Tips for Disney Parks & Cruise Lines

The My Disney Experience app now can show you where the pressed penny machines are located. Launch the app, click on the magnifying glass at the top to search. Type in: coin press. The map will now show you all the coin press machines in Walt Disney World. - Jean

A unique fireworks experience is to watch them from in front of Gaston's Tavern at Magic Kingdom. I am not a big fireworks fan myself, but I love this view. It's like being INSIDE the display as they go off. - Leann Runyanwood

Hubby and I went to WDW a few weeks ago and we discovered that if you buy the $10 souvenir popcorn bucket you can get refills for only $1.50. Same bucket/same deal at any park! This is great if you are paying out of pocket for snacks and meals (and love popcorn!). - Michelle Henshaw

I recently had the chance to spend a night doing the Highway in the Sky Dine Around. I have been going to Disney World for 20 years now, usually twice a year for the festivals. I have to say this event was one of the best things I have ever done at Disney, although dessert had few choices. I hope that they keep this event going as I would surely do this again. Totally awesome experience. - Mike Emerson

I recently had the chance to spend a night doing the Highway in the Sky Dine Around. I have been going to Disney World for 20 years now, usually twice a year for the festivals. I have to say this event was one of the best things I have ever done at Disney, although dessert had few choices. I hope that they keep this event going as I would surely do this again. Totally awesome experience. - Mike Emerson

In response to a tip a few weeks ago, I just wanted to throw in an additional tip. If you receive a FastPass+ recovery because of an attraction downtime, you must be very careful with any other FastPasses you have in that park! For example, a Frozen "recovery" FastPass would be good at any other FP attraction in the park. For example, if you also had a FastPass for Spaceship Earth at 2 p.m. and tried to use it by checking in at 1:59, your Frozen recovery FP would be used, not your Spaceship Earth FP. Make sure if you have any recovery FP you are waiting to use that you check in for your other FP a few minutes AFTER the windows open. - Amanda

We've run a tip about distilled water before, but Albert G reminds us: Before my last trip in December 2016 I looked everywhere to find out where I could purchase distilled water for my CPAP machine without going offsite. We used the Magical Express and didn't have a car. Taxi cab and Garden Grocer seemed a little expensive for a gallon of water. Even the Disney Mom's Panel said that there is nowhere onsite to purchase distilled water. I decided to ask a cast member at Pop Century and found that they indeed do stock distilled water by the gallon, it's just not out on the shelves. You have to ask and they will be more than happy to get it from the back, and the cost isn't bad. I got sick on my previous trip without water in my machine. I'm not sure if all the resorts sell it, but it's worth asking for.

We've run a tip about distilled water before, but Albert G reminds us: Before my last trip in December 2016 I looked everywhere to find out where I could purchase distilled water for my CPAP machine without going offsite. We used the Magical Express and didn't have a car. Taxi cab and Garden Grocer seemed a little expensive for a gallon of water. Even the Disney Mom's Panel said that there is nowhere onsite to purchase distilled water. I decided to ask a cast member at Pop Century and found that they indeed do stock distilled water by the gallon, it's just not out on the shelves. You have to ask and they will be more than happy to get it from the back, and the cost isn't bad. I got sick on my previous trip without water in my machine. I'm not sure if all the resorts sell it, but it's worth asking for.

We've run a tip about distilled water before, but Albert G reminds us: Before my last trip in December 2016 I looked everywhere to find out where I could purchase distilled water for my CPAP machine without going offsite. We used the Magical Express and didn't have a car. Taxi cab and Garden Grocer seemed a little expensive for a gallon of water. Even the Disney Mom's Panel said that there is nowhere onsite to purchase distilled water. I decided to ask a cast member at Pop Century and found that they indeed do stock distilled water by the gallon, it's just not out on the shelves. You have to ask and they will be more than happy to get it from the back, and the cost isn't bad. I got sick on my previous trip without water in my machine. I'm not sure if all the resorts sell it, but it's worth asking for.

The Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery, located in front of the Tusker House Restaurant, is now the location at which you'll find kosher counter service foods in Disney's Animal Kingdom. For years, you could find kosher dishes at Pizzafari, but this changed some time ago. Kusafiri has kosher hot dogs, pizza and other kosher "fast food," available with no advance notice. - AllEars Editor Deb Koma

My wife and I had FastPass+ for Frozen at Epcot recently. Unfortunately, Elsa was acting up and froze the ride and kept it from running most of the day. Fortunately, I checked my email on my phone in the middle of the afternoon and saw an email from Walt Disney World informing me that I could use the Fastpass+ at either Frozen, if it was working at some point the rest of the day, or I could use it on any other FastPass+ ride in the park. No changes to the Fastpass was required. Just show up at a ride sometime and use it. Almost seemed too easy to be true, but we went over to Soarin' and sure enough it worked when we matched our Mickey on the bands to the Mickey at the Fastpass+ entrance! Definitely pays to check your emails during the day if your Fastpass+ attraction is down. - Mark Harder

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is actually normal procedure -- if an attraction that you have a FastPass+ for is down during your assigned time, you will be notified by email as to what your alternatives are. As Mark notes, it pays to check your email and/or your My Disney Experience account if you're carrying a smart phone with you!

A great way to tote around your umbrella strollers is to use a "camping" or "sport" chair bag from home. Put the stroller in the bag when you are about to board the bus and easily store the bag in/on your stroller throughout the parks. It will make holding your stroller so much easier while toting those little ones around, too. I would love to take credit, but this is a tip someone else shared with me that I know everyone could use. - Jessica Stahl

A great way to tote around your umbrella strollers is to use a "camping" or "sport" chair bag from home. Put the stroller in the bag when you are about to board the bus and easily store the bag in/on your stroller throughout the parks. It will make holding your stroller so much easier while toting those little ones around, too. I would love to take credit, but this is a tip someone else shared with me that I know everyone could use. - Jessica Stahl

At the time of our last trip, our 10-month-old had just started walking a bit. When we did character meets, we wanted to put him down and let him interact with the character. It went great until we lost a shoe. The cast members informed us that if the child is not wearing shoes, you cannot put him down. We tried at several different meet-and- greets, but were repeatedly told no. Baby shoes are easy to lose, so my tip is to take an extra pair. We were really sad that we couldn't get a picture of him standing with Mickey like a big boy! (Bonus tip: Lost and Found is amazing! We got our shoe back later.) - Dannielle Puckett

Some of the characters featured in the "A Galaxy Far, Far Away" show in Disney's Hollywood Studios will stand behind the stage, posing for photos, while they are waiting to perform. If you find yourself in that area at the right time, you may be treated to a closer look at Darth Vader, Stormtroopers or even Boba Fett. - AllEars® Editor Deb Koma