Tips about Planning, Souvenirs and Strollers

Over the last weeks there has been some discussion on the Mr. Potato Head. We just returned from WDW, and my wife (a true kid at heart) had to have all those cool Disney Potato Head parts. She just stuffed the box full of all the parts, and planned to buy the potato from Wal-Mart when we got home. We don't have any kids, but we have all the cool Disney Potato Head parts! - Josh Nordgren

We visited WDW in early December with our 2-month-old granddaughter. Before we left I ordered canvas bags from Target.com for her stroller and infant seat. We used the strollers right up to the gate, and then easily slipped them into the bags and set them at the airplane entrance. The flight crews all commented on what a great idea this was. The bag does not protect them from all damage, but it certainly keeps them clean. (They can be used at home to keep the stroller clean in the trunk as well). - mickderb

If you are renting a stroller and you need it for more than a day, you can do a multi-day rental. I stood in a line our first day to rent a double stroller for $15. On the second day, after standing in another line, I asked for a multi-day rental (three days, to be exact). I was given tickets for all three days at a discounted price! Each day, instead of waiting in line for a new stroller I just showed the attendant my stub and off we went, bypassing the line! Thanks for the great website! - Mary EDITOR'S NOTE: I saw the multi-day rental lines in action this past weekend and they really are great time-savers. In addition, the discount on multi-day rentals is 10 percent per day -- every little bit helps!

Last week, Jill Murtha mentioned double-checking your Mr. Potato Head arms before purchasing to make sure they fit. Another tip when purchasing the Mr./Mrs. Potato Heads is to put pieces inside the potatoes before you put them in the box. You pay for whatever you can fit in the box, so you might as well get your money's worth. You can get quite a few extra pieces this way. - Elaine Frazee

On our previous trip to Walt Disney World, our children were ages 2 and 4. We brought umbrella strollers for each of them. Before leaving, I sewed fabric covers over each of the plastic handles. The fabric was bright and since all four handles matched (the strollers did not), it was quite easy to retrieve both of them in the stroller parking areas. When the strollers were moved, the attendants always kept them together because they were obviously for the same family. The uglier and brighter the fabric you choose, the better -- they're easier to find and it's less likely that anyone would want to take them! - Julie

I just read over the section on postcards and remembered a crazy idea I had with them. On one trip to Disney World, a friend asked me to get Mickey's autograph. Not wanting to come back with a piece of paper, I bought several different postcards of Mickey. I waited in line to meet the Mouse and when I got to him, I asked if he would give me his autograph on the postcard. He took the postcard, looked at it for a brief second, and then gave me a thumbs up and signed the postcard. It's a great way to add a little magic to the postcard. I would suggest mailing autographed postcards to kids and family members as well. - Skip Broome

If you buy one of those Mr. Potato Head toys where you can fill the box up with whatever parts you want from the bins, double-check that the "arms" fit into the arm holes. Our 7-year-old recently purchased a Mr. Potato Head at Once Upon A Toy at Disney Springs, and after we got back to the hotel room we found that the pegs in the arms were too small for the arm holes so the arms wouldn't stay in their sockets! Luckily we were able to exchange them for a new pair of arms at a different toy store at Disney's Hollywood Studios. When we were exchanging them, we noticed that the bin of arms varied a lot in the size of the pegs -- some were bigger and fit fine, while many others were too small and didn't fit. So, a word of advice: check to make sure that your Mr. Potato Head parts fit into the potato before purchasing them! - Jill Murtha

During our recent stay at the Dolphin, we arranged stroller rental through the Dolphin's concierge desk. The Dolphin arranges this through an outside service. The charge was $7 per day plus $10 delivery charge. We requested the stroller late one evening and it was delivered to the bell desk by 9 a.m. the next day. It was a nice Evenflow stroller with a canopy, a big storage area below the seat, and a cupholder. The stroller didn't fold up very small for the bus ride, but otherwise was a great convenience. When we checked out, we left the stroller with the bellman for return. - Greg Ross

When I know a trip to WDW is approaching, as I reach the last of the shampoo, conditioner, etc., I stash the almost empty bottle aside, then pack it for the trip. When I run out, I discard the bottle and there is automatically more room for Mickey stuff to bring home! - Jenny Drake

A great souvenir to buy from the China pavilion in Epcot is bamboo. The plant costs about $1-$1.50 and comes with care instructions. You can also buy a vase for the plant starting at about $3. - Jen Wolf

If your child likes to collect the pressed pennies from each area in the park, buy the book that holds them. Buying the pennies will cut down on your child asking for everything in the park. You just have to spend 51 cents! - Randi Gold

My 4-year-old son has a real problem with loud noises, but refused to wear ear plugs. We would put a pair in and he would pull them right back out. Before we left I contacted a store that specialized in hunting equipment and ordered a pair of the smallest child-sized headphones used at target ranges to muffle sound. They fit him perfectly and when we were in the parks, if there was even a hint of loud noises coming, we would just slip them on. My son actually went through the Haunted Mansion four times without a hitch. It was the best $17 I ever spent and I got quite a few comments of, "Oh, I wish we had thought of that." - Bonnie Schweizer

For those of you looking for low-priced souvenirs that will be both fun and useful, you should really consider the Mickey Mouse ears ice cube tray! I bought one for $4 at World of Disney, and have been smiling ever since. I'll definitely buy some for my friends as souvenirs on my next trip! - Michele Cardona

I brought along Palmolive dishcloths for our Wilderness Lodge (refillable) mugs. The box of 20 was less than $2.00 at my local Walmart, and I could use them in the laundry, as well. Even adding two sheets was less expensive than buying laundry detergent. In our fanny packs, I carried one in a plastic bag and used it to spot treat any food stains on shirts/shorts. Quite the bargain! - Trisha Parece

If you travel with any individual, especially children, who is afraid of or does not like loud noise, purchase disposable foam ear plugs from a hardware store before leaving home. These are easy to take in and out, cheap (less than a $1.00 a pair) and can be kept in a pocket or fanny pack. Don't forget to purchase several pairs, just in case one pair is lost. - The DeHoff Family

EDITOR'S NOTE: We've mentioned this tip before, but it bears repeating