Tips about Food & Beverage, Hollywood Studios, Kids and Resorts

If your little ones are craving their favorite movie while on vacation, as my 2-year-old nephew (Toy Story 2) and my 5-year-old nephew (anything Power Rangers) were, bring along a portable DVD player. Many of the resort TVs have front plug-ins that will allow you to plug the DVD player to the large TV. They loved it. - Wendy J.

ALL PARKS - I have been to Disney many times and always carry a bag of some sort with me for sunscreen, wallets, camera, ponchos, and other things of that nature. I found that a clear backpack will get you through the line at the security checkpoint quicker than it normally takes. Since security can see through the backpack they normally do not have to open it up. If you are worried about everyone seeing what you have in the clear backpack, than all you have to do is take a hand towel and pull it out before the security check point and, once through, place it in the backpack so that everything that you have cannot be easily seen. It also helps if you get a little wet and need to dry off. - Kelly Henrichsen

While at WDW last week I found out that most of the Swan and Dolphin restaurants give a 20 percent discount when you show your AAA card. Exceptions are Il Mulino, bluezoo, Shula's, and Kimono's. - Michelle Buchecker

EDITOR'S NOTE: We double-checked this and found out it's true! Be sure to bring those AAA cards with you. Also, Disney Vacation Club Members get a similar 20 percent discount at the Swan and Dolphin restaurants. Kimono's does participate in the discount program, however.

Regarding preparing the kids for Disney, this is what we're doing with our 4- and 6-year-olds: Following Super Nanny's lead, we've gone for goals. Having selected a collection of suitable rides, the kids have picked ones they would most like to go on. Now they are earning points to go on the rides (following a roller coaster track on a chart with pictures of the rides, and Disney characters trying to reach them). It seems to be working -- encouraging the kids to do their best, whilst giving them the idea that we aren't going quite yet -- got to get those points first! - Liz

We brought a travel-sized MagnaDoodle that we found especially handy at the water parks, where we would have a base camp, but would often split up to do different things. We would write messages to each other with the time and place we could be found. It actually became a fun game, as we got into giving clues to the names of the slides and rides. Overall, it was just a simple and fun way to communicate when you didn't want to have your cell phone with you. - Molly from Oregon

ALL PARKS - We put small inexpensive inflatable bath pillows (about $.79 to $1.50 at most drugstores) in our parkpacks. When we go to see a show on a hard wooden or steel bench, or are stuck with only a concrete curbside seat to view the parade, we take out our pillows, blow them up, and voila -- a nice soft cushie for our tushie! - Michele Abbamondi

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - We arrived early at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for our dinner at Boma. As usual, we went straight through the lobby to the savannah to check out the animals. The guide there informed us that from 8-10 p.m., you could see the animals through complimentary use of night vision goggles at the animal overlook by the swimming pool. We checked it out after dinner -- it was fantastic! The guides have two night vision goggles for visitors to use, and wipe them down with antibacterial wipes whenever there's a change in families. It was fascinating and unique to look for the animals using the goggles! - hardroff

Before our recent annual family trip to Walt Disney World, our daughter and son-in-law built even greater happy anticipation in their 6- and 4-year-olds. Each evening, two of the children's cherished stuffed Disney characters would magically appear someplace in the house other than the children's bedrooms. Each character would be sitting on two one-dollar bills for the coming trip. So, there were one-dollar bills for the children and one each for Mommy and Daddy. One night, the characters had instructions for a treasure hunt. In the end, two of the dollar bills were found in the collar of Gus, their Golden Retriever. One was in Grandpa's pocket, and one was in Granny's pocket. This was done for the month before the trip, along with a special calendar on which the children crossed off one day every night. - Diane Schmitz

We just got back from Disney World today... please let your readers know that "Heelys" (skate sneakers) are not permitted in any amusement park in Florida. We were stopped by a Disney employee who informed us that we could be fined up to $150 by the sheriff! - Barbara Friedman

Fort Wilderness - This year I took my family to dinner at the Trail's End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Campground. We made a night of it: we started at the Wilderness Lodge, then took the boat ride to Fort Wilderness to our priority seating at Trail's End, which is a very reasonably priced buffet. Then we watched the Wishes fireworks on the beach and the Electric Water Pageant from the boat dock. The kids loved the boat ride and the ducks on the beach. It makes for a lovely and relaxing evening! You could put together a similar evening at any of the Magic Kingdom resorts, although the Trail's End doesn't tend to book up early and it's inexpensive. - Dawn Goodwin

Fort Wilderness - This year I took my family to dinner at the Trail's End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Campground. We made a night of it: we started at the Wilderness Lodge, then took the boat ride to Fort Wilderness to our priority seating at Trail's End, which is a very reasonably priced buffet. Then we watched the Wishes fireworks on the beach and the Electric Water Pageant from the boat dock. The kids loved the boat ride and the ducks on the beach. It makes for a lovely and relaxing evening! You could put together a similar evening at any of the Magic Kingdom resorts, although the Trail's End doesn't tend to book up early and it's inexpensive. - Dawn Goodwin

Old Key West - As a follow up to Tanya's tip (last issue) about walking around Boardwalk in the morning -- when we stay at Old Key West we always walk all through the resort area and take the paved trail over to Saratoga Springs. We sit by the pool there and have coffee, breakfast or even fruit that we buy in their restaurant before heading back. Golfers would enjoy watching foursomes teeing off as you pass several tee boxes. It is a wonderful trail. When staying at Saratoga we reverse the trip and sit at Turtle Krawl before heading back. It is very relaxing. - Margaret

Epcot Resorts - If you are staying at the Epcot resorts go for an early morning walk -- it's worth it. I know you do tons of walking while at WDW, but there is something magical about walking around the BoardWalk and Yacht and Beach Club first thing in the morning. We stayed at the Dolphin over New Year's and I was still preparing for the half-marathon the following week, so I got up early each morning to go for a walk around the walkways to Epcot, the BoardWalk and the Studios. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this time -- it was such a pleasure to walk and enjoy the beauty of all the buildings, the waterway and just the calm at that hour, and it was a wonderful way to start each day. - Tanya

We're headed down to the world very soon and we've been looking for ways to cut costs. At home, we've found you can save a lot by drinking water. Well, we find the water in Florida to taste a little funny because of the high content of sulfur so we didn't want to do that, but suddenly I remembered those little drink flavoring packets they have now to put into bottled water. The Crystal Light brand says to mix with 16.9 oz. of water but I've found I can go up to 24 oz. and it still tastes strong enough for me. Kool-Aid also makes the individual packets now for the kids and I noticed several other brands at the store. I can't wait to go down and use these. With drinks costing anywhere from $1.50 to around $5.00, I think this will be a huge savings for us! - Terri Daugherty

When purchasing milk, pay attention to the size and the price. During the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend I discovered at Saratoga Springs Spa & Resort, Artist Palette Restaurant a pint of milk was $1.99 and a quart of milk was $1.75. I bought the quart of milk for myself and my daughter. - Mark A. Carlson