Tips about Kids and Photography

We had our first "magical" visit in February. One of the things I wanted to ensure was that as much of the "mouse magic" as possible was recorded on digital pictures and digital video. Before leaving home I tried several options for having both cameras instantly accessible, but not cumbersome. The best system for me: I had my camcorder attached to the carrying strap (at its shortest length) that came with the camera. Using a carabiner, I attached the hand strap of my digital camera to the camcorder's carrying strap. I hung this setup around my neck and had instant access to both. In addition, I was quickly able to release the digital camera if one of the other adults wanted some still shots of what I was videoing or of something else that was going on that I was not capturing on video. We not only have some wonderful video, but some great pictures for scrapbooking. - Jess Chapman

Use your camera phone to take pictures of items you think you want. First, take a picture of the sign of the store where it is located. Then take pictures of the item and the tag of the item. Review nightly or at the end of your trip. Best of all, you can buy it from Disney Mail Order Merchandise when you're back home if you forget! - Crissy Stout

Wanting our kids to have the items they "needed" at WDW but wanting to build the magic before and during the trip, we decided to bring our own treat box and let the girls "shop" from that box before each day's activities began. I gave each girl a fanny pack or small backpack, water bottle and an autograph book/pen on the airplane. I packed a small shoebox with treats (gum, mints, fruit roll-ups, cookies, etc.) and another with Disney-related trinkets (keychains, playing cards, stickers, personal fan, etc.). Each morning the girls "shopped" for edible treats to place in their backpacks and a trinket -- this sometimes eliminated them even wanting to shop at a gift shop during the day! I saved countless dollars and had a great time selecting the items for the treat boxes. - Diana L. Maslowski

My husband and I were getting married at Disney World and wanted to have one of our wedding photos framed with all the character signatures -- as if they were our guests at our wedding. We went to a local frame shop at home and had the person make a photo mat large enough to fit a 4x6 and all the characters' signatures. It worked perfectly and we carried it in a huge Disney shopping bag that a Cast Member had given to us. We were able to fit Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Cinderella, Belle and Beast, Mary Poppins and Bert, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Snow White, Aurora, Minnie and many others on the back of the mat (and only my husband and I know they are there). It was a challenge to get all of them and a goal magical to accomplish! They usually have these types of mats at any craft store as well, and you can have them cut the way you want -- small or large. - Rob and Amy

Just a reminder to put at least your phone number, and preferably a name and address on your film rolls and/or digital camera memory cards! They are so small and easy to misplace. I found a sandwich bag full of film last time I was at Disney and could do nothing more than turn it in to Lost and Found. I would have been happier to have been able to mail it back to the owner! - Christina Wrobel

I am not a "ride person," so when we are at the parks at night I'm usually waiting somewhere in the crowd when my husband and son come off the rides. I stock up on glow sticks at our local dollar store, and as long as I remember what color my son is wearing, can spot him easily, especially when he waves it in the air! Perhaps I should be wearing one as well? - Cindy Strong

My son used a disposable camera on a recent trip to Disney. On our last day we went to Animal Kingdom. It rained all day and we went on water rides so his camera got soaked. When we were looking at cameras before we went, he had picked up one of those waterproof cameras and I told him we didn't need it. Well, I wish we had it -- it probably would have saved our pictures. Most of them had funny lines through them, I'm sure from the water. - Cindy

AllEars.Net team member Glo from Miami offers these tips on traveling with a toddler who's potty-training:
We've been to Disney with our grandson who was in the midst of potty-training for at least two visits. (It was a LONG process!) First, mark the locations of the Baby Centers on your map. There is one in each park and they are absolutely great places to take the little ones to cool off for a bit, watch some Disney videos on TV, rock in a chair, play with other children AND (drum roll, please!) use child-sized potties! They are also the place to go if you need diapers, pull-ups, wipes or any other needs such as that.

