I was honored to enjoy WDW early this December with friends from the AllEars® Team. Along the way, I met Max, a bright young Hidden Mickey spotter, in the lobby of the Beach Club Resort. Max had been educating his parents about Hidden Mickeys, and he pointed out a few Hidden Mickeys to me on the holiday gingerbread carousel in the lobby. This one is on the floor of the carousel:

This classic Hidden Mickey is on the side of the carousel:

Good spotting, Max!

I was able to snap a photo of Mike Scopa and Michelle Scribner-MacLean of the AllEars® Team in front of this Beach Club lobby holiday gingerbread carousel.

One slightly chilly morning (for Florida, anyway), a group of AllEars® fans explored the Discovery Island Trails near the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These trails provide a close-up perspective of the awesome Tree of Life that many guests overlook. In this photo, Deb Wills points to a detailed camel’s face within reach of Tree of Life admirers.

It’s great fun for me to reconnect with old friends in early December at AllEars® meets. I look forward to these events every year, and I usually take the opportunity to Christmas shop during a few open hours. In recent years, weekends at WDW in December can be crowded with “locals” (like me). So this year, I shopped on a Monday at Downtown Disney, and I was able to avoid long lines and long waits. I actually enjoyed myself, felt no stress and finished all my shopping in just 3 or so hours! I’ll remember this for next year!