Leaving in a week - what are the secret fun things??

[polkadotladybug]

I've read about different "special" (and free) things that are fun to do that lots of people don't know about - some that I can think of are -

-riding in the front of the monorail
-waking Tinkerbell
-something about being the flag family at Wilderness Lodge? (never paid attention since we weren't staying there)


Anyone else have any "secret" must-do's? We have two girls - 9 and nearly 6. We are staying at Pop Century.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mickey1122]

At Port Orleans French Quarter, it is very pleasant to get beignats at the counter service and eat them on the deck. Another fun secret is the Hong Kong Disneyland room in the China Pavilion. Two lesser known rides that is very fun are Goofy's Barnstormer and Maelsrtrom.

 

[polkadotladybug]

Your post reminded me that last time - we happened to be near Goofy's Barnstormer early (shortly after Toontown opened) and rode the Barnstormer like 7 or 8 times without getting off (CM just let us stay on over and over since there was no line!) - and when we got off (I wanna say it was around 10:30? am) - up walked Goofy and Max - they asked a little girl ahead of us something and she said "I already rode it" - hello??!!! I quickly scurried my then 6 year old up and Goofy took her by the hand up the exit - and hopped in the front seat with her! Max took a little boy and sat behind Goofy. What a photo op!!

She still talks about that!

 

[PolyFish]

Hi,

I don't know -secrets- but I do know that you are really lucky to be going next week! I'll try sharing this secret, when you arrive at the hotel don't be in a rush to get to your hotel room.

I tried

Poly

 

[mathgeek]

One free fun thing I did one trip was to go to the campfire and movie at Ft. Wilderness. There's a fun sing-a-long with Chip and Dale, and you can buy marshmallows or S'more makings to roast on the fire. The only problem I found is that you need to know something about the FW transportation before attempting this if you don't have a car.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=311217

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

We tried to wake up Tinkerbelle, but we missed it by one lady who had a 10 month old! As if she would remember! My DD 6 was very dissapointed.

The only way you can wake her up first is if you have dining reservations at the CRT. We had reservations for 9:30 and were there at 8:45. We couldn't go in until our time, so the CM told us that the park was opening soon so we should go ride a few rides and come back. They dropped the rope and this woman bolted with the 10 month old and woke Tink up. Not fare!!

A fun thing to do is find the hidden Mickeys!

 

[BANNISTER]

How about watching the EWP from the Poly beach.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Taking a family stroll around the Polynesian beach...watching Wishes from the Hill by the beach...I always love to find Hidden Mickeys on all of the rides...like Test Track, etc.

 

[akfan]

Finding the paint brushes on Tom Sawyer Island. We never did use the certificate for a fast pass, but it made a nice souvenir.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

One free fun thing I did one trip was to go to the campfire and movie at Ft. Wilderness. There's a fun sing-a-long with Chip and Dale, and you can buy marshmallows or S'more makings to roast on the fire. The only problem I found is that you need to know something about the FW transportation before attempting this if you don't have a car.

Do you have any more info on this. What kind of movie was it? Are there a lot of people? What time does it start? Do you take a bus to Ft. Wilderness? Where is it from there? Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks for any other info. We are going in August and my DS's favorite character are Chip and Dale. I think it would be a lot of fun.

 

[Skyliner]

One thing that my kids did that they really enjoyed was chalk drawings on the sidewalk at EPCOT. One day, there were several cast members sitting with chalk for the kids to draw. It didn't cost anything, and the kids were able to sit on the ground and draw for as long as they wanted (or as long as we let them, anyway). It was a nice 30 minute break from the go, go, go mentality. The location of the chalk drawings was just outside the Innoventions "ring" on the side of The Land and The Living Seas (directly under the monorail track). We got some great pictures of the kids and their drawings.

