Tips about Food & Beverage, Health, Mousecellaneous, Planning and Resorts

I am writing as a person HIGHLY allergic to latex. My greatest joy about Disney is that I can travel there and know that they are using latex-free gloves and feel relaxed and comfortable. After seven trips to WDW I was disappointed during our trip last week... For the first time we stayed in a value resort (All Star Music) and to my dismay they handed out latex balloons to the children. There are balloons in the front foyer and the snack bar... Very disappointing... SO, if you are traveling to Disney you might want to consider other than value resorts. We have always stayed at deluxe resorts and never had these kinds of problems. - Karen Holycross

For more information visit: http://allears.net/pl/latex.htm

We took a short trip to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and it rained quite frequently. We have two children in strollers, and the best thing we bought prior to the trip were two $10 stroller covers. Our girls were comfortable and dry, even when it was pouring and windy. There were a lot of people using ponchos, but we noticed that they did not stay on the strollers like ours did. When it stopped raining, we put them in the storage area under each stroller (ours are the larger umbrella strollers). - Angie

If you're a teenage girl (like me) and you're going to Disney, bring your cellphone or iPod with you! It's nice to be able to listen to your music while waiting in line. Another thing: make sure you put your name and address on everything -- with iPods or mp3 players, stick some white tape on the back and write your info with a pen or marker, because Disney will return items if they find them! - Stephanie

If you're a teenage girl (like me) and you're going to Disney, bring your cellphone or iPod with you! It's nice to be able to listen to your music while waiting in line. Another thing: make sure you put your name and address on everything -- with iPods or mp3 players, stick some white tape on the back and write your info with a pen or marker, because Disney will return items if they find them! - Stephanie

If you're a teenage girl (like me) and you're going to Disney, bring your cellphone or iPod with you! It's nice to be able to listen to your music while waiting in line. Another thing: make sure you put your name and address on everything -- with iPods or mp3 players, stick some white tape on the back and write your info with a pen or marker, because Disney will return items if they find them! - Stephanie

We always pack a couple of first aid ice packs with us. We buy the kind that DO NOT need to be frozen, you just squeeze them to activate them. They are soooooo wonderful when you are stuck in a hot line or watching a parade/show in the hot sun. You just give it a quick squeeze and you have an icey cold pack that you can rub on your face & back and get instant relief! - Marie

If you like Sweet'N Low artificial sweetener, bring lots with you. The parks only have Splenda and Equal (although the resorts had Sweet'N Low). - jnscook

I saw the tip in the June 3 newsletter about the reusable tote bags Disney now has in stores for those who don't like getting all the plastic bags. However, I have a tip about those plastic Disney bags. I have a Disney-themed bathroom and the medium-sized bags fit perfectly in the wire wastebasket I have in there, so I take them home and store under the cabinet to use in my wastebasket to keep it clean. The neat Disney design shows throught the wire and goes great with my decor. - Sharon McMurray

While visiting Walt Disney World recently I made it a point to thank the cast members who were stuck in the bathrooms, keeping them clean, and/or those picking up the garbage in the park. I let them know that we really appreciate them keeping things clean. The smiles from these often-unappreciated workers made my day, as you can see how much they appreciated being recognized. - Bonnie Lorenzetti

Just prior to leaving for a trip to the World, I needed to have a liquid prescription filled. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to take the large size bottle in my carry-on, I asked my pharmacy to put part of the medicine in a smaller TSA-approved bottle. They did, including making another pharmacy label. I will be able to have the smaller bottle with me and the larger I can check. And if my luggage does happen to get lost I have enough in my carry-on until the luggage is found. - Laura

Since dresser drawers are few in the rooms, bring along one of those hanging closet organizers for each child with at least seven slots. You can place your child's shorts, t-shirts, socks, underwear, etc. in the cubes thus saving on drawer space. - Barbara D.

If you're looking for Kosher food while visiting Walt Disney World, you'll find it now at Satu'li Canteen in Animal Kingdom (no longer at the Kusafiri Bakery). And it's also at both Liberty Inn and the Electric Umbrella in Epcot. By the way, the vendor for Kosher food has changed. It is no longer Weberman -- they now use Sterling. Thanks for the great site! Hopefully these updates will help others. - Josh

I just returned from a terrific stay at the Grand Floridian and wanted to share a unique experience if you're looking for something extra-special. My husband surprised me with an Intimate Dining Experience. It's a two-hour dining experience for up to four people, even if staying off-property, with a choice of locations throughout the resort, personalized menus and a butler. Ours was on a balcony of the Grand Floridian with a view of the lagoon and fireworks. It was arranged directly through the front desk at the Grand Floridian. - Denise D.

I just returned from a terrific stay at the Grand Floridian and wanted to share a unique experience if you're looking for something extra-special. My husband surprised me with an Intimate Dining Experience. It's a two-hour dining experience for up to four people, even if staying off-property, with a choice of locations throughout the resort, personalized menus and a butler. Ours was on a balcony of the Grand Floridian with a view of the lagoon and fireworks. It was arranged directly through the front desk at the Grand Floridian. - Denise D.

My best hot-weather tip is the frozen washcloth. I fold wet washcloths in quarters and put them in our villa's freezer the night before going to the parks. In the morning, each washcloth goes in a sandwich sized zipper-top bag and then all go into an insulated lunch bag in my backpack. We pull them out midday when the Florida heat and humidity are killers! It feels SUPERB to run a freezing cold cloth along your arms and across the back of your neck! It's reallly refreshing when you are hot and tired! - Lee Bickerstaff