My solo trip to the World - Booked and back in a week! COMPLETE - finally! 4/24!! - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Beth!! I was soooo looking forward to reading all about this upon our return from new Jersey - yay!!!
I'm loving it, ing it!! Your HM photos are great. And the meandering, wandering, strolling, whatevering is just what I'm looking forward to in my solo trip this fall. It sounds just perfect so far... cannot wait to read more!!!!!
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Yeah, you've inspired me to take my HM book next trip. I just placed it in the Disney box.
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So I'd done my Hidden Mickey hunting in Asia, Dinoland USA and Camp Minnie-Mickey. It was time to find out what Africa had in store for me!
First, another view of my favorite mountain:
The only must-do on my list was a trip down the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. I'd visited it only once before, on our first family trip in 2001. It was definitely time to check it out again. There were a couple of Hidden Mickeys listed in the book, and I was hoping I'd have better luck finding them than I had in Dinoland, USA!
I caught the tail end of the Jammin' Jungle parade as it headed back through Africa. The area was fairly crowded, and many of the HMs in Africa are near shops and in the walkways, so I decided to let the area clear out a bit before I started the hunt. I'm sure I got plenty of strange looks as I walked around searching the pavement for this beauty: Clue 84, page 120
My next instruction was "Marvel at a Hidden Baloo inside the small seating area behind Tamu Tamu refreshments." (Did you know that they're still considered Hidden Mickeys even if they aren't Mickey at all?) I have to mention here that Steve Barrett does those of us who are new to the Hidden Mickey business a big favor: for each park, his book not only has a section of clues to help you find each HM, it has an additional hint for each, as well. These hints came in handy many times, because I guess I'm just not observant enough to find them with only the clues! The hint for the Hidden Mickey/Baloo was that he's often covered by a curtain. I wandered into a seating area, not at all sure that I was in the right place. I looked around a bit, and then noticed a curtain on the far side of the seating area. When I pulled back the curtain, this is what I found: (Clue 85, page 121)
Is that the coolest, or what? I was soooo excited to find it and may have drawn a little attention to myself as I celebrated my discovery!
Not a HM, but a cool detail just the same!
I headed toward the PFE Trail, and wandered into the building with the naked mole rats exhibit. The CM there asked me if I was looking for hidden Mickeys, and I told him I was, but not to help me! I told him I might need help, but I wanted to try to find it on my own first. I found the first one, and took this photo: Clue 31, page 115
He asked me if I wanted him to take a closeup, since it was in an area that guests aren't supposed to go into. Not a great pic, but I appreciated the offer!
Turns out, this CM was from Michigan, too! (Eagle, I think.) We chatted a bit about home, and then he directed me to a desk in the room and asked me if I could find another HM. I looked and looked but had to ask for a hint. Finally, I saw it!
This one was not listed in the book, so I was very excited to find out whether or not Steve Barrett knew about this one. I checked his website when I got home, and found that someone had already told him about it!
The CM told me about a hidden Scar in another section of the PFE Trail, but I couldn't find that one OR the hidden Jafar past the gorilla viewing area. The gorillas were out, though, so I got a few good shots of them. (Oh, you mean there's more to see here than just Hidden Mickeys?)
I still had a FP for the Safari, but I decided not to use it. I wanted to get to the last showing of Finding Nemo:the Musical and I hadn't ridden Everest as many times as I'd wanted to. Everest wins over the Safari hands-down! See the gorilla on the top of the sign?
On my way back through Africa, I did a little more searching and found another cool HM:
As I stopped to take a photo of it, a CM walked by and said, "I've never seen that one before!" I wasn't surprised, as it's situated near the front left corner of the Mombasa Marketplace, hidden by some foliage, and you really have to be hunting for it to find it. The other one like this is out in the middle of a footpath, so it's much easier to spot.
There were many more HMs to be found in Africa, but I was feeling a bit of a time crunch so I decided to save them for another visit. The park closed at 6:00 and I still had to much left to accomplish! There's an upside-down classic HM above the eye of the hippo! Don't worry; I can't see it, either!
