New Epcot Guide tips Tricks & Must Do's

[livingskies78]

Hello Everyone
Since this is our first time Going to Disney World and after reading page after page of Awesome Tips and Tricks.

I wanted to update IMwink amazing Information as it's hasn't been updated since Jan 2010.

So please contribute any info or things that might have changed and I will compile onto one page

Animal Kingdom http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2828403
Epcot http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2828391
Hollywood Studios http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2828384
Magic Kingdom http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2828368




Park Maps

Refurb

Top Tips
1. Ride TSM early and get a FP, they run out early
2. Do the rides early and the Shows in the afternoon (my idea, good or bad?)
3. ADR Fantasmic Dinner Package (FDP) Early!!! It sells out fast
4. ADR 50's Prime Time Café, it fills up fast too
5. Fantasmic and Extra Magic Hours (EMH) drive up park attendance, increased ride waits
6. Take some time to enjoy the street performers. They are well rehearsed and show times are not usually announced
7. Many items from the Table Service(TS) places that can be bought for much less at their Counter Service(CS) companion.



Must Have Snack
Banana Cooler – Herbie’s Drive-In
Turkey Leg - Toluca Legs Turkey Co
Frozen Coolers - Herbie's Drive-In


Better Table Service Restaurant (TS
50’s Prime Time Café - S'mores Dessert, Pot Roast (Great Atmoshphere)
Sci-fi Diner - Milkshakes, Burgers, Great atmosphere
Hollywood and Vine (H&V) - hit and miss, buffet style, Good Character meal for preschoolers
Mama Melrose - Hit or Miss. Good Chicken Parm

Good Counter Service (CS)
The Writers Stop – Coffee shop, Good Coffee, good atmosphere, and has coffee shop snacks (almost all are on the DDP snack option)
Studio Catering Co. (good chicken Caesar wrap)
Toy Story Pizza Planet - good for salads, descent Pizza (like a boboli bread pizza), (for the kids, it has an arcade)
Starring Rolls Bakery – Huge Sandwiches for QS, Great for a quick breakfast, almost all the pastries are on the Snack DDP
Sunset Market
Catalina Eddie's - Italian Sandwich

Stay away from Restaurants


Kids Stuff
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Air Conditioned)
Beauty and the Beast Live Stage Show (B&TB)
Muppet Vision 3-D
Honey I shrunk The Kids Movie Set Adventure
Disney Junior - Live on Stage! (Any input??)

Secrets, Cool Stuff, & Other Tips
1. City Pictures - On the streets of America notice the ends of the street for a picture of New York and San Francisco.
2. Know the difference between a top loading and side loading theater and which ones are which. For top loaders, the first guests into the attraction will enter from the top of the theater and have their choice of seats. They will be asked to squeeze to the middle when the theater is busy. Examples at DHS are Beauty and the Beast(B&TB), Indiana Jones, and Lights, Motor, Action.
Side Loaders are theaters where guests enter from one side of the theater and exit from the other. This includes Muppetvision, Little Mermaid, and the new American Idol Experience. All 3-D movies at all Disney Parks are side loaders. With these theaters, if you want to sit in the middle, you DO NOT want to be the first guests in the doors as they will be asked to choose a row and continue to the far end of the row. When an attraction is busy, cast members will be very insistent and will not have much sympathy for those that complain they have been waiting far longer and should get a middle seat. It is simply how the theater was designed. So - the tip is, dont be the first in the door and then simply choose the row that best situates you in the middle (if that is where you want to be).
3. The Christmas Shop - is a great place to find a usable vacation souvenir
4. Mickeys of Hollywood - The façade at Mickeys of Hollywood is modeled after Frederick’s of Hollywood
5. Gas Pump The date for Hollywood Studios is on the gas pump (if you get up close and look at the numbers) right when you first enter the park.
5. Brown Derby -All the pics in the Brown Derby that are in BLACK frames are copies of the originals. All The pics in the GOLD frames are the originals from the original Brown Derby...which no longer exists.
6. Umbrella - Check out the "Singing in the Rain" umbrella that is attached to one of the streetlights near the old Hunchback theater. Grab the umbrella and step on the black square embedded in the cement underneath it for a nice surprise!
7. Hollywood Blvd - read the names stenciled on the second floor windows. I recall seeing one that said 'Valiant Detective Agency' from 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (it's above Hollywood and Vine (H&V) Restaurant on Echo Lake).
8. Magical Colors - The hat is painted with a custom technique called “chameleon paint,” which shifts color as guests move around it
9. Gertie the Dinosaur - After entering the park, go straight past the first block of gift shops and take a left. She is in the pond. She is a tribute to the vaudeville actor and artist Windsor Mackay who is credited with producing the first projected animated motion picture.

