What Disney Tip Are you really glad you listened to?

WooPigScientist · Apr 15, 2015

I thought you get free shipping if you are a Staples Rewards member (their free rewards program)? I haven't ordered water from Staples, but when I order our office supplies we always get free shipping because of my Rewards card.

feet1 · Apr 15, 2015

This is awesome to know...I'm not signed up for their reward program, but you know I'm going to now!!

WooPigScientist said:
I thought you get free shipping if you are a Staples Rewards member (their free rewards program)? I haven't ordered water from Staples, but when I order our office supplies we always get free shipping because of my Rewards card.

capegirl · Apr 29, 2015

Enjoy your resort, and don't forget to get a FP for Wishes! pixiedust:

rockyfigment · Apr 30, 2015

Shower Curtain and clips!!! I have a 3y/o boy and for one of our trips my mom gave me this little bag with a shower curtain and some clips in it. I had no idea what it was for. She told me that when it starts raining to put the curtain over the stroller and clamp it closed (with the baby out of the stroller of course lol). It worked wonders and kept the stroller mostly dry.

erk711 · Jun 15, 2015

Frogg toggs! Thanks for the suggestion, it was a lifesaver on the more humid days!

Iluvthemouse · Jun 16, 2015

Take a break during the day. Get there before rope drop, go back to your resort early afternoon, rest/do laundry/swim, then head out. DH and I used to get there at rope drop and stay the whole day in the park until we were both miserable, cranky, tired, etc. Not worth it.

TheFairestOfThemAll · Jun 30, 2015

This is great info!! Thank you everyone for sharing!

ophelia2002 · Jun 30, 2015

With so many replies, these may have already been mentioned but....

Getting a bagllini backpack: http://www.baggallini.com/best-sellers/messenger-bagg/MES160-BG.html#start=3
- I've taken mine to WDW 4 times now and it is AWESOME! Leaves my hands free, big enough for the essentials but small enough to take on rides. I couldn't think of doing WDW without it. BONUS: I bought it in bright ORANGE so my kids can always find me in a crowd

Mailing a package to my resort in advance. Usually I pack rain ponchos, breakfast stuff, sunscreen, and snacks and mail it off a week in advance. Saves me $ and packing space.

Having a flexible plan. For each day, I have a park in mind and within that park a couple of "must do" activities. Everything else is up for grabs, depending on how we are feeling, the weather, crowds, etc. Each time we get to the most important things but don't stress ourselves out over doing EVERYTHING.

Accident · Jun 30, 2015

I think I'm going to be happy with the PP posts bag suggestion, I had been looking for a good smaller bag like this!!!

My already tried it was using garden grocers to pre-order and have some non-disney priced food delivered to the room. Huge difference in cost over paying disney for everything.

Using the Hess Gas Station for some things they would sell that is walking distance from planet hollywood was also a great tip and not out of the way to get some things we needed but didn't want to pay to get to the store for.

Ashley0408 · Apr 28, 2016

quagmire0 · Apr 28, 2016

ophelia2002 said:
With so many replies, these may have already been mentioned but....

Getting a bagllini backpack: http://www.baggallini.com/best-sellers/messenger-bagg/MES160-BG.html#start=3
- I've taken mine to WDW 4 times now and it is AWESOME! Leaves my hands free, big enough for the essentials but small enough to take on rides. I couldn't think of doing WDW without it. BONUS: I bought it in bright ORANGE so my kids can always find me in a crowd

Mailing a package to my resort in advance. Usually I pack rain ponchos, breakfast stuff, sunscreen, and snacks and mail it off a week in advance. Saves me $ and packing space.

Having a flexible plan. For each day, I have a park in mind and within that park a couple of "must do" activities. Everything else is up for grabs, depending on how we are feeling, the weather, crowds, etc. Each time we get to the most important things but don't stress ourselves out over doing EVERYTHING.

I second the Baggallini. You'd be surprised by how much you can pack in that little thing. When I see people toting backpacks and large diaper bags and I've got this little baggalini for my 3 kids, I have to smile.

WooPigScientist · Apr 28, 2016

quagmire0 said:
I second the Baggallini. You'd be surprised by how much you can pack in that little thing. When I see people toting backpacks and large diaper bags and I've got this little baggalini for my 3 kids, I have to smile.

I have to admit, I like my backpack better. I really wanted to like the Baggallini messenger, but mine tries to slide up my back and over my shoulder anytime I bend over from the waist, even just to lean down a bit to my kids. The problem may be me - I want to wear it sitting at my lower back/hips, not mid-back, so maybe I'm wearing it with the strap too loose. Or maybe I've got too much junk stuffed in it! I was impressed with how much you can put in it and it had enough pockets and compartments for me to sort our stuff a little. The little zipper pocket in the strap was nice too.

