Originally Posted By magnet So, I wonder if anyone here knows about this phenomenon or perhaps even participates in it? Geocaching.com is a website where people post clues about the location of a stash or treasure they've hidden for other people to find and enjoy. The clues often take the form of GPS coordinates for example, or a riddle. If you own a handheld GPS locator, you can use the coordinates to find these hidden caches. The expectation, however, is that you will not remove the cache, but will view the secret items left behind and perhaps even add to the cache for the future. The fun is in finding and viewing these secret items. I recently did a quick search and found that there are a few people who have left items to be found on Disney property. It sounds like an interesting way for a Disney regular to add to their experience at the parks. Has anyone tried this or considered it (not that the Disney company would really care for you to start leaving secert stashes everywhere on property)?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I haven't ever really considered doing it, but a cache was found by an Autopia CM in DL's Tomorrowland a few years back, by the old Skyway station. They weren't sure what it was, so they kept that side of the park closed when the rest of the park opened, and called in the bomb squad. It turned out to be nothing of any danger, but it did cause quite a scare. I know that there is no real danger with most geocaching, but it can cause some concern to those nearby.
Originally Posted By magnet ...interesting. Well, you shouldn't be hiding stuff on attractions anyway. Most of the stuff I've read about consists of small plastic containers hidden a few steps off the main path of a walking trail, for example, and not within the gate of a park. If those are found, they're more likely to be considered discarded trash than anything else.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros What they found was one of those plastic boxes about the size of a shoe box. It was hidden in the bushes near the Hatmosphere, bathrooms, Autopia FP machines, side of Innoventions, and stairs to where the skyway once was. It wasn't on an attraction, but was in a position that could definately damage several of them if something happened.
Originally Posted By magnet OK, well, I get the sense from your response that you have a real issue with this practice, and that's fine. I'm not advocating it, and I think it could be potentially quite dangerous in certain settings within WDW. I didn't misunderstand your initial comment, so there wasn't really any need to drive your point home by remarking how it actually was a plastic box and that it wasn't on an attraction. It clearly was a bad idea in that particular setting, if indeed it actually was a cache. Nevertheless, I do find geocaching to be a compelling phenomenon, and I'm more interested in hearing from people who may have found these things on Disney property after specifically searching for them and so did not think they were bombs placed by crackpots.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think it's an interesting idea (it could even make some money for Disney if they rented out the little GPS things), but it's just tough to find a place that's accessable enough that people can get to it, without getting in the way of other stuff. WDW has tons of open space, so I'm sure they could put up a couple little stations and run their own course (kind of like an orienteering course, but a lot bigger). It would be interesting to see what an organized group with access to a ton of land could do with something like this. I wonder if they've ever considered doing it officially...
Originally Posted By gaston lives My luck, the first time I try it I'd probably be led to an unflushed toilet in one of the restrooms.
Originally Posted By magnet OK, my hope with this topic was to get someone who's actually tried this geocaching to come on and talk a little about his/her experiences with it. So, I was a little upset when right out of the box I get this story about how half of Disneyland was shutdown while the bomb squad came to investigate a suspicious package. I mean, that basically killed the thread right there. Who's going to feel comfortable talking about doing this kind of thing around the Disney resort in this thread now? So later last night I tried to defuse the situation a bit with my second post, and then you drove right back in there to hammer on the same thing again, FerretAfros. I'm trying to dig the thread out of this hole you created, and then you're right there piling the dirt back on again and tamping it down. As you can probably tell, I was sure ticked off with you last night about that. But it's OK, it's all cool now. So, let's try this one more time, and if everyone will, let's try to keep away from the value statements about whether or not this is a good or bad idea. I think there's a lot of room for discussion on that end of the matter, but for now, if you've actually tried it, then please post about your experience. OK, and gaston -- that's way too much info, dude. ha.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I used to do this with my kids for fun about three or four years ago. Eventually we got bored with it and have not done it since. However, it could be really fun at WDW. My favortie cache was in a "bullet box" or amunition container that was an easy to open water proof metal box. It was attached to a chain with a padlock, tossed out into a pond with the other end of the chain locked onto a drain grate on the edge of the pond. It was fun pulling that chain and box out of the water, and even more fun throwing it back out there. My son still has the little rubber alagator we took from the cache, sitting on a shelf in his room. (we left a Bicentennial Quarter) Gee, maybe we should do this again. I still have the old Garmin GPS. Hummm....it could be fun for a couple of my younger kids who have never been. It is a lot of fun, and it is a lot easier than you might think to find most of the caches. I have only ever given up on one, but I was under a lot of tree cover or canopy and my GPS wasn't getting me closer than a couple hundred feet. You have to realize, 200 x 200 feet is 40,000 square feet. Thats a lot more space than you realize to search in the woods. Usually I could get within 8 to 4 feet and its gets easy at that point. There are often signs of people having been there and after a few caches you sort of know what to look for. It's big fun.