Tips about Food & Beverage, Planning and Transportation

Epcot - I just wanted to let you know there is now an additional place to get kosher food in Epcot. It is at the Electric Umbrella restaurant in Future World. This is helpful, because if you need the kosher food, you don't have to go all the way to the American Adventure's Liberty Inn in World Showcase. - Michael Lorch

We're at Walt Disney World this week and a cast member suggested that we could purchase the Tables in Wonderland card as Disney Vacation Club members. Went to a guest relations desk and after the cast member checked, found that yes, we could purchase TiW for $100, good for a year, with all the usual benefits. So glad this cast member was looking out for us, as it has saved us more than $100 already and we've got 13 more days to go! Please pass on the tip! - Tom Chavez

After reading the tip in a recent newsletter about utilizing Google Docs for planning purposes, I thought that I'd share, too. I utilize Microsoft OneNote for Disney (and other) trip planning. OneNote is included in the Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition, as well as the higher-end Office editions. I have tabs for an overall trip calendar (generated from MS Outlook), travel itineraries for my husband and me, as well as our two adult children (traveling from different cities), Roman Catholic mass times, dining reservations, park operating hours, and that ever-useful Miscellaneous tab. I then set the Notebook to be shared via MS SkyDrive (Hotmail addresses and the like) and our kids can pull up whatever information I have culled for the trip, as well as dining reservations. OneNote has a newly released iPad specific app, as well as an iPhone App (alas, I have an Android phone. But the Android Disney Parks app is terrific!). All your information available to you at your fingertips! - Cel V.

I am currently planning a trip to WDW for a large group of 15. With crazy schedules and one family living in another state, it's hard for us to get together to plan. In order to include everyone in on the planning, I am using Google Docs (http://docs.google.com/). They are easy to set up, easy to share with others (via email) and allow everyone to edit/add to the document. I just ask everyone to use a different color font when using it. We have three docs going: one to plan where we need ADRs, one to discuss special events/activities that we may or may not want to do, and one that is a to-do list (dates to purchase tickets, reservations, make ADRs...). As we get closer to the trip, I'll probably add another doc for our itinerary (with reservations written in) to allow people to comment on it and make suggestions. - Cate

If you're on a tight schedule and want to be seated as close to your ADR time as possible, it may be best to make reservations for earlier rather than later. On our trip this month, I noticed that the later our dinner reservation was, the longer it took to get seated. This becomes even worse if it rains. People already seated for their meal do not finish and leave the restaurant as quickly when they know it's raining outside. - Collette

If you're a AAA member, bring your card and ask about available discounts at restaurants. Some places outside the parks, like Earl of Sandwich at Disney Springs and Fresh at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, offer a better discount for AAA members than they do for AP holders or DVC members. - Laura Gilbreath

On a recent trip to WDW, we stayed at the brand new Wyndham Grand Orlando in Bonnet Creek... However, we found out that when some non-Disney hotels include "scheduled transportation" to the parks, it doesn't always mean that the buses run every 20 or 30 minutes as the Disney resorts and Disney Springs member hotel buses do. The shuttle from the Wyndham Grand only went to and from the parks two or three times PER DAY! Just beware that if you want the convenience of being able to head to the parks (or head back from the parks to your hotel) whenever you choose without renting a car, stay at at a Disney-owned hotel or one of the Disney Springs member hotels that run several shuttles per hour to and from the parks. Otherwise, if you intend to stay at a hotel with less convenient transportation options, consider renting a car so you can still come and go as you please. - Jeff Hogan

On a recent trip to WDW, we stayed at the brand new Wyndham Grand Orlando in Bonnet Creek... However, we found out that when some non-Disney hotels include "scheduled transportation" to the parks, it doesn't always mean that the buses run every 20 or 30 minutes as the Disney resorts and Disney Springs member hotel buses do. The shuttle from the Wyndham Grand only went to and from the parks two or three times PER DAY! Just beware that if you want the convenience of being able to head to the parks (or head back from the parks to your hotel) whenever you choose without renting a car, stay at at a Disney-owned hotel or one of the Disney Springs member hotels that run several shuttles per hour to and from the parks. Otherwise, if you intend to stay at a hotel with less convenient transportation options, consider renting a car so you can still come and go as you please. - Jeff Hogan