My backpack is the Vera Bradley Lighten Up in the smaller size (I think they may call it medium?). Very lightweight, enough compartments for sorting and organization, and stays where I want it. Plus, it's pretty

One tip I have: If you will have reusable cups (resort mugs, refillable water bottles, etc), buy some of the Bounty paper towels with Dawn infused in the towels. I can get them at one of our local hardware box stores (Menards) in travel-type sizes, maybe 5 to a pack for $1.00. They are awesome. Much more convenient for me than bringing a travel size Dawn or soaking bits of sponge in dish soap.

baildrk · May 1, 2016

Depending on when we know about the trip we always start a change jar(usually a old juice container one of the big ones) and a dollar jar(same concept) we will switch to cash for most purchases outside of bills and throw all the change in and if we have any extra bills we will throw them in the other. You wouldn't think you could get a lot of cash from the change one but we are always surprised on how much we cash out, then depending on how the kids were before the trip they get a set amount from that to do whatever they want with i.e souvenirs, extra snacks and drinks.

Corey510 · May 1, 2016

barbaraann said:
Everyone had a first time for going to Disney. You remember, people heard that you were going, and lots of them gave you advice. Or perhaps, if your like me, you read everything that you could get your hands on. Well which items of advice did you listen to? Be it a practical one or a magical one. On my first trip with my 4 year old grandson, I am glad I listened when someone told me to ask to sit in the front of the monorail. We did that our first night on the way to Epcot and it was wonderful. Definitely do a character meal, I was advised. We did three, and they were all special in their own way. I also remembered hearing something about O'hana and dinner and fireworks. It was my birthday and we had spent the afternoon at Downtown Disney, which was a disaster. It was about 8 o'clock and we were back at our hotel, I was starved. We thought about room service. I remembered somewhere about asking for seating at O'hanas, you might be able to get in without a PS. It was not a busy season. We got seated, it was my birthday, I got serenaded to the tune of Hawaii 50. It was my 50th birthday. We saw the fireworks from the restaurant and it was all spur of the moment. I simply remembered, at the right time, of course, and my birthday was really magical. So you all have them. What is the one piece of advice you are glad you listened to? Practically or Magically?

Should I take a stroller or rent one from Disney?

roycemi · May 1, 2016

Watch Wishes from Be Our Guest. You'll have fireworks shooting up on both sides of you and there's a speaker by the bridge playing the soundtrack. And the crowds are small!

barbaraann · May 2, 2016

Wow, this thread that I started back in 2005, is still around. I am surprised at it's longevity. In 2005, I had been to WDW about 3 times. Now, my visits number double digits.

I can't/won't give advice about strollers. My first trip to WDW was in 1997 with a 4 year old, and the stroller came in handy for naps. Mostly my grandson wanted to run, run, run. Now that little boy is 23 years old, and doesn't have any desire to visit the "mouse". I still go, and I am amazed at the number of strollers in the parks. Back in 1997, I saw only park strollers. Now, people seem to mostly bring their own. Not sure what rental costs are nowadays, but that would be a factor in planning. Also, having one's own stroller means that the child has access to it, in other places besides the theme parks. I guess I did just hand out a small amount of advice there, didn't I?

2pinwheels · May 20, 2016

Someone on here mentioned packing a collapsible/pop-up laundry hamper.

I did that. Took up almost no room in my luggage. I put kitchen bags in it (3 for one week). Once a bag filled, I closed it up and placed in my dirty clothes suitcase.

Helped keep our room organized and made packing for home a breeze.

Maybe I'll add a dryer sheet to the bags based on a previous tip...

pfeifer14 · May 20, 2016

Why didn't I think of that collapsible laundry hamper idea and kitchen bag w/ dryer sheet? It's perfect. I am going to do that for all my future trips!

Murron · May 21, 2016

Ok...have not read every post and this tip seems very simple, but honestly I just didn't think! Ice. I would come back to the villa every afternoon/evening. (DVC so we had a fridge), and grab the ice bucket, walk (3 miles down the hall uphill both ways) to get ice for my pinot grigio (or my knees...that's another story). Those who own in BWV get the 3 mile humor. Anyway, my husband just got the bucket, filled it to the brim with ice and stuck the whole thing in the freezer. It was one of those moments when I thought....good grief why didn't I think of that. Ice readily available for a few days before refill. :worship:

Gotta admit I felt purely stupid. =)

mommycrawford · May 25, 2016

Corey510 said:
Should I take a stroller or rent one from Disney?

I recommend bringing an umbrella type because, when your little ones are sleepy and you are leaving the park, if you rent, you will be carrying them!

What Disney Tip Are you really glad you listened to?

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