Tips about Food & Beverage, Kids, Mousecellaneous and Transportation

When our 6-year-old broke her arm, we thought that swimming would be out of the question, a fact that, when discussed, brought nearly as many tears as the original injury -- until we were told about the waterproof cast materials they have! The office charged us a little out of pocket as insurance doesn't cover this "luxury" item, but it is well worth it. She can shower, wash her hands, and even swim -- something that is a necessity on those hot steamy Florida days! (There are also heavy rubber cast covers that I was investigating prior to finding out about the waterproof casts. My friend has used them and they work very well also.) - Naomi

"Darling Daughter" refused to wear boating shoes (the type that slip on easily and stay on all day). So I took a bottle holder strap from the Animal Kingdom, ran it through the straps of her sandals, back through itself and hung it from my shoulder whenever we went into the water parks. Even cast members commented it was a good idea. The pavement gets hot and shoes are a must moving between pools. If you have a kid who has a mind of her own, the strap trick is an easy way to keep the shoes with you at all times. It goes without saying that the straps should not be worn around the neck unless you get one with a safety release. And I'd never trust my daughter to keep track of them. This is really for the parents of stubborn kids. - Jackie Newman

We are traveling with my 2-1/2 year-old granddaughter early next year. I have witnessed, as well as heard from others about the "Fear Factor" getting the tots close to the characters can cause. Since she watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, she only has that and her stuffed animals for size reference. So, I have been telling her about how Mickey is big like Mom and Dad. Then one day I spotted some sing-along DVDs Disney has for sale through their movie club: SingAlong Songs at Walt Disney World: Beach Party and Campout. They show kids around 10 years old interacting with full-size characters in a variety of settings and activities to go with the DVD title, singing songs together with the words dubbed below. She LOVES these DVDs! Fort Wilderness and Bay Lake (and the former Discovery Island) are featured on CAMPOUT. Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and other beaches in the "World" are the settings for BEACH PARTY. Hopefully, these perspective videos will help her deal with the surprise size of the characters she meets!

EDITOR'S NOTE: You can purchase these DVDs and other Disney-related items, though the AllEars.Net Amazon Store:

Sing Along Beach Party DVD: http://astore.amazon.com/debsunoffiwaltdi/detail/B0009X75WO
Sing Along Campout DVD: http://astore.amazon.com/debsunoffiwaltdi/detail/B0009X75XI

I wanted to add a tip for parents after reading your Survival Guide for Parents (in last week's AllEars® Issue #572). We took foam earplugs for our daughters to use when watching the fireworks at night. Neither of our daughters, ages 6 and 10, like loud noises (especially fireworks), and the earplugs allowed us to watch the fireworks up close without the girls being upset by the loud noises. You squish the foam to make it small, insert it into the ear, and then it expands to have a custom fit. Well worth being able to enjoy the fireworks or other loud attractions without tears and fears. - Jennifer Danczyk

Every day, several cell phones are lost at Walt Disney World. When a phone is lost, you not only lose communications, you also lose the important phone numbers stored in them. Though the wireless companies encourage you to donate your old phones when you upgrade, I suggest that you hang onto one and its charger as a spare and toss them into your suitcase when you pack. Odds are that you'll never need to use it, but should the worst happen while you're visiting the Mouse, you might be able to switch your phone number to the old phone by contacting your carrier. In a couple minutes, you have a working phone again. If you subscribe to some kind of "Backup Assistant", you might also be able to download your contacts to the spare phone. (Note that only someone who is authorized on the account and knows the password can make that change.) It may not be the shiny new Blackberry that you just got, but that old Motorola Razr is better than no phone for that week. - Mike J.