Are you getting tired of pictures of the Forbidden Mountain yet?
Once back in Asia, I hit up the single-rider line for a grand total of four times. I didn't beat our record of 7 times in a row, so that will definitely be on the agenda for our marathon weekend trip!
The last time I rode EE, the man I rode with was really nervous. I hoped that my screaming-with-my-hands-in-the-air attitude helped him forget his anxiety and enjoy the ride!
I took one last photo of my favorite attraction and posted it to Facebook so my family could see where I was.
Then it was time to head to the cool air-conditioning of the Theater in the Wild!
If you've never taken the time to see this show, I would highly encourage you to do so on your next trip. I fell in love with this musical the first time I saw it, back in January 2007. I got the soundtrack on ebay once we got home from that trip, and the lyrics of the songs have made it into our everyday conversation. Once you see this musical, you will never watch the movie the same way again. You'll find yourself saying, "Wait, aren't the sharks supposed to sing now?"
I enjoyed the show every bit as much as I usually do; probably even more than usual, since I didn't have to take anyone to the bathroom in the middle of my favorite song like I did on our last family trip! Go with the flooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww...
There is a HM down near the front on the left-hand side of the stage, so I waited for the theater to empty out so I could get a photo.
The park was now closed, so it was time to head for the exit. If you have trouble fitting the Nemo show into your schedule, I'd definitely suggest going to the final performance of the day. AK always closes early, so you can stay until after closing and still have time to hop to another park or go to dinner before calling it a night.
One last shot of the tree for this trip:
Such a cool light fixture; a bit of a tribute to the land of mystical creatures that was originally planned but never came to be!
There's a HM here; scroll down a bit if you need help finding it!
Steve Barrett had a few more HMs for me to find on my way out of the park: Clue 98, page 122
Clue 99
Clue 100
Clue 101 - you'll find these around the trees in Epcot, as well.
My time at AK was at an end. I caught the bus to Epcot at 7:10 p.m.
Up next: Epcot for dinner, Illuminations and evening EMH!
Your HM trip report is really cool! I will be packing my HM book when I go on my solo trip in Dec. It is always so hard to search when you have the whole family with you.
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I took some close-ups of the ToL when we were there in Jan with my fancy new camera....now I need to go back & see if I can spot the hippo one! More great HM pics....definatly bringing my HM book in Oct! Can't wait to hear about EPCOT & Illuminations!
I am so wishing I had taken my Hidden Mickeys book. This is such a great report and your pictures are wonderful.
My son was so tickled when he saw this picture in your TR
Quote:
Originally Posted by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince
I'm sure I got plenty of strange looks as I walked around searching the pavement for this beauty: Clue 84, page 120
because he found the same HM and we weren't even looking for them. We were just walking along, he looked down and asked me if it was a Hidden Mickey. He was so excited when I told him that I sure thought that it was. Here's the picture he took of it.
My daughter has been sitting here reading this with me. Now she wants to know if we can take our book on our trip in 3 weeks. Of course I told her yes. You have definitely inspired me took take a crack at it.
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your lovely comments! So glad you're all enjoying the report!
And Stephanie, I love your son's HM picture. My middle daughter is a great HM-finder; I can't wait to see how she does when she's got the book to guide her!
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ing it!! Your HM photos are great. And the meandering, wandering, strolling, whatevering is just what I'm looking forward to in my solo trip this fall. It sounds just perfect so far... cannot wait to read more!!!!!
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Never knew how many HM where out in the parks thanks!!
I found the first one, and took this photo:
The gorillas were out, though, so I got a few good shots of them. (Oh, you mean there's more to see here than just Hidden Mickeys?
)
I wasn't surprised, as it's situated near the front left corner of the Mombasa Marketplace, hidden by some foliage, and you really have to be hunting for it to find it. The other one like this is out in the middle of a footpath, so it's much easier to spot.
Lisa 
Liz 
for sharing these as I'll definitely be looking when we go back.
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