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Wow I only read the very frist thread. Now that I read the rest of the threads....wow! Okay ok ok ok people settle down. Geocaching is really fun. It would not interfere with anything at WDW. Trust me, no one would find anything and think it suspcious. The typical cache is like this... You go on and get coordinates, put them into your GPS, make it a "waypoint" in other words, you see your current location, and you want to get to the "waypoint" or destination. The GPS will lead you right to it. It's really really a lot of fun. The typical cache is hidden usually close to, but not ON some sort of trail or path. I have found a couple in deep woods after a one mile hike and there are some even more advanced than that. But MOST and by FAR the cache is "hidden" near a place like say a walking path near a ball field, or public park. You do there and you head down this path and you get closer and closer and finally you get as close as your GPS will take you, because your GPS may be accurate to within 20 feet or it may be accurate to within 3 feet of the coordinates. This margin of error is part of the "fun" of the thing. You get there but you still have to SEEK or HUNT or LOOK for the cache. The cache itself is usually a simple everyday household container that is placed under some fallen branches, or pinestraw, or in a hold under a large rock on a hill, or like I said before, in a pond (that sort of one is very rare) but anyway. You get as close as you can, and you start to look around. It's hella fun. The container itself varies. The best ones are old amunition boxes that have a flip release and are water tight. They are also green and hard to spot. But you can't destroy it. Some of them are Tupperware containers, or Rubbermaid. You know, just a simple lid, nothing fancy. They have simple items in them usually, and you take something, and leave something in there for the next guy. I always leave Bicentennial Quarters, that's just "my thing." I have gotten some odd things out of caches before, the most odd was an envelope with 2 free tickets to a Braves game. You will find all kinds of things doing this. But its all for fun and it is a lot of fun. That's it, I'm getting on board again. My older kids will love this and it's good quality time.
Originally Posted By Roger55 LOL! Sorry, but if I found an old ammuntion box anywhere, especially in a popular location such as Disney property, the first thing that would come to my mind would not be "Oh, a harmless geocache container".
Originally Posted By FerretAfros How much to the GPS systems used for this kind of thing cost? Could you use one that also gives you driving directions?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Well that's just it Roger55, you wouldn't find it, you wouldn't stumble across it. I wouldn't do it at WDW just due to some unforseen legal liability. As for the costs... <a href="http://tinyurl.com/34duzn" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/34duzn</a> This is the exact one that I have. It works great. I don't know about using the ones that give driving directions, I don't know if you can simply input raw GPS coordinates into those. I would think that those use addresses and whatnot. But I've never used one. You need one that can function as HAND HELD. You might travel a few hundred feet or maybe several miles off the road on foot, depending on the level of difficulty of the cache. Just check out the website. It's pretty fun stuff. www.geocaching.com here is more info.... the FAQ even... its kinda long. What is Geocaching? Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. 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. How do you pronounce Geocaching? You pronounce it Geo-cashing, like cashing a check. Are there any other names for Geocaching? The GPS Stash Hunt, Global Positioning Stash hunt is interchangable. Geocaching has become the standard for the game, however. The word Geocaching broken out is GEO for geography, and CACHING for the process of hiding a cache. A cache in computer terms is information usually stored in memory to make it faster to retrieve, but the term is also used in hiking/camping as a hiding place for concealing and preserving provisions. So what's the big deal? You gave me the coordinates so I know where it is. Seems pretty easy. It is deceptively easy. It's one thing to see where an item is, it's a totally different story to actually get there. What is a GPS device? A GPS unit is a electronic device that can determine your approximate location (within around 6-20 feet) on the planet. Coordinates are normally given in Longitude and Latitude. You can use the unit to navigate from your current location to another location. Some units have their own maps, built-in electronic compasses, voice navigation, depending on the complexity of the device. You don't need to know all the technical mumbo jumbo about GPS units to play Geocaching. All you need to do is be able to enter what is called a "waypoint" where the geocache is hidden. We're working on a section to help you set up your own GPS unit to play. In the meantime, feel free to ask questions in our online forums. How do GPS devices work? If you're interested in finding