Travel Feature: 

Ten Surprising Things You Should Never Leave Home Without
by Jessica Kimble, PassPorter Guest Columnist


I know you. You're the prepared one, ready for everything on this vacation. You planned, you packed, and you've checked and rechecked all the details. I also know that once you're there, there's always that one thing that makes you smack yourself on the forehead and exclaim "Why didn't I pack that?" I've had those moments on more than one vacation. I didn't forget my bathing suit, I didn't leave my driver's license at home, but I did always think of some little thing that would have made the trip just that little bit easier. Here's a list of ten things I never thought I'd need until I got there!

1. I'd packed the medications for my son for all his "just in case" scenarios. Who knew I would be the one to slip on a freshly washed sidewalk at Port Orleans French Quarter and sprain my ankle? I cringed handing out $15 for 50 name brand acetaminophen at the gift shop. Mental note to self: Next time, pack drugs for Mommy.



2. One of the best investments I've made is in a small six compartment screw/nail organizer I purchased from the hardware section at Target. In each little slot we pack a different kid-friendly, non-melting, snack. I chose dried fruits and cereals. It's really handy in the parks, especially when your little one bellows an "I'm hungry," and you're just about to the front of the line for Haunted Mansion. You can keep refilling this throughout your trip, saving you time from standing in food lines and saving you money.
   
   
3. One word ... Ziploc. Those fabulous little baggies have so many uses when you travel. First use them to pack any liquids in; shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, contact lens solutions, perfumes, etc. I once had a shampoo leak into my luggage. While I was holding my suitcase under the shower head wondering how many times I would have to rinse this thing, I had my Ziploc bag moment. I also use Ziplocs to hold a wet wash cloth in my fanny pack. I use it to wipe sticky hands and faces and it comes in handy when you need a nice cool down. Store your souvenirs, the golf balls you've collected at the parks, or the pins you've purchased that day to keep them from rolling or falling out of your bags. Use a sandwich sized bag for, well, a sandwich. Take your restaurant leftovers to snack on later. We've also used Ziplocs for wet pants caused by those "oops" moments when my son was too excited to get to the bathroom quick enough. And of course you'll need a gallon sized bag to keep your PassPorter dry on rides like Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom!
   
   
4. I always pack a small package of laundry soap and a stain stick. The stain stick is stored in a small snack sized Ziploc and carried with us everywhere. Treat the stain, then hand wash the item in the sink. I purchase single-load size powdered laundry soap from my local Laundromat. It saves me from having to worry about running to the laundry during our trip or worrying about ruining that favorite shirt. I also like to wash out our bathing suits after a few swims.
   
   
5. Anyone with children knows that accidents happen. Kids get overtired or overexcited and can accidentally wet the bed or get sick in bed. My son chose Christmas Eve to throw up in bed. I waited five hours for someone to be available in housekeeping to bring us clean bedding. To prevent this from happening again, we've purchased a waterproof mattress pad. The pad folds-up small and can be easily packed and placed under hotel sheets. We also request upon check in an extra set of bedding. That way, for the middle of night accidents, we are already prepared. No waiting up for housekeeping, no wet mattress, just a quick change of the sheets and we're back to bed!
   
   
6. I think most people bring along anti-bacterial foam or gel to clean dirty hands when you can't get to the bathroom to wash them. It's also a good idea to use a little after you've been riding rides to eliminate cold germs. I also bring along antibacterial wipes. Call me obsessive, but I have used them to wipe down our rented strollers, the port-a-crib the resorts provide, the TV remote and the clothing bars in our room. The only thing I want to bring back from vacation is a tan and some awesome souvenirs!
   
   
7. This may sound silly, but I will never go to Walt Disney World without bringing along an empty suitcase. Of course I don't plan to go overboard and buy a t-shirt from every park, and that cute Tigger plush, and the new mouse ear wine topper, and the Buzz Lightyear Laser Gun ... but I do. I learned the last trip that if your suitcase is over the airlines weight limit you have to pay extra, $50 extra, in order to check your luggage. Avoid paying, pack an empty suitcase, then you won't be like me, dumping your suitcase out on the airport floor trying to make things weigh less. 
   
   
8. Bring along a list of your current medications and copies of your prescriptions. If something is lost or misplaced, you won't have to worry about a 24-hour turn-around time at your doctor's office. Also do a bit of research on what your insurance will cover locally. It doesn't hurt to know what physicians or dentists are covered by your insurance policy so you don't have to go to the trouble of submitting claims later or paying the cash up front.
   
   
9. Coupon organizers are great for things other than coupons. I've purchased one from the local dollar store that I use and reuse for our trips. The plastic organizer has six different slots with tabs, one I use for traveler's checks and cash, one for our Disney tickets and room key (including Fast Passes), one to hold receipts of purchases and meals, one for the papers that show my items being sent back to the resort, one pocket for important information (driver's license, what my son was wearing that day, in case he got lost) and the last pocket for priority seating information. It helps me keep organized, with all the essentials in the right place, and my receipts handy so I don't go over budget on our trip.
   
   
10. Last but not least bring along your PassPorter book(s). Just because you've done your research, made your advanced dining reservations, and packed all you think you'll need, doesn't mean that plans won't change. You'll need it if you decide that you'd rather eat some sushi tomorrow instead of lasagna, or to make sure you didn't miss out on a show or attraction you forgot about last visit. Or maybe you didn't like taking the taxi from the airport and would like to find another option; it's all there in your PassPorter!

