Freebie Scavenger Hunt - Friendly Competition Trip Report Feb09

[missj1975]

How do you make Disney interesting when you go twice a year? I personally could never find Disney boring but when my sister suggested a little friendly competition, I was intrigued (and so was my competitive boyfriend).

My twin sister and I are going to Disney at the same time, but not exactly together...different hotels...different modes of transporation...etc. Check out Holly's pre-trip report to get a better picture of Team Sapa (me and my boyfriend) and Team Smith (Holly's family).

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2050960

We love free stuff but then who doesn't? If you say you don't, you are in denial...or extremely rich...or maybe not a pack rat like me. Anyway, we love free stuff so Holly came up with the great idea of a Freebie Scavenger Hunt. The game plan is to see who can accumulate the most points by finding the most freebie stuff at Walt Disney World.

Holly scoured the disboards for tips on all the freebies to be had at Disney. She compiled a nice list of what we are on the lookout for. Plus we can get bonus points if we find something not on the list. The winner of the contest gets to pick a Disney pin from the losers collection. Yeah, the prize might not sound that good to non-pintraders (or to anyone else) but we aren't big gamblers. Sometimes the journey to the prize is actually more rewarding then the actual prize. confused3 I might have read one to many fortune cookies).

Here is our scavenger hunt list.

Napkins - 1 point for each different one
Mickey Ears Plate - 1 point
Coaster - 1 point for each different one
Popcorn Bucket - 1 point for each different one
Fast Pass - 1 point for each different one
Cup - 1 point for each different one
Monorail co-pilot license - 1 point
Honorary Bus or boat license - 1 point
Honorary Train Conductor license - 1 point
Transportation cards - 1 point for each different one
Fact cards from AK - 1 point for each different one
Drawing from Disney Animation - 1 point
Sticker - 1 point for each different one
Menu - 1 point for each different one
Velco Frog - 1 point
Hand-made paper - 1 point
Discovery Kids Booklet - 1 point
Towel Animal - 1 point for each one mousekeeping leaves you
Map - 1 point for each different one
Character Autographs - 1 point for each different character
Kidcot necklace - 1 point
Kidcot mask - 1 point
Hotel soaps, shampoo, etc. - 1 point for each different one
Lei from Ohana - 1 point
Button - 1 point for each different one
Disney pen & stationary - 1 point
Confetti or streamers - 1 point
Photopass card - 1 point
Drink stirrers - 1 point for each different one

Candy from Candy Lady in Japan - 10 points
Free pin from a CM - 5 points
Fast pass for finding paint brush - 5 points
Anything not on this list - 2 points​

We both hit the road tomorrow for Florida. Yeah!!! Just in time because St Louis just got hit with 8 to 10 inches of snow. We plan on posting everynight so please stay tuned (and root for Team Sapa )

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Team Smith checking in! OK, we just finished loading the car. I can't believe we got everything in! Now we are going to get a couple of hours of sleep before we leave at 5:00 am.

This is my first free item. I have to check with Team Sapa to see if it counts or not, since I technically got it in the mail from my Disney travel agent and not at Disney. I think it should count!

 

[SmithFamily2003]

In case you can't tell from the picture, the first free item is Disney luggage tags!!

 

[missj1975]

Team Smith takes the lead.

I will (grudginly) give you 2 points. I didn't use a travel agent for this trip since we now have annual passes so no luggage tags for me. No nice clear folder. Nothing but yellow Magical Express tags. I miss my travel agent. Anyway, nice tags. Can I talk you out of one?


Team Sapa: 0
Team Smith: 2

 

[jmamom]

Hi,
I'm subbing in for this one, sounds fun!

 

[missj1975]

Do airport/airplane freebies count? I got this really cool St. Louis t-shirt. Yeah, so maybe I had to fill out a credit card application to get it\but it was perfect timing. I had been talking to Donald about signing up for a frequent flyer program since we have several vacations in the works. ..so ta-da I completed a goal and got a free t-shirt in the progress. Don’t worry, I won’t even think about asking how many points I should get with my free round trip ticket that I also received by signing up for the program ;-) but I think I should at least get 2 points for the t-shirt.

I also got peanuts, chips, and a cool map napkin during the flight. I was a little surprised because I thought all the airlines had cut out all the perks. Not Southwest…no fee for checked luggage and they still offer free drinks and snacks. Southwest is now my favorite airline. Team Sapa now has 4 points (2 for the t-shirt, 1 for the snacks, 1 for the napkin). Unless you plan on vetoing my t-shirt points.

