Tips about At Large, Food & Beverage and Mousecellaneous

We found THE MOST comfortable shoes ever! They are Nike Air Presto. They have a wide walking base, cloth tops and are slip on. Three out of the four of us (in our group) had these shoes and none of us had blisters or sore spots and our feet stayed cooler! I really can't say enough good things about them. They cost around $80. - Monica from Kansas City

On our last vacation to the World, I wanted to keep a journal, but didn't think of it until we checked into the Boardwalk. Soon after, we were browsing in the Boardwalk shops and I found the perfect journal -- the 100 Years of Magic autograph book! [or a regular Disney one works, too]. It's just the right size, allows for drawings/diagrams (since the pages aren't lined), has just the right amount of pages and is commemorative due to the 100 Years cover! I could easily carry it around and write in it during the day. When I got home, I tucked my journal, along with my photo album, tickets and any other stray items that reminded me of the trip in the zippered compartments of the pin traders bag that I also bought. (Yes, I have to admit there are pins from the trip in the bag, too.) It, too, has the 100 Years logo on it. Now whenever I want to relive the trip, I pull that bag out. - Nancy Prianti

I sure do like those battery-operated personal fans with mister spray! They are a great help for keeping cool in long lines, but, at $15 each, they are not cheap in the parks. While they cost half that in local drugstores, you also have to buy batteries and a strap for them. Therefore I decided to buy one in the park after all, especially since the seller gave me an extra set of batteries to go with them (but you have to ask for this!). Otherwise the batteries run out by the end of the day. Another seller, in Adventureland, said she'd replace the batteries if I showed her the receipt for purchase of the fan within a 2-3 day time span. A very worthwhile purchase that helped to keep my 6-year-old, and me, from the grumps! - Julie Seavello

With four children, we are always looking for a way to help smooth over areas that might turn into calamities. The very best thing that we found was to bring hip pouches with water bottles attached, and every night, we fill them up about halfway with water or juice. Then we freeze them overnight. (This even works if you do not have a freezer...get an ice chest, fill it with ice, and you are good to go!) Then in the morning, finish filling it up with your choice of beverage, and you will have a cool drink until early afternoon. At that point, you can refill from a water fountain or head to the room for a refill. We did this in May, and it really helped keep the costs down on those $2 and $3 drinks! - Modesta

When visiting WDW we like to bring our own bottles and fill them at the parks. Trouble is, we don't enjoy the sulfur taste of the water. Last year, we bought Brita Fill and Go water bottles at Target for about $7 each. Each filter lasts for 15 gallons and really helps get rid of the unpleasant taste. The bottles come with a filter and replacements are a couple dollars each. This is much more convenient than having to stop and buy bottled water and is very economical, too. I've also noticed that the cold water from the faucets in the Disney resorts is not too cold, so we fill the bottles with half water and half ice, which helps keep it cool for a couple of hours at least. - Terri Padavona

After-park ideas: You could also take the boat at Disney's Hollywood Studios or Epcot over to the Boardwalk Resort and check things out there after the Studios or Epcot closes. We also did the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, which was great food and great fun, but hard to get to without a car. Marketplace and Disney Springs are always options when a park closes, too! - Christie Falck

I think the best thing that we did was to buy cylume sticks and little LED lights at Target before the trip. We hid them from our daughters and every night we brought out a light toy -- they loved them. (They didn't know where we bought them.) Everyone stopped and asked us about them. One other thing that helped was small elastic laces that we also brought so the girls could carry their drinks and we could also attach their lights to. - The Knight Family from Wyoming

I would just like to say that I love your website and can't wait for our trip to WDW at the end of May 2002. Your website and newsletter have really helped us out a lot!! Maybe my tip can help others out. Last year I bought a CamelBak (www.camelbak.com) for when I race my all-terrain vehicle in the hot and humid weather here in Connecticut. These drinking systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are very lightweight -- they are also hands-free. What I like about these is, it keeps your back nice and cool and is also snug against your body, so nothing is bouncing around. Some also have zippers and pockets to store your passes, money, and keys. Some can even hold most of your stuff, which will eliminate all other bags. Hopefully this tip will help others. I know I will be keeping cool on my trip!!! - Jeff and Cherie

A tip for Jacqui Bull on a trip journal, try using an old check register booklet as your diary. I find it perfect to fit in a pocket or my wife's purse. It's small but has about 25 pages, more than enough space to record "holiday" experiences at WDW. - Brian Phillips

My tip involves the keeping a diary of sorts -- after several visits to WDW and trying, unsuccessfully, to keep a journal for whatever reason -- I either left it behind, it was cumbersome to carry about, or I was just too moused out to fill it in at the end of the day -- I eventually hit on the perfect answer (for me, anyway). In the weeks up to our last visit in February, I printed one sheet of paper for every day of our holiday (as we call it here in the U.K.). Of course, I put Disney characters and the day/date on each one, as well as little reminders such as, "Have we got the Valentine's Pin?" and "Have we had a Dole whip in MK?" It was easy to write notes on the page throughout the day as we waited in line, etc., and the crumpled, but well-used sheet was exchanged each evening for the next day's. - Jacqui Bull

We have discovered that it is very handy to carry an Igloo 1-quart cooler filled with ice and water while in the parks. Best of all, any refreshment stop will gladly provide cups of free ice water for refill. While the cups may provide a short-term refreshment, the cooler keeps the water cold much longer, and since it has a strap is easy to carry on stroller handles and/or over the shoulder while waiting in long, hot lines. - Kevin W. Bowden

On a recent trip to Disney World, my feet were killing me by Day 2. Well, out came the EXTRA pair of memory foam insoles that I brought with me in my backpack. A trip to Guest Relations for a pair of scissors to cut to length and I was walking on pillows the rest of the week. - Craig

We went to the Spirit of Aloha at the Polynesian Village Resort show a few weeks ago. I wanted to let you know that they do NOT have space heaters and it can be very cold once the sun goes down. It's a little warmer than the outside temperature, but still dress warmly. It was 45 degrees the night we went! Thank goodness for the heated towels to wash your hands with after the meal. - Vanessa

I have one suggestion for visiting the parks, especially in the hot months. Bottled water is readily available at the parks (at inflated prices), so why not bring a water bottle/jug of your own? I purchased an Arctic Zone brand insulated water jug at my local Walmart for around $6. It has a wide mouth, insulated bag and a shoulder strap and holds just over 32 oz. Take it to any counter service restaurant in the parks that sells fountain drinks and ask a Cast Member to fill it with ice water. It's free!! That way, you have nice cold water all day! - Noreen Rachuba of Pittsburgh, PA

I recommend making a reservation for the character breakfast with Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace on a morning that the Magic Kingdom does NOT open early. My family and I went in August and made reservations for 8:15 a.m. We were allowed to enter at 8 a.m. With the extra time, we took a nice group photo on an empty Main Street with one of the photographers. By the time we finished breakfast, it was 9 a.m. We took advantage of our location and went to Fantasyland, where we walked onto the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and had a minimal wait time (5 minutes) for Dumbo. - Diane Suznovich