Tips about Kids, Magic Kingdom, Planning and Strollers
We rented a stroller while we were in Disney World, and I brought a loud yellow plastic bag and tied it to the stroller handle. That way I could spot my stroller in the stroller parking lot. It was inexpensive and practical because if it got lost then it was OK. If it got wet, it was also OK because it was plastic. - Jho Tan
All Resorts - We always buy the refillable mugs at our resorts, the only problem is how to carry all the mugs you just filled to the park each day. Well, you need to buy the plastic "S" hooks that go onto the baby style gyms. They work great and secure the mug perfectly. You can get them at your local "dollar store." They also work great attaching packages and many, MANY other things to your stroller. - Rene Hogan
If you didn't follow the excellent advice on covering your stroller with a plastic tarp and you encounter one of Florida's sudden storms, use your blow dryer for a quick dry back at your room. (One of Disney's famous ponchos makes a great stroller guard, too!) - D. Briante
I just returned from an eight day visit to Disney World with two 3-year-olds. We have discovered a very helpful accessory for a stroller -- a car organizer that normally hangs on the back of the front seat. These organizers can be hung very easily on the back of the stroller giving a great deal of storage space. The soft, canvas types can be easily folded into the stroller when closing the stroller up. We had plenty of room for rain ponchos, water bottles, snacks and other goodies. The car organizers can be purchased rather inexpensively at Walmart or Target. - Patty M.
We generally start planning at least a year in advance. I have a plastic tub that is labeled "WDW stuff." I place our heavy-duty hotel mugs in it so they are already packed. I also buy things throughout the year for the trip: toothbrushes, toothpaste, magic gloves and whatever else we normally use during our week-long trip. I also go to my local laundromat and pick up boxes of laundry detergent for $.50 a box. One box cleans two loads and is a lot cheaper than the hotel laundry dispenser. I also pack several dryer sheets in a freezer bag and place them in my suitcase. It keeps the clothes smelling nice and I have dryer sheets for use while there. One nice thing about the bin is that, for those times that we drive to WDW, we just put the lid on it and pack it in the van. After we arrive to the hotel we empty it out and use that as our clothes hamper for dirty clothes. It works great for those trips to the hotel laundry. - Sirena Penn
Epcot - If your kids aren't big enough to ride Test Track go into the gift shop/exit. I thought it was just a gift shop, and I was wrong. My 3-year-old was thrilled to be able to sit in a Hummer and a Saab. All he talks about are the cool cars he played in at Test Track. I am so glad I didn't walk by this attraction. - Robin from Deltona, FL
Epcot - If your kids aren't big enough to ride Test Track go into the gift shop/exit. I thought it was just a gift shop, and I was wrong. My 3-year-old was thrilled to be able to sit in a Hummer and a Saab. All he talks about are the cool cars he played in at Test Track. I am so glad I didn't walk by this attraction. - Robin from Deltona, FL
Our 3-year-old is very scared of fireworks, but she loved Wishes. This year we took the Wishes soundtrack and she listened to it on headphones while we watched our local fireworks. It worked like a charm and made the 4th of July fireworks enjoyable for all. This also works with the Fantasmic! soundtrack. - Konni Liechty
Regarding mickderb's tip on ordering canvas bags for strollers, we brought two lightweight, fold-up umbrella strollers for our 3-year-old twins. (They were the kind where all four wheels collapse and fold up together, as opposed to a stroller that just folds in half.) To keep the strollers clean and get them through the airport easily, we just used the long canvas "tube" bags that our fold-up canvas chairs came in. The strollers fit into those bags very easily and most of those bags even have carrying straps. We slung the straps over our shoulders and easily carried the strollers around when we needed to. - Sharon Leonard
When you have WDW resort hotel reservations, the cancellation policy on the confirmation says you must cancel five days before scheduled arrival or forfeit the deposit, equal to the first night's stay. What that actually means is that you must cancel six days ahead, because what they are looking for is for there to be five days between the time you call and the arrival date. For example, we found out the hard way that you can't call on Sunday to cancel a Friday reservation. - Rhame Nelson
Instead of bringing a towel to the park to dry the kids, stroller, etc., try a chamois. They are small and compact and so much easier to carry around than a regular towel. They work best when wet, and then when they are full of water, you wring them out and they are ready to soak up some more. You can find them in the automotive section of discount stores or a smaller size (for more money) in sport stores in the swimming section. Angela
We visited WDW in early December with our 2-month-old granddaughter. Before we left I ordered canvas bags from Target.com for her stroller and infant seat. We used the strollers right up to the gate, and then easily slipped them into the bags and set them at the airplane entrance. The flight crews all commented on what a great idea this was. The bag does not protect them from all damage, but it certainly keeps them clean. (They can be used at home to keep the stroller clean in the trunk as well). - mickderb
