Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Disney Pin Trading started about 10 years ago and is now a popular pastime for many people. Disney Pins are made in many styles, featuring parks, characters and occasions.

Pin Trading is the action of swapping a pin you already own for a pin from a cast member or another trader. Cast members have to trade their pins and you can trade twice with the same cast member. They will wear a blue lanyard and you must always ask before you look at the pins they have. They will only trade for an official Disney Pin. Cast members wearing green lanyards will only trade with children up to 12.

To get started in trading it is a good idea to buy a starter set which contain small pins and sometimes a lanyard. It is then great fun looking at all the pins on the cast member’s lanyards. It is interesting to see the variety and it is also a good way to start conversations. You may decide that you like to collect certain characters or films or you may just choose ones that you like the look of.

I originally started buying pins for my children as a souvenir. I chose their favourite ride from a park or one that showed the year we visited. We were all lucky enough to get a "Year of a Million Dream" lanyard as a gift and they store them on there. They then started to see people trading but did not want to trade their "memory" pins so they got a starter set between them and set about trading. It was a great boost to their confidence to approach cast members and enquire about their collections.

Sometimes they would swap a pin several times until they found what they were looking for but that was all part of the fun.

New pins cost about $8-$12 and there are all sorts of special sets and collectors additions that the more avid collectors are searching for. My children are happy with the cheaper end of the scale and they have had hours of pleasure from trading and just looking at their pins and talking about them. I like them as a souvenir because they can be kept and unlike clothes or toys they will not be grown out of.

If you visit Disney get yourself a pin and start trading!

Visiting Disney is always an exciting experience but after the first visit it is easier to start to absorb the environment and pay more attention to the subtleties of the designs around you. This is the time that you may notice your first "Hidden Mickey".

Hidden Mickeys can be found all over the Disney Parks, Hotels and Restaurants but what are they?

A true Hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey Mouse or another Disney character that has been hidden into a design. Disneys Imagineers added them in so subtly that the images are almost invisible to all but the most eagle-eyed Hidden Mickey hunter. Hidden Mickeys originated around 1980 and they have been a growing phenomenon ever since. Cast members are also known to arrange objects into Hidden Mickeys as well so although most are static occasionally you may be lucky enough to spot one that is transient and will have disappeared a week later.

The commonest Hidden Mickeys are in the shape of the outline of Mickeys head- a larger circle for his head and two smaller circles for ears. The next group involve the Mickey Profile either just his head or sometimes his whole body. Occasionally it will just be a recognisably item such as his ears or his name that will qualify. The final group consists of other Disney characters such as Minnie or Goofy, these are often much harder to spot. The simplest Mickeys are usually formed by plates, cogs, biscuits etc.
Hunting for Hidden Mickeys is a great way to pass the time, especially when waiting in-line or waiting for a parade. Children love the excitement of spotting a new one and it is not uncommon to hear a cry of "Hidden Mickey" whilst in the parks, this will sometimes bring other hunters out of the crowds to spot the hidden gem.

Some of the designs are so clever that it can take a lot of searching to spot an image that you have been told is there. Once you have started to spot them it is amazing how many there. There are well over 700 in Walt Disney World, Florida.
The best way to start your quest to become a spotter is just to keep your eyes open. If you are waiting inline at Test-Track look at all the stickers on the cars, pay attention to what is on the desk and whilst on the ride look at photos on the wall, rust marks on cars and even figures drawn in the dust. Suddenly you will begin to realise the imagination and the sense of humour the Disney Imagineers have. If you buy a photograph of your group on Test-Track you will have a Hidden Mickey to treasure, just look carefully at the hoses on the floor. You will find yourself paying far more attention to the details around you and this really makes you appreciate the skill of the Disney designers, no detail is small enough to be overlooked.

Once you have spotted all the obvious Mickeys you will have caught the bug and you will want to move onto the next stage. Now you will want to find the special Hidden Mickeys, the ones that are really hard to spot. At this point it is wise to get a copy of the "Hidden Mickeys- A field Guide to Walt Disney Worlds best kept secrets" by Steven Barrett. This little book lists all the recognised Hidden Mickeys and it sets scavenger hunts or gives you full details of where to find what you are looking for. For a return visitor to Disney this adds new excitement to a familiar destination. As a family we have been known to return to an attraction again and again until we spot the listed Hidden Mickey, it is a great family activity and brings out friendly competition between the children.

