ALL WDW purchases can be sent to the resort gift shop up for free until the day before you checkout. This includes all Downtown Disney purchases too. It’s great just to go to the gift shop collect your stuff and pack it up. Nothing gets lost, or left in the room. Items can also be sent to the front of the park for free, or sent straight to your home (UPS fee will apply).   Thanks so Audi for this tip!

If staying at the WILDERNESS LODGE: (a) bring lots of microwave popcorn - the Roaring Forks Cafe has two microwaves that you can use for free (buying popcorn from them is $2.50 per package); (b) take advantage of the boat transportation, it is definitely less crowded and more scenic than the buses - and if you time your return from Magic Kingdom right, you can watch most of the fireworks on the boat ride home and beat the crowds; (c) if you book a standard room, make sure you ask once you arrive if a room with a better view is available - you'll most likely get upgraded for free and save $$$ per night; (d) the mercantile has a wide variety of food/snacks/misc for a decent price - take advantage of it!  Thanks to Steve for this tip!

If staying at a Disney Moderate or Deluxe Resort, you can now request an in-room refrigerator for no extra fee.

WDW on property guests can get into the parks earlier than off property guests on certain days, so please just ask for the schedule as to which ones open on certain days. This is a good feature that I really like at least for the first 3 hours of opening.  Thanks to Randy for this tip!

We are planning our first visit to WDW in June '05. We are booking a 8 night stay at Caribbean Beach Resort on the Disney website. When you book, you can have the option of a crib and/or fridge. The fine print at the bottom says that "extra cost applies at check in". We called and the nice lady said that in moderate or deluxe categories the extra cost doesn't apply to you. It pays to call!  Thanks to Going2WDWsoon for this tip!

Horsedrawn Carriage Rides are available nightly from 6:00pm - 9:30pm at Port Orleans Riverside.  A 30 minute ride is $30. The carriage can hold 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children. Call 407-WDW-PLAY for reservations or 407-824-2832 for same day reservations.

When you are tired from a long drive to Disney or you want to go somewhere to eat, and you want to have a good laugh, Stop by Port Orleans Riverside and watch Bob Jackson the piano player play some songs. He's great because he gets the kids involved and is very funny. He is a very good piano player and knows almost everything! But he plays on select days.  Thanks to Hengge for this tip!

We stayed at the new Pop Century Resort which is very nice.  My tip if you decide to stay there; It may sound nice to have a pool side room, but the pool deck is power washed EVERY morning around 07:30am with a very large gas powered power-washer. It's probably Disney way to get you up and out to spend money at the parks.  Thanks to Brian for this tip!

We stayed at one of the off-site hotels in an area referred to as Disney World Village.  It is located in Lake Buena Vista. These hotels offer free shuttles to the Disney Parks every half-hour. When making reservations, I suggest you may want to ask what stop the hotel is on the bus route, since the buses fill up fast. We were the last stop on the route (The Grosvenor) and there was "standing room only" during several of our trips. We were pretty satisfied with our accommodations, although we did not get the adjoining rooms we were promised at the time we made the reservations. We didn't receive any apologies either.  Thanks to Kathy for this tip!

My wife and I went to Disney for 6 nights last year. We originally made our reservations at Caribbean Beach.  My wife called once a week for about six months straight and kept getting the specials on rooms. By the time our vacations arrived we had a savannah room at animal kingdom lodge for the same price as the Caribbean Beach. They always have special promotions. We also did it with Jetblue and saved $90 by checking every week for cheaper airfare. We applied that to this years airfare. It pays to call.  Thanks to Joe and Kim for this tip!

If you have a hard time walking around a lot, or have an injury that makes it hard to get around, and don't have your own wheelchair, then ask your resort if they have a wheelchair that you can use.  We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it was free.  They usually ask for a $10 deposit for a lock and key, but they didn't have any left, so we got the chair for free to use at all the parks and around the hotel.  It will save you from having to pay $40/day for a motorized one if you don't mind the manual ones or have someone that doesn't mind pushing you...   If you do decide to rent the motorized ones, be sure to save your receipt, when you turn it back in, you get $10 back.  If you plan to visit another park on the same day, you won't have to pay again, just show them the receipt for the other rental, when you turn it in again you can also get another $10 back.  And on some rides they will let you go to the exit and go right up to get on the ride, and on others you are able to take it right through the line and park it wherever they tell you.  Some rides I'm not sure about, you can just ask the staff out in front of the rides.  Thanks to Michelle for this tip!!!