Best Memorable Photo Opportunities
- Photopass Photographers can do photo enhancements. Such as inserting tinkerbell into the palm of your hand or make Stitch come out of the ground
- Snap pics of the street and window signs. Some of them are funny and memorable.
- Under the "Singing in the Rain" umbrella
- Take a picture under the AT-AT Walkers (watch out for the water)
- Take a picture on the Land Speeder
- All over the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground
- Snowman in the store by Pizza Planet
- In front of the HAT
- Snap a picture of someone pulling the rope at the well in Indy
- Mr. Potatoe Head at TSM (Is it a statue or a person?)
- Get a picture with Matter and McQueen from Cars at Luigi's Garage
- on Sunset Blvd., there is a pile of old fashioned suitcases by a Route 66 sign. You can get really cute pics there. Sitting on a suitcase, leaning on the sign, looking like you are waiting for a bus.
- Huge Kermit near Muppet Vision 3D
- the City Backdrops, NYC, San Fran...
- Outside the Great Movie Ride(GMR) In front of the Chinese Theatre there are hand prints, foot prints, signatures of Celebrities that have visted
- Muppetvission 3-D - Someone picking up the mat and pointing to the key

Still working on it any updates would be great as some of these will be out of date

Character Meets
All the listed locations are for Usual and sometimes opportunities to take pictures and meet the Character. Not all will be able to sign. And nothing is guaranteed. These are for planning purposes only.
Buzz Lightyear - PIXAR PLACE, Pizza Planet, Toy Story Mania (TSM)
Chewbacca - Star Tours (Occasional)
Chip & Dale - Park Opening
Darth Vadar - Jedi Training academy, Park Opening
Donald Duck - Park Opening
Green Army Men - Park Entrance, PIXAR PLACE
Handy Manny - Playhouse Disney Live!
Incredibles - PIXAR PLACE , Disney Animation Building (Check Times)
Jessie the Cowgirl - PIXAR PLACE
JoJo and Goliath - Playhouse Disney Live!, Hollywood & Vine(H&V) Meal(B,L)
Kim Possible - Streets of America
Lightning McQueen - Luigi's Garage
Little Einsteins - Playhouse Disney Live!, Hollywood & Vine(H&V) Meal(B,L)
Mickey Mouse (Sorcerer) - Mickey Avenue Soundstage, Disney Animation Building
Mike Wazowski - Streets of America – (Behind LMA and BLT)
Power Rangers - Streets of America- See post #38
Stormtroopers - Jedi Training Academy
Sulley - Streets of America – (Behind LMA and BLT)
Tow Mater - Luigi's Garage
Woody - PIXAR PLACE , Pizza Planet
Sorcerer Mickey Hat will a variety of Characters throughout the day

 

[livingskies78]

Future World
- Bruce the Shark - Get inside Bruce the Shark's mouth at Bruce's Sub House in the Seas with Nemo
- Imageworks - you can get your pictrure taken and then super-imposed in a disney background
- Where's the Fire - take a pic with the 30ft fire truck
- Beverly Face - Club Cool - get a free cup of the Italian soft drink called Beverly. Now have your camera ready to catch the reaction when someone takes a sip.
- Test Track Cars - take a picture in all the different cars
- GEOsphere - attempt to get a position so it looks as if you are holding the sphere in your hand like a ball


