The Tips That Worked

[quiltymom]

I just wanted to share with you the tips I gleaned from this board that helped us the most during our recent trip. They're not listed in any particular order,

• Taking a photo of the number on the back of every PhotoPass card you receive. I lost mine the last 1/2 hour we spent at a park before leaving for the airport, and I was so happy that I took photos of them!
• Pre-packing each day's clothing - complete with underwear & accessories - into zip-lock bags for each person, marked with the day to be worn and the person who it was for. DH thought I was totally over the top on this one until he realized just how smooth it made our mornings.
• Replacing Pal Mickey's lanyard with a water-bottle strap that they sell at all of the drink carts in every park. The velcro on his doesn't stick together well.
• Asking for a large glass of ice water to drink with your DDP counter service meal so you can save the bottled water for later on in the day.
• Making two lists - one for things to do before going to bed every evening and another for what to do in the morning before going out for the day. I didn't have to think that way!
• Pre-printing and pre-stuffing Mousekeeping envelopes from the Creative DISigns board. I just had to pull out the envelope for the day without having to scrounge around for dollars at the last minute.
• Borrowing towels from your resort to bring along to the water parks (and making sure to return them to the resort that evening). It saved a bit of time when we got there.
• Using a pair of old disposable contacts to wear to the water parks in case you loose them. And that you'd want to throw them away afterwards anyway due to the bacteria from the water, so you'd not be wasting a good pair.
• Putting pennies and quarters for the pressed penny machines into small M&M tubes (perscription pill bottles work well, too.)
• Buying disposable waterproof cameras at home to bring along to the water park - they were twice the price at the resort gift shops - $19.95!!!
• Buying a pop-up hamper from the dollar store for dirty laundry. What a big difference this made in keeping everything clean and organized!
• Bringing along a power strip and/or extension cord with multiple connections for the room for recharging batteries, etc. It also came in handy at the airport, too.
• Bringing along the Bandaid blister protection stick - it saved me from getting blisters from shoes I've been wearing for 6 months!
• And bringing lots of extra batteries from home. I was amazed at the prices of batteries at the parks!

I'm sure there were many more, but these were the big ones for us. I just wanted to share them in case they may be helpful to others, too.

 

[Hedy]

Which did you prefer for pennies-pill bottles or m&m containers?

 

[quiltymom]

We used the M&M containers because the kids liked the colors. They were given to them for Halloween last year, and I just held onto them since then. We decorated them with Disney stickers.

But the pill containers are smaller, and sometimes easier to find than the M&M containers!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

thanx for sharing these GREAT tips

 

[Debi]

These are GREAT tips!! Thank you!

 

[Chipmunk89]

My DH also took a photo of our Park Tickets, and saved the numbers in our phones. We also programmed all the important disney phone numbers in our phones!

 

[OceanAnnie]

All great ideas! Edited- My tips were on another thread. (new to this board)

 

[shakebear]

wow, very very helpful tips, quiltymom!

 

[disneyfan2]

All great ideas! Edited- My tips were on another thread. (new to this board)

ohh, more tips, please post a link to your thread

 

[Gizmo1951]

Thanks for the great tips!

 

[D&DDisney]

- Cutting a sponge in half and adding a dish detergent to the sponge. Let dry and then pack in a ziplock for trip. Great for doing dishes in sink at hotel and much cheaper than premade ones at the store.

- Packing some Crystal Light singles to add to bottled water.

- Ordering take out pizza from off-site restaurant and having it delivered. Much cheaper than using on-site delivery service and you have your choice of toppings and crust.

 

[OceanAnnie]

ohh, more tips, please post a link to your thread

I meant the tips on the thread, "don't forget to pack" that's on this board too.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I love your tips!! Thanks for sharing

 

[palmickey2005]

We used the M&M containers to hold quarters and pennies for the penny pressing machines but the one thing we'll do next time is to pack the containers in our luggage and not our carryon's. My mom was asked each time by airport security to empty her handbag because the M&M containers look suspicious in the xray screening. Either we'll pack them in the luggage or put all the change in ziplock bags for travelling and then stack them neatly in the container once at the hotel.

 

[DisneyJo]

Great tips, I think the most valuable one is the free water at CS meals also if on the DDP always ask for large drinks

Don't forget to make use of FP's, always get another one as soon as you can!!!

 

[quiltymom]

My DH also took a photo of our Park Tickets, and saved the numbers in our phones. We also programmed all the important disney phone numbers in our phones!

Now, that's a good idea! I'll have to remember that for next time. I was so worried about documenting my photopass card numbers that I forgot all about the tickets! But then DH was in charge of them and somehow never looses anything. He's a good man! (He lets me drag him to Disney, too!)

I'm glad that the tips have been helpful, and all the added ones have been great, too.

The one other DIS tip that I forgot to add: Alternate between 2 - 3 pairs of shoes every day. I brought my 3 most comfy pairs of shoes and did this. I never had foot fatigue since my feet were wearing something different.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I forgot I so forgot the tip for a power strip was the best idea for charging 2 cellphones, a camcorder & a digital camera & a sound machine. I would also recommend a sound machine...my children have slept w/one on & off but it was great down there becauce people were running & talking LOUD pass the room.

 

[vmickey]

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

 

[scrappin]

Thanks so much - these are great tips!!!!!!

 

[Dawn68PA]

The pop-up hamper tip - I use these at my house, never thought to take them on a trip I always just took a trash bag

Rotating shoes is another good tip I didn't think about.