If you're lucky enough to be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge (as we did) do yourself a favor and get a room with a Savanna view.  Our first hour there, we saw giraffes, kudus, ostriches and more.  One night after we returned from Animal Kingdom, four kudus had decided to bed down for the night just outside our room.  A pair of binoculars isn't a bad idea, either, if you want to get a closer look at some of the animals roaming the grounds.  Seeing these exotic animals from our room made the extra few dollars (and our five-year-old's first trip to Disney World) worth it.  Thanks to Mark for this tip!!!

Polynesian Hotel Tips: Polynesian has a great little general store with pop, snacks, and beer on the second floor of the lobby.  If you are staying at Poly, GF, take the boat back to the hotel at the end of the day. This way, you don't have to take the monorail all the way through Contemporary or TTC. to get to your hotel. Real time saver!  If you are staying at Poly and want to go to Epcot, do not get on the Monorail to take you to the TTC. Walk all the way to the end of the property and there is a walkway to get you to the TTC. Time saver!  Thanks to Jennifer for this tip!!!

If you are staying at one of the disney resorts - take advantage of the refill mugs. Good for coffee, soft drinks, etc...  Thanks to Jennifer for this tip!!!

We just returned from a stay at WDW at both the Port Orleans and Coronado Springs resorts. We found that the same Minute Maid OJ and apple juice that is sold in the food courts for almost $3.00 per bottle is sold at both resorts gift shops for only $1.50!! It pays to comparison shop!  Thanks to Ron and Davonna for this tip!!!

If you are staying at the Polynesian, watch the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks from the resort's beach. It was a great view (we were very comfortable in the lounge chairs) and we avoided the crowds.  Thanks to  Penny for this tip!!!

If there was one new tip I could possibly give to you it would be to make your reservations for a hotel over the internet. You save money, and know what you are going to pay also what to expect.  Thanks to Jolene for this tip!!!

The day that you check out from your hotel you could ask them if you can leave your baggage with them in case you are leaving later that day (say your plane leaves in the evening). But if you don't want to come back to your hotel for your baggage (and pay a taxi for it), use the lockers they have outside the parks!! We left our entire bags in 2 lockers. The ones outside of Epcot (near the bus information boot) are the biggest, any bag will fit in there!! That way you will be at the parks until the last possible minute and from there go directly to the airport.  Thanks to Miros for this tip!!!

If you decide to stay at a resort in the park, stay at the Old Key West.  Everyone was so nice and our place was beautiful.  The room service was outstanding.  The bus came right down from our room and we never had to wait no more than 15 min for a bus.  And it was always refreshing after a long day in the park to go to the hot tub for some R & R before going to bed.  Thanks OLD KEY WEST.  Thanks to Robin for this tip!!! 

One money saving tip we found (for the Wilderness Lodge) - if you want Juice or Milk or Snacks to go, the Mercantile in the lodge is much cheaper than the Roaring Forks Cafeteria.  I paid 1.69 for an 8 oz OJ in Roaring Forks, and then noticed that the Mercantile had 16 oz bottles for 1.50.  Milk was also much cheaper.  Thanks to Jason for this tip!

You can request for a specific building assignment 4-5 days prior to check in (and any other special requests you may have regarding your room) by faxing a written request to the Caribbean (407) 934-3288 Attn:  Room Assignor (call for the other resorts).  Make sure you include your name, reservation number and date of arrival along with your request.  Thanks to Scott for this tip!

Here are a few tips when making requests.  Keep the number of requests to a minimum (only the ones that are most important).  List them in priority.  If requesting a specific building, describe why you are making the request ( Health condition, etc.) so if they can not give you the specific building they can give you the next best choice.  If requesting a specific building at the Caribbean use the following criteria to make your choice.  Close to Port Royale (Food Court and main swimming pool) request Martinique or Trinidad North Buildings.  You consistently want a seat on the bus to the parks (as opposed to standing) Aruba or Jamaica (they are typically the first stops but not always).  Aruba and Jamaica are not too bad of a walk to Port Royale.  Disney honored my request to be close to Port Royale because my wife had a problem with one of her feet (bursitis). Thanks to Scott for this tip!

If anyone is ever wondering what to do after a long day at the park- head up to the Contemporary Resort to the California Grill.  The atmosphere is so neat and the bartenders are great to talk with.  Have some dessert and just relax!!!  Thanks to Amber for this tip!

Despite reports to the contrary, transportation from the Boardwalk is outstanding.  Again, we were there in Feb., so maybe the high months are a different story.  We walked or boated to MGM and EPCOT, and took buses elsewhere.  To get to a character breakfast at the Polynesian, we took a $7 cab ride, well worth it!  Thanks to Sam for this tip!

