Tips about Epcot, Planning and Transportation

As far as the bus system goes, if you have your choice of the All Star resorts, go with the Sports resort. It's not my favorite surroundings but by far has the best bus system. You will be the first ones picked up (always getting a seat) and the first ones dropped off (great after a tiring day with the little ones). And lastly, always, always pay the extra for the preferred building - we learned the hard way four years ago. Now it's the preferred or a different resort! - Jessica

Wow! The fireworks show was awesome and it is now time to get your family back to the resort. You try to keep pace or even beat the crowd out of the park, only to see a line at the bus stop longer than the line to Mission: SPACE. Now is the time to consider a taxi. Recently we took a taxi from Epcot to Port Orleans-Riverside, and it was only $8.50. There were no lines and no wait. The taxi "pool" is right before you get to the bus depot when leaving Epcot. We also used a taxi when leaving Magic Kingdom. Here your best bet is to take the resort monorail to the Contemporary and then go the main entrance to get the cab. I forget how much it was, but we totally avoided the madhouse at the depot. One thing that you need to do when getting a cab: If you have more than four people, request a van. No, insist on a van. They may tell you they will send you two sedans, which will double the cost of the trip; if they do, send them away and make the request again. When I insisted on the van, we always had one. - Julius Trimbach

I just wanted to comment about the tip to fill up at the Disney resort gas stations. This year, Dollar Rent-a-Car changed its policy to say that you must fill your tank within five miles of the airport and present a receipt showing this. I was informed of this when I picked up the car. I do not know how well they monitor this though, because I was not asked for proof when I returned my car. - Nicole Streit

I just thought I'd let people know that there is a Circle K gas station that, while not specifically on the way to the airport, is not difficult to get to. Essentially, if you are taking the 417 from WDW, you will normally exit onto Boggy Creek Road and turn left to get to the airport. To get to the gas station, turn right off the exit ramp and follow the road about 1-2 miles. The Circle K will be on your right at a traffic signal. The gas here is normally $0.10-$0.15/gallon cheaper than the Car Care Centers. - Pam K.

Here is a tip for anyone renting a car. There are no convenient gas stations near the airport, so plan to fill up at one of these three convenient locations: 1) Magic Kingdom Car Care Center, easiest access leaving MK or any MK resort. 2) Boardwalk gas station, easiest access from any Epcot resort. 3) There is a gas station on 536 just before you get on 417. This is perhaps the most convenient since the best way to get back to the airport is to take 536 to 417 directly to the airport. Also, don't worry about refueling charges, fill up at any of the above locations and after the short 15-mile trip to the airport your tank will still read FULL. - Jason Diffendal

Don't overlook the "front seat" of the Disney buses. Strike up a conversation with the driver... they all are incredibly friendly, and are a WEALTH of helpful information, including park shortcuts, the latest events, the easiest methods of "how to get from here to there," etc. Most have a vast knowledge of Disney trivia as well... talking with the drivers is like a "mini vacation" in itself. - Jan Hardy EDITOR'S NOTE: Be aware for safety reasons, many drivers will choose to not have a conversation until the buses are stopped. They do enjoy guest interaction!

Even though you have a confirmed car rental reservation made, keep checking back with all the car rental companies online until right before you go. You can often find a better price has appeared than what you have reserved. - Jack Marshall

Don't throw out those popcorn buckets! They make excellent protection in your luggage for small breakable souvenirs, such as glass ornaments.- Lori Welch

I have one more tip related to Mary Cronin's idea. I hate walking on my treadmill. Has anyone actually recorded the walk from Spaceship Earth to the American Adventure to play back while walking the treadmill at home? My tape would always have to include a stop at Boulangerie Patisserie in France! YUM! - "Jungle" Jim Sirks

I read Mary Cronin's advisory to walk in order to be in shape for WDW, and I couldn't agree more. My wife and I are in our mid-50s and we have always wondered just how far we really do walk while at WDW, so we bought a pedometer and I wore it on our trip October 18-25. On the 18th and the 25th, our walking was limited to three hours each day due to our arrival and departure from WDW. Our first full day, which included Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, we logged 8 miles -- for the week we were just shy of 40 miles! Believe me, we do not race around the parks. We walk at a normal pace, and we were astounded at the total. Our advice: start walking. - William Kested EDITOR'S NOTE: ALWAYS be sure to break in any new pair of shoes/sneakers you have purchased for your trip.

Do lots of walking before you go to get in shape for walking at the World. This really pays off when you get there, in terms of stamina and enjoyment. We take family walks, and my husband and I also walk on a treadmill in the mornings. Just imagine you are walking from Spaceship Earth to the American Pavilion, or from the far end of one of the parking lot rows to the tram. If you're in better shape, you can pretend to jog from the rope at Tomorrowland to Space Mountain, or from the park entrance to Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom. Even if your style of Disney touring is a relaxed stroll, you will benefit from any walking that you do before you go. - Mary Cronin

Coming from Canada, with a 45 percent (loss) exchange rate at the time, moneysaving ideas were a must for our trip in Fall 2002. Before our trip I had printed off coupons for every restaurant and store we planned to visit.. The more I saved, the more I wanted to save. I packed everything from cereal to laundry soap so that I would not have to buy it in Orlando at an already inflated price, and with a high exchange rate for me. The best savings I got was on water. We purchased a case of 30 bottles of water at our local Wal-Mart for under $8 (Can). To have bought that at WDW, 30 bottles @ $2.50 US = $75, then add our exchange rate to that and we would have paid about $130 Canadian. Since we anticipated a lot of outlet shopping, we each brought two large suitcases. The 30 bottles were spread out among them, so the weight was not an issue. (But honestly, for that kind of savings, I would have carried them on my back.) Next time though, I'll pack two cases of water. Your website was invaluable to us while planning our vacation. Our daughters (ages 7 and 9 at the time of the vacation) agree that we had a year of WDW fun and excitement before we ever left our home in chilly Nova Scotia. By the time we got to WDW, they were READY. Our most valuable expenditure was in time spent preparing for the trip. - Greg L. from Canada

A few months ago someone suggested taking a soft-sided cooler with Ziploc bags to use in your room in lieu of renting a fridge at $10 a day. We took the suggestion one step further. I purchased a cooler with a plastic liner, took it home and put it in our luggage. Lo and behold it fit perfectly, which meant we would not have to worry about leaking Ziploc bags. And by packing our unmentionables inside the liner we did not lose any precious packing space. It worked out wonderfully and we saved $110 in the process. - Vonnie

Even though my 5 year-old daughter has been to Disney four times already, she's a little scared about getting lost. Trying to think of a way to relieve her fears, I thought of a great idea. We have those two-way FRS radios that we got before our cell phones. The kids know how to use them, so I just thought that we could put one in a fanny pack (from previous Disney trips) for my 5-year-old and my 7-year-old son and get another for us to hold. They know to look for a Cast Member if they get separated from us, but now we can still be in constant communication with them and have them lead us right to where they are. When I told Amanda about this idea she went right to her room and found her pack and put the radio in it. We don't leave until July! Talk about prepared! - Jenn B. from Philadelphia

This isn't a new tip, just some feedback on a tip I saw last year on the ALL EARS® newsletter. The five of us (mom, dad, son and 2 daughters) recently spent Christmas and New Year's at the Contemporary. Even with the larger room, things were a little crowded, but thanks to the tip to hang an inexpensive shoe bag over the bathroom door for storing everyone's 'stuff', the bathroom was clutter-free. I think my oldest daughter took up half of it. This is by far the best tip we've taken away from your informative newsletter. - Keith Link