I love your welcome bags! Wow... that must have taken a lot of time and effort. I am working on mine as well and was wondering if you could post a close-up of your Welcome Newsletter and Guest Tips Packet to give me some ideas. Your folder of goodies looks amazing!
I don't have the newsletter uploaded, but I can post an image tonight hopefully. I decided just to copy over the text of the tips in case you want to borrow any of them for your packet too. If you want them emailed to you just send me a PM.
General Tips:
Did you know?
Walt Disney World is the number one honeymoon destination in the world.
Fast Pass learn to love them! They are in every park and on the most popular rides. This system allows you to stick your ticket into a machine which and then you get a Fastpass printed that lists a time to come back and ride your attraction. You can get one fast pass every two hours or five minutes after your current fast pass is valid. Great rides for FastPass at Magic Kingdom - Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain; Epcot - Test Track, Soarin, and Mission: SPACE; Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest, Kiliminjaro Safari; Disney Hollywood Studios - Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Another tip for Fast Pass -send one member your party (the fastest walker) to the attraction with all of your groups tickets, so they can get the fastpasses then meet back up with everyone to save on time.
If you do not mind being split up some popular rides offer a line of single riders. It will help if you do not have a fastpass and you want to get in and out. This works out great on rides like Test Track at EPCOT.
If you're staying at a WDW resort, tell the CM you want your purchases sent to your resort. This service is free to resort guests, & your package will be sent to resort shop for you to pickup the following day, so you dont have to worry about carrying it around. Remember this only works if you arent checking out the next day. If you're not a Disney resort guest, you can have your package sent to the main entrance for picking up as you leave the park.
EPCOT Tips:
Did you know?
More than 30 tons of the fruits and vegetables served in Walt Disney World restaurants are grown in The Land Pavilion at EPCOT.
- Thirsty? Check out Club Coca-Cola in Epcot for FREE soda from different countries. Make sure to check out Beverly from Italy, it is delicious!
- In Italy, at the World Showcase, wander around behind the shops (where the fountains are) and look for little red press-buttons. If you press the button, water squirts from a different location.
- Excellent viewing for Epcots Illuminations is the bridge between France and the UK
- After watching Illuminations at Epcot, exit the International Gateway and walk around the Boardwalk and Beach Club area. Beaches and Cream has gourmet ice cream at reasonable prices. Ask about the kitchen sink! It contains all their toppings and ice cream flavors. Vanessa, Kris, and her parents attempted this feat once and failed because Kris mint ice cream made everything taste like mint! Boardwalk has a Sweet Shoppe with premium desserts at a lower price than the fancy restaurants. Also, check out a game at the ESPN Zone. When all closes at 11pm, you can hop a bus to Downtown Disney, and then change over to your resort.
- Our favorite attractions at this park are Soarin, Test Track, Mission: SPACE, Journey Into Your Imagination with Figment! Also, take time to check out the great shops in the World Showcase, our top picks are Japan and the United Kingdom.
- Our favorite foods at this park are funnel cakes near the American Pavilion, eating at either of the restaurants in Mexico, Le Cellier in Canada (one of the hardest places to get a reservation at Walt Disny World) or heading out the International Gateway to walk over to Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club for a great burger!
Magic Kingdom Tips:
Did you know?
It would take one person, eating two hamburgers every meal, 4,109 years and 215 days to eat the number of burgers served at Walt Disney World each year.
- While at the Magic Kingdom, wait until the end of the night, right before closing to do the popular rides in Fantasyland. There is usually little or no wait and you can go on all the rides. If you get a chance try to get on Dumbo right around the time of the fireworks, it is so cool to be up in the sky at the same time they are going off.
- On Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, check out the old style phone in the General Store or the Main Street Market House. Pick up the receiver and listen in to a conversation going on. It's one of those old style turn-of-the-century phones, the kind with separate ear and mouth piece. There's another phone in Tomorrowland under the TTA and Astro Orbiter.
- At the shows and 3D rides, if you want the best seat, stay in the middle of the crowd in the preshow area. If you stand right near the doors, you'll have to move right to the end of the row.
- On Buzz Lightyear in Magic Kingdom, aim for the highest targets to score major points! Warning: Vanessas dad is a pro at this game, so watch out for a challenge!
- Need a break? Take a much needed rest by riding around on the People Mover in Tomorrowland. It is a slow attraction that moves on a track which passes through some bigger rides like Space Mountain. Its definitely worth while if youre afraid to ride the rollercoaster then you can at least see the inside of the ride!
- Great viewing for Magic Kingdoms Wishes fireworks is to the right of the castle in the sidewalk area leading down to the water surrounded by roses.
- Our favorite attractions at this park are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Hall of Presidents, Buzz Lightyear, Carousal of Progress, People Mover, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Its a Small World (okay the last is one of Vanessas favorites).
- Our favorite foods at this park are the pineapple dole whips in Adventureland, catching lunch at the Plaza Restaurant, or eating dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern.
Animal Kingdom Tips:
Did you know?
Animal Kingdom contains live plants from every continent on Earth except Antarctica.
- In Animal Kingdom, start early in the day with the Safari while its not hot to see the most animals. Or go when they have extra magic hours for resort guests- the animals will most likely be out later- when its cooler. We prefer going later because it is really hard to drag yourself out of bed that early in the morning!
- In Animal Kingdom on the Kali River Rapids be sure to stop on the bridge after exiting the ride. You'll find two elephants whose trunks will spout water at the unsuspecting riders below if you push their buttons
- Our favorite attractions at this park are Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur, Expedition: Everest, and the Lion King show.
- Our favorite foods at this park are pretty limited. Grab a chocolate covered frozen banana or enjoy some barbecue at Flaming Tree.
Disneys Hollywood Studios Tips:
Did you know?
The coaster track for Rockn Roller Coaster was built first and then the building was constructed around it.
- Look for the key under the doormat at Muppets 3D in Disneys Hollywood Studios. Just after you go through the turnstile, go to your right and you'll find a welcome mat, take a peek underneath it. It is near the Security Office.
- On a corner across from the old Hunchback theatre at Disneys Hollywood Studios, there is a streetlight with an umbrella attached to it. You pull on the umbrella handle and it rains (or more like mists) around you.
- Our favorite attractions at this park are Rockn Rollercoaster, Fantasmic, Beauty & the Beast, Lights, Motor, Action! Stunt Show, and the Great Movie Ride (check out the Wizard of Oz scene for Vanessa.)
- Our favorite foods at this park grabbing lunch at the Sci-Fi Diner, dinner at the 50s Prime Time Café, or splurge for dinner at the Brown Derby.
Did you know? Facts from The Walt Disney World Trivia Book: Secrets, History, & Fun Facts Behind the Magic by Louis A. Mongello.