Tips about Epcot, Magic Bands, Magic Kingdom, Planning, Resorts and Souvenirs

Like most of you reading this, I can't get enough of Walt Disney World and my family tries to make it there at least once a year. I am also an avid gardener who has brought home a couple of garden souvenirs from the Flower and Garden Festival, but those can be pricey. So I have started buying a couple of the antenna toppers for cars on each trip. I glue and insert a sturdy length of wire into each one and place them in some of my flower pots on the deck and throughout the yard. The toppers are really cute, inexpensive (by Disney standards!) and easily replaced as needed. My kids are grown, but it could also make for a fun backyard version of "find the hidden Mickeys!" - Sheril Maddox

If you want to purchase a limited edition or limited release MagicBand (e.g. Frozen-themed), please note that you must have the ticket or annual pass with you to link it. It cannot be linked at a later date. On a recent weekend trip, my husband and I tried to buy one for our son for Christmas and were told that they cannot link the limited editions/releases later, only solid colors can be linked at another time. I just wanted to let everyone know so they don't make any promises or special trips like we did. - Tami Nutt

We bring a sleeve of plastic disposable cups to the Disney parks in our backpack. That way we can buy two or three water bottles and share them among the five of us. The cups are light and when we buy five individual bottles no one ever finishes theirs. - Gail Geiser

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

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

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

Pressed Penny update -- ELSA is at the shop OUTSIDE of the Epcot entrance near the International Gateway. (Kristin Ford notes that she just made the Olaf pressed penny at the store on the left along the entrance to World Showcase - by the Duffy meet and greet. A penny with both Elsa and Anna can be pressed inside the toy store at the Norway pavilion.) - Trisha Hwang

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

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

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

We have vacationed many times at Walt Disney World since 1993. Oftentimes, I will ship a package a week in advance, filled with snacks and surprises. I've learned the hard way, if you're staying at a conference center resort (for example, the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower) send the box via USPS. If it is shipped UPS or FedEx, you are charged a service/handling fee when you check-in and claim your package. - Ann

Magic Kingdom - Love your newsletter! I've gotten so many helpful tips from reading it; I'm glad to be able to contribute one myself! We were at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World two weeks ago, and during the day, the standby line to meet Anna and Elsa got up to four hours long! We happened to pass by the Princess Fairytale Hall just before 9 p.m. one evening as the parade was imminent, and the meet-and-greet was still open, with only a 20-minute wait. If someone in your party is eager to meet the Frozen princesses, but you can't stomach spending hours to make it happen, I suggest you ask one of the cast members at Princess Fairytale Hall how late it is open, and consider going toward the end of the day. - Stacey

Magic Kingdom - In my opinion, the best way to avoid crowds (as well as beat the heat) in the Magic Kingdom is to walk through the gift shops on Main Street. I feel like most people don't know, or forget, that these shops are connected. While the shops can be crowded, my girlfriend and I found they were way more manageable than on Main Street. We saved a lot of time and stress by walking through the gift shops before, during, and after any fireworks or parades. - Mike Pizzoferrato