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

[YoungChuck72]

not really a secret, but you can ride up front with the driver on the monorail. My dd thought this was fantastic and got a certificate/ card to proove she "drove" !

how do you go about riding up front with the driver ?? that sounds like alot of fun

 

[Matt'sMom]

how do you go about riding up front with the driver ?? that sounds like alot of fun

All you need to do is approach a CM at the monorail station boarding area, and ask. If you are the first to ask for the next, incoming monorail... then up to 4 persons can ride up front with the pilot. They sometimes (but not always) will give you an honorary monorail pilot's license when you unload.

We are always so surprised that so few people seem to be aware of this option (even after they have witnessed families unloading from the front). We rode up front c. 4 times during our recent trip--several times there were other people already standing at the station when we walked up, but no one else had yet asked to ride up front. I think there was only one time all week that we asked, and were told another family was already waiting.

Best monorail trip to ride up front f(IMHO) is the EPCOT line going into EPCOT from the TTC. The incoming monorail track loops around through the EPCOT park before stopping at the station outside of the gates--it provides for some lovely views, especially during the Flower & Garden Fest.

 

[momandseandodisney]

On my last trip, I found out through another guest that you can get a character to come to your room and give you an hour back massage. It was a lot of fun. I chose Belle from beauty and the beast and my wife chose Goofy. It was a lot of fun, and the back rub was pretty good.

It cost $65 for the hour, plus tip. I highly recommend it.

really? I have never heard of this before, someone more info please
THANKS

 

[marathonmommy]

really? I have never heard of this before, someone more info please
THANKS

Don't fall for it . . .

 

[punksmom]

 

[MaryKatesMom]

All you need to do is approach a CM at the monorail station boarding area, and ask. If you are the first to ask for the next, incoming monorail... then up to 4 persons can ride up front with the pilot. They sometimes (but not always) will give you an honorary monorail pilot's license when you unload.

We are always so surprised that so few people seem to be aware of this option (even after they have witnessed families unloading from the front). We rode up front c. 4 times during our recent trip--several times there were other people already standing at the station when we walked up, but no one else had yet asked to ride up front. I think there was only one time all week that we asked, and were told another family was already waiting.

Best monorail trip to ride up front f(IMHO) is the EPCOT line going into EPCOT from the TTC. The incoming monorail track loops around through the EPCOT park before stopping at the station outside of the gates--it provides for some lovely views, especially during the Flower & Garden Fest.

ITA!!

We always plan well ahead so we have the time to wait if necessary. I believe it is this route that has two benches that form as a "line". The two next waiting families move from one bench to another. One family thought no one was waiting to get in the front car, raced up to the front and I had to tell her we were waiting, she gave me a second of "I was here first" since we had to sit on the bench but all I had to do was wave at the CM and she moved away. This could have been a CM specific thing. I haven't a clue.

The one downside is the front holds four people total. Kudo's to my DH who gave his spot to a little boy. He was way more excited than my DD's to be there, it is embarrasing to watch the video and hear his excitment then pan to my DD's expression of "So?" They didn't get the "But we're sitting up front!" part but were thinking, "its the monorail not test track."

 

[Anna Swartz]

subscribing, thanks for the info!

 

[laurajetter]

This is pricey but sounds really neat... You can sign up to take surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool in the morning before the park opens to the general public.

It's supposed to be a great way to learn to surf since the waves are perfect every time! It's open to beginners and experts alike.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

Umbrella is back as of at least 4/21/07

People must have thought I was crazy, because i practically ran to it screaming 'ITS BACK ITS BACK! THANK GOD I CAN SING IN THE RAIN!"

lol

Really!?!?!?!
Oh thats amazing!
Yay!
I missed it so much.

 

[bradk]

yeah umbrella is back and 100% operational. from my trip report

 

[pavil]

This is pricey but sounds really neat... You can sign up to take surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool in the morning before the park opens to the general public.

It's supposed to be a great way to learn to surf since the waves are perfect every time! It's open to beginners and experts alike.

He has done the surfing and told me that the wave pool on a normal day operates at about 40% of it's potential. When they do the surfing they crank it up all the way and can even customize the type of wave they want to come out. Sounds way cool to me.

 

[msgrimm23]

cool great thread

 

[pavil]

at the gift shop for "journey into imagination" you can get a photo done where they will superimpose Disney Characters with you in the photo. You can have the Seven Dwarves with you in a photo for example. It's the only place I have see that offered. Pictures looked very cool to me. I forget the price, but I don't think it was much more than a "normal" Disney photo.

 

[jensen]

Last month I got a diver to hold up an anniversary sign and a personalized menu for FREE at Coral Reef. My dh was even more excited about it than I thought he would be.

Also, one day at Epcot, there were two cm's standing outside a fence in Canada/UK yelling for one more little girl to come have tea with Alice. I yelled "I have one" and they gave us a cute little invitation to have tea with Alice only of course my dd decided she couldn't go because the white rabbit might be there and she is terrified of "head characters". I was sooooo bummed. But I figured it was crossing a line to force her to have tea with Alice so I could go! Anyone know if they do this regularly of if it was part of the flower and garden thing?

This might be something with the Year of a Million Dreams. My kids got to be "knighted" and walk in a maze with Mary Poppins on our last trip. Both were part of the YOAMD.

 

[wilde_oscar]

I agree about finding the paintbrushes on Tom Saywers Island. My 12 year old son had so much fun looking for and finding them. We found a bunch and took pictures and then put them back. We turned one in so we could get the fast pass and deputy badge. It's free and is a nice memory.

I have looked for the paint brushes a few times, what time of day do you find them out?

 

[marathonmommy]

I have looked for the paint brushes a few times, what time of day do you find them out?

You need to go first thing . . .

 

[wilde_oscar]

Paintbrushes were mentioned...Waking up Tinkerbelle mentioned,

ok where do you find the paint brushes and who wakes up tinkerbell, I must have missed it.

 

[bradk]

a handful (4 or so?) of paintbrushes are hidden each morning at tom sawyer's island. each family can find and recover 1 paintbrush and get a FP (good for splash or BTMRR?) for it. brushes are not replenished during the day. once they're found, that's it. TSI opens at 10 am I believe.

as far as waking Tink goes, if you've never been in Tinkerbell's Treasures which is right behind the castle in Fantasyland, throughout the day, she flies through the store from her box to her drawer - basically a serious of fiber optic lights and chimes (and the drawer has actually been broken for years). but she doesn't do this until a child wakes her up in the morning. the first child to come into the store and ask gets to do this and gets a magical moments certificate.

from my trip report, we got to do just that this past monday. although we were technically the 2nd to do so, we had a CM take pity on us. she got to keep the wand as well.

the magical moments certificate is from fantasyland merch and celebrates her waking up tink.

 

[wilde_oscar]

Umbrella is back as of at least 4/21/07

People must have thought I was crazy, because i practically ran to it screaming 'ITS BACK ITS BACK! THANK GOD I CAN SING IN THE RAIN!"

lol

where and what is this? maybe some details

 

[bradk]

it's behind the streets of america, across from LMA. near herbie. when you stand under the umbrella, it triggers 'rain' that falls down over the umbrella

ETA: here's another pic i just took that shows more