Eggs-plaining the Egg-stravaganza -- The 2016 Hunt Is Over!!!

[BigCheese]

Stitch and Cheshire Cat were the two prizes that I thought would be most popular -- I wondered when or if they would run out. I am disappointed that I didn't get a Mr. Toad egg last year -- especially when I learned that Epcot is giving out some leftover Mr. Toad eggs this year, along with their 2016 eggs.

I would love to see Mike & Sulley/Monsters Inc. eggs. I'd also love to see Little Green Men eggs, or Mr. Potato Head eggs.

Not only is there usually a misleading clue (or two) of some sort every year, which leads guests to one location when they should be going elsewhere, but this year there was a clue that was not intended to be misleading when the map was printed. I won't say where it is or in which land, but you will probably know what I am talking about when I say that the clue made it seem as though the egg would be off to the far right somewhere. When the locations were planned out and the maps were printed, that egg was supposed to be way off to the right somewhere. However, after the maps were printed the CMs realized that the egg could not be placed in that location... and it had to be moved way off to the left somewhere. They tried to keep it in the same general vicinity, but the location where the egg ended up had nothing much to do with the specific clue on the map! So that was an unexpected misleading clue that was throwing some people off track!

A couple of different times I found myself mumbling under my breath, "Huh? Where is the .... [fill in the blank with hiding spot referenced in clue]? I didn't even realize there was a .... in this park!"

Haha I know what you mean! We said a couple of times "Where's the [blank] in [blank] land" on our way there. That's the one the Incredibles helped us find!

Oh would have loved a Mr. Toad egg. So many characters they could use! (Potato Head and Mike are perfect for eggs). I know it's a cost thing but it would be great if they had all different character eggs (for the hunt) in each park. Maybe Classic Disney in DL and newer characters and Pixar characters in DCA. And even though the prize eggs are a little small, they're really good quality, and we're glad you got to choose which ones you wanted instead of the random method.

 

[Sherry E]

I noticed that someone mentioned in another thread that was started that he didn't want to see spoiler pictures. I hope everyone realizes that no one has posted any spoiler photos here since last week (the week the Egg-stravaganza began) -- 3 pages ago -- and I have not posted any spoiler photos from this year's hunt at all. In fact, I am being very careful to not give away spoilery specifics of this year's hunt, just so that people can feel free and safe to come here and ask questions about the hunt, about maps, prizes, etc!

We JUST got our first smart phones before this trip, and since we are not local or very familiar with the parks, Google was definitely our friend just to get to certain locations. Also, I think we may have placed a few in the wrong spot for the DCA map and I was super concerned 'is it this one??? Or THIS one???' When it doesn't matter. No one is checking with a key. I think all 3 had one in the end we were trying to find, and every time, my 7 year old would say 'you know.... We could just put the last sticker down...' But my five year old would have no part of that. She needed to see the last egg.

I know what you mean -- it seems so pointless to wonder about which sticker goes where on the map, or even to be concerned about finding each egg. It really doesn't matter at the end of the day because all anyone needs to do is buy the map to get the prize, and they need not search for eggs or apply stickers if they don't want to.

That said, I understand your five-year-old's wish to see every last egg -- I am that way too. Even though I know I don't have to, I want to find and see every last egg for myself! When I do the Egg-stravaganza, I am doing the hunt more for the sake of hunting than I am to actually get the prize (which is not that remarkable, really), so I like to see all of the different hiding spots (which are not always so hidden). Now if, in the future, the egg hunting gets a bit more difficult and eggs start appearing on rides or in ride queues, I may not find all of them if I dislike certain rides and don't want to have to go on them to find eggs, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it (if it ever comes to that).

Haha I know what you mean! We said a couple of times "Where's the [blank] in [blank] land" on our way there. That's the one the Incredibles helped us find!

