Things Disney Offers But Doesn't Advertise *Summary Added Oct 08*

[ktkerber]

Mickey's Backyard BBQ isn't a very highly advertised dinner. We had a GREAT time the last time we went!! Everytime I say we went to Mickey's BBQ no one seems to know anything about it.

Also, I just found this out this year. When you buy tickets to Mickey's Christmas Party, you can book a dinner ADR even if it is more than 180 days before your check-in day. I actually booked an ADR back in early May for a day in December so I am sure it can be done. I even booked at CRT. We later canceled it in favor of lunch, but it can be done. Wish I would have known that last trip!!!

 

[rcymrcym]

We got a reservation at CRT during MVMCP yesterday. There were a number of openings left for December 20.

We are counting down!

 

[itchin2go]

I never hear anyone talking about this, so I don't know if it is still being done, but we dined for the first time at California Grill (atop the Contemporary) in 2001 and while we were eating, the waiter came to our table and asked if we knew of any little girls that would want to start the fireworks. Of course my DD is sitting right there, smiling. They took her to the podium by the elevators and they made a very big deal out of the exact timing, and showing her which button to push. I think the control to dim the lights in the restaurant was also there.

At that moment the lights dimmed, the music started playing and the fireworks started. It was so magical! We returned to our table to enjoy the show, and they presented DD with a certificate stating she started Wishes with the date, manager signature, etc.

When we were leaving (excellent food and service, BTW) I spoke with the manager alone for a second, and kind of joked about"'Haha, yeah, like she really started the fireworks! Wink, wink!"

He swore ( well, not swore, but you know what I mean) that she did indeed start the fireworks, and this was not in front of DD. He said that it sends the signal, or something like that. I will say they make a huge deal about the time, there was a digital clock counting seconds next to the buttons. I still think he was just trying to extend that Disney Magic, and I appreciate it!

We had something similar happen at Epcot! While having dinner at the Rose and Crown, a CM asked if my daughter (6) would like to start the fireworks (Illuminations). I was excited, but kind of nervous. I mean, are we talking about actually lighting the fireworks? But no, we went outside and they gave her a little light saber type wand and told her on the count of something to wave it and then -- BOOM, the fireworks started. She got a certificate signed by all the CMs there. Probably the highlight of our trip, although were were DOG-TIRED by then. A little boy, probably 4, who witnessed the whole thing, thanked her for starting the fireworks. SO cute.

Much more minor, but a nice surprise: We were the first people to rent a stroller at Epcot one day and got it for FREE. FREE is always SO nice. Every little bit helps....

 

[glennsgirl762]

great thread I'm subscribing, we want some new things to do for next trip

 

[ChairborneRangr]

The "Candy Lady" in Japan appears about three times a day Monday through Thursday.

I have a home video if anyone is interested. It is in MP4 format and it is 30 MB. Quicktime os one of the players that can show MP4.

http://buildabettermousetrip.com/images/candylady.mp4

Enjoy!

 

[LoriZH]

great thread, subscribing

 

[BroganMc]

We had something similar happen at Epcot! <snip>

But no, we went outside and they gave her a little light saber type wand and told her on the count of something to wave it and then -- BOOM, the fireworks started. She got a certificate signed by all the CMs there.

They do that at the Osborne Lights in MGM too. When I saw it (last December), there two were girls (first cousins) around 6 who were picked to start the show. They had to flip a giant light switch beneath the Christmas Tree.

I thought it was more spectacular than anything else because we went from near darkness to suddenly having the entire world light up and twinkle around us.

 

[chibichibirei]

You know I think Disney may have an untapped market with that character massage Sure it would have to be a face character but just think of the untold amounts of money that people would spend to have these massages? I for one would break the bank for a massage from Jack Sparrow!

 

[JzeroT1437]

Anybody done the Epcot Aqua Seas Tour? I'd like some opinions on it. We're thinking about doing it during our trip (in a week and a half)...

