What I wish I would have known BEFORE getting to WDW!

[gossie]

Hi guys..

I have seen that a couple of you suggest taking your own bottled water into the parks to save on drinks costs.. A while back, I emailed Disney directly to ask them if we could take beverages into the park (for the kids in our family) and they said no.... Are we actually allowed to do it? Just water bottles I mean.. If so, I'll buy them before hand at a convenience store and keep them in out CBR fridge

Thanks for all the GREAT tips xx

 

[Disny4girls]

I just bought moleskin at Target...and I bought body glide at Dick's Sporting Goods...we leave on Wednesday )

oh oh we leave on Friday!! ::::HIGH FIVE:::

 

[Julianna07]

Hi guys..

I have seen that a couple of you suggest taking your own bottled water into the parks to save on drinks costs.. A while back, I emailed Disney directly to ask them if we could take beverages into the park (for the kids in our family) and they said no.... Are we actually allowed to do it? Just water bottles I mean.. If so, I'll buy them before hand at a convenience store and keep them in out CBR fridge

Thanks for all the GREAT tips xx

When we went in January, we took water bottles into the parks and we had no problems at the gates. Though You could ask for a cup of ice water from any CS and they will give it to you for free. Saves on room in the day pack.

 

[jenins121681]

I have an upcoming trip in August, and I was just curious as to what everybody's one thing was who have been to WDW that they thought, "Man, I wish I would have thought to bring this..." or "I could get the EXACT same thing at a dollar store for ten dollars less!", or just some overall tips.

I want to be well prepared for this trip! Any tips or ideas to make our trip easier would be greatly appreciated!!

My best tip is to rent a car and request a refrigerator in your room. When you rent a car you don't have to worry about the long waits for the WDW buses and can come and go as you please. Also the is a super Walmart about 10-15min drive from WDW...where you can get all the essentials (ponchos, batteries, camera memory cards...ect) much cheaper than in WDW. We also bought snacks, breakfast stuff and bottled water there...you can keep the snacks and breakfast stuff in the room fridge....saves alot of money if you aren't on the dining plan...plus you have a place to keep your leftovers cold. Lastly bring a small backpack...with a couple of ziplock baggies inside to keep your wallet/camera etc dry when on water rides. Have a great trip!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Hi guys..

I have seen that a couple of you suggest taking your own bottled water into the parks to save on drinks costs.. A while back, I emailed Disney directly to ask them if we could take beverages into the park (for the kids in our family) and they said no.... Are we actually allowed to do it? Just water bottles I mean.. If so, I'll buy them before hand at a convenience store and keep them in out CBR fridge

Thanks for all the GREAT tips xx

We've never had a problem bringing in water bottles, or for that mattter, a few Diet Coke cans. We also bring in some snacks in zip locs.

A lot of people bring in frozen bottles of water that melt during the day giving you some very refreshing water to drink. Unlike some people, I don't hate the taste of Disney's tap water so when I want some water I just ask for some, with ice, from a vendor. (My mom usually carries the bottles) You can carry those small tubes of Crystal Lite, etc., to add to the water if you object to the taste.

HTH.

Oh, and I agree about renting a car. This will be our 10th trip to WDW and we always rent a vehicle. Haven't used Disney Transportation yet. Saves alot of time when going to other restorts to eat. And saves on souvenirs. Also, my DM refuses to do Disney for 11 days in a row. We always check out other places in Florida. Last year we checked out Merrit Island. Year before was Sanibel Island and Anna Marie Island.

We've even used the car (van) to go to Sams's Club to have pictures developed (before I bought a larger digital card) and grabbed a quick bite-pizza or hot dogs, and a case, or two, of water.

So my tip would be to get a larger media card for your digital camera. And bring at least 2 cards. Also, buy an extra battery if yours doesn't use regular batteries (like mine doesn't). I hate to run out of battery power before the end of the day (on both my still, and video, cam.)

 

[elorapet]

Also the is a super Walmart about 10-15min drive from WDW...

is this Walmart easy to find? You don't happen to have more detailed driving instructions, do you?
any idea of the operation hours?
I am really interested in this info, because this is our first ever trip to Florida and everything is new for us. we are also arriving quite late in the evening after a long drive from Miami. ( We had to take flights to Miami, it was so much cheaper and we can avoid to have a flight change in New York)

 

[princess jackie]

is this Walmart easy to find? You don't happen to have more detailed driving instructions, do you?
any idea of the operation hours?
I am really interested in this info, because this is our first ever trip to Florida and everything is new for us. we are also arriving quite late in the evening after a long drive from Miami. ( We had to take flights to Miami, it was so much cheaper and we can avoid to have a flight change in New York)

There are TONS of Wal-Mart Super Centers from Miami to Disney. I'm sure you will drive past at least 30 of them. Just stop along the way. However, make sure that you check the expiration date on all items. I've noticed that Wal-Mart doesn't look too closely at those things.

 

[Dizneydaz]

is this Walmart easy to find? You don't happen to have more detailed driving instructions, do you?
any idea of the operation hours?
I am really interested in this info, because this is our first ever trip to Florida and everything is new for us. we are also arriving quite late in the evening after a long drive from Miami. ( We had to take flights to Miami, it was so much cheaper and we can avoid to have a flight change in New York)

Here are the directions for the one located at
Wal-Mart Supercenter
3250 Vineland Road
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Open 24 hours.

This is a very nice Wal Mart
(From POP Century)
1 Start out going NORTHWEST on POP CENTURY ACCESS RD toward VICTORY WAY. 0.69 miles
2 Turn RIGHT onto VICTORY WAY. 0.63 miles
3 Turn RIGHT onto E BUENA VISTA DR. 0.67 miles
4 Take the ramp toward I-4/AIRPORT/SR-536. 0.28 miles
5 Merge onto EPCOT CENTER DR. 0.92 miles
6 EPCOT CENTER DR becomes FL-536 E. 1.56 miles
7 Turn RIGHT onto S APOPKA VINELAND RD/FL-535 S/KISSIMMEE-VINELAND RD. Continue to follow FL-535 S.