Second, use Post-It Notes! Those self-flush potties scare the daylights out of the little ones. Take a small pad of Post-It Notes with you, and when you enter the bathroom stall, put one over the sensor on the wall. That way, your child can sit there as long as he wants to, get down, get his pants pulled up and be out the door before you pull the paper off the sensor, drop it in the trash and close the door. The potty will flush a few seconds later, but you'll be all the way to the sinks to wash hands by then.

Third, think proactively: How long will it be from the time you decide to leave the park until you're back at your resort? How long will you be waiting in line for an attraction? How long is that line to get Mickey's autograph? Plan accordingly. Don't even bother asking, "Do you have to go to the potty?" Just say, "It's time to go to the potty," and go! If your child really, really doesn't have to go, what have you lost but a few minutes? But, if you ask and he/she says "no" just because he/she doesn't want to interrupt the fun, then you're going to have a problem somewhere down the line.

For more information read our Infant and Toddler FAQ at: http://allears.net/pl/infant.htm

Epcot - I have a tip for keeping children occupied while waiting for the fireworks at Epcot. On our last trip to Disney, we wandered into the Toy Soldier at the United Kingdom before we went to get a place to sit for the fireworks. While we were in the store our 3 1/2-year-old son saw a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle he wanted. We bought it for him and let him put it together while we waited for the fireworks to begin. It completely occupied his time and by the time he was finished, it was almost time for the fireworks. We are planning another trip in November 2005 and this time I am going to pack some of his puzzles into Ziplock bags to take with us. He will have something to do while we wait and we won't have the box to take up a lot of room in our bag. - Tiffany Lueck

Epcot - I have a tip for keeping children occupied while waiting for the fireworks at Epcot. On our last trip to Disney, we wandered into the Toy Soldier at the United Kingdom before we went to get a place to sit for the fireworks. While we were in the store our 3 1/2-year-old son saw a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle he wanted. We bought it for him and let him put it together while we waited for the fireworks to begin. It completely occupied his time and by the time he was finished, it was almost time for the fireworks. We are planning another trip in November 2005 and this time I am going to pack some of his puzzles into Ziplock bags to take with us. He will have something to do while we wait and we won't have the box to take up a lot of room in our bag. - Tiffany Lueck

We will be traveling to Disney this September for 10 days with two little ones in diapers. Due to luggage size and weight restrictions I am planning on using a new diaper delivery service: www.diapers.com or 1-800-diapers will deliver diapers and formula at about the price you'd pay in the store. Also, don't forget detergent discs for the laundry room. They are the size of a walnut and prepackaged. Throw a couple of those in your bag, then you only have to pack for half the time. - Kristin

I wanted to expand on a tip given this week from Alea Laughery in regard to taking pictures of your kids in each country in Epcot. We do this every year and some other ideas we have done: playing an instrument, waving a flag, eating a candy or treat not from a restaurant and taking a picture with a cast member from that country. My son gets excited every time and is always coming up with what he wants to do. (He came up with the instrument idea!) Next trip... Toys! - Lisa H.

I wanted to expand on a tip given this week from Alea Laughery in regard to taking pictures of your kids in each country in Epcot. We do this every year and some other ideas we have done: playing an instrument, waving a flag, eating a candy or treat not from a restaurant and taking a picture with a cast member from that country. My son gets excited every time and is always coming up with what he wants to do. (He came up with the instrument idea!) Next trip... Toys! - Lisa H.

This tip is inspired by the reader who suggested bringing the laptop for digital picture upload: If you own an iPod, you can buy a cable that connects the iPod to your camera and use the hard drive to store your photos until you can transfer them at home. - Lisa Rant

Just thought I'd advise everyone with digital cameras to bring an extra disk to store your photos on. This is a good backup. The convenience of having your laptop computer at the hotel makes it easy to download your pictures and clear your memory stick, but having an extra disk to burn all these photos to is a good thing, especially if you don't store your photos on the 'net until your trip ends and you're back home. There's lots of magic still going on at WDW; you wouldn't want to lose those great M&Ms (memory makers). - Lois Bernhardt

EDITOR'S NOTE: Also remember that you can copy your photos from your camera memory card to CD at any of the theme park's camera centers. It costs about $12 plus tax.