Tips about Epcot, Kids, Magic Kingdom, Rewards 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

EPCOT - We always enjoy visiting with piano player Pam Brody at the Rose and Crown. Pam was the piano player aboard the Queen Mary for years, and met almost every movie star from the 1940s until the shipped was docked. She is a fascinating lady and great entertainment. Also, an entertainer does card tricks at the same pub throughout the day. Add that with the best ale in Disney and you have a winner. - Lynn K.

EPCOT - We always enjoy visiting with piano player Pam Brody at the Rose and Crown. Pam was the piano player aboard the Queen Mary for years, and met almost every movie star from the 1940s until the shipped was docked. She is a fascinating lady and great entertainment. Also, an entertainer does card tricks at the same pub throughout the day. Add that with the best ale in Disney and you have a winner. - Lynn K.

EPCOT - As an avid newsletter reader and fan, I thought I'd give you guys a little tip. In the Soarin' ride, there's a Hidden Mickey besides the obvious one in the ending fireworks. It's on the golf ball that's hit in Palm Springs. - Sue Murphy

EPCOT - As an avid newsletter reader and fan, I thought I'd give you guys a little tip. In the Soarin' ride, there's a Hidden Mickey besides the obvious one in the ending fireworks. It's on the golf ball that's hit in Palm Springs. - Sue Murphy

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

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

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

I also use the Disney plastic bags that I bring home to carry my lunch to work. It helps me have a little bit of the magic here in the frozen tundra of Indiana. - Jude Wood

Another benefit of shipping purchases home is that Florida sales tax won't be applied to the purchase if shipped outside of the state. I'm pretty sure the cash registers take care of it automatically now, as long as the shipping is processed on the same transaction. - Kenn C.

Don't forget that the gift shops will also ship directly to your home. I usually buy water globes and my husband buys steins from Epcot. It's much easier and safer to have them shipped directly to the house, and if I remember correctly it wasn't that expensive. - luvmy2girls