Kid Switch Off

The Kid Switch Off is for families with small children. How it works is that the parents go up to a cast member that is working at the ride you want to go on. Ask for the kid switch off. You are given a fastpass for the parent who wants to wait while the first parent and child go on line and wait for the ride. Once the parent and kid exits the ride, the second parent can use the fastpass and go on the ride. Usually, you are allowed up to 3 guests to use the fastpass, so if there is a younger child that is too short to ride the ride he/she can stay with the parent that just came off of the ride and the other parent waiting can take the other child on the ride again.

An example of the Rider Switch Pass is above.

When you go to Disney ask for this and ask if it can be explained so you can understand more. Just a warning, not all rides offer the Kid Switch Off.

Miscellaneous Secrets

Trading pins are all the rage at Disney. It started in October 1999 for Millennium Celebration with a few hundred pins, now there are thousands of unique trading pins. I suggest getting the "Starter Sets" for pin trading. It comes with a pin trading lanyard and four Disney pins. These pins can either be kept or be used to trade them with other guests and cast members. To see recent, past and future pins go to http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/index.
And for FAQs go to http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/page?id=getStarted#exist.


Miyuki is a candy lady located in Epcot at the Japan pavilion. She is absolutely amazing. She takes warm, soft candy and sculpts them into all different kinds of animals. There are scheduled times when you can see her. The times can be obtained in the park map that is at the front of the park. I suggest you get there 10 to 15 minutes before the show starts to get a good place to stand. She picks who she wants to make candy for, mostly are kids.


Waking up in the morning can be difficult, especially for children, so to get them excited for the day call the front desk and ask for a wake up call for the next morning. This wake up call will be from a favorite Disney character, so make sure the kids pick up the phone.

Throughout the Magic Kingdom there are many magical secrets that many people do not know about. When you first enter the Magic Kingdom you walk down Main Street, U.S.A. When you walk past the bakery you can smell the yummy cookies. What you don't know is that isn't fresh baked cookies your smelling, it scented oil they blow out through a fan towards the sidewalk to give the illusion of the shop baking cookies.

Also along Main Street U.S.A. are some phones, pick them up and listen to the conversation. There is another phone in Tomorrowland under the TTA and Astro Orbitor, pick it up and listen.

In the shop Tinkerbell's Treasures in the Magic Kingdom (behind the castle) there is a little dresser up against the wall with a keyhole in one of the drawers. If you put your eye up to the keyhole you can see a little light and hear a bell as if Tinkerbell was stuck in the drawer. But I suggest being the first to visit the shop in the morning, you get to be the one to wake her up.

In EPCOT at the UK Pavilion, there is a hedge maze that many people do not know of. A great way to add to the magical fun of the day.

In Disney Hollywood Studios, there is a “Singing in the Rain” umbrella attached to a lamp post. The lamp post is in the Streets of America area across from Lights, Motors, Action! It is a great photo opportunity and a pressure pad under the umbrella usually (unless malfunctioning) will release “rain”.

'Try it Yourself' Secrets

The following secrets I have been told of and have never tried them myself. So try them yourself and see what happens.

Go into Muppet Vision 3D, at the entrance turnstiles on the right is a ticket window with a notice that says - "Closed - Key under Mat". I have read that you should look under the mat and see if the key is really there.

Just by the Indiana Jones show in Disney Hollywood Studios,
there are some crates hidden in the bushes, which are marked 'don't open' - go ahead and try to open them. I heard there is a surprise.

Again, also near the Indiana Jones show is a well with a rope in it, pull the rope for a surprise.

In the shop next to Pizza Planet (Pizza Planet is across from Muppet Vision 3D) you’ll see several large wooden packing crates. Try lifting the lids of a few of them.

Try them out and see what you discover!

Transportation

Transportation to and from resort attractions (including parks, downtown Disney and more) and Walt Disney World Resort hotels is complimentary for resort hotel guests. There's no need to rent a car, or deal with the hassle of driving, parking and paying $15. Transportation includes bus, boat or monorail.

There are boat launches at the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, the Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans, the Boardwalk, Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian.

