Mobile Ordering at Disney World Parks

I love how Disney World is always improving their product.  As you know, I LOVE Disney World and typically see it in a positive light even when something might not be exactly perfect. 

Others might have an issue at Disney World (or truly, amusement parks in general) with the crowd and the lines that can become long due to the crowd.

Disney has taken steps in the past to help alleviate this problem with the FastPass+ system, Extra Magic Hours for on-site resort guests and Advanced Dining Reservations.  I also love the fact that they have made many of the attraction queues interactive so that even if you missed out on the FastPass, you have something fun to keep you occupied while you wait in the standby line.

Well, their newest innovation to help guests avoid waiting in lines is one I can’t wait to try out - Mobile Ordering for Quick Service food locations.

This new service saves you time by allowing you to order on demand, pay in advance and skip the line. 

I tend to go more for Quick Service locations at Disney since I’d rather spend my time on rides and enjoying the park rather than sitting down at a Table Service location for a longer meal.  But it’s frustrating to do that only to end up standing in a long line at Casey’s Corner for a hot dog.  (Although I do love those dogs and always think it’s worth the wait!)

Now you can order food for your entire family while you are out enjoying other parts of the park.   Rather than standing in line at a counter service restaurant, you’re able to place your order on the go from your phone, bypassing the ordering line and picking up your food directly at the counter when you arrive at the restaurant.

It’s easy to use - just sign in to the My Disney Experience app and tap the “Order Food” button, which lists restaurants that offer the service. Browse restaurant menus, select items, customize your order and prepay, all right through the app. 

When you arrive at the restaurant, just tap “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” in the app, which notifies the kitchen to prepare your meal. When it’s ready, a notification will alert you to pick up your meal from the “Mobile Order Pick Up” area in the restaurant. Here are the restaurants that currently offer Mobile Order with more expected to be added:

ANIMAL KINGDOM

-- Flame Tree Barbecue Discovery Island

-- Harambe Market Africa

-- Restaurantosaurus Dinoland USA

-- Pizzafari Discovery Island

-- Satu'li Canteen in Pandora The World of Avatar

DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

-- ABC Commissary

-- Backlot Express

-- Fairfax Fare

-- PizzeRizzo

-- Rosie's All-American Cafe

DISNEY SPRINGS

-- D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs

MAGIC KINGDOM

-- Aloha Isle - Adventureland ***They made it EASIER to get DOLE WHIP!!!!  Yes!!!***

-- Casey's Corner - Main Street U.S.A.

-- Columbia Harbour House- Liberty Square

-- Cosmic Ray's - Tomorrowland

-- Lunching Pad - Tomorrowland

-- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe - Frontierland

-- Pinocchio Village Haus - Fantasyland

-- Tomorrowland Terrace - SEASONAL Tomorrowland

EPCOT

-- Electric Umbrella - Future World

-- Liberty Inn - American Adventure World Showcase

-- Sunshine Seasons - The Land Future World

While Mobile Ordering certainly will not save you 60 minutes (or more) of time like a FastPass for Avatar Flight of Passage or Frozen Ever After, it will save you anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, and also eliminate the stress of having to deal with potentially crowded ordering bays.

** One thing to remember is that the only form of payment currently accepted through Mobile Order is credit card, but they’re working on adding more payment options soon. Anyone with special dietary restrictions, or those who want to use discounts or redeem dining plan entitlements must place their order with a cashier.

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you the Happiest of Halloweens from Trips by Mouse!

Cinderella's Castle!  You might need to use your imagination a bit to see it!  :)

I'd love to give you Treats with No Tricks by planning and booking a trip for you for FREE!

Disney World FastPass+ FAQs

Something that tends to overwhelm first time visitors to Disney World is the FastPass+ situation.  In short, everyone that has a ticket to Disney World is allowed 3 FastPasses to start their day.  Those allow you to basically skip the standard line and go ahead of most people by using the FastPass+ line.  You are able to choose an hour window in which to use your pass.  Once all of your selected FastPasses have been used, you’re able to get another one (based on availability) and you can continue to do that for the rest of the day.

Clear as mud?

Here are some common FAQs about FastPasses that might help explain it a bit more:

Q.  How many FastPass+ selections can I make for each day of my vacation?

A.  Before you arrive, for each day of valid theme park admission, you can make up to 3 FastPass+ selections for a single park per day (depending on availability).

