Hidden Mickey Monday!

This hidden Mickey can be found in Downtown Disney, right next to the tented area where they check your bags before entering the parks.

I was especially excited about this Mickey since I found it on my own. I am a fan of the Hidden Mickey books and do a lot of research on the internet, but I had never heard rumors of this Mickey before spotting it while waiting in an especially long line to get though baggage check.

My Top Ten ways to Beat the Heat! (Part 2)

5. Grab a Dole whip or float and watch a show in the Tiki Room. They allow any food or beverages in the Tiki Room as long as you take your "enchanted garbage" out with you. The seats along the four back walls have backrests, while the closer seats only have half-backs. Any seat in the house will give you a good view, and enchanted characters are in every corner of the hut, so you won't miss out on anything.

4. Get soaked in DCA's Bug's Land. For those extra hot days where you want to be all-wet right-now! In the center of Bug's Land is a water play area designed like a giant hose that spouts water from the ground. It's in a shady area and there are plenty of benches around as well.

3. Check out what's new in the world of technology at Innoventions in Tomorrowland. Not only is it a "house of the future" but there's also tons of fun games and activities. You can try out new video games, like Disney games for XBox360 Kinnect, sing karaoke, and even find out what you will look like in 40 years at the aging booth. Also, Asimo, Honda's walking robot does demonstrations at the top of every hour.

2. Spend some time in the Animation Building on Hollywood Blvd. in DCA. Inside, there is a large room filled with couches, surrounded by enormous screens. Classic Disney songs play to Disney movie clips, production art, and concept art project on the screens. This is also where to go to learn how to draw a Disney Character in the Animation Academy, talk to Crush from Finding Nemo in Turtle Talk with Crush, find out which Disney character fits your personality in Belle's Library, and even have your voice in classic Disney scenes and songs in Ursula's Grotto.

1. And, of course, you could always ride Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Rapids. Keep in mind however that at the middle of the day when its the hottest, the line for these rides will be crazy long. Both lines expose you to waiting out in the hot sun, so I recommend getting a Fast Pass early in the day especially if you know it will be a hot one.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This hidden Mickey can be found in DCA along the Radiator Springs Racers queue.

This Mickey is quite new since Carsland just opened this summer.

You can find this Mickey along the right-side of the rail, just before going under the Rusty Ridge Bridge.

My Top Ten ways to Beat the Heat! (Part 1)

10. Go shopping down Main Street. Did you know that most of the shops down the street are connected inside? And all are air-conditioned. Take this opportunity to pick up some souvenirs, check the pics on your Photo Pass, get a treat in the candy store, watch an artist at work painting watches, press a penny and relax.

9. Watch the Aladdin show in DCA. This show is spectacular! Genie always keeps his jokes fresh, true to the character made famous by Robin Williams. The songs and stage sets truly make you feel like you're in the movie. Plus the show is about an hour long so it's a great way to take a long break off your feet in a cool theater.

8. Ride Pirates of the Caribbean. Beating the heat doesn't mean you have to lose out on riding everything in the park! Pirates has a quick-paced line, mostly covered in shade. Plus the ride itself is an easy-going sit-down ride that lasts about 10 minutes. It's a perfect quick break before venturing back out into the sun.

7. Go see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies at the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland. Even if you don't like country music this show is a must see! The group combines jokes, music, and some audience interaction in the show. Plus you can sit at a table, get an ice cream sundae, and have a wild time.

6. Meet Mickey Mouse! Mickey is always at home during Toon Town operation hours. The queue to meet him winds through his air-conditioned house, where there is plenty to entertain you and keep kids from getting bored when you need a break. Plus at the end you get to meet Mickey Mouse for a photo-op, so you're certainly not wasting any precious Disney time.

Check back for part 2!

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This hidden Mickey, while more of an "obvious" Mickey, is a rare sight during the Fireworks show. (And quite tricky to decently capture if I do say so myself)

Photographing any fireworks show can be tricky and adds to the task of capturing this particular Mickey. Next time you see the show, keep an eye out!

Fast Passes

Despite the fact that Fast Passes have been around for quite a while now, I'm always surprised at how little people actually understand about them. This is probably in part due to the lack of information provided by Disney. Hopefully I can shed some light on this wonderful little perk provided to visitors.

Who can get a fast pass? Anyone with a valid ticket to the parks can use the Fast Pass perk! You don't need a special ticket or an annual pass. You just stick your park entry ticket in the machine and out comes a Fast Pass!
I often notice people grumbling as they wait in the hot sun for a ride, and I rush past them in the Fast Pass lane. I honestly don't think they realize that they could be doing the same!

How many can I get in a day? This totally depends on how early you get your first pass, so get there early and head for a Fast Pass machine. The time slots for getting passes are staggered, based on the amount of people in the park that day and the current wait time for the attraction you are Fast Passing. On a busy summer day you might have to wait 2 hours between getting fast passes, and during off season you can get one for almost each attraction available.

*****Once I have a pass, when can I return to ride the ride? Each Fast Pass will tell you a certain time frame in which to return to the ride. But did you know that cast members collecting the passes only look at the first time on the card? That's right! As long as you return after the hour or so waiting time, and come back after the first time listed on the pass, you can return any time later that day.

What attractions offer fast passes? Not all rides and attractions have fast passes available. This is partly due to limited space in the park. When Fast Passes began there had to be machines installed near the particular attraction, and there just isn't room for every ride. Also many rides have quick lines so the fast pass would be a waste.

DCA: Grizzly River Rapids, Tower of Terror, California Screamin', Soarin' over California, and Radiator Springs Racers.

Disneyland: Star Tours, Space Mountain, Autopia, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin, Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Splash Mountain.

If you want to hit a lot of these popular rides I highly recommend planning your day with Fast Passes!

*****Please see my update here.

Hidden Mickey Monday!

This hidden Mickey can be found along the dock of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride.

This particular Mickey has eluded me for years, not surprising since cast members are often moving and changing Mickeys in the park. I literally jumped I was so excited to finally spot it.

You can find this Mickey for yourself from the top of the Monorail station in Tomorrowland.