Tips about Food & Beverage, Kids, Mousecellaneous and Pop Century

Be careful while driving on Disney property. We were there this past weekend and they had a speed trap set up right before the Contemporary resort. There were four or five sheriffs and one had a radar gun. They had a car pulled over and that person had a ticket in his hand and did not look too happy. The next day we saw two sheriffs over by Pop Century. Just drive the speed limit. - Suzy

We live near Jacksonville and are self-diagnosed Disney addicts. We visit frequently and came up with a game we play for the day we arrive. The Monorail game is played by each family member picking a different color monorail and a favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom. As we drive onto Disney property we search for monorails. If your color of monorail is spotted first, you win. The attraction you picked becomes the first ride of the day. We usually start picking the color and ride months in advance, planning around closures. Selections can't be changed once we back out of the driveway. We love it. - H. Johnston

I must say that one of our most recent "fun things" to do is visit the "snack bars" at the hotels. Who knew that you could get a Dole whip outside the Magic Kingdom? We are now making a stop at the Polynesian snack bar for Dole Whip and the super Polynesian chips, prepared fresh with each order. I also have to say that the Adult Grilled Cheese is to die for. Prices are great. It is usually not crowded and the food is delicious -- oops, almost forgot the great flatbreads.

Another favorite stop is the snack bar at the Wilderness Lodge. We used to love their hot dogs and they had great biscuits with sausage in the AM. Now we go for the fantastic cupcakes. Only $2.29 and they are delicious and huge--enough for two to share. I also had a grilled chicken salad prepared while I watched--asked for extra bleu cheese(freshly crumbled) ---It was one of the best salads I have had anywhere. Coronado Springs, our favorite place to stay, has wonderful pastries. Some evenings if we have had a buffet for lunch, we just make a snack run to the hotel "fast food" joints. Quick service--good price-- nice atmosphere in the hotels -- and the food is super.

We always tell everyone that the hotels are an adventure all their own. If you have the time, don't miss a chance to just wander for a little while at several of them. Have a snack and enjoy the atmosphere. - Christy Allen

For small children who are not used to a double bed, but are too big for the pack-and-play, a great solution is a "nap mat" or blow up bed that can be packed and taken to the World with you. We honor the room head count restriction, of course, but instead of making them sleep together in an unfamiliar double bed, each child gets their own familiar blow-up bed, and the extra bed becomes our gear sorting/storing/organizing area. We have done this on more than one trip, and have never had a problem. - Naomi

Instead of stopping at a grocery store on arrival we have found Garden Grocer to be a great delivery service for all those drinks, water, snacks and breakfast goods that make getting organized in the mornings especially easy. We order from the comfort of home, there's a discount for ordering a couple of months out, and we have the items delivered early on our arrival day. Bell Services hold them and refrigerate perishables and then when we arrive we simply ask to have them delivered to our room. It's so convenient and we love not having to actually stop and shop enroute to our hotel. - Moira

EDITOR'S NOTE: Read what other AllEars.Net readers have to say about this service in our Rate and Review section.

In addition to free Wi-Fi at McDonald's, the Chik-Fil-A restaurant on Route 535 (Apopka Vineland Road), just south of I-4 also has free Wi-Fi. - JohnH

I have a tip for the vegetarians visiting Disney. At some counter service restaurants (Cosmic Ray's in particular) you can order just a bun and two slices of cheese for $1.79 and put whatever toppings you want from the topping bar. This works really well at Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland because they have a huge variety at the topping bar including sauteed mushrooms. - Angie

Regarding hard to get dining reservations. If at first you don't succeed... Count back 45 days from the date of your desired reservation. Call that day to check for cancellations. The thinking behind this is your final payment for any Disney vacations is due 45 days prior to arrival. People may need to change travel dates or cancel before final payment is made. It worked for me with Chef Mickey's. I called 45 days prior to my desired reservation date and got a 5:00 ressie. The cast member and I were both shocked and surprised. Simply Magical! - Gina Thayer

T-REX, the restaurant, is loud. We brought earplugs, but only needed them during the meteor shower. I saw some people complaining about the ice room, but it was actually pretty cool (ha ha) to look at... We were seated in a room that had the woolly mammoth, the baby mammoth and some flyers. The Dino room was very cool as well, and one of the tables is surrounded by a dinosaur. Neither of my kids was overwhelmingly disappointed that they weren't in that room, though. They liked looking around. - Holly P.

MAGIC KINGDOM - The little containers that the individual chocolate cakes come in at the Columbia Harbor House (and other places on property) make great little recycled "terrariums" to start seeds and tiny plants in. Just remember to poke little holes in the top for air to get in or the contents will get moldy! They can be reused several times and are a fun way for kids to remember thier Disney vacation later on in the year. - Lynn Quintieri

CHRISTMAS - This tip is helpful any time of year, but for Christmas season we use red and green glow sticks or necklaces and tie them to our stroller to help us find it a little easier in the dark! We used pink for my daughter's birthday visit while at the Pirate & Princess Party. Any added touch to personalize your stroller is helpful, especially when the strollers are moved around while you are on the ride (the stroller parking in Fantasyland is always busy and the cast members constantly keep things organized to run smoothly). - Suzanne from NH

My kids, ages 7 and 9, take me to Disney World for a three-day weekend about six times a year. Through our many trips, we have come to learn that it's necessary for us to have enough energy to enjoy ourselves and eat as healthy as possible. It also cuts down on the whining that occurs when kids are bored and tired and hungry, and saves us some money as well. As a routine, each night each kid packs himself parent-approved snack bags, brought from home or bought in the gift store, divided up into those little snack bags (fruit roll-ups, Chip n' Dale pretzels, raisins, grapes, etc.). My kids are usually OK with about four to six little snacks apiece. The kids are then responsible for their own fanny pack all day and can help themselves to what snack they want when they want without whining or fighting or arguing. I keep additional snack baggies in my purse for those times when we indulge in some Cheetohs or chips in the park so the kids can share more easily or save for later. It works well for us!! - Ellen Holbrook

My kids, ages 7 and 9, take me to Disney World for a three-day weekend about six times a year. Through our many trips, we have come to learn that it's necessary for us to have enough energy to enjoy ourselves and eat as healthy as possible. It also cuts down on the whining that occurs when kids are bored and tired and hungry, and saves us some money as well. As a routine, each night each kid packs himself parent-approved snack bags, brought from home or bought in the gift store, divided up into those little snack bags (fruit roll-ups, Chip n' Dale pretzels, raisins, grapes, etc.). My kids are usually OK with about four to six little snacks apiece. The kids are then responsible for their own fanny pack all day and can help themselves to what snack they want when they want without whining or fighting or arguing. I keep additional snack baggies in my purse for those times when we indulge in some Cheetohs or chips in the park so the kids can share more easily or save for later. It works well for us!! - Ellen Holbrook

Another place that serves real coffee (including espresso drinks) is the walk-up window at Pepper Market at the Coronado Springs Resort. The latte I ordered there was actually larger and cheaper than the one I usually get at my local Starbucks. - Anne Hickling

The plastic weight tags on the Disney balloons make wonderful decorative ties on curtains and blinds at home. - Andrea M. Eis