Tips about Characters and Kids
Most floral departments at grocery stores carry a plastic clip resembling a small clothes pin. We use these with the park balloons. You can attach the balloon strings (with the Mickey weights) to the clip and then clip to the stoller or the child. That way you are not fussing with tied on balloons at the bus stops! - Natalie
You can find Dug and Russell from Pixar's UP at Animal Kingdom. I thought you may want to add them in case others are looking for them! - Tricia
0 Users found this helpful.
Our kids love getting autographs while visiting Disney World and we've filled a couple of books. On a recent trip I thought I would surprise the kids with something different. I purchased a white pillowcase and some colored fabric permanent markers along with a small clipboard for each child. I wrote each child's name and date of our visit on their pillowcase. Before heading out, I would arrange a blank space for a character to sign and secure it with an elastic. After a character signed it, I would quickly refold a new blank space for the next signature. I kept all the markers in a small sandwich bag and the pillowcases in a zip-top storage bag. It easily fit into my backpack, was easily accessible and stayed dry, too. The kids loved picking out a specific color for each character and now have a great decorative pillow keepsake of our magical trip! Goofy even wrote "sweet dreams" on my daughter's pillowcase! - Suzy
0 Users found this helpful.
If you're going to have different sleeping arrangements in the hotel than you do at home (two kids in a bed, the whole family sleeping in one room), start preparing your kids in advance. Let them figure out who they're comfortable sleeping next to and if it will work, so they are not miserable at bedtime. Of course, they'll be so tired they may not care, but a little prep may help! Our 2-1/2-year-old pretty much only sleeps well in his crib, with a dark room, silence, and no one else in the room. So, we have to get him used to having one other person next to him in bed and other distractions in the room during the wind-down time. (Dad's snoring, too, yikes!) - Kara
Polynesian Resort - In late August we had a character breakfast planned at 'Ohana. When our server greeted us and offered juice and coffee, on a whim I asked about getting a French press of 100 percent Kona coffee, which they serve over at Kona Cafe. The server had never served one herself, but was happy to oblige our request! The coffee was the same price as next door, $7.99 for the pot, and worth every penny. After enduring Nescafe for more than a week, the fresh Kona coffee was like liquid gold to us! It was so good that we nearly ordered a second pot of it. For $7.99 this is a great way to perfect the 'Ohana breakfast experience. The French press serves about four cups of coffee. And remember that this is 100 perent Kona, not a blend like at the coffee bar. - Doug H.
0 Users found this helpful.
One of the best places to meet characters is at The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We've met lots of great characters here before, but on our visit last month we went there during an afternoon rain. Among the regulars (Pooh and the Incredibles), were Pinocchio and Geppetto, Chip and Dale, Mulan, Mary Poppins and Mr. Penguin, Minnie and Pluto, and Goofy with his son Max. We were thrilled to get to meet some of the harder-to-find characters, and there wasn't more than a 10-minute wait for any of them. - Rebekah McM
0 Users found this helpful.
On previous trips to Walt Disney World, my preschooler would never leave her 3-D glasses on during Mickey's PhilharMagic or other 3-D movies in the parks. However, we just went to see The Lion King in 3-D at the theater, and she left those glasses on the whole time. They are smaller and shaped more like sunglasses. AND, the kid's glasses are special Lion King gifts for the kids to keep. If you see the movie in the next two weeks, save your kids' glasses and take them with you to WDW! They are a fun Lion King reminder, are much better fitted to their little faces, and might actually stay on! - Rhoda Smith
My suggestion is that you book a character breakfast before the park opens. You simply give your dining reservation name/number at the entrance. You can stroll leisurely to your dining with no crowds and take pictures along the way. By the time you exit breakfast, the park will have just openned and you can easily get to your favorite rides with short lines/wait. - Michelle
0 Users found this helpful.
This is a tip for anyone who is traveling to Disney World with first-timer children. We all know that the Magic Kingdom is usually children's favorite of all of the parks. How many times have I watched as miserable children are being dragged into Epcot crying that they would rather be at the Magic Kingdom? My suggestion is to consider NOT visiting Magic Kingdom on the first day of the trip. This way, the children will be free to enjoy each park without comparing it to the Magic Kingdom. I suggest Animal Kingdom the first day, then Hollywood Studios, then Epcot, then Magic Kingdom. I have suggested this to several friends who have taken children on their first trips and they were very grateful. The children appreciated the other parks so much more and plus it makes finally getting to the Magic Kingdom that much better. - Kevin
If your child has a favorite stuffed animal or toy he or she can't part with (like my son with his Duffy bear), try placing a tracking device in or on it. Most are small enough so your child won't notice and the device can be linked to your phone. We have used Tile, for example, and it works great! - Rachel
For character autographs, we're bringing a few little Golden Books with us to character meals to ask the characters to sign the inside of their book (even a Sharpie marker tends to fade on the cover). You can find almost any title with a set of characters (for Pooh) or princesses, etc. They don't take up much room in my bag and are a great way to keep a 3-year-old entertained during waits in the park that day. - Katharine
0 Users found this helpful.
I've just finished reading the latest in a great series of books about the World -- Ridley Pearson's "Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play." The Kingdom Keepers books are written for teens, but us older folks will love them, too. They're great suspense reads, and if you are familiar with and love WDW, you'll have all the settings visually in your head. If you're headed to Orlando, have your teens read them (preferably in order) before you go. They'll be searching out locations and will never get bored. - Maggie Rioux
After my son's first trip to Disney when he picked up a nasty stomach bug, we've since learned to pack a travel-sized hand sanitizer to carry with us inside the parks. We use it to disinfect hands not only before eating, but also after EVERY encounter with the characters. When you stop to think about all the children who are touching and kissing Mickey, it just makes sense. My son stayed well all the way through the subsequent two visits to Disney. I can't say for sure that's what kept him well, but it certainly couldn't have hurt! - Terri in Bermuda
