Things Disney Offers But Doesn't Advertise (New)

[FoxC63]

@JodyLynC I thought the idea of this thread was for CURRENT WDW offerings

At Animal Kingdom Lodge they have several beautiful brass tiles on the floor that are great for brass rubbings. Perfect for doing after dinner or during bad weather makes a great keepsake/photo op and it's free If I make an ADR at Boma I make sure to pack acid free paper & chalk for our son.

 

[cyndiella]

About 6 years ago I was at the front of the line waiting to enter EPCOT. My oldest dd and dh were there early for a YES program.

We bee-lined to the character spot and were the first ones there. An older gentleman ran up behind us jokingly frustrated that we beat him to the front. I had no idea if you're the first person in line all of the characters would come out to greet you and escort you inside. We have the best pictures with the fab 5!!! Sadly two of us were missing but it is a wonderful memory.

We did this too! It was super!

 

[cyndiella]

Do they still have the "Welcome the night" (or whatever it's called) fire dancer at the POLY each night about 6 pm? It's only about 5 minutes long but still very neat to watch.
Also, at POP Century each evening the CMs in the food court come together to dance to "Do the Hustle". Guests are welcome to join in too. Lasts about 5 minutes too. I think they still do this.

 

[JodyLynC]

@JodyLynC I thought the idea of this thread was for CURRENT WDW offerings

Hi. Sorry, I don't understand the question.

 

[FlyingBelle]

Wine Walk at EPCOT (Italy, France & Germany) - I believe it's about $20 for a passport, which gets you 2 pours at each country

Egg hunt at EPCOT - about $7 for a map of the countries and stickers. Purchase at pin trading locations. When you finish (whether or not you find them all) you get a Disney plastic egg

Mardi Gras parade at Port Orleans French Quarter (just missed it by 1 day last week)

Camp Dolphin - we did this last week for the first time. At the Dolphin hotel they offer childcare in the evenings. $12/child per hour. If you dine at one of 3 signature restaurants at Swan or Dolphin, they're currently offering 2 hours free care per child per adult entree purchased and free dinner for the kids. We ate at Il Molino - tab was about $100 for two entrees, 2 drinks, and a side dish (included a free eggplant appetizer and free Lemoncello after dinner). Ended up paying a total of $12 for our 2 kids to be in Camp Dolphin for 2.5 hours and they both got a mac & cheese dinner. Camp Dolphin is small - two small rooms with videos and a play room, but my kids loved it. They played games and did crafts. It was awesome to have a nice, quiet dinner with DH and walk around the boardwalk!

 

[beckyc426]

At the AKL they let guests look at the animals through night vision goggles, it's really neat and also free. Just be sure and ask for an activity calendar at check in for specific times.

If you're not staying at the AKL, and happen to be there at nighttime, I'm sure you could just swing by the front desk and ask for info. I'm pretty sure it is an every night thing.

 

[marx]

Years ago, you could get a list of various highlighted resort activities - but now, the activity sheet is only handed out at the resort you are staying at. The concierge (at AKL) has been able to print a copy of the activities at other resorts when I've asked. We like the activities at AKL and FW the most. (We usually stay at AKV and spend at least one day at FW for fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, biking and boat rentals).

 

[BandtheBoys]

Push the Trash Can, always entertaining seeing him interact with children young and young at heart
And my family LOVES Club Cool and always recommend it to friends - many have been in Epcot and didn't even know about this hidden treasure

 

[smiths02]

Don't know if it's a secret or not, but free samples at Ghiardelli chocolate store in DS! We have to make a point of stopping in on every trip!

Other little fun things...

Go into the hat shop on Main Street and find the old-fashioned telephone hanging on the wall. Pick it up and listen!

Also along the right side of Main Street as you enter, there's a little alley way. Walk down and listen to the sounds coming from the windows above.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is a great free game! And even if you don't play the game, everyone in your party can get a pack of cards for free with admission to MK! They're beautiful cards and a great souvenir. Just stop at the firehouse and ask.

The greeter at POFQ who hands out beads and plastic coins to everyone coming in.

It's definitely not a secret but I know some people don't know about Club Cool at Epcot. Free samples of all kinds of soda from around the world--as much as you want!

