What Disney Tip Are you really glad you listened to?

[TotalSnowWhite]

subscribing!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I haven't read all of the tips, but buying Crocs and a Baggallini bag has made me comfortable while walking through the parks.

 

[Marty Moose]

3. Overland Donner Bag. It did get a bit heavy and the strap would rub my neck a bit but otherwise it was perfect. New tip - buy it in black so DH won't mind carrying it around

I had that same problem with my Donner! Luckily, I noticed before we left and used one of those car seat strap covers on it (the padded ones that velcro around the strap)...worked like a charm!

 

[queensara]

We went to the world with two other families. We combined all of our photopass cards, had them put on one disc, then shared the cost. When we got home we just made two copies of the disc. The disc cost about $120.00, but split three ways not as bad. We had over 600 pictures.

 

[planetcaravan19f]

We went to the world with two other families. We combined all of our photopass cards, had them put on one disc, then shared the cost. When we got home we just made two copies of the disc. The disc cost about $120.00, but split three ways not as bad. We had over 600 pictures.

I am so excited about using photopass, not to brag or anything.. .. but I take great pictures, however my digital camera rechargeable batteries are so unreliable!!! It's nice to know that I will still get lots of great pictures even if my camera is having techincal difficulties!!

 

[pfalcioni]

I take great pictures, however my digital camera rechargeable batteries are so unreliable!!! It's nice to know that I will still get lots of great pictures even if my camera is having techincal difficulties!!

Are they AA or AAA? Have you tried the niMH rechargeables? They last the longest in cameras. Usually Costco or Walmart has a charger with batteries for about $20.

If it's a proprietary battery (canon, nikon, etc) and you're using the cheaper off-brand batteries, they're usually not good at all. Try Amazon for higher quality brands like Lenmar and other Japanese brands. You can get like-OEM quality for about half the price of OEM, but if you're paying $5 for a $50 battery, keep looking!

 

[planetcaravan19f]

Are they AA or AAA? Have you tried the niMH rechargeables? They last the longest in cameras. Usually Costco or Walmart has a charger with batteries for about $20.

If it's a proprietary battery (canon, nikon, etc) and you're using the cheaper off-brand batteries, they're usually not good at all. Try Amazon for higher quality brands like Lenmar and other Japanese brands. You can get like-OEM quality for about half the price of OEM, but if you're paying $5 for a $50 battery, keep looking!

I will look all that up right now
Thanks again!!

 

[Brazoo]

Love the discussion. I am still a green horn to Disney Speak but picking up on your little language. Was at WDW back in college in 1992 and then again on business around 1997. Planning trip there in 2013 when my DD who is 2 1/4 will be 8 and DD - TBD who is being born this coming Feb will be 5. Can tell I am a project planner whom likes to get an early start. Thanks for all the great tips and keep them coming. Looking at doing Xmas 2012 or 2013 there in the land of Magic.

 

[stitchsfourkids]

love these tips. we leave in 9 days and need to start packing!!!

 

[mommy2aprincess4]

subscribing

 

[theparsons]

Love the discussion. I am still a green horn to Disney Speak but picking up on your little language. Was at WDW back in college in 1992 and then again on business around 1997. Planning trip there in 2013 when my DD who is 2 1/4 will be 8 and DD - TBD who is being born this coming Feb will be 5. Can tell I am a project planner whom likes to get an early start. Thanks for all the great tips and keep them coming. Looking at doing Xmas 2012 or 2013 there in the land of Magic.

Ok...I think you win the prize for the longest planner, lol. I thought I was bad when I started researching a little more than 2 years before we were going....five years, wow!

Congrats on the upcoming little one too!

 

[Karmel96]

I'm sure these were mentioned before but, for me:
1) Fit in a break during the day (esp. if you have little ones)

2) Utilize fast pass!

3) Make copies of tickets in case they get lost.