Airport security was really nice but I got pulled aside for a bag check, which I knew I would. My carryon stuffed with trading pins always raises an eyebrow or two. The tsa agent was super nice and asked if I wanted a private screening. After seeing my confused look, he explained he offered it because it looked like I had a lot of jewelry in my bag. He sees a lot of jewelry dealers who prefer a private screening so passer-bys don’t see the expensive merchandise …so not to attract would be thieves. Interesting…but I told him I’m not a dealer…just an obsessive collector and he laughed.

Team Sapa: 4
Team Smith: 2

 

[missj1975]

Hi,
I'm subbing in for this one, sounds fun!

Thanks for subbing. Hope you enjoy our report.

 

[missj1975]

Where oh where is Team Smith. I did talk to Holly on her cellphone and she did mention they were having a great time at the beach today.

Donald and I had a great time today with only one problem. So we arrived late last night through Magical Express and decided to let Magical Express take care of our luggage. Yeah I know...I ignored everyone's tips on the disboards but we just didn't feel like dealing with luggage. So when we checked in last night (at midnight), I asked when our luggage would be delivered. The CM said 6:30 am. Great, perfect. We set the alarm for 7:00 but figured a knock on the door would wake us up before that.

7:00 am rolls around and we wake up to no luggage. I call luggage services and they are like "Oh yeah, we have your luggage. When would you like it delivered?" I said "A half hour ago." Yeah I can be a bit crabby without my morning shower. Anyway, we didn't feel like waiting around for it to be delivered so we walked two minutes to luggage services and got our suitcases ourself. Did I mention our great room that is very close to the buses? Love our room.

We picked up our rental car and headed to Gatorland. Spent a couple of hours at Gatorland, stopped by the outlet mall, and then headed to Ohana's for dinner. After dinner, we visited Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours. It really wasn't as crowded as I expected for a Saturday night. No waits for Pirates, Haunted Manison, and Small World (our three favorite MK rides).

At Gatorland, we got a free map and collector cup so Team Sapa gets 2 more freebie points.

At the Poly we picked up the hotel map. We also got a wooden backscratcher with the wonderfully alcoholic drink and an umbrella in a pina colada. I also kept the Walt Disney Resort pin because I don't have a black one (just a white one from my last trip).
Team Sapa gets 4 more points.

Team Sapa: 10
Team Smith : 2

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Hmmm....nice try, but I am going to have to go with no. Stuff from the airport and airplane do not count. Lets try and keep some order to this scavenger hunt, so only Disney freebies count. I can't believe you are trying to cheat already!

Team Sapa: 0
Team Smith: 2

 

[SmithFamily2003]

You must have been updating at the same time as me. You can have your four points from Poly, but no Gatorland!

Team Sapa: 4
Team Smith: 2

 

[missj1975]

Does anyone remember those plastic figurines that a machine molds right in front of you? I remember as a child going to the Chicago Museum of History and getting a bust of Abraham Lincoln made. I loved the souvenir but alas it has disappeared along with all my other childhood toys.

Donald and I were quite delighted when we discovered not one but two of these wonderful antique machines at Gatorland. The cost for this wonderful piece of childhooh nostaglia was only $2.00. What a deal!!!

Did Disney ever have these machines? If they did, they need to bring them back. If they didn't, they need to find some. I think these plastic figurines would be a huge hit. Lots of people love squishing pennies (including me) and these machines are a similar concept...watching something being made. Anyway, I love these cute little souvenirs.

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Actually, we both have your points from Poly wrong. Since the backscratcher and umbrella are not on the list, you get two each for those. You get one each for the pen and map.

Team Sapa: 6
Team Smith: 4

 

[missj1975]

Hmmm....nice try, but I am going to have to go with no. Stuff from the airport and airplane do not count. Lets try and keep some order to this scavenger hunt, so only Disney freebies count. I can't believe you are trying to cheat already!

Team Sapa: 0
Team Smith: 2

Sticks and stones...blah.blah.blah.

Fine, we will stick to Disney. Bummer though because we are going to Universal tomorrow. You are going to be one day up on me. Team Sapa will have to do double time on Monday.

 

[missj1975]

Actually, we both have your points from Poly wrong. Since the backscratcher and umbrella are not on the list, you get two each for those. You get one each for the pen and map.

Team Sapa: 6
Team Smith: 4

Awesome...You are forgiven for vetoing my airplane/gatorland stuff. The backscratcher is definitely worth two points. It might be my new favorite souvenir (next to my plastic aligator).

