Tips about Kids, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous, Planning and Transportation

Magic Kingdom and Epcot - My family and I just got back from Disney on June 8. We had a great time, but something I found very useful was that when we got to the park (around 11 a.m. -- we let the kids sleep in since we were at the park late the night before) the line for the monorail and ferryboat to Magic Kingdom was backed up to the ticket booths! So instead of wasting 30-45 minutes waiting to get on the monorail, we hopped over to Epcot since there was no line at all. We had 1:00 p.m. reservations at Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom, but we had enough time to see Turtle Talk with Crush (kids loved it!) and take a family shot in front of Spaceship Earth. This is definitely worth doing instead of standing on line. - Pamela Matzner

You MUST retrieve your luggage at the baggage carrousels if you arrive in Orlando after 10pm. From there, proceed to the Magical Express area. Luggage porters are usually around to assist.

If you're arriving at the airport on a flight any later than 8 p.m. and are using the Magical Express, be sure to pack your supplies for both that night AND the next morning in your carry-on. Any luggage arriving at the hotel after midnight (which it probably will) won't be delivered until the next day. If you want to head out to the parks early the next morning, you won't want to wait around for Bell Services to bring your luggage! - Erin

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't forget that you also have the option of retrieving your luggage and bringing it onto the Magical Express shuttle yourself!)

Magic Kingdom - Watch the fireworks from Tomorrowland Transit Authority in the Magic Kingdom. It is a great view, plus they will often let you ride it around as many times as you want. This is especially good for people who do not like the noise the fireworks make -- you can't hear a thing! - Q.o.t.W.

If you are going to Disney to celebrate a wedding, I have some suggestions of what to bring from home. I was told to bring white chalk just in case the bride's dress gets [dirtied] by the seagulls. (It happened to my niece at a beach wedding.) My daughter-in-law used the chalk when something spilled on her dress, but other options include Wite-Out or a Tide to Go pen. Another good idea is to pack a needle and thread in case buttons are loose on tuxes, etc. - Jean

After the last 2 Hoop Dee Doo shows each evening, Disney offers bus transportation to the resorts. Check with Guest Relations just outside of Pioneer Hall to get directions.

If your little ones are craving their favorite movie while on vacation, as my 2-year-old nephew (Toy Story 2) and my 5-year-old nephew (anything Power Rangers) were, bring along a portable DVD player. Many of the resort TVs have front plug-ins that will allow you to plug the DVD player to the large TV. They loved it. - Wendy J.

ALL PARKS - I have been to Disney many times and always carry a bag of some sort with me for sunscreen, wallets, camera, ponchos, and other things of that nature. I found that a clear backpack will get you through the line at the security checkpoint quicker than it normally takes. Since security can see through the backpack they normally do not have to open it up. If you are worried about everyone seeing what you have in the clear backpack, than all you have to do is take a hand towel and pull it out before the security check point and, once through, place it in the backpack so that everything that you have cannot be easily seen. It also helps if you get a little wet and need to dry off. - Kelly Henrichsen

Regarding preparing the kids for Disney, this is what we're doing with our 4- and 6-year-olds: Following Super Nanny's lead, we've gone for goals. Having selected a collection of suitable rides, the kids have picked ones they would most like to go on. Now they are earning points to go on the rides (following a roller coaster track on a chart with pictures of the rides, and Disney characters trying to reach them). It seems to be working -- encouraging the kids to do their best, whilst giving them the idea that we aren't going quite yet -- got to get those points first! - Liz

We brought a travel-sized MagnaDoodle that we found especially handy at the water parks, where we would have a base camp, but would often split up to do different things. We would write messages to each other with the time and place we could be found. It actually became a fun game, as we got into giving clues to the names of the slides and rides. Overall, it was just a simple and fun way to communicate when you didn't want to have your cell phone with you. - Molly from Oregon

We brought a travel-sized MagnaDoodle that we found especially handy at the water parks, where we would have a base camp, but would often split up to do different things. We would write messages to each other with the time and place we could be found. It actually became a fun game, as we got into giving clues to the names of the slides and rides. Overall, it was just a simple and fun way to communicate when you didn't want to have your cell phone with you. - Molly from Oregon

ALL PARKS - We put small inexpensive inflatable bath pillows (about $.79 to $1.50 at most drugstores) in our parkpacks. When we go to see a show on a hard wooden or steel bench, or are stuck with only a concrete curbside seat to view the parade, we take out our pillows, blow them up, and voila -- a nice soft cushie for our tushie! - Michele Abbamondi

Before our recent annual family trip to Walt Disney World, our daughter and son-in-law built even greater happy anticipation in their 6- and 4-year-olds. Each evening, two of the children's cherished stuffed Disney characters would magically appear someplace in the house other than the children's bedrooms. Each character would be sitting on two one-dollar bills for the coming trip. So, there were one-dollar bills for the children and one each for Mommy and Daddy. One night, the characters had instructions for a treasure hunt. In the end, two of the dollar bills were found in the collar of Gus, their Golden Retriever. One was in Grandpa's pocket, and one was in Granny's pocket. This was done for the month before the trip, along with a special calendar on which the children crossed off one day every night. - Diane Schmitz

We just got back from Disney World today... please let your readers know that "Heelys" (skate sneakers) are not permitted in any amusement park in Florida. We were stopped by a Disney employee who informed us that we could be fined up to $150 by the sheriff! - Barbara Friedman

We just got back from Disney World today... please let your readers know that "Heelys" (skate sneakers) are not permitted in any amusement park in Florida. We were stopped by a Disney employee who informed us that we could be fined up to $150 by the sheriff! - Barbara Friedman