I called to book Lilo's Playhouse (the children's activity center at the Polynesian Village Resort), I was originally told that it was completely sold out already for the period of July 14-18. However, I tried calling Lilo's myself directly. I was told that since they changed their system some cast members do not yet know that they must select a reservation time of 4:30 p.m. to midnight for the system to show availability for the date, otherwise it will show as fully booked. I thought this would be helpful for people looking to use this service when they stay at the Polynesian. We are now booked after calling back a second time. - Mark