Sometimes you will spot a Hidden Mickey that is not listed in the book. This is great fun, you need to make a note of it and take a photo if possible. After your vacation send Steven Barrett an e-mail and he will look out for it on his next trip. If your Mickey is verified it will be added to the website and you will be credited with its discovery. This makes you feel part of the whole Hidden Mickey experience.

Be warned though, once the Hidden Mickey bug has taken hold you will spot them everywhere, at work, in the supermarket, even whilst walking in the country. It becomes a great family game and really that's what memories are made of.

More information is available at www.HiddenMickeysGuide.com

EPCOT (Experimental Proto-type Community of Tomorrow) split into two areas that have differing opening times. Future World opens at 9am and is first as you enter the park and World Showcase opens at 11am. I will conentrate on Future World.

Entrance to EPCOT is dominated by the shiny orb that is the Spaceship Earth. It stands 51metres high and can be seen from most of the park. The ride that is housed inside has been completely re-invented since its original opening and was relaunched last year. Passengers travel in a time capsule that takes them along a journey discovering the progress of communication and technology. This is now an interactive experience and you get to design yourself into predictions of the future which is quite fun.

Future World houses several interactive exhibits that allow use of technology to make music, photographs and to send enhanced e-mails to friends and family. It is worth taking a note of friends e-mail addresses with you and they will be able to see what a fantastic time you are having. The area also contains some fantastic rides.

EPCOT is the home to the largest single tank aquarium in the world. There are lots of fish to observe and there are also educational exhibits for the children to enjoy. After watching the fish then its time to visit Turtle Talk with Crush, this is a brilliant interactive experience involving the character from Finding Nemo. Children ask the animated film questions and they are answered by the character on screen. My children have both thoroughly enjoyed this and were delighted to be chosen to ask Crush a question. This area also houses a pleasant little ride through the" sea with Nemo and friends" where you get to have a much needed sit down.

Soarin’ is EPCOTs newest attraction and this ride lifts you 40ft in the area before giving you a birds-eye view of California. You feel like you are flying as the film moves and you are bombarded with the aromas of the places you visit. In the same building you will find the boat to take you through the greenhouses to see experimental work to increase crop production and there is also a film about conserving the planet, presented by the characters from the Lion king this is not as dry as it sounds.

Test Track is probably the most well known of EPCOTs rides. You are strapped into a car that does a lap of various test road conditions such as extreme heat and cold and you are then thrown out to 97km/h around an outside track. This ride is exhilarating and also great fun as there are several near-misses along the way that have you screaming. I have ridden this about 20 times and I still jump at the potential collision. The cars seat 6 people so there is usually a single rider queue that moves quite quickly. The Fast Passes for this ride often run out very early in the day so if you want to ride it is worth getting there early.

Mission Space is housed in the most amazing looking building with an image of Mars outside. As you enter you take an Orange ticket for the extreme ride and a green ticket for the less extreme version. You enter capsules in teams of four and you are then held by a shoulder harness and the screens move towards you. You are then sent on a mission to Mars and you are all given buttons to press depending on the job you have been assigned. The ride works by centrifugal force making you struggle to reach in front. The sensation is fantastic and really makes you feel that you could be in a rocket. This ride was by far my favourite until we ended up being stuck in it for about 10 minutes before it would start. The claustrophobic conditions caused me to have my first ever panic attack as I couldn’t get out (or even see out) and I have not been able to get back on it since.

There are also some very child-friendly attractions such as Honey, I Shrunk the Audience which is a 3D film (little children may be scared of the huge snake and dog). Journey Into Imagination will take you through a carriage ride of brightly coloured room settings and talks about senses and imagination and you will alight with an annoying little song in your head that stays there for weeks! Ellen energy adventure takes nearly an hour so plan when to fit this into your day, this is great for late afternoon when your feet are very tired and a good long sit down is required. You are taken on a trip through history to discover all about energy, this is a pleasant experience and educational as well.

