Tips about Food & Beverage, Kids, Magic Kingdom and Travel

Regarding your latest newsletter's warning about increased traffic enforcement in and around WDW, those of you driving to the airport via the southern entrance should pay special attention to your speed when driving along Boggy Creek Road. This is not a good place to exceed the speed limit, especially if you are concerned about getting to the airport on time. - John Hayes

When we were going through security at the Orlando airport, they would not allow us through without putting our glow ice cubes in a sealed zipper bag. If we didn't do this we would have to continue on and leave the cubes with them. The TSA people all thought that the cubes have "gel" in them and are used for cooling drinks. (Further investigation on the website for the company that sells the cubes shows there IS a gel in them!) I had to leave the security line to buy a 25-cent zipper-type bag for sale next to the Universal store closest to baggage claim A, then go through the whole security thing again, just for two rather expensive ice cubes that my kids didn't want to do without. Long story short, if you want to keep those glow cubes and are flying home, make sure they're in a zipper-top bag (or in your checked luggage). You'll save lots of time and aggravation. - Fred B.

Please advise your readers that the local county sheriff's office has been aggressively handing out speeding tickets, particularly on the exit ramps to the hotels at Walt Disney World Resort where the speed limit is 25 mph. Increased sheriff presence and ticketing has also been noted on World Drive leading to the Magic Kingdom from US Hwy 192. - A Good Neighbor to WDW

Here's a tip for traveling with a young child. We recently returned from Disney World with our grandson who turned 3 while we were there. I had taken his own toddler fork and spoon with us and it made mealtimes so much easier for him. The adult size cutlery is so big and cumbersome for such small hands. - Audrey G.

Getting out of the hotel room door can be a challenge if you have a child who takes about an hour trying to figure what she wants to wear and then another half-hour getting ready. I solved this problem for my daughter on a surprise trip with a friend. I wasn't going with her so I didn't want my friend to have to experience the same problem I did when we wanted to leave for early entry to the park but could never get out the door on time. I purchased gallon zipper bags with the white area for labeling. I assembled each day's outfit right down to the "unmentionables" in the bags with a happy note written on it. This included what accessories went with the outfit, including the shoes. Since this was a surprise, I wrote a separate letter that included detailed instructions for each outfit ensemble. Not only did my friend have a worry-free time, but my daughter really appreciated the time I put into it. I had such fun doing it, too. - Christine M.

Upon leaving Baltimore on Airtran Airways, the person checking in my luggage put someone else's baggage claim on my bag and I didn't notice it. My bag ended up in Fort Lauderdale instead of Orlando. When you use Disney's Magical Express, you won't find out that there is a problem until possibly later that evening. Therefore, always check to be sure that your luggage is tagged for the correct airport and that all of your claim tickets are YOURS. This is possibly due to the increased amount of luggage that can no longer be carried on board. - Dave

ALL PARKS - If you have kids, bring a change of clothing for them to the parks! I know this must seem like something everyone knows, but we didn't! During our first trip ever to WDW last December my then 4-year-old daughter found the water sprinklers at Pooh's Playful Spot in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. She went in to play and the next thing I knew she was soaked from the water! It was tough, too, because it was a tad chilly and we didn't bring a change of clothing for her. Finding young kids' clothes at Disney is not easy! I did manage to get a pair of Mickey sweatpants, a T-shirt and a pair of socks for my daughter at one of the shops in Fantasyland. So my tip is to bring a change of clothes even for the 4-5 year olds! - Jennifer K.

ALL PARKS - If you have kids, bring a change of clothing for them to the parks! I know this must seem like something everyone knows, but we didn't! During our first trip ever to WDW last December my then 4-year-old daughter found the water sprinklers at Pooh's Playful Spot in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. She went in to play and the next thing I knew she was soaked from the water! It was tough, too, because it was a tad chilly and we didn't bring a change of clothing for her. Finding young kids' clothes at Disney is not easy! I did manage to get a pair of Mickey sweatpants, a T-shirt and a pair of socks for my daughter at one of the shops in Fantasyland. So my tip is to bring a change of clothes even for the 4-5 year olds! - Jennifer K.

ALL PARKS - If you have kids, bring a change of clothing for them to the parks! I know this must seem like something everyone knows, but we didn't! During our first trip ever to WDW last December my then 4-year-old daughter found the water sprinklers at Pooh's Playful Spot in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. She went in to play and the next thing I knew she was soaked from the water! It was tough, too, because it was a tad chilly and we didn't bring a change of clothing for her. Finding young kids' clothes at Disney is not easy! I did manage to get a pair of Mickey sweatpants, a T-shirt and a pair of socks for my daughter at one of the shops in Fantasyland. So my tip is to bring a change of clothes even for the 4-5 year olds! - Jennifer K.

ALL PARKS - The last time we went to Disney World, we took along the cards from Trivial Pursuit Junior. My wife kept some in a zipper-type bag in her purse and when we had a long wait in line or were waiting for the buses to take us back to the hotel, she would get them out and we would have an informal trivia game. Many times we would involve other kids in line or on the bus and it was a great way to pass the time. Of course, Disney trivia cards would be a natural alternative. - Dave Ference

By the sixth day of our WDW vacation, our 6-year-old daughter had lost her stamina, and was walking very slowly and lagging behind the rest of the family. We were at Epcot that day and had stopped by Guest Relations when we first arrived to make a dining reservation. They had given our daughter a long, thin balloon (the kind that are normally twisted into shapes, though this one was not). The balloon temporarily lifted her spirits, but soon afterwards she was back to walking slow and falling behind. My husband came up with the idea that the balloon holder was the "line leader." This turned out to be a great idea! My daughter loved playing the role of "leader," marching ahead and holding her balloon high in the air for us to follow. This simple game kept its appeal for most of the morning, upon which time her energy had returned and she was back to her usual, energetic self for the rest of the day! - Mindi S.

ALL PARKS - While standing in lines for rides that might have a long wait, my children bring along a deck of cards and take turns playing magician and guessing which card the other one picked. They also have a note pad each to write on and I get them to write down their favorite part of the day so far. Having some small snacks on hand also helps to keep them from getting bored. We bring animal cookies, crackers etc. -- nothing that is too messy. - Jackie Pluim

ALL PARKS - While standing in lines for rides that might have a long wait, my children bring along a deck of cards and take turns playing magician and guessing which card the other one picked. They also have a note pad each to write on and I get them to write down their favorite part of the day so far. Having some small snacks on hand also helps to keep them from getting bored. We bring animal cookies, crackers etc. -- nothing that is too messy. - Jackie Pluim

ALL PARKS - While standing in lines for rides that might have a long wait, my children bring along a deck of cards and take turns playing magician and guessing which card the other one picked. They also have a note pad each to write on and I get them to write down their favorite part of the day so far. Having some small snacks on hand also helps to keep them from getting bored. We bring animal cookies, crackers etc. -- nothing that is too messy. - Jackie Pluim

Since I was flying Southwest Airlines, I was unable to use the special check-in desk at my hotel, but I wanted to print my boarding passes. I asked at the lobby concierge desk, and they are able to check you in 24 hours in advance and print boarding passes. The only problem was that I wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom during the day and I didn't want to come all the way back to Port Orleans French Quarter to check in. After a call to the Grand Floridian (I could have checked in there, also) I found out that Guest Relations at the Magic Kingdom has a special room specifically for this purpose. What a great service! I was able to check in and not have to miss time in the park. - Donia Camarena