Tips about Health, Kids and Magic Kingdom
Our 3-year-old is very scared of fireworks, but she loved Wishes. This year we took the Wishes soundtrack and she listened to it on headphones while we watched our local fireworks. It worked like a charm and made the 4th of July fireworks enjoyable for all. This also works with the Fantasmic! soundtrack. - Konni Liechty
For those long days of walking at Disney I have found that if I use one of two leg products before and after my day I can walk twice as far and don't even feel it, at least for the first couple of days. I either use a peppermint leg gel from The Body Shop or I use a peppermint leg lotion from Mary Kay. I have tried both and either works just as well, although the lotion is easier to reapply throughout the day if necessary and has a much stronger smell. Both products say they are for after a long day, but I found that by using them before my day, my legs did not get as tired. - Rebecca White
I regularly travel with people who rent ECVs as they cannot manage the long walk around the parks. The biggest problem I found when renting the ECVs inside the park is that if you park-hop you are not guaranteed an ECV at your next park and there is no refund. People are allowed to turn in their ECV and ask that it be held for the entire day for them when they return, which ties up many of them. On our most recent trip we rented two ECVs from a private company. They were slightly cheaper, ours for the day to take to as many parks as we chose and actually faster and easier to maneuver than the Disney models. - Nicky
Instead of bringing a towel to the park to dry the kids, stroller, etc., try a chamois. They are small and compact and so much easier to carry around than a regular towel. They work best when wet, and then when they are full of water, you wring them out and they are ready to soak up some more. You can find them in the automotive section of discount stores or a smaller size (for more money) in sport stores in the swimming section. Angela
For my cousin's upcoming trip, I put together a booklet of coloring pages. She can color them and then have the characters sign the colored pages. It's inexpensive and you can find coloring pages online of almost all the characters now. I also added a packet of the "Puzzlers" section from old Disney Adventures magazines. These are great boredom-busters when waiting. Dania
This is something that my kids, ages 4 and 6, love to do. Whenever we are in the car going somewhere and they start to quarrel, we start a game. I start describing a Disney character and then they have to guess it. For example, "She wears a pretty blue dress and has blonde hair" -- Cinderella. Then the person who guesses it will be the next to give the clues. This worked on the plane this year to our favorite vacation place, Walt Disney World, and also when we were waiting in line or for a show to start. The whole family (there were 13 of us) all got into guessing and trying to think of the hardest character. You will be amazed at how many the kids really know. - Wooster Plumbs
I'm a kid myself, so trust me on this one. When you wait in those LONG, LONG lines, it's nice to have something to do, especially if you are young. I'm older, so I'm a little more patient, but if you're small, like 5, it'd be easier with something to do. Books aren't always best... a little too bulky. Coloring books and crayons? OK, but the crayons are hard to keep track of. I have an easy one: mini-pads of paper (white lined or plain) available pretty much everywhere, and a multi-colored pen. They are easy to keep around (keep them in your pocket!) and very entertaining to draw with. They are also very cheap. Now they make them with kittens and puppies on them, so it's even better. It's pretty handy around lunch, too, with waiting for your food and all. - Caitie
We just returned from a great trip at Walt Disney World. It was the first time with our 2-year-old and our second time since 1995. We highly recommend using the Baby Care Center for anyone who has little ones. We were very excited to find a cool, comfortable place to change diapers. They have padded changing tables with a disposable sheet on each table for sanitary purposes. In addition, there was a water cooler where you could refill your water bottle. They also have private nursing rooms for breastfeeding moms and a separate TV room where older kids can wait while baby is changed and fed. There is a bathroom there, too, for older kids and adults. They also have some sundries, such as diapers and formula, available for purchase. The Magic Kingdom one is located next to the First Aid area, between Casey's and the Crystal Palace. They are all on the Disney maps for each park. - The Tietjes
A runner friend of mine turned me on to something called "Body Glide." It looks a bit like deodorant, but you put it on your feet to prevent blisters (it reduces the friction that causes them). We had four people and five days at Disney, and not a single blister -- it was great! - Debbie M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
A runner friend of mine turned me on to something called "Body Glide." It looks a bit like deodorant, but you put it on your feet to prevent blisters (it reduces the friction that causes them). We had four people and five days at Disney, and not a single blister -- it was great! - Debbie M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
ALL PARKS - I just returned from a trip to WDW. The 3M Company now has a new Post-It Flag Highlighter that includes both a highlighter and Post-It flags in one. It was PERFECT for marking the maps to the parks. I would circle the attraction number with the highlighter and then put a Post-It flag on the number on the map. They are see-though, so they don't cover up the number. The "pen" fit perfectly in my fanny pack! - Leah Price
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My 4-year-old son has a real problem with loud noises, but refused to wear ear plugs. We would put a pair in and he would pull them right back out. Before we left I contacted a store that specialized in hunting equipment and ordered a pair of the smallest child-sized headphones used at target ranges to muffle sound. They fit him perfectly and when we were in the parks, if there was even a hint of loud noises coming, we would just slip them on. My son actually went through the Haunted Mansion four times without a hitch. It was the best $17 I ever spent and I got quite a few comments of, "Oh, I wish we had thought of that." - Bonnie Schweizer
If you travel with any individual, especially children, who is afraid of or does not like loud noise, purchase disposable foam ear plugs from a hardware store before leaving home. These are easy to take in and out, cheap (less than a $1.00 a pair) and can be kept in a pocket or fanny pack. Don't forget to purchase several pairs, just in case one pair is lost. - The DeHoff Family
EDITOR'S NOTE: We've mentioned this tip before, but it bears repeating
EDITOR'S NOTE: We've mentioned this tip before, but it bears repeating