Buy a thin wallet that fits in your shorts pocket to hold your Disney cards, Fastpasses, and money, then buy an antibacterial lotion that clips to your belt. You can then go right through the no bags line at the park entrances. It saves you waiting in another line. - Michelle

Animal Kingdom - If you're looking for a healthy breakfast alternative, try the oatmeal at Pizzafari in Animal Kingdom. It's a generous serving of oatmeal topped with fresh crisp chunks of apple, golden raisins, Craisins, and brown sugar. And at only $2.79 it's quite a bargain! - Laura Gilbreath

My wife and I have been visiting the World from the UK for the last 10 years. I have never driven, as we both prefer the hassle-free option of resort and Lynx bus systems. We were here in May for the Flower and Garden Festival and were dismayed to discover that Lynx had changed their system of discount fares for disabled passengers. They now require you to travel to the main bus depot in downtown Orlando to apply for a photo ID -- not a realistic option for an out-of-town visitor. As we were coming back in October for the Food and Wine Festival, I emailed Lynx headquarters asking if they would accept my photo ID from the UK. After two emails I got a very nice reply telling me they would accept my ID. They told me to show it along with the email to their drivers and they would give the discounted travel fare. - Paul

Just want to add one note about car rental regarding the Sunpass. We have Fast Lane, the New England version, which can be used in other states. When we go away we bring it with us, and once the car is rented, simply log into our account on the Fast Lane website and add the rental car to our account. Get the benefits of zipping through the autolane without the rental company's fees. - Mike B.

Kudos to Mike Scopa for the very detailed article about car rentals in Walt Disney World (AllEars® Issue #615, July 5, 2011). As a professional road-warrior who has to rely on rental cars on a weekly basis, I'm intimately familiar with how the car-renting game works and I was very impressed at the thoroughness of his report. I would like to add a few more items to the list of things to consider when renting cars.

-- Check if your employer has a corporate rate with a particular car company. This could amount to more savings.

-- Some rental cars come equipped with SunPass for the toll roads. However, if you use that option instead of paying tolls with cash, the rental place may charge you an extra fee on top of the price of the toll.

-- This was implied in the article, but just to be clear. If you do not pre-pay for gas and forget to fill up before returning it, the rental place will charge you per gallon, at a much steeper price. So, unless stopping for gas will make you late for your flight, make sure to fill up!

-- Before you sign the rental contract, make sure to walk around the car and note any significant damages (quarter-sized dents, scratches more than 6 inches long) to the rental agent so they can mark those down on your contract. At an airport in San Francisco this week, an agent told me he had already walked around and inspected the car, but failed to notice a huge dent on the back bumper until I pointed it out. - Patricia O.

We are planning a trip to WDW this December-January. I was surprised to find out that some tours do not take place the last two weeks in December. We were interested in Backstage Magic, which is one of the tours that does not go when the park is that crowded. Readers might want to check on available tours when planing their trips. - Sue Lykins

I just read the problem Denise Schlawin had with items melting in her family's luggage in the car. Don't forget that even if your room is not ready, you can check your bags with Bell Services at your resort. They will hold your luggage as long as you need them to. When your room is ready and you get back to your resort, go to the Bell Services desk and ask them to bring your luggage up to your room. It's better than 1) having items melt and possibly ruining clothing and 2) getting to your room THEN calling down to have the luggage brought up and waiting. We've waited for as long as an hour for our luggage, and have found going directly to the Bell Services desk to have the luggage brought up, they almost follow you directly to your room! - Elizabeth Kozdron