Tips about Epcot and Packing

ALL PARKS - For those who have little ones who don't like the "line ride" at the beginning of most attractions or for those who hate waiting in queues themselves, spotting Hidden Mickey's is a wonderful diversion. We made small index card booklets listing all "confirmed" Hidden Mickey's in each park, organized by lands and attractions. They fit easily in a pocket or daypack and can be decorated with character stickers. We took the one for the park(s) we were in each day and looked for HM's in line or checked to see where we could find them once on the ride. An added benefit was getting to meet the numerous other guests who asked what we were reading and pointing at. This decreased the frustration of line-waiting even more. I think we made many other HM fans and also took the opportunity to mention ALL EARS® to them. Hopefully we helped (in a small way) your goal of making the 25,000 subscriber mark! - Gavin Adams

EDITOR'S NOTE:: To learn more about Hidden Mickey's, go to: http://allears.net/btp/hiddenm.htm

EPCOT - My favorite "overlooked attraction" in Epcot is the talks given in Seabase Alpha (in the Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion). They are free, last about 15-30 minutes and are very informative. The fish feeding one had a diver waving to my 10-year-daughter and the zoologist explaining and answering questions. - Alan from the UK

EPCOT - My favorite "overlooked attraction" in Epcot is the talks given in Seabase Alpha (in the Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion). They are free, last about 15-30 minutes and are very informative. The fish feeding one had a diver waving to my 10-year-daughter and the zoologist explaining and answering questions. - Alan from the UK

EPCOT - An excellent article about Overlooked Attractions at Epcot. I was pleased that you hit most of my favorites, and that I knew about all the ones you had listed. I was surprised, however, that two of my absolute favorites were missing.

The first are the Milestones of Invention. They're located in the ground as you pass through the west portal on your way to The Land. Although there are some inaccuracies in it, it still can be kinda neat as you see where some of history's inventions fit.

The second are a collection of photographs and pictures that adorn the corridor outside the exit to Club Cool. Make a right out of Club Cool and through the doors and look to your right. There are photographs of things ranging from the first multi-plane camera to Walt presenting The Florida Project to the world. The latter includes a fairly good map of his plans. Overhead are banners that illustrate the evolution of ideas, using various Epcot icons as examples. - Allen Firstenberg

EPCOT - An excellent article about Overlooked Attractions at Epcot. I was pleased that you hit most of my favorites, and that I knew about all the ones you had listed. I was surprised, however, that two of my absolute favorites were missing.

The first are the Milestones of Invention. They're located in the ground as you pass through the west portal on your way to The Land. Although there are some inaccuracies in it, it still can be kinda neat as you see where some of history's inventions fit.

The second are a collection of photographs and pictures that adorn the corridor outside the exit to Club Cool. Make a right out of Club Cool and through the doors and look to your right. There are photographs of things ranging from the first multi-plane camera to Walt presenting The Florida Project to the world. The latter includes a fairly good map of his plans. Overhead are banners that illustrate the evolution of ideas, using various Epcot icons as examples. - Allen Firstenberg

EPCOT - I really loved your article on overlooked attractions at EPCOT - we've actually managed to see most of the ones that you mentioned, but we'll be looking for the ones that we've missed. However, while you mentioned the butterfly garden, you didn't mention the rose garden. It's nothing other than a small, alternate path between Innoventions and the World Showcase Lagoon (on the right as you face the World Showcase Lagoon), but it's usually fairly deserted, and it is lined with hundreds of rose bushes, all different varieties.

My husband and I like to walk along this path (OK, I probably enjoy it more than my husband), stopping and looking at the beautiful roses and smelling the different fragrances. Most of the varieties are marked with a small plaque, so if you find something you really like, you could write it down. There are one or two benches along this path (although, there is NO shade), and I've sat and enjoyed the morning while watching families rush along the path completely missing the beautiful flowers. - Jill A. Neill

EPCOT - I really loved your article on overlooked attractions at EPCOT - we've actually managed to see most of the ones that you mentioned, but we'll be looking for the ones that we've missed. However, while you mentioned the butterfly garden, you didn't mention the rose garden. It's nothing other than a small, alternate path between Innoventions and the World Showcase Lagoon (on the right as you face the World Showcase Lagoon), but it's usually fairly deserted, and it is lined with hundreds of rose bushes, all different varieties.

My husband and I like to walk along this path (OK, I probably enjoy it more than my husband), stopping and looking at the beautiful roses and smelling the different fragrances. Most of the varieties are marked with a small plaque, so if you find something you really like, you could write it down. There are one or two benches along this path (although, there is NO shade), and I've sat and enjoyed the morning while watching families rush along the path completely missing the beautiful flowers. - Jill A. Neill

We fly from the DC area to Walt Disney World at least once or twice every year, and we pack our "half-boosters/backless-boosters" in a super large hockey bag. We throw the seats in the hockey bag when we get to the airport and check the bag with our luggage. We unpack the bag at the rental minivan and we are on our way! - Joanne Zeidman

Don't count on the weather forecast being accurate for your whole trip. We visited the week before Christmas. Checking the weather the day before we left, it said the high each day would be about 70 and the low about 50 (give or take a degree or two). After we arrived, the temperature was a little cooler than we expected. This wasn't too bad since we had sweatshirts packed for the evenings. The next couple of days, however, it was really cold even in the afternoon. We absolutely froze our tails off after the sun went down! If you're going during the winter, and in particular during the holidays when the parks are open until late in the evening, take long underwear and winter jackets even if it appears you won't need them! Better to have them and not need them than to not be able to enjoy the parks due to the cold! The weather can change in a hurry. - Sandy Tidwell

When packing for each child, I roll up a pair of shorts, a matching shirt, matching socks and underwear, put them into a quart size zip lock baggie and squeeze the air out of it. It takes up very little room, the clothes stay relatively wrinkle-free, and best of all in the morning when we're in a hurry to make the bus the kids just grab a bag. No one has to look for the right shirt or matching socks (as long as the socks match each other i'm happy). - Edith Raible

EPCOT - On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space. So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We usually picked up two different candies at each country. The only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do -- my family enjoyed it! - Kelly Adkins

EPCOT - On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space. So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We usually picked up two different candies at each country. The only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do -- my family enjoyed it! - Kelly Adkins