Inspired by best tips; What tips have you recieved that were pointless?

[mom23boys]

I'm curious, of thse of you who said afternoon breaks were worthless how old were your kids? I am planning them for my 4 and 2 year olds. Thanks!

I have taken my kids at all ages, the last trip they were 9, 4 and 1 1/2. The youngest slept in his stroller. This trip he is 3 and we are planning the same thing, stroller napping in the shade. Going back the the room for a nap never worked for us either.

For us it was better for them to go all day and through dinner, then to bed early around 9:00. We really do not do much at night at WDW, because we are up so early.

 

[Keebles]

I've thought of a few more:

We also have never had to use a Fastpass and hope to keep up the tradition this time (although with the free-dining thing, my hopes aren't too high). I don't mind standing in line for 20-30 minutes, it's part of the experience to me...people watching, checking out the cue area, etc.

We don't supply ourselves with snacks, drinks...another part of the experience for us is eating the Mickey ice cream bars and drinking the $2 cokes. We always get refillable mugs (one to use and one to keep precious) and half the time end up filling them with $2 cokes! Wasteful, yes, but who cares, it's Disney!! It's the one time of the year I can be frivolous!

We are, however, gonna do the midday break thing this time. We don't have kids and it's just me and my sister, but last time by about 6 pm we were run down and I think that a midday break will give us that extra boost to actually be able to enjoy PI this time! At least we will try it for a few days and if it doesn't seem to be working, we'll stop.

But having said all that, I wouldn't trade 99% of the information I got off these boards for all the tea in China! And I do agree that you have to do what's best for you and your family!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are ones that carry a backpack stuffed like we are going to a third world country for a month. We didn't use the vast majority of that stuff. The one day I thought I was getting a blister we just stopped at First Aid. The day it poured rain we bought umbrellas because our ponchos were just cheap Dollar Store ones and it was MONSOON rain that lasted ALL day. The weather was so bad we didn't need any sunscreen, and it was January so it was cold enough that we hardly had any exposed skin! The backpack was great for the camera and the autograph book. All the other crap was probably expendable.

We did buy some snacks to keep in the room and we ended up hauling most of them back home with us on the plane. Stupid, stupid. The bottled water we bought ended up being left in the room because it was too heavy to lug home. Every morning DH would put a bottle of water in the backpack, and every evening that same bottle of water would still be in there, unopened! I tried to get him to leave it since it made the backpack heavier, but NO, he had to bring it along. I did buy a Brita filter bottle that we will take in October, but if we aren't drinking from it I will dump the water OUT so it won't be so heavy!

We liked our mugs. We filled them with nasty coffee when we headed out in the morning, and refilled them with soda (or lemonade) when we came back in the evening. At the parks we locked them in a locker.

DS liked the glo sticks just fine - we already have plenty of light-up toys at home. Back at the room we found the glo stick made a decent nightlight (which was a tip from the DIS )

I was really worried that I couldn't find an over-the-door hanging shoe holder to keep my clutter off of the sink. But during our trip I didn't find our sink to be THAT cluttered. It was fine.

 

[figmentfan1]

We have small kids and have gone to WDW when DS was 8 months, then again when DS was 3 and DD was 6 months. Since we end up with 2 strollers, we bring a lot of junk, including snacks. I especially pack sipees (on cold packs or in cooler) with milk and juice. My kids always decide they need something to drink when there isn't a vendor in sight (like on bus or ferry). I also bring fruit snacks, God knows we can't live without those.

I have found that the nap thing depends on the time of year. When we've gone in the summer... yes you need a nap. The heat REALLY wears out the little ones. When we went in October it was cool and the kids were content to stroller nap. We are glad that DS doesn't really nap anymore (they have a 30 min rest period in pre-school) and he doesn't nap at all on weekends anymore... my DD is always fine with a stroller nap... we (the adults) are content to take a 15 minute sit break in a show, at a meal, or on a bench. Besides, I hate especially leaving MK, the ferry/monorail thing is SUCH a pain!

je

 

[twinz]

For me the biggest useless tip is that you have to stay on site to have a great time (or a magical time). I have done both and don't mind staying off site to save a tun of money. Yes the drive can be long after a long day in the parks, but I would drive when we stayed on site cause I can't be bothered fighting the nightime crowds. That's really all I can think of, the rest have been pretty good tips.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I wouldn't trade 99% of the information I got off these boards for all the tea in China!

