Tips about Planning and Travel

We are annual passholders and try to go often to Disney and stay at an onsite resort. The convenience of that is worth the extra money. The night before we check into our Disney resort, however, we stay at one of the Disney Springs within walking distance to Disney Springs. We usually don't get there until after 6 p.m. so it seems like a waste to pay for the Disney resort for just a few hours of use. The hotels in Disney Springs aren't very expensive compared to the Disney resorts and we feel that is a good use of our less than half-day at the World. Plus Disney Springs is the best place for things to do. They usually have some sort of fun going on, like a dance party for the kids, or performers of some kind. There are fabulous goodies to eat and great shopping. The Guest Services here is the best place to buy tickets and passes because it's hardly ever crowded. You can take care of so many things the night before and then wake up at the crack of dawn, drive to your choice of Disney resort, drop off your luggage with them and start right out for the parks having had a good night's sleep and fun the night before. It's really a great idea to consider, especially if you live in Florida and have your car with you. - Lisa Dunne

EDITOR'S NOTE: Last week we printed a tip about bringing along a pair of nail clippers in your carry-on luggage to cut electrical ties used to "lock" your luggage. Several readers wrote that nail clippers were prohibited in carry-on luggage and would be confiscated when you went through airport security. We thought we'd heard that this rule had changed, so we went to the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) website which has a list of prohibited and permitted carry-on and checked items for air travelers. According to this list, which is apparently current as of April 2011, nail clippers ARE permitted in carry-on luggage:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Things do change, though, so we suggest that you keep current and check the TSA website every time you travel.

We generally start planning at least a year in advance. I have a plastic tub that is labeled "WDW stuff." I place our heavy-duty hotel mugs in it so they are already packed. I also buy things throughout the year for the trip: toothbrushes, toothpaste, magic gloves and whatever else we normally use during our week-long trip. I also go to my local laundromat and pick up boxes of laundry detergent for $.50 a box. One box cleans two loads and is a lot cheaper than the hotel laundry dispenser. I also pack several dryer sheets in a freezer bag and place them in my suitcase. It keeps the clothes smelling nice and I have dryer sheets for use while there. One nice thing about the bin is that, for those times that we drive to WDW, we just put the lid on it and pack it in the van. After we arrive to the hotel we empty it out and use that as our clothes hamper for dirty clothes. It works great for those trips to the hotel laundry. - Sirena Penn

Our trips to Disney are always by plane. I usually check bags because there is too much to fit in a carry-on. I got this tip from my sister: If more than one person is checking baggage, divide your clothes, etc. between the bags. That way if one suitcase is "lost," each of you will have something to wear. (I also make sure to take toiletries, PJs and such in my carry-on.) - Debe Leafe

When you have WDW resort hotel reservations, the cancellation policy on the confirmation says you must cancel five days before scheduled arrival or forfeit the deposit, equal to the first night's stay. What that actually means is that you must cancel six days ahead, because what they are looking for is for there to be five days between the time you call and the arrival date. For example, we found out the hard way that you can't call on Sunday to cancel a Friday reservation. - Rhame Nelson

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

This tip will alleviate many of the "how much longer" questions. My husband makes copies of maps of each state that we drive through for each of our children. He then tapes them all together and labels them 1-20 at the different cities and towns that we will pass. He then gives me the "master copy." Each time I call out a number of a town that we pass, everyone pulls out their map and draws a line to that number. No one has to ask how much further because they can look at their map and compare how far they've come to how far they must go. - Lisa Fisher

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

We have driven several times to Disney from Massachusetts with three boys currently ages 11, 7,and 3. Patience is number one. We make sure we have our toll moneys already set out in baggies which makes for easy passage when driving through the nights. The best investment we made for about 30 dollars was a power converter for our boys to plug their game cube into along with our portable T.V.. Another useful toy if you don't have tv or gamecube is the gameboy. Best of all are the good old fashioned mad libs and invisible marker coloring books. Happy driving!! - dollydawne in MA

We also found that most of the motels along the 95 corridor have what they call family suites that can accomonate more then 4 ( we thought we would have to get two rooms) they are alot cheaper then getting two rooms! - Jennie and Glenn Wallace

When my then 7 year old was bored on the drive from New York State to the Mouse House a few years ago, I gave her the video camera and told her to tape our vacation drive. That kept her amused for hours. When I got home I finally viewed the tape she did. Well I thought she was going to tape South of the Border signs, world's largest Canada Dry soda can etc etc and instead it was all of herself goofing around in the back seat. I laughed so hard when I watched it. Well worth the long drive. - Elaine Taddeo

I give my kids a roll of quarters at the beginning of our road trips to Disneyworld (10 hour drive). I have 3 girls 10-17 yrs. old, and I've been doing this for 10 years. They start off with the roll of quarters, but any time they complain, argue, tattle or fight with each other, I take a quarter away from each person involved. Once they loose one or two quarters, I don't have anymore problems. Our last few trips, none of the girls lost any money. It's great! Then they are able to use that money for the game room at the hotel. It's money you end up giving them anyway, so why not have it work for you! - Laura

We've kept a diary of all of our road trips since 1998. We document the time we leave, weather, temps, arrival times in all the major cities. We document the traffic jams ( how long we're in them, & how ugly it gets!), and construction areas. We document unusual events ( the accident involving a semi hauling live pigs...poor piggees!) We document the hotel rooms we've had, the McDonalds @ exit 341 in Fla. that has the BEST breakfast sandwiches ever (yes, there is a difference!)and our Disney experience (crowds, weather, what worked, what didn't.) It's fun to look back and read about the special times we've had as a family. - Jan Kolkema, Muskegon, MI

Another thing we did was to plan at least one new thing or place to stop and see on the way home that would help keep the interest up so the trip home would not be such a let down. - Andrea Rose Ankeny, Iowa

Consider learning a new hobby to pass time in the car. My husband and I along with my parents recently took a road trip to Walt Disney World. We passed time by trying to teach ourselves how to crochet. Prior to the trip, I bought a "how to" book and the appropriate supplies from my local craft store. And even though we never could quite get the hang of it, it was a fun way to pass the time and provided us with lots of laughs. - Heather