Tips for Disney Parks & Cruise Lines

My daughter came down with strep throat during our Disney vacation. We used a great service suggested to us by the Club Level concierge called DOCTORS ON CALL SERVICE. They are a 24 hour a day hotel medical service. Once we called and explained our situation it was only about an hour before the doctor arrived at our hotel door. The doctor was not in a rush and was very thorough. Before he left he gave her the first dose of medicine and then called the prescription to the pharmacy which delivered it to the hotel. This service certainly beat taking a child to wait in an emergency room and was especially great because we didn't have transportation readily available. Having her comfortable and in her own bed and staying calm watching Disney cartoons was far less stressful. -Kay

When you go to a park (even non-Disney ones like Universal), make sure you know where the First Aid Stations are. In Epcot, for example, the First Aid Station is over next to the Odyssey, the event center located between Test Track and World Showcase. At all First Aid Stations they have free samples of pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen), and some other items, like Band-Aids. They don't have everything, though. I needed a decongestant/antihistamine on one trip and they referred me to the Baby Care Center next door, where I could purchase it. - Amy

For those who love to sleep with "white noise" but find the bathroom fan too loud, I use an app on my phone that has white noise. It lasts all night, and you can find this sort of app with a black screen so as not to be disturbed by the light. - Brenda

Mini M&M's tubes are great for storing quarters (and pennies)! I buy the candy for my daughter and when she's done, I "steal" the tubes. Every few days, I fill one up with quarters, and put it in my WDW luggage. When we get to WDW, I'll put one of each (pennies and quarters) in my waist pack each morning, and I don't have to dig through my pockets for change. I also put change tubes in the car so we'll be ready to pay those pesky tolls. I'm ready to press some pennies, y'all! -Ksumn1

There are character greeting spots in every park -- just check the guide maps for locations. You can purchase the autograph books in any gift shop. Here are tips I recommend for autograph seekers:

1. Have the page ready for the character to sign before your turn.
1a. That goes for cameras, too! Have the flash charged and camera ready to go!
2. Some characters have a hard time holding thin pens, so have a thick pen or marker handy.
3. You can combine the photos with the signatures by leaving the left side of every page blank. You can leave the first page blank to commemorate the trip date. Decorate with stickers or color.
4. Prime locations to see characters: MK - Town Expo Hall (right next to Tony's Restaurant on Main Street). Epcot - World Showcase. AK - Camp Minnie-Mickey or even right outside the park's entrance plaza. Disney's Hollywood Studios - Mickey Avenue, near Pizza Planet, and at the Backlot Theater.

Locations may change, so verify the greeting spots on the park maps! - Lori

My husband and I are big postcard senders. Not only do we send them to family and friends, but love to have them sent to us! We have a postcard collection up on the wall in our TV room like a border. They wrap around almost three times! We started sending our almost 3-year-old daughter a postcard about our trips even if she is with us. During my last little bit of shopping I found an Alice, Mad Hatter, and White Rabbit in a Tea Cup ride postcard to send to our daughter. I wrote on it what a wonderful time we had with her, that this was her favorite ride, and a few other trip memories. I sent it out on our last day and when she received it, she went bananas! It was like reliving the whole trip! - Jane

My husband and I are big postcard senders. Not only do we send them to family and friends, but love to have them sent to us! We have a postcard collection up on the wall in our TV room like a border. They wrap around almost three times! We started sending our almost 3-year-old daughter a postcard about our trips even if she is with us. During my last little bit of shopping I found an Alice, Mad Hatter, and White Rabbit in a Tea Cup ride postcard to send to our daughter. I wrote on it what a wonderful time we had with her, that this was her favorite ride, and a few other trip memories. I sent it out on our last day and when she received it, she went bananas! It was like reliving the whole trip! - Jane

I have an important tip for all of you taking a trip during the fall rainy season. My husband and I went last fall and found that one pair of tennis shoes is not enough. If you get caught in a rainstorm, you might be fine in wet shoes the rest of the day, but when you put them back on later that night, it makes for uncomfortable dancing! Buy and break in that second pair of shoes so you have something to wear around while your wet shoes dry.Christie

I have an important tip for all of you taking a trip during the fall rainy season. My husband and I went last fall and found that one pair of tennis shoes is not enough. If you get caught in a rainstorm, you might be fine in wet shoes the rest of the day, but when you put them back on later that night, it makes for uncomfortable dancing! Buy and break in that second pair of shoes so you have something to wear around while your wet shoes dry.Christie

I learned a safety tip a long time ago, growing up next to a major theme park. When you are walking with your children in the parks, hotels, or wherever, occasionally stop walking and ask your children, "If you were by yourself right now and couldn't find me, who would you go to for help?" If they don't know the answer, point out to them who and what is surrounding them (for example, cast members, restaurants, gift shops, security) at that very second. I always tell my son (some of you might not be comfortable with this) that he could also go to mommies who have strollers and little kids with them, and ask for their help. I ask him each and every time to point out to me exactly WHO he can go to for help.

I will not travel without Ziploc bags, scissors, thread, first aid supplies, a list of everyone's phone numbers, medical cards, an old pair of prescription glasses (in case I break the ones I wear), clothes pins for the hotel room curtains, earplugs (to block out the snoring husband!) and two small flashlights. One other thing I must take is extra instant coffee, creamer and one of those gizmos that will heat just one cup of coffee rapidly. Lynette

We like to stay on property and get a new MagicBand each time. In order to keep track of which band is for which trip I have started to use my initials, the initials of the resort I'm staying in and the year as the name on the back of the band when I order them. For example, I stayed at Old Key West this spring so the "name" on the back is "CJH OKW18." Next year we are going to Animal Kingdom Lodge so that band will be "CJH AKL19." It's a good way to track your bands. - Joe Hardwick

We like to stay on property and get a new MagicBand each time. In order to keep track of which band is for which trip I have started to use my initials, the initials of the resort I'm staying in and the year as the name on the back of the band when I order them. For example, I stayed at Old Key West this spring so the "name" on the back is "CJH OKW18." Next year we are going to Animal Kingdom Lodge so that band will be "CJH AKL19." It's a good way to track your bands. - Joe Hardwick

I have a great tip for those who must spend one night on the road on the way to WDW: Pack EVERYTHING (PJs, toiletries, clothes, etc.) for the first night and following day in backpacks for each person. Each person can carry his/her own pack into the hotel, and no one has to unload the suitcases from the car. This makes it easier on everyone both that night and the next morning, when someone (usually me!) would otherwise have to repack the trunk. This system also works well on the way home. - Donna

Before you leave for vacation, keep your eyes open for sales at the stores (Disney Store, Wal-Mart, Target) or online for Disney stuff. Discreetly purchase Disney trinkets, and take them with you to the resort. Each day, you can give your children a new "souvenir" that will remind them of their trip, but you won't have to pay theme park prices for them. Also, keep your eyes open for bargains before you go, and you might be surprised to see "must-have" items available outside of WDW. This might prevent you from buying something for $12 at the parks and then seeing it sold at home for $5. Christie