Use the First 3, Then Get More - Once you redeem your initial set of FastPass+ selections (or the last arrival window has passed), you can make another FastPass+ selection for the same day at an in-park kiosk or using your mobile device, up to park closing. After you redeem the additional FastPass+ pick, you can return to a kiosk to make more selections (one at a time).

If your ticket includes a Park Hopper Option, after you use your initial FastPass+ selections at the first park, you’ll be able to make additional FastPass+ selections (one at a time) at the second park you visit that day, up to park closing. Just visit a kiosk or using your mobile device to make the additional selections.

Q. Is FastPass+ service like a restaurant reservation? Do I have to show up at a specific time for an attraction?

A. No—it’s better! For extra convenience, you are assigned an arrival window—usually one hour long—for each attraction you select. Show up any time that you wish during this window. Don’t worry about rushing to finish up a meal or getting delayed at another show or attraction.

When it is within your designated arrival window time and you are ready to visit an attraction, all you need to do is proceed to the attraction, go to the FastPass+ entrance and touch your MagicBand or card to the touch point.

You can even use the FastPass+ if you arrive 5 minutes before the window starts and up to 15 minutes after it closes.

While attractions usually offer a one-hour arrival window, other experiences like shows and parades may require you to arrive during a more specific timeframe.

Q. Is there a charge for FastPass+ service?

A. Disney FastPass+ service is included at no extra charge with the price of your ticket.

Q.  How do I use my MagicBand or card when I have a FastPass+ arrival time at an attraction or entertainment experience?

A. It’s so easy that you’ll think it’s magic!

When you arrive during your scheduled FastPass+ arrival time, all you need to do is proceed to the FASTPASS queue entrance and touch your MagicBand or card to a sensor called a touch point.

That’s it!

Please remember that each member of your party will have to individually touch their MagicBand or card to the touch point, so everyone should be sure to have their MagicBand or card available.

Q. Can I cancel or change a FastPass+ selection?

A. Yes. You will be able to update or cancel your selections up to the start of the arrival window at an in-park FastPass+ kiosk or using your mobile device. Because availability is limited, we recommend you make selections early.

Q. I have a child who is less than 3 years old. Do I need to make FastPass+ selections for my child?

A. No. Children under 3 years of age do not need FastPass+ selections—if you have a FastPass+ selection, your little ones may join you at the FastPass+ entrance for the selected attraction or entertainment experience. Children 3 years of age or older who wish to use the FastPass+ entrance do require a FastPass+ selection and valid theme park admission.

Anything else I need to know to make the most of my FastPasses?

For a greater range of choices, it’s recommended that you make FastPass+ selections early. If you prefer to be spontaneous, all attractions and Character Greetings provide standby entrances so you can decide as you go.

One reason to stay on site at a Walt Disney World Resort is that you can request FastPasses 60 days in advance.  If you don’t stay on site, you can request them 30 days in advance.  Some of the more popular ones may be gone by that 30 day mark.  If you book with me, one of the services I provide is to get up at 6am and get those FastPasses for you the moment they are available!

Once you book your trip, I will send you a list of the FastPass attractions and some info on each.  You just have to let me know your favorites and I’ll take care of it for you!

Still have questions?  Ask them in the comments and I'll get back with you right away!

This is US

As much as I like the TV show This is Us, this blog post is about a different US - Universal Studios!  Sorry to disappoint those of you that were expecting info about the show!  :)

I've done a blog post previously that is mainly about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - check it out here.  

This post is about some of the other rides and attractions that Universal has to offer.  My main reason for going will always be to hang out with Harry, but they've got a lot of other fun spots too.

First of all, something that seems to confuse a few people - Universal is not a part of Disney.  They are two completely different companies.  I think the confusion comes from the fact that Disney has a movie studios type park in Hollywood Studios.  But Universal is not on Disney property - it's about 10 miles away.  

There are 3 parks now at Universal Studios - Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of  Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay (which is a water park).  Both Universal Studios  and Islands of Adventure house Harry Potter areas - with delicious butterbeer at each!  Universal Studios is home to Diagon Alley while Islands of Adventure is home to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.  To ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks, you must have a park-to-park pass.

Universal Studios Florida

This is the newest part of The Wizarding World - Diagon Alley.  It has the most incredible ride around - Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.  The ride is a huge thrill mixture of roller coaster and virtual screens.  So. Much. Fun.  And the line to the ride is really cool as you make your way through the bank lobby into the vaults.

