-------------------------------------------------- *** THE VERY UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD *** -------------------------------------------------- By Todd D. McCartney 1993 Edition Revision 93.08.13 Released: August 22, 1993 Next revision due out in October/November. Feel Free to Distribute (C)opyright 1991, 1992, 1993 by Todd D. McCartney All Rights Reserved This book is dedicated to every child, in other words, every single person young and old alike. ------------------------------------------------------------------ INTRODUCTION ------------ Walter Elias Disney was always a dreamer. Walt wanted to create a place that would be as much fun for adults as for children. This refers to the quotation "There is little adult in every child, but there is a lot of child in every adult." Mr. Disney also never liked amusement parks as he thought of them as dirty and not as a source of family entertainment. One summer day while he sat on a park bench Walt thought about a new kind of family park. Here is what Walt said about that day: "Disneyland really began when my two daughters were very young, Saturday was always Daddy's Day, and I would take them to the merry-go-round, and sit on a bench waiting and eating peanuts, while they rode. And sitting there, alone, I felt there should be something built, some kind of family park, where parents and children could have fun together." Walt's dream of a family amusement park became a reality, and on July 17, 1955 Disneyland opened its doors in Anaheim, CA and became the "Happiest Place on Earth." Disneyland was an instant success, and soon amusement parks around the country followed Disney's model and began 'cleaning' up their look. During the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York the Walt Disney Company displayed their attraction building talents by creating some shows such as: It's a Small World, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Headlines in the NY papers read "Walt Disney - GIANT at the Fair." With this in Walt's mind, and the growing success of Disneyland, he decided to build the ultimate family amusement park. He soon went to work on it and purchased 27,400 acres (43 square miles) of land near Orlando, Florida. This piece of land was 150 times larger than that of Disneyland in California. Walt made this statement on his TV show after announcing what he was about to do: "Here in Florida, we have something special. There's enough land to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine." Here, not only would a theme park be constructed but an entire resort complex with hotel and recreational facilities, and Walt had a head full of ideas. Unfortunately he never saw his Florida dream come true. He passed away in December of 1966 right after introducing his plans, but his brother Roy took command of the company Walt had established and gave the go ahead on the creation of Walt's biggest dream. The creation of Disney World became the largest private construction project in the United States ever. Over 8,000 workers built the Vacation Kingdom. More than eight million cubic yards of earth had to be moved, swamps had to be drained, and canals and lakes had to be dug. Then, after a lifetime of dreaming and 4 years under construction, on October 1, 1971 the Vacation Kingdom of Walt Disney World was opened to the public. Roy O. Disney used Walt's comment in his dedication speech: "Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney...and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all that come to this happy place...a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together. Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971." What Roy said on opening day can now be found inscribed on a bronze plaque in the Magic Kingdom. Walt wanted to call his vacation land "Disney World", but after his death Roy insisted that it be called "Walt Disney World". The resort became an instant success and in one year it had attracted almost 11 million guests. Before his untimely death, Walt had many ideas for other parks. His concept of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT as he called it was born shortly after his plans for Disney World were introduced. Again on his TV show Walt showed America his plans. He wanted EPCOT to be a city that people could actually live in, a entire community totally surviving on its own. No to mention the fact that it would demonstrate the highest technology available to the rest of the world. The city would have its inhabitants living around a central hub, or main building. This is how Walt described EPCOT on that TV show: EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise. When EPCOT has become a reality, it's our hope that it will stimulate American industry to develop new solutions that will meet the needs of people expressed right here in this experimental community. Eleven years after the opening of Walt Disney World, Walt's dream of EPCOT became a reality. On October 1, 1982 EPCOT Center was opened to the public. Although EPCOT Center was not as Walt envisioned, it is a showcase of technology and the world. The living community that Walt had envisioned is going to built, and it is expected to open in 1995 not under the name of EPCOT, but it will be called Celebration. Almost seven years later, the