Complimentary transportation is available one hour prior to Disney Theme Park opening time and up to 3 hours after Disney Theme Park closing time. Additionally, buses operate until 3 a.m. from the Downtown Disney Area.


**If you are going to ride the monorail I suggest you request a ride in the front of the monorail with the driver. It’s an amazing experience and it has great views. Also children can get a card that confirms they have been in the front with the driver. I also suggest doing this when it's not crowd rush hour, there might be a line for the front during that time.

Disney’s Magical Express is also a complimentary service from the Orlando International Airport to your Disney World hotel. To make reservations call (407) WDW-MAGIC and to know more go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/airport-service/.

Perks

Disney offers a lot of perks for there guests to make their day more magical.

If you're walking down Main Street early in the morning and you're approached by a cast member don't blow them off. Be friendly and talk to them. If they ask whether you're spending all day in the park, say "Yes." They are likely setting you up to lead the afternoon parade as Grand Marshals. This is a grand honor so don't pass it up.

Tom Sawyer's Island in Frontierland offers another perk that not a lot of people know about. Every morning they hide paintbrushes all over the island. If your family finds one take it to a cast member and they might give you a surprise like a fastpass to certain attractions. Make this your first place you go when in Magic Kingdom to have a better chance to find a paintbrush.

If you're celebrating a special event (Birthday, Anniversary, First Time or Just Married) at Walt Disney World, make sure you stop by City Hall in the Magic Kingdom or Guest Services in EPCOT, Disney Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. You can ask for a complimentary button to wear during your visit.

These always generate special attention from the Cast Members as well as other guests.

Disney also offers a free vacation planning video that shows you Walt Disney World parks, outside the parks fun, adult and children fun and how to plan a vacation. Disneyland can also be explored on the DVD. The DVD takes about 2-4 weeks to be delivered.
To order your free vacation planning video go to
https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US/VacationPlanningDVD/index?sourcecode=11854&referrer=wdw&hdrType=default&vcntype=wdw

Free Customized Park Maps are another perk that Disney offers. You can use these maps during your visit and you can highlight and mark your family's favorite attractions with stickers. The customized map package includes full-colored Walt Disney World Resort Overview map, Magic Kingdom map, Disney Hollywood Studios map and an Animal Kingdom map. Delivery takes about 2-4 weeks, so plan ahead.

To customize you own park map go to
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/myVacation/customizedMaps/index?id=CustomizedMapsFlashPage&bhcp=1

The one big perk going on during 2009 is free admission to a park on your birthday.

To register your birthday go to

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=WDWCelebrationsOverviewPage

AND to add more and to customize the birthday celebration check out

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/?facetNameng:hasCelebrationTypeFacet=facetValueng:birthday

Check out this commercial that promotes celebrating milestones and free admission on your birthday.

"What will you celebrate?"

Hidden Mickeys

Hidden Mickeys were first created by Disney Imagineers as an inside joke. Now these inside jokes have become part of the Disney experience. A Hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey concealed in an attraction, on a building, in fabric, at a resort or anywhere else imagined up by the Imagineers. Originally, the image took the shape of one large circle and two smaller circles

like this, but now they can take any form.

Imagineers have not kept an official record or ALL the Hidden Mickeys, so when attractions are either taken away or restored some Hidden Mickeys could be destroyed. But don’t be sad because once the new or restored attraction is done there are new Hidden Mickeys to be found.

Finding Hidden Mickeys while you are enjoying your day at the parks are a great way to spend your day. It allows you and your family to have fun truly exploring Disney and you can even make a competition of it.

To help you in your quest to find the Hidden Mickeys, you can buy the Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best-Kept Secrets, 3rd Edition by Steven M. Barrett. You can buy this book from Amazon.com for under $10.

Here’s a chance for you to practice on your Hidden Mickey spotting skills. Try to spot the Hidden Mickeys…

I must say, my first Hidden Mickey I have ever found was in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. Let’s see if you can find it. Go to Tomorrowland and get in line for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Look at the walls inside while waiting on line. Try to spot the Hidden Mickey within one of the planets.

Q&A with past cast member

The following is a Q&A with a former Disney Cast Member. She asked if I would keep her name private. She worked at Disney World from 1995-2002. She worked at many rides within the parks including Pirates of the Caribbean, Kilimanjaro Safari and Splash Mountain.

