Tips about Food & Beverage, Kids, Packing and Souvenirs

Instead of buying a T-shirt or some other small expensive trinket that the kids will get bored with in a short time, I buy BEACH TOWELS. At Disney, they are $20 each and you can even get them at specific attractions. I have a huge collection from every place we have been and use them on an everyday basis. It's a great way to remember all the great vacations we have taken. Some of these towels have lasted 10 years! I have recently started storing the new ones I buy to give to my grandkids someday. - Pauline Sheehan

CHRISTMAS - We had our own Christmas ornament idea. We bought the official attraction collectibles -- the ones that look like a ride car -- tied clear string and a hook to them, and hung them on our tree. These only cost about $5 each! - Bill Fosbenner

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

We found it very helpful when traveling with our toddler to pack a plastic tablecloth and some plastic clothing pins we got at the dollar store. We stored them in a small Ziploc bag and threw them in the bottom of the stroller. When we would go into an attraction and had to leave the stroller outside with some of our other belongings, we would get the tablecloth out and cover the stroller with it and clip it down so it wouldn't blow away. There is nothing worse than returning to your stroller and finding out that while you were inside having a great time, there had been a passing thunderstorm (which happens all the time). Our stuff and the stroller were still dry. I can't tell you how many people thought we were the smartest people in the park! - Karen Rosenberger

A tip for those times during the year when it rains every day: Each morning we packed our "rain backpack" with a poncho for everyone (four of us), as well as a couple of old ripped ponchos. But most importantly, we included a pair of water shoes or water sandals (Teva-like) for everyone. On the way to the park there was one backpack per person. However, our first stop in the parks was to rent a locker and put the "rain backpack" into a locker. Then when rain threatened or we got caught in the rain (since we had umbrellas with us) we would head to the locker to trade our sneakers for the sandals and ponchos. Then after the rain, we would switch back to our sneakers if we wanted. We also found we stayed the driest if we wore our backpacks on our chests, allowing the poncho to cover us and the backpack, and also used the umbrellas. At least for us, the umbrellas did not seem awkward or cumbersome -- it was actually easier to be careful to avoid fellow guests than having our heads heating up inside the poncho hoods that very much limited our vision. Inside the attractions we had the extra ponchos to place on the wet seats and wrap up the wet umbrellas for stuffing into the "rain backpack." Pam Knoop

If you don't want your cookies smashed and your bread turned into dough, you could pack in a hard-sided suitcase -- or do what we do. We put all of our crushable items into Tupperware or Rubbermaid bowls, and then wrap them in our clothes. Your snacks don't get smashed, and you don't have to worry about your clothes being full of crumbs. On the return trip, if I have anything breakable, I put it in the Tupperware surrounded by socks. It arrives home safe and sound. Jane

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

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

Pack some bandannas in your suitcase. They don't take up much space and can be used for quick identification of your car in the parking lots (tie on the antenna), your rental stroller (tie on the handle), or your kids! Also handy as hats, napkins, entertainment (peek-a-boo, etc.). You can even sew matching bandannas for the family. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com with the help of Jeannette and Carla

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

Bring a soft-sided cooler for your room and fill it with ice from the ice machines to keep beverages and food cold. If you use large zip-top bags to hold the ice, you will keep the contents dry and make it easier to change the ice. This is a way you can keep the fixings for a quick, inexpensive breakfast in the room, and beer or wine for the evening. - Daisimae

For younger first timers, get a recording of the music from "dark rides" (Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.) and have them get used to it. This worked great with my son, who was very apprehensive of the dark. When we got to the ride and he heard the songs, the familiarity made it a lot easier for him to be brave for that first ride. Most of those rides he "knew" from the music became his favorites. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Annie