Here are a few other rides at this park that I highly recommend:

• Revenge of the Mummy - really good and thrilling with a great surprise near the end.
• E.T. Adventure - I LOVE this ride.  It is a super calm and pretty ride about the movie.  I love that you ride on your bike through the ride.
• Transformers: The Ride
• The Simpsons Ride - made all of us nauseous but I know a lot of people love it!
• Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon - new!
• Rip Ride Rockit - only Don was brave enough to ride this one.
• Terminator 2
• Men in Black - fun and you can compete against your family!
• Shrek 4D - really cute and funny movie with 4-D effects.

There are also a lot of great places to eat - the food at the Leaky Cauldron is delicious.  But save room for dessert - there's butterbeer ice cream or a giant donut in the Simpson's area at Lard Lad Donuts!

You're probably thinking this donut could feed more than 1 person.  Hmm...  Mine didn't.  :)

Universal's Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure has the original Wizarding World - you can visit Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.  Be sure to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - the line takes you through Hogwarts.  Once you've explored all of this world (and had plenty of butterbeer), head on out to check out the rest of the park.

Here are the rides at Islands of Adventure you need to be sure and check out:

• Doctor Doom's Fearfall
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Skull Island:Reign of Kong
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
• Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges

We've been to Islands of Adventure a couple of times but our kids were too young to like the thrill rides.  Plus this park has a lot of rides that are basically water rides and we're weird about not liking those.  So while the Harry Potter area is AWESOME, if I had only one day, I'd spend the majority of it at Universal Studios Florida.

But if you're wise and have listened to me, you'll have a park-to-park pass so that you can ride the Hogwarts Express.  If you hurry, you can hit a few rides here when you're done with the other park.

Speaking of ways to save time...  Universal offers a little different take on the line skipping pass.  Unlike Disney's FastPass, it is an extra charge.  But you get to skip the line once on all the rides - where Disney just gives you 3 to start.  If you're staying on-site at Universal, some of the resorts include an Unlimited Express Pass which is good on the rides as many times as you want to use them.  Well worth the money if it's a crowded day - and if you're staying on-site it just might be included!

Volcano Bay

You've heard me say before that my family really doesn't do water parks.  So while I don't have personal knowledge of Volcano Bay, I have done training on it from Universal Studios.  It's an amazing park and if you're into water parks at all, it's a must-do!

Be sure to give me a call if you're interested in a Universal vacation.  I'd love to plan and book your trip and make sure you're getting the best value for your money!!

5 Desserts Around the World

The 22nd Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is currently happening at Disney World.  It runs through November 13.  If you're lucky enough to be there during this time, I have 5 delicious desserts to try from the different locations.  

And if you don't have plans to get there this year, let me know so I can help you plan a trip for next year!!  

Here are some mouth-watering options to try:

Australia:

Lamington yellow cake dipped in chocolate and delicious shredded coconut.

India:

Pistachio cardamom bundt cake with chocolate coconut mousse.

Germany:

A festival favorite!  Apple strudel with vanilla sauce.

France:

New!  Creme brulee with fresh house-made raspberry jam.

Italy:

Chocolate covered cannoli with sweet ricotta cheese and candied fruit.

Magical Honeymoons

This weekend I had a great time manning a booth at a local bridal show.  My intent was to offer my services to book honeymoons for the visiting brides.

I know that Disney isn’t the first destination that comes to mind when considering a honeymoon trip, but I was surprised that most of the brides I spoke to hadn’t even considered it.  Reasons varied, but it mainly came down to it being a “kid’s vacation” and cost.

So this post is intended to show you that it can be affordable and it’s certainly an appropriate destination whether you have kids or not.

First, the cost…  The beauty of a honeymoon trip is that you’re only paying for 2 people!  So instead of paying for a whole family for plane tickets, hotel, park tickets, food and souvenirs, you’re already cutting costs by it just being the 2 of you.  May not seem like a big deal now, but when you’ve got 3 kids like I do, you realize just how much those little rugrats cost!  

Of course, you’ll want to return to Disney when you have kids since the experience is completely different and wonderful with them, but enjoy the cost savings without kids at this point in your life.

So for an example, here are some prices for a Disney World vacation coming up this Spring.  These prices include 5-night accommodations and 4-day Park Hopper Tickets:

All-Star Movies - $1700

Coronado Springs - $2200

Animal Kingdom Lodge - $3000

Compared to a lot of honeymoon destinations, those prices are downright cheap.  