Q: Were you nervous about becoming a Disney Cast Member?
A: I was a little nervous, but I think I was more excited then nervous to get started. Becoming a Disney cast member has been a dream of mine for awhile. I couldn't wait to start.

Q: What ride or other job at Disney World were you assigned to work at?
A: When I was a cast member I worked at a lot of rides, but the best one was Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom.

Q: What was your main job at this ride/other job or did you rotate?
A: My main job at Kilimanjaro Safari was a driver of the safari truck. I really liked it. I got to learn a lot about all different African animals and their environment they live in. It was fun to get people really interested in the animals and I got asked a lot of questions. I loved to interact with the people.

Q: Are there any kept secrets about the ride/job you were working at?
A: Yes, of course. I won’t tell you about all of them because I will ruin the magic, but I will tell you about a few of them. When going by the ostriches, there are nests with eggs in them. Unfortunately those eggs are fake, but the size of the eggs are the real size. Another secret is where the lions are, there are climate-controlled rocks around them to encourage the lions to sit in view of the safari vehicles. One more secret is that the animals that cannot harm you get to roam in there perspective areas while the ones that can, like the lions are contained by invisible fences and barriers.

Q: Were there any secrets about Disney World you knew before you went that you wanted to explore?
A: Yeah, there were a couple secrets I knew, but I really never went to go explore them. I usually just asked fellow cast members and they confirmed my suspicions.

Q: Did you experience any secrets while you were there? If you did, can you explain some of them?
A: Well, I experienced the secrets where I worked at Kilimanjaro Safari and I did experience other secrets. The one that I was always skeptical of and really wanted to see if it was true was the underground tunnels in Magical Kingdom. I actually did get to go down there when I worked at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It was an experience of a lifetime.

Q: What was your favorite secret you experienced?
A: My favorite secret was definitely the underground tunnels in the Magic Kingdom. It’s a whole different world down there and that’s what makes the Magic Kingdom go round. They transport all different kinds of things down there to get to their respected lands. I think it’s a great idea. You don’t see cowboys from Frontierland in Fantasyland.

Q: If you were able to create a hidden secret for Walt Disney World, what would you do?
A: Wow, I don’t know. I think I would create some kind of secret where if you were to open up a box or go through a door that says “Do Not Open” or “Keep Out” you would get a surprise like a fastpass for the day or a coupon for a free dinner for two at a restaurant like Cinderella’s Royal Table.

To learn more about Kilimanjaro Safari go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/animal-kingdom/attractions/kilimanjaro-safaris/.

Myths Revealed

There are two big myths in the Magic Kingdom that have been circulating for awhile. Whether or not there is an underground tunnel system and whether or not there is an apartment in Cinderella's Castle for Walt Disney.

Even though I have never seen them or been down there, the underground tunnel system is in fact true. Admit it, you have never seen a cowboy from Frontierland in Tomorrowland. Of course not because of the tunnels.


The tunnels are color-coded so Cast Members can easily tell their location and know where they need to go.


The tunnels also have facilities for the Cast Members like stores, cafeterias and barber shops.

If fact the tunnels are not really underground. They are actually at ground level and the Magic Kingdom was built over them on the second floor (15 feet above). The Walt Disney design team decided to build up because of the Florida land is so close to sea level, they just had to build up.


The following video is an On Demand video about the myth of the underground tunnels of the Magic Kingdom. This explains the tunnels in more detail.







The second myth of Walt Disney's apartment in Cinderella's Castle is partially true. Initially there was a plan for an apartment for Walt and his family, but when Walt Disney died in 1966 the apartment was left unfinished. There was talk about Roy Disney taking over the project and using the apartment for himself, but he declined in respect for his brother.





Now, Walt's unfinished apartment is the Cinderella Castle Suite.


Take a look at the following video to get an inside view of the castle suite.









There is actually an apartment that was built for Walt, but in Disneyland on top of the firehouse on Main Street. In the middle window is a candle that is always lit in remembrance of Walt.