 

[Lancer]

I did it a year ago and thought it was a great unique experience. How many times do you get to swim in a 5 million gallon aquarium with fish swimming all around you, and at Disney? No scuba experience is neccassary. You are taught to use a mini scuba set up which when in the water, takes a few minutes to get used to if you never used one before. You first meet out side the park, do some paper work then are led through a backstage entrance to take a tour of the backstage areas of the seas pavillion, including labs, research areas etc. Then, we went to a room to discuss conservation and watched a short video. Next we went on stage to watch some dolphin research going on through the viewing area. we then went to a lockerroom to put disney provided wetsuits on(bring a bathing suit), then walked through the viewing area with all the guest and entered a stairway in a cylinder in the middle of the room. That takes you to the top of the aquarium where you get fitted with the scuba gear. The tank holds 30 min of air which is all the time you get to spend in the water. Even though you have scuba gear, you are not allowed to dive down, the flotation vest wont allow you anyway. You can bob you head down as far as you can, though just like a duck. so. you are basically swimming along the top. Think of it as a big donut, and you can swim about 2/3 of the way around the donut. The other 1/3 is where the dolphins stay (partitioned off) and you are told NOT to get close to. you must stay a little distance away. You are also told not to initiate any contact with the fish or turtles. It is alright if they come up to you, you just cant try to touch them, just observe. A school of fish passed right infront of me, not more than 2 feet away, and a big sea turtle passed about 5 feet right underneath me. Pretty cool!.As you look down you can see and wave to all the guests looking through the big windows. Finally, you get a picture of yourself in your scuba gear and a tee shirt. Again, a great experience, which I plan on doing again in February.

Hope this helps!
Lancer

 

[pkondz]

Anybody done the Epcot Aqua Seas Tour? I'd like some opinions on it. We're thinking about doing it during our trip (in a week and a half)...

For more info check this link for a report from July 2007 and other older reports and general info:http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm#aqua

 

[ajcolorado]

I wanna see the Robot please please

The Innoventions page on allearsnet has a picture of a robot. Can anyone tell me if these are what the Plastic Works free robots look like?

Scroll down to the Innoventions East section at http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_innov.htm

 

[Praise2Him]

Yes, that is basically it. I haven't done it, buy my teens have and they said you can mix and match colors and parts, etc, so it might look a little different, but that's pretty much it.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

..wow..i felt so excited..when i read about the new & "sightly"

improve...characters & massages..."fun time & games"...dwats!
[ here i was thinking a nice treat for the ..the kid in me~~ ]
..only to read , "father knows best".....&

..it was only a "test"..run...of gullabilty? only a test?...the nerve!

i guess that mean..i won't be getting my year of a million dreams?



& to think ...i already had my "hopes" up...for....hmmmmm, jasmine,
..and ...the evil queen...... ..i would have even ..settle
for...the less...exposed face~characters..like lady t. ..& her lovely
daughters...in their nighties,

, so what?!..if i ended up in the haunted

mansion... ...what da way/s to go? "dying & luving ..it- "



did anybody, did this? behind the scenes tour stuff?...* if so...is it true?
jasmine & her magic carpet? [post pics. if u got'um...xsp, the characters
watching the characters...& what a funny name...these street' preformers
give...themselves ~~~~ ups a doodle dandy, ..talk about ticking
funny bones, jack & his tweety bird ?

[really? soooo if i dress up as & pretend...will revive wdw invitations?

(free trips...to fANTASY LAND..& beyond..infinity...now i "see" why tim A. ,
does disney cartoons...the "fringed benefits...are endless- ]



..i'm thinking..of writing disney...& requesting if miss bell,
can "wake me up"... emh days..holding a cup of coffee, making
mickey waffles....* the really "goodies" breakfast of champions"-
is just my imagination..running away from me.



i can imagine..the ..fallin', when she rings..the doorbell...
a la la..ring a ding...ding! now if i can find...my old merlin suit....
bags of tricks..and magic , he's my favorite character,
..i do believe..in... ..i do!