So true!

 

[homedad]

thanks for all your answers, my son 4 1/2 really dosn't need to nap but maybe 2 times a week. DD2 loves and still takes a 2 hour nap every day. We will see how it goes and if worst comes to worst I'll nap(i'll need one) with my daughter and let grandparents chase my son at the pool.

 

[disneynewbee]

A tip that did not work for us was to take dramamine for motion sickness before mgm or universal if you tend to get motion sickness. I had bought the kind that is SUPPOSED to Not make you tired. Me, my husband, our 11yo daughter, and his 13yo brother took them before mgm just in case. Well we felt like zombies. I felt like even toothpicks would not be able to keep my eyes open. We took the ferry over to boardwalk to eat at beaches and cream for lunch and slept the whole way there however the nap didn't even help we were still exhausted and grumpy because we were so tired. It felt like it would never wear off. I would rather puke anyday than feel like that. It was like I was in the twilight zone.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I've taken that before and felt just as you did - the crushing weight on my eyelids and my shoulders, making me feel like I just couldn't take another step. However, I noticed that the fatigue wore off after 2-3 days, so the next time I used it I started taking it at home and felt great during the vacation. I don't like the idea of having medication in my system for so long, but once the overwhelming sleepiness went away, it was worth it to *not* feel like throwing up. Since then my children have grown enough to ride the nausea-inducing rides without me, so I just don't bother with it at all anymore.

 

[PatsGirl]

I guess I'm pretty surprised that purchasing MM or TInkerbell gifts before you leave is getting a bad rap

I have done this every trip. I buy most of the gifts from DisneyDirect or DisneyDeals (I always forget which it is) and only buy ones that were sold at WDW parks. Not only do they have the WDW label but often the price tag is still attached as well. I purchase gifts at 75% off and leave them for each evening as they coincide with the park that day. Example: First night the kids will get autograph/pen sets, 2nd day they are getting towel backpacks (one Stitch/one Lizzie), 3rd day they are getting character pjs, etc. etc. but they get MK items on the day we go to MK (MM and MM baseball caps), Epcot items (wallet/purse) on the day we go to Epcot.

Anyways, there is no way I could afford to let them pick out souveniers from the park gift shops each day. Of course, they have their own spending $$, usually about $15/day and can buy whatever they want with that as well. It's always fun to go in the gift shops to look around and purchase only those "HAVE TO HAVE IT" items

 

[tlbwriter]

Well, okay, I don't believe in the daily gift. I think being at WDW is enough of a daily gift. But if I were going to do that, I think the way you're doing it is a good idea, since it also allows for special purchases in the parks. I just think expecting pre-purchased "souvenirs" to replace souvenirs bought in the park altogether is a bad idea.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

RE: souvenirs

I think my family must be weird, because we have never really been into the souvenir thing. We each tend to choose one memento of the trip as a whole, and that's that. Of course, since we get only one thing, we do buy it there, typically near the end of the vacation. Our first WDW trip, I remember getting a photo album for the family, and the kids asked for the magic-towel washcloths! Last time, each chose a stuffed animal from a kiosk at AK and I bought a backpack. Strange souvenirs, now that I think about it! I'm actually happy in our eccentricity, though, as it seems it's been saving us a good bit of money (we'd rather spend it on food, I guess)!

 

[Drizzo67]

I so agree with spending the money on food. MY DH and I love to eat our way through the parks. My DS and DD each earn money to spend in WDW by doing chores etc before the trip. (Not the first trip, that was a surprise) and family members seem to get them Disney Dollars for birthdays, good report cards, etc. As they shop regularly at the Disney Store it is really hard to pre-buy souviners. They just enjoy buying their own stuff too much.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

To me, the tip about buying souvenirs for your kids before you even get to WDW is useless. Those are souvenirs of a trip to Wal-Mart, not WDW! I can't imagine my daughter falling in love with something she sees in the store and being satisfied with "Sorry, honey, we can't get that, but Mommy has some Mickey Mouse pencils back at the hotel for you."

These tip don't are definitely based on the people using them...