more information about Global Positioning Systems, check out GPS: The New Navigation by PBS. They have an excellent Shockwave and/or web page that explains how GPS works! So if I have a GPS unit, someone can track where I am (and where I'm going)? No! GPS devices do not actually broadcast your location. The satellites using radio frequencies actually broadcast their own position. Your GPS unit takes that information to figure out where you are (triangulation). Unless you have a tracking system implanted by aliens, you should be safe from the satellites above. As an extra precaution, however, you can put aluminum foil on your head to deflect the "gamma" beams. How much does a GPS unit cost, and where can I get one? GPS Units can range from $100 to $1000 depending on the kind of capabilities you are looking for. The author uses a Garmin eTrex , which runs for around $100, and can get you to within 20 feet of any geocache (depending on the location). The next step is one with a built-in electronic compass, has topographic maps, more memory, etc. For more information, check out our guide to purchasing a GPS unit for Geocaching. You can usually find GPS units at any boat supply store, and some camping stores keep GPS units on hand. You can also purchase them online through Amazon.com and camping supply companies. A good, basic GPS unit is the Garmin eTrex GPS, or Magellan GPS 315. You can also geocache using a GPS phone and pay a monthly fee instead of buying a GPS unit for a lump sum. Learn how. How do I use a GPS unit for Geocaching? If you need to get a basic instruction on how to use a GPS unit, try the book GPS Made Easy : Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors . To play, you'll need to know how to enter waypoints into your GPS unit. We're currently working on instructions for each particular GPS unit. In the meantime, your GPS should come with instructions on how to enter a waypoint. If you have any problems, try the online forums . There's always someone to help. What are the rules in Geocaching? Geocaching is a relatively new phenomenon. Therefore, the rules are very simple: Take something from the cache Leave something in the cache Write about it in the logbook Where you place a cache is up to you. This is neat! How do I hide a cache? Click here to read a brief tutorial on how to place your first cache . What is usually in a cache? A cache can come in many forms but the first item should always be the logbook. In its simplest form a cache can be just a logbook and nothing else. The logbook contains information from the founder of the cache and notes from the cache's visitors. The logbook can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. A logbook might contain information about nearby attractions, coordinates to other unpublished caches, and even jokes written by visitors. If you get some information from a logbook you should give some back. At the very least you can leave the date and time you visited the cache. Larger caches may consist of a waterproof plastic bucket placed tastefully within the local terrain. The bucket will contain the logbook and any number of more or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a true treasure hunt. You never know what the founder or other visitors of the cache may have left there for you to enjoy. Remember, if you take something, its only fair for you to leave something in return. Items in a bucket cache could be: Maps, books, software, hardware, CD's, videos, pictures, money, jewelry, tickets, antiques, tools, games, etc. It is recommended that items in a bucket cache be individually packaged in a clear zipped plastic bag to protect them. What shouldn't be in a cache? Use your common sense in most cases. Explosives, ammo, knives, drugs, and alcohol shouldn't be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. All ages of people hide and seek caches, so use some thought before placing an item into a cache. Food items are ALWAYS a BAD IDEA. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. Please do not put food in a cache. Where are caches found? The location of a cache can be very entertaining indeed. As many say, location, location, location! The location of a cache demonstrates the founder's skill and possibly even daring. A cache located on the side of a rocky cliff accessible only by rock climbing equipment may be hard to find. An underwater cache may only be accessed by scuba. Other caches may require long difficult hiking, orienteering, and special equipment to get to. Caches may be located in cities both above and below ground, inside and outside buildings. The skillful placement of a small logbook in an urban environment may be quite challenging to find even with the accuracy of a gps. That little logbook may have a hundred dollar bill in it or a map to greater treasure. It could even contain clues or riddles to solve that may lead to other caches. Rich people could have fun with their money by making lucrative caches that could be better than winning the lottery when you find it. Just hope that the person that found the cache just before you left a real big prize! Can I move a cache once I find it? Don't move the cache! Responsible cache owners often check on their caches and would be alarmed to discover that it is missing. An alternative would be to have a trackable item, which is an item that you can move from cache to cache. An example of this is a candle that has traveled from Australia to Arizona, and a Mr. Potato head that leaps from cache to cache. For example you can purchase a Groundspeak Travel Bug , which is a tag that you can attach to an item so you can track its movements through this web site. Are there any variations in the game? YES! We strongly encourage it, actually. Geocaching is a game that constantly reinvents itself, and the rules are very flexible. If you have a new idea on how to place a cache, or