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

Remember, if you forget where you parked your car, tell a parking attendant about what time you parked. They can then usually tell you about where you parked within a row or so. - Fred

Pressed Penny update -- ELSA is at the shop OUTSIDE of the Epcot entrance near the International Gateway. (Kristin Ford notes that she just made the Olaf pressed penny at the store on the left along the entrance to World Showcase - by the Duffy meet and greet. A penny with both Elsa and Anna can be pressed inside the toy store at the Norway pavilion.) - Trisha Hwang

For all those folks writing about nightlight options -- Make sure your wall-mounted hair dryer is plugged in! Each room I've ever stayed in, regardless of pixie dust level, has the built-in night light feature. Though, as a retired teacher, I admit that the cyalume sticks (glow sticks) are always fun! - Scott Stuart

For all those folks writing about nightlight options -- Make sure your wall-mounted hair dryer is plugged in! Each room I've ever stayed in, regardless of pixie dust level, has the built-in night light feature. Though, as a retired teacher, I admit that the cyalume sticks (glow sticks) are always fun! - Scott Stuart

I have found that the battery-operated tea lights make great nightlights in hotels where the toilet is in a separate room from the sinks. Often these bathrooms don't have any plugs (the plugs are in the sink area, probably due to safety concerns about electricity and water). For me the tea lights provide just enough light to see to go to the bathroom at night. - Nancy Yetman

Bringing a night light for your room was a recent tip here. We pick up a tube of "swizzle stick"-sized glow sticks at our dollar store. You get about 10 sticks in the tube. Just activate two or three and drop them on the floor close to the walls. You will be surprised how much of a glow they give off. Kids love them and they help take away the scariness of a strange room, while lighting the way to the bathroom! - Brian Phillips

At many of the Disney Resort rooms the drapes don't always come together enough to ensure privacy, especially the ones that are right next to the entrance door or the ones on corner rooms. I always bring along a couple of clothespins to clip them together at night. Then I can use them to hang up wet bathing suits on the line over the tub, too. - Marlene Culver

At any Disney resort, the room at night can get pretty dark. The first time we visited I tried leaving the bathroom light on so my kids could see in the middle of the night if they needed to get up to use the bathroom. But sometimes with the fan that also runs, and the door a crack, it was too loud and too bright. Now I always bring a little night light to plug in right next to the sink area. Just the right amount of light for those who get up to light their way without tripping over suitcases or Mickey hats, and no noise from the bathroom fan to keep me up all night! - Karen P.

I always bring one of those micro cloths with me to wipe the mirror with. They are cheap and really useful; they clear up the steamy surface quickly with no streaks. I always hated taking a shower, then not being able to see in the mirror to finish up. - Ruth Morehart

As a new Disney Vacation Club member, I decided to give the Tables in Wonderland card a try. We had a dinner reservation almost every night, so it paid for itself within the week. I can also use it when we return next year since it's good for about 13 months. You automatically get charged gratuity of 18 percent, which is about what I'd tip anyway. The 20 percent discount from the card basically covers that gratuity and then some. It was definitely worth the $100. - Jennifer

We have vacationed many times at Walt Disney World since 1993. Oftentimes, I will ship a package a week in advance, filled with snacks and surprises. I've learned the hard way, if you're staying at a conference center resort (for example, the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower) send the box via USPS. If it is shipped UPS or FedEx, you are charged a service/handling fee when you check-in and claim your package. - Ann

Magic Kingdom - Love your newsletter! I've gotten so many helpful tips from reading it; I'm glad to be able to contribute one myself! We were at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World two weeks ago, and during the day, the standby line to meet Anna and Elsa got up to four hours long! We happened to pass by the Princess Fairytale Hall just before 9 p.m. one evening as the parade was imminent, and the meet-and-greet was still open, with only a 20-minute wait. If someone in your party is eager to meet the Frozen princesses, but you can't stomach spending hours to make it happen, I suggest you ask one of the cast members at Princess Fairytale Hall how late it is open, and consider going toward the end of the day. - Stacey

Magic Kingdom - In my opinion, the best way to avoid crowds (as well as beat the heat) in the Magic Kingdom is to walk through the gift shops on Main Street. I feel like most people don't know, or forget, that these shops are connected. While the shops can be crowded, my girlfriend and I found they were way more manageable than on Main Street. We saved a lot of time and stress by walking through the gift shops before, during, and after any fireworks or parades. - Mike Pizzoferrato

The gluten-free offerings [at 'Ohana] for my husband were excellent, and included lettuce wraps, chicken wings, all of the grilled meats and a special dessert. They did require my 10-year-old to be charged as an adult, which made the price tag high in my opinion, but the food was great. - A reader in the AllEars.Net Rate and Review section

Epcot - When my son and daughter-in-law were expecting our now 3-year-old grandson Kai, I visited each country in Epcot and asked a cast member to sign a little message to him in his/her native language. They translated it in English as well. When I approached each cast member, they were delighted to have a part in welcoming our grandson into the world! Upon returning home, I compiled the signatures, along with a picture of each country, put them in a small photo album, and gave it to my daughter-in-law at her baby shower. I have since done the same album of signatures with my subsequent grandson Caleb and most recently with Kai's baby sister Adalie. - Kim N.