Tips about Kids, Mousecellaneous, Port Orleans Riverside and Souvenirs

Our 7-year-old daughter lost a tooth while on vacation at WDW. She is a pin collector, so we bought her a Blue Fairy pin and put it under her pillow in exchange for the lost tooth. She was thrilled that the Blue Fairy visited her and left her a special gift. - Michele Sickler

Save those receipts! Twice our receipts from food service locations at Walt Disney World included a 20 percent off total merchandise purchase (from store opening to 1 p.m.) coupon at the bottom, good at select locations, good through January 5. This happened at both Pizza Planet in Disney's Hollywood Studios and also at the Electric Umbrella at Epcot. - Cheyenna

EDITOR'S NOTE: This promotion usually runs several times a year. Be sure to check if your receipt is one that has the coupon.

Save those receipts! Twice our receipts from food service locations at Walt Disney World included a 20 percent off total merchandise purchase (from store opening to 1 p.m.) coupon at the bottom, good at select locations, good through January 5. This happened at both Pizza Planet in Disney's Hollywood Studios and also at the Electric Umbrella at Epcot. - Cheyenna

EDITOR'S NOTE: This promotion usually runs several times a year. Be sure to check if your receipt is one that has the coupon.

Save those receipts! Twice our receipts from food service locations at Walt Disney World included a 20 percent off total merchandise purchase (from store opening to 1 p.m.) coupon at the bottom, good at select locations, good through January 5. This happened at both Pizza Planet in Disney's Hollywood Studios and also at the Electric Umbrella at Epcot. - Cheyenna

EDITOR'S NOTE: This promotion usually runs several times a year. Be sure to check if your receipt is one that has the coupon.

When my son and I fly he likes to bring both his Leapster and VideoNow Jr. Even though we use rechargeable batteries and I put fresh batteries in before we leave for the airport, they both eat batteries like there's no tomorrow. To change the batteries, I have to unscrew a couple of screws. Since screwdrivers are not allowed on airplanes now, I unscrewed the screws and used a piece of clear packing tape (the kind you use to close boxes that are being shipped) to hold the battery cover on. It is so much easier I never went back to using the screwdriver. - Julie Skinner

I have two girls, ages 4 and 2. We travel to Disney World once a year. Each time we go I bring something from the local Disney Store where I work. One year I brought along an Ariel nightgown for my oldest daughter Courtney. When we got to the Magic Kingdom we never made it to see Ariel and Courtney was very sad that she didn't get to see her favorite princess. When she returned to our room there on the bed was a nightgown from Ariel with a note saying she was sorry she missed us. Courtney still talks about it to this day. Now each year I bring something from a character and leave it on the bed with a note. I usually bring something from one of their favorite characters or someone who we just had a character meal with. I think I get as excited as they do when they see something on their bed from a character. - Nikki C.

My husband, 4-year-old-daughter and I go to WDW at least once a month. We bring a bathing suit and towel for our daughter and head for the water fountain in between Mission:Space and Test Track. We take turns watching our daughter play in the fountain and riding those two thrill rides. She gets to cool off and so do I -- I take off my sneakers, put on a cheap pair of flip-flops and cool off my feet. Plus she is entertained while we ride. - Holly Kilkelly

In a past newsletter you mentioned a product called Who's Shoes ID. I went to their website and ordered the ID tags that you place under the shoelaces in a child's shoes. I can't tell you how much better I felt knowing that if my 7-year-old got separated from us, our cell phone number was on his shoes along with all the pertinent identification information. They were $7.99 each and worth every penny! They come in blue and pink, and velcro together. What a great idea! - Dawn Burger

EDITOR'S NOTE: The website for Who's Shoes ID is: http://www.whosshoesid.com/

Velcro makes a 3/4-inch x 10-foot roll with the hooks on one side and the loops on the other so it sticks to itself. I bought mine in Walmart but I've also seen it in Home Depot. I cut it off in one-foot lengths to attach a mug or folded windbreaker to my belt loop. It has a hundred uses, and rolls up to fit in a pocket or backpack. - Brian Phillips

Do not assume that all ride reviews apply to your child. Our 10-year-old son, who will ride any thrill ride again and again, got off the Haunted Mansion (one of my favorites) and was very upset. - Beth

Did you forget to purchase that special souvenir? Although Walt Disney World does NOT have an Internet shopping site, nor do they have a catalog of park items, they do have a Mail Order Merchandise Department that can get most items for you. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) and may be reached by phone, fax or e-mail.
Telephone: 407-363-6200
Fax: 407-352-6369
Email: [email protected]

Shipping charges are $8.95 to $13.95 for UPS, and $13.95, $18.95, $22.95 and $27.95 for Federal Express charges, depending on the value of the order and the service requested. - Glo from Miami

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

We took them all home, also, but what we used them for was to "wrap" our everyday photo album with our pictures in it from our vacation! This lets us know exactly which album is our "Disney" album among our other ones. - CapeGoofy5