I think this has to be age specific. My 2 are under 5 and not into checking out the tags. Toddlers tend to be more quantity orientated than where the item was actually purchased. I have prebought some Disney stuff but it will not take the place of actual WDW souveniers. The kids (3 & 4) will be able to pick out a set amount - monetary or # wise while there. The pre-purchased stuff is to make the drive a little easier on us parents and also to get them in that Disney mood before we get there as well as maybe a couple tink gifts. No way I could get there and purchase something every day but they are getting new Disney sunglasses, pjs's, battery operated fans, hats for the sun, cups for the car, and a few other "surprises" that they wouldn't be getting had it not been for clearance sales at our local disney store.

Also I plan on starting the trip with a small bag to bring in camera, small carry on sunblock for reapplication, a change of clothes for kids in case they get wet or messy (not heavy items), extra set of recharged batteries for camera and yes maybe even a snack or two in case the kids get the munchies and we are waiting in line or for a parade. Again not against purchasing food in the parks as we are already getting a great deal with the free dining plan but if waiting for something we won't want to exit stage left to find a kiosk that sells chips, etc.

Worst tip so far looking backwards/forwards...You must break back at the hotel - I know my kids will fall asleep enroute as others have commented. And a #1 tip I got was why plan so much??? When you get there just go with the flow - with this attitude we wouldn't be able to see/do half the things we want or eat at some of the places we really want to try...CRT??? People really don't understand the size and involvement of WDW and everything it has to offer - I couldn't plan out every minute but I think that you should have a basic plan.

 

[Blueberry]

Most advice is very good here but not everything works for everyone and a lot of you will find will not work for your family...

I tried the deoderant spray on your feet to avoid blisters and it did not turn out good. My feet felt slippery all day long and it discolored the soles of my good sandals so they now look dirty from the deoderant being on my feet. I did not get blisters but I normall now do not get blisters anyway.

A few years ago Mister Fans were something that everyone recommended here for summer heat. We brought our two from Walmart and carried them to the parks ONE DAY...Being full of water they were heavy and we found that it only made you feel hotter as the mist made you sticky feeling.

 

[tlbwriter]

I think this has to be age specific. My 2 are under 5 and not into checking out the tags.

My 5.5 yr old (when we went) didn't check the tags either. It's just that she wanted to pick out something herself. Anything I had pre-bought, no matter where it came from, wouldn't be an acceptable substitute, even if it cost five times more and was personally signed by Cinderella.

 

[MelodyMack]

"
We actually brought some "healthy" snacks on our first family trip in 2000 because DD was only 5 and a "constant snacker" vs. a meal eater. Beyond that trip, we've never done it again. I limit the kids to one or two per day because it certainly can get expensive, but even I would rather eat a Mickey Bar from MK than a granola bar from home!

Sammy, was curious what age your daughter got out of the constant-snacker era. Mine is 4, and we battle EVERY DAY about sitting and eating with the family. I need a speck of hope that this will pass...HELP ME CHICA!

Mel

 

[Amyality]

To me, the tip about buying souvenirs for your kids before you even get to WDW is useless. Those are souvenirs of a trip to Wal-Mart, not WDW! I can't imagine my daughter falling in love with something she sees in the store and being satisfied with "Sorry, honey, we can't get that, but Mommy has some Mickey Mouse pencils back at the hotel for you."

I agree with this totally. We don't buy our kids many trinkets at WDW but, they do get to pick one or two and they must be special reminders of a magical experience at the parks. Handing over some random object purchased ahead of time makes no sense to me and definitely falls under the useless tip department in my book.

 

[Sammy]

Sammy, was curious what age your daughter got out of the constant-snacker era. Mine is 4, and we battle EVERY DAY about sitting and eating with the family. I need a speck of hope that this will pass...HELP ME CHICA!

Mel

I PM'd you!

 

[chrismb22]

Ok, I'm sitting at my desk laughing hysterically at this because I almost fell victim to some of theas and then stopped myself when I realized my suitcase would be double the size.

My favorites were -- a candle for the bathroom (which I packed and then unpacked) and then a powerstrip.

But to be fair though it's only me and my boyfriend so a lot of this stuff doesn't pertain to us. We can come and go as we please and if we don't like something, oh well. We WILL be getting the mugs though -- we are morning coffee freaks and will need them before we leave for the parks.