Ins and Outs of Disney's FastPass+

Ahem . .  . Sorry, guys, there are no real tricks to this. . . yet.



Gotta smile with Minnie and Pluto!

There are a few facts that I can list, and I will, but for the most part there are no tricks to securing the FastPass+ for certain coveted rides except to catch the ride during the off season, or staying at a WDW hotel, or waiting in lines (horribly long wait times during peak season!)



The show right before the 'soft' park opening.

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Tips:

• If you can afford to stay in a WDW hotel, then do so. This gives you up to 60 days in advance to schedule your FP+ times. WHICH MEANS: you have to know which park you are going on any given day. There is no freedom to change your mind at the last minute. Oh, the WDW gurus say that you can, but not during peak season as all the 'good' FP+ passes are gone before you even get to the park. If you buy your tickets, but stay off-site at another Orlando hotel, then you have only 30 days prior to your visit to get your FP+ tickets.
• Go to the online map, print it out, and have some family meetings prior to picking your FP+ options. Your vacation will be much happier if you let everyone choose something they really, really want to do. And this way, you can familiarize yourself with the park, the rides, and the set up.
• Last year I groused about the new maps. Well, there was a reason for the way they set up those maps--they have an online phone app that gives you the wait times of various attractions. Yes, there are tons of people starring at their phones as they figure out where their FP+ is and how long the wait times are for the attractions around the FP+ time. And yes, there was one day, a Saturday, that the app was down for virtually all day. If we hadn't jotted the information down prior to walking out the door we wouldn't have had a clue when or which FP+ we had, along with the time of our dinner reservations. Just realize that there are probably 100,000+ people at these four parks on a crowded day, all trying to log on to their app.
• My hubby's Samsung 5 had enough battery juice to last all day (8 am- 9 pm), but not all phones last that long. There were many people sitting next to a plug all around the park. On an aside: the Universal Florida app wasn't as good and we roamed a lot, which sucked up the battery juice.
• Only three (3) FP+ passes are issued each day. You can try to get more FP+ AFTER the final time frame of your last issued FP+. Each FP+ takes an hour time frame, which means that you can have FP+ tickets back-to-back. For example: 9-10 am--7 Dwarves Mine Train, 10-11 Big Thunder Mountain, and 11-12 Pirates of the Caribbean. After the 12 PM time passes you can go to a kiosk and try to get another FP+. Many times the wait times were up to an hour just to see if there were any FP+ tickets left for a particular ride. . .  In other words: don't waste your time if it's peak season, just wait in line or get up at the butt-crack of dawn to be one of the first to ride the ride.
• The way we would plan the previous three FP+ times would be to ride the Mine train toward the end of the FastPass period and then hit Thunder Mountain at the beginning of the Fast Pass time. Don't forget to allow for lunch and the ensuing crowds at the lunch places.
• If you are an early morning park person, I would suggest not getting your first FP+ until an hour after the park opens. You won't need one in the first hour of operations because the park isn't that crowded.
• And no, you can't have two FP+ at one park, and then park hop to your third FP+. We wanted to do that since we tend to eat at EPCOT in the evenings. As it currently is set up, you are not able to do this.
• Rides that normally don't crowd up had waits of 45 min. or longer. The Haunted Mansion was one of those rides.
• Peak season is hideously crowded. They even offer FP+ locations for parades, fireworks, along with character greetings. Yeah, it's that crowded. Plan to have ZERO personal space as people will squish and squeeze their way into any small opening. It's not so bad first thing in the morning, but by late afternoon you are dealing with hot, tired, sweaty, and stinky people with a very short fuse. .. .just saying. And that's not all the screaming kids throwing temper tantrums because they are hot and tired.
• If you are an early morning park type person, get thee to a park at least 30 minutes prior to opening. Many times they will have a soft opening and open the main gate 10-15 minutes before the official opening. Don't kill yourself or others as you gallop to Space Mountain because the rides themselves will NOT open until the official opening time. The early opening allows you to place yourself in a good spot to get on the ride in a timely manner.
• Do not waste your time going to a show during this first hour of any park opening, focus on riding the big rides before the lines get too long. Shows might look crowded from the outside, but most of them offer a system of various pre-show rooms.
• IF you stay in a WDW hotel, you must take advantage of the early park entry times offered. It isn't every park on every day. Some are late night hours after the park is closed, but remember that everyone else who is staying at a WDW hotel will be going to that park after the other parks close, thus jam packed with stinky, sweaty humanity.
• It's the early morning hours you want as most of the late nighters are still sleeping. You have to figure out your schedule to work the early park openings into your schedule (yes, it's on their website and in their brochures). On a side note: the early/late park hours don't necessarily stay the same every year, AND the times change according to the park hours during that particular time of year. Summer offers longer hours than spring or fall, staying open as late as 12 AM or even 1 AM.  
• When you choose your FP+ options don't expect to get the primo roller coaster ones each day. They allow two big rides and one minor type attraction. This is really a pain in Epcot where you can have either Soarin' or Test Track, but not both on the same day. Remember the early days of Disney where they had A, B, C tickets? You would only have one or two A tickets, but you couldn't give the C tickets away. Yeah, some of the FP+ options are like the C tickets. Do you really need a FP+ to see Captain Eo? I think not.

