Tips about Kids and Money, Magic Kingdom, Planning and Resorts

If you are going to Disney to celebrate a wedding, I have some suggestions of what to bring from home. I was told to bring white chalk just in case the bride's dress gets [dirtied] by the seagulls. (It happened to my niece at a beach wedding.) My daughter-in-law used the chalk when something spilled on her dress, but other options include Wite-Out or a Tide to Go pen. Another good idea is to pack a needle and thread in case buttons are loose on tuxes, etc. - Jean

Yacht and Beach Club - If you're staying at the Beach or Yacht Club and walking to and from Epcot here's a hint to make your trip easier. Most folks walk up over the ferry bridge. For two older adults who sit behind computers all day, that "up" part at the end of the day after walking all over Epcot was a killer. There is a path beside the overpass that goes down along the river. This seemed to us to be flatter and much easier when we were tired. - Jane and Al Boeck

Regarding James Steele's tip about using Monopoly money for children's WDW spending money, I may have another idea. Some parents I have spoken with have created a checking account with the "Bank of Mom and Dad." Purchases are written in the checkbook and register just like adult checks, and the child has to reconcile the checking account like we all do. For those whose children are of an age where addition and subtraction skills are good, this has several advantages. First, the child finally sees a real world use for all that "boring math." Second, learning how to handle a checking account at an early age makes use of the real thing later in life a breeze. And Mom and Dad have the "checks" to check the accuracy and math and allows recovery if a loss of the "checkbook" happens. It might even work to have a "deposit slip" available before the trip so that children can add to the balance from their own piggy bank or allowance prior to the trip. - Randy Berbaum

ALL PARKS - I have been to Disney many times and always carry a bag of some sort with me for sunscreen, wallets, camera, ponchos, and other things of that nature. I found that a clear backpack will get you through the line at the security checkpoint quicker than it normally takes. Since security can see through the backpack they normally do not have to open it up. If you are worried about everyone seeing what you have in the clear backpack, than all you have to do is take a hand towel and pull it out before the security check point and, once through, place it in the backpack so that everything that you have cannot be easily seen. It also helps if you get a little wet and need to dry off. - Kelly Henrichsen

A few years ago I had my niece and nephews decorate canning jars with stickers and their names. Now, for Valentine's Day and other holidays, we give the kids money to put in their WDW jars. They do not need more candy and toys, which is what they would usually get, and they love having money to put into their vacation jars. When we take our annual trip, they have their own money to spend and they love it! - Sheryl from Connecticut

My wife and I struggled to find a responsible way to allow our children (10 and 6) to have spending money, but not carry actual negotiable currency. The problem with the Gift Cards is that if they are lost or stolen, the money is gone. We as parents don't carry significant amounts of cash because of the very same risk; why have a different message for the kids? The final solution? Monopoly money. The kids were given their predetermined spending money in fake cash, which they carried. When they wanted to buy something they would have to pay Dad with their money, and Dad would stick it on the room charge or credit card, etc. The kids could see how much money they had left and decided how badly they wanted a particular item. We used this on our recent 12-day trip and it worked beautifully. The kids spread their spending carefully across the entire trip and we didn't worry about the cash when my daughter left her purse, which we recovered several hours later, at a Kidcot stop. - James Steele

We brought a travel-sized MagnaDoodle that we found especially handy at the water parks, where we would have a base camp, but would often split up to do different things. We would write messages to each other with the time and place we could be found. It actually became a fun game, as we got into giving clues to the names of the slides and rides. Overall, it was just a simple and fun way to communicate when you didn't want to have your cell phone with you. - Molly from Oregon

I have a spending money tip geared to teenagers that is easier for them to manage than cash and easier for me than handing out cash. On our March spring break trip to WDW, I surprised my two teenagers with Disney Gift Cards that I purchased at the World of Disney Store at Disney Springs. They each liked having their own card and not juggling change. I learned the card is usable at Disney owned and operated merchandise, dining and recreation locations where credit cards are accepted, including the Disney shops in the Orlando Airport and Disney Cruise Line onboard the ship. (Some carts and outdoor vendors at the parks do not accept the card.) The balance prints on the receipt after each transaction, has no expiration, can be used with other forms of payment to complete a purchase, is reloadable ($5-$1500!), and can be kept as a souvenir. It's a cool card with Mickey on the front. Now that I know about the card, I plan to reload them for my daughter's high school band trip to Disney World next week. Purchase and use details can be found at DisneyGiftCard.com. - Sandy Marks

ALL PARKS - We put small inexpensive inflatable bath pillows (about $.79 to $1.50 at most drugstores) in our parkpacks. When we go to see a show on a hard wooden or steel bench, or are stuck with only a concrete curbside seat to view the parade, we take out our pillows, blow them up, and voila -- a nice soft cushie for our tushie! - Michele Abbamondi

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - We arrived early at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for our dinner at Boma. As usual, we went straight through the lobby to the savannah to check out the animals. The guide there informed us that from 8-10 p.m., you could see the animals through complimentary use of night vision goggles at the animal overlook by the swimming pool. We checked it out after dinner -- it was fantastic! The guides have two night vision goggles for visitors to use, and wipe them down with antibacterial wipes whenever there's a change in families. It was fascinating and unique to look for the animals using the goggles! - hardroff

We just got back from Disney World today... please let your readers know that "Heelys" (skate sneakers) are not permitted in any amusement park in Florida. We were stopped by a Disney employee who informed us that we could be fined up to $150 by the sheriff! - Barbara Friedman

Fort Wilderness - This year I took my family to dinner at the Trail's End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Campground. We made a night of it: we started at the Wilderness Lodge, then took the boat ride to Fort Wilderness to our priority seating at Trail's End, which is a very reasonably priced buffet. Then we watched the Wishes fireworks on the beach and the Electric Water Pageant from the boat dock. The kids loved the boat ride and the ducks on the beach. It makes for a lovely and relaxing evening! You could put together a similar evening at any of the Magic Kingdom resorts, although the Trail's End doesn't tend to book up early and it's inexpensive. - Dawn Goodwin

For all WDW visitors from the UK -- try to find jet-setting friends who will bring you home US coins, quarters especially, because when you land at Orlando they're jolly useful for tolls. Saves having to worry about splitting paper money when you're tired and the kids can't wait to get to Mickey! - Rosie, Northampton, UK

Magic Kingdom - Just wanted your readers to know that the Magic Kingdom's barbershop not only cuts hair. For an additional amount, they will put fun colors, stars, pixie dust and other cool stuff in your hair, just for the fun of it. Ask for the glow in the dark cream, so when you go on the dark rides your hair lights up! All my kids love it. General prices for haircuts range from $15-$18. NOTE: It washes out very easily. - Jim Keenan

Old Key West - As a follow up to Tanya's tip (last issue) about walking around Boardwalk in the morning -- when we stay at Old Key West we always walk all through the resort area and take the paved trail over to Saratoga Springs. We sit by the pool there and have coffee, breakfast or even fruit that we buy in their restaurant before heading back. Golfers would enjoy watching foursomes teeing off as you pass several tee boxes. It is a wonderful trail. When staying at Saratoga we reverse the trip and sit at Turtle Krawl before heading back. It is very relaxing. - Margaret