4) Pack snacks from home to eat in the parks (i.e. granola bars, goldfish, etc.) as well as breakfast items. I brought cereal bars, Poptarts and mini-cereal boxes from home (we bought milk at the hotel-POR), as well as plastic bowls and spoons. Saved some money and time!

I'll be doing this all again soon- 38 days!

 

[mma800]

I bought Hula skirts and Leis and Princess costumes at iParty and brought them down for the Luau and Princess Party. I also bought some Disney toys at Walmart and pulled them out one by one for the kids. This saved a bundle on extras. The kids also each had an envelope per day with their own spending money. They could choose their own treat each day (little) or save up for a bigger souvenir.

I did the one outfit per kids in a zip lock bag for the first time in June. It was a huge time/space saver. I was with my best friend and man, was she impressed! 3 kids, 6 days, 18 bags- but it made unpacking and getting out of the door a breeze!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I bought Hula skirts and Leis and Princess costumes at iParty and brought them down for the Luau and Princess Party. I also bought some Disney toys at Walmart and pulled them out one by one for the kids. This saved a bundle on extras. The kids also each had an envelope per day with their own spending money. They could choose their own treat each day (little) or save up for a bigger souvenir.

I did the one outfit per kids in a zip lock bag for the first time in June. It was a huge time/space saver. I was with my best friend and man, was she impressed! 3 kids, 6 days, 18 bags- but it made unpacking and getting out of the door a breeze!

Fabulous tips!! I've been buying little Disney things here and there since we booked (actually, even before ). I'm not sure how I'll do spending money yet. They're 5 turning 6 at WDW and 2 turning 3 at WDW. I know they're getting big gift cards from family before we leave, though. And I think the ziplocs are genius!! Not only are your daily outfits ready to go, but you can throw an extra one in your park gear "just in case."

 

[doodlesmommy]

I like the idea of taking daily pictures for safety,
but not to be mean or blame the parents of Madeleine McCanns in any way, if you don't leave your kids alone in their room.....no one can take them. You can't really compare losing a child in a park and having your child taken in the night. I feel terrible for that family and the guilt that they must be feeling for leaving the kids alone. I must say that it must be a cultural thing, bc if that happened in the US, the media would be tearing those parents to shreads.

sorry to get off topic.

I completely agree. Also, keep in mind that if you do loose your child; their physical discription is more important than the color shirt they are wearing that day. Clothes can be changed. I am so nervous when my little ones get an inch out of my sight. Back to happy tips I hate talking about these things........

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

One of my favorite tips:
Clean and save your soft drink lids or get a couple of spares from a CS location to carry with you.

When you buy the Mickey Mouse ice cream bar or any other kind with a stick, put the stick thru the straw hole. You can wrap a napkin around the stick near the straw hole.

This helps keep you and your kids clean while enjoying those melting yummy ice creams bars.

 

[kimsuenew]

Everyone had a first time for going to Disney. You remember, people heard that you were going, and lots of them gave you advice. Or perhaps, if your like me, you read everything that you could get your hands on. Well which items of advice did you listen to? Be it a practical one or a magical one.

I have three items I am glad we read about/were made aware of before going for the first time!
#1 was about pin trading! I had never heard of it until we went online! I was able to get several official pins from ebay and we had a ball trading in the parks! We bought our lanyards (and a lot more pins) at WDW! All three of us got into this!
#2 was taking pennies and quarters to use in the penny machines. This proved to be a fun and affordable souvenier for our son that did not take up much room!
#3 was getting our own WDW Mr Potato Head's! These are awesome!
I also took some recommendations for places to eat, like Boma's and 50's PT, that we enjoyed!

 

[kimsuenew]

WOW ~ thanks Deekaypee for compiling the pages into a few, easily read posts!

 

[kimsuenew]

Oops, somehow it duplicated my post twice, so I deleted it!

 

[Couturier]

The afternoon breaks were our best tip also! Boy that sure helped! Our 9 yr old daughter even needed it, it lightened up our DRAMA load! LOL

Dana