So the other reason people hadn’t considered Disney is due to there being a lot of kids around which may make it a bit less romantic than a trip to an adults only beach resort.  OK, so yes, there will be kids around.  But if you know where to go, you can find your own romantic spots and really not notice the kids.  I can help you find out about those spots!!

There are so many AMAZING restaurants at Disney World, I can’t begin to list them all.  Here are a few of the most romantic though.  

Le Cellier

Jiko - The Cooking Place

Monsieur Paul

Victoria & Albert’s

All of these restaurants are what my kids would call “fancy” and they have no interest in eating there.  Granted you might run into a family that takes their kids there but they would be expected to sit quietly and eat and I doubt you’d even notice them.

These are just a few of the restaurants - there are tons more.  There are also great night-life spots on Disney’s Boardwalk like a dance hall and a dueling piano bar.

Sure, Disney can be exhausting if you are like me and run from attraction to attraction.  But it doesn’t have to be that way if you’re looking for more ways to relax after a busy season leading up to your wedding.  Check out this previous post about ways to relax at Disney and do some of them.  The resort pool is a great place to relax during the day.  It’s basically kid-free since they’re all at the Parks!

Be sure and announce the fact that you are on a honeymoon - wear cute shirts or hats.  At the very least, you've got to stop by Guest Services for a Just Married button.  You’ll feel like a celebrity with all of the special attention you get from Cast Members!!

I’d love to help you plan your Magical trip - with or without kids.  I promise I’ll make it stress-free and remember, my services are always free!!  Give me a call!

Try the Grey Stuff - It's Delicious!

If you’ve seen Beauty and The Beast, you probably know the famous line from Be Our Guest in which the dining room sings about the meal and they suggest you try the grey stuff.  

Wonderfully, at Disney World’s Be Our Guest restaurant, you can do just that.  Trust me (just ask the plates) - it IS delicious!

There are 3 rooms at BOG - The Grand Ballroom, the West Wing and the Castle Gallery.  We were seated in the West Wing.  

The West Wing

The portrait of Adam/Beast

The Enchanted Rose

Each room is done in true Disney fashion - you feel like you are truly inside the Beast’s castle.  If you’re seated in the Grand Ballroom - be sure to look for the snow falling just outside the windows.  The West Wing is a dark and mysterious room where you’ll find the enchanted rose.  Also, watch the portrait of Adam as it changes from prince to Beast!  The Gallery features a nearly 7-foot tall music box.

Whichever room you’re in, take the time before you leave to walk through the other rooms.  It’s definitely worth your time.

Entryway

Grand Ballroom

Castle Gallery

The food at BOG is considered French cuisine.  Don’t worry though, if you have picky eaters in your group.  My family (including me!) is the definition of picky eaters and we found the food to be great.  You can always get a Mickey Meal for the kid that just won’t try anything different. 

Do save room for dessert!  Besides the grey stuff (have I mentioned it’s delicious?) there are 7 other options!  

Your Food is Brought to You Based on Your Magic Rose

These Crazies Had Grilled Cheese

We ate lunch at BOG so didn’t get to meet the Beast, but if you go at dinner, you’ll most likely get a chance to take photos with him.  It’s not a “typical” character meal where he goes from table to table.  You’ll get a chance to take a pic with him as you exit the restaurant, but beware that you may have to wait in a bit of a line - just depends on timing as other guests finish their meal and line up.  

If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, BOG is a quick-service meal at breakfast/lunch and a table service credit at dinner.  You can order your food in advance of your trip - keep that in mind as it will save you time once you arrive at the restaurant.  And you know how I am - less time spent eating is more time riding rides!!

This popular restaurant is located in the Magic Kingdom in New Fantasyland.  Even though it opened several years ago, reservations are still hard to come by.  You’ve got to be dedicated and get online at 5am on the 180 day mark ahead of your trip to snag one.  I’ve heard of people just walking up and getting in on the day they’re there, but that’s pretty rare and you’ve got to be willing to be disappointed if they’re full.  When you book your trip through me, I will be the one getting up early to get this reservation for you!

Once you're there - take lots and lots of pics!  I especially love this one of us reenacting the stained glass...

Have you tried Be Our Guest?  Comment about what you thought!!

What NOT to Buy on a Disney Trip

Disney vacations are magical, wonderful, memorable...  and cheap?  No, you've never heard anyone say that I'm sure.  To be honest, trips to Disney are expensive.  You can save money here and there, but as a whole, it does cost a bit more than an average family vacation.  Totally worth it I believe!  