*oh, for ..my safety... , this is just a test..yes, foolin'around,
maybe...but i been "bitten" before..truth is : i already married my
of dreams..& she is my lil'miss cutie pie~the maker of all my dreams,
.....& that was just the honeymoon~


my tips..would be to jot down a list of things to do...* and read the night
before & to take time off..a day or 2..to do the free stuff around the
parks. be nice to others....to this date, gave us one of all time favorite
memory~ from a lil'girl who thought our daughter was ariel. oops, almost
forgot..read the dis boards...that's how our lil' was chosen to
be the princess of the day. [the best thing about that, was how she
started ordering her older brothers around]


...and how about..those buckeyes? !!!

 

[Tigger&Tink]

I like this thread! I've even picked up some things I didn't know about!

A couple of mine:

-Animal Kingdom Lodge offers several free programs that are really geared at adults and older children: They give a guided tour of the hotel's African art collection at 2 PM, a Culinary Tour of Africa at 4 (in which you get to meet the chefs at Jiko and Boma, and eat free samples! Great if you want to learn more about the food before you actually eat there), and a Cultural Safari at 9 PM led by an African cast member, who tells you about their homeland.

-Wilderness Lodge has a free tour Wednesdays-Sundays at 9 AM, that tells you how the hotel was built and a little about the architecture. Ranger Stan is a fountain of Disney knowledge!

-If you're a Walt Disney buff, go to the Iron Spike Room at the Wilderness Lodge villas. There, they have two train cars from Walt's personal backyard railroad.

-Get to the MK early, by 8:40 AM, to see the Opening Ceremony. This is not advertised in any of Disney's materials that I've seen--it is a very Disney way to start your day. Also, there are many Streetmosphere characters that wander around Main Street during the day--they are never advertised. One day the Mayor sat down right next to us at Casey's and started talking to us about how he was running for reelection. Many times you will run into the Dapper Dans, riding in the back of the first horse-drawn trolleys of the morning and serenading the passengers.

-Get a hot dog and listen to the ragtime pianist at Casey's Corner.

Can you please tell me where the IRON SPIKE room is when you get tothe Villas? and doyou have to be staying there to go in? Thanks

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Can you please tell me where the IRON SPIKE room is when you get tothe Villas? and doyou have to be staying there to go in? Thanks

I believe it's just off the villas lobby....we haven't been yet, but it is on our list for this year since we will be staying at WL and DH, DS & DFIL are train NUTS! Anyone can go check it out...you don't have to stay there.

 

[ajcolorado]

Did you see this in the allearsnet newsletter:

The seasonal program Campfire on de' Bayou is offered October through February only on Sunday and Thursday nights, 6:30 - 8 p.m., at Port Orleans Resort (weather permitting). Cast members read stories about the resort and have guest sing-alongs at the campfire site located behind the Fishin' Hole at Ol' Man Island.
No reservations are necessary. The price for s'more kits is
$5.25 (tax included).

 

[Juniortrooper]

I'm so glad I found this thread again! I read it earlier, then couldn't remember where or the exact topic name....now I'm subscribing!

 

[Kathy C]

Subscribing

 

[jfulcer]

I believe it's just off the villas lobby....we haven't been yet, but it is on our list for this year since we will be staying at WL and DH, DS & DFIL are train NUTS! Anyone can go check it out...you don't have to stay there.

Yes, it's off the small lobby for the Villas. Note this is NOT the lobby for the Wilderness Lodge. And when I say lobby, it's more like a big entryway. There's not cast members stationed there. It's just off to the right - it's pretty cool.

I'd recommend taking the behind the steam tour. You get to know a LOT about the operation and history of the steam railroads Disney so loved. I would also highly recommend this book. My wife got it for me and it's a must have for every Disney Fanatic that is also a Train Buff. It's kinda pricey, but worth it.