Tips about Food & Beverage, Mousecellaneous, Resorts, Souvenirs and Strollers

Here's a tip for families from the U.K. In the U.S., lemonade is not a fizzy drink, it's a still drink. It's like old-fashioned, homemade cloudy lemonade. It's excellent if you don't want to fill your kids up with cola, especially, if they can't manage to eat all their dinner as they're so full of pop! Also you'll find variants like pomegranate lemonade in Disney. - Louise Herrick

I had been trying to get an ADR at 'Ohana for three weeks prior to our visit. I even checked daily during our actual week of vacation with no luck. Then it occurred to me that guests need to cancel the ADR by midnight prior to the day of the ADR or they are charged a fee per guest. The next morning I checked for an ADR at 7 a.m. and found an available table for the same evening at 6:35 p.m., which had the extra bonus of ending our evening watching Wishes from our dining table. - Ellen Bemis

Be careful while driving on Disney property. We were there this past weekend and they had a speed trap set up right before the Contemporary resort. There were four or five sheriffs and one had a radar gun. They had a car pulled over and that person had a ticket in his hand and did not look too happy. The next day we saw two sheriffs over by Pop Century. Just drive the speed limit. - Suzy

I must say that one of our most recent "fun things" to do is visit the "snack bars" at the hotels. Who knew that you could get a Dole whip outside the Magic Kingdom? We are now making a stop at the Polynesian snack bar for Dole Whip and the super Polynesian chips, prepared fresh with each order. I also have to say that the Adult Grilled Cheese is to die for. Prices are great. It is usually not crowded and the food is delicious -- oops, almost forgot the great flatbreads.

Another favorite stop is the snack bar at the Wilderness Lodge. We used to love their hot dogs and they had great biscuits with sausage in the AM. Now we go for the fantastic cupcakes. Only $2.29 and they are delicious and huge--enough for two to share. I also had a grilled chicken salad prepared while I watched--asked for extra bleu cheese(freshly crumbled) ---It was one of the best salads I have had anywhere. Coronado Springs, our favorite place to stay, has wonderful pastries. Some evenings if we have had a buffet for lunch, we just make a snack run to the hotel "fast food" joints. Quick service--good price-- nice atmosphere in the hotels -- and the food is super.

We always tell everyone that the hotels are an adventure all their own. If you have the time, don't miss a chance to just wander for a little while at several of them. Have a snack and enjoy the atmosphere. - Christy Allen

Instead of stopping at a grocery store on arrival we have found Garden Grocer to be a great delivery service for all those drinks, water, snacks and breakfast goods that make getting organized in the mornings especially easy. We order from the comfort of home, there's a discount for ordering a couple of months out, and we have the items delivered early on our arrival day. Bell Services hold them and refrigerate perishables and then when we arrive we simply ask to have them delivered to our room. It's so convenient and we love not having to actually stop and shop enroute to our hotel. - Moira

EDITOR'S NOTE: Read what other AllEars.Net readers have to say about this service in our Rate and Review section.

In addition to free Wi-Fi at McDonald's, the Chik-Fil-A restaurant on Route 535 (Apopka Vineland Road), just south of I-4 also has free Wi-Fi. - JohnH

Wal-Mart is now carrying Disney shirts in the stores and online. However, they run small! I normally wear a 2X, but I feel much more comfortable in Wal-Mart's 3X or even 4X! - Jo-Anne Harris

For those of us who collect the pressed coins, here's an easy way to keep them safe and organized: I bought a business card book (the small one). It fits perfectly into my pack and I can look back to see which ones I have gotten. - Danny Gauthier

I have a tip for the vegetarians visiting Disney. At some counter service restaurants (Cosmic Ray's in particular) you can order just a bun and two slices of cheese for $1.79 and put whatever toppings you want from the topping bar. This works really well at Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland because they have a huge variety at the topping bar including sauteed mushrooms. - Angie

Regarding hard to get dining reservations. If at first you don't succeed... Count back 45 days from the date of your desired reservation. Call that day to check for cancellations. The thinking behind this is your final payment for any Disney vacations is due 45 days prior to arrival. People may need to change travel dates or cancel before final payment is made. It worked for me with Chef Mickey's. I called 45 days prior to my desired reservation date and got a 5:00 ressie. The cast member and I were both shocked and surprised. Simply Magical! - Gina Thayer

Coronado Springs - We want to let "winter" vacationers know that the outdoor pools are heated. We stayed at the Coronado Springs Resort in October, and thought it was too cool to swim at night. One night I happened to see how cold the water was and to my surprise it was warmer than it was during the day. No one mentioned that the outdoor pools are heated! So fellow vacationers, enjoy the uncrowded pools under the stars, in the warm, warm heated pools. - Krista Hook

T-REX, the restaurant, is loud. We brought earplugs, but only needed them during the meteor shower. I saw some people complaining about the ice room, but it was actually pretty cool (ha ha) to look at... We were seated in a room that had the woolly mammoth, the baby mammoth and some flyers. The Dino room was very cool as well, and one of the tables is surrounded by a dinosaur. Neither of my kids was overwhelmingly disappointed that they weren't in that room, though. They liked looking around. - Holly P.

MAGIC KINGDOM - The little containers that the individual chocolate cakes come in at the Columbia Harbor House (and other places on property) make great little recycled "terrariums" to start seeds and tiny plants in. Just remember to poke little holes in the top for air to get in or the contents will get moldy! They can be reused several times and are a fun way for kids to remember thier Disney vacation later on in the year. - Lynn Quintieri

Epcot - Let me start by saying, like so many others, I always look forward to your newsletter. After reading one of the "tips" this week, I was reminded of a really special Father's Day gift we did for my husband the last time we were in Disney. (Father's Day just happened to be during our trip) I purchased a khaki hat with the little Mickey on the front and we took it to every country in Epcot and had them write "Happy Father's Day" in their native language. They were all more than happy to do it for us & thought it was the neatest idea they ever saw. Now there is a special keepsake for my Disney loving hubby! - Sheri H.

Epcot - Let me start by saying, like so many others, I always look forward to your newsletter. After reading one of the "tips" this week, I was reminded of a really special Father's Day gift we did for my husband the last time we were in Disney. (Father's Day just happened to be during our trip) I purchased a khaki hat with the little Mickey on the front and we took it to every country in Epcot and had them write "Happy Father's Day" in their native language. They were all more than happy to do it for us & thought it was the neatest idea they ever saw. Now there is a special keepsake for my Disney loving hubby! - Sheri H.