But since the upfront cost of the vacation is a bit higher than other places, it's always wise to look for areas in which you can save money.  I've blogged about saving money before, but in this case I want to specifically talk about items you're better off buying before seeing the "Welcome to Disney" sign, both for cost and convenience.

Ponchos - you may think of California or Florida as always sunny and warm but it does rain.  In Florida, we usually get rained on often.  When the rain starts is not the time to go searching for a poncho.  Besides the ridiculous costs of them at the parks, you don't have them right with you.  I go to the dollar store and buy one per person per day and throw one for each of us in our backpack each morning.  They're lightweight so it's not a pain to carry them around.  And they're cheap enough to be considered a "one-time-use" item so I don't try to fold them up and carry them after it's rained.  We just toss them in the trash and go.  

Sunscreen - along the same lines as ponchos, the cost of sunscreen is crazy.  Besides, I like to put it on before we even leave the room in the morning so that we're set for a while.  And if you have anyone in your group that is sensitive to some ingredients, it's nice to have your own brand that you know works for them.  

Water Bottles and Flavor Packets - I always carry a water bottle for each family member to save us time as well as money.  No waiting in a line for drinks - we can just grab the water from the backpack at any time.  (I bring a sharpie with us to put our initials on the bottles - you might want to do this if you don't relish the thought of sharing your germs.)  The flavor packets come in super handy for kids who may not like the way the water tastes - I don't think it's bad but it may not be what you're used to.  I also have a Diet Coke addiction so need my caffeine fix fairly often.  Did you know they make flavor packets with caffeine?  You're welcome.  Just don't mix yours up with the kids' packets!

Hand Sanitizer - We have a certain germaphobe in our family that won't touch anything that anyone else may have touched.  He doesn't hold the bar on the bus, won't touch handrails...  But at an amusement park, sometimes you do have to pull down on a safety bar or just hang on!  Disney does a good job of providing hand sanitizer throughout the parks but it's just more convenient to carry a little bottle of it in your bag.

Medications and First Aid - Disney also has first aid stations but pretty much just one per park.  If you have a blister, the last thing you want to do is walk back a mile from where you are to get a band-aid.  Carry a few in your bag along with over-the-counter pain medication and you'll save yourself from buying them at sky-high prices in the closest gift shop that is within limping range.  

Souvenirs/Disney Merch - While you are going to want to make a purchase of a few Disney souvenirs, you can make your kids happy by sneaking in a few you buy ahead of time.  Just hide them in your suitcase and once they go to sleep at night, put them out and say Mickey left them.  Won't stop every meltdown but if you tell them there might be a prize that next morning, it might curb some of the greedy gimmies.  One thing I never miss out on, though is the Disney candy from Goofy's Candy Co.  Goofy makes the best licorice of all time!  

If you're going to Disney, you'd make me the happiest travel agent of all time if you pick me up a bag of this.  Can't get it elsewhere.  Do yourself a favor and get one for you too!!  :)

Want to plan a trip to Disney to get me some licorice?  Call me and I'll give you a free quote!!

Get in the Picture - Everyone!!!

Update as of 10/11/2023…. The pricing for Memory Maker has increased to $185 for advanced purchase and $210 if you don’t purchase at least 3 days prior to your trip.

One of the best things about Disney world is their Photo Pass system and Memory Maker.  Here I will explain what these things are and some tips to help you make the most of them.

Disney's PhotoPass Service is the system used to take your pictures in the theme parks, on certain attractions and at some Character Dining locations. Memory Maker allows you to download all of those photos and videos for one price. If you purchase Memory Maker, you will have the rights to use your photos in any way that you'd like, including printing them from any service that you choose. In addition, you will also get on-ride videos and animated Magic shots that are only available to Memory Maker purchasers. 

I love the pictures that are included when purchasing Memory Maker - the Magic Shots are some of my favorites!

I also love the in-ride photos.  My hair is awesome in this pic!  :)  The pics are captured automatically based on your MagicBands.

And I love that in our Disney pics - unlike most vacations - I'm actually in the picture!  On other trips, I usually have the camera because I love torturing my children by making them take a billion pictures (according to them).  It's nice to be able to have myself included for a change.  You also have the choice to download them with frames and stickers which is fun.

If you feel like you've already spent enough money just getting to Disney World and don't want to spend money on your photos, not to worry!  Every single PhotoPass Photographer I've encountered has taken pictures using my own camera or phone.  When I went on my solo trip a while back, I didn't think it was worth the money to just have pictures of me alone so I didn't purchase the Memory Maker.  But I had the photographers take my pics and I came home with a couple hundred pictures.  

