Tips about Souvenirs and Special Needs

I just wanted to add that it's best to use older pennies in the pressed penny machines. Starting in the middle of 1982, the US Mint switched from copper pennies to zinc pennies with a thin layer of copper. When you put these pennies through the pressed penny machine, you get a kind of "marble cake" appearance with the zinc sometimes peeking through. Some people like this effect, but I prefer to search through my pennies and find the older ones to use. - John Hayes

The images on new shiny pennies are a lot clearer than old used pennies! I suggest you roll up your pennies and head right to the bank to exchange for a brand new roll! - Cathy

Last year one grandchild got the postcard I sent from Walt Disney World, and the other one never did, so this year I took a business envelope and sent them both to their mom. They both got their cards. I also took a small padded envelope and sent a group of postcards to the first-graders in a class where I am a volunteer. (And the money saved on postage paid for the envelope!) - Deborah L.

Another idea to control the "I wants" from your kids. My daughter earned money before going on our trips. Sometimes she collected cans to recycle, sometimes she did chores around the house. She was much more selective about her choices and valued her souvenirs much more. - Suzanne P.

Another idea to control the "I wants" from your kids. My daughter earned money before going on our trips. Sometimes she collected cans to recycle, sometimes she did chores around the house. She was much more selective about her choices and valued her souvenirs much more. - Suzanne P.

My mother suffers from arthritis and while she is not ready for a wheelchair, walking and standing for a long time wreak havoc on her knees. She brought along a portable 3-legged golf chair and it was a lifesaver. It is collapsible and has a handle that can be used when walking (almost like a cane). She was able to use this while we waited in lines or stopped for a parade. Several people remarked what a great idea it was. If it wasn't able to go on a ride with us, we left it with our strollers. (I think it was only not allowed on two rides.) It cost $20 at a local Steinmart. Note: When looking for these chairs make sure that you don't buy one with a sharp end that is meant for grass. - Laurie Kent

The handicapped parking for the Ticket and Transportation Center gets you closer than the acres of normal parking, but still may be a long walk to the ferry or monorail, especially if those in your group do not have wheelchairs along. If we have elderly in our group with a handicapped parking permit, we head for the normal parking lots. Show your parking permit to one of the parking lot Cast Members and you may park in one of the first parking slots, closest to where the parking lot trams pick up. Less walking for those who can't get around as well, and everyone can ride the tram -- a Disney attraction in itself. - Jeremy S. of Waupun, WI

I just wanted to share this tip for traveling with an autistic child, as it was a lifesaver for me. Most restrooms in WDW have the automatic flush sensor, which can be very loud and frightening to an autistic child, or any child with sensory issues. I purchased a Walkman cassette player with headphones at Walmart. Every time my daughter needed to use the restroom I would put the headphones on her and hit the play button. Instead of the noise of constantly flushing toilets she was listening to her favorite Disney songs. It worked like a charm. By the end of the trip she would even try the restrooms without using her headphones! - Karen McAuley

We secured one of those D-ring keychain clips to the stroller handle with a Velcro strap. It was a handy place to hang all of our souvenir shopping bags that we would accumulate! - Jackie Beering

I was a lucky kid -- visited Disney three times before graduating high school... One of my favorite souvenirs from Disney is my sterling silver Doc charm. My sisters and I got silver charm bracelets while in elementary school, and whenever there was an "event" or trip we'd get a silver charm to commemorate it. I've since married and have three daughters of my own. The girls each have a silver charm bracelet and plan on adding another character charm for each of our visits to Disney. Who knows? Maybe someday we'll be adding charms to their daughters' bracelets! - Suzanne Vallillo

Just call 1-407-363-6200 -- WDW Merchandise Guest Services! You can order just about anything they sell at WDW! Holly