What Disney Tip Are you really glad you listened to?

[lnhstl]

Phew - I finally made it this far! I'm a Disney newbie (I've been once, in 1987, when I was a kid), so these tips are *awesome*. It's amazing that this thread started before my kids were even born, and now I'm using this thread for advice to take them

Anyway, some general vacation advice from me (I saw it once on this board, but it was very early) - if you wear contacts you may want to pack a spare pair in your bag. I learned this the hard way on a camping trip once. We went out one day and one of my contacts fell out (so I had one clear eye and one fuzzy eye) and we didn't return to our campsite until later that night, by which time I had a massive headache. If this happened to me at one of the parks it would be horrible!

 

[alc571]

I read this entire thread before my October trip and these are the tips I loved most:

1- packing all the days outfits into separate ziplock bags! So easy for DS7, and kept the dirty clothes separate. Also worked well because we did carryon only, so I could make more room by sucking out the air.

2- bought a jewellry organizer that hangs in the closet. Worked well for all our toiletries.

3- used a website to tell me what days to go to what park. Never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride.

4- pre-made and stuffed envelopes for tips. So much easier on the budget.

5- rented a car. It's just easier with a child who is tired at the end of the day. We attempted the bus once (at my request) and I never heard the end of it. It was a trying experience to say the least.

The biggest advice I tried to take, with mild success, was to be flexible with the schedule and to let my son guide the days. I'm a power planner so it was really hard to do, but I just kept reminding myself that so long as I was at Disney, it didn't matter what we did. We did each pick a ride that we had to get in, but after that whatever DS wanted to do, we did. Even if it meant riding Pirates of the Caribbean 8 times in a row!

 

[Mobes]

We're going toWDW in April for 3 days. This will be my first trip there since 1983. My DS loves Star Wars, so I'm hoping to get to to DHS at rope drop to get him into the Jedi Training Academy. Does anyone know if you need to have your park ticket in- hand in order to sign up for the academy? I was hoping to send my DH and DD to get fastpasses for Toy Story for all of us while my DS and myself are going through the sign up process.

Our last trip was April 2011, so not sure if anything has changed, but we were not required to have our park tickets while signing up for the Jedi Academy. The only thing is to make sure that any kids who want to sign up need to be present at the time of sign up.

We did the same thing as you. DW and DS went to sign up while I took all of our 5 park tickets to FP TSM. Tip - get there before rope drop and get as far up in the front of the line as possible. Depending on the time of year, slots for the day can go fast.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Our last trip was April 2011, so not sure if anything has changed, but we were not required to have our park tickets while signing up for the Jedi Academy. The only thing is to make sure that any kids who want to sign up need to be present at the time of sign up.

We did the same thing as you. DW and DS went to sign up while I took all of our 5 park tickets to FP TSM. Tip - get there before rope drop and get as far up in the front of the line as possible. Depending on the time of year, slots for the day can go fast.

I was there last May for Star Wars Weekend and we also did not need our park tickets for signing up; just required that the child participating in the JTI was there for sign ups. My husband and daughter went to get fast passes for Toy Story mania ride. Sounds like a lot do this.

 

[GirlOutlaw]

We're going toWDW in April for 3 days. This will be my first trip there since 1983. My DS loves Star Wars, so I'm hoping to get to to DHS at rope drop to get him into the Jedi Training Academy. Does anyone know if you need to have your park ticket in- hand in order to sign up for the academy? I was hoping to send my DH and DD to get fastpasses for Toy Story for all of us while my DS and myself are going through the sign up process.

Just make sure that ALL kids that are signing up to Jedi Training are present when you sign up it's required, I'd hate for one sibling to miss out while out getting fast passes.

 

[Ashley0408]

I've just spent the last three days going through all these tips. Now have a document thats 22 pages long to go through, organize and put into action!!

I'll post my organized list of everything so people can use it. Maybe be a week or so!! Thanks everyone!

 

[chiburple]

I've just spent the last three days going through all these tips. Now have a document thats 22 pages long to go through, organize and put into action!!

I'll post my organized list of everything so people can use it. Maybe be a week or so!! Thanks everyone!

Wow! Only three days to get through this thread. I'm impressed.
It took me like 2 weeks.

 

[Ashley0408]

Wow! Only three days to get through this thread. I'm impressed.
It took me like 2 weeks.

I may be a little over zealous when it comes to planning... I was going through this stuff like crazy!! I'm now weeding through the C&Ps to get them organized so I can print and put in my disney binder

Oh and lots of very late nights LOL!

 

[KittyyKattyy]

My favorite walking shoes are Keens. They are like sandals, keeping your feet cool! And I didn't blister!

 

[pony2wild]

Add an extra empty plastic bag, like wal mart, etc. to your back pack, big enough to hold your regular walking shoes and socks. When you ride a water ride, slip on your cheap flip flops, put your shoes in the plastic bag, then swap them back when the ride is over.

