Tips about Epcot, FastPass+, Food & Beverage and Planning
Make sure your kids are tall enough to ride the rides you're getting FastPasses for. I've seen a lot of people get really upset about this. They'll have FastPasses to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, only to get to the FastPass gate and be told their kids are too short to ride. FastPasses make wait times shorter, they do not make kids taller! And remember, close enough is NOT good enough when it comes to height restrictions at Disney. - Cast Member Jane
For all those folks writing about nightlight options -- Make sure your wall-mounted hair dryer is plugged in! Each room I've ever stayed in, regardless of pixie dust level, has the built-in night light feature. Though, as a retired teacher, I admit that the cyalume sticks (glow sticks) are always fun! - Scott Stuart
When you are in the parks waiting on FastPass+, keep an eye on your smart/cell phone email. During the Memorial Day weekend at Animal Kingdom, I got an email on my iPhone informing me of a "Change to my upcoming Disney Fastpass+ experience". It told me my scheduled Dinosaur Fastpass+ wasn't available because the ride was "temporarily unavailable". But I was informed a new FastPass+, good anytime during normal theme park hours, had been added to my wristband and could be used at any of the premium experiences at Animal Kingdom. This let me chose any time and any ride from the following: Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur, It's Tough to be a Bug!, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Finding Nemo, or Kali River Rapids. It worked. I was able to walk right into the FastPass+ line at Kilimanjaro Safaris, even though I had already ridden Safari two hours earlier. Two Safaris before lunch is quite the treat! Bob Jackson
EDITOR'S NOTE: If a ride goes down and you are given the opportunity to use a FP+ for another attraction you cannot go back later in the day to the original ride if it comes back up and use a FP. Once you accept the new one and use it you are out of luck with the original. Be sure you aren't too quick to do something else if the down attractions is something you really want to do. Most attractions are not down the entire day, but it is a wait and see "game".
Here is a tip I discovered for remembering your time for FastPass+. My family and I have annual passes with MagicBands and go about every two weeks. (How lucky are we?!) Before we get to the parks I go to the MDE app under my plans and screen shot all the times on my iPhone (other smart devices do this, too), then save it as my lock-screen wallpaper. This way I only have to make the backlight turn on, like checking the time, and there are all our plans/times. Saves a lot of time rather than opening the app. Hope this helps someone! - Krystal Lane
As a new Disney Vacation Club member, I decided to give the Tables in Wonderland card a try. We had a dinner reservation almost every night, so it paid for itself within the week. I can also use it when we return next year since it's good for about 13 months. You automatically get charged gratuity of 18 percent, which is about what I'd tip anyway. The 20 percent discount from the card basically covers that gratuity and then some. It was definitely worth the $100. - Jennifer
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We have vacationed many times at Walt Disney World since 1993. Oftentimes, I will ship a package a week in advance, filled with snacks and surprises. I've learned the hard way, if you're staying at a conference center resort (for example, the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower) send the box via USPS. If it is shipped UPS or FedEx, you are charged a service/handling fee when you check-in and claim your package. - Ann
The gluten-free offerings [at 'Ohana] for my husband were excellent, and included lettuce wraps, chicken wings, all of the grilled meats and a special dessert. They did require my 10-year-old to be charged as an adult, which made the price tag high in my opinion, but the food was great. - A reader in the AllEars.Net Rate and Review section
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Epcot - When my son and daughter-in-law were expecting our now 3-year-old grandson Kai, I visited each country in Epcot and asked a cast member to sign a little message to him in his/her native language. They translated it in English as well. When I approached each cast member, they were delighted to have a part in welcoming our grandson into the world! Upon returning home, I compiled the signatures, along with a picture of each country, put them in a small photo album, and gave it to my daughter-in-law at her baby shower. I have since done the same album of signatures with my subsequent grandson Caleb and most recently with Kai's baby sister Adalie. - Kim N.
Epcot - When my son and daughter-in-law were expecting our now 3-year-old grandson Kai, I visited each country in Epcot and asked a cast member to sign a little message to him in his/her native language. They translated it in English as well. When I approached each cast member, they were delighted to have a part in welcoming our grandson into the world! Upon returning home, I compiled the signatures, along with a picture of each country, put them in a small photo album, and gave it to my daughter-in-law at her baby shower. I have since done the same album of signatures with my subsequent grandson Caleb and most recently with Kai's baby sister Adalie. - Kim N.
Valorie McCray shares these tips for quickly clearing security at the park entrances:
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
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Valorie McCray shares these tips for quickly clearing security at the park entrances:
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
1. To save time for you and other guests always have the bags that you are carrying into the parks ready for the security people to inspect.
2. Before you reach the security people have your bags unzipped, unbuckled and unsnapped. This means every bag that has any type of closure and all closures on the bag. Open the bag up for them so they can see inside.
3. Bags that will be checked are purses, camera bags, cell phone bags with any type of closures, diaper bags and soft coolers -- any type bag. If your bag is a string backpack this will also be checked. Open it up so they can see inside.
4. You MUST remove fanny packs from around your waist or camera bags from around your neck.
5. Remove all items from the stroller basket located under the seat of your stroller.
If everyone would prepare before the security check while waiting in line, the line would move much faster. We as a family will give a bag for each child to carry through the line. For example my 8-year-old grandson will carry the small camera bag and he is responsible for the safety of the bag until we enter the park.
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When traveling to Orlando from the UK you tend to get to Orlando about 3 p.m. By the time you get to your Disney hotel it's about 6 p.m., so instead of rushing to the parks we head to Disney Springs, pick up our park tickets at Guest Relations (this saves doing it the next morning when you want to hit the parks), then go and have dinner and do some shopping. We are then fresh for the next morning. - Ruth
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Save the little bottles of bubbles you get at weddings and bring them with you to Disney. Our daughter keeps one in her fanny pack. She has stopped many a potential meltdown by blowing bubbles for a fussy toddler as we waited in line. It's portable pixie dust! - Karen B
I think most people going into the parks don't realize just how much they walk. I recommend stretching out all your muscles at the end of the day, holding the stretches for 20 seconds. Going hard a full day in Disney could leave you sore, especially if you're not used to walking 5+ miles a day. - Shannon Ashleigh
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Just learned that if you go to a park prior to checking in to your Disney resort they will reimburse you for parking! Did this myself this past weekend when we stayed at Art of Animation and worked perfectly! Couldn't quite get up early enough to do check-in before park opening and I didn't want to waste any of my theme park time! - Mary
EDITOR'S NOTE: this is also true if you are going to purchase an annual pass that includes parking. Just bring your parking receipt to the Guest Relations window and they will credit what you paid for parking that day towards your annual pass.
EDITOR'S NOTE: this is also true if you are going to purchase an annual pass that includes parking. Just bring your parking receipt to the Guest Relations window and they will credit what you paid for parking that day towards your annual pass.
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