Tips about Food & Beverage, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Resorts and Souvenirs

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

A helpful hint that hopefully also saves some tears and frustration: the new Frozen sing-along show uses a ticket system similar to Jack Sparrow. Tickets are given out starting at park opening back on San Francisco Street right by the Premiere Theater. The tickets guarantee you your seat in the show but ONLY if you return during the return time window. The window ends 10 minutes prior to show time (so, for example the window for the 2:30 show ends at 2:20). After that window has passed you are no longer guaranteed your seat. You will be directed to standby, which doesn't guarantee entry or sitting together if you do get in. This is especially a problem for the last show of the day, so don't let yourself get caught without a ticket or with a late return time! - A Hollywood Studios Cast Member

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

As a new Disney Vacation Club member, I decided to give the Tables in Wonderland card a try. We had a dinner reservation almost every night, so it paid for itself within the week. I can also use it when we return next year since it's good for about 13 months. You automatically get charged gratuity of 18 percent, which is about what I'd tip anyway. The 20 percent discount from the card basically covers that gratuity and then some. It was definitely worth the $100. - Jennifer

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

Magic Kingdom - In my opinion, the best way to avoid crowds (as well as beat the heat) in the Magic Kingdom is to walk through the gift shops on Main Street. I feel like most people don't know, or forget, that these shops are connected. While the shops can be crowded, my girlfriend and I found they were way more manageable than on Main Street. We saved a lot of time and stress by walking through the gift shops before, during, and after any fireworks or parades. - Mike Pizzoferrato

The gluten-free offerings [at 'Ohana] for my husband were excellent, and included lettuce wraps, chicken wings, all of the grilled meats and a special dessert. They did require my 10-year-old to be charged as an adult, which made the price tag high in my opinion, but the food was great. - A reader in the AllEars.Net Rate and Review section

Disney's Hollywood Studios - When visiting the Disney Junior show at Disney's Hollywood Studios, do NOT sit in the front because you will not be able to see the characters very well. It's better if you sit near the back, in the middle section. Also, know that seating is mostly on the floor, so it's hard for some adults to sit comfortably or to get up. There are just a few benches along the back walls. - Darlene Clagett

Epcot - When my son and daughter-in-law were expecting our now 3-year-old grandson Kai, I visited each country in Epcot and asked a cast member to sign a little message to him in his/her native language. They translated it in English as well. When I approached each cast member, they were delighted to have a part in welcoming our grandson into the world! Upon returning home, I compiled the signatures, along with a picture of each country, put them in a small photo album, and gave it to my daughter-in-law at her baby shower. I have since done the same album of signatures with my subsequent grandson Caleb and most recently with Kai's baby sister Adalie. - Kim N.

Epcot - When my son and daughter-in-law were expecting our now 3-year-old grandson Kai, I visited each country in Epcot and asked a cast member to sign a little message to him in his/her native language. They translated it in English as well. When I approached each cast member, they were delighted to have a part in welcoming our grandson into the world! Upon returning home, I compiled the signatures, along with a picture of each country, put them in a small photo album, and gave it to my daughter-in-law at her baby shower. I have since done the same album of signatures with my subsequent grandson Caleb and most recently with Kai's baby sister Adalie. - Kim N.