Disney/MGM Studios was opened on May 1, 1989. Here, guests can experience the movies in Disney style. Now in 1993, the Vacation Kingdom is a young twenty-two years old, housing 3 theme parks, 2 water parks, 14 resorts, a night club entertainment complex, a hotel complex, a shopping village, a lot of magic, and much, much more. Will Disney World ever stop growing? Most likely it won't as more and more ideas are becoming a reality. Four more resorts are being built now, construction for a large addition to the Disney/MGM Studios is underway, a third water park is in the planning stages, and many ideas have yet to be released to the public. The place that Walt Disney and his company created brings joy, happiness, and inspiration to each and everyone of its visitors. It's a magical land...a place where everything seems perfect...and to experience it is like nothing else. Walt Disney World is truly The Vacation Kingdom of the World. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Author's Notes For 93.08.13 ----------------------------- Greetings Disney Fans! In July I visited Walt Disney World! Despite the crowds I was able to see just about everything. I stayed at the Vacation Club and I had a great time! This was my sixth time there and it looks like I might be heading back in November if I can scrounge up the money for my flight. In any case, I compiled quite a bit of notes during my visit and I have added them into the latest version of the book! Since the book is now starting to gain popularity I have begun to do the following so that more people may gain access to my book: Start a FTP site for those on the internet, make an e-mail mailing list so people don't have to request the new version of the book, and in the very far future I may begin to work on a bound version of the book. All of these ideas will take time, but the e-mail mailing list is now in effect and I hope to get the FTP site up and running by late August or early September. Keep watching rec.arts.disney for more information on distribution of the book! Enjoy this revision! -Todd D. McCartney "When you wish upon a star you dreams come true..." ------------------------------------------------------------------ To the Reader: I've been adding to this book for almost three years now and it seems as though I've just begun. It's funny, most of my friends will ask me why I would devote some of my free time to writing a book. I usually reply with: "I enjoy it..." and confusion streaks across their face after that response. Some day I hope this material may be sold to a publisher, but right now I am happy to share the information that I know with others for free. This book actually started out as a letter to some friends in England. They wrote a letter to my family stating that they were planning to visit Disney World on their tour of the U.S. and they wanted me to send them some information. I sat down one Saturday after work and typed and typed and typed. Due to the mail, my book was waiting for them when they arrived home from their tour. So rather than put my work aside I decided to let the rest of the world see it. That original letter was about 4000 words, and the book has now grown to almost 25,000 words! That's how this whole thing started... Things to know about this book ------------------------ I have been to Walt Disney World six times, or the equivalence of staying their for 45 days straight. I first traveled there in 1980, and again in 1986. When I visited in 1988 WDW seemed more magical to me than ever before. During The next three visits I became more interested and gradually I began absorbing any information on WDW I could grab. Granted many people have been there many more times than I have, but I don't just visit the parks just to have fun. I am constantly thinking of how I could improve my vacation, and I am continually racing from attraction to attraction so that I can see the most in the minimum amount of time. Well I am now relaying all that information to you the reader. I feel confident that if you follow my tips and my suggestions you too will go home feeling the magic that Walt Disney World puts in all of its visitors. You should know (providing you read the introduction) that there are three main parks in Walt Disney World: The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, and The Disney/MGM Studios. I'll describe each theme park and tell you about each attraction in each park. I have divided the book into twenty main areas: When Should We Go?, Resorts, Contacting WDW Making Reservations and Admissions, Transportation, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, Disney/MGM Studios, Night Life, Dining, Shopping, Water Parks, Other Attractions, Tips, In the Future, Maps (.gif file for majority of computers), Fun Facts, Famous Quotations Relating to WDW, Special Thanks To, Revision Information, and Glossary/Acronym List. I subscribe to the magazine "Disney News" so I am updated on the newest things going on. However, the majority of my writings are based on my opinion and personal descriptions. Please feel free to make copies of this book for friends, family, roommates, neighbors, pets (well, read it first, then paper train your puppy!) etc., but please don't add your own information. This is copyrighted material so if you have something to add, please