Little Things to do/look for

[WeLoveTheMouse]

My family will be going to WDW in Sept (sshh, it's a secret, the kids don't know yet!):secret: This will be our 3rd trip in 4 years, and will most likely be our last trip for several years (we hope to buy a house soon). We've done all the major attractions/rides. Now I'm looking for lesser know things to do. After reading some posts here and on other sites, I've found a few (like waking up Tinkerbell, Club Cool in Epcot, the motorizxed trash can in Tomorrowland, etc.) but I'm looking for more. What are the little things you always do or look for at WDW? :confused:

[RockinRollerMom]

You can ride in the front of the monorail. All you have to do is ask. My DD, DH, and I did it last trip. It is becoming a little more well known, so you might have to wait a monorail or two, but well worth the wait.

[disneydeb]

I look for alligators in the water ways.:D

Jessica at the Emporium is an Intercotee and Sandy in Future World is an Intercotee. Also, Mainstreet Jim can be found at Speedway. Be on the outloook for them.

Welcome to Intercot!

[onjbj]

My 3yr old son LOVES the monorial. I think we could ride it all day or watch it drive by and he'd be satisfied with just that! Can't wait to try to ride in the front during our Sept trip.

[IamBelle]

Last trip, we ate in Epcot and when we left, Illuminations was over, and everyone was leaving, we were the only ones in the park and we were walking to the entrance when a voice came over the intercom and said a special closing ceremony was occurring. It was really nice, and it happens every night.

[MickeyChick]

Look for DeVine at the Animal Kingdom!

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

Look for DeVine at the Animal Kingdom!

I was just going to post the same thing. Great minds think alike!:mickey:

[TheMartellFamily]

Kidcot or the passports in EPCOT around WS is fun. The passports have to be purchased but it great to meet the CM and learn about their individual countries from which they come. It is well worth it.

[WeLoveTheMouse]

Good suggestions. Anything else?

[JPelle76]

We usually spend an afternoon at the Contemporary renting one of the waterboats. It's a great way to cool off and a lot of fun!!! Actually I just realized how old are the kids? This is fun if they are a little older.

I also enjoy going to the Italy Pavilion and catching one of the shows with the street performers. It use to be called "theater di balonie" (translation Balonie Theater) not sure if it's still called that. (also please bear with my spelling! or lack there of! :)) Anyway they ususlly grab audiance members to participate, the skits are always "really bad" but they are so much fun to watch!! Good luck planning!!

[Tigerinvestigator]

There are a few little details we always enjoy such as: 1) Pull the rope at the well near Indiana Jones Stunt Spec. in Hollywood Studios and get a surprise! 2) Stop and listen to the Norwegian Family having dinner in the kitchen of the house located where you get out of the boat in Maelstrom. 3) Look under the mat to the right of the entrance to Muppets and find the key (we also found a Magical Moment certificate under the mat last year). 4) Visit AKL at night and observe the animals through the night vision binoculars provided by the keepers. 5) Check out the phone booth under astro orbiter and listen to Sonny Eclipse's agent. 6) The Tusker house always had good sound effects coming from upstairs (haven't eaten there in two years). 7) Take time to read the quotes on the walls in the American Adventure. 8) "Help" an unsuspecting family member walk into the spitting camel's line of fire in Adventureland. 9) Rent a Surrey Bike from WL to FW. 10) I love the huge tarantula in the cage that moves at Jungle Cruise.

I'm sure I will think of more but these are some of our favorites. Just pay attention to detail, it is what separates Disney from the rest!:thumbsup:

[Mickey91]

Some of our favorite things:

1. Riding in the front of the monorail
2. Being the guest conductor of the WDW railroad (kids):train:
3. Watching the jumping water at the Imagination Pavilion
4. Listening to Four or a Dollar :music:before the Beauty and the Beast Show at DHS
5. Catching a ride on one of the ventage vehicles on Main Street USA
6. Riding the boats to and from the MK and between resorts on Bay Lake.:sail:

[paragon]

Last year I was there with my wife's family, it was Mothers day, i spent the day escorting my mother in law around all day, I flagged the monorail guide, and we rode in the front seat, my mother in law loved it! My wife however did not! LOL. it was the first time I ever rode it in front, after more than 30 visits! We also enjoy riding the "resort" monorail, less lines, same destinations, but you get a view of some of the behind the scenes stuff.
We also rented a boat from the Polynesian and cruised bay Lake, that was good to do.
Another little thing, although not in MK, is to hop to all the resorts just to poke around.
I'm kind of an architecture nut, so one of my favorites is to just look up, at all the buildings.
We also look for all the little lesser known pathways, and observe.

We're going in September this year and one of our plans is to take the tour behind the scenes.

[kurt]

inside the gate is exposition hall there are all kinds of photo opportunities in there. i had one done a few years ago with Sully from Monsters Inc dragging me into a closet. there a plenty of places to take great novelty photos as well.:goofy:

[joonyer]

Take the the first raft ride over to Tom Sawyer's Island (it usually opens at 10:00 am) Then go exploring and try to find a dried up paintbrush. If you are lucky enough to find one, give to to the CM running the raft and you'll get a free front-of-the-line pass (not just a fast pass) for your whole family at Big Thunder or Splash Mountain. I know they hide the paintbrushes first thing in the am, I don't know if they are hidden other times of the day or not.
Even if you don't find a paintbrush, TSI is still one of the lesser known attractions at WDW. My boys love exploring there, and DW and I usually take the time to sit and rock at Aunt Polly's Porch.

