Tips about Food & Beverage, Kids, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mousecellaneous and Souvenirs

For those who are staying in Home Away from Home accommodations and are interested in grocery delivery, I would highly recommend a company called WeGoShop. They are a national grocery shopping and delivery company, and their Orlando location is run by a husband and wife team who are very nice people. You can email them your exact order (including product brand names, sizes and quantity), your hotel and the time you'd like your delivery, and they will be there with your groceries safely stowed in a large plastic container. They will charge you cost for the items you've bought, as well as a modest delivery charge. Their website is at www.wegoshop.com. Our groceries were just as we'd asked for them, and they even brought them to Bell Services for us as our room wasn't ready yet. - Jessica Slivak

MNSSHP - We recently attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World and loved it. Staying at the Polynesian for two weeks, we saw nightly fireworks over the castle, but I must say the night of the party they were the best. We planned poorly and were caught just outside Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (on the platform for viewing those riding) when the fireworks show began. WOW! What a view! Although the fireworks appear to be behind the castle, they are actually somewhere over behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We had a great view and at one point we were completely surrounded by brilliant circles of color. We were in the center of the ring of fireworks. If you don't care about the castle in front of your fireworks I advise a trip to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to be in the center of it all. AMAZING! - dollydawne

MNSSHP - The fireworks were really incredible with ghosties on the castle -- I would definitely recommend sitting towards Tomorrowland for a better view. There were even 360 degrees of fireworks around us for the finale! - Jen

MNSSHP - There are usually limited edition pins to purchase, sometimes for annual passholder too. - Dawn Shumaker

MNSSHP - I would recommend bringing a small flashlight as the programs are hard to read at night. - Patti Carlin

MNSSHP - I suggest visitors with children prepare those children to enjoy the activities OTHER THAN the trick-or-treating. After all, one could buy a great deal of candy with the money spent for the party tickets and there are many rides and activities to enjoy beyond waiting in line for small bits of candy. We had prepared our 5-year-old this way, and he had no problem passing up the candy lines in favor of the dance parties, storytelling, rides, etc. - Cheryl Dunn Bychek

MNSSHP - One of the best times we shared at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party was just sitting and watching. We missed the first parade, so we made our way back down Main Street to wait for the second. The little park in the middle was empty, so we just sat down facing up Main Street. The stream of dressed up people leaving the park was wonderful. We got to see Ursula, the Flintstone family and lots of pirates and princesses. The best part was this little fire hydrant that quietly roamed the street squirting passersby. It was GREAT. - Georgette from New Jersey

HALLOWEEN - For the families that will be in Walt Disney World on Halloween, do not miss the activities for children on the BoardWalk! They are free and fabulous! - Margaret

A great souvenir to buy from the China pavilion in Epcot is bamboo. The plant costs about $1-$1.50 and comes with care instructions. You can also buy a vase for the plant starting at about $3. - Jen Wolf

If your child likes to collect the pressed pennies from each area in the park, buy the book that holds them. Buying the pennies will cut down on your child asking for everything in the park. You just have to spend 51 cents! - Randi Gold

My 4-year-old son has a real problem with loud noises, but refused to wear ear plugs. We would put a pair in and he would pull them right back out. Before we left I contacted a store that specialized in hunting equipment and ordered a pair of the smallest child-sized headphones used at target ranges to muffle sound. They fit him perfectly and when we were in the parks, if there was even a hint of loud noises coming, we would just slip them on. My son actually went through the Haunted Mansion four times without a hitch. It was the best $17 I ever spent and I got quite a few comments of, "Oh, I wish we had thought of that." - Bonnie Schweizer

For those of you looking for low-priced souvenirs that will be both fun and useful, you should really consider the Mickey Mouse ears ice cube tray! I bought one for $4 at World of Disney, and have been smiling ever since. I'll definitely buy some for my friends as souvenirs on my next trip! - Michele Cardona

The Gooding's Store at Crossroads in Lake Buena Vista will deliver right to your resort. Your order must be at least $50 and there is a $10 delivery charge. You can order via Internet or fax before you leave home and they will guarantee delivery on the day of your arrival, usually late in the afternoon. Your order will be delivered to the concierge (or the office) of your resort. They will also deliver personalized birthday cakes! No alcohol delivery is allowed, but they do deliver perishables. To place an order: Phone: 407-827-1200; Fax: 407-827-1219; Website: http://shop.goodings.com/ - Glo from Miami

Recently, on a trip to WDW, the screw to one of the arms of my sunglasses came out. Luckily it happened in my purse so I had the screw but I didn't have a tool to screw it in with. My friends and I went through our purses trying to find something we could use (we weren't at our hotel at the time), but we came up empty-handed. Then my friend Gina came up with the idea to try one of her pressed pennies. It worked! Pressed pennies are just the right thickness for tightening eyeglass screws, and they are big enough to make it easy to turn them. Even if you don't have a pressed penny, the machines are everywhere you turn, and the cost (51 cents) is much cheaper than buying an eyeglass repair kit in a vacation destination. - Karen Zayas

I just wanted to let you know of a tip I found out this past trip. A friend who was with me can't eat sesame seeds, but most hamburger buns in the parks have the seeds on them. After pulling the seeds off the bun the first few times, he asked the cashier if they could give him a burger with two bottom buns. When the Cast Member heard it was because of the seeds, she said that they could make him a burger with a seedless bun. She added that most fast food counters in the parks have a supply of seedless buns on hand. You just have to request them. - Rob Steere