Tips about Health, Magic Kingdom, Resorts and Souvenirs

My husband and I did the 2015 four-day Disney Vacation Club Member's Cruise and then spent five days at the BoardWalk Villas. We realized that our shopping and all the DVC gifts we received during the cruise were not going to fit in our luggage and would add a lot of extra weight. I asked in the gift shop about mailing cruise items and was directed to the business center that is part of the Convention Center at the BoardWalk. We took all of our bags to the business center, including two pieces of art. They were carefully wrapped and put in a big box that we sent FedEx ground. The box arrived the same day we got home. It was so was nice to have our purchases right away. - Annette A.

We bring earplugs with us for use in some of the noisier ride queue areas and the rides themselves (e.g., Test Track, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Space Mountain), especially for older members with us, and youngsters with sensitive ears. Works great, takes some of the "scare" out of the rides for the younger ones, buffers some of the loud music and sounds. - Mike M.

When I have a few pills to be taken while in the parks, I put them in a contact lens case with screw-on lids. The case is small and fits easily in a zipper pocket or waist pouch. Since the case is made to keep liquid inside, it is also waterproof and keeps pills dry! - Mary Vinson

It has been brought up before about the different trigger smells that affect asthmatics, but no one's mentioned the skunk smell from the ride Journey into Imagination with Figment. I have tried it twice and both times it left me happy that I have my emergency puffer with me at all times. I never really have problems, but this one ride really throws me for a loop. None of the other smells from rides or shows have this affect on me. - Kerry

Toothpicks/dental floss are a must for us. My husband always seems to get something caught in a tooth that ends up bothering him. I get the tiny travel size floss, which is perfect for carrying in my bag in the park. - Sandy

We are from Houston so we are pretty used to the heat, but for our last three trips we've brought cool packs for the back of our necks. You freeze the inserts and can keep extras in a small ice chest in the bottom of the cooler. This year we also got a 12x12 cool pack that we will use behind our one year old's back while she is in the stroller to keep her cool. - Gretchen

Our first trip to Disney my daughter got sick. Medicine in Disney is quite pricey. I always bring medicine with us now for 'just in case' emergencies! - Kelly

After my son's first trip to Disney when he picked up a nasty stomach bug, we've since learned to pack a travel-sized hand sanitizer to carry with us inside the parks. We use it to disinfect hands not only before eating, but also after EVERY encounter with the characters. When you stop to think about all the children who are touching and kissing Mickey, it just makes sense. My son stayed well all the way through the subsequent two visits to Disney. I can't say for sure that's what kept him well, but it certainly couldn't have hurt! - Terri in Bermuda

We've found it helpful to bring address labels from home to use in the gift shops. Rather than writing out our address each time we send our purchase back to the room, we just peel and stick. It saves a lot of time. - Gavin Shannon

As a cast member who frequently responds, "I'm sorry, we don't have that size," "I'm sorry, we sold out of those yesterday," and "Yes, those are the only ones we have left. I'm sorry," I want to recommend that if you are visiting to compete in a sporting event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, buy event-specific merchandise the first day, as soon as you can. It happens with every event -- we run out of event merchandise as soon as the event starts, so get yours as soon as possible! - Anonymouse

If you have a personal walker, wheelchair or crutches you are currently using, and you want to rent an electric wheelchair at the theme parks, they will hold your personal devices in the rental area with your name on them, until you return and check your vehicle back in. They also have "courtesy wheelchairs" that you then can use to get to the buses or parking lots. This was good to know, as I was wondering what to do with my mom's walker once we rented an electric scooter. - Amy

At Magic Kingdom, there is a small bench big enough for two kids at the very back of the WDW train, where my kids love sitting. You might have to wait for someone to get off at a stop to get a turn. And, if the cast member/conductor in the back doesn't ask, don't be shy to ask if your child/children can help out by saying, "All aboard!" And then ask for the "Railroad Guest Conductor" card. - Annette Reifsteck-Chalk

We have always saved all of our "major" shopping for World of Disney where we can use our Annual Pass to received a 10 percent discount. Imagine my surprise, when on our last trip when I was checking out at MouseGear the Cast Member asked me if I had any discounts. I said, "I don't know, do I? What qualifies?" It turns out that I was able to get an Annual Pass discount there. I was also able to use it at the stores at Hollywood Studios, and even at our resort. I wish I had known that earlier in the week! - Tanya Thomas

EDITOR'S NOTE: The 10 percent Annual Passholder discount is being offered at many merchandise locations around Walt Disney World now through January 10, 2011. Premium Passholders can save 20 percent on select merchandise at Walt Disney Resort stores while this offer lasts. Be sure to ask about its availability when checking out. This offer has already been extended twice and may be extended again. It always pays to ask.

When we visit the World. we usually spend about 12 days there. We "shop" the entire trip, jotting down what we want to buy and a couple of days before heading home we head to the World of Disney store at Disney Springs to buy all our MUSTHAVES. We use our annual pass for the 10 percent shopping discount and then ship everything home. The shipping cost offsets the Florida sales tax that we would have to pay if we took everything home ourselves. Also, packing to go home is a lot easier and when the package arrives, and we open each treasure. It's like we are still there! - Bobbie Ann Young

If you are planning to rent an ECV and have the use of only one hand, make sure you have a conversation about that when making the reservation. My family rented an ECV for my sister, whose right hand is paralyzed, and it never occurred to me to ask for an ambidextrous ECV. The "forward" mechanism was controlled with the right thumb, requiring her to use a digit on the left to PULL the mechanism toward her while steering. By the end of the trip, her left hand was really ragged! The fellow from the rental company suggested renting a motorized wheelchair powered by a joystick next time, but warned that the company doesn't like to rent them to people who don't already know how to maneuver them, as they are difficult to handle. I'll remember that next time. Nonetheless, the ECV made SO much possible for all of us on this trip. It was well worth the investment, operational difficulties notwithstanding. - Susan Barnaby