Letterboxing and Geocaching

[mapmakerj]

I just looked on the Geocaching website and the Mickey's Backyard cache is located up to the NE of the MK near Lake Sharp and not actually on WDW property. I am an avid Geocacher and have been checking for caches to do on our upcoming trip. While I was on the Geocaching site I verified, and as of now there are six caches on WDW property, but they all are virtual caches, which means there is no actual treasure box to find. They all require you to find a specific interesting thing, take a picture of it and post it on the Geocaching website. Right now there is one in the MK, one in AK, two in EP, one in DHS and one that is a multi-stage that requires a visit to both the WL and FW.

 

[mapmakerj]

FYI: Just in case anyone was thinking about placing a cache on WDW property, the Geocaching website requires that you get permission to place a cash on any private property before placing it or it will not be approved for posting on the site. According to the forums on the site, Disney will not grant permission for any regular caches to be planted on their property. They had allowed a few in the past, but all were disabled years ago. Also, the Geocaching site is no longer allowing any new virtual caches to be created in case someone was thinking of that. They are only keeping ones that were created before Nov. 2005, so the ones already in the parks appear to be safe for now.

 

[BradyBz12]

Ooh.... I'm on pins and needles!!

So, if anyone is going to the Fort, is planning to do some looping, and are interested in gathering some data for me... lemme know!

Not sure if the timing will help, but we're scheduled to be there Nov.1st-20th (shortly before you, I think) and will definitely be doing some looping, so if there's anything we can help with, let me know!

 

[Shan-man]

Actually, my second operative just returned from the Fort and accomplished as much as I had hoped a half dozen Fiends might! So, the time to completion might be dramatically shorter than I figured mere hours ago! Stay tuned.

 

[christinou]

Not at the fort but there used to be a cache at Castaway Cay, we found it on a Disney cruise a few years ago. That was a fun one to get.

 

[Us3]

Not at the fort but there used to be a cache at Castaway Cay, we found it on a Disney cruise a few years ago. That was a fun one to get.

That's cool!!

It's been a while since we've been out searching for a cache, but it really is a fun family activity and we've discovered places we would have never found otherwise.

Shan, we always have our gps on the cart while at the fort (speed test). Right now, we dont have ressie's until Oct...but let me know if I can help out then.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

That's cool!!

It's been a while since we've been out searching for a cache, but it really is a fun family activity and we've discovered places we would have never found otherwise.

Shan, we always have our gps on the cart while at the fort (speed test). Right now, we dont have ressie's until Oct...but let me know if I can help out then.

Hey girl ! Less I'm not look'n at the right places, I haven't been seeing ya around much. How'r you doing ? Hows the parents, better I hope?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

There used to be a lot of geocaches on Disney property prior to 911. A few were on FW property. I remember a virtual cache at DTD that was the giant kaleidoscope. Remember that?

 

[Us3]

Hey girl ! Less I'm not look'n at the right places, I haven't been seeing ya around much. How'r you doing ? Hows the parents, better I hope?

Hey Frank! Everything is going good, I've had my head stuck in books rather than the pc lately, ha! Bud had me in tears laughing so hard while he read the pool construction thread to me last night (it was otterly crazy)...so I had to poke around here today to see what I've been missing!

Jim-We haven't done any of the virtual caches, although I've seen a lot of them posted. How does it work?

My girls love finding the "easy" caches. My oldest signs the log and the little ones take/leave a trinket. We've found caches as large as ammo boxes and as small has film canisters.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Sonya:

A virtual cache takes you to some point of interest. It may be something scenic, a monument or statue, or a historic place. In the case of the DTD cache, the destination was that giant kaleidoscope they used to have. You leave nothing and there is nothing to sign, but a lot of people will have their picture taken in front of the "cache" just to prove they found it.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I have never even HEARD of this idea before!!! How great is this??? Is there a reason we, as the dis board campers cant do a couple of un-official cahes for the kids to search for and sign into? I think my kids...even my older kids (even ME, the biggest kid of my krewe) would LOVE to find something hidden while out at the fort. man...I LOVE this idea!!!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Hey Frank! Everything is going good, I've had my head stuck in books rather than the pc lately, ha! Bud had me in tears laughing so hard while he read the pool construction thread to me last night (it was otterly crazy)...so I had to poke around here today to see what I've been missing!

QUOTE]

I had my head stuck between the rails of a banister once,,is that anything like a book ?

 

[Us3]

I had my head stuck between the rails of a banister once,,is that anything like a book ?

The book might be a little less painfull on the ears!

Rog, Check out geocaching dot com. You'll be surprised how much cache is hidden within a few miles of your house! There may be better sites now, but this is the one we used years ago. All of the kids like it, young and "old".

 

[3gr8kids]

Because of this thread, my family and I have decided to try geocaching. I went to the website to check it out, and like Sonya said, we were amazed at how many caches are near us. (A lot of them are less than a mile from our house!)
We can't wait to get started! Perhaps DFam and I will leave something at the Fort when we're there in April?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Well...we just got back from our first geocaching expo...and it was pretty fun!!
It was less than 5 miles from my house, this what we found...a little waterproof matchbox container with a scroll and pencil to say we were there and found it:

The kids really enjoyed this....

and the real treasure was the view from the beach of Lake Pontchartrain...

We will definately start doing this on a fairly regular basis for a while....what a neat little family outting!!! Thanks for posting this thread!!

 

[Skyw]

Rog...it is addicting. We love going with our son and sometimes without him. It is a good excuse to get outside. It is 8 degrees here now and about 10 inches of snow. So we wont be caching for a while yet.

 

[Us3]

Great find Rog!! Looks like you had a fun day with your girls!!

 

[FlaFortCampster]

Guess scavenger hunt is from last century...
Trying to follow the old railroad tracks would be a sad adventure indeed. Here pretty much what you would find in the good area. (Taken 1/29)

Ouch.......

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Great find Rog!! Looks like you had a fun day with your girls!!

Jeeez...I just realized my kids pose in that pic....she's such a little lady!!

 

[ampmdp]

We were at the MK on 2/15 & 16. We were at the Fort on Tom Sawyer's Island, when one of us noticed what looked like a microcache next to the well bucket inside the Fort. Sure enough, it was a waterproof matchbox container painted black, and next to it was a log scroll that was titled "The Most Magical Place On Earth" and had a lot of signatures and stamp prints. Some of the dates were fairly recent. We didn't know if it was some "underground" geocache/letterbox, or if Disney had sponsored an event. We also had no idea where it had been hidden, since it was out in the open. We rolled up the log, put it back in the container, and dropped it in the bucket. On our way out we saw kids grabbing for it already. Anyone know what this was about?