EPCOT is very different in appearance to the other parks. It looks very "concrete" and has lots of flower-beds and fountains. Some of the fountains are musical and are very impressive and there are also several that "jump" which children really enjoy. There are some very "Disney" characteristics though. In the main plaza you will find Pin-trading and an enormous Disney shop but this does sell many items that you will not see elsewhere in Disney. There is a character "meet and greet" area inside. Several years ago there used to be a bus which toured around with the characters which was great and I find the room a little clinical but it does mean that little ones can always find a character for their autograph books.

Overall Future World has some great entertainment but is a large area and you will find yourselves criss-crossing the main area to get the most from your visit. There are time-boards around telling you the wait times at each attraction so it is wise to use these to save yourselves some walking. Once you have completed Future World you then get to go to the World Showcase but remeber "Every Person Comes Out Tired!"

EPCOT is divided into two areas and the second half is the World Showcase. Arranged around the World showcase lagoon there are recreations of different countries. Each area has themed shops, restaurants, exhibits and sometimes rides or shows that relate to that area. It is an attractive place to walk around and also an educational experience for children and adults alike.

Starting in a clockwise direction you will begin with:

Mexico- An Inca inspired temple is home to a recreated night market, the atmosphere is brilliant and this is also where children can collect their mask. This mask is free and the children decorate it then in each country they visit they will be given a plastic ornament to hang off it. This gives them a great souvenir and for once at Disney it is something for nothing! There is a water ride in here that takes you on a musical journey through Mexico.

Norway- timber, Viking style structures welcome you to Norway which hosts a Viking Longboat ride. Once off the longboat you may want to make your way quickly to the exit doors or there is a 20minute film on Norway which is probably the most boring thing at EPCOT.

China- decorative buildings abound here and there is often a Chinese acrobat display too. There is a 360 degree presentation of the Wall of china which is quite impressive even if it makes you a little dizzy!

Germany and Italy show recreations of town buildings and there is a pretend gondola harbour.

USA- there is often a marching band here and a film show on the history of America. Opposite the USA is a concert area where well-known artists often play so check your map for details as you will need to arrive early if these appeal to you.

Japan- peaceful gardens and buildings and a small recreation of the Terracotta soldiers.

Morocco- another indoor market with lots of craft products to buy. It is worth exploring the other buildings to see the beautiful mosaic tiles.

France- a recreation of a Parisian street with the Eiffel Tower in the background. A beautiful patisserie can be found here too.

United Kingdom- a chocolate box recreation of the UK with thatched timber buildings and a concert stand in the park. We have seen a great Beatles tribute act here whilst eating Fish and Chips.

Canada- native carvings and wooden buildings give the impression of a wilderness country.

All area have various food options and some of the best dining in Disney is to be found at EPCOT but there are also plenty of fast food options if your budget is smaller. Exploring the small streets in each area is very absorbing and it can take several hours to make your way around them all. A lot of walking is involved as the lagoon is extremely large.

The firework show at EPCOT is shown every night at 9 p.m. . . . It is called Illuminations of earth and should not be missed. People start staking out the best vantage points at least an hour before it starts. We have found good viewing spots all around the lagoon and also by the bridge before you enter the World showcase. The only advice I would give is to look out for where the islands are in the lagoon and make sure they are not blocking your view. The globe appears near the UK part of the lagoon so try to be opposite that to get the best impression. The show consists of lasers, a huge LED globe and lots of fireworks. The lights are dimmed about 15 minutes before it starts and the atmosphere is electric.

Once it finishes the park is closed so be prepared for a slow exit but you will be so exhausted you will not have the energy to run anyway!

Visiting the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida is a dream come true for many children and adults alike. The whole experience can be magical but it can also be very overwhelming so it is a good idea to take time to find out as much as you can about the park before you visit to ensure that you can get the best from your trip.

Arriving very early is recommended. Car-parking is quite a way from the park entrance and unless you are staying on Disney you will need to take a boat or monorail to reach the park entrance. Although the monorail is usually quicker the boat trip affords a wonderful first glimpse of Cinderella’s castle and an indication of the magic to follow.

Bag searches are carried out before approaching the turnstiles. Tickets cannot be purchased at the Magic kingdom entrance, they have to have been purchase (or vouchers exchanged) at the transportation centre before you boarded the boat or monorail. Maps are available and now is a good time to look at the show times and also work out where you and your family want to visit first.

