Tips about Kids, Magic Kingdom, Planning, Rain and Souvenirs

We tried to book a room for the first week of December. Not a single room was available at any Disney resort. The Disney representative suggested looking at a resort that was still on Disney property but not an actual Disney resort. She said the Buena Vista Palace had rooms available. They are located across from Disney Springs and offer bus service via Mears shuttles. I called them directly and because I'm a firefighter was able to get a greatly reduced rate that isn't offered at Disney resorts! (It's called the "government rate." I just had to show my firefighter ID when I checked in.) - Alexiss from MA

Here's a tip for traveling with a young child. We recently returned from Disney World with our grandson who turned 3 while we were there. I had taken his own toddler fork and spoon with us and it made mealtimes so much easier for him. The adult size cutlery is so big and cumbersome for such small hands. - Audrey G.

Getting out of the hotel room door can be a challenge if you have a child who takes about an hour trying to figure what she wants to wear and then another half-hour getting ready. I solved this problem for my daughter on a surprise trip with a friend. I wasn't going with her so I didn't want my friend to have to experience the same problem I did when we wanted to leave for early entry to the park but could never get out the door on time. I purchased gallon zipper bags with the white area for labeling. I assembled each day's outfit right down to the "unmentionables" in the bags with a happy note written on it. This included what accessories went with the outfit, including the shoes. Since this was a surprise, I wrote a separate letter that included detailed instructions for each outfit ensemble. Not only did my friend have a worry-free time, but my daughter really appreciated the time I put into it. I had such fun doing it, too. - Christine M.

I'm always looking for a way to relive the magic of the parks, so this last trip my family and I purchased a bunch of little inexpensive souvenirs like keychains, magnets, coffee mugs, etc. (A great place to find these is in Disney Springs at Mickey's Mart: Everything $10 and Under.) I left them in the bags, sealed them shut with a Disney sticker, took them home and put them in a box in an out-of-the-way spot. Now every time I need a little Disney Magic I just go to the goodie box, pull out a bag, and it takes me right back to my favorite place in the world. I also made one for my son -- he loves to go to the magic box (as he calls it) and get a Mickey Mouse sucker, a small toy, or a Disney book. You could also decorate the box you put the goodies in. It's a fun craft for you and your child to do together. - Linda Wooden

Take your Hidden Mickey book and head over to a hotel on an adventure looking for them. We were on one of the floors by a room looking for one when a family came out. They were very surprised when we showed them that a Hidden Mickey was right by them. - Sharon Petrow

We bring "Disney games" with us. There is the Disney version of Guess Who, Disney Trivial Pursuit, Uno, Memory and many other board games. We order in room service, play Disney board games and watch Disney movies/TV. We also eat Disney "snacks." Walmart has Disney microwave popcorn, and local dollar stores and Walgreens have Disney candy and fruit snacks. - Christine Mercier

Don't forget to check out activities that might be going on at your resort! One rainy afternoon our extended group of nine gathered at tables in the food court area of the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. We had found tables by the windows and out of the way of people eating a late lunch to enjoy some card playing. We noticed that some Disney staff were setting up tables with an activity and had also brought out a dozen or so chef coats. One of the Cast Members approached our group and invited the kids (all four of them) to come don a chef's coat and join in the activity at the table. Each child got a large Mickey shaped sugar cookie and frosting and decorations to create their own MICKEY! It was a fun activity for the kids and a tasty treat as well! In case you were wondering, it was a free activity! - C. Hesse

Discover the beauty of the resort you are staying in, take a closer look at the lobby decorations, walk around and look out the public viewing areas. Or take a tour of a resort. If your resort has no tours, call the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge and see if a tour is available. - Wendy from NY

I go resort hopping and go shopping. Each of the gift shops at the different resorts has the standard merchandise; then, as an added bonus, they have merchandise specific to that resort. So far, what I am trying to do is either collect a different beach towel or shirt with the resort's logo on them, or I stop by their snack bars and pick up a soda cup with the resort logo for about 11 dollars. With the mugs, I even have the ones that say Fall 2000, which I got at Epcot. - Debbie Jeffers

If it is after lunch and it looks like it will be a few hours of rain, the best thing to do is head back to the hotel and take a nap! Or, mom gets to do laundry while everyone else naps -- not so fun, but you get to chat with all the other moms in the laundry room about where they are from, what restaurants they ate at and enjoyed, etc. - Mary Ann Devine

Hop on the monorail and head to the Contemporary Resort! Riding the monorail in the rain is an experience in itself. We head to Chef Mickey's for a nice dinner or to The Wave for a quick bite. We always finish the trip with a stroll through the stores and admire the inside of the hotel. My family has enjoyed our "trip to the Contemporary". Cheryl Fer

Put the kids down for a nap and enjoy the short-lived rainstorm from your resort room with a good book! We did that each afternoon with our 1-year-old and 5-year-old. The 5-year-old didn't sleep but he did have some down time enjoying our spacious Ft. Wilderness Cabin. - JJ Marcum

If we have checked the weather and it sounds totally unbearable to go to the parks we plan on sleeping in. Just put on the Do Not Disturb sign and sleep in. When we get up, we order room service and actually sit back and enjoy the morning. After that, we spend the day wandering the other hotels and enjoying seeing what they have to offer. - Gloria Martin

On one of our trips to Disney the best place during the rain was Community Hall (Boardwalk Villas). Near one of the quiet pools is this recreation room that is totally Disney. It is a place that has tons of activities for the kids including: arts and crafts (for a small fee), movies, a ping pong table, a foosball table and video games. My kids love it so much they spend time here during sunny afternoons, too. The Belle Vue Lounge off of the lobby at the Boardwalk has games for you to play including Yahtzee and checkers. They have great couches inside, and right outside on the deck is a great place to sit and watch lightning. - Leanne Hackett

We always welcome a rainy day as an opportunity to slow down and explore the Disney hotels. We might do a loop on the monorail and check out the shops and restaurants in the hotels, maybe even do lunch. Plunking yourself in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace in Wilderness Lodge takes the chill out of a dreary day. Disney really does a wonderful job with all of the themed hotel lobbies and if you're there around the holidays, the Christmas decorations and gingerbread displays are bonuses. It's a relaxing way to refresh yourself and gear up for the next day's trek into the parks. And, best of all, it's free! - Annette Brooks