Tips about Health and Kids
We found it very helpful when traveling with our toddler to pack a plastic tablecloth and some plastic clothing pins we got at the dollar store. We stored them in a small Ziploc bag and threw them in the bottom of the stroller. When we would go into an attraction and had to leave the stroller outside with some of our other belongings, we would get the tablecloth out and cover the stroller with it and clip it down so it wouldn't blow away. There is nothing worse than returning to your stroller and finding out that while you were inside having a great time, there had been a passing thunderstorm (which happens all the time). Our stuff and the stroller were still dry. I can't tell you how many people thought we were the smartest people in the park! - Karen Rosenberger
Take care of your feet! We always carry a pair of flip-flops or sliders in our backpacks when in the parks. We put these on for wet rides (Kali River Rapids or Splash Mountain) or in the event of a notorious Florida pop-up storm. Walking around for hours in wet shoes and socks will make your feet miserable. We also stock up on moleskin (you can get it in rolls or sheets and cut it to fit). On our last trip we started Day One by applying moleskin to areas we thought might blister. We still had tired feet, but getting ahead of the blisters made a big difference! - Jen
If you find yourself inside the theme parks without an aspirin, Band-Aid®, or general over-the-counter remedy for whatever ailsyou, just go into any store. The cast members keep a fairly large selection of emergency medications behind the counter for you to purchase by request. The First Aid stations in each park also have a small selection of pain relievers, as well. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Lori Wagner
I have an ECV tip, this one geared toward one-day-only visitors to Epcot. My spouse and I are both mobility impaired, so we rent ECVs for our trips to Epcot. (We have the "Epcot After 4" annual pass and go at least once a month.) Neither of us is very strong, and disassembling and reassembling a portable travel ECV and loading and unloading from our SUV is difficult and energy-sapping. We solved this problem by renting from an off-site vendor. Even with delivery and pick-up, it's less expensive than renting at the park. We have the scooters delivered to the Walt Disney World Swan. We collect ECVs and take a pleasant drive along Disney's Boardwalk to the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. This entrance never seems to be crowded, and you enter the park between the United Kingdom and France. When your day is done, drive back to the Swan, park the ECV in the designated area and collect your car (we valet park). - Colleen E.
For younger first timers, get a recording of the music from "dark rides" (Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.) and have them get used to it. This worked great with my son, who was very apprehensive of the dark. When we got to the ride and he heard the songs, the familiarity made it a lot easier for him to be brave for that first ride. Most of those rides he "knew" from the music became his favorites. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Annie
Many drugstores, Wal-Mart, and Target have aisles with sample-sized items. I shop those aisles before I take a trip, and they usually will have teeny antiperspirant sprays or solids. (Not to mention aspirin, toothpaste, etc!) I purchase an extra sample-sized, solid 'white' antiperspirant to prevent blisters. Apply liberally to the hot spots on your feet, and you'll notice that you'll get fewer blisters!- Lori Wagner
If you have young children and are going to a late parade or fireworks, bring a pair of pajamas with you. Or, if you are going back to your hotel beforehand, you can change there. Have the kids put on their pajamas before the parade. Most kids (mine anyway) fall asleep before we return to the hotel. This way, you can just put the kids into bed and not have to worry about waking them up to change into sleepwear. It has saved me from many nights of "I've had my 'nap', now I want to play!" -Michele
My daughter came down with strep throat during our Disney vacation. We used a great service suggested to us by the Club Level concierge called DOCTORS ON CALL SERVICE. They are a 24 hour a day hotel medical service. Once we called and explained our situation it was only about an hour before the doctor arrived at our hotel door. The doctor was not in a rush and was very thorough. Before he left he gave her the first dose of medicine and then called the prescription to the pharmacy which delivered it to the hotel. This service certainly beat taking a child to wait in an emergency room and was especially great because we didn't have transportation readily available. Having her comfortable and in her own bed and staying calm watching Disney cartoons was far less stressful. -Kay
When you go to a park (even non-Disney ones like Universal), make sure you know where the First Aid Stations are. In Epcot, for example, the First Aid Station is over next to the Odyssey, the event center located between Test Track and World Showcase. At all First Aid Stations they have free samples of pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen), and some other items, like Band-Aids. They don't have everything, though. I needed a decongestant/antihistamine on one trip and they referred me to the Baby Care Center next door, where I could purchase it. - Amy
My husband and I are big postcard senders. Not only do we send them to family and friends, but love to have them sent to us! We have a postcard collection up on the wall in our TV room like a border. They wrap around almost three times! We started sending our almost 3-year-old daughter a postcard about our trips even if she is with us. During my last little bit of shopping I found an Alice, Mad Hatter, and White Rabbit in a Tea Cup ride postcard to send to our daughter. I wrote on it what a wonderful time we had with her, that this was her favorite ride, and a few other trip memories. I sent it out on our last day and when she received it, she went bananas! It was like reliving the whole trip! - Jane
EPCOT - Get a Kids' Guide to Epcot. It's a small, square, blue booklet, found near the turnstiles or at Guest Relations. There's a place for the child to write his/her name, date of trip, and a list of the people they traveled with. For each ride/attraction, the booklet describes in a sentence or two what to expect at the attraction. There's a small box next to each attraction listing, so that kids can put a checkmark when they visited an attraction. Or, they could use these boxes to check off what they wish to see.
EPCOT - Get a Kids' Guide to Epcot. It's a small, square, blue booklet, found near the turnstiles or at Guest Relations. There's a place for the child to write his/her name, date of trip, and a list of the people they traveled with. For each ride/attraction, the booklet describes in a sentence or two what to expect at the attraction. There's a small box next to each attraction listing, so that kids can put a checkmark when they visited an attraction. Or, they could use these boxes to check off what they wish to see.
My kids are always begging me to buy them those giant hats at WDW. You know which ones I mean -- the Goofy, Dwarf, Donald Duck, Sorcerer Mickey, etc. hats. Well, whenever we go, we only budget $10 per park/per child for a souvenir. Not to mention, I just can't see buying that hat just so it can sit and collect dust at home or wait for "Silly Hat Day" at school to be worn again. So, I came up with a definite $$-less solution to the problem. I take a picture of my kids in their "silly" hats. They have the memory of the hat for always and the hat doesn't come home with us. Problem solved. - Jen
I have found that the best thing for preventing motion sickness are the wristbands marketed for this purpose. They are great because you can put them on right before the ride or even after you start feeling a little ill. Before I started using these I couldn't go to any of the 360-degree movies or on simulator rides. Now I am able to really enjoy these rides. - Susie S.