Arriving early allows you to watch the arrival of Mickey and friends on the railroad and to witness the opening of the park with heart-warming songs and a cascade of pixie dust. The gates then open and it is time to enter Mainstreet USA. The crowds entering the park can seem a little overwhelming which is why it is good to already have an idea in your head about which direction you should be heading. Mainstreet is very attractive with lots of shops but it is better to ignore them for now and to head back here later in the day when the crowds have lessened. Do not wait until the end of the day as the crowds getting out of the park after the fireworks makes this impossible to look at.

Photographers abound and are ready to capture your first photo with the castle in the background. You will then be given a Photopass which enables you to collect all your photographs on the card and then view and order them at your leisure when you have returned home via the website, unfortunately most ride photos cannot be added to the card.

If the futuristic excitement of Tomorrowland appeals then take a right, traditional Disney is your thing then head past the castle to Fantasy land, big thrills of Frontierland beckon to the left of the castle and adventure land with its Pirates is directly left. The rope drop for each area happens several minutes after the gates open, cast members will WALK people to the most popular attractions to prevent racing resulting in falls and injuries, but you can walk very fast!

If you are near the front of the ropedrop you can usually ride your desired attraction immediately. Then come out and decide if you want a fastpass to ride it again or do you want to get a pass for something else. The fastpass is a brilliant system that puts you in a "virtual-line" for a ride; you are given a time to return and you will enter the shorter Fastpass queue. Once you are holding a fastpass for a ride it will tell you when you are able to get another for an alternative attraction. Being smart with the fastpass system lets you do a lot of riding but you may find that it also involves a lot of walking as you keep crossing the park.

Magic Kingdom has something to please everyone and because of its enormous variety it is much easier to plan a less exhausting day than at some other parks.

Magic Kingdom has three Mountains that offer their best thrill rides:
Space Mountain- brilliantly atmospheric queuing leads to a high speed coaster ride in the semi-darkness amongst the stars.
Big Thunder Mountain- high speed runaway train whisks you through a mine collapse and out safely. Look out for the Hidden Mickey at the end.
Splash Mountain- follow the story of Brer Rabbit in this log-flume attraction but be ready for the breathtaking plunge into the briar patch, rain ponchos recommended.

There are plenty of slower attractions that are very popular with all the family:
Pirates of The Caribbean- this ride was revamped a few years ago and now has the most amazing animatronic Captain Jack Sparrows. They are so life-like and gave new attention to the ride. You travel on a journey past pirates in a gentle boat-ride but it is dark and may scare younger children.
Indy Speedway- this noisy and smelly attraction enables children to "drive" cars around quite a long track, parents be warned- you will get a stiff neck when your little one is in charge of the steering!
Haunted Mansion- after a chilling introduction you enter a carriage to take you through the mansion, lots of spooky effects and great music will terrify and thrill the whole family, watch out for your extra passenger as you leave.
It’s a Small World- A classic Disney ride, travel calmly around a musical world whilst in a boat. This is charming and will have you singing the theme tune for the rest of the day. A perfect attraction to allow you to rest your weary feet.
Buzz Lightyears Space-Ranger Spin- everyone gets to compete by shooting targets as you battle against the evil Zurg. You will ride this again and again whilst trying to beat your previous score.

When you are really in need of a rest it is time to head for one of the shows:
Monsters Inc. Laughter Floor- A partly interactive experience that will amuse the whole family.
Mickey’s Philharmagic-this is a musical magical 3D adventure with great effects.
Disney’s Carousel of Progress- the moving theatre takes you on a journey through time watching a family embracing new technology as it arrived. This is a lovely way to spend a quiet 20 minutes and there is rarely a queue.

The rides that are particularly popular with younger guests in fantasy land do tend to get very long queues so it is worth getting fastpasses, particularly if Peter Pan or Winnie the pooh are your childrens favourites.

Special mention should be made of Stitches Great Escape, this has a fastpass system that is rarely used as it is probably the worst attraction in MK. Children are frightemed by the long time in absolute darkness and parents are bored and then made uncomfortable by the shoulder harnesses pressing down, the only attraction that I would suggest you avoid at all costs.

