Tips about Health, Planning, Resorts and Souvenirs

I think a lot of times people forget (or do not know) that there is a Wal-Mart pretty close to WDW, in Kissimmee. We have been there on many of our trips, and they have a lot of great Disney T-shirts and souvenirs, not to mention that they're one of the cheapest places to buy food and sunscreen. - Christy R. Tripp

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you're driving from the airport and want a grocery stop, be sure to check out our directions page, which includes area stores: http://allears.net/pl/directions.php

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A tip for parents is to carry a few changes of clothes for the kids. There are a few places where there are fountains that come out of the ground (like at the bus stop entrance to Disney Markeplace) and some rides on which you can get very wet. This way the parents can take their kids into a restroom and change them into dry clothes so that they'll enjoy the rest of the trip to the park without having to run around in wet clothes or underwear. - W.V. Daniels, Jr.

I have been going to WDW for the last 25 years... Three years ago I took my children for the first time when they were 7, 3 and 6 months. We are going back this year in June and I have already started the planning. The best thing I have found are the Disney Deals on eBay. Last time my kids loved the souvenir light-up Pooh bears. In the park they were around $7 each. They have long since disappeared. I found them on eBay for only $2.99 each and have ordered three. I also bought T-shirts for around $5, candy, ball caps, etc. I have put all this in a suitcase the kids have not seen. When we get to Disney, I will give them a new treat each morning. This way, we have already saved more than $150, and we haven't even left the house yet! - Aimee F.

There are so many excellent guide books on WDW it would be hard to choose from the many available. Head to your public library, check some out, put those not on the shelf on reserve and look them ALL over before you decide to buy one. You might decide a general guide with great maps is for you or one on doing Disney with children or for seniors or for singles or one that rates the rides or gives you a great strategies for missing the crowds. Whatever you decide, you can easily order the book that best meets YOUR needs to take along from your local bookstore or online book dealer. The maps alone could easily make it worth your while and the info on things outside of WDW can be very valuable. I compared the various strategies for doing Disney and planned out some alternatives for avoiding lines that hit the things MY family wanted to see. I also discovered some interesting strolling musicians and odd little shops that I would have missed in the wild rush to do the rides. (Joy Kennedy)

Don't forget the First Aid Centers. Before a trip to Disney World in October my daughter had her braces adjusted. While in Disney she began having problems. She asked me for wax and I hadn't brought any. On a whim we stopped in to the First Aid Center and lo and behold they had wax! I just couldn't believe that they had even thought of that. It was a great save and definitely helped our trip. - Amy Oliger

Instead of buying a T-shirt or some other small expensive trinket that the kids will get bored with in a short time, I buy BEACH TOWELS. At Disney, they are $20 each and you can even get them at specific attractions. I have a huge collection from every place we have been and use them on an everyday basis. It's a great way to remember all the great vacations we have taken. Some of these towels have lasted 10 years! I have recently started storing the new ones I buy to give to my grandkids someday. - Pauline Sheehan

CHRISTMAS - We had our own Christmas ornament idea. We bought the official attraction collectibles -- the ones that look like a ride car -- tied clear string and a hook to them, and hung them on our tree. These only cost about $5 each! - Bill Fosbenner

I don't know how many folks travel with teens but I travel with my 16-year-old son. We usually stay at the All Stars and the only place for us to change privately is the bathroom. This can cause problems if you have had a shower and it's all steamy. So to solve the problem and give us a little more privacy, I go to the dollar store and buy a cheap white or colored shower curtain. Then I get two of the 3M hooks (with Command adhesive) that have the pull tab to remove them from the wall. We then hang the shower curtain between the sink area and the bedroom area. When we aren't using the area we hang the shower curtain on one hook. But when one of us wishes to change, we just hook the curtain up and we have a nice private area to change. I discovered this about 10 years ago when I was traveling with three kids. This way the two girls could change in one room and the two boys in the other. Editor's Note: We've checked out these hooks by 3M with the Command adhesive, and they seem to really work as the manufacturer claims: they are specially designed so that they won't mark the walls or remove paint, and they don't leave a sticky residue behind.)

CHRISTMAS - Our family always checks out the key rings at WDW. A lot of the key rings are suitable to be used as Christmas ornaments or jewelry. On our most recent trip we purchased a monorail key ring to use as a Christmas ornament. We saw a glass monorail ornament that was twice the price and I wasn't sure it would survive the plane trip home. We also bought a key ring that had a Tinker Bell charm on it. I removed the charm (silver) and placed it on a chain to wear as a necklace. The key ring cost $6 compared to the actual Tinker Bell charms that were $12. - Ronda

FORT WILDERNESS - When we stay at the Fort Wilderness Resort, we arrange to have an hour-long carriage ride that starts at 8:30 p.m. We ask the carriage driver to find us a good spot to watch the "Wishes" fireworks show, and the driver takes us to a secluded area next to the lake. We have a great view of the show, plus it is so nice and peaceful to be all alone there and not crushed amongst thousands of people. - Darrin Brooks EDITOR'S NOTE: Carriage rides are generally 30 minutes long so if you want an hour you will need to book two consecutive reservations.

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - Suggestions for Animal Kingdom Lodge: Go to the Front Desk/Guest Services of Animal Kingdom Lodge and request a list of activities and the "Hidden Mickey" list. The resort's Cast Members will give culinary tours, art tours, and tell stories, depending on the time of day you visit the resort. (The Hidden Mickeys are easier to spot during the daylight hours.) You can also visit the Sunset Overlook, located in the lounge next to the Front Desk. Cast Members at the Arusha Rock Overlook will even have night-vision binoculars! I recommend the dinner buffet at Boma. It has a wide variety of foods that would satisfy picky eaters too. - Lori

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

Missed buying that souvenir before your trip ended? You can call Disney Merchandising and have any WDW park or resort item shipped to you. Call 1-407-363-6200. For Disneyland merchandise, call DelivEARS at 1-800-362-4533 to have it shipped via UPS. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Mike C. and Jennifer

Make up labels with your name, your resort and the resort phone number. Place these labels on your cameras (including disposables), video equipment and even kids' backpacks. If these items are lost, this will increase your chances of getting them back. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Binnie Betten

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