Tips for Future World
1. Mailbox - The address on the mail box in front of the farm house has 82 or 1982 on it. The Park opened in 1982.
2. Night Lights - If you happen to be in Innoventions Plaza at night, be sure to look DOWN! The walkway is laced with fiberoptics that light up and slowly fade away, enchanting children and adults.
3. Reverse Waterfall - the beautiful fountain outside the Imagination pavilion is actually a *reverse* waterfall, with the water flowing up! Just watch it
4. Innoventions - a good place to head if it starts raining or is very hot. Of course, others will have the same idea but there is so much to look at and interact with that there is enough room for everyone.
5. Innovention Fountain Musical Selections - The selections played for the water ballets are rotated every quarter hour in no specific order.
6. Balloons - in The Land as you enter the building, look out to the ceiling where 5 balloons hang. The middle one represents Earth. The four surrounding balloons represent the seasons: Yellow for summer, Orange for Fall, Blue for Winter and Green for Spring
7. Fountain of Nations. Between the two halves of Innoventions is an innocent looking fountain which occasionally erupts into a full sound and dancing waters show. It's fairly small but can be fun to watch, especially at night when lighted.
8. Kid Fountains - near the fountain of Nations there is a place where kids can walk and get wet by jets of water pulsating from the ground like a geyser.
9. Jumping Fountains - near Honey I shrunk the Audience, water jumps from one fountain across the walkway to another fountain as you walk-by. very cool.
10. Center of WDW - not really anymore - Find the marker in Epcot that supposedly represents the center of WDW. (Due to land acquisitions and sales over the years since Walt purchased the original 28,000 odd acres, this marker is no longer the "center", if it ever was at one time.) Its just to the west of Innoventions West (on that path that leads straight to Living With the Land). It's a circle and it has quotations from different inventors and scientests and believe even Walt has a quotation posted there.
11. Club Cool - There are a couple of beverage deals at Epcot parks and one is completely free. Stop by Club Cool located near Innoventions West in Future World. This exhibit is sponsored by Coca-Cola and features Coke products distributed worldwide. Sample cups are small, about 3 oz, but you can try as many flavors as you like and as often as you like.
12. Club Cool Misc - The treads of the tractor that sits there are in the shape of Coke bottles. Also one of the parts in the satellite dish.

 

[livingskies78]

World Showcase
- Take a picture with a different hat from every Country
- Take a picture with a Cast Member in traditional garb in each Country
- Take a picture beside the sign in each country
- Take a picture of the different Water features in each Country (Fountains, pools, waterfalls)
African Outpost - Grab a pic while playing the drums
America -
Canada - Grab one next to the Totem Poles
- if you take a picture of Off Kilter in Canada, while they are playing, they will assume a crazy pose for you, never missing a beat!
- a wall with three 'face' holes in it, surrounded by masks.
- get one of the waterfall
China -
France - Grab one from the bridge with the Eiffel Tower in the Background
Germany -
Italy - with Spaceship Earth in the background, try to position someone to appear as if they are holding Spaceship Earth
Japan -
Mexico -
Morocco -
Norway - The Troll in one of the Shops
- try on the helmats and swords fora funny pic
United Kingdom - Get inside the Red Phone Booth
- at the Market Cross


World Showcase

10. Kidcot Fun Stops
- 10.1 In Each Country there is a small table manned by Cast Members from the various countries. They will talk with children about their native land, engage them in a craft, stamp their World Showcase Passports if they have one, and sign a personal message in the language of the country.
- 10.2 good way to get your kids involved in the countries
- 10.3 may be a little time consuming, but it is worth it
- 10.4 I may list these later but for now here is where you can find the Kidcot Locations http://www.stitchkingdom.com/kidcot/

11. Kim Possible Adventure
- There are seven different adventures that can be started at any of five different locations in World Showcase. You will need to return your Kimmunicator after each adventure
Tips for the World Showcase
Alphabetical order to avoid confusion

Got some from "nicwoodard" "World Showcase Hidden Gems" Thread

Pick Up an Entertainment Schedule. It will include all the times of the performers. It is seperate from the Map so be sure to grab it!

African Outpost
- The Crates - Open the lids of the crates and see what happens.
- African Drum player - forgot his name he is relativly famous in the music world, I think I need to check Steve Soares later
- Wood Carving - There is a man that does african wood carvings at different times during the days

America
- 9/11 Flag - View the American Flag that was taken from the rubble of 9/11/2001. - Has this been Retired??
- The Elevator - In the American Pavilion, there are paintings along the front wall. One of the first ones opens to reveal an elevator.
- Fife and Drum - a colonial fife and drum show
- Whisper - in the rotunda in the american adventure, you're supposed to be able to whisper on one end and hear it on the other
- "Plane" View - Walk into the American Pavillion towards the rotunda dome. Turn around and look at the wall on the right hand side ( it is on behind you, on your left as you enter). There is a painting of a B17 Fortress on the wall with the front of the fuselage pointing to the left. Walk across the front of the painting and when you get to the right hand side, which way is the aircraft pointing to now? In front of the picture is a grey strip of tiles on the floor. If you stand on the gray tiles and walk back and forth, the plane seems to swivel to follow you.
- The Clock Face - You will see a numeral IIII, instead of the IV. This was done to prevent confusion when viewing the clock from a distance.