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Making The Most of Bell Services At Disney's Deluxe Resorts
by Leah Rollins, Guest Columnist


Imagine: As you arrive for your long-awaited (and much deserved) Walt Disney World vacation, a uniformed gentleman opens your car door, assists you with your luggage, offers to park your car, and answers your questions in a friendly, courteous manner. He even accompanies you to the resort front desk to help you with your room request. Then another uniformed gentleman takes you and your luggage through the winding corridors of your resort to your room, giving you insider’s tips about the theme parks and interesting facts about your chosen resort. Once inside your room, he stows your luggage away with ease, and even offers to get ice for you from the hallway machine. A fantasy? No. This is Bell Service, Walt Disney World style.

I always thought valet parking and bellmen at hotels, referred to in the hospitality industry as Bell Services, were only for the rich and famous. But as I'm about to share with you, these services are available for every guest at a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort, and they're well worth using.

Let's start with arriving for your vacation. Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts offer valet parking services for overnight guests for a fee of $10, which is charged to your room each night that you leave your vehicle in valet parking. Disney Vacation Club members and handicapped guests enjoy free valet parking. When you arrive at your deluxe resort to check in, a Disney Security host/hostess will direct you to the valet parking area, where you will be greeted by a Disney Bell Services valet host/hostess. He/she will ask for your name and unload your luggage from the vehicle. You will receive a claim ticket for your car and another for your luggage. The valet will give you instructions for retrieving your car during your stay -- present your claim ticket at the valet desk, or call ahead from your room to have it waiting for you -- and will direct you to the Front Desk to check in. He/she will then park your car in the secure valet parking lot. At this time, the valet will note any existing damage to your vehicle, as well as any operating problems (rear bumper dented, automatic locks don't work, etc). The valet records the parking space number and returns your car keys to the valet desk, where they are secured until needed.

As you are checking in, the valet transfers your luggage to the Bell Services bellman on duty. After the Front Desk cast member gives you your room number, he/she will ask for your luggage claim ticket and will notify the bellman to accompany you to your room, bringing your luggage with him. He will unload your luggage and make sure that everything is in working order in your room. If there is a problem with your room upon check in, the bellman will call the Front Desk and have the situation rectified immediately. If you arrive before check-in time, Bell Services will store your luggage in a temperature-controlled storage room. They have a refrigerator for medications, and for groceries you picked up on your way. They even have a locked area to store valuables (jewelry boxes, laptop computers, etc.). When you receive your room number, you may call Bell Services from your room phone - there's a button on the phone that dials directly to the Bell Stand - and a bellman will deliver your luggage promptly. Note, however, that the bellman is not allowed to leave luggage in your room unless someone in your party is present to accept it.

Check-out works in a similar fashion. When you are ready to depart your room, use the button on your phone to dial the bell stand. A bellman will be dispatched to your room, where he'll load your luggage and bring it down to the luggage storage room. If you're departing later in the day, he will store your bags until it's time to go. If you're ready to leave right away, a valet will retrieve your car from the parking lot and have it waiting for you. The bellman will load your luggage into your car, help you with directions, and you're on your way. That's it! Disney knows it's hard enough to leave, so they made their part as easy as possible.

Now let me offer some "tips" on tipping. Walt Disney World valets and bellmen do not receive any part of the valet parking charge collected by the resort. Because of their status as tipped cast members, they receive a reduced hourly wage, the same as servers in restaurants. Therefore they rely heavily on guest tips to pay the bills. I always advise guests to tip according to what the valet or bellman service is worth to them; rule of thumb is $3 for parking a vehicle, and $1 per piece of luggage handled. For example, if I have my car valet parked, and the valet unloads 5 pieces of luggage from my car, I will tip her $8. Then when the bellman delivers the luggage to my room, I will tip him $5-7, depending on the distance from the front desk to my room. Please keep in mind that tipping is never required, but it is greatly appreciated, especially if the Bell Services cast member has gone out of their way to accommodate your needs.

Other neat things about Walt Disney World Bell Services:

• Need something from your car? A Bell Services valet can get it for you, or take you to your vehicle on a golf cart.
  
  
• Need help with those groceries? A Bell Services valet will be glad to unload your groceries and have a bellman deliver them to your room. Note that due to insurance regulations, guests are never allowed to use luggage carts unassisted.
  
  
• Need Bell Services valet or luggage assistance at 2:00 am? There is a Bell Services cast member on duty 24 hours a day, so your car is never out of reach, and there is never an arrival or departure time when you cannot avail yourself of Bell Services. If your departure time is before 5:30 a.m., you will want to coordinate luggage service by calling the bell stand the evening before.
  
  
• Need directions? Bell Services valet desk cast members can get you from here to there and back with no problem. They'll even highlight your route on a complimentary map.
  
  
• Need a taxi? Yellow Cab usually has cabs waiting at every resort. If one is not available, the Bell Services valet desk cast member can have one there within 5 minutes.
  
  
• Going golfing at a Disney course? Bell Services can store your golf clubs in their luggage storage room -- they have a special area just for golf bags! The Bell Services valet desk will coordinate your taxi ride to the course and give you a voucher for the fare. The pro shop will provide a return voucher.
  
  
• Need some park or resort information, or just want to chat with a cast member for a while? Bell Services cast members are some of the friendliest on property, and they are a wealth of information. Many of them have worked at Walt Disney World for over 10 years, and they often "play tourist," bringing their families to the parks on their days off. When the Front Desk appears too busy, head to the Bell Stand. Chances are you can get the answers you need right there!