Tips about Food & Beverage, Hollywood Studios and Resorts

When making online dining reservations, try using different variations of times. For example, I have noticed sometimes if I enter the time as just "lunch" or "dinner" I get no availability for that particular park or restaurant. If I check again using a specific time, sometimes availability shows up. I have done this when making reservations online at my computer and while in the parks using the mobile Disney app. - Terry Lewis

Disney's Hollywood Studios - Concerning people wary of riding Tower of Terror -- When riding Tower of Terror try to avoid holding onto the hand grips by your seat. Either just keep your hands at your sides or if you're the hand-raising type then raise them high. Why? During the drops and when the raises get to the top, you actually will feel yourself floating off of the seat. This is much less jarring to the body than if you hold on to the grips for dear life and more fun too. Try it. I find it makes all the difference. - Jeff P.

Disney's Hollywood Studios - This is specifically in response to Abigail Hartlein's article (AllEars® Issue #735, October 22, 2013) about riding the Tower of Terror. For those afraid of drops, here's a little hint: Right before, and as you're dropping, look at the floor around your feet. I don't know if it's an optical illusion or what, but I find that you won't feel the dropping sensation! If you don't like that feeling in your stomach, this might allow you to experience the sensational theming of Tower of Terror without feeling sick! - Kylie Lacey

The Walt Disney World Lost and Found department is amazing! My designer sunglasses flew off during Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and I thought they were gone for good. I called the Lost and Found department and described what day and location I lost them, gave a description of the glasses, and to my surprise, in true Disney Magic they were found! (Allow 24-48 hours for cast members to process your lost items.) - Michelle

EDITOR'S NOTE: You can report missing items at Guest Relations in the theme parks, but if you don't discover the item has been lost until you get home, try calling Theme Parks Lost & Found: (407) 824-4245. They're open seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST. Give them a description of the item and where you lost it, and if it's been turned in, they'll let you know.

I noticed that Disney World is offering more toppings with their quick service burgers and hot dogs, which raises the price even more. If you just want a simple cheeseburger they will gladly make one for you at a cheaper cost. My fathered ordered the 1/3-lb. Angus cheeseburger with bacon and fries at Restaurantosaurus for $10.19, but he asked for no bacon. The total came to $8.89, which is great because it's healthier without the bacon, plus it's cheaper! - Natalie

The recent note in the newsletter regarding not being able to have a sit-down meal before Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom only reinforces that dining reservations are a MUST during any meal. This includes "regular" days as well as special occasions. Why risk having to leave the park for lack of planning when all it takes is an online reservation or a quick call to 407-WDW-DINE? - Darlene Kane

I had breakfast with my daughter at Cinderella's Royal Table. I just wanted to let you know that there is a new addition/substitution at breakfast. Instead of the cream cheese-stuffed French Toast with Cognac sauce, it is now a Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast and it was unbelievable! It appears that some of the pastries may have changed, too. I ate here last December and it seems that the Mickey head-shaped blueberry muffins were new as well. - Kristin LaRose

We will be going to WDW for our 19th trip in two weeks -- can't wait! One of the best tips we can offer is to definitely go to the parks at night -- they all look so different as the sun goes down. The sun setting and the darkness coming -- it really brings out the beautiful lighting and colors of the parks. Animal Kingdom will be open in the evenings when the Rivers of Light show debuts in 2016. I just wish Walt Disney could come back for one day and see the beauty and magic that he created! - Trudy

Pop Century - If staying at the Pop Century Resort, you might want to bring along a noise maker or a fan. The rooms are very quiet, not a lot of background air conditioner noise like you get at many hotels. To muffle the sound of people outside, we always bring a fan. - Jenifer Markham

I noticed in last week's AllEars Hears that someone mentioned the removal of the a la carte menu from the Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge's afternoon tea. Be sure if you see something like that to ask about it. We noticed the same thing, but asked and were still able to get everything we wanted a la carte, including the cheese plate (which had disappeared from the menu entirely). They have been changing the tea process and the strawberries and cream are now pre-made and are no longer gluten-free, so always be sure to ask questions every time you go somewhere! - Melissa Barlett

I noticed in last week's AllEars Hears that someone mentioned the removal of the a la carte menu from the Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge's afternoon tea. Be sure if you see something like that to ask about it. We noticed the same thing, but asked and were still able to get everything we wanted a la carte, including the cheese plate (which had disappeared from the menu entirely). They have been changing the tea process and the strawberries and cream are now pre-made and are no longer gluten-free, so always be sure to ask questions every time you go somewhere! - Melissa Barlett

When we were at Disney World, we ordered self-contained cereal bowls and other fruit snacks from an online service. They arrived at Pop Century a day or so before us. Pop Century held the packages and delivered them to our room when we arrived. We then picked up milk every morning. It was quick and easy and saved some money. I did not use them all, so Pop Century helped me send the remainder back home. - Brenda Fitzsimmons

When we were at Disney World, we ordered self-contained cereal bowls and other fruit snacks from an online service. They arrived at Pop Century a day or so before us. Pop Century held the packages and delivered them to our room when we arrived. We then picked up milk every morning. It was quick and easy and saved some money. I did not use them all, so Pop Century helped me send the remainder back home. - Brenda Fitzsimmons

Our family does not eat pork, and at the Garden Grill, we mentioned to the server not to bring any pork products (several menu items mentioned bacon). A few minutes after we sat down, the chef came to our table to point out that a few other items also had pork in them, such as a topping or gravy. He offered some alternatives that were delicious and didn't take any extra time. We were also able to get seconds, since it is a family style meal. It's worth it to always ask! - Amy O.

Boardwalk Villas - I have a money-saving tip for all of the BoardWalk hotel guests staying without cars. As DVC members we almost always stay at our home resort, the Boardwalk. We also use Magical Express and never bother to rent a car while there. (Gotta love that free Disney transportation!) Luckily there is a Hess station across the street from our resort entrance. On our first day there my husband and I will unpack one of our large suitcases and wheel it on over to that Hess station where we fill up on gallons of water, bottles of soda, orange juice and beer, plus some snacks and simple breakfast foods to stock our hotel fridge. We may look a little strange loading all that up into a suitcase and walking back to our hotel but we are able to stock up on drinks for a whole week at less than half the cost of the resort. - Erin