Tips about Food & Beverage, Magic Kingdom, Rain and Souvenirs

Magic Kingdom - Watch the fireworks from Tomorrowland Transit Authority in the Magic Kingdom. It is a great view, plus they will often let you ride it around as many times as you want. This is especially good for people who do not like the noise the fireworks make -- you can't hear a thing! - Q.o.t.W.

For character breakfasts, I would recommend letting girls wear their princess dresses to the princess meals because it helps with the magical aspect of it. However, on extremely hot Florida days, try putting it on over their clothes a few minutes before your reservation or once you are seated. It will only take a moment and it will save the headache of your child whining about being hot. I put my daughter's dress on her after we sat down because I watched a slew of little girls crying outside while waiting in their hot and heavy dresses. - Mendy776

At Disneyshopping.com, you can customize polo shirts with embroidered characters and names up to eight characters long. For children and adults, the cost is only $12.50 per shirt! Check often and look for special codes on the site, and you can get an additional discount. With a 20% off code, I ordered seven shirts this past weekend for $82.50 including shipping. We're going to wear them on our next trip! - Dayshel Harwood

I spent most of a week visiting most every store on Disney property looking for a cell phone charm. All I seemed to come across were the Disney Mobile charms at more than $18 each. I finally found just what I was looking for -– a keychain! The keychain had four or five cell phone loops on the ring, and each loop held a metal charm representing a different WDW park. One loop had the castle; another, Mickey's sorcerer's hat; a third had Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life; and one had Spaceship Earth. On the keychain there also were two rubber charms: a Dreams Come True tag and Sorcerer Mickey. And this keychain with six charms cost under $8! I chose to use the castle and the sorcerer's hat, then added Mickey ears, Mickey's hand, and Mickey's red pants charms that I found in the "make your own charm bracelet" collection. Each of these charms has a lobster clasp that easily attached to the metal ring on the cell phone loop from the keychain. Yes, I probably spent more than the Disney Mobile charm, but instead of one charm, I now have nine to choose from! - Vicki Stephens

ALL PARKS - I have been to Disney many times and always carry a bag of some sort with me for sunscreen, wallets, camera, ponchos, and other things of that nature. I found that a clear backpack will get you through the line at the security checkpoint quicker than it normally takes. Since security can see through the backpack they normally do not have to open it up. If you are worried about everyone seeing what you have in the clear backpack, than all you have to do is take a hand towel and pull it out before the security check point and, once through, place it in the backpack so that everything that you have cannot be easily seen. It also helps if you get a little wet and need to dry off. - Kelly Henrichsen

While at WDW last week I found out that most of the Swan and Dolphin restaurants give a 20 percent discount when you show your AAA card. Exceptions are Il Mulino, bluezoo, Shula's, and Kimono's. - Michelle Buchecker

EDITOR'S NOTE: We double-checked this and found out it's true! Be sure to bring those AAA cards with you. Also, Disney Vacation Club Members get a similar 20 percent discount at the Swan and Dolphin restaurants. Kimono's does participate in the discount program, however.

ALL PARKS - We put small inexpensive inflatable bath pillows (about $.79 to $1.50 at most drugstores) in our parkpacks. When we go to see a show on a hard wooden or steel bench, or are stuck with only a concrete curbside seat to view the parade, we take out our pillows, blow them up, and voila -- a nice soft cushie for our tushie! - Michele Abbamondi

Just because it is raining at your hotel doesn't mean it is raining at the parks. On my recent trip I had spent all morning at Magic Kingdom. On my way back to the hotel for the afternoon I met some people who had not left the hotel because of a downpour most of the morning. We barely felt a drop at Magic Kingdom. Disney World is so big that the storms don't always encompass all the parks. - Linda Sisson

Fort Wilderness - This year I took my family to dinner at the Trail's End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Campground. We made a night of it: we started at the Wilderness Lodge, then took the boat ride to Fort Wilderness to our priority seating at Trail's End, which is a very reasonably priced buffet. Then we watched the Wishes fireworks on the beach and the Electric Water Pageant from the boat dock. The kids loved the boat ride and the ducks on the beach. It makes for a lovely and relaxing evening! You could put together a similar evening at any of the Magic Kingdom resorts, although the Trail's End doesn't tend to book up early and it's inexpensive. - Dawn Goodwin

Magic Kingdom - Just wanted your readers to know that the Magic Kingdom's barbershop not only cuts hair. For an additional amount, they will put fun colors, stars, pixie dust and other cool stuff in your hair, just for the fun of it. Ask for the glow in the dark cream, so when you go on the dark rides your hair lights up! All my kids love it. General prices for haircuts range from $15-$18. NOTE: It washes out very easily. - Jim Keenan

Magic Kingdom - I have found a way to beat the huge crowd leaving the park after the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. I delay my exit by visiting the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (it stays open late even if the park is closed) and getting an ice cream cone or hot fudge sundae. Then I find a bench (or a wall) and watch the crowds go by. When I am close to finishing my ice cream, I begin walking toward the exit and the crowds have thinned considerably. Also, when staying at a Disney resort, the line for either the bus or the boat isn't very long anymore and you aren't squished in like sardines. It is an enjoyable way to finish your evening at the Magic Kingdom. - Susan VanVleet

Go play in the rain and tell everybody you just got off Splash Mountain and found your happy place. Remember you are on vacation and you are not the only one caught by the rain. If you look around at the other people, find someone and ask them to go play in the rain with you. If Cast Members can put on a show and have fun why can't we? I have done this and after about two or three minutes we had about 20 or 30 people dancing and singing in the rain. It was one of the best times I have ever had and would do it again. The best part is the person I got to go with me in the rain thanked me. He said that he was down because of the rain -- it was his last day in the World and the rain was going to slow him down. But after the singing in the rain rendition he was ready to go. So I give you this to think about -- if Disney brings out the kid in you, then why not let it show? - Kevin

Rainy days are usually an adventure for kids and if you are in Disney, this equals a DOUBLE adventure.

-- Go to the Florida Mall. There is a huge Playmobil Store where kids could have fun playing with toys, and there are places to eat. When you get back you will have quiet hotel time while they are playing with their new toy.

-- Check the weather in Tampa. If it looks good, hop to your car and go to Busch Gardens. If you have been postponing it since you always get trapped at the Disney parks, now you have the perfect excuse.

-- Go to the Millennia Mall, which has lots of stores and places to eat, but WARNING -- it can be an expensive alternative.

-- Check the weather and go to the Kennedy Space Center. The kids will love it, and you will take a break from the parks. Also this is more educational and the photos will be convenient for that next science project.

-- Make a reservation for lunch at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel. It's not Disney but it is fun. They have alligators, and have storytelling time and tours at a specified hours. - Olivencia

Head to a water park. Most often it rains on the way and we are still allowed in. By the time the rain stops we are well in the park and on our way to the more popular slides, when a good portion of people are leaving or have left. Even if we are there for only two hours, it winds up being the best time. - Elizabeth Shannon

EDITOR'S NOTE: The water parks will close if lightning has been detected in the vicinity.

On a rainy day I brought out a balloon animal kit I got at Target (I was thinking of any rainy day when I bought it). Besides distracting my kids (4 and 6), I wanted to use the handy instructions from the kit to make something other than a dog. My first several attempts failed, but I started getting the hang of it. At lunch we headed to the Contemporary's food court. The animals drew attention. We had instant friends for the kids, thankful parents for distracting their kids, and my skills multiplied. I was even offered game prize tickets for a balloon giraffe. Think of something you like to do on a rainy day and bring it with you to Disney. Your ideas could work their own Disney Magic. - Toohill