Tips about Food & Beverage, Magic Kingdom, Packing, Planning, Resorts and Souvenirs

I bring along the Palmolive dish detergent cloths. They are slightly abrasive cloths (about 7 inches square) and have the detergent built in them (dry) and they suds up when wet. I cut mine in halves or quarters for doing light items like bottles, cups, etc. They are great because they can go on planes and there is no liquid to spill. - Jennifer Frawley

We took a short trip to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and it rained quite frequently. We have two children in strollers, and the best thing we bought prior to the trip were two $10 stroller covers. Our girls were comfortable and dry, even when it was pouring and windy. There were a lot of people using ponchos, but we noticed that they did not stay on the strollers like ours did. When it stopped raining, we put them in the storage area under each stroller (ours are the larger umbrella strollers). - Angie

Our last trip to Walt Disney World was our first with a little one. I thought I did such a great job packing, remembering all the important baby things -- special toys, sippy cups, favorite blanket, pacifier, and all that. But I completely forgot to bring one important thing -- dish detergent to wash those sippy cups and pacifier! Now that we are planning our next trip for the fall, I have that on the top of my list! - Elizabeth Doda

In order to save on the extra bag charges and overweight charges, we often plan out a few interchangeable outfits and then just wash them while we are there. We found a laundry detergent called "Drop-ins". They are pre-measured pods that you just throw in the laundry (just like the dish detergent gel packs). They are small and light -- the only thing you need to do is make sure you pack them in a hard container like a tupperware, so they don't burst, or you will be doing laundry as soon as you get to Disney! I have found them at Target and at Shoprite. You can also order them online from Wal-mart, Target, Amazon, and their own website. Add a few fabric softener sheets and you're all set! - Lisa Ruiz

If you're a teenage girl (like me) and you're going to Disney, bring your cellphone or iPod with you! It's nice to be able to listen to your music while waiting in line. Another thing: make sure you put your name and address on everything -- with iPods or mp3 players, stick some white tape on the back and write your info with a pen or marker, because Disney will return items if they find them! - Stephanie

If you're a teenage girl (like me) and you're going to Disney, bring your cellphone or iPod with you! It's nice to be able to listen to your music while waiting in line. Another thing: make sure you put your name and address on everything -- with iPods or mp3 players, stick some white tape on the back and write your info with a pen or marker, because Disney will return items if they find them! - Stephanie

If you like Sweet'N Low artificial sweetener, bring lots with you. The parks only have Splenda and Equal (although the resorts had Sweet'N Low). - jnscook

For those who hate using all of those plastic bags that you get every time you go to buy another souvenir at the gift shops, Disney is now selling a reusable option. For $5.95, reusable tote bags (that come in a variety of colors) are now an option. I saw them being sold at multiple parks and at Disney Springs. These tote bags come in a small pouch with a clip attached for when the bag isn't in use. It's easy to keep with you, and it's a way to reduce your plastic waste. Go Disney! - Jennifer B

In a previous tip, someone suggested an umbrella stroller as something to pick up at Wal-Mart or the like to use during the trip, and then give it to someone as you're leaving. Well, my wife and I have expanded on this idea, because many items can't be carried on a plane with the TSA issues associated with them. So, we head to Target, which is right near Walt Disney World, and we purchase sunscreen, hairspray, and many other items. As we're leaving, we offer all of these items to a family just arriving. Just last week we did this as we were leaving the Saratoga Springs Resort and the family indicated it would be saving them a trip to the store. By the way, the sunscreen is easy to give away at the pool. - Brian Allen

Since dresser drawers are few in the rooms, bring along one of those hanging closet organizers for each child with at least seven slots. You can place your child's shorts, t-shirts, socks, underwear, etc. in the cubes thus saving on drawer space. - Barbara D.

Since dresser drawers are few in the rooms, bring along one of those hanging closet organizers for each child with at least seven slots. You can place your child's shorts, t-shirts, socks, underwear, etc. in the cubes thus saving on drawer space. - Barbara D.

Going through the metal detectors at the park entrances, you have to remove celebratory buttons and put them in the little bins with other metal objects. This can be a pain, especially if you're park-hopping! Consider wearing buttons on a lanyard or bag strap to make it easier to take them on and off. - Gilly R.

Going through the metal detectors at the park entrances, you have to remove celebratory buttons and put them in the little bins with other metal objects. This can be a pain, especially if you're park-hopping! Consider wearing buttons on a lanyard or bag strap to make it easier to take them on and off. - Gilly R.

Going through the metal detectors at the park entrances, you have to remove celebratory buttons and put them in the little bins with other metal objects. This can be a pain, especially if you're park-hopping! Consider wearing buttons on a lanyard or bag strap to make it easier to take them on and off. - Gilly R.

If you're looking for Kosher food while visiting Walt Disney World, you'll find it now at Satu'li Canteen in Animal Kingdom (no longer at the Kusafiri Bakery). And it's also at both Liberty Inn and the Electric Umbrella in Epcot. By the way, the vendor for Kosher food has changed. It is no longer Weberman -- they now use Sterling. Thanks for the great site! Hopefully these updates will help others. - Josh