That's all I can think of to offer as suggestions for right now. If you have any questions, please ask away. I'm getting tired of talking to myself on this blog.

Here are a few pictures taken at Walt Disney World.

All these pictures are taken with hubby's cell phone.

Here are a few pics from the Magic Kingdom:


Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Disney drained the ponds on either side and are doing some major construction. No, we don't know what they are doing.

Space Mountain. I think we rode this about six or seven times. This is the best picture! We texted our friend Steve with a daily picture since I didn't want to post on FB that we were gone, and this was one of the first ones we sent.

Buzz Lightyear ride. I suck at the laser shooting, personally I blame the hubby for moving the car when I line up my shot. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

on Big Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster

This was very early in the morning and the crowds were light.

Sad gargoyle needed some sugar--on entrance way into the Beast's castle.

On walkway to the Beast's castle, the 7 Dwarves Mine train is coming out of the mountain. The picture doesn't capture the gorgeous color of the plants on the mountain.

From Animal Kingdom:



Expedition Everest is in the background--totally awesome roller coaster.  The small peak to the left of the mountain is the temple in the next picture on the way up the mountain.



Going up on the steep incline of Expedition Everest. We usually hit this ride in the single rider line. We had a FP+ for this shot.

 

Kilimanjaro Safaris. . . blurry young giraffe.

Kilimanjaro Safaris. Elephant and baby.

 

From Hollywood Studios: 

 Olaf and FROZEN characters are huge at this park. They even had a fireworks show that we could see out our hotel window. It was nice to watch right before going to sleep!

Numerous big screens had Olaf interacting with the visitors throughout the day and especially during the park opening and the fireworks.





Yep, they even had Olaf cupcakes--carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

Toy Story Mania

Star Tours. The new show combines different scenarios in each ride to give a multi-faceted thrill ride that isn't the same every time you ride.

Tower of Terror. Yes, we are the goofballs on the back row. :-) We wouldn't have raised our arms if we were in front of people. This is taken at the top of the drop, right as the elevator falls. Again, this ride is set up with an infinite number of scenarios that have different drops, mixing long drops with short drops.

 

Tower of Terror behind us. The last time we took a picture here--the kidlet was up to my chin. Oh, my, how she has grown!



 

 

And finally a few pictures from EPCOT:  

 AT the Rose and Crown Pub in the UK. Post dinner. I had an incredible Scottish salmon dinner, and I don't even like salmon!

 Outside of Paris. The Eiffel Tower is in the background.

 

 The Japan pavilion. We buy the funkiest Japanese candy at the department store there. It's so good!

 

 Picture taken from Italy facing toward the front of EPCOT. The round ball is Spaceship Earth. It's a sleepy kind of ride that had Dame Judi Dench ('M' of the most recent James Bond flicks) narrating.

 

 At the China Pavilion.

 

 We ate Italian on our last WDW night.

 Outside Canada and 'Bow Falls'.

 And those are a few of the pictures we have of Walt Disney World 2014. Todd managed to keep most of the crowds out of the pictures. The most crowded location was Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.

The new expanded Fantasyland was a big draw along with the newly opened Seven Dwarves Mine train. It was a fun ride. Not an exciting coaster, but a very Disney one.

More from Universal Florida in a day or two!

Later, peeps!

WDW Rides -- EPCOT

To tell you the truth, there are very few rides in Epcot. Disney has been ramping up the ride focus, but there are other sights, stores and restaurants to visit instead of ride.

Here's the 2013 map of Epcot:



Here's the older map version of Epcot.



