WDW – General Tips (ours)

Photos

PhotoPass is being replaced by Memory Maker, check out details here: http://www.mydisneyexperience.com/memorymaker

Keeping Cool:

From the The Walt Disney World Moms Panel:

  • Visit the parks in the morning and the evening when the summer crowds and sun are less intense. Go back to your resort for a swim, lunch or afternoon siesta in between to cool off.
  • Purchase some clip-on fans for your stroller. We bought these for my boys and coupled with the canopies on their strollers, they stayed cool even on the warmest days.
  • Spend an afternoon at DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney. This indoor, interactive amusement park has games and attractions for kids of all ages, a great restaurant and lots of air conditioning!
  • Carry along a soft-insulated cooler bag with plenty of water and/or juice boxes for everyone in your family. If you can, stick everything in the freezer the night before. The beverages stay super cold during the entire day. Include a zip lock bag with a wet wash cloth. These work great for quickly cooling off sticky, sweaty kids in the parks.
  • When all else fails hit the water parks. It’s just about impossible to be hot when you are soaking wet!

Strollers:

Of course Disney rents strollers, but they can not be taken out of the park.  For Park Hopping, just show the rental stub and pick one up at the next park. The disadvantage to not having them at your resort is if your room is away from the main building (where the food court and buses pick up), it can be a long walk or carry.

We have not used these, but have seen recommendations on MouseOwners.com. Most (if not all) of these services deliver the strollers to the hotel you are staying at. If you use one of them, please let me know what your experience is with them.

http://www.magicstrollers.com

http://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com

Other option: Buy a very inexpensive stoller from Wal-Mart upon arrival in Florida. On the very last night look around for a parent who looks exhausted from carrying their child all day and then give the stroller to them. Pass it on! (of course if you are driving, then you probably have room to bring one)

Other Tips:

My college roommate Keith, sent me a passporter.com enewsletter in 2009. It had so much great information in it, I subscribed to the newsletter, but I would never read the book (nothing against them, I just wouldn’t make time to read the book), so I didn’t buy it, ha!

Also:

  • Specialty Cruises:
    There are a number of cruises throughout the parks. Some are free and some are not.  The free cruises take you from one location on another, example: Port Orleans to Downtown Disney.  From the Seven Seas Lagoon (right outside Magic Kingdom) Cruise you can watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. I’ve heard it is one of the best places to watch them during crowded seasons.  Most cruises hold up to 10 people, depending on the boat size. To book ahead, call 407-WDW-PLAY or (407-939-7529). (complete list at:  http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/specialty-cruises/ )
  • Albatross Treasure Cruise:
    Children learn “The Legend of the Albatross” aboard a ship that’s bound for treasure-filled ports of call at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Marina. The bold exploration ends with a satisfying lunch and a divvying up of the loot! For ages: 4-12; requires advanced reservations.
  • The Pirates League:
    http://www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/pirates-league/
  • And here are some pics from a “fan” site:
    http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2009/06/pirates_league_magic_kingdom_1.html
  • A complete list of their “Special Experiences” is at:
    http://www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/
  • Also a few more at:
    http://www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/
  • Full list of Restaurants:
    http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants/
  • Mom’s Panel:
    Is a great place search for/ask questions: http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/
  • Candy Making on Main Street U.S.A. — If you want to find out what candies are being produced each day of the week on Main Street, call 714-781-0112 and listen to a recorded message.
  • Portrait sessions:
    There is a resort-based portrait service in conjunction with the PhotoPass product.  The PhotoPass portrait sessions are based out of select Walt Disney World resorts including the Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House), Beach Club, Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge. The basic photography package includes 20 minutes of time with a PhotoPass photographer.  The photographer will take an unlimited number of photos throughout the resort during the designated timeframe.  Guests have the freedom to select multiple setup locations both inside and outside of the resort.  Setups can include an entire family / group, select family members or individual portraits.
  • The base cost for the portrait session is currently $99.95 (DVC members get a discount rate of $79.95).  The price includes 20 minutes of time with the photographer (additional time available for a fee), a CD with copies off all photostaken during the session and a legal release to reprint the photos.  The package also includes select hardcopy prints of the guest’s choosing.  Several print packages are available:
    • (2) 8 x 10″ plus (3) 5 x 7″ prints
    • (2) 5 x 7″ plus (8) 4 x 6″ prints
    • (7) 5 x 7″ prints
  • For reservations call 407-934-4004 or stop by the PhotoPass desk located in the lobby of one of the participating resorts.
  • www.mousesavers.com has some good information including a few free things Disney offers!
  • Non Park Activities – Here is a great blog post about other activities WDW offers that you may not be aware of.  The post is promoting these activites for “Grooms” but that activities would be fun for any “Adult.”  A few include:

Booking:
Anchors AwayCruises, 1-800-966-2469

BTW – We are Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members and love it, more information about it from us is here.

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