To the CM's on the board: what is the one "tip" you can give us?

[Howellsy]

Wow! Not really sure what you mean, or that maybe you got lucky a lot, but I have seen people be denied trying to use a FP that was expired 2 hours. I hope that one would follow the guidelines- and not do like that very same guest and yell at the CM because they waited 2 hours too late.

No need to flame me but that seems pretty harsh to tell someone to buck the system like that...

Most CMs will tell you that you can use FPs after the stated window, just not before. If you look on the back of a FP it actually says 'Cannot accept early arrivals' but says nothing about late arrivals. I have never been turned away after my time window.

 

[skier_pete]

Wow! Not really sure what you mean, or that maybe you got lucky a lot, but I have seen people be denied trying to use a FP that was expired 2 hours. I hope that one would follow the guidelines- and not do like that very same guest and yell at the CM because they waited 2 hours too late.

No need to flame me but that seems pretty harsh to tell someone to buck the system like that...

Please, please, please do NOT turn this thread into a "late-Fast Pass" flame war thread. There are dozens of other threads for that already.

Let's move on with more advice! To the poster that was asking about what to ask about the animal CM in AK, it's simple: "What does the ____ eat? Is it the same thing is in the wild?" that will usually lead to other questions.

 

[krmlaw]

here are tips i keep on a sheet ive collected over the year - many are repeats.

Bring your own bottled water or all of the counter service restaurants in the theme parks give out FREE ice water!

If there are two lines for an attraction, go to the left

Parking at the theme parks – If you will be leaving the parking lot and returning on the same day, be sure to save your receipt. You only have to pay the fee once per day.

Disney’s FASTPASS

The best time to enjoy the shops at Downtown Disney is first thing in the morning during the week. You will feel like you have the whole place to yourself.

Bagalini – if you don’t want to fanny pack it.

fanny pack--yes, they are unattractive, but man, they are handy

buy small fan to use in parks before you go

Mondays tend to be the one most crowded times to go to MK

bring your own poncho and have it with you at all times, each time you use one, throw away and get out another one - Wear the rain ponchos on Kali River Rapids

Go to the Park Early, go back to resort by 12 or 1, then dinner and back to parks

Eating breakfast in the room

Bring individual packages of Kool-Aid, Lemonade, Flavored-drink mix

lay out all the clothes you plan to pack, then put 1/2 back in the closet

arrive @ Epcot around 7:30, grab a table by the water @ El Cantinas, have a margarita and nachos, and watch Illuminations @ 9:00

ride in the front of the monorail with the pilot

Bring more film and batteries than you think you will need

bring Ziploc bags

Buy tickets from Undercover Tourist and sign up for MouseSavers for the extra discount

Dinner at Ohana's

 

[kimmar067]

....and "what are their mating habits?" For some reason, I got those at least once a day and the men always asked!

 

[kimmar067]

In October 2008 we were a party of 10 and had splurged on an Illuminations Cruise. When I told our "captain" we had to get back to POFQ she insisted that it would take us too long to use Disney transportation from YBC and instead dropped us off at a quiet dock at Hollywood Studios so that we could take a single bus back to our resort. With 5 little ones in our party...she got a BIG tip from us! It certainly helped to top off a wonderful evening!

...we had a similar experience. We were going from CBR to AKL for our ressies for Boma and were running a bit late. There weren't many people on the bus to AK (which was our destination so that we could transfer to an AKL bus) - mebbe 11 or 12, including us, and it turns out the everyone on the bus was headed for AKL. Well, the CM, rather than drive to AK, took us directly to AK without even flinching! Needless to say, we made our ressies with minutes to spare!

 

[genetic jackhammer]

Sorry if this has been siad before, don't have time to read the whole thread (I'm at work-shhhhh)....but some of our best experiences at WDW has been the interaction with the street performers at DHS. Not while they are performing of course, but something as simple as asking for an autograph and talking with them is great and they are sooooo hilarious. Especially be on the lookout for Rosie (cleaning lady) and Otto (movie director). Last year our family interacted with Rosie for about 10 minutes, culminating in my getting a big kiss on the cheek. For the rest of the day, all the other CM's anywhere in the park would see the big red kiss mark and exclaim..Oh I see you met Rosie!! Which of course led to great discussions with those CM's. So every year our DD's love going to DHS and are always on the lookout for autographs from the performers.

 

[WizardLarz]

here are tips i keep on a sheet ive collected over the year - many are repeats.

Bring your own bottled water or all of the counter service restaurants in the theme parks give out FREE ice water!

If there are two lines for an attraction, go to the left

Parking at the theme parks – If you will be leaving the parking lot and returning on the same day, be sure to save your receipt. You only have to pay the fee once per day.

Disney’s FASTPASS

The best time to enjoy the shops at Downtown Disney is first thing in the morning during the week. You will feel like you have the whole place to yourself.

Bagalini – if you don’t want to fanny pack it.

fanny pack--yes, they are unattractive, but man, they are handy

buy small fan to use in parks before you go

Mondays tend to be the one most crowded times to go to MK

bring your own poncho and have it with you at all times, each time you use one, throw away and get out another one - Wear the rain ponchos on Kali River Rapids

Go to the Park Early, go back to resort by 12 or 1, then dinner and back to parks

Eating breakfast in the room

Bring individual packages of Kool-Aid, Lemonade, Flavored-drink mix

lay out all the clothes you plan to pack, then put 1/2 back in the closet

arrive @ Epcot around 7:30, grab a table by the water @ El Cantinas, have a margarita and nachos, and watch Illuminations @ 9:00

ride in the front of the monorail with the pilot Can No longer be done!