Canada
- Off Kilter - in Canada. Great band that does Celtic rock and cover tunes. For smaller crowds, catch them earlier in the day. Band members will be glad to sign autographs and pose for photos after the performance is over. Here is there Site www.offkilter.net
- The Rock - there is a huge "rock" at the Kodak picture spot. Before IllumiNations-Reflections of Earth begin, the top of the "rock" will open, and sound and lighting equipment for IllumiNations will come out
- Totem Poles - Only the left Totem Pole is made of wood and is hand carved. The totem poles are the three stories of Raven, a traditional story amongst Northwest Coastal Indians. The top of the pole depicts the story of Raven tricking the Chief of the Skies to release the sun, moon, & stars from a carved cedar chest (box)
- Relax - Want another quiet place to "Take 5"? Walk up the steps, go between the 2 shops to the back of the pavilion -- you'll find a couple benches and very few people.
- Waterfalls and Mine - there is a walking trail, with an old abandoned mine and waterfalls
- Plants - The plants at Canada are changed to match Canada's seasons -- white in winter, gold and red in autumn etc.

China
- Acrobats - there are acrobats that perform at various times during the day. Must-do if you are in the area
- Temple Echo - The temple is acoustically perfect--if you stand exactly in the middle of the room, should be marked by a circle, your voice will echo back to you.
- Fan - You can purchase a fan, and they will personalize it for free. They write the name in Chinese. The fan is very inexpensive, around four dollars.
- Warriors - Replicas of the terra cotta warriors in the Forbidden City
The Dancing Water Bowl - There is a green bowl in the back of one of the shops in china. It has water in it. When you rub the handles just right the water dances and looks like it's coming from the carved fish around the edges. It's hard to describe. Check it out and if you can't get it to work ask some one who works there to show you!

France
- Chair Acrobat - Serveur Amusant a comical waiter/juggler performs 20 minute shows usually Wednesday thru Sunday.
- Souvenir Glass - Stop in Vins De France to learn about French Wines. You can sample them for the price of a souvenir glass.
- English Channel - When you are crossing that little bridge to France you are symbolically crossing "the English Channel"?
- Bike - on the bridge in the lagoon area there's a bicycle sitting on the land near the water with an artist's canvas next to it. The painting there looks finished, too. It took me a long time to see that Disney detail; it's easily missed
- Belle's Library - Should be behind the perfume shop. If you're searching for Belle and Beast, you're almost sure to walk through, but even if you're not, browse the shops and you'll find yourself there as well. There are countless references to classic Disney tales. Shelves are lined with favorite stories, knickknacks like gargoyles from Hunchback and the rose from Beauty and the Beast are there, and I remember some more obscure Disney references catching my eye as well. There's also a beautiful stained glass window, just like the mosaics during the prologue of B&TB.
- Straits of Gibralter - Between France and Morocco, you'll notice that there is a section of pavement that looks different. This is supposed to symbolize the Straits of Gibralter.
- The Eiffel Tower - can not be reached by guests

Germany
- Souvenir Glass - While in Germany buy a glass of wine and keep the glass
- Clock Tower - Be in Germany at the top of the hour. At the courtyard in Germany if you look up towards the back there is a clock. If you are there around the hour, it will ring and a German boy and girl will come out (they are made out of wood, they are not real) and twirl around.
- Miniature Train and Village - Enjoy the model train set, there are alot of hidden mickeys here
- Ommpah Band - Plays traditional German Music
- Pickle Ornament - the Christmas store has pickle ornaments, which are a German Tradition and are hidden on the Christmas tree and the first person to find it gets an extra present on Christmas morning.

Italy
- Fountain - Located in the central plaza of the Italy pavilion, known as the "Plaza del Teatro," you can find the "Fontana de Nettuno." This fountain contains the image of Neptune, the God of the Sea, and was inspired by Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Fountain of Trevi, located in Rome, Italy. The original famous fountain is often recognized as having been seen in Federico Fellini's classic film, "La Dolce Vita."
- Bowling Ball - The columns that have men carved into them and each is holding something round. One of the Columns has a man holding a bowling ball. The figure is about 6 ft on the column.

