Tips about Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous and Special Needs

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

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

My son has sensory issues and doesn't deal well with loud music and noises. I bought kid-size ear plugs and put them in before every ride and show. They cut down on the loudness, but he still didn't lose any of the effect. It was the first time my son was able to enjoy loud shows without covering his ears and crying. They became his "magic bravery plugs." - Anne Truger

Hang on to your hat! My husband wears a baseball cap to prevent sunburn. He was astounded to have it fly off his head on the Tower of Terror. He was very relieved he caught it. What he didn't realize was that our brand new annual passes had been in his front shirt pocket. They, too, had levitated. Fortunately, the Cast Member saw them and called our names. WHEW! - TJ

As we were visiting the parks, my mother-in-law developed a problem with her knee and needed the use of a wheelchair. My father-in-law began renting them as we went to each park -- necessary, but expensive. We decided to check at the front desk at Port Orleans Riverside where we were staying and found that they have complimentary wheelchairs that you can bring to each park. This was very convenient and saved us a lot of money. - Mark Coffman

EDITOR'S NOTE: The resort wheelchairs are available in very limited quantities, and are loaned on a first come-first served basis. Not all resorts permit you to take their wheelchairs off the resort grounds, so be sure to inquire.

Epcot - The new Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival in the Magic Eye Theater (in the Imagination pavilion) has a 15-minute standing pre-show that, while informative, is not very entertaining for kids. - A Reader

Epcot - The new Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival in the Magic Eye Theater (in the Imagination pavilion) has a 15-minute standing pre-show that, while informative, is not very entertaining for kids. - A Reader

Epcot - Don't forget the single rider lines at Test Track and Mission: SPACE, especially if you're just part of a couple. This is a GREAT way to ride quickly. Even when we have the kids, we'll each take the 9-year-old (the other kids are too small) and ride using the single rider line, then we switch... oftentimes it even beats out the child swap option because you don't have to stand in the regular line. - - Sarah

Epcot - Don't forget the single rider lines at Test Track and Mission: SPACE, especially if you're just part of a couple. This is a GREAT way to ride quickly. Even when we have the kids, we'll each take the 9-year-old (the other kids are too small) and ride using the single rider line, then we switch... oftentimes it even beats out the child swap option because you don't have to stand in the regular line. - - Sarah

For $.79 at your local Target store you can purchase a clear plastic coupon holder in the office supply department. It's 5" x 7" in size, has a Velcro closure, and is perfect for holding your tickets, money, etc. It keeps everything from getting wet on the water rides and is easy to find in your backpack! I never go to WDW without mine! - Noreen Rachuba EDITOR'S NOTE: Magic Bands eliminate the need to carry many cards, but for those you do, this is a great suggestion.

I brought Dawn DishWipes with us and washed out our refillable mug in our room sink every night. My mug just never felt truly clean on any of our other trips when I would just rinse it well with hot water. The wipes come in a clear plastic box and are dry, so I just put a bunch in a Ziploc bag. Dina

We had great luck booking the Illuminations Cruise over the years. We have done it several times. This year we booked the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise. I think it is a little more available. We enjoyed it much more. There was a lot more "cruising" before the show and the backdrop of the castle and Magic Kingdom was fantastic. - Margaret

Walt Disney World and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) kids: We have found that keeping our daughter on a regular schedule helps her at home and on vacation. We try to keep regular food and bedtimes. We also try to be in tune with her and not wait for the meltdown to happen. We keep an eye on wait times for rides and always use FastPass. My daughter can wait and actually does amazingly well at WDW, but we know that waiting too long will not work. We have had to leave a line when it was obvious we needed to get away. We also like to plan downtime in the middle of the day for swimming or just resting in the room to regroup. Also, it helps to know which battles to fight and which ones to just let go -- Sandi