Tips about Epcot, Other and Souvenirs

I work with elementary school-age children and have many friends with kids in that age category. I buy postcards when in the World and bring them home to use throughout the year. I send them to my own kids (at college), and to my nieces and nephews scattered around the nation. But my most fun postcard use is sending one to someone I know is going to Disney with a message like, "We are so excited you are coming to see us! Please stop by and get my autograph when you are here. And don't forget to bring your camera so we can take our picture together. See you next week! Mickey." My friends have told me how fun it has been to have the kids get this sort of mail and I love being the secret Mickey spreading a little pre-Disney pixie dust. - Terry Heyward

I just returned from WDW and have a tip for those travelers wanting ideas on what to do outside the parks during the shortened hours! We were able to do lots of things we never found time for on previous trips. Our favorite is to play mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens! This is a total blast! The easiest way to get there for folks staying on Disney property is to take the boat from Epcot (International Gateway) or the boat at Disney's Hollywood Studios (no park admission required for either) to the Swan/Dolphin Resorts. The boat lets you off at a dock right between the two resorts. Instead of entering the Swan (like we'd done on a previous trip), walk outside, around the lake and past the little beach area to the sidewalk that leads right to the road. This brings you almost directly across from Fantasia you only have to cross the street! You easily cut 20 minutes of walking by not going in the hotel itself. No one we asked were able to give us these step-by-step instructions, even though we talked to the information desk at Port Orleans Riverside, to various bus drivers and to the people manning the boats. Lucky for us we just happened on the short cut! - Christie Falck

I just wanted to add that it's best to use older pennies in the pressed penny machines. Starting in the middle of 1982, the US Mint switched from copper pennies to zinc pennies with a thin layer of copper. When you put these pennies through the pressed penny machine, you get a kind of "marble cake" appearance with the zinc sometimes peeking through. Some people like this effect, but I prefer to search through my pennies and find the older ones to use. - John Hayes

The images on new shiny pennies are a lot clearer than old used pennies! I suggest you roll up your pennies and head right to the bank to exchange for a brand new roll! - Cathy

SUPER SOAP WEEKEND: If you are going to see the soap stars, the most important thing to remember is "Get there early." Lines for autographs form as much as an hour before the scheduled appearance times. Even though the park was scheduled to open at 9 a.m., soap fans were able to queue for autographs/photo ops well before 8:30 a.m.

If you are going to the Studios that day and are not interested in seeing the celebrities, I'd say don't let the crowds scare you. Most folks in the park that day are there waiting to see the soap opera stars, therefore most attractions have low to moderate wait times.

EPCOT & DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS - It is possible to see Fantasmic at the Hollywood Studios and IllumiNations at Epcot in the same night! The way to accomplish this is to watch Fantasmic sitting near an exit (or semi-close to one), go straight out of the park and when you get to the bus stops outside the park take the bus to the TTC (usually not very crowded at this time). When you get to the TTC take the monorail to Epcot. The night we did this we even wasted time waiting at the boat dock at the Studios and then decided to then try the TTC/Monorail approach. We made it to Epcot by 8:45 PM, in plenty of time to catch IllumiNations. - Christine

EPCOT & DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS - It is possible to see Fantasmic at the Hollywood Studios and IllumiNations at Epcot in the same night! The way to accomplish this is to watch Fantasmic sitting near an exit (or semi-close to one), go straight out of the park and when you get to the bus stops outside the park take the bus to the TTC (usually not very crowded at this time). When you get to the TTC take the monorail to Epcot. The night we did this we even wasted time waiting at the boat dock at the Studios and then decided to then try the TTC/Monorail approach. We made it to Epcot by 8:45 PM, in plenty of time to catch IllumiNations. - Christine

Last year one grandchild got the postcard I sent from Walt Disney World, and the other one never did, so this year I took a business envelope and sent them both to their mom. They both got their cards. I also took a small padded envelope and sent a group of postcards to the first-graders in a class where I am a volunteer. (And the money saved on postage paid for the envelope!) - Deborah L.

ALL PARKS - We had a fantastic time, but I am sure many others did not -- especially those folks who thought that noon was a good time to arrive at the Magic Kingdom. Remember my Golden Rule of Disney: always be at the entrance gate when the park opens. We took advantage of the one hour early park opening every day (Extra Magic Hour), and were finished with all major attractions and back at the hotel by 1 p.m. We'd spend a nice afternoon poolside and then return in the evening for a Priority Seating dinner and the show/parade. We did not use Fastpass once, and never stood in a line for more than 20 minutes, except for that misbehaving Test Track at Epcot. - Timothy Helm

ALL PARKS - While wandering around Walt Disney World, I like to carry a small plastic tube for paper souvenirs. I use a plastic tennis ball container that has a lid -- other similar tubes will work well. This allows me to store maps, menus, napkins and any other paper items without them being crushed, wrinkled or soaked. I just put them under a few heavy books when I get home. - Brian Brennan

ALL PARKS - While wandering around Walt Disney World, I like to carry a small plastic tube for paper souvenirs. I use a plastic tennis ball container that has a lid -- other similar tubes will work well. This allows me to store maps, menus, napkins and any other paper items without them being crushed, wrinkled or soaked. I just put them under a few heavy books when I get home. - Brian Brennan

Another idea to control the "I wants" from your kids. My daughter earned money before going on our trips. Sometimes she collected cans to recycle, sometimes she did chores around the house. She was much more selective about her choices and valued her souvenirs much more. - Suzanne P.

Another idea to control the "I wants" from your kids. My daughter earned money before going on our trips. Sometimes she collected cans to recycle, sometimes she did chores around the house. She was much more selective about her choices and valued her souvenirs much more. - Suzanne P.

ALL PARKS - Be sure to have a group destination while walking around the park -- for example, once everyone in your party has ridden Buzz, decide where your group is headed, just in case someone gets separated. Then the rest of the group will continue on to that spot and wait until you regroup. This happened to us recently at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party -- while heading toward the Haunted Mansion, the first parade ended and it was crazy in front of the castle. Our group of 11 broke up into 8 and 3 and luckily we all headed on to Haunted Mansion and waited until everyone met up again. It took only about 20 minutes to regroup, instead of everyone heading off to a "central meeting place" like in front of the castle! It is also always good to have a specific spot for emergencies, like at the Sword in the Stone, for example. Just stay together! That 20 minutes separated was scary. - Suzanne from Patchogue, NY

ALL PARKS - Be sure to have a group destination while walking around the park -- for example, once everyone in your party has ridden Buzz, decide where your group is headed, just in case someone gets separated. Then the rest of the group will continue on to that spot and wait until you regroup. This happened to us recently at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party -- while heading toward the Haunted Mansion, the first parade ended and it was crazy in front of the castle. Our group of 11 broke up into 8 and 3 and luckily we all headed on to Haunted Mansion and waited until everyone met up again. It took only about 20 minutes to regroup, instead of everyone heading off to a "central meeting place" like in front of the castle! It is also always good to have a specific spot for emergencies, like at the Sword in the Stone, for example. Just stay together! That 20 minutes separated was scary. - Suzanne from Patchogue, NY

[Unless you have a car] don't attempt to go to the Winter Summerland miniature golf course at Blizzard Beach after BB closes. No buses travel there after BB closes (which is either 5 or 6 p.m.), so you have to take a taxi or a "short walk" from Coronado Springs to get there. But the "short walk" is 25 minutes along a highway. Go in the morning or afternoon, instead. - Jennifer Beck