Just a note with Sorcerers...each person can get a pack of cards a day, but you have to play in-between. We got cards and my son started a game in June 2015. DH and I went on an adult trip in Feb 2016 and stopped in to get a pack of cards, and they wouldn't let us unless we had played a portal first. We were leaving the park, so we just didn't bother, but just as an FYI. I thought we could each go every day that we went into MK and get a pack of cards (which you can, but you have to play the game in-between)

 

[VillainFavs]

Just a note with Sorcerers...each person can get a pack of cards a day, but you have to play in-between. We got cards and my son started a game in June 2015. DH and I went on an adult trip in Feb 2016 and stopped in to get a pack of cards, and they wouldn't let us unless we had played a portal first. We were leaving the park, so we just didn't bother, but just as an FYI. I thought we could each go every day that we went into MK and get a pack of cards (which you can, but you have to play the game in-between)

Yes, this is something new they started a couple years ago. It USED to be that every person, every day could get one, no playing required. But I guess maybe too many people were doing that and not playing! So, yes, now you have to just stop by one portal before collecting new cards.

But if you're not playing the game, you can at least get that first pack for everyone in your party--they're great little souvenirs! No playing required to sign up and get your "starter" packs.

 

[ErinInCT]

In China and Japan if you ask a CM they will write your name in Chinese or Japanese. We usually buy a fan that they sign, but they'll sign your autograph book or the stick on your kidcot mask or just a piece of paper or whatever. The writing is so beautiful! We also love collecting the pressed pennies (yes, they cost .51). I think many people know this but just in case they don't - you can get a free cup of ice water at any counter service restaurant. Also, we love pin trading - it does cost money to get started, but you can find bulk pins relatively cheap on eBay. It's a fun way to interact with the CMs.

 

[Sweettears]

Push the Trash Can, always entertaining seeing him interact with children young and young at heart
And my family LOVES Club Cool and always recommend it to friends - many have been in Epcot and didn't even know about this hidden treasure

Could be wrong but I believe push is gone.

 

[MooseBucks]

Yes, this is something new they started a couple years ago. It USED to be that every person, every day could get one, no playing required. But I guess maybe too many people were doing that and not playing! So, yes, now you have to just stop by one portal before collecting new cards.

But if you're not playing the game, you can at least get that first pack for everyone in your party--they're great little souvenirs! No playing required to sign up and get your "starter" packs.

How do they know if you have played?

 

[VillainFavs]

How do they know if you have played?

It's all connected to your Magic Band. When yo go to get your cards, they scan your band and see.

 

[DisneyNB]

Our family loves to collect the transportation cards. Many of the monorail drivers, bus drivers and boat captains carry them. You just have to ask them and often they'll pull one out with a smile. It's a wonderful little bit of pixie dust.

 

[MamaJessie]

One of my girls loves horses so we enjoyed the tri-circle-d ranch at Ft. Wilderness She went on a pony ride (minimal fee), saw the horses, and saw (and listened to) the dragon caliope Walt had bought.

 

[Barbydoll8]

If you're not staying at the AKL, and happen to be there at nighttime, I'm sure you could just swing by the front desk and ask for info. I'm pretty sure it is an every night thing.

You do not need to be a guest of the hotel. It's done at Jambo on the savanna behind the pool. You must wait in line for the goggles to see and they are sanitized between guests. At Kidani it's at the main over look off of the lobby. Viewing is better at Jambo as there are lights from Jambo that slightly illuminate the savanna at Kidani. You still see well but not quite as well as Jambo.

 

[smiths02]

Does AKL still do the storytelling around the fire? When my son was 3, they also had some kind of kid parade thing when the kids got to "play" some African instruments. It was pretty neat.
I don't believe you had to be a guest of the hotel

 

[purple figment]

Push the Trash Can

Push is gone, but there is a talking trash can inside the Electric Umbrella in Future World. Also, Muppet Mobile Lab is fun to watch in Epcot, but when we saw them there was no posted schedule so it was a matter of being near Innoventions when they came out. The Muppets also present Great Moments in American History in Liberty Square in the MK, but its schedule is in the Times Guide.

 

[FINFAN]

not new, but one of my favorites is the boat ride from POR to/from DS . Getting to see the Tree House units along the way is neat.

You used to be able to watch the MK fireworks from the 4th floor viewing area of the CR, hopefully it's still allowed

there can be entertainment on the Boardwalk, magician's etc for free

we like to do reverse the magic....we print up compliments on card stock and hand them out randomly to CM's..it's pretty cool to see a CM smile from us instead of for us and we have a blast deciding on who and why to hand them out. You can take a picture if you ask and it is a nice keepsake/memory