Sorry, but this true north aspect of the maps is just too bizarre for me to comprehend. Just put the entrance near the bottom and let it go!

Again, when you enter the park pick up a map AND a Times Guide. The maps come in numerous languages, but I'm not sure about the Times Guides. If there isn't a map in your language, check out Guest Relations (to your left after the first fountain and Spaceship Earth.

FUTURE WORLD EAST

Spaceship Earth -- is the focal point of Epcot. It's the large golf ball sphere. It's a mellow ride, 2 in front, 2 behind in each car. We enjoy it as it's a nice way to cool off in the afternoon heat. As soon as you enter the building you walk onto a moving circular platform. You have to be able to get out of your scooter or wheelchair to ride this ride--though I think Disney does it's best to make all rides accessible for everyone.

Ellen's Energy Adventure -- It's been a long time since we rode this one. There are three sections in this auditorium that break apart and move around for the show. Accessible for everyone . . . just be sure you take a potty break BEFORE you ride as it's a looong show. 45 min.

Mission: SPACE -- Fast Pass -- 44" height requirement, shoulder harness -- Orange team = intense experience -- Green team = less intense. I've ridden both sides. Green usually has less of a line, but that doesn't mean less of an experience. The Orange team still has the centrifugal action going, so if you get motion sickness, this is NOT the ride for you! Very cold air is circulating around the cockpit that holds four people. Each seat is given a job, which is a good way to keep you focused on the video screen and NOT on the thought of spinning around. You will feel pressure on the Green team, but not the G-forces you will experience on the Orange team. You're strapped in pretty tightly and I didn't experience any issues with my neck.

Test Track -- Fast Pass -- singles line -- 40" height requirement -- for almost a year, this ride was down as the reimagined the concept. The actual ride is still the same, but the pre-ride is very different. Different, not necessarily better. Not as much of a fan of the reimagined ride. Even the singles line takes longer than you would expect since these riders also go through a version of the design a car concept. If you are preggers, or have neck or back issues, you might want to skip this ride. It is a little harsh on the body.  

Sum of All Thrills -- We never got a chance to do this. It's in the Innovations East building. Every time we wanted to try this out, there was a LONG line. You basically design your own rollercoaster and then you get into a pod (a mechanical arm with a bucket on the end) and then you 'ride' your own roller coaster design.

**I think this ride might also be at Disney Quest, which is in Downtown Disney.**

FUTURE WORLD WEST

The Seas: numerous exhibits featuring very small and very large aquariums. Take some time to explore this area. You will also find Turtle Talk with Crush in this building.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends -- This is the reimagined entrance into the Living Seas. You ride in a clamobile (2 or 3 people depending on everyone's size) through various scenes. The Disney imagineers have done a great job mixing a real aquarium with action, scenes, etc from Nemo.

The Land: This building has quite a few restaurants and a couple of different shows, but most people go into The Land to ride . . .

Soarin' -- Fast Pass -- 40" height requirement. Love this ride as you are basically hang gliding with about 80 of you best friends. :-) It's very smooth, but you are up in the air and they don't want people to get hurt, which is why there is a height requirement.

Living with the Land -- Fast Pass -- boat ride. Slow boat that takes you through Disney greenhouses and a fish farm. The only time this ride is crowded is during peak season. Erm, I would never consider getting a fast pass for this ride, but each to their own. 
 
Imagination: This area has been reimagined a few times, but it still needs some work. Very few people come over to this area.

Journey into the Imagination -- Ride with Figment. Fun, mellow little ride to get you out of the heat. You will be singing the song for awhile because it's an earworm like "It's a Small World"

Captain EO -- 3-D Michael Jackson film as he plays Captain EO as he rescues the world through dance, music and a light show . . . good, but very dated.

WORLD SHOWCASE -- clockwise around the lake. I'm including each of the worlds even if they don't have a ride. Many of them have exhibits that change periodically, sit down restaurants, quick service type of restaurants, and, of course, shopping!

Mexico -- gentle raft ride around Mexico, featuring the three caballeros (Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Pancito Pistoles). Some rafts are equipped to have wheelchairs. Mariachi shows periodically throughout the day along with character greetings.