Oh would have loved a Mr. Toad egg. So many characters they could use! (Potato Head and Mike are perfect for eggs). I know it's a cost thing but it would be great if they had all different character eggs (for the hunt) in each park. Maybe Classic Disney in DL and newer characters and Pixar characters in DCA. And even though the prize eggs are a little small, they're really good quality, and we're glad you got to choose which ones you wanted instead of the random method.

I think a Sulley egg could be all blue. The (imaginary) Mike egg would have the big eye on it. Mr. Potato Head would be great on an egg!

I agree -- not only do I think it would be nice to have a different array of character eggs to hunt in each location, having some theme-specific characters or characters in themed attire on the eggs would be fun in certain lands. For example, there was a White Rabbit egg located at the Little Mermaid ride a couple of years ago, and a Thumper egg at TSMM. Those characters didn't make sense in their locations! But, there could be an Ursula egg at the Little Mermaid Ride, and a Woody egg at TSMM. Or, there could be a Tinker Bell egg near the Peter Pan ride. Or, Mickey could be wearing a Pirate outfit for an egg hidden somewhere in NOS.

 

[wfbnancy]

We will be arriving Thursday the 24th and first day at park will be the 25th. Does it seem like there will still be maps then? We looked at ebay but could not find any that were not used. Anyone find other options?

 

[Sherry E]

We will be arriving Thursday the 24th and first day at park will be the 25th. Does it seem like there will still be maps then? We looked at ebay but could not find any that were not used. Anyone find other options?

It's coincidental that I just happened to see your post in this thread come through. I was in the middle of reading and looking at photos of how Tokyo Disney really goes all out for their Easter/Springtime festivities -- 3 months of Easter, to be exact! They have so many decorations that we don't have, and a parade. Everything is so cheery and colorful!

Anyway... maps. Of course, we're looking 9-10 days into the future and there is no way to actually know what will be going on with the maps by then, as the Egg-stravaganza will be winding down at that point.... not to mention the fact that this is the first year the hunt has lasted so long.

There is nowhere to legitimately (authorized by Disney) buy the maps outside of Disneyland Resort at this point. The only option is to have someone go to the park(s) and get a map for you.

That said, from all I have hearing and reading, it seems that a lot of maps and prizes were ordered this year, to cover the duration of the hunt. There is no telling how many people will be doing the hunting, but there will probably be enough maps to last.



Here are my suggestions to you -- though we still do not know what the map status will be in 9-10 days:

On your arrival day -- Thursday, 3/24, head to Acorns Gifts & Goods at the Grand Californian Hotel. Assuming they have them in stock, you can get both the Downtown Disney map AND the California Adventure map at that shop (the Parks Blog did not mention that you can get DCA maps at that shop too, but they were/are selling them there), so you can get two of the maps out of the way right off the bat, in one store, if you are planning on doing those 2 hunts.

You can collect your DTD prize at World of Disney, but I think that more people are inclined to go to WoD to buy their DTD maps, and less inclined to go to Acorns. I also think that a lot of people don't know that Acorns sells the DCA maps. That's why I suggest going there on Thursday.

You might be able to get a Disneyland park map outside of Disneyland, but I am not certain of that detail. It is possible that the gift shop at the Disneyland Hotel or World of Disney might be selling Disneyland Park maps too, but I did not get my Disneyland map outside of Disneyland.

If you cannot find the Disneyland map at any Disney shop outside of Disneyland, nor recruit anyone to go in and get a map for you, then I suggest that the next morning, Fri., 3/25, you should go to Disneyland first (as close to when it opens as possible) and hit the very first store that sells the Disneyland maps before you do anything else in the park. If you enter through the front of the park, you would go to either the Disneyana Store or Disney Showcase -- right there in Town Square. If you enter via the Monorail and land in Tomorrowland, you can go to Little Green Men Store Command and get the Disneyland maps.

It may seem like there is not much point in making an urgent rush to get maps at that late stage of the game, so close to the end of the hunt, when they could likely be sold out, but there could be a last-minute swarm of egg hunters in the parks for Easter weekend and you never know what might be available in which shops!

