GRAND Magazine - February 2009 - 31

5. 6. 7. 8. DiD You Just saY something? Sit next to the statue of Goofy on a Main Street bench and listen closely. Or, pick up the phone in the Main Street railroad station, in the candy store on Main Street, or near the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland and listen in on a funny party line. When you see Push and Pipa, the garbage cans roaming around Tomorrowland and Rafiki’s Planet Watch in the Animal Kingdom, ask them a question as you give them your trash. Although the Tree of Life gets the most publicity in the Animal Kingdom, keep an eye out for Wes Palm, a palm tree in a planter near the entrance. He’s a talkative fellow. So are the drinking fountains between The Land and the Imagination Pavilions in Epcot. Don’t miss the LittLe shows. Every day there are dozens of little shows throughout the parks in which guests can participate: junior pirate training camp outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the crowning of King Arthur in Epcot’s England, the balloonimator in Animation Courtyard at Disney Movie Studios and Belle reading stories at Fairytale Garden in Fantasyland. These shows are unscheduled, but ask cast members in the area if they know when the next show will start. If your grandchild has a favorite character, ask cast members if they know of any special shows that involve that character and guests. water PLaY. Everyone knows about the fun fountains at Downtown Disney and in Epcot behind Spaceship Earth and near Imagination Pavilion. But some fun water spots are easily overlooked: behind Italy’s shops in Epcot look for the oversized red buttons. With one push you could give someone a soggy surprise. There are also elephants on a bridge by the Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom that let nonriders give those on the rafts an extra squirt of water. At Disney Movie Studios check streetlights outside on the Streets of America—grab the “Singin’ in the Rain” umbrella, stand on the black square and wait. worLD showcase. In both Norway and Morocco you can receive a free guided tour of the exhibit. Norway also has a hidden playground. At the Japanese candy booth, the candymaker may give out free samples after creating animal-shaped candy. Cast members in China will write your grandkid’s name in Chinese characters if they aren’t busy. G 10. hiDDen mickeYs. Imagineers began designing Mickey shapes into the rides, restaurants, walls—even restrooms—as inside jokes known only to the Imagineers. When people began searching for them, the Imagineers went wild. Now they’re everywhere! Family contests that give awards to the most hidden Mickeys found, most unusual Mickey, etc., are fun. Searching is also a great way to pass the time while waiting—for rides, for food, for the parade to start. 9. autograPhs. Everyone is eager to get the autograph of Mickey or Cinderella. But there are also dozens of other interesting people you meet each day: the captain of the Jungle Cruise, the gardener trimming a hedge into a dancing hippo, the French girl who sold you candy in Epcot’s France Pavilion. Make sure their page includes who they were or what they did. (During very busy periods they might not always have time for autographs, but usually they’re thrilled to oblige.) want even more? Here’s an exhaustive list from John Magi and Kevin Klose  FEBRUARY 2009 GRAND 31 Click and connect to more resources instantly where you see this symbol: 

http://www.wdwinfo.com/best-kept-secrets_mk.htm

GRAND Magazine - February 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - February 2009