 

[mommyrants]

Another way of doing this is making a bead bracelet and adding the phone number as beads. My kids are a little older but if smaller you could put it on their ankle

My son won't tolerate this or a safety tattoo. We have a dog tag we can put on a belt loop, but if he is wearing shorts with no loop - I will sharpie my number on his back.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

Wow these were so helpful. Thank you!

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

Another way of doing this is making a bead bracelet and adding the phone number as beads. My kids are a little older but if smaller you could put it on their ankle

My son won't tolerate this or a safety tattoo. We have a dog tag we can put on a belt loop, but if he is wearing shorts with no loop - I will sharpie my number on his back.

I made the bead bracelet for my DD- it was my idea to have something pretty and waterproof. She never wears jewelry so I didn't expect her to wear the beads. I clipped them around her dress straps or pinned it to her shirt. A restaurant CM even noticed it, from a distance, asking if it was our phone number.
Halfway through the trip she got a cheap necklace with a plastic heart with a pic of Tink. I wrote our # on the back and, since it was a new novelty, she wore it!

 

[DisNikki]

My favorite vacation tip may have even come from this board...I can't remember. But I'll repost it because it quickly become a tradition for us!

Whenever we travel, we make sure to take along a supply of stickers - a mix of "girl" and "boy" stickers that are usually from the dollar store - nothing too extravagant. When my kids notice another child crying (usually a preschooler it seems), they grab a sticker and ask the parents if it's ok to give to the upset child. The parents are usually shocked by the question, say yes, and then the crying child is so shocked that someone is giving them something that they stop crying My kids say something like "hope you feel better" and that's it. It's just enough of a distraction in an airport or line or whatever that it gives them all something different to focus on and regroup. And our boys love that they've made another kid happy. Win win!

 

[kdwyer]

My favorite vacation tip may have even come from this board...I can't remember. But I'll repost it because it quickly become a tradition for us!

Whenever we travel, we make sure to take along a supply of stickers - a mix of "girl" and "boy" stickers that are usually from the dollar store - nothing too extravagant. When my kids notice another child crying (usually a preschooler it seems), they grab a sticker and ask the parents if it's ok to give to the upset child. The parents are usually shocked by the question, say yes, and then the crying child is so shocked that someone is giving them something that they stop crying My kids say something like "hope you feel better" and that's it. It's just enough of a distraction in an airport or line or whatever that it gives them all something different to focus on and regroup. And our boys love that they've made another kid happy. Win win!

Great idea!!!

 

[Nana2Callie]

Great idea!!!

Really love this and will certainly add stickers to our list.

 

[MommaBerd]

This thread was invaluable to me two years ago, and I've learned some new tips that have been posted since then, now that I'm planning our next trip!

LOVED the pressed pennies ideas of matting them or using them to decorate a frame!! And, I'm definitely going to buy extra stickers for my boys to hand out.

I saw someone (on this thread?) posting about the chaffing issues. We found that diaper cream helps prevent it (makes sense, right?).

Happy planning everyone!

 

[caselaw3]

What r the stickers for? And is there a Dollar Tree list somwhere? I keep seeing posts about it

 

[caselaw3]

Love the sticker idea! Great job....
Is there a Dollar Tree list posted somewhere? I keep reading posts about it but cant find anything

 

[I Am Flynn Rider]

I went to WDW for the first time on my honeymoon two years ago. I asked DW where she would like to go if she could pick anywhere in the world, and she looked slightly shy, but she said, "I love WDW. It's the most magical place on earth." Who could resist?

I'm so glad I bought and read the Unofficial Guide cover to cover! It helped me understand the world better, have viable information to plan parks and dining even though I didn't have any experience at all. We had an AMAZING honeymoon!

If you get a button, WEAR IT!!! I'm a normal guy and wasn't too thrilled about wearing my button even though my gorgeous bride was so excited about them... Until after the first day. Then, we never went anywhere without wearing our "I'm on my Honeymoon" buttons. Guys, it's worth it, and your bride will smile all day long at the congratulations she hears (and we experienced quite a bit of "extra magic" to boot!).

Go to Ohana! Eat breakfast at Chef Mickeys! Try new food and share it(even if you don't like it, you can laugh about it for years!) Eat a Dole Whip! And make ADR's for SURE!!! (Don't give up if you don't get what you want right away... keep checking)

I'm glad we used the dining plan. We are going again for our 2-year anniversary this year, and we are doing the plan again. It's prepaid, so we don't bother looking at prices. It made it more magical for us to be able to eat whatever sounded good on the menu.

Don't forget that you are on vacation. People are people. Smile at them. Treat them nicely, especially the CM's. Stop and smell the roses, look for hidden mickeys, enjoy a parade even if you're not a parade person (you just might change your mind!), and don't stress over what does and doesn't happen! Take a nap if you need it, and take every opportunity to appreciate the magic around you. The smells, the sights, the feel of WDW are like nowhere else. Don't miss it!

Thanks for all the tips! I'm new to the DIS, but a fan for life!