What Disney Tip Are you really glad you listened to?

[MamaJessie]

Originally Posted by mindy6540

I'm tripping down memory lane today. Doing a last minute check on the Dis to make sure I'm prepared and happened upon this thread.
My first experience on the Dis boards I was preparing to take dd 9, dd 7 and ds 4 on their first Disney trip. Today, I'm packing to take dd 20, dd 18 and ds 15 on what is probably our last family Disney trip that they are all still living under the same roof. Dd(20) is graduating college this year and dd (18) is going off to college.

Thank you Dis boards, and fellow Disneyophiles, I'm looking back at previous trips and I couldn't have created the memories I did without help.

Best advice? Just go with the flow. Don't look at the Disney vacation as the trip of a lifetime. It might be, but it might not. Just relax, don't worry if you didn't get to see Tigger at the character breakfast. Don't worry if it's raining. Bad service? meh Disney is always willing to correct a mistake or help.
Disney magic happens when you least expect it. So, take a breath, and don't worry about what you didn't get to do, it's about who you're with.

Just keep swimming...Just keep swimming

I love this whole post

[glvsav37]

Our daughter is very scared of the dark. So we went to the dollar store and bought a few packs of glow bracelets and necklaces. We kept them in the backpack and when ever we would be on line for a dark ride, we would give her a 'magic bracelet' to wear. If it was ever too dark for her, she just held up her hand and got the glow.

Also, if you can stash them away, plastic drink covers (take out cup kind) make great drip trays for any ice cream on a stick snacks. Pop one on the bottom of the treat and let the kids hold it under the lid—keeps their paws a little less messy.

[goofygurlie]

Originally Posted by mindy6540

I'm tripping down memory lane today. Doing a last minute check on the Dis to make sure I'm prepared and happened upon this thread.
My first experience on the Dis boards I was preparing to take dd 9, dd 7 and ds 4 on their first Disney trip. Today, I'm packing to take dd 20, dd 18 and ds 15 on what is probably our last family Disney trip that they are all still living under the same roof. Dd(20) is graduating college this year and dd (18) is going off to college.

Thank you Dis boards, and fellow Disneyophiles, I'm looking back at previous trips and I couldn't have created the memories I did without help.

Best advice? Just go with the flow. Don't look at the Disney vacation as the trip of a lifetime. It might be, but it might not. Just relax, don't worry if you didn't get to see Tigger at the character breakfast. Don't worry if it's raining. Bad service? meh Disney is always willing to correct a mistake or help.
Disney magic happens when you least expect it. So, take a breath, and don't worry about what you didn't get to do, it's about who you're with.

Just keep swimming...Just keep swimming

Wonderful post!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

[Qltrgrl2]

Always have cheap ponchos in your park bag....never know when you will get a shower at the most magical place on earth.

[hsmamato2]

pay attention to the monthly crowd planning calendars on easywdw website..... they seem to be accurate!
And in agreement with a pp, don't sweat every detail,if you miss one great thing,it just gives you time for another great thing!

[Slapster]

This may have been mentioned already (long thread, didn't read all the way), but for blister prevention, nothing works for me like duct tape. Seriously, is there anything grey tape can't do?

Just stick it to your trouble spots (heel, around toes) and go. You forget it is there and I've never gotten another blister!

Peels right off when you're done.

[nafiaw]

On our last trip to WDW in 2009 to celebrate DD's 6th birthday. DD picked out a Disney theme birthday card she liked. Each time we stop at Kidcot in each country, we have the CM write down "Happy Birthday" in their language. It still brings smiles on DD's face and loads of memories everytime she looks at the card.

[gracer9977]

Originally Posted by nafiaw

On our last trip to WDW in 2009 to celebrate DD's 6th birthday. DD picked out a Disney theme birthday card she liked. Each time we stop at Kidcot in each country, we have the CM write down "Happy Birthday" in their language. It still brings smiles on DD's face and loads of memories everytime she looks at the card.

This is a great idea. We are going in Jan 2014 to celebrate my nieces birthdays. One of them is going to be 16 and one is going to be 10. I think this would be a nice memento from their special days at Disney!!

[Thumper_Man]

Originally Posted by Slapster

This may have been mentioned already (long thread, didn't read all the way), but for blister prevention, nothing works for me like duct tape. Seriously, is there anything grey tape can't do?

Just stick it to your trouble spots (heel, around toes) and go. You forget it is there and I've never gotten another blister!

Peels right off when you're done.

This one hasn't been mentioned actually. I've been following this thread a long time and this is the first time I hear duct tape for blisters. The preferred blister prevention is mole skin. I can say mole skin is great, even when you get a blister. Went to WDW this past December. The one day I forgot to pack mole skin to take with me to the parks, is the one day I developed blisters on my little toes. I used mole skin the rest of the trip to prevent them from getting worse, and it really helped me enjoy the rest of my trip.

[Kitkat6595]

Originally Posted by mindy6540

I'm tripping down memory lane today. Doing a last minute check on the Dis to make sure I'm prepared and happened upon this thread.
My first experience on the Dis boards I was preparing to take dd 9, dd 7 and ds 4 on their first Disney trip. Today, I'm packing to take dd 20, dd 18 and ds 15 on what is probably our last family Disney trip that they are all still living under the same roof. Dd(20) is graduating college this year and dd (18) is going off to college.