[DisneyWizard]

Go check out some Hidden Mickey threads and try to find as many as you can - you will always be surprised!

oh and I always check out a daytime and a nighttime show of the Fountain of Nations at Epcot.

[Gator]

If you go to Star Tours at night, go to the forest area where the fast pass machines are, and you can hear the chatter of Ewoks. I always think that's cool.

[scootch713]

Watch Wishes from the fourth floor of the contemporary. Great view! Take a carriage ride or ride horses at Fort Wilderness. Campout sing along at fort Wilderness.

[joanna71985]

1) The shows around the WS are wonderful. My favorites are the Holy Grail show in the UK, Romeo and Edna in Italy, and the British Invasion and Off Kilter bands.

2) Getting a snack around the WS

3) visiting the resorts (especially around the holidays).

[andreallybadeggs]

How old are your kids? My DD always loved Belle's Storytime

[Friend of Figment]

Don't miss the acrobats in China.

[ltam16]

If you have pin trading kids, the shops at the Contemporary had big boards of pins. You just need to ask the cashier.

Also, the Contemporary had movies at night by the pool. I know Fort Wilderness does too.

Tom Sawyer Island is fun--we found paintbrushes but we entered on the fastpass line.


Take a resort boatride from resort to resort. We did the one from Contemp. to WL to FW. The captain was great and we learned a lot!

We were at the Poly one evening and there as some sort of show at the main entrance. Someone blew into a shell and there were drums and fire--we were up above at the monorail station--we could only hear it.

At Pop at certain times they do dances like the hustle in the lobby.

[dumbo ears]

Id have to say you have countless opurtunities. one is get a hidden mickey book and look for them around the parks.another is maybe take a tour in one of the parks. another that i like is going to cosmic rays and getting a burger and listening to the dj there. At epcot just go around and look and all the innoventions and the world showcase. another is maybe do parasailing or other water activities on 7 seas lagoon. last is the boardwalk. I dont know if you havent been there or not but its really cool at night.

[MickeyandTink]

We had a lot of fun at the animation studios next to VofTLM in DHS. The best part was actually drawing a Disney character (in our case, Goofy :goofy:) at the end of the show. They came out pretty good and make a one of a kind souveneir.

[IloveDisney71]

We stumbled across the band, Off-Kilter, during our last visit. They were amazing!!!
They perform next to Canada in Epcot.

We also take along our Hidden Mickey book. When we find a HM, we take a picture of it. It's fun to have a collection of HM pictures.

[pixiesmimi]

We enjoy collecting the smashed pennies. There is a website that tells you where to find all the machines. Some are hidden very well and it is almost like a scavenger hunt. I think there may be something here on I'Cot too. It was fun trying to find them all. There are some in series. You can also buy a book to put them in.

[dizknee531]

Take the monorail to the Polynesian resort and learn the Hula!!!:dance::papple::lei:

[CaptainJessicaSparrow]

I look for alligators in the water ways.:D

Jessica at the Emporium is an Intercotee and Sandy in Future World is an Intercotee. Also, Mainstreet Jim can be found at Speedway. Be on the outloook for them.

Welcome to Intercot!

Me!!! Yay!! I love visits!

I like looking at the windows on Main Street.

Finding all the chess pieces at HM.

Paying my respects to Mr. Toad.

Sitting by Walt and Mickey.

Riding the TTA.

Watching the parade from the DVC koisk in Frontierland cause it's shady.

Eating a Dole Whip.

Eating an Orange Swirl.

Eating ice cream on Main Street.

Eating Kaki-Gori from Japan.

Japan pavilion period.

[WeLoveTheMouse]

Thanks for all the replies! My daughters are 8 and 10. I like the idea of looking for hidden Mickeys, I think we'll definitely try that one. Keep them coming!

[FenwayGirl]

Devine is a must!
Also, try to get to the parks before they open. Ususally great opening ceremonies every morning.

We also like to go to Belle's fairytale garden (behind castle,near teacups)

[katzctkpt]

There are a few little details we always enjoy such as: 1) Pull the rope at the well near Indiana Jones Stunt Spec. in Hollywood Studios and get a surprise! 2) Stop and listen to the Norwegian Family having dinner in the kitchen of the house located where you get out of the boat in Maelstrom. 3) Look under the mat to the right of the entrance to Muppets and find the key (we also found a Magical Moment certificate under the mat last year). 4) Visit AKL at night and observe the animals through the night vision binoculars provided by the keepers. 5) Check out the phone booth under astro orbiter and listen to Sonny Eclipse's agent. 6) The Tusker house always had good sound effects coming from upstairs (haven't eaten there in two years). 7) Take time to read the quotes on the walls in the American Adventure. 8) "Help" an unsuspecting family member walk into the spitting camel's line of fire in Adventureland. 9) Rent a Surrey Bike from WL to FW. 10) I love the huge tarantula in the cage that moves at Jungle Cruise.

I'm sure I will think of more but these are some of our favorites. Just pay attention to detail, it is what separates Disney from the rest!:thumbsup:


Don't miss the acrobats in China.

Look for Devine in AK. Explore some of the resorts like go to the Beaches and Cream on the Boardwalk and have a kitchen sink.