Tips about Epcot, Food & Beverage, Resorts and Special Events

We go to "The World" every other year at Thanksgiving and love going at that time of year. The decorations are breathtaking and the weather is wonderful! We have always had Thanksgiving lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom because it feels like you're being waited on by the pilgrims themselves. The decor of the place and the costumes of the staff, not to mention the way they call you in for you reservation ("Hear Ye! Hear Ye!") really sets the mood for our Thanksgiving meal. Also, even though we are at Disney I don't miss out on my "Black Friday" shopping. I take care of most of it shopping in Disney Springs! - Peggy Benoit

On Thanksgiving Day we went to the Studios early in the morning. (I spent the day wishing all the cast members -- from the bus drivers to the Streetmosphere players -- Happy Thanksgiving and thanking them for working to make our holiday special. We saw the shows, rode the rides and had a great time. We ate dinner at the Biergarten. What a treat! My sister's kids (high school and college ages) danced and sang and had a blast. Everyone loved the food. They still say that it was one of the best Thanksgivings ever! Great food, fun music and a wonderful show. So my advice is try something non-traditonal for your Thanksgiving at WDW. Go see a show, fireworks or have a special meal, but it doesn't have to be right on Thanksgivng Day. And don't forget to wish the cast members you meet a Happy Thanksgiving too. After all, they are making your day special! - Nancy L. Gessner

We had a very delicious Thanksgiving meal that evening at the food court in All Star Sports. They served turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. Just like we would have had if we would have been home in Louisiana. Another note is to dine early on Thanksgiving. - Alyce S. Miller

Our family (included parents, grandparents and two teenage daughters) traveled to Disney World for Thanksgiving week. It was the first time we spent the holiday away from home and were able to keep some of the many traditions alive that we kept each year. That included catching Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV in the morning, watching college football, and being together. We even included some non-traditional swimming in the pool... nothing we could have done in New England. We investigated the many dining options available and finally chose a restaurant at the Polynesian, which is where we were staying. The meal was truly NE traditional including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, squash, mashed potatoes, and yummy pie (we even took extra pie back to our room to have later in the day... just like at home!). The waitstaff at the restaurant made us feel as if we were guests in their home and shared that very special Thanksgiving with us. Another treasured Disney memory. - Carol Trainor

After eating out at great Disney restaurants the week prior to actual Thanksgiving Day, we found we were really no longer "up" for another huge meal. We cancelled the dinner reservations we had made and picked up the Beach Club Marketplace Thanksgiving prepared individual meals. They were both delicious and affordable. AND we had our traditional Thanksgiving turkey! - JoAnne Miller

Our family has found an easy way to keep track of our dining information during a Disney trip. I use my cell phone's calendar to enter the times and confirmation numbers of all our meals. My phone is always with me, so I don't have to carry an extra list. If we're really trying to pack a lot into our day, I set my alarm to go off a half hour before our reservation. Having our confirmation number handy helped us out a couple years ago when our reservation got mixed up. - Deborah Shauan

Epcot - We went to WDW in October to avoid the crowds. It was almost sucessful! Epcot was jammed like New Year's Eve because of the Food and Wine Festival. My suggestion is to go to Epcot very early in the morning to catch the normal stuff and then come back later to enjoy the Festival! - William

Epcot - We went to WDW in October to avoid the crowds. It was almost sucessful! Epcot was jammed like New Year's Eve because of the Food and Wine Festival. My suggestion is to go to Epcot very early in the morning to catch the normal stuff and then come back later to enjoy the Festival! - William

Epcot - We went to WDW in October to avoid the crowds. It was almost sucessful! Epcot was jammed like New Year's Eve because of the Food and Wine Festival. My suggestion is to go to Epcot very early in the morning to catch the normal stuff and then come back later to enjoy the Festival! - William

All Resorts - Remember that Disney Gift Cards are not honored to cover valet parking. - Nalyn Marcus

Port Orleans Riverside - I go to the gym daily, it's part of my lifestyle. As you know, gyms are only located in the deluxe resorts in Disney. Last trip we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and I advised the concierge there that I would be staying at Port Orleans Riverside next trip and asked about gym accommodations. I was told that I could attend any gym for a $35 fee that would cover my entire length of stay. When we checked into Port Orleans Riverside recently, I inquired about the gym fee, and was told that guests staying at Port Orleans can use the gym at Saratoga Springs at no charge! This was an extra savings that was unexpected! - Linda A. Graffagnini

I wrote you in January of this year regarding the fact that Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs was using latex gloves in food prep. I wanted to update you with the fact that when we were at WDW at the end of September, we were happy to learn that "Earl" has now become latex-free! Of course, it's always important to ask at the time of ordering, but we were told they would be latex-free going forward. Unfortunately, when we went to purchase fudge at the Main Street Confectionery, we were told that they for some reason are still using latex gloves (despite the fact that we've been told over and over that WDW food prep is now latex-free) as well as vinyl gloves, so we were advised not to chance purchasing anything. Very disappointing! - Amy Keen

EPCOT - My family was reminiscing about our trip last year and my husband reminded me of something I wanted to share: for the Illuminations show in Epcot, pay attention to which way the wind is blowing! We ended up sitting downwind and all the soot blew all over us. We had to close our eyes and duck our heads several times to avoid it! - Sharon Smith

EPCOT - My family was reminiscing about our trip last year and my husband reminded me of something I wanted to share: for the Illuminations show in Epcot, pay attention to which way the wind is blowing! We ended up sitting downwind and all the soot blew all over us. We had to close our eyes and duck our heads several times to avoid it! - Sharon Smith

Save yourself time and money on hydration while roaming the parks. My husband and I each have a CamelBak hydration pack (they have packs with only a beverage bladder or models with decent-sized backpacks for the rest of your Disney necessities). A trip to the resort ice machine, a little powdered drink mix and you're good for the whole day. Plus, the ice in the pack keeps you cool on a hot day, even through the insulated padding. You'll save the cost of the CamelBak in the first couple of days plus no time waiting in line for an expensive bottle of water! - Karen Henny