Magic Kingdom has lots of dining opportunities but many are booked up a long way in advance so if the Character meals are important to your family it is worth checking the website for booking details. If you are quite happy to eat on the go there are plenty of snack places and a great fast-food outlet in tomorrow land with lots of variety. Water is expensive to buy so it is worth bringing your own bottle into the park and then using the water fountains to fill it up again.

The Dreams Come True Parade is not to be missed. The best viewing spots are taken a good hour before the parade starts but you should be able to find somewhere to view it if you walk the route a while before it starts. The marshals are very strict so you will not be able to hover in an unsuitable spot, they will move you. The magnificent floats carry all the most loved characters with plenty of others dancing and singing alongside. If you really dislike parades then this is the time to ride the major rides as the lines are shorter but getting around the park is more difficult.
When the evening falls the Magic kingdom becomes even more special. Thousands of lights produce a dream-like quality and the Wishes firework display is not to be missed. This firework and music extravaganza can be enjoyed from most areas of the park but avoid being behind the castle as it is far less effective there. Some nights there is also the Spectromagic parade. This is so magical it will bring a tear to your eye as you watch children enthralled by the ever changing lights on the costumes and the floats, a truly magical end to a wonderful day. You will leave enchanted and will be planning your next trip as soon as you get home.

Disneys Animal Kingdom was opened in 1998 and is the newest of the Disney Parks in Orlando and it also covers the largest area although a lot of this is not area that is accessible to the public.
The difference between this and the other Disney Them Parks is evident as soon as you enter. The atmosphere is more natural with lots of trees and less of the garish colours and frantic activity that you associate with Disney. Even the footpaths are made to look as if you are walking on forest trails with imprints of leaves and animal footprints set into the concrete. The huge "Tree of Life" structure is in the centre, this artificial tree has hundreds of animal sculptures cast into the trunk and it is a delight to spend a few quiet minutes seeing how many you can spot.

The Africa area is the one that most people arrive at first. Decorated to look like an African village with native musical groups and lots of chances for interaction for children the area is always buzzing with activity. Asia has a great feel of the Himalayas about it and houses the awe-inspiring "Everest". Dinoland is a complete contrast; it is loud and frantic and is more like an American fair of the 1950s. Rafikis planet watch is reached by train and allows animal interactions. Camp Minnie-Mickey is the setting for the Lion King and also allows character meet and greet. This is a general overview of the areas and each contains various attractions.

If exciting rides are your thing then there are several to choose from:
Expedition Everest is a white-knuckle ride bringing you to a close encounter with the Yeti. The theming in the waiting area is fantastic and there is also a single rider queue which moves quite fast.
Kali river rapids is a raft ride that is great fun, guarantees that you will get wet and also introduces education aspects about deforestation.
Kilimanjaro safaris takes you on a jeep ride across huge animal enclosures. Arrive early to see the most animals, look out for the lions lying on their air-conditioned rock! Ensure everyone remains seated or the driver does have to stop because of the danger of children being thrown from the jeep.
Dinosaur is a fast dark and very noisy ride back in time. Personally I find this the worse ride in the whole of Disney as it is so violent and noisy I don’t get chance to actually enjoy the ride but everyone else seems to think it is fantastic.

There are some slightly slower rides in Dinosaur land, particularly the triceratops Spin and Primeval Whirl. Under the Tree of Life there is a 3D presentation of Its Tough to be a Bug. There are extra effects and I have seen children leave crying but my family have always thoroughly enjoyed the film.

There are several walking trails with guided notes that take you past some fantastic animal enclosures and lovely theming that are certainly worth doing.

Animal Kingdom does offer some good shows which are ideal when you need a break but arrive early as seating is limited and they are very popular.

Finding Nemo replaced the Tarzan show, this offers wonderful costumes and music and is a truly enchanting show.
Festival of the Lion King celebrates the film in a colourful spectacle with all the film favourites. Some children get to be involved and it is great family show.
Flights of wonder is an educational display of birds that fly very close over your heads. Set in a shady outside arena this is a pleasant place to stop.