Norway -- Fast Pass -- Maelstrom--Viking boat ride through Norway's past. Some drops, but no restraints on the boat, so it's very gentle . . . as you travel through TROLL COUNTRY! This is a fun ride, and yes, when there is a long line we've been known to get a fast pass. There is a short film after the ride, but if you don't want to watch it, then just walk through into the gift shops. Every meal at the Akershus Restaurant is a character meal with Princesses. If you want to see Epcot empty, then make reservations for breakfast--family style--where everyone at your table digs into the same dish. Hope you like the people you're with!  

China -- 360 movie theater. Standing rails only. But I love this movie! Throughout the day, there are acrobats putting on shows. Don't miss the pint-sized rendition of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Very Impressive!

Germany -- If you time it well, you can see the giant cuckoo clock chime. The restaurant is the show. Buffet meal with seating at long, communal tables. Meet new people as you sing "Ein Prosit" together while swilling large steins of beer . . . not that I would ever do that . . .

Italy -- again with all the eating. Sometimes they will provide a clown/mime/juggling act. If you have little ones, you might warn them that the statues might move. . . You'll know if it's a show.

The American Adventure -- three different shows. Yeah, and I'm one of those terrible American's who bypass this whole section. The food is standard stuff for the US, though they do serve Sam Adam's beer.

Japan -- In the past, they've done the advent of tin toys, and how anime ties into their history. A couple of shows are throughout the day. If you get a chance to see the Taiko Drummers-- DO! They are amazing!

Morocco -- This area was getting a facelift to help draw guests into their country. Throughout the day, there is a belly dancer who performs. She's really good at getting the little tykes up to dance.

France -- Impressions de France film is in a sit down auditorium. It's a nice trip to the very different areas of France.

United Kingdom -- Various shows throughout the day. I totally enjoyed British Revolution . . . but then it might have been the beer speaking when I sang along with them to a Billy Idol song. Yes, I embarrassed the kidlet . . . that's the point, right??

Canada -- 360 film of Canada. Standing rails only. Off Kilter, a Canadian/Celtic rock group performs throughout the day. If you want to splurge, Le Cellier has some of the best steak I've ever eaten. It's right up there with really good steakhouses like Morton's and Flemings.

There are a few things to keep the kiddies occupied, instead of whining about how tired they are.

1) Kidcot -- I didn't pay attention to the fan that kids can color this year. In the past, it was a mask on a stick. The kiddo goes to each county's kidcot area to get a stamp and many times the cast member will write the kiddo's name in that language. It's fun to see what each name looks like in Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, etc.

2) Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World showcase adventure -- This isn't just for tweens or teens, you will see adults playing with their F.O.N.E., finding clues, and foiling Dr. Doofenschmirtz. If you see someone with an old style FONE, hang around them to see what they set off!

3) Every night, Epcot does a IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 9 PM. The only time they might postpone this show is if there is lightning. There are a few better areas to view the firework, lights, and laser show, but almost any place around the lagoon will work . . . just try to stay away from buildings and trees that might get in the way as the show is on the water as much as it is in the air!

Epcot provides this wonderful show at the end of an exhausting day. It's a must see!

Magic Kingdom is the last park I'm chatting about. It might take me longer than the rest since virtually everything in the park is a ride!

Wally World Tips and Tricks -- Epcot

Here is the map link to Epcot. Again, familiarize yourself with this map. Grab your map and a times guide, right after you pass through the turnstiles, if you want to see anything special as you walk through Epcot.


The symbol of Epcot looks like a giant golf ball, which houses the Spaceship Earth ride. Disney updated this ride a few years ago and it's now narrated by Dame Judi Dench. The ride consists of continual cars. Though there might be a line, be aware that they load the cars right inside the door, so don't let the line scare you away.

Epcot is divided into two parts: Future World and World Showcase.

Future World

I'll start with Future World.

Future World used to be the idea to showcase the future of technology in their buildings. But technology advanced so quickly that they weren't able to keep up, so it's continually evolving.

There are two sides to Future World, when you walk into Epcot, and move past Spaceship Earth, and go to the right through Innovations West you will come out to The Seas, The Land, and Imagination!. Make sure you stop in the Coca-Cola store to sample the Coke products from around the world--it's near the HUGE fountain in the center of the plaza that periodically does a musically choreographed show. Uh, be warned about Beverly from Italy and the one from Japan . . . try it, but be warned  . . .