 

[dhorner233]

Thanks for your last post. Without going back and reading all 12 pages, my first day in the parks is Easter Sunday.

It sounds like they have not sold out of maps yet? I plan to hit the Disneyana Store at 8:00 am. Will you post here if the maps run out before then?

I am planning on a 1:40 lunch at Storytellers so I will check the Acorn shop. Thanks for that tip.

Once you buy the map, can you turn around and get your egg? Or do you have to leave and pretend to look for all of the eggs? Or take the time to put all of the stickers on your map?

I will keep an eye on this thread and hope someone will post if they run out of maps.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for your last post. Without going back and reading all 12 pages, my first day in the parks is Easter Sunday.

It sounds like they have not sold out of maps yet? I plan to hit the Disneyana Store at 8:00 am. Will you post here if the maps run out before then?

I am planning on a 1:40 lunch at Storytellers so I will check the Acorn shop. Thanks for that tip.

Once you buy the map, can you turn around and get your egg? Or do you have to leave and pretend to look for all of the eggs? Or take the time to put all of the stickers on your map?

I will keep an eye on this thread and hope someone will post if they run out of maps.

You're very welcome, Denise!

So far, it appears that the maps have not sold out.

I should point out that the reason I mentioned Acorns Gifts & Goods to wfbnancy is because Thursday, 3/24 is their arrival date but they are not heading into the parks until 3/25. So if there happens to be an issue of or concern that the maps might run out at the last minute (and they very well could run out in those last few days), then getting as many of them as possible before being able to go into the parks is important. It just so happens that Acorns sells (as long as they are in stock) both the DTD maps and the DCA maps, so that is a good place to stop and get 2 out of the 3 maps on a non-park day.

Acorns might be convenient for you, as you will be eating at Storytellers, but you won't be able to get your prize there. It was not advertised on the Parks Blog that the DCA maps can be purchased at Acorns, so I would guess that a lot of people don't know to go there for DCA maps. They most likely only think they can get the DTD maps there. But they all know that they can get their DTD maps and DTD prizes at World of Disney, so they head there.

If you or anyone else were, for example, heading to the parks an DTD today, I would suggest just getting the DTD map at World of Disney so that you can collect your prize right on the spot, and I would suggest getting the DCA map at Elias & Co. so that you can collect the prize right on the spot. Disney Showcase in DL is the only place where you can get the Disneyland prize, so it saves footsteps if you get your map and prize there as well.

You don't have to apply any stickers to the maps at all, nor do you have to find any of the eggs. All you need to do to get the prize is to buy a map. When you buy the map, the CM will stamp the back of it (either a bunny stamp or a chick stamp, if I recall). If you buy the map at a separate location that is not where you collect the prize, or if you return to the same map location to collect your prize later, then you take that stamped map to the prize redemption spot and show it to them. They let you pick your prize, as long as all the prizes are in stock.

I will most certainly post here if I hear of any of the maps selling out, and hopefully anyone else will too. Michelle at the Parks Blog usually comes back to post a "sold out" message in a banner at the top of the Egg-stravaganza blogs, but she has not done that so far this year -- and we are 2 weeks into the event.

 

[dhorner233]

Thanks Sherry! One more question, Where is the Disney Showcase? Is it were they were selling the 60th anniversary stuff?

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks Sherry! One more question, Where is the Disney Showcase? Is it were they were selling the 60th anniversary stuff?

Disney Showcase is right there where Town Square borders Main Street. It will be on your right-hand side when you enter the parks through the front gates, but it's before you start heading down Main Street. I think they were selling some 60th stuff -- among other shops -- but I didn't pay attention to what they had when I was there a couple of weeks ago. I just went in for the maps and egg prizes!

 

[dhorner233]

Yes that sounds like the same shop that had all the 60th anniversary stuff when I was there last year. Thanks!!!

