GeoCaching

[Lou Mongello]

I've been asked about this quite a bit lately...

Does anywhere here do any GeoCaching in the WDW parks?

For those of you that don't know, Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which participants (called "geocachers") use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches"). The cache will usually contain a logbook and "treasure" (usually toys or trinkets of little monetary value). The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.

I've been told that it is discouraged at WDW. Anyone have any additional information?

[disneydame2004]

The Passporter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World book mentions it - they reference an article here: http://www.passporter.com/news/news050205.htm#travel and the website www.geocaching.com

I have also heard that it is discouraged at WDW.

[Stitch]

I believe Trendy does geocaching....he would be able to tell you.

[DisneyFREAK91]

I could understand why this is discouraged. Maybe they could host it as an official event once but I don't like the idea of people hiding things in the parks and using GPS to find it without park permission.

[nick.jeschke]

Sounds fun , and I would join in. Though, I think Disney would want to know about it...

[martinp13]

Geocaching is frowned upon in most high-traffic businesses because of the high traffic. Someone other than a geocacher (geocachers tend to call these people "muggles", like non-magical folk in the Harry Potter books) is going to find the box of trinkets, and if they don't outright steal it, they think it's a bomb and notify the police. Even if it is a clear box with geocaching disclaimers on it, it can get blown up by the bomb squad.

To get around this, there are "virtual" geocaches. These are places of interest where no box can be hidden. Places like the Mall area of Washington DC, national parks (they have banned geocaching, but allow snowmobiling... go figure), and other odd locations. To claim a virtual cache, you have to email the owner of the cache with some piece of info that you would have to visit the site to learn. I personally established a virtual geocache on top of the Stratosphere hotel/casino in Las Vegas, just because it's a GREAT view, and there's no way to put a box up there... can you imagine if a "muggle" found it?

WDW and DL both have many virtual geocaches in them. Most require a photo or some trivia as proof. Very seldom does a security guard checking fanny packs mention the GPS receiver... most probably think it's a cell phone or camera. I've only been asked once why I had it (at Calif Adventure), and answered "to do some geocaching". His eyes glazed over and said thanks.

I'm brand new here, but ask away if you have any geocaching questions. I've been geocaching since May 2001, so I have a bit of experience with it.

[*Imagineer*]

Ha ha! I seem to remember seeing a story on the geocaching forum once about how Tommorowland was temporarily closed one morning after a cast member found what the thaught might be a bomb underneath one of the sinks in the bathroom!! Turned out to be a micro cache, Woops!

I have also heard that Disney hires security guards ect. to go around and look for geocaches and remove them from the park.. I guess it's a security thing, still sad tho..

[TiggerRPh]

Ha ha! I seem to remember seeing a story on the geocaching forum once about how Tommorowland was temporarily closed one morning after a cast member found what the thaught might be a bomb underneath one of the sinks in the bathroom!! Turned out to be a micro cache, Woops!

I have also heard that Disney hires security guards ect. to go around and look for geocaches and remove them from the park.. I guess it's a security thing, still sad tho..

Under todays climate of terrorism threats...this seems like a perfectly reasonable reaction and response.

Think about it....how is Disney supposed to know that it's potentially harmless. Not only that, don't you think someone intending harm could under the cover of "harmless geocaching" plant something and hours later something horrible happens and Disney did nothing because they thought it was a cache.

On an aside....I don't find the reaction by Disney on this to be particularly funny.