write and tell me about it, and don't add to it or copy it. If you use this information for reports etc, I take no responsibility in the accuracy of the information provided. I am now updating this every three months or so, every month took me away from my school work. If you feel like making a comment, see an error, get a sudden urge to send me some money so I can go to WDW again, or just want to thank me, you can do so by writing to me at the following address, or if you have access to Internet, or BitNet you can send me E-mail using the e-mail address shown below. *** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO **** Todd D. McCartney Internet or BitNet 18 Carroll Drive toddm@phobos.ucs.umass.edu Somerville, NJ 08876 If you wish to be added to the e-mail mailing list, send me a message and I will add you to the list. This will insure that you receive every new update of the book. The FTP site for the distribution of the book will be going into effect very soon. Possibly by the end of August or early September if everything goes right. However I'm not sure of the sight name yet, as we are still compiling the program. The FTP site will contain current versions of the book as well as back issues dating back to October 1991. If you have a modem, call Uncle Hank's BBS for the latest revisions as well as back issues: Uncle Hank's BBS "Home of the Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA. 300/1200/2400/9600/14.4/v.42bis/MNP1-5/Dual Standard Call (413)536-1233 Leave E-mail to Todd McCartney I hope to hear from you, I love getting mail and I would like to know what you think of this project. Please write, only a few responses have ever come through the mail so far!! I need to know what needs improving! If you could please take the time to fill out the evaluation form included in the zipped file (EVAL.TXT). Print it out, fill it out, and send it out in the mail! Thanks. Well, I hope that this book gives you a good idea of the Vacation Kingdom of the World. IMPORTANT NOTES I will refer to AA many times throughout this book. This stands for "Audio-Animatronics". Audio-Animatronics is the use of computerized moving mannequins, and it is used in most of the Disney attractions. The mannequins are quite realistic and they can fool most first time visitors into believe that there are actors in the ride. Also from now on, anytime you see WDW it means Walt Disney World and anytime you see TTC it refers to the Ticket and Transportation Center. ** For more information on acronyms, please see the ** ** Glossary/Acronym list (Part XX) at the end of the book. ** An asterisk (*) next to a description means the attraction is a personal favorite of mine. An "at" sign (@) next to it, it means it is a popular attraction to the general public, and you should ride it during parades, fireworks, right after the park opens or right before the park is about to close, if the lines are longer during peak hours. The time given after the description of an attraction is the actual time for that ride (not including pre-show entertainment). Pre-Show entertainment times are listed separately. Any age, height, or medical restrictions that limit participation in the attraction are also in the description. Please be aware of these restrictions and limitations, as they have been added for your own personal safety. If in the description of the ride you see a line of asterisks followed by the word Spoiler (****** SPOILER ******) that means that the information that follows may spoil part of that attraction for you. Examples might be where something scary appears in a ride, or where there is and unexpected 'turn' in the ride. Read those sections at your discretion, however if you wish to be surprised don't read them. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART I ** WHEN SHOULD WE GO? ** -------------------- One of the most challenging questions for any vacation is deciding when to go. The one thing about Walt Disney World that never changes is the fact that it is open 365 days a year, so you don't have to worry about timing your trip around their "season" schedule. Personally I feel that October is the best month. The temperature is mild, all the kids are back in school, and the crowds are much smaller. Taking the kids out of school for a week should not be too much of a problem, but just make sure they get their homework done BEFORE you leave, (especially high school students (having been myself one I know)) because once you get down there, they won't be able to find any time to do it. The only problem with October is that the parks usually close earlier (8 to 9pm), rather than staying open to midnight as in the summer. The drawback from the parks closing early is that certain parades and fireworks may or may not be presented. Contact Walt Disney World Information for updated information on parades and fireworks, as the times change quite frequently. I found July and August to be VERY hot and crowded. If you like waiting in 1-2hr lines in 90-100 degree weather go during that time of the year. Stay away from Christmas, New Years, President's week, the Fourth of July, etc. The crowds at this time of the year tend to be quite heavy. As for the spring, March through May is an excellent time. Again, kids are still in school (Florida students get out in late May so plan