Tips about Mousecellaneous and Rental Car

I've always kept receipts and written records of all our trips to WDW, starting in September 1971. In the '90s when we bought our first computer I put it all in. I can tell you the dates, the resort and room number, room rate, who joined us and the highlights of each of the 62 visits (430 nights) that we have stayed in Disney resorts. I also include highlights of each trip, like meeting Miss America and Bob Hope in the Studios, my wife singing with Bob Jackson in the Cotton Co-op and all the other magical moments we have enjoyed. - Mike Shook

Be careful about leaving valuables in your stroller/wheelchair. On the last day of our trip my camera and my daughter's purse were stolen directly from our wheelchair in the wheelchair area at the exit of the Haunted Mansion. The camera was in one of the drink pockets and her purse was under her backpack that was on the seat. The most valuable items were the pictures themselves, after a week of Disney parks. We have been going there for quite a number of years and never experienced a similar problem (except for one stuffed critter grabbed). Security said that instances like this were rare. - Jim Colman

Before leaving home, we always buy a car sunshade at a 99 Cents store. We use it in our rental car, and when we drop the rental car off at the airport, we look for someone who is just picking up a car. We then pass on the sunshade to them. It's a nice way to end our trip and start theirs! - Joanne

We just returned from a great five days down at WDW... One thing I discovered this trip was how many cards I ended up carrying around: park ticket, hotel room key, Disney Visa redemption card, Photopass card (or cards, because we always end up with more than one), Fastpasses... whew! That's a lot, and that's not even counting what's usually in my wallet, like a credit card and ID. I was constantly afraid I would lose something. My uncle (I have to credit him on this one) came up with a great solution: he picked up a small business card case (around $5) at an office supply store to keep all of his important cards in. He always had his Fastpasses ready to get in line while the rest of us were still digging through our pockets. I've already picked one up and it's in my "things to take to Walt Disney World" pile for our next trip! - Nathan Jones EDITOR'S NOTE: Magic Bands have eliminated a few cards to carry around the parks. However you will still want to carry your Annual Pass card (for discounts), photo ID, and if you have it, your Tables in Wonderland Card

The BoardWalk often offers jugglers and magicians in the evening. My son loves just sitting and watching all of the performers. But we just returned from our rainiest Disney trip ever. We certainly thought that the performers would not be on the BoardWalk on those nights. We were right, they weren't -- but, to my son's delight, we found that they perform indoors on those nights. We found the performers near the bar area and also in the lobby. - Kelly

To locate my rental car without an antenna more quickly in the lot we take along our Baltimore Ravens flag that attaches to the car window. It is one of those flags hung on a plastic holder that gets rolled up in your car window. You roll the window down, place the flag's holder on the window and then roll the window back up. I know I have seen them with the American flag, sports teams and state flags. It is easier to spot the car since not too many cars have these and it is higher than the car's roof. - Kathie Sweeney

Rick (in last week's AllEars®) had a good idea about using a Mickey antenna topper to help identify a rental car in the parking lot. Many cars no longer have antenna, however (mine does not). Another possibility is to use a magnetic bumper sticker. It's not quite as easy to see, but it will shorten your search once you're down to the right row. - A. D. Johnson

I would like to add a tip for finding your rental car or your own car in the WDW parking lot. I make a large Mickey head out of black construction paper and attach it to the inside of the back window of the vehicle. On the Mickey in large white letters is our family last name and state! This worked great in our earlier years visiting the parks when we did not stay in WDW resorts. - Robin

For those of you who rent a car, you know that in the parking lots it is nearly impossible to tell them apart and find your own. They are all silver, mid-sized, etc. I always bring my old Mickey antenna toppper and put it on the car as soon as I pick it up. It makes it easier to find the car in those crowded lots. Just remember to get a new one for home. - Rick

To keep the thread, no pun intended, of lost glasses pins/screws going, here is a tip to keep from losing them in the first place -- put a drop of clear nail polish on the thread end of the screw and it will act like Loctite®. - Marc

I saw the tip from the reader regarding getting her husband's eyeglasses repaired at the Magic Kingdom watch store. On our trip in April, the screw in my mother's eyeglasses came out. We were staying on property and called the front desk to see if they would happen to have an eyeglass repair kit. They did and promptly brought it to our room-free of charge. My mother now carries it in her purse for any future accidents. - Tracie Smith

Recently, I have discovered that Disney offers recyclable shopping bags. They're very inexpensive and I find (as a teenager) that they function as great waterproof tote bags! - Jacquelyn

All Florida toll road information can be found at http://www.sunpass.com/. There is even a toll road calculator there. - Aaron M.

Just a comment on the sale of shuttle launch tickets. Any follower of the shuttle program knows that tickets can sell out quickly. NOT TO FRET! If you don't have a ticket to get onto the Cape Canaveral grounds, you can stop anywhere along the river at any parking area, or park and see the launch. You will see the shuttle as soon as it crosses your horizon and you will hear it. It is an amazing sight! You might even be better off not getting a ticket, because there is always a chance the launch will not happen for some reason. Go to a park, bring a blanket, some coffee (early morning launch) and enjoy the time. Go early and you will meet some interesting people along the way! - Geri Preisser

Last year we stayed at the Dolphin and found out after booking that they didn't provide a free shuttle from Orlando International. We were able to rent a car through National for a really low rate that was less than four shuttle tickets. It was quick with online reservations and automatic check-in. The best part was I rented it for one day and you can return it at the hotel desk. We saved money, it was a fun drive, and probably quicker than waiting for a service. As a bonus you can stop for supplies on the way. - J. Perry