Tips about Pins and Resorts

Coronado Springs -At the Coronado Springs Resort, if you want to be assured a seat on the bus, do not go to the main entrance to catch the bus. Go to stop 2, which really is the first stop on the bus route. The main entrance stop is the last stop for the resort and during peak times, the bus is often full by the time it gets to the main entrance (since it has already stopped at three other bus stops). - Rebecca

ALL STAR MOVIES - If you stay at the All-Star Movies Resort, try to stay in the Mighty Ducks area. You are close to the buses for All-Star Music, which are less crowded, and you can choose either bus to return on. You can also choose either food court if one is too busy. The pool is close and not as crowded as the main pool. It is also quiet. The rooms facing the parking and trees are in the shady side of the building and are less expensive. - John Harman

My husband and our two daughters age 3 and 5, love to pin trade when we visit Walt Disney which is usually 2 times a year. As anyone can tell you the pins are not cheap and usually when we buy some they don't want to trade those away. So on our last trip in April 2004, I started collecting pins on ebay and Disney Deals.com at a much cheaper price a few months beforehand and those we took to the theme parks and traded away. My husband and daughter's loved it and it was much cheaper too. - April Coughlan

I noticed the first time my girls were so caught up in the pin trading they were trading pins they had just purchased for different pins, just to trade them at the next store or ride. So i came up with this idea and it was great...Before you go to DisneyWorld, get online and shop for pins. Usually discontinued sets are a real bargin! Be sure and purchase original pins (no one wants a knock off).Ttake these pins on your trip and then you will have all the fun of trading and chance of getting a unique pin. not to mention the pins that you trade may be ones others are looking for! - Sam Knight

Pin Trading Backpacks - they are great because the straps are comfortable on the neck and back and they hold a lot of pins. The lanyards tend to be heavy, bother some folks/kids around the neck and sometimes the pins fall off. But beware......if you set the backpack down you may not see it again. My 12 yr old's backpack was stolen from a bench at the Wishing Well near the castle in the MK last week. We checked lost and found daily, but it was not returned. There was a Pal Mickey in it as well as probably $500 in pins. Make sure you put a luggage tag on it just as you would any other bag you're travelling with. - Michele M. McQuillen

GRAND FLORIDIAN - My tip is to enjoy the fireworks from the boat launch dock at the Grand Floridian. We had just finished the truly remarkable key lime creme brulee at Narcoossee's and some of us just wandered up to the dock. The lights lowered, the voice came over the speaker: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS! And with the lagoon shimmering before us, we enjoyed the wonderful sight of Wishes -- with all the music, but without the crowds of Main Street. Personally, I also love being in the big crowd, but it was truly magical, and totally free! Just hop the monorail over to the Grand Floridian and follow the signs to the boat. It was a wonderful moment! - Judy

ALL RESORTS - If you need cash and hate paying those outrageous ATM fees, simply cash a personal check at the front desk. There is no charge for this service and they will cash up to $100 a day. - Bob and Kate Salazar

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - This one is a reminder that the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a must-see even if you're not staying there! On cool, overcast days, the animal viewing can be better than the Safari ride! Walk to the end of any floor, going toward the pool area, and go onto the outside staircase. Climb to the top floor. It's amazing! The Lodge lobby is not to be missed! You pick up a visitor's pass ("does not include swimming privileges") at the Security guard's checkpoint and you are free to explore. Because my kids consider AK a "half-day" park, the Lodge is a great teaser first. Or if you just don't have time or inclination to do AK this trip, a visit to the Lodge will make you feel like you've been to Africa!! - Natalie Lipman

My tip of the week is an interesting twist on pin collecting. We just returned from WDW for spring break and our 3-1/2-year-old daughter had finally reached the 40" tall mark. To celebrate her first rides on Test Track, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tower of Terror, and others, we would find a pin that represented the ride she had just experienced for the first time (not hard since you almost always get dumped into a gift shop post-ride) and have a "ceremony," placing it on her lanyard. We would make a huge fuss, and more often than not the Cast Members who worked in the gift shops would really help us ham it up. These "ceremonies" were the highlight of our trip. The thought of the "ceremonies" also helped bolster her courage when she was not sure if she wanted to ride a particularly "scary" attraction. - Scott Hart

FORT WILDERNESS - When we stay at the Fort Wilderness Resort, we arrange to have an hour-long carriage ride that starts at 8:30 p.m. We ask the carriage driver to find us a good spot to watch the "Wishes" fireworks show, and the driver takes us to a secluded area next to the lake. We have a great view of the show, plus it is so nice and peaceful to be all alone there and not crushed amongst thousands of people. - Darrin Brooks EDITOR'S NOTE: Carriage rides are generally 30 minutes long so if you want an hour you will need to book two consecutive reservations.

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - Suggestions for Animal Kingdom Lodge: Go to the Front Desk/Guest Services of Animal Kingdom Lodge and request a list of activities and the "Hidden Mickey" list. The resort's Cast Members will give culinary tours, art tours, and tell stories, depending on the time of day you visit the resort. (The Hidden Mickeys are easier to spot during the daylight hours.) You can also visit the Sunset Overlook, located in the lounge next to the Front Desk. Cast Members at the Arusha Rock Overlook will even have night-vision binoculars! I recommend the dinner buffet at Boma. It has a wide variety of foods that would satisfy picky eaters too. - Lori

ALL RESORTS - If you are staying at a Disney resort, dial '0' from your room phone and ask the operator to connect you to Mears or any local Disney number. It'll save $0.75 per call. - Timeless Tip o' the Week brought to you by www.themouseforless.com and Laura B.

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - Each night at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, a Cast Member speaks about his or her own country in one of the lounges. They have storytelling each night outside around the Arusha fire pit, too (unless it's raining). - Jennifer

ALL RESORTS - Some of the resorts have life vests (child size) that you can use for free at the resort pools during your entire stay. One year we stayed at Beach Club (prior to my daughter learning how to swim), and were told she couldn't go down the slide with the vest on. So she worked really hard and learned how to swim that summer. I just wanted to let you know that there may be some things your child won't be able to do if they are unable to swim "unassisted." Mary W

For avid pin collectors, it is usually difficult to find good trading pins on Cast Members' lanyards once we have a good size collection of our own. If you wander back into the little shops in the countries in Epcot (especially the ones farther back, such as Morocco) you have a much better chance of a good "find" on a Cast Member's lanyard. Please save one or two for me, though!!!! - Peggy from Florida