For directions from another resort, go the walmart.com and enter 34746 for the zip code where it says "find a store". There are several near WDW. You can also plug in Miami airport for starting location.

HTH.

 

[ashleypmo]

Hi guys..

I have seen that a couple of you suggest taking your own bottled water into the parks to save on drinks costs.. A while back, I emailed Disney directly to ask them if we could take beverages into the park (for the kids in our family) and they said no.... Are we actually allowed to do it? Just water bottles I mean.. If so, I'll buy them before hand at a convenience store and keep them in out CBR fridge

Thanks for all the GREAT tips xx

I think bottled water may be a legal thing that theme parks have to allow, or else at the least it's a CYA thing. During a routine bag search at Six Flags one day, they wouldn't let me take in our lunches, but they said the bottled water was okay.

 

[Twins]

Hi,
I've just joined this forum, but I've been lurking since I booked my trip to Disney World. This is my favorite thread and I have learned tons from it. Thanks to advice here I picked up some ponchos at Walmart for 87 cents and light sticks for 88 cents. I bought fans that spray water from Walgreens for $7.99. Now I'm wondering what exactly will I find stocked for use in our Deluxe (Poly and WL) rooms? Coffee Mugs? Disposable drinking glasses? Facial tissue? I have three kids (13, 6, & 6) and intend to have breakfast and some lunches in the room. Should I bring both napkins and paper towels? We are driving, but will have very limited space. I have stayed at the Poly a couple of times, but it has been many years. Our last visit was to the CR nine years ago and at that time they didn't even have refrigerators and safes in the rooms. Thank you.
Twins

 

[Court475]

Subscribing - what GREAT tips!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I think bottled water may be a legal thing that theme parks have to allow, or else at the least it's a CYA thing. During a routine bag search at Six Flags one day, they wouldn't let me take in our lunches, but they said the bottled water was okay.

I think so, too. They used to not allow CM's to drink/eat anything while "on stage" but in the past few years they've changed that to allow for bottled water as an exception. So, if the CM's are permitted to have water, I am sure it's okay for guests to bring in, too.

 

[CathrynRose]

My biggest 'tip' that has never failed me and makes my life easier is:

I ship down all the toiletries, liquids, etc. I ship them UPS, about 5 days before I arrive. I can see it's arrived, before I leave. They then hold it until you check in, as long as you write:

Your Name
Reservation Number and
Day of Check In


On said package.

I no longer have to check my luggage, this way.

 

[fivefordisney]

My biggest 'tip' that has never failed me and makes my life easier is:

I ship down all the toiletries, liquids, etc. I ship them UPS, about 5 days before I arrive. I can see it's arrived, before I leave. They then hold it until you check in, as long as you write:

Your Name
Reservation Number and
Day of Check In


On said package.

I no longer have to check my luggage, this way.

How do you get it home?

Does it cost a lot?

Thanks a million!

 

[Dizneydaz]

How do you get it home?

Does it cost a lot?

Thanks a million!

I'm curious too on the cost and how you get it home.

Thanks.

 

[LanaJae]

I'm curious too on the cost and how you get it home.

Thanks.

If a person shipped travel size items and other disposable/edible things that will be used, it would probably be gone and there's no need to bring anything home.

A person could get quite a lot of things in a USPS Priority Mail flat rate box for $8.95.

The sizes for flat rate are:

11" X 8.5" X 5.5" and 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" x 13-5/8"

 

[CathrynRose]

If a person shipped travel size items and other disposable/edible things that will be used, it would probably be gone and there's no need to bring anything home.

A person could get quite a lot of things in a USPS Priority Mail flat rate box for $8.95.

The sizes for flat rate are:

11" X 8.5" X 5.5" and 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" x 13-5/8"

There ya go! ANd I actually ship it UPS so I have a tracking number, so I know it's there before I leave.

Last time a nice sized box with all my stuff was about $7.

I used my shampoo and conditoner until about half full...same with my body wash....and just tossed it in the box. Travel Laundry soap - box....body scrubbee - box.....contact lens solution - box... you see where Im going.

 

[LanaJae]

There ya go! ANd I actually ship it UPS so I have a tracking number, so I know it's there before I leave.

Last time a nice sized box with all my stuff was about $7.

I used my shampoo and conditoner until about half full...same with my body wash....and just tossed it in the box. Travel Laundry soap - box....body scrubbee - box.....contact lens solution - box... you see where Im going.

I like UPS too, especially for larger packages. For those who can't get to a UPS drop off, you can order the boxes I wrote about free at usps.com in the "Buy Stamps & Shop" section, then print your shipping label at usps.com and get free delivery confirmation. The post office will even send someone to your house to pick it up for free. For priority mail, I'd ship it at least 4 days before you arrive.

For diapers and bulky things, UPS would be much cheaper. For heavy/smaller items (some liquids, batteries, shaving cream, etc.), the flat rate for USPS is cheaper.

 

[ohmama]

My suggestion is to get those toilet seat covers (Discount drug stores or walmart may have them) you never know when you are going to come across a potty that is all out of them. (Or next time you are in a rest-room with a toilet seat dispenser - take a few extra fold them and store them in a baggie).

 

[Jewels*CPA]

Our first trip is coming up in less than a month! I'm a little concerned about keeping my stroller outside while we go on a ride, so here is my idea for that...I am going to buy a padlock and put in through one of the wheels, and carry the key with me on whatever ride I go on.