 

[wfbnancy]

Thanks Sherry, That sounds like the best plan! We haven't been to disneyland in about 7 years so super excited to see everything!

 

[Sherry E]

There is nothing indicating that the maps are sold out as of yet (it is now late Sunday night, March 20th) -- and even if they are selling out, Michelle at the Parks Blog probably wouldn't be able to update her original Egg-stravagnza blog until Monday or Tuesday to let everyone know if anything was sold out. But... I noticed that tonight on the Disneyland Today Facebook page, they posted a picture of the Downtown Disney map (which was the one that I thought might sell out before anything else) and said, "It's not too late! Egg-stravaganza maps available at Acorn's Gifts & Goods, Mickey in Paradise or Fantasia Shop!"

They did not say that the DTD maps were sold out at World of Disney or at any of the other Disney-specific shops in Downtown Disney, but I have a hunch that that could be what they were getting at. If a lot of non-park guests went to Downtown Disney to do the hunt this year, they probably did not wander into the hotels to buy maps (which is why I was suggesting Acorns at the GCH for both DTD maps and DCA maps -- because a lot of people would not have known to check there). They probably all flocked to the Disney-specific stores right there in DTD... in which case, the DTD maps might be in short supply in those stores.

So, remember that if you can't get a Downtown Disney map at: Anna & Elsa’s Boutique; D Street; Disney Pin Traders; WonderGround Gallery; or the World of Disney Store, then check Acorns Gifts & Goods at the GCH; Mickey in Paradise at the PPH; or the Fantasia Shop at the DLH. You can only get your DTD prize at World of Disney.

Your options for Disneyland park maps are: Disneyana, Disney Showcase; “it’s a small world” Toy Shop; Little Green Men Store Command; Pieces of Eight; Pioneer Mercantile; and Stromboli’s. The only place you can get your prize for the Disneyland hunt is at the Disney Showcase store.

Your options for purchasing the California Adventure maps include: Elias & Co.; Humphrey’s Service & Supplies; Off the Page; Oswald’s; Sarge’s Surplus Hut; and Treasures in Paradise. You can also get the California Adventure map at Acorns Gifts & Goods at the GCH (but not the Disneyland park map). Your location for collecting your DCA prize is Elias & Company.

 

[laura&fam]

Thank you for this thread! I'd never heard of this before since I've never been this time of year before. I'm so glad I read it more thoroughly and discovered they sell out. I was very excited however I'll now be aware that they sell out and since we don't get there until the day before Easter I'll just hope they still have some. I've found I can avoid frustration at the park if I'm mentally prepared that things might not work out the way I hope and plan.

 

[dhorner233]

Mentally prepared : I can relate. I'm going on Easter Sunday and the next two days. I never, ever would have picked these days but, I'm tagging along with someone who already had this planned. I trying to mentally prepare myself for the huge crowds.

I'm happy to see no indication that the Egg-stravaganza maps have not sold out yet! I'm not making any bets on whether they make it to Sunday but there is still hope!

 

[Sherry E]

There's no specific statement to say that any of the maps are sold out -- but as I mentioned earlier, the fact that the Disneyland Today Facebook page was telling people to get their Downtown Disney maps at the 3 hotel gift shops (with no mention of the shops in Downtown Disney) makes me think that the supply of DTD maps might be running low or could have already sold out in the actual stores in Downtown Disney. That would make total sense to me, as the general/non-park-going public would be more likely to hit all of those Disney-specific stores in DTD to get maps rather than, for example, schlepping all the way over to the PPH to get a map. So I can envision a situation in which maps in the Disney-owned stores of DTD might be sold out.

But... there are quite a few options as to where to get the maps for each one of the hunts, so make note of them before you go and have a back-up plan in place in case you can't get a map at your first stop.