Thank you Dis boards, and fellow Disneyophiles, I'm looking back at previous trips and I couldn't have created the memories I did without help.

Best advice? Just go with the flow. Don't look at the Disney vacation as the trip of a lifetime. It might be, but it might not. Just relax, don't worry if you didn't get to see Tigger at the character breakfast. Don't worry if it's raining. Bad service? meh Disney is always willing to correct a mistake or help.
Disney magic happens when you least expect it. So, take a breath, and don't worry about what you didn't get to do, it's about who you're with.

Just keep swimming...Just keep swimming

I love this. We are at the beginning of our Disney "obsession" over here, with our first trip with our kids. Your advice is wonderful. I will do my best to focus on them and not the experience.

[Buzzfan1966]

We just returned from a 6 day vacation with 4 days at WDW and 2 at UO. Tips I am glad I listened to:

1) I took my own detergent and dryer sheets. I only did one load while there, but it only cost me the price of the washing and drying. The detergent in the machine in the laundry room was $4.00 with dryer sheets for $2.00.

2) We took a used medicine bottle for quarters and pennies and got a squashed penny almost everywhere. This kept the boys focused on looking for the machines rather than looking for other souvenirs to buy. I am going to frame some of our pics and decorate the frame with the pennies.

3) We stayed at Doubletree in dtd area. I loved the hotel they were so accommodating. (They gave us free cookies every night instead of the first not that they promise, they gave us a free movie when I was not feeling well one evening, they also gave us free wifi in the room when I was unable to access it in the lobby). I got a coupon for free continental breakfast which they allowed us to use as a discount on the regular breakfast buffet. We got full breakfast buffets for 4 people for a total of $15 (plus tip of course).

I missed staying onsite a little because I didn't like the hotel transportation. We ended up driving to the marketplace everyday and taking buses from there.
TIP: When they know you are going to a park from dtd, they try to make you transfer at port orleans. Don't do it!!! Since they have multiple stops, it takes longer. Go to a resort with only one stop.

4) The over the door shoe hanger is awesome. We hung it on the dividing door in the room. I actually had two that I got from Dollar Tree. The boys had theirs on their side and we had ours. We used it for things like deodorant, sunglasses, ibuprofen, moleskin, chafing cream.......

5) I never could find Body Glide or Monistat for chafing. I got a Lanicane version and it worked just fine.

6) Tip that was a lifesaver was taking 2 pairs of shoes. I alternated crocs and tennis shoes.

7) I received one tip that backfired.............I saw on here that you could use your fastpass anytime after the time listed first. We went to Test Track about 20 minutes after our hour window and nearly got turned away. I had to do some fast talking telling him we got stuck on Soarin' and missed the window. He said that you must get there within the hour window.

8) We had an early breakfast ressie for Chef Mickey's so we asked the parking lot attendant if we could leave the car there while we went to MK. He let us park there and we didn't pay for parking that day. We originally thought we would need to valet to stay there, but we only had to pay the $150 we ended up spending at chef mickey's.

9) This was not a tip I got from the board, but something to ponder. My ticket to Universal was a buy 2 days get one free. We knew we weren't staying 3 days, but it was free. It was a BASE ticket which meant no hopping. The second day, we went to IOA and finished there by 3:00. We went over to guest services and asked if we could go ahead and go to UO and use our 3rd day entrance. They allowed us to do that and we got to ride some things at UO that were too crowded the day before (Despicable Me).

10) The water at WDW seems to taste better, but we took propel anyway to shake into it. We bought no extra drinks in the park. We just kept refilling our bottles.................HUGE money saver.

That's all I've got right now. It was an awesome trip..................now that one is over. We are about to start planning a cruise................PM any good tips for that because I don't even know where to start.

[Buzzfan1966]

Originally Posted by tngal

I just want to know what kind of bag you all carry around at WDW? Some of these are really good ideas and i know that you will use them at some point, but even if you just pick and choose the ones you think will apply to you, it would be a lot to tote around. We are (hopefully) going to WDW for the first time this year (we've had 3 failed attempts). For example, i had read that, when riding the rides where you'll get wet, to bring everyone a pr of flip flops and a poncho. The poncho i might could see packing and not taking up a lot of room, they seem to get those suckers folded pretty small, but if we all took a pr of shoes, that would have to be a big bag lol. Please dont think im downing anyone by asking this, i am honestly curious!

Lisa

We do take a regular size backpack with the ponchos from the Dollar Tree (they are SMALL when folded). The cheap flip flops fit in a 2 gal size ziploc and will stay at the bottom of the bag if in a ziploc.

[Canooknic]

We take our shoes off on the water rides and then use anti-bacterial wipes to clean our feet when we get off and out our shoes back on

[Buzzfan1966]

Originally Posted by Canooknic

We take our shoes off on the water rides and then use anti-bacterial wipes to clean our feet when we get off and out our shoes back on

I did notice at UO that they require shoes. I didn't see the same requirement at WDW.

[jennykay]

Originally Posted by Buzzfan1966

I did notice at UO that they require shoes. I didn't see the same requirement at WDW.

I know there's a sign at Kali River Rapids requesting guests keep their shoes on. We wore crocs on our AK day. And I put on my poncho to ride that- best move I ever made. It was not quite hot enough in October to walk around dripping wet.