Tips about Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous and Photography

EPCOT - I really loved your article on overlooked attractions at EPCOT - we've actually managed to see most of the ones that you mentioned, but we'll be looking for the ones that we've missed. However, while you mentioned the butterfly garden, you didn't mention the rose garden. It's nothing other than a small, alternate path between Innoventions and the World Showcase Lagoon (on the right as you face the World Showcase Lagoon), but it's usually fairly deserted, and it is lined with hundreds of rose bushes, all different varieties.

My husband and I like to walk along this path (OK, I probably enjoy it more than my husband), stopping and looking at the beautiful roses and smelling the different fragrances. Most of the varieties are marked with a small plaque, so if you find something you really like, you could write it down. There are one or two benches along this path (although, there is NO shade), and I've sat and enjoyed the morning while watching families rush along the path completely missing the beautiful flowers. - Jill A. Neill

To help create a trip report complete with all rides and activities done throughout the day,take a digital photo of each ride sign before you ride and each place where you eat or snack. This will help you create a timeline of activities done throughout the day and in the correct order. If your camera has a clock on it you can have it listed in the photo as well. We usually can't remember which ride we rode and in what order. This helps greatly for us. - Laurie Hoffman

At the beginning of each roll of film, take a photograph of an index card with your name, address and phone number, or even just your phone number, written in large letters. When someone develops the roll, they'll know who to contact. - Bill Wilson

On our last trip I applied a return address-sized label to each roll of film with our name, address, phone number, our dates of visit and resort visited. On one occasion I had to change film in the middle of an act that my child was invited to participate in. Later in the day I realized that I had absent-mindedly left the roll of film on the bench next to me. I was not worried, because I knew it was labeled. Later in the day I went to the park's lost & found (at Guest Relations) and described the roll. The Cast Member came back with it in no time. - Flybaby Deb

I wanted to let you know that some cameras end up LOST for good. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write your name and hotel, or a phone number where we can reach you, on your cameras -- disposable or not. We would just LOVE to be able to call and let you know we found your camera! - A Concerned Cast Member

We also lost a camera at WDW, which was never recovered. They actually sent us someone else's camera once we got home, which I returned. Now, when we go to WDW, I put two or three of those self-stick return address labels on all cameras, equipment, and anything else I don't want to lose. It's an easy way to identify your stuff. - Disnemom

For digital camera users, bring several smaller memory cards instead of a large memory card. Each day swap out the used memory card for a new one. In addition, label your digital camera with a name, address, and something like: "Reward if returned." Last week at Disney we lost our digital camera with a week's worth of pictures. Since we had used a massive memory card everything was lost. Despite registering with lost-and-found the camera was never recovered. - Brian

When you get your picture taken by the park photographers, have the picture put on a watch. You can ask Guest Relations where to get this done. I had it done at the watch shop on Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Hollywood Studios. There is also a watch shop on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. It is a wonderful souvenir. - Connie La Tempa

Like most of you out there, I take lots of pictures when I am at Disney World. In order to keep the taken film separate from the untaken film, I have finally come up with a simple method of identifying the canisters of film. When packing my camera case, I put some of my self-stick address labels in with my film. When I finish a roll of film, I attach one of the labels to the outside of the canister to identify it as being taken. I also use these labels when I take my film for processing -- I don't have to write my name and address on all those film envelopes that way! I have been known to double expose rolls of film and to process blank rolls of film, but this is the best solution I have come up with to avoid that. - Sue Nelson

I am the picture taker in our family, so needless to say I am not included in our family vacation photo album! Solution: I have a group shot taken at every park that we visit by the Disney photographers at the entrance way. I also have them taken at the water parks. I use these pictures for our yearly Christmas cards. - Fran Dodge

One other thing I didn't read anywhere before we went was that some of these meals (Chef Mickey's and Tusker House) offered family photos. I know some people are put off by this, but for families with young children, who are often in strollers in the parks, this is a nice way to get a picture of everyone together and (hopefully) smiling! We found the photographers in Magic Kingdom and Epcot especially seemed to avoid those of us pushing our clan in strollers... especially doubles! - Hollie Moots -

During our trip to WDW, we did several character meals. At first we would only use our cameras to take pictures after the characters signed the autograph books and were posing with the kids. But after the second meal we started snapping away as soon as the characters approached our table. We are so glad we did this because we captured a very funny sequence of events while at the Villains Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.

These candid shots tell a funny story, showing the playful interaction between my sons and the characters. After that, we started snapping away at all of the character meals, and now that we're back, we see that the candid shots usually gave us better pictures than the posed ones! So my tip is start taking pictures as soon as the characters approach your table and start interacting with your children. Of course you want the posed pictures, but the candid ones just might end up being your favorite memories of the meals! -Theresa Brown

(Editor's note: This is a great tip for character meet and greets in the parks also!)

EPCOT - On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space. So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We usually picked up two different candies at each country. The only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do -- my family enjoyed it! - Kelly Adkins

EPCOT - On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space. So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We usually picked up two different candies at each country. The only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do -- my family enjoyed it! - Kelly Adkins