Tips for Disney Parks & Cruise Lines
A runner friend of mine turned me on to something called "Body Glide." It looks a bit like deodorant, but you put it on your feet to prevent blisters (it reduces the friction that causes them). We had four people and five days at Disney, and not a single blister -- it was great! - Debbie M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
A runner friend of mine turned me on to something called "Body Glide." It looks a bit like deodorant, but you put it on your feet to prevent blisters (it reduces the friction that causes them). We had four people and five days at Disney, and not a single blister -- it was great! - Debbie M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
A runner friend of mine turned me on to something called "Body Glide." It looks a bit like deodorant, but you put it on your feet to prevent blisters (it reduces the friction that causes them). We had four people and five days at Disney, and not a single blister -- it was great! - Debbie M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
A runner friend of mine turned me on to something called "Body Glide." It looks a bit like deodorant, but you put it on your feet to prevent blisters (it reduces the friction that causes them). We had four people and five days at Disney, and not a single blister -- it was great! - Debbie M.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Body Glide also works well to reduce chafing.
Last year, the day before we were leaving for Disney World, I remembered my daughter had received some Disney Gift Cards over the years that were never used. I put them in a separate envelope for her and stuck them in my purse. When I pulled them out at WDW, she was so excited to be able to spend her own money. It seemed to make her feel so grown up and she actually took the time to decide what souvenirs she REALLY wanted, rather than asking me to buy her everything she saw. - Marissapg5
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I wanted to share something I have done that I am probably entirely too proud of -- haha! My boyfriend and I are set to leave for the World in three weeks, and I wanted to do some kind of countdown for him. My mother had bought me a wooden box Advent calendar last year. It counts down 25 days, and each day is marked by a little door that opens up to a small "chamber" in the box. I have filled each mini-chamber with a picture or small token to represent his favorite attractions and new things we want to try this time around! Some examples of the tokens are little animals for the Kilimanjaro Safari, Christmas light bulbs for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, and a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate for the ice cream shop at Disney Springs. - Ashley McCoy
We just returned from another great trip to our favorite place on earth... Disney World! We homeschool, so since we have a more flexible schedule, we have taken several trips there this year. The only problem we've encountered is that our three children (7, 9, and 13) never seem to get tired of souvenir shopping, or those yummy Mickey ice creams, and let's face it... Mickey ice cream isn't cheap. So, to save tears and money out of Mom and Dad's wallet, we've implemented a pretty workable plan. All three children are responsible for earning their own spending money, or saving their gift money for our Disney vacations. We provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner... anything else the children pay for themselves. Not only do they enjoy freedom from the words, "No, you can't have that," but they are learning how to handle and manage money at the same time. Who would have thought... Disney, three kids, and no tears! - Evelyn Horton
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I took a 5x7 Creative Memories album (they now have a 7x7 album with Mickey Mouse on it) and every time that we saw a character, the kids would get them to sign the album on one side and then I would take their picture and place it on the other side. Bring lots of extra refills -- I think we went through the album and then at least 1 1/2 refill packs for autographs. P. Hall
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BEACH CLUB VILLAS - I just got back from a great four-night stay (my first) at the Beach Club Villas. We had a studio with fridge and microwave but I was very disappointed to see there were no real dishes to use. There were a few paper plates and bowls in the cabinet, and I was able to get plastic utensils, but this didn't help with anything needing to be microwaved. I had brought a few of those macaroni and cheese packets for late night snacks, not realizing that nothing is provided for actually USING the microwave. For those of you heading to a studio, keep this in mind and bring a little microwavable bowl with you, especially if you're planning to use it to cook instant oatmeal or that type of thing for the kids. - Amy Miles
EDITOR'S NOTE: EDITOR'S NOTE: Some readers have reported that housekeeping has delivered dishes on request, so if there's something you need, just ask! It can't hurt!
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BEACH CLUB VILLAS - I just got back from a great four-night stay (my first) at the Beach Club Villas. We had a studio with fridge and microwave but I was very disappointed to see there were no real dishes to use. There were a few paper plates and bowls in the cabinet, and I was able to get plastic utensils, but this didn't help with anything needing to be microwaved. I had brought a few of those macaroni and cheese packets for late night snacks, not realizing that nothing is provided for actually USING the microwave. For those of you heading to a studio, keep this in mind and bring a little microwavable bowl with you, especially if you're planning to use it to cook instant oatmeal or that type of thing for the kids. - Amy Miles
EDITOR'S NOTE: EDITOR'S NOTE: Some readers have reported that housekeeping has delivered dishes on request, so if there's something you need, just ask! It can't hurt!
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We just got back today from a week at Walt Disney World. We found that by far the best place to get character autographs is in the Animal Kingdom in Camp Minnie-Mickey. Just go as soon as the Festival of the Lion King starts and you can walk right up to the characters with no line. My kids were the only ones in line for Mickey and Minnie and the Cast Member encouraged tons of pictures and different poses. I also suggest that you buy your autograph books before you go so your kids can get autographs as they come into the park! - Lisa Frieden
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ANIMAL KINGDOM - Rafiki's Planet Watch is the perfect place for families with small children to catch a breather from park viewing, much like Tom Sawyer's Island at the Magic Kingdom. I suggest grabbing some take-out from one of the counter service restaurants and riding the train to Planet Watch when you hit the afternoon slump. A relaxing break here can revive your entire afternoon! There are a few picnic tables where you can enjoy your lunch, right next to an ice cream/soft drink stand, and your toddlers will enjoy petting the goats and sheep in the petting zoo. An indoor conservation center offers a refreshing air-conditioned discovery zone for your kids to run wild. And there are always Disney characters there for photo ops. Don't miss Pipa, the talking recycle bin. She's our favorite part! - Buffy
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We had great luck booking the Illuminations Cruise over the years. We have done it several times. This year we booked the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Cruise. I think it is a little more available. We enjoyed it much more. There was a lot more "cruising" before the show and the backdrop of the castle and Magic Kingdom was fantastic. - Margaret
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I'd like to expand on Joanie's idea of saving change. I, too, am a change saver. But let's carry it one step further -- I never spend change! I pay for all my purchases with bills, even if I have the change in my pocket to cover it. At the end of the day, all my change (sometimes as much as $3-$4) goes into a water cooler bottle in our bedroom. Last year, we cashed in over $600 in change and it made the trip to WDW. Eventually, the jug may contain enough to cover Annual Passes so we can get to the World more often! - JPATTI1