I just returned from WDW and found a great place on the Disney bus route to get water without having to take a city bus to Goodings. The Hess Mart across from Disney Springs West Side (Planet Hollywood) sells 24 17-oz. bottles of water for $4.99 (as well as other beverages). Take the DTD bus to the West Side stop and walk across the street to the Hess Mart. The DTD buses only stop at the West Side starting at 11 a.m. (which was something I didn't know). Thanks to the bellman at Saratoga Springs for the tip about the water. - pnazareth1

Restaurant.com currently has several restaurants at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels in their system, as well as House of Blues. Garden Grove, Shula's Steakhouse, Kimonos, Il Mulino New York Trattoria, and Todd English's bluezoo are all in there. You can get a $25 gift certificate for $10 (less if you search for a current promo code) and the certificates never expire. Make sure to read the restrictions on minimum purchase and days of the week they are valid, but overall these are a great deal! We use them at home all the time -- glad to know we can use them on vacation, too! - Tracy Roth

Magic Kingdom - I read about another reader having problems making reservations for the Harmony Barber Shop. I called 407-WDW-PLAY and the cast member helped me immediately, there was no confusion. She also told me that there are some appointments available BEFORE 9 a.m., some days as early as 8:05 a.m. Might give you a head start on your Magic Kingdom day. - Marianne

I've always kept receipts and written records of all our trips to WDW, starting in September 1971. In the '90s when we bought our first computer I put it all in. I can tell you the dates, the resort and room number, room rate, who joined us and the highlights of each of the 62 visits (430 nights) that we have stayed in Disney resorts. I also include highlights of each trip, like meeting Miss America and Bob Hope in the Studios, my wife singing with Bob Jackson in the Cotton Co-op and all the other magical moments we have enjoyed. - Mike Shook

In order to cut down on food expenses, I always bring my crockpot along when we drive to Florida. I mix up dinner before we leave our condo for the day. When we return supper is done! I have also found make-ahead breakfast casseroles that cook in the crock while we sleep. If we eat a hearty breakfast we usually only need to eat one meal at the parks. - Theresa Denton

My husband and I have a 1-year-old little girl. We've found it very helpful to purchase disposable bibs and placemats when we travel. We found them at Target. They make mealtimes so much easier for all of us! No messy bib to put back in the bag. We can spread out her food on the table in front of her without the germs, and she can eat at her own pace. The disposable placemats have Disney themes (Disney Princess for girls and Cars for boys), and there are activities on them to keep kids busy. I hope this is helpful for other families traveling with little ones that are still learning how to feed themselves. - Mary Stogsdill

Magic Kingdom - Unfortunately, I am a victim of motion sickness. When I took my 7-year-old son to Magic Kingdom, he had no fear of riding the "big" rides by himself. I was able to stand in line with him and once we reached the ride, he got on, and I found the exit and waited for him to get off. However, we ran into a problem on two of the rides (Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). Both of these rides have two exits depending on where you get on. So if you plan to do this, be aware and pick a good meeting place. In our case, before our trip, I ensured my son knew my cell phone number and we discussed how to find a cast member if he got lost. - Christine Crews

YACHT CLUB - Just returned from a stay at the Yacht Club resort and found that the Ale and Compass Lounge serves a continental breakfast each morning. Muffins, croissants, fruit, cereal & milk, juices, coffee and more. I stumbled upon this on my first morning and was pleased to see that I didn't have to go to the Beach Club or Boardwalk to get a quick breakfast. - Ruthie White

Magic Kingdom - On our May 2010 trip to WDW we ate, as always, at Pecos Bill's at the Magic Kingdom. We always order the veggie burgers. The cast member gave us our tray with only our drinks and sides. She told us the burgers were being prepared at the "Fixin's Bar" and we needed to go there to pick them up. The reason given was that they are prepared on a separate grill, away from meat, making them totally vegan. Other counter service restaurants which grill them in the kitchen told us they always use a separate grill. - Jeannie B.

First just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the wonderful and very useful tips you post -- I have used more than a few on our trips. My tip is for anyone traveling to WDW by car with kids. A few days before we leave, I head to one of our local "dollar stores" and purchase toys or games they can play in the car. When the inevitable "I'm bored" virus goes around, I pull out a new game/toy and have peace for another hour or so, then repeat the process. The things I buy only cost a dollar or two so if they get "lost" in the car it's no big deal and the joy "mine" of having a peaceful ride... priceless! - Tina McCall