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Here are my freebies from today!

Not pictured:
Mickey Soap 1 point
Shampoo 1 point
WDW blue coaster 1 point
Port Orleans Riverside map 1 point

Pictured:

Towel Animal 2 points

First Trip button 1 point
I'm Celebrating button 1 point
Mickey Ears Plate 1 point
Celebrations napkin 1 point
Celebrations cup 1 point
Mickey treat bag 2 points


Team Sapa: 6 points
Team Smith: 13 points

Way to go Team Smith!!!

 

[missj1975]

Today was my Universal day so no freebies from there. Well actually I got a collector cup but Holly said that doesn't count.

We had planned on going to Magic Kingdom for EMH so we decided to stop by the Contempary for dinner. We had drinks and appetizers at the California Grill. It was very nice and relaxing. After a very busy day at Universal, the downtime at the lounge was great. So much so that we ended up staying there for three hours and even got to enjoy the MK fireworks from the California Grill. After fireworks, we skipped MK and just went back to POP. We want to make it to the morning hours at Ak so we are going to go to bed early.

Here are my freebies for the day

Freebies not pictured:
Mickey Soap 1 point
Mickey Shampoo 1 point
Pop Century map 1 point

Freebies pictured:
Contemporary map 1 point
Contemporary menu 1 point
Drinker stirrers (2 different ones) 2 points
Contemporary Business card 1 point

Team Sapa: 14 points
Team Smith: 13 points

 

[DisKate]

I'm in! This looks like fun!

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Good morning Team Sapa!

A business card? Is that as good as you can do?

Here are my freebies from Sunday:

Lei 1 point
DVC button 1 point
DVC stickers 1 point
Mickey Mouse stickers 1 point
Downtown Disney map 1 point
Magic Kingdom map 1 point
Mickey straw 2 points (came in chocolate covered marshmellows)
Create Your Own Treat Menu 1 point
Pin Trading Guide 1 point
Grand Floridian map 1 point
Black WDW pen 1 point
White WDW pen 1 point
WDW pencil 1 point
WDW napkin 1 point

The picture doesn't have everything on the list. I took it late last night, so who knows what actually got in the pic!

Also, from Saturday, I got the free $200 gift card, so I am sure that counts for two points!

And for huge bonus points, a CM at the Port Orleans gift shop gave me two free pins on Sunday!!!! She gave me a pixie dust pin for waiting patiently to look at the pin board and a pin trading continuing the tradition pin for being an "older" trader!!! So that is five points each for a whopping 10 points! Try and beat that Jenny!!!

Team Sapa: 14 points
Team Smith: 40 points

 

[missj1975]

Good morning Team Smith. You are pushing it on the $200 gift card but I will let it slide since I am counting my free gift.

So for booking with our AP's, we got four free lithographs. Each one is amazing so I am giving them 2 points each.

Yesterday we spent the morning at AK and the afternoon with you at Magic Kingdom in the wonderful rain.

Points are:
AK Bucket 1 point
Celebrations napkin 1 point
Stickers (2 different) 2 points
White WDW pin 1 point
AK Map 1 point
Epedition Everest FP 1 point
K. Safari FP 1 point
Dinosaur FP 1 point
Special FP 2 point *

*the special FP was given to me by a CM. My AP ticket wasn't working so he said to use this to get FP's**

Team Sapa 33 points
Team Smith 40 points

So we are a little behind but don't count us out yet. I might have something up my sleeve.

 

[SmithFamily2003]

I think you are pushing it on the lithographs. That should only be two point total, not eight. I guess I will let that slide for now.

So here is my list for Monday:

Magic Wand from Cinderella's Royal Table 2 points
Kid Menu from Cinderella's Royal Table 1 point
Coloring Sheet from Cinderella's Royal Table 1 point
Family picture in folder ("free" with lunch) 2 points
Wishing Stars 2 points
Cinderella Stickers 1 point
Photopass card 1 point
Different Mickey Sticker 1 point
Where Dreams Come True bag 1 point

From BBB, I won't count the make-up and fingernail polish since we paid for the make-over, but I am counting the pink bag they gave us to carry it in!

Princess Sash 2 points
Pink Bag 2 points
BBB personlized brochure 2 points

Monday was a little slow for "free" stuff, but I will work harder the rest of the week.

We also got another towel animal.
Towel Animal 2 points

Team Sapa: 33 points
Team Smith: 60 points