Tips about Magic Kingdom and Miscellaneous

Magic Kingdom - Watch the fireworks from Tomorrowland Transit Authority in the Magic Kingdom. It is a great view, plus they will often let you ride it around as many times as you want. This is especially good for people who do not like the noise the fireworks make -- you can't hear a thing! - Q.o.t.W.

My sister-in-law is planning a trip and told us how she purchased Disney Store Gift Cards from her grandchildren's school. The school sells various gift cards as a fundraiser. She then used her gift cards to purchase park tickets ahead at the Disney Store. The leftover gift cards they will use for food and purchases in the parks. This tip may not save money as much as help a school while having fun doing so. However, having the pre-purchased cards does set a spending limit for kids and in the end may save money. - Bonnie

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

Disney Gift Cards: If you're looking for a different design than the basic Mickey that's available at your local Disney Store (perhaps so that each child can have their own design), you can purchase gift cards at www.disneygiftcard.com They offer a wide variety of designs. They can be used and reloaded at Walt Disney World and your local Disney Store! The only drawback is that you are limited to buying a set dollar amount that is on the order form - Rob Steere

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

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

Magic Kingdom - I have found a way to beat the huge crowd leaving the park after the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. I delay my exit by visiting the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (it stays open late even if the park is closed) and getting an ice cream cone or hot fudge sundae. Then I find a bench (or a wall) and watch the crowds go by. When I am close to finishing my ice cream, I begin walking toward the exit and the crowds have thinned considerably. Also, when staying at a Disney resort, the line for either the bus or the boat isn't very long anymore and you aren't squished in like sardines. It is an enjoyable way to finish your evening at the Magic Kingdom. - Susan VanVleet

After reading today's newsletter (12/5/06), specifically the ALL EARS® Hears section with the note from Sarah in Pittsburgh about the reward dollars, I took note that she said she would save her reward dollars for her next trip. It is worth noting that many rewards cards will expire at the end of a year, and if there are any reward dollars on the card when it expires, then they will be lost forever. Every year many people lose their reward dollars because they don't realize the card expires, so I thought that this was something worth mentioning. Reward dollars can be spent at the Disney Store, and Disneyshopping.com, for those people who can't get to a park before the end of the year, and I believe you can also call Disney and have them apply the dollars to an existing reservation. - Jason

ALL PARKS - If you have kids, bring a change of clothing for them to the parks! I know this must seem like something everyone knows, but we didn't! During our first trip ever to WDW last December my then 4-year-old daughter found the water sprinklers at Pooh's Playful Spot in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. She went in to play and the next thing I knew she was soaked from the water! It was tough, too, because it was a tad chilly and we didn't bring a change of clothing for her. Finding young kids' clothes at Disney is not easy! I did manage to get a pair of Mickey sweatpants, a T-shirt and a pair of socks for my daughter at one of the shops in Fantasyland. So my tip is to bring a change of clothes even for the 4-5 year olds! - Jennifer K.

ALL PARKS - The last time we went to Disney World, we took along the cards from Trivial Pursuit Junior. My wife kept some in a zipper-type bag in her purse and when we had a long wait in line or were waiting for the buses to take us back to the hotel, she would get them out and we would have an informal trivia game. Many times we would involve other kids in line or on the bus and it was a great way to pass the time. Of course, Disney trivia cards would be a natural alternative. - Dave Ference

ALL PARKS - While standing in lines for rides that might have a long wait, my children bring along a deck of cards and take turns playing magician and guessing which card the other one picked. They also have a note pad each to write on and I get them to write down their favorite part of the day so far. Having some small snacks on hand also helps to keep them from getting bored. We bring animal cookies, crackers etc. -- nothing that is too messy. - Jackie Pluim

CHRISTMAS - My one tip would be for anyone who is thinking about going to the taping of the Christmas Parade -- DON'T, unless you want to totally waste a day of your vacation. They bring the first group in and don't make them move. The second group comes in and they are way in the back. I stood there from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and was not in any film. I even wore my red Christmas party sweatshirt and Minnie Santa hat. It was certainly hot! If you don't want to stand around and get pushed around don't go. - Bonnie Lock

MAGIC KINGDOM - For you Disney Princess enthusiasts, to ride Cinderella's particular horse on Cinderella's Golden Carrousel, look for the white horse with a gold ribbon tied around its tail. To help locate this mighty steed, ask a Cast Member. - Dee Dee Scarborough

If you don't like to carry a lot of cash, or use travelers checks (which can be a pain for small purchases), buy a Visa gift card at your local bank. It can be used as a credit card or as a debit card. What's nice is that, just like travelers checks, if it's lost or stolen you just call Visa with your card information (which you keep separately from the card) and they'll send you a replacement. I use it to pay for all our meals and gifts. It's a great way to keep track of your spending, too, since you pre-pay the card -- no debt to come home to! - Rebecca

Just to remind anyone who might read this before traveling to the US and will want to use a UK credit card... let the card company know you are going! On our first day at WDW our card got refused and we couldn't use it for the duration of our stay. We knew there was credit available when we left home and could have called the company from the US to find out what was wrong, but at quite a cost. When we returned home the credit card company said they had only blocked it as a security precaution. Luckily we had some Travelers Cheques as back-up. - Mark Burden, Dorset England