And remember that Acorns at the GCH sells DCA maps as well as DTD maps (but not DL maps), so that store can kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

[dhorner233]

Thanks. I know there is no official announcement but I'm hoping that with all of the Disboard contacts and you being so on top of things, word will get out when they run out.

If they have them on Easter, that would be great but, I'm rather guessing they won't have them so if they do, it will be a pleasant surprise.

 

[Sherry E]

The 'official or unofficial' isn't really even all that dependable in this particular case, right at this moment. It is possible that, for whatever reason, Michelle at the Parks Blog might not get back to her blog to mention that any of the maps have sold out, which is why I have to look for "clues" elsewhere. Also, she didn't even report that the DCA maps could be purchased at Acorns in the GCH, so she might not be fully up to date on what is happening with the maps out in DTD and the parks. It's also possible that maybe Disney, for some reason or another, doesn't want to flat out say that any map is sold out this year -- IF anything is sold out.

So the only "clue" or bit of recent info that we have is what was posted on the Disneyland Today Facebook page last night, advising people to get the DTD maps at the 3 hotels. They mentioned nothing about getting those maps at the shops in DTD, so that is a good indicator that the DTD maps in DTD could be running low.

Out of all of the locations I listed in my above post, I'm sure that at least a few of them will have some maps on Sunday. I don't think that all of the maps in every shop everywhere will sell out this year, but they could sell out in some shops -- which is why it's good to know where else to get them.

 

[chipw]

Mama and i did all 3 hunts last weekend and had a blast. So much fun and something completely different than the norm. Had a couple that were tough to find for us especially one that wasn't even close to the clue. Didn't want to but finally had to ask a castmember for a little help. Got all 6 eggs and was told by a castmember when we bought the DL maps that stitch and cheshire cat had sold out the day before.

 

[amyg1975]

Mama and i did all 3 hunts last weekend and had a blast. So much fun and something completely different than the norm. Has a couple that were tough to find for us especially one that wasn't even close to the clue. Didn't want to but finally had to ask a castmember for a little help. Got all 6 eggs and was told by a castmember when we bought the DL maps that stitch and cheshire cat had sold out the day before.

I was able to get Cheshire Cat yesterday at Disneyland. Picked up the other eggs at DCA and DTD on Sunday, and all eggs were still available. I love the egg hunt!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Mama and i did all 3 hunts last weekend and had a blast. So much fun and something completely different than the norm. Had a couple that were tough to find for us especially one that wasn't even close to the clue. Didn't want to but finally had to ask a castmember for a little help. Got all 6 eggs and was told by a castmember when we bought the DL maps that stitch and cheshire cat had sold out the day before.

Thank you so much for reporting back to us, chipw (and you too, amyg1975!)! It is a lot of fun, indeed. I know what you mean about it being something different to do. Also, it's a good way to see areas of the parks that might have otherwise been ignored, because you end up going all around the parks to find eggs.

Those couple of eggs that were tough to find for you, were tough to find for a lot of people -- so you were not alone! There was a reason that the one you are referring to wasn't close to the spot indicated in the clue, which was explained to me when I had to ask a CM about it as well. The egg was originally supposed to go in a certain spot, and then had to be moved after the maps were printed. They tried to put it in the general vicinity of where it should have gone, but it ended up seeming quite far away!

Despite those clues that were a bit frustrating, I still appreciated the challenge. I think that without the occasional wonky or misleading clues and eggs, the hunt would be too easy -- which is fine for very young kids, but not as much so for those of us who actually want to hunt down the eggs!

 

[amyg1975]

Those couple of eggs that were tough to find for you, were tough to find for a lot of people -- so you were not alone! There was a reason that the one you are referring to wasn't close to the spot indicated in the clue, which was explained to me when I had to ask a CM about it as well. The egg was originally supposed to go in a certain spot, and then had to be moved after the maps were printed. They tried to put it in the general vicinity of where it should have gone, but it ended up seeming quite far away!

Near Grizzly?