Tips about Epcot, Magic Kingdom, My Disney Experience, Resorts and Souvenirs

Magic Kingdom - A not-well-publicized event that is fun to see for the little kids (and those kids at heart such as myself) is the opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom. It occurs about 10-15 minutes before what Disney refers to as the "rope drop" (the time that they let people through the arches and into the park). The train arrives at the Main Street station above the floral displays with all the characters on board, with Disney music playing. They stop and wave to everyone waiting to enter the park. They let people through the turnstiles into the queue area about 20-30 minutes prior to the park opening. So get there a few minutes early if you want to see it. I believe it is worth seeing. - Mike

My tip is for fans of the trading pins. I have a lanyard and pins that I wear daily at school (I am a teacher). I had the problem of the pin backs coming off and losing my precious pins. I've solved the issue by using an eraser from a mechanical pencil. They can be purchased cheaply at local stores and I have yet to lose a pin that is backed by an eraser. - Angela

If you have planned multiple trips to Walt Disney World with tickets linked to your My Disney Experience account, be sure when you check in that the CORRECT ticket is linked to that stay. For example, I bought a 1-day ticket to use in November after a Disney cruise, but before that I had booked a 7-night package with tickets in June. Both were linked to my account. (It asks you who the ticket is for when you buy it online at disneyworld.com.) When I went in June, my 1-day ticket was used inadvertently, and then 6 days were used from my ticket that came with my package. I discovered this when I went to use that 1-day ticket in November. Of course, the 7th day from my package ticket had expired, since more than 14 days had passed, so I had to buy ANOTHER 1-day ticket to use for November. WDW told me to make sure when checking in to specify which ticket you want to use for your MagicBand. I guess it's not obvious you would want to use a 7-day ticket for a 7-day stay. If you make multiple trips to WDW a year like me, you may run into this trouble. - Jill Benicewicz

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 had a great time using the new Disney app on our phones and used it often to book last minute ADRs. Something we noticed halfway through the holiday is that the Disney app and the Disney website often offered different dining options and times to each other. For example we were able to make last-minute Chef Mickey ADRs on the app that were listed as being unavailable on the website. Other times we were offered more convenient times on the website that weren't listed on the app. So if you are after a particular time or a particular place, it's worth checking both the app and the actual Disney webpage to see if what you want is available. By doing this I was able to get all the times we wanted even at difficult places to book like 'Ohana and Tusker House, and even Be our Guest. It's worth not giving up looking for those important ADRs even once you are there. - Sophie Galloway

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

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

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