Bring more film and batteries than you think you will need

bring Ziploc bags

Buy tickets from Undercover Tourist and sign up for MouseSavers for the extra discount

Dinner at Ohana's

Since the 2009 accident this is no longer allowed!

 

[dmoore718]

I had the opposite issue. at Pecos they charged us for 7 CS meals, when we used 3. the concierge at the hotel fixed it for us, no problem.

 

[Kurby]

ride in the front of the monorail with the pilot

you can't do this anymore since the accident last year.

i do hope they bring it back some day - but understand why they aren't doing it righ tnow

 

[kimmar067]

you can't do this anymore since the accident last year...

...too bad....glad that we had the opportunity to do that...

 

[Kurby]

...too bad....glad that we had the opportunity to do that...

oh me too - we had never done it before (never asked and not sure if we even knew we could) but last trip the day we arrived to had lunch at GF. we took the boat over to MK up to the monorail and just asked if it was available - we didn't even have to wait as the monorail arrived in about 2 minutes and the one family left and we got on.

a wonderful ride.

 

[kimmar067]

oh me too - we had never done it before (never asked and not sure if we even knew we could) but last trip the day we arrived to had lunch at GF. we took the boat over to MK up to the monorail and just asked if it was available - we didn't even have to wait as the monorail arrived in about 2 minutes and the one family left and we got on.

a wonderful ride.

...awesome!

 

[ronnmel]

Thanks to those who have responded to me. It's a goal of mine for my next trip, to talk to a few CMs at AK.

Sabbie, i tried PMing you, but I'm too new of a member and don't have enough posts yet. I'm sure that will be rectified soon.

 

[Sabbie]

Thanks to those who have responded to me. It's a goal of mine for my next trip, to talk to a few CMs at AK.

Sabbie, i tried PMing you, but I'm too new of a member and don't have enough posts yet. I'm sure that will be rectified soon.

I'll shoot you a PM - let's see if you can respond!

 

[larryz]

yea, we got yelled at when we did this. I looked at the lady and said "well you could have come over here too"

She and people behind her thought that it was budding...then the CM cheerfully turned and took our order. Because of the Dis, I knew tht it was ok to do this when we took our last trip! (even if noone is in the que infront of you, if its 'open' line up!)

I don't think I'd do that without announcing "Folks, there are two lines here." Otherwise, you are butting ahead of the people standing behind the people at the register...

Now, after saying that, if the sheeple stay in that one line, I'd feel OK with it -- maybe they're one big group...or they like standing in line...

Aw, MAN -- suckered again by a year-old thread...

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I don't think I'd do that without announcing "Folks, there are two lines here." Otherwise, you are butting ahead of the people standing behind the people at the register...

Now, after saying that, if the sheeple stay in that one line, I'd feel OK with it -- maybe they're one big group...or they like standing in line...

Aw, MAN -- suckered again by a year-old thread...

That happens to me all the time too, Larry!

 

[PudgetteD]

I have a big problem with this type of attitude. If I drop my ice cream, it's MY FAULT and I will go buy another one. I don't expect someone to compensate for my clumsiness.

I worked food service for years and can't count the number of people who dropped their food on the ground and expected us to replace it for free. Um... no.

Yet another example of how Disney goes above and beyond. . .

 

[RexB]

Try to do something nice for someone else. We find we have CS left at the end of the trip and buy a CS for the person behind us. [/QUO

I absolutely agree! During our last stay, our family of 5 was unexpectedly treated to breakfast at the Boma by a family who had meals left over on their plan and were getting ready to leave. What a nice treat....that absolutely made my day! I would definately consider paying it forward and doing the same for someone else.

 

[LittleFlounder]

4. Take advantage of First Aid if you need it! I never see enough people who use it, nor even know about it. They're wonderful and can help you with any issues, or direct you for where to go for more advanced help!

This a great tip! Early during my Dec 2009 trip, I got a nasty little cut on the underside of one of my toes, which plagued me the entire week and just would not heal (bottom of foot + flip flips all week ) I visited the first aid center at MK, EP and DHS a few times during the week. They were very friendly and helpful in helping me clean the cut and bandage it up. The would also give me extra bandaids, ointment and alcohol swabs to carry with me in the park. They'll really take care of you. First Aid made my trip much more enjoyable! Don't be afraid to ask them for help, no matter how minor your issue might be.

 

[lllGurulll]

I don't think I'd do that without announcing "Folks, there are two lines here." Otherwise, you are butting ahead of the people standing behind the people at the register...

Now, after saying that, if the sheeple stay in that one line, I'd feel OK with it -- maybe they're one big group...or they like standing in line...

Aw, MAN -- suckered again by a year-old thread...

I feel kind of the same way. As tempting as it would be to just walk on up there, it just wouldn't feel right. I would at least let the people directly in front of me know the line is open and then get in line behind them.

I know how irritated I get when a retail store opens up a new line and everyone behind me benefits from it when I still get stuck in the same line I had been in.