5. Don’t lose your pins

Enjoy imbibing in the addictive art of Disney Pin Trading? Nothing is worse than marching proudly through the parks displaying your pin lanyard only to learn that one of your beloved pins has fallen off. By and large, this happens due to Disney’s crappy rubber pin backings.

If you have time to prepare, hop online and purchase a package of locking pin backings. Your pins will be much more secure without spending much. The upgraded pin locks Disney sells are another option (and also available online). These have a locking mechanism that makes them super secure but introduce a whole new problem—the tiny allen wrench for unlocking your pins constantly going missing.

Instead of fumbling around looking for the stupid thing, before your next trip invest in an allen wrench mini tool like this one (the price on Amazon is high but you can find similar tools for cheaper—mine was a gift from The Container Store). This is especially helpful if you have pin locks from years back before Disney changed the gauge size for the locks. When it comes time to trade a pin, the exchange will go much smoother with an easy-to-control (and find) tool like this. Just make sure whichever tool you get has a star or hex key attachment that matches your pin locks.

6. Dealing with foggy glasses

Image: Peter Løvstrøm, Flickr (license)

On particularly humid days, Florida’s intense humidity can have some unusual effects on glasses. Mine have fogged over more than once on the way to and from the parks on muggy mornings. Instead of feeling like you have to power through constantly rubbing moisture off your lenses, prep your own anti-fog treatment before your trip.

If you want to keep things simple, purchase a bottle or tin of Cat Crap Anti Fog Balm, much loved by skiers and survivalists. If you want a DIY solution, rub your glasses with dish soap using a soft cloth. Allow it to dry for 15 minutes then buff any spots away with a microfiber cloth. This should provide an easy anti-fog coating for your lenses. In a pinch, you can use saliva like many snorkelers do, but make sure you don’t get the residue in your eyes as that can lead to infection.

What are your favorite mini hacks for Walt Disney World vacations?