Tips about Kids, Magic Kingdom, Planning, Pop Century, Resorts and Souvenirs
ALL RESORTS - THE PHONES IN THE ROOM: Any phone with a button for ordering pizza is okay by me! Joining the pizza button was the Housekeeping button and the Guest Information button, and the Wake up Call button. The Guest Information button is the general operator for the resort. They are know all, see all, do all. It's like calling 411 without the guilt or charge. Example: My 11 year daughter was having a problem with her braces. She needed Braces Wax to cover a wire that was digging into her cheek. Who ya gonna Call? They gave me the name of 2 drug stores and called them for me. I called back and ordered a taxi and 10 minutes later I was off to Walgreens for the Wax. I called them for park opening times, baby sitter info, movie information. Each time they came through like a champ.
ALL RESORTS - All hotels say there check out time is 11am. This can actually be extended until 1pm at no additional charge to accommodate your flight schedules. I even extended my stay until 3pm and paid 1/2 price. Not bad to enjoy the hotel pool and spa one last time before boarding my plane back to reality. It was worth it. - AHalton
EDITOR'S NOTE: With the new Magic Bands be aware that they will stop working automatically at 11am on your check out day. If you get an extension please check with the desk about access. Remember that during busy times resorts will not be able to honor requests for late checkouts.
ALL RESORTS - Get Maps and Schedules at Guest Services - When you arrive at your WDW hotel, have someone in your party go to Guest Services and ask for the current maps and timetables for all the parks. If you're interested in visiting the water parks or PI, be sure to check on the WDW transportation schedule also.
ALL PARKS - I found that if you get tired of waiting in long lines, and you don't mind splitting up your party ( maybe to 1, 2,or even 3) some attractions offer singles lines. These lines help fill up unused space. I tried this at Test Track and the normal wait time was 70 minutes. It took me 5 minutes on the singles line and I still got a seat with my parents. - Matthew
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ALL RESORTS - My name is Malorie Boutwell and I am 13 years old and have been going to Disney World on vacation ever since I was little and love it. I think that a helpful hint I have to offer is that you stay in a Disney Resort so you can get early admission to each park on the designated days also so you can get there before it begins to crowd.
ALL RESORTS - My name is Malorie Boutwell and I am 13 years old and have been going to Disney World on vacation ever since I was little and love it. I think that a helpful hint I have to offer is that you stay in a Disney Resort so you can get early admission to each park on the designated days also so you can get there before it begins to crowd.
We always make sure we have a small or travel size magna doodle in our backpack. The kids can use it to draw a picture, play hangman, tic-tac-toe, anything of that nature. PLUS we always brought it out on the table at character meals & usually at least one character at each meal would sign it, doodle on it or ask my son a question on it. It is more interactive & versatile than a hand held game & it doesn't beep or make noise 🙂 - Missy
I always take a few of the bubble bottles with me. Then, when I'm in a long line or waiting for a parade or fireworks, I just start blowing bubbles. All of the little kids (and some of the big ones too!) are delighted to chase and pop the bubbles or just watch them drift by. It's so funny to hear the comments from guests who don't see me blowing the bubbles - they just think it's more Disney "magic." - Kymberli Oakes
My dh and I have used this idea on our past two trips with our young children (ages 5 and 2 at our last trip last week) We thought it was a sensible "duh" until we had tons of people tell us what a great idea it was. We even had several cast members comment on our "brilliant" idea.
If you are travelling with young children that sometimes would prefer to walk than ride in a stroller all day, tie bells to their shoes. You will be able to keep up with them and if they do get seperated from you, their jingling will alert you to where they are. We had bells tied on two or our children our last trip and used different bells on each of their shoes. Because of all the noise at Disney you don't really notice the constant jingling until it stops or you need to hear it! - Michelle
I just returned from Disney last week and I'd like to offer this tip. In the past, when I've visited the Disney outlets in the Belz factory stores, items also on sale in the parks were sold in the outlet at theme park prices. Not so this year. I bought sweatshirts, available for $58 in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, for only $25, and Pooh bear mask/whistles for half price. If you have a car, I recommend checking out both stores as they have slightly different merchandise. I was able to purchase several official Disney gifts that had a higher value than I could normally afford. - Sam
Last week Glo From Miami's Souven-EARS ideas dealt with bringing inexpensive items back home for the office or classmates. Several readers wrote with more suggestions:
Liz: In Epcot, some of the carts have unusual and inexpensive musical items. We brought back wooden flutes for everyone in the class and they were only $1 each!
Suttonelz7: The Mickey-shaped straws they sell at most of the resort food courts are very inexpensive souvenirs. I got the straws for 25 cents apiece when I went in 2001. I was able to bring back souvenirs for all my staff for less than $20 and they all loved them.
Marilyn Flage: I always bring back Disney emery boards. I figure that is a gift everyone can use. I usually find 4-5 different designs, so I let my fellow workers pick which they prefer and then I have the leftovers to use myself.
I LOVED your article on pressed coins and I have to agree they are fabulous and inexpensive. Something I do to collect my coins and give as souvenir gifts is create jewelry. A small awl used for piercing leather works well in piercing the ends of these coins, and then simple jump rings and clasps found in Michael's or any craft store work great in connecting the coins into bracelets, key chains, earrings -- you name it! You can do these as themes, such as princesses or the Fab Five or even by parks. I once brought these home for several of my students! - Erika Swanson
I love the artwork that I find at Disney World shops, but the prices are a bit higher than what is budgeted in my vacation spending money. Easy solution: I buy postcards that are miniature versions of the large prints that are offered for big bucks. I spend two dollars on a postcard, matte, frame and PRESTO... a beautiful Disney masterpiece. The Mickey Mouse Norman Rockwell's are my favorites! - Fran Dodge
If you are traveling with a young girl, around 5, buy a Princess Hat! My niece got one on her last trip and the Cast Members made such a fuss over her. She wore it every day, in every park, and someone commented every day. The CM's asked if she was a princess. The taxi boat CM said to "stand aside, we have royalty coming on board." Goofy even bowed down and worshiped her. It really made her feel very special during the trip. - Holly