The highlight of the afternoon is always the Mickey’s Jammin’ jungle Parade. This colourful parade of Disney Characters all dressed for a safari is brilliant. The floats are all animated by the drivers and the characters interact far more with the crowd than in any other Disney parade. The music is infectious so make sure you have got yourself a shady viewing spot to enjoy this spectacular.

The dining opportunities are not great in this park, mainly fast-food type places. There is a Rainforest Cafe at the entrance. The shopping activities are more interesting with items to buy from around the world.

The park closes early because of the animals so there is no firework or evening displays. This works fine as I find that we have usually exhausted the activities here by late afternoon anyway. It makes a nice change from some of the busier parks and has some educational value too. Certainly a park that is worth visiting.

Disneys Hollywood Studios was formally Disney-MGM studios. It is themed around the heyday of filming in the 1930s and it is a pleasure just to walk around and admire the attention to detail in the shops and buildings that line all the avenues. The park opening is a pretend movie-making session and then the park opens to the cries of Lights, Cameras,Action!

There are lots of dining and shopping opportunities around the park so you should find smoothing to suit.

This park has possibly the best thrill rides that Disney has to offer and white-knuckle fans will not be disappointed:

Tower of Terror can be seen long before you even arrive at the park. The 13 story hotel, which has seen better days, provides a thrilling drop-ride experience. The drop sequence is randomised to about 5 different settings so you can never be quite sure what ride awaits you as the elevator doors open and you suddenly have a fantastic, if brief, view across the park. Hold on to your hats, bags and little ones and enjoy being scared!

Rock’n’Roller Coaster allows you to join Aerosmith on a stretch-limo ride with a difference. The astonishing acceleration will take your breath away before you are flung into a wild inverted roller coaster with music blaring in your ears. Smile for your photo as your limo starts and then hold on tight and scream until you reach the red carpet.

Star Tours takes you on a simulator ride across the galaxy with a newly trained pilot. May the force be with you, you will need it.

After the thrill rides the park has several more unusual offerings that are worth a visit.

The Backlot Tour takes you on an informative journey around the making of film. There is a section on special effects, if you are brave and don’t mind water you can volunteer to assist. You then pass through the props departments before heading on a tour of the backlot where you can witness the special effect tanker explosion which is quite impressive. This tour is quite long so you will need to plan the timings carefully if you are planning to see one of the shows.

The Toy Story mania shooting ride has proved very popular and has a great queuing area based around toys from your childhood and a talking Mr Potato Head. The ride requires you to wear 3D glasses whilst shooting at a range of targets. The queue moves very slowly but the ride is good fun.

The Great Movie Ride takes you on a journey where your host will make or break the experience. We have had fantastic host who engage you in the story and act brilliantly in the ensuing adventure and we have had ones that are so poor it is embarrassing. However the ride gives lots of opportunity to think about your favourite films and leads to great conversations afterwards.

There are plenty of attractions for youngsters too, Voyage of Little Mermaid is great but don’t sit too close to the front or little ones can find it hard to see and Muppet 3D is great fun with good 3D effects.

The two major daytime shows are both popular and you will need to arrive early to ensure a good seat:

Indiana Jones has been running for many years now but it is still great fun to watch. There is lots of talking about stunt work before the final climax involving explosions and fire and great excitement.

Lights,Motors,Action is a truly impressive stunt car display. There are lots of tricks and noise and non-stop action. Give yourselves plenty of time to arrive as the walk to the seating takes several minutes and as it only runs a couple of times a day you may not get a seat if you leave it too late.

Last year the parade was changed to Block Party Bash. This was a complete disappointment. Unless you happen to be standing in the right position you get to see very little as it is a moving show that stops every now and again to give a performance but hurries past everybody else. We were not in a fortunate place so there was nothing but complaints around us and younger children were very disappointed. You need to study the map carefully and plant yourself at the actual stops or you will just waste your time.

In the evening Hollywood Studios puts on Fantasmic. This laser and firework show is stunning and is usually full. The gates open about an hour before the show and you will need to get a seat and then stay. Take some food in with you and make sure you have some warm clothes if the evening is chill as you may well get covered with water spray. This show is probably quite scary for little children as good battles evil in Mickeys dream but the effects are brilliant. Leaving the park after the show is a slow business so hold on tight to your family as everybody is moving in the same direction and it is easy to get split up but you will have had a memorable day.