My favorite is this one - when I handed the photographer my phone, he asked if I'd like some candid photos as I visited with Cinderella, rather than just the staged photos.  I said sure and then had a great belly laugh when I flipped through the pics later and saw his "candid" photo.

You also need to only purchase 1 Memory Maker per group if you are traveling with others.  Even if you are on a different reservations, as long as you are linked in My Disney Experience, all pics will be captured and can be downloaded.  I can help you when the time comes to make sure you've got it linked.

Stop and take pictures - always!!  Especially if you've paid for the Memory Maker, you'd be silly not to take advantage of every opportunity.  So when you see a photographer, stop!  Even if you're not buying the pics, have them take one with your camera.

When you get your pics made, ask the photographers if they do any Magic Shots.  Some will offer it and some won't tell you what they're doing - which is fun when you look at your pics later.  But some will just not mention it at all, so be sure and ask.  I think the photographers move locations often and they just don't think about the Magic Shots unless you ask.

Also, ask for some fun and different shots...  your backs as you look up at the castle, getting a kiss on the cheek from Mickey, anything you can think of to make your pics unique and truly a memory you will never forget.

You can save some money on Memory Maker by purchasing it in advance of your trip (at least 3 days in advance). As of this blog post, it costs $169.  If purchased at the parks, it's $199.  Also, be sure to note that your PhotoPass photos and videos expire 45 days from the date they are taken, so you will want to download them before they expire. 

Also, I don't work for Shutterfly or get any money for advertising for them, but they have a really cute Disney theme you can use and once you purchase Memory Maker, you are free to use them in a photo book.  I LOVE our books from our trips - and I catch the kids looking at them pretty often too.

Give me a call if you have any questions about these great services!  I'd love to book a trip for you and give you even more tips to increase the Magic!!

Help!! I've lost my child!!

Losing your child in the grocery store or other smallish area is terrifying.  Now imagine losing them at Disney World with a million people and acres of land.  Not a spot you want to be in.  I've got a few tips to help you avoid this disaster and information on what to do if it does occur.

Prepare ahead of time by purchasing ID tags that the kids can wear.  Especially for younger kids (and even older ones when they're stressed about being lost), this is important as they may not know their parents' full names or phone numbers.  I bought some for our boys that attached to their shoes and the info was written in permanent marker.  I put them on before the trip and we didn't have to worry about remembering it each morning or trying to keep them dry.  It worked out perfectly.  And with MagicBands now, I know a lot of people print their cell phone numbers inside of them.

Have your kids wear the same shirts if possible and wear bright or unique colors so they are easily spotted.  We had a minor scare during a parade when I lost sight of Andrew.  As I was frantically calling his name and spinning in circles, another guest pointed at my other two and said, "If he's dressed like those guys, he's behind that mailbox."  Sure enough, he had gotten scared from the noise of the parade and sat down to cover his ears.  I imagine I would have spotted him in another second but seconds are a lifetime when you're missing your child!

Consider the backpack leash.  I know, I know, most people are against them and I've never actually done it myself.  But the people who use them say their kids are happier since they aren't stuck holding a sweaty hand and feel like they have a little more freedom to roam.

When you first arrive at the parks, show them a Cast Member and have them pay attention to the fact that they are wearing a name tag.  If they get lost, they can ask a Cast Member for help.

Take a picture each morning on your phone of your kids before heading out.  That way, if they do get lost, you have a current picture including what they are wearing.  

Have a talk about staying together.  There's so much to see and do that there are times when it's a must to hold hands.  If they know going into the day that they may need to hold hands, you might avoid a meltdown when that time comes.

If you have older kids with phones, talk to them about a meeting spot if you get separated.  Sometimes phone batteries die or you just can't get reception.  Just don't pick Cinderella's Castle as your meeting spot.  Something that large makes it impossible to find someone.  Be specific - meet at the FastPass entrance to Peter Pan's Flight for instance.  Also consider downloading an App such as Find My Friends to keep track of older kids if they are exploring the park alone.

If you do happen to lose a child, don't panic.  Contact the first Cast Member you see.  As per usual Disney standards, they have procedures in place and will help you.  Just remind your child to stay put - no searching for you as you are probably going in circles.  And if they can't locate a Cast Member then have them ask a Mom with a child to help them get to a Cast Member.  

If you have other ideas to keep track of your kids, post them in the comments!!