Tips about Food & Beverage, Keep The Magic Alive, Planning, Resorts and Souvenirs

CHRISTMAS - Our family always checks out the key rings at WDW. A lot of the key rings are suitable to be used as Christmas ornaments or jewelry. On our most recent trip we purchased a monorail key ring to use as a Christmas ornament. We saw a glass monorail ornament that was twice the price and I wasn't sure it would survive the plane trip home. We also bought a key ring that had a Tinker Bell charm on it. I removed the charm (silver) and placed it on a chain to wear as a necklace. The key ring cost $6 compared to the actual Tinker Bell charms that were $12. - Ronda

FORT WILDERNESS - When we stay at the Fort Wilderness Resort, we arrange to have an hour-long carriage ride that starts at 8:30 p.m. We ask the carriage driver to find us a good spot to watch the "Wishes" fireworks show, and the driver takes us to a secluded area next to the lake. We have a great view of the show, plus it is so nice and peaceful to be all alone there and not crushed amongst thousands of people. - Darrin Brooks EDITOR'S NOTE: Carriage rides are generally 30 minutes long so if you want an hour you will need to book two consecutive reservations.

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - Suggestions for Animal Kingdom Lodge: Go to the Front Desk/Guest Services of Animal Kingdom Lodge and request a list of activities and the "Hidden Mickey" list. The resort's Cast Members will give culinary tours, art tours, and tell stories, depending on the time of day you visit the resort. (The Hidden Mickeys are easier to spot during the daylight hours.) You can also visit the Sunset Overlook, located in the lounge next to the Front Desk. Cast Members at the Arusha Rock Overlook will even have night-vision binoculars! I recommend the dinner buffet at Boma. It has a wide variety of foods that would satisfy picky eaters too. - Lori

What my girlfriend and I do is take two scrapbooks -- one for me and one for her. Each night, before going to bed, we take a minute to write down our best moments for that day. When we get back home we trade the books. It's fun to see the trip through the eyes of your loved one. It brings back memories that you may have skipped, and it helps you understand each other even more. Planning the next trip is then easier, because you have a better idea of what the other one would rather do. This could easily be done with a whole family. - Sylvain, Montreal

I wanted to add to the suggestion about sending postcards signed by Disney characters. On the first morning of our trip in November, I excused myself from breakfast with my family at the All Star Sports food court to pick up two postcards from the shop in the lobby. I wrote notes to each of my sons with specific details from the night before at Epcot and signed a favorite character's name on each. It was fun to write in a style that I thought Dumbo or Stitch might use. I popped them in the mailbox and returned to breakfast. After we got home, my sons received their postcards and were amazed to not only get mail from Disney World, but to have the character know just what they did. It worked like a charm and made the magic continue even after we were home. - Julie Morgan

This is particularly popular with our kids (ranging in age from 9 to 14) during the return trip when we drive. We do a "game show" style quiz on our trip and at our location (either at WDW or on the Disney Cruise). For example, if we are doing a Jeopardy-style quiz, and we just returned from a WDW vacation, we will use categories such as Epcot or Magic Kingdom or resorts. Questions (or rather "answers") could be destination-related ("This is a ride at Epcot that takes place in a boat.") or specific to our trip ("This was the first ride we rode on Tuesday."). The way we play it, we rotate through each child and let them pick the "value " of the question. The higher the value, the tougher the question. We give a better pin to the winner and other pins to each of the "players!" - Sonney from Maryland

Although it hasn't even been a year since our last trip, reading through the ALL EARS(tm) newsletter makes me yearn for the day when we will take another. So, as I read through the newsletter itself, especially the tips section, I find lots of great ideas that I know I'll want to use for our next trip. I cut and paste them into a 'note' in Outlook that I entitled "WDW tips," to look at and sort through before we go to see the Mouse again. It makes me feel better -- almost as if I were already planning a trip. - Maria Mounsey

Missed buying that souvenir before your trip ended? You can call Disney Merchandising and have any WDW park or resort item shipped to you. Call 1-407-363-6200. For Disneyland merchandise, call DelivEARS at 1-800-362-4533 to have it shipped via UPS. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Mike C. and Jennifer

Make up labels with your name, your resort and the resort phone number. Place these labels on your cameras (including disposables), video equipment and even kids' backpacks. If these items are lost, this will increase your chances of getting them back. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Binnie Betten

The portions at full service restaurants are typically very large. We order 1 or 2 appetizers and a dessert, or one entree and one appetizer and share. We get plenty to eat and save quite a bit on the food budget. In addition, there are no leftovers to tote around the park! - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you bywww.themouseforless.com and Mickey Birt

If you like a big breakfast, the best deal in the parks is at the Trail's End Buffeteria at Fort Wilderness. It has the same general menu as many of the other buffets, but no characters, plus the price is only $15.99 per adult! Also, if you want the food at Hoop-De-Doo and don't want to pay $50+ per person to go, the supper menu at Trail's End is EXACTLY the same food for about $23 per adult. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Mickey Birt

Buy a Disney antenna topper in a bright color (basic black may not work) to help distinguish your rental car from the other 5,000 similar rental cars in the WDW lots. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Catherine Lamey

ALL RESORTS - If you are staying at a Disney resort, dial '0' from your room phone and ask the operator to connect you to Mears or any local Disney number. It'll save $0.75 per call. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Laura B.

I just wanted to remind people to check any mugs they buy to see if they are microwave-safe. I purchased a Muppets mug as a souvenir and was surprised when I came home and discovered it is not microwave-safe! I love to heat water for tea in my microwave and I'm disappointed that I cannot use my new mug for that. - Kristine Stever

Save money by ordering water instead of sodas when you dine. It's better for you, and the savings can allow you to purchase one or more desserts to split. Everyone knows Disney has great desserts! - Jane