Japan
- Honobono Minwa - This Japanese story teller spins tales of classic Japanese lore. You can typically catch one of these tales during five 20 minute sets 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm, Wednesday – Saturday
- Souvenir Glass - While in Epcot, stop in Japan and buy a glass of Saki and keep the cup. It's a really different cup.
- Statue - The statue to the right as you enter Japan was a gift from the government of Japan when MK opened and was moved to Epcot when it opened.
- "Miyuki" The Candy Lady - A woman "performs" candy making. She cooses children from the crowd and makes a piece of candy in the shape of an animal for them. 30 minute sets throughout the day
- Toys - toy museum, worth a quick look
- Pick a pearl - Cost $15. You pick an oyster, they open it and you get the pearl inside. You can have it set in a piece of jewelry for $20 up to $$$$.
- Matsuriza - the Japanese drums can be heard half way around World Showcase
- Drummers - Japanese Drummers performing in the Street

Mexico
- Pyramid - There are relief carvings on the sides of the pyramid in Mexico. They were added later after they realized that small children liked to climb those little steps
- Garden - visit the gardens at the Japan pavilion after dark. The gardens are beautiful all the time but after dark is wonderful with just the lantern light. There's little paths all over and you can hear the water running in the stream and the waterfall. And once in a while you'll meet a duck.

Morocco
- Tour - You can take a guided tour of Moracco. Times vary, there is no charge, and it is about 20 min. It was run out of the tourism office room (now Tangere Cafe). Just ask a CM at Markesh kiosk.
- Garden - Across from Morocco there is a aqua-duct. Most people wallk by. They grow vegetables and plants there.
- Prayer Room - There is a "gold" prayer room in Morocco that was included for the CM and is open to the public.
- Music - late in the evening when the crowds were low, the cast members put on an impromptu performance using the instruments in the shop. They did a great job.
- MoRockin - a band that performs songs on traditional Moroccan instuments
- Presidential letter There is a letter signed by George Washington displayed in the restaurant.

Norway
- Sea faring Museum
- Sod covered Roof - the roof of this building really is growing
- Trolls - there are hidden trolls in the garden outside of Norway.
- Trolls - The trolls offer a unique Photo op
- The Stave Church - Inside there's an exhibit on Norwegian culture and the history of the stave churches that once were all over Norway (there are only 28 left).
- Laila Perfume - go into the shop and try a pritz of the Laila Perfume, very popular

United Kingdom
- Maze - a small shrubbery maze in the garden
- Butterfly Garden - On that path back on the road to the international gateway was the butterfly box and garden. Disney has plants that butterflies are naturally attracted to. When the butterflies spin their baby cocoons, horticulture takes the cocoon and places it in this protective box. It has a top and four sides but no bottom. As the butterfly hatches, it simply flies out the bottom of the box. As the plants it is attracted to are right there, they tend to never leave the British Butterfly Garden.
- Knot Garden - If you come on around using the path rather than the road, you will see a not-a-Garden or more accurately a Knot-a-garden. It represents the local apothecary. The hedges are grown a foot or so high in the shape of a knot, and each "section" of the garden had a different herb planted in it.
- British Invasion - a band that plays Beatle songs in the gazebo in the UK pavilion
- King Arthur - Skit performed by street performers, they use audience members
- Pam Brody - Piano playing, singer, comedian.
- Second Story - If you look up in some of the shops you'll get an extra treat. In the Crown & Crest shop, for instance, you'll note several suits of armor, as well as shields, swords and a huge wrought-iron chandelier. Some of the other shops have an upstairs with little historical vignettes set up that you can visit -- Just look for the staircase or ask a Cast Member!
- Castles - There are 2 replicas of Castles: King Henry's Court and Sir Walter Scott.


Secrets, Cool Stuff, and other Tips
1. Babbling Water Fountains - 1) Face the "Fountain of Nations" with Spaceship Earth behind you. The talking water fountain is outside Mouse Gear, on your left. 2) There's another to the right of the magic/play fountain between World Showcase and Future World. 3) The third is behind Innoventions West, near the restroom.
2. World Showcase —The frontage of each country is exactly the same, as is the height of their tallest feature (i.e., mountains in Canada, Eiffel tower, etc.). Some spread out inside more than others, but the frontage on the walkway is the same. They wanted to make sure everyone was equal—forced perspective is what makes some look taller.

 

[tmfranlk]

The first post seems to copy what's on the first post for DHS page. Is there something missing here or should I just jump to post two and three?

Thanks! These look great and are a wonderful "copy and paste" to update my spreadsheets.