a new game using GPS units, we'd love to hear about it. Some examples - Offset Caches - They're not found by simply going to some coordinates and finding a cache there. With the Offset Cache the published coordinates are that of an existing historical monument, plaque, or even a benchmark that you would like to have your cache hunter visit. From this site the cache hunter must look around and find offset numbers stamped/written in or on some part of the marker site, or continue based on instructions posted to geocaching.com Multi-caches - The first cache gives coordinates (or partial coordinates) to the next location, or multiple caches have hints to the final cache. Virtual caches - A cache is actually an existing landmark, such as a tombstone or statue. You have to answer a question from the landmark and let the "cache" owner know as proof that you were there. How long do caches exist? It all depends on the location of the cache and its impact on the environment and the surrounding areas. Caches could be permanent, or temporary. It's up to the cache owner to periodically inspect the cache and the area to ensure that impact is minimal, if not nonexistant. When you find a cache, it's always a good idea to let the cache owner know the condition as well. Periodically, Geocaching.com will review each cache to ensure that everything is still current. We cannot guarantee that a cache will exist at any given time, but we'll do our best to ensure the list is as current as possible. If you do find that a cache is missing/defaced, please let the cache owner know as soon as possible! If I post a new cache, how long does it take to be listed on the web site? Because each cache is reviewed by a volunteer, it may take up to 2 days to have your cache posted to the web site. Usually it takes much much less time - but be patient! Someone will review your cache shortly. It does take longer on the weekends since we receive a larger volume of caches during this time. Does Geocaching.com (or a volunteer) physically check the cache before publishing it? We wish! We'd love to head out to all those countries and states to check on each and every cache to ensure that they are placed properly. Based on the growth of the sport, however, this would be impossible. If you're not sure about a cache, wait for someone else to check on it and report back to the site. Before a cache is posted, volunteers check the page for inaccuracies, bad coordinates, and appropriateness before posting the cache to the site. What do I do if I find out that a cache has gone missing? If you visit a cache location and the cache is missing, always make sure to log the cache as "not found" on the web site so the cache owner knows. If you notice that the logs show an unusual number of "not found" logs, please inform this web site so we can check on the cache page. The cache can be temporarily disabled so the cache owner can check in on it. Sometimes, though rarely, when the cache owner cannot be contacted we can either allow folks to adopt the cache or have the cache removed completely from the site. We rely a lot on the geocaching community to let us know the status of caches in their area. Do you have an FRS/PMR channel to find out if other Geocachers are in the area? Yes. The community has decided on channel 2 as the primary for both FRS and PMR, and 12 as the alternate FRS (Family Radio Service) channel and 8 for the alternate PMR (Europe). FRS and PMR radios are longer distance walkie talkies, like the Motorola Talkabout.
Originally Posted By mickeymeg I've been meaning to try this for a really long time. It looks like so much fun. I have got to get a GPS.
Originally Posted By smctopia I did this recently with a coworker at sites near my house. It was a lot of fun but I don't think it would work at the parks because there's too many people around and too many landscapers/custodial to disturb the cache. Maybe somewhere in Fort Wilderness but not many other places would work, although this would be cool on Discovery Island if it was still open! Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag es.com</a>
Originally Posted By jnemo Jennibarra and I have been geocaching for almost a year. I really enjoy and use geocaching.com all the time.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd I think that geocashing can be fun, but I do think that there are areas where it does not belong. Locally we have removed some of the cashes and requested that they be removed from the websites because they were put in caves and were either placed in dangerous areas or in areas that were environmentally fragile areas that would be damaged by frequent visitation. I could see that with the security concerns in the Disney parks, geocashing could cause some problems. Somewhere like Fort Wilderness would be a fun place for a geocash though. We've never gone geocashing but we have found them in some weird places. I've even found one scuba diving once.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<although this would be cool on Discovery Island if it was still open!>>> And even MORE fun with it still closed! Wow, how would you get out there. That would be the absolute coolest cache. And overlooking caches like in Tibet or something....it would be an incredibly difficult cache to get to.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Hummm.... so I guess that means put sherrytodd down for "against" LOL jk jk jk Well ofcourse YOU wouldn't like it. I mean you climb Kilimanjaro, and white water the Guil in the French Alps, and base jump off the Petronas Tower cross walk, and gravity mountain bike down La Cumbre, and swim with Great Whites off the Great Barrier and...and...and...and... and do a whole lot of other stuff that I am very jealous of you for not only taking the time to do, but having the guts to do. You so rock sherrytodd. And I'm totally sincere about that.