• The Seas with Nemo and Friends--there's a short ride in a clammobile to the center of the building. There's a monster aquarium, manatees, Turtle Talk with Crush, and a variety of other things to look at.
• The Land -- has Soarin'--GET YOUR FAST PASS! or be prepared to wait in a long line. This ride is like hang gliding over California. And Living with the Land, a boat ride through Disney greenhouses, plus one show called The Circle of Life.
• Imagination! --Figment the dinosaur takes you on a short journey, and Captain Eo--Yes, my friends, Michael Jackson lives again in this show. This area needs some serious updating. Most visitors simply walk past it, so there's never a line.

On the other side of Future world, there is Mouse Gear, the second largest Disney store. The largest Disney store is in Downtown Disney--and I heard they are planning to expand it!

• Ellen's Energy Adventure--it's a dated show, but it keeps you out of the Florida heat for 45 minutes. Just be sure to use the toilet prior to going inside--there are no potty breaks!
• Mission: SPACE -- This is a seriously awesome ride! Don't let the fact there are a gazillion warnings about it. One mission, but two different intensities. Basically, you are in a giant centrifuge and are spun around, BUT don't let this scare you because you don't feel the spinning as much as you feel the pressure and weightlessness of space. I've ridden in both, more intense and less intense, and you don't lose any sense of the ride when you ride the less intense one . . . plus the line is usually not at long! My hubs tends to become disoriented with spinning rides, but the less intense one didn't bother him.
• Test Track -- I loved Test Track before they updated it, and haven't ridden it since they changed it last year. I hope it's still as much fun!

World Showcase

I love World Showcase! You can drink your way around the world, or play along with Agent P's World Showcase Adventures. If you don't know who Agent P is, then you need to watch more TV!

I will confess that I tried drinking my way around the world . . . I could only drink a beer from two countries before I was too full to continue!  I split my beers now with my hubs, and still can't manage more than  a couple of countries! We tend to eat at different sit down restaurants in the World Showcase, which means we've eaten at every restaurant, many of them more than once!

For the most part the countries are restaurants, stores and maybe a ride. Noshing away through the lands is a great way to try food from other countries. Many of the sit down restaurants require reservations if you plan to eat there during the premium hours of 5 PM - 8 PM.

Several countries have small demonstrations throughout the day.
For example: acrobats from China, or Taiko drums in Japan
Show times are posted on the Times Guide that you can pick up in addition to the map, which you can pick up after the turnstile.
Clockwise, the countries are:

• Mexico -- There are two sit down restaurants: one inside the Mayan pyramid--San Angel Inn, and the other on the lake--La Hacienda, plus one counter service. We've eaten at both restaurants, and the food is yummy! La Hacienda has a tilapia dish that I literally want to lick my plate after eating! The ride is a very slow boat ride through the different parts of Mexico. It's a good way to kill some time while waiting on a table. There are also a variety of shops inside the pyramid.
• Norway -- has one restaurant. It's 'family-style', in that dishes are brought to the table and everyone shares. The Akershus restaurant had a tough time attracting visitors--something about the pickled herring, I guess--that they made it a character dining restaurant. There are princesses galore here! We ate an early breakfast (before the park opened) and it was the only time you could see the park empty and take some great pictures! The ride is the Malstrom, and it's a fun boat ride through troll country, with one or two small drops. Of course there is the obligatory film about Norway after the ride, but you can walk right through it if you want to miss it. The store is fun, and I buy my perfume here--it's called Laila.
• China -- I love watching the Reflections of China. This is a 360 movie that takes you across China. It's a standing movie, but rails are provided to lean against since it can be disorienting. They also have a miniaturized version of the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit definitely worth looking at. The store is massive, take your time after the movie to wonder through. There are two restaurants. The Nine Dragons is a nice sit down restaurant and there is a counter service one with some fast food. Both are good, but not great.
• The Outpost -- has some Animal Kingdom type items and some wood carvers. This area covers the bridges which open to allow the Illuminations of Earth fireworks boats into the lagoon.
• Germany -- Sorry, no rides/shows in Germany . . . well, actually the Biergarten is the show. The sit down dining is a buffet with a variety of German foods, along with huge steins of beer. The tables are long tables where you better become comfortable sharing it with people who you don't know. The tables are on tiers circling around a stage, where there is music, dancing or whatever. It's a fun experience, but not to everyone's tastes. If you want a bratwurst and a beer, then simply hit the counter service at the entrance to the Biergarten. There are numerous shops to visit--make a point to go into the toy store. On your way to Italy, there is a miniature outdoor train with town and countryside for viewing.
• Italy -- Three restaurants, but we've only eaten at Tutto Italia. They change the menu quite often, so it's different every time we eat there. Sometimes it's good, sometimes just 'meh'. Though the store is chocked full of perfume and a little Murano glass, we don't stay too long because of the overpowering fragrance . . .and slightly superior attitude. Sorry, but they're worse than the France pavilion! The other side of the plaza has another store with Venetian masks--I love browsing here.
• America -- True confessions here . . . we usually just walk right past this pavilion. Unless we stop to get a beer--Sam Adams. Never saw the show. The main reason is that it's simply too long. Moving right along . . .
• Japan -- Make a point of catching the Taiko drum show. It's held outside on the steps of the Shinto temple. The store is HUGE with tons of Hello Kitty stuff and toys for boys, while the ladies can have pearls pulled from the oysters and mounted, or you can eat some totally bizarro Japanese candy. Sometimes you find something . . . interesting. The last time we were at the Japan Pavilion, we toured a tin toy exhibit, which featured toys from the past 100 years. There are two sit down places to eat: Teppan Edo--the chef entertains and cooks your food on the flat top at your table, and Tokyo Dining -- sushi, tempura (never ate there), plus a counter service place.
• Morocco -- You can get lost in the maze of shops dotting the Morocco Pavilion. We've eaten numerous times at Marrakesh. The food is good and if you time it right, you will be entertained by a belly dancer--if you are near the stage, she'll pull little kids up to dance with her.
• France -- I enjoyed the Impressions de France film--not as much as the China one, but it's nice. There are two restaurants: Chefs de France and Bistro de Paris. Chefs is cheaper, but more crowded than Bistro. The same group of chefs own both restaurants, so the quality is similar. There is also a pastry shop--Boulangerie Patisserie--where we tend to load up prior to watching the fireworks. There are a few nice shops to wander through.
• International Gateway -- after you leave France you cross a bridge: to the right takes you to the United Kingdom, while turning left exits the park where  you can walk to the Boardwalk, the Swan and Dolphin hotels (turn left after you exit the park) or The Yacht and Beach Club resorts (continue straight).
• United Kingdom -- The Rose and Crown Pub is the main restaurant. Again, if you time it right, you can sit outside and watch Illuminations. When the kidlet was three, we were at the right place at the right time for the kidlet to 'start' the show with a wave of her magic wand . . . too bad that was before cameras on phones because we left our camera at the hotel. That will have to remain in our memories -- right up there with the hubs getting dragged up on stage during the Spirit of Aloha dinner show during our honeymoon. You should have seen the man dancing in a grass skirt! The various stores have changed over the years, and not necessarily for the best. I, personally, don't see the point of all the Beatles 'stuff', but that's simply a personal observation.
• Canada -- Canada's show is a standing movie in 360 degrees, nice, but doesn't seem as impressive as China. The whole of the Canadian pavilion is a shoutout to various sights in Canada, for example, the Butchart Gardens, though impressive is roughly only 1% of the real gardens on Vancouver Island. Yep, I've walked through them. The only restaurant is Le Cellier. If you want to have some of the best steak you ever ate, then you need to make reservations--make them three months in advance, if you can. You might have to settle for a late lunch or an early dinner.

Okay, so you have wee little tykes and they are bored to freaking tears by mommy wanting to shop in all the stores. So what do you do?

Well, there are two options.

1. If they are itty-bitty kiddos, there is the Kidcot area in each country. The child is given a 'mask' with a long wooden handle. The child can decorate the mask, and at each Kidcot location, they stamp the handle with a Disney country stamp, add a fob that symbolizes that country, and some of the countries will spell the child's name on the back--It's fun to see the symbols for your child's name in Chinese, Japanese or Arabic!
2. If your kiddo is a little older, or you want to do this, you can register at various locations as a secret agent for Agent P. With the use of a FONE (field operative notification equipment), you will follow the clues given to you. When have tracked the clue down, many times you will be told to press a 'trigger' on the phone, activating 'something'. When you follow all the clues you can turn your phone in at various points along the way, or do another adventure. Even if you choose not to do the adventure--WATCH someone else, because you will see some fun stuff happening in each country! Check out Dr. Doofenshmirtz in the picture.  

 And then there's Illumination, Epcot's nighttime extravaganza. A choreographed show with lasers, video, fireworks and dancing water, accompanying a beautiful narration.

This is a MUST SEE!

 

And that's it for today!

 

Later, Peeps!