My solo trip to the World - Booked and back in a week! COMPLETE - finally! 4/24!! - Page 7 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Great start. I never thought about chasing HMs through the park; however, it looks like fun. Even with the pix, I still have had some problem with some of the pictures. Looking forward to the next episode.
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After being underwhelmed with Dinoland, I made my way to Discovery Island. The guide listed a couple of Hidden Mickeys at Pizzafari, and the opportunity to spend a little time in air-conditioning sounded good! I haven't mentioned it yet, but it was HOT and very HUMID! Nothing I couldn't handle, but I had to make sure I stayed hydrated and took advantage of every opportunity to duck inside for a bit.
I had only taken a couple of photos when a CM came up to me and asked if I was playing a game. One thing I noticed about carrying around the HM book: it got people talking! So many people - CMs and guests alike - found the book to be a great conversation starter! I told her I was hunting for HMs, and she asked if I wanted to take a tour of Pizzafari! I knew that this place had some great details, and was excited to get the inside scoop!
Each room in Pizzafari has a different theme. Taken from the Imagineering Field Guide to AK: "The food service area is adorned with ornamental animals - peacocks, parrots, butterflies, and fancy fish."
"The dining room...features animals that hang upside down, such as oppossums, bats and snakes."
The bats noses are Hidden Mickeys!
She had me search the room for the ONE creature that wasn't upside-down.
She pointed out that the oppossums' tails have a similar shape as a HM; can you spot the tail that has no oppossum attached to it?
Not-so-hidden Mickeys!
I had to stare at this photo for a while, trying to remember why I took it. There is a HM here!
Next, we moved into the nocturnal room.
Technically, this is a Hidden Mickey "hat" and not a classic HM! (Clue 87, page 121)
Another room is all about camouflage. She pointed out several hidden animals that I never would have seen otherwise! I had an awesome picture of some hidden birds but can't seem to find it!
Can you see the insects?
The mantis has left his shell behind!
This is only part of one wall; it had different seasons and it was SO cool. I couldn't get the entire wall in one picture, and I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the rest of it!
Clue 88, page 121
The last stop was the patio area, which was all about insects. The detail here is so amazing!
There's also a room of animals that carry their houses with them; I must not have found anything terribly interesting in there because I have no photos. I really wish I had take more pictures in this fascinating building! I'll definitely take the family back there so I can share with them everything I learned from the awesome CM (whose name I don't remember! And I didn't have my appreciation cards with me. If anyone deserved one, it would have been her!)
Next, I headed to Camp Minnie-Mickey. There were some HMs here that I wanted to find, and if I timed it right, I could try to meet some characters. (It's always best to visit right after a Festivalof the Lion King show has started!)
I've never wandered around CMM, so I took the time to do it now. Did you know that CMM was never supposed to be a permanent land at AK?
There were supposed to be some HMs in the now-abandoned Pocahontas and her Forest Friends show, and I really wanted to find them, but I wasn't sure if I was allowed to go into the theater. I took a chance, and when nobody told me to get out, I took my time and found what I was looking for:
Clue 38, page 116
Clue 39
There was another one in the theater, but I couldn't find it. I strolled back outside to find some more!
Clue 41
Clue 42, page 117
Up next: finding Hidden Mickeys in Africa, and introducing a CM to a HM he'd never seen before!
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Last edited by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince; 08-28-2009 at 12:56 PM..
The only reason I go to DinoLand is my dino loving son. I could dazzle you with my knowledge of dinosaurs and the correct pronunciation of them. Seriously, the extent of my knowledge is scary!
But I don't really enjoy any of the rides there either. Last year we just spent some time in the Dig Site, a CM gave DS a scavenger hunt to do, which included a hidden mickey! He had a great time doing that.
Can't wait to read more, your pictures are great too!
Wanted to add I love Pizzafari, all the themed rooms are very cool. We will have to look for more HMs next time.
(And in my signature pic we are at T-Rex in DTD, a must for any dino loving kid, it is awesome!)
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Donning my Wellies to cut Peat in Scotland
Melissa
Your visit to Pizzafari was really good. As many times as we have been to WDW, we have never been inside. I will have to put it on my to do list for next visit. From the pix, it looks like the weather has been cooperating with you as well.
I just all the HM! We found a few on our Jan trip. I know where the one on the trail in front of Dinosaur is & I have a pic if you want to see it. Looking forward to your next update!
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I love all the details you have captured in your photo's. They can be too easy to miss when rushing round the Park in a group, or watching out for children.
This TR is great. I am really enjoying the HM tour. I would love to go to Disney and not have all the pulling this way and that from the others in the party. I am truly envious.
Beth!! I've missed your TR's, so I'm so glad to have found this one!
What a fabulous husband you have! A trip and a fancy phone !
I also took lots of pictures inside Pizzafari on our recent trip--and got lots of weird looks too (people just love it when you take pictures of your food too)! It's just beautiful in there! Wish I had known about the HM's--the kids would've loved that. (Something to search for next time ).
Can't wait for more! Just beautiful pictures .
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13