When staying at wilderness lodge ask at guest relations to be a flag family.  If open they will send a letter to your room the day before to meet a park ranger the next morning and they take you on roof to help put up the 5 flags on the roof.  They even give you a certificate of honor for helping.  The view is great and kids love it.  Don't forget camera you also go through some off limit corridors.  Thanks to Jim for this tip!

One tip you might want to pass on - when  Shades of Green is booked, try the Disney Swan for military rates,  Our room is booked at $139 per night during Christmas week, otherwise it would have been $389.  Thanks to dbachman for this tip!

If you are enjoying an adult vacation at Disney because you're still a kid at heart but do not have kids of your own.  Do yourself a favor and stay at the Grand Floridian Hotel.  It's "adult" oriented.  While at the hotel, you get to dress up, act elegant, and enjoy an adult romantic stay.  If you stay at the Floridian you're guaranteed not to have a hula-hoop contest during dinner and you're also guaranteed not to have a character join you while you dine.  Those things should be kept at the parks.  Thanks to Ally for this tip!

If you are staying at a WDW resort, take advantage of their package delivery.  At any of the 4 theme parks and Downtown Disney, you can have your purchases sent to your resort.  It usually takes about 24 hrs. to get there.  We were staying at Fort Wilderness Campground and they delivered everything to one of the two store in the Campground.  That way, you don't have to carry everything around all day.  But, you also don't spend the last part of the day backtracking to all of the store you wanted to purchase something in.  Thanks to Christine for this tip!

Since Mickey wants you to get out of your room for breakfast, coffee makers are not typically supplied.  So, how to make tea or soup in your room?  Instead of asking room service for a carafe of hot water -- for which they'll charge you -- ask Housekeeping to send up a coffee maker and mugs.  Your $2 tip will yield you hot H20 for the week, no extra charge.  Thanks to Sam for this tip!

If you are staying at the Coronado Springs, try to get an upper floor if you want a nice view of the lake.  Also, since it's primarily a conference hotel, if you have a first floor room, you will have a good bit of noise early in the morning from the conventioneers heading to their meetings.  (We even had an intoxicated woman banging on our door after midnight.)  Thanks to Chris for this tip!

If staying at the Contemporary and you are leaving Magic Kingdom at closing time, it is often faster to follow the sidewalk to the Contemporary, rather than waiting to ride the monorail!  Thanks to Patty for this tip!

Staying at resorts such as the Grosvenor, or tree house villas in the Downtown Disney area is a great place to stay.  It isn't far from the parks and the Marketplace is only a five minute walk away. And you also get the luxuries of resorts Inside Disney, such as free transportation and character breakfasts.  Thanks to Bobby for this tip!

Try renting a house instead of a motel, they are generally only 5-15 minutes away and the are beautifully furnished with a pool that never closes for the kids connected to  the house, and generally for as little as 69.00 a night and up.  It is the only way we go now, laundry room in the house is a life saver!! Carrie yearly Disney fan!  Thanks to Carrie for this tip!

If you are in the right building at the Caribbean Beach Resort,  you can even see the fireworks from Epcot at night from the beach just behind the food court .  Thanks to Donna for this tip!

For those staying on grounds, WDW has great laundry facilities!  Most are near or adjacent to the pool areas and are safe and clean.  Thanks to Christine for this tip!

When making your reservations at an on-property hotel, make sure to request a room near the check-in so that you will be near the bus stop and will avoid a long walk from your room to the bus in the morning.

If you're staying at a WDW hotel, be SURE to request a wake-up call, ESPECIALLY if you have kids. I won't spoil the fun by going into detail about who calls or what the message is, but trust me - it's GREAT! If you have more than one kid, let a different one answer the phone each day. This is a WONDERFUL way to start a Disney Day, even if - ESPECIALLY if - you don't actually NEED a wake-up call.  Thanks to Brenda for this tip!

When staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, be sure to try and get a room that has either the first of last bus stop.  This way you will either be the first one to get off of the bus or the first one to get on.  This is an advantage because there are several bus stops just for the Caribbean Beach Resort alone.  Thanks to Paul for this tip!

I thought you might want to know I tried this tip and called several times and everyone at reservations at WDW said they have never heard of this.  Just recently I booked a 10 day trip to WDW for our July visit. I made reservations at the Caribbean Beach through WDW directly. With a little prodding I was upgraded to the Polynesian for almost the same price as the Caribbean Beach (I'm paying about $25.00 more per night) . The nice lady said that you have to ask if invitational upgrades are available, they won't offer it to you unless asked. These "invitations" are only sometimes available and will bump you up one class (value to moderate or moderate to deluxe). It never hurts to ask.  Thanks to David for this tip!