Money Saving Secrets When Planning Your Vacation

When you first step foot on the Walt Disney World property it's like stepping into a fantasy world. Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL is just full of secrets that the common visitor will completely miss. These secrets are just waiting to be found, so when you go on your next trip to Disney World make sure to seek them out. Here, I will share just some of those secrets with you.
Planning your vacation is just the start of your vacation, so lets start with money saving secrets.

Secret 1: Travel during the value season.

The value season gives you the lowest rates on each resort hotel rooms.

2009 Value Season Season
January 1, 2009 -February 12, 2009

August 9, 2009 -October 1, 2009
November 29, 2009 -December 17, 2009

I suggest going during August because schools in Florida go back to school at that time and some people don't like Florida in August because it is so hot. Meaning there is less of a crowd and not that long of lines.

Secret 2: Buy "Magic Your Way" Tickets

When you choose the "Magic Your Way" ticket plan the more days that you plan to stay, the more money you save.

For example, if you choose a 7 day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, the average price is less than half the price of a single day ticket. That's a 50% savings!

I always choose "Magic Your Way" tickets when I plan my vacation, but I also include the Park Hopper Option and Water Park Fun and More option. This allows you to go to multiple parks during a day without spending more money for another ticket. As well as going to the water parks. Each are less then $10 a day when you have a 7 day "Magic Your Way" ticket. Trust me, they're worth it!

To learn more about the tickets and ticket options go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-passes/.

Secret 3: Stay at a Value Resort Hotel

Choose from 4 highly themed value resorts:

Disney's All-Star Movie Resort

Disney's All-Star Music Resort

Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

Disney's Pop Century Resort

During the value season you can pay just $82 per night, plus tax for a standard room.

These are the only resorts I go to, they are so much fun to stay at, and they are fun to explore.

To check out the value resorts and other hotels go to

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/.

Secret 4: Use Disney Transportation

If you fly to Orlando, you can take advantage of Disney's Magical Express service. Check your bags at your home airport, when your arrive in Orlando simply hop on a Magical Express Coach and you'll be taken to your hotel. Your bags will then appear in your room just like magic.

During your stay at Disney take advantage of the transportation within the resort. Simply hop on a boat, a bus or the monorail to get to your final destination. It's much easier then packing everyone into the car and driving to the park's parking lot. Which I might add that the cost of parking is $15. Yikes!

Secret 5: Stay on the Disney Resort Property

If you stay at a Disney resort hotel you can enjoy a couple of perks that others that stay off the Disney property will not.

Instead of driving to each park and paying a $15 parking fee, hotel guests can take advantage of the free transportation. Every Disney Resort hotel has a bus service to get you to the parks, and some select hotels have a boat system or a monorail to take you to the parks.

Another perk only offered to hotel guests are Magic Hours. These are hours in the morning before the parks open or at night after the parks close that hotel guests can take advantage of. Just show your hotel room key and receive a wristband. Not only will there be shorter lines and fewer people, but more time to play.

***Some Magic Hours can be extended up to 3 hours***
To check out the resorts go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/.

Secret 6: Spend a Day Outside the Theme Parks

Extend your stay at Disney by taking a break from the parks and enjoy other things Disney has to offer.

Water Parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon)

Downtown Disney (Dining, shopping and entertainment)

Disney Quest (Located in Downtown Disney West Side)

Cirque du Soleil La Nouba (Located in Downtown Disney West Side)

Disney's Boardwalk (Dining, shopping, entertainment)

Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex

To get more information on these places and to discover what other things Disney has to offer, go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/ .

Secret 7: Take Advantage of "Magic Your Way Package plus Dining" Plan
The dining package allows you 1 table service meal, 1 quick service meal and 1 snack per person, per day. Saves you up to 32% on food.

A recent promotion Disney is running is Free Dining when you purchase a 5 night, 6 day vacation package.

For more information on the 7 secrets you can watch a video On Demand under Searchlight.

Go to Travel & Leisure, then Disney Travel, then Disney Insiders, and then click on Money Saving Tips.

To start planning your vacation go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/, and as well to request your very own Vacation Planning Video.

Here is a video that summarizes some of the secrets I discussed, and some more tips to take in consideration when planning your next vacation:

* if video doesn't come up go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=698K96RmRUA to view it.