 

[QueenGoblin]

We took DD last year when we were staying in the cabins there. The movie is usually one of the Disney or Pixar animated movies. The monthly schedule of movies gets posted on the camping section of the DISBoards as a sticky. I think the time changes depending on the time of year because it has to be dark enough to show the film on the outdoor screen, but again, look through the messages on the camping section, they are the experts.
When we were there, it started with a sing along. There was a campfire and a concession stand. You could make s'mores by bringing your own supplies or buying them from the concession stand. Chip and Dale were there for quite a while. Once it got dark enough they started the film. It is held at the outpost that is kind of in the center of the Fort, not the one by the petting zoo and Hoop de Doo (sorry, I don't remember the name of the outpost off the top of my head). You can take a park or resort bus to Fort Wilderness, then hop on one of the buses that runs around inside FW to get to the outpost. Or, if you are coming from the MK or WL you can take a boat to FW, then grab the internal bus. The two nights we were there it was well attended but not overcrowded. Definatley a fun and relaxing evening.

 

[carolago]

One free fun thing I did one trip was to go to the campfire and movie at Ft. Wilderness. There's a fun sing-a-long with Chip and Dale, and you can buy marshmallows or S'more makings to roast on the fire. The only problem I found is that you need to know something about the FW transportation before attempting this if you don't have a car.

Is it free even for other resorts guests? How do I know what time it happens?

 

[mathgeek]

The campfire and movie is free for all resort guests.

Here's a link to the camping thread with the May movies and times (looks like 7:30 campfire, 8:00 sing-a-long, and 8:30 movie). When I was there I checked with Guest Services at my resort to confirm the time.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1101140

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Finding the paint brushes on Tom Sawyer Island. We never did use the certificate for a fast pass, but it made a nice souvenir.

I've never heard of this--what is it? Tom Sawyer Island is one of DH's favorites!

 

[justplaingoofy]

I like to do the "hidden Mickey" search before we leave our house to get excited. I take black construction paper cut in a circle (for head) and two smaller ones for ears.. decorate them and write descending numbers on each as a countdown... Then, every day hide one around the house.....

 

[pooh2001]

While you are at EPCOT (or MGM Studio's) - take the boat (nice ride) to the Boardwalk Resort.
This is best to do in the early evening (6 pm or 7 pm) - do it on a nght when EPCOT or MGM is open late to get a ride back to POP resort.

At the Boardwalk they have 'street' entertainers - like a NJ shore boardwalk.
The girls can also make a hand cast (costs $), you can rent a 4 seater bike to ride on the boardwalk, buy popcorn, snacks, great bakery for dessert.

From Deb Will's web-site -> www.allears.net
" There are midway games for the kids, typical of those found in seaside resorts like Atlantic City -- shoot some baskets to try to win a big stuffed animal. And several nights a week, you'll find "buskers" or street entertainers, performing along the BoardWalk -- maybe a rope wrangler, a fortuneteller, or even a one-man band.
While you're walking the boards, be sure to stop in to Seashore Sweets' and check out all the Miss America memorabilia -- photos, signs, and the actual crown, cape and scepter used by Her Majesty!

If you're feeling energetic, you might want to rent a surrey bike. Don't miss this chance to terrorize innocent pedestrians as you pedal your way around the BoardWalk!

Stand on the bridge that leads to the Boardwalk for a great view of the IllumiNations fireworks (if the wind's blowing in the right direction you can faintly hear the music, too). Walk over to the Boardwalk vending carts and you can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks, too!

It's hard to overlook the Friendships that sail between Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios, since they are the primary mode of transportation connecting the Epcot resorts to these locations. But don't miss the opportunity to treat the Friendships as an attraction on their own. If you're not in any hurry, try riding one for its entire circuit, or take it to one of the other Epcot area resorts and then walk back to the BoardWalk. It makes for a peaceful overview of the area."

 

[lola4795]

The campfire and movie is free for all resort guests.

Do you mean ALL resort guests in in POR, ASMo, GF, CSR, etc.?

 

[akfan]

From what I understand, 3 paint brushes are hidden on the Island every morning. They aren't hidden particularly well. We found all 3 quite easily, but only took 1 You take the brush to a CM, who gives you a certificate for a family fast pass for either BTMR or Splash. You have to be on the first raft, or they will be gone when you get there.