accordingly), and the temperature is mild. An aspect that is often overlooked is the fact that the cost of your room is often related to the time of year that you decide to travel. There are two types of 'seasons' at WDW: the "off season", and the "regular season". The regular season reflects the following time frames: Late December through early January; Mid February through mid April; Mid June through mid August. During these times you will pay the most for your room and the crowds are usually medium to large at those times. Such is opposite during the off season. The difference in price may be minimal or it could be quite large. Check with Walt Disney World Information for exact dates and room rates. One minor thing to consider is that certain attractions do close for general maintenance during the off season. During the summer and regular season almost (if not) every attraction is open, but in the fall it is common to see one or two attractions closed. I have been disappointed many times as I found out certain attractions were closed. However there is a way you can avoid this disappointment! Disney has maintenance schedules for each of its attractions, so if you give them a call and tell them when you are going, they will tell you what attractions will be closed at that time. One thing, no matter what time of the year you go there will be thunderstorms. Florida is known for having rain just about every day (in the summer its around 4-5pm or so). Don't be alarmed at rainy weather reports, go to the parks even if it is raining because most people stay inside on those days or do other indoor things. A little rain never hurts right? ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART II ** RESORTS ** --------- There are 14 main resorts in Walt Disney World, each with its own theme. These fourteen resorts are situated in 3 different resort areas: Magic Kingdom Resorts, EPCOT Resorts, and the Village Resorts. You should know what resort area you are staying at, as many of the signs and brochures don't refer to the individual resorts, as they refer to the resort area. Below the resorts are organized according to their areas. Many benefits result from staying in a Disney owned resort. For one, you may enter selected theme parks (usually the Magic Kingdom) on selected days, one hour earlier than the general public. Lately the early admission has been Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. You also receive: complimentary transportation to and from every corner of WDW (via monorail, bus or boat), complimentary parking at all parks, access to all WDW owned pools and health clubs, and a lot more. Despite the fact that every resort has some means of transportation, the first three resorts listed below are by far the most convenient because of connections to the monorail lines (Excellent for those staying with children, ie: no bus lines to wait for in the heat). Personally I feel you should rent a car unless you are staying at a monorail-resort. The car will come in handy when you want to go to parks outside Disney property, or go shopping at the Disney Marketplace, etc. For more information on transportation please refer to Part IV, "Transportation". Now I will give a brief description of each resort, the number of rooms, try to give you an idea of the prices, and tell you the resort area that the resort is located in. Now the prices listed below are based on a double occupancy per night basis and they use the following form: $xxx to $yyy. Where $xxx is the price of the cheapest room at OFF-season prices and $yyy is the price of the most expensive room at regular season prices. Suite prices follow the regular room rates. The prices listed are most likely not correct, but they will give you a good idea of what to expect. MAGIC KINGDOM RESORT AREA The Polynesian Village Resort - The brown a-frame buildings at this resort transport you to the South Seas. Torches illuminate the walkways at night, and tropical plants abound. Traditional Polynesian architecture can be found here along with two pools (one with a slide built into a "lava mountain" with a waterfall). The Great Ceremonial House is the main building. Here you can purchase sundries, eat, and check in/out. This resort is a personal favorite of mine. The white sand beaches and torch-lit sidewalks make for an incredible romantic setting. The Polynesian is a great place to escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of WDW, as it is very welcoming. The restaurants here have seafood on the menu with a twist of Polynesian style cooking. (GREAT FOOD!!) Not all of the food is Polynesian style, most of it is American. This is one of the original WDW resorts, but don't fear as it has recently been renovated and it looks great! Boat rental. By far one of the most if not the MOST convenient resort in WDW. 855 rooms. Moderately Priced: $185 to $295. Suites: $1,000 MONORAIL SERVICE The Grand Floridian Beach Resort - Jump back to the turn of the century in this awe inspiring resort that was created to replicate the same type of hotel in San Diego. A Big Band plays music every night in the breath taking main building. This resort has an 8,000 square foot swimming pool, a health club and more. A perfect setting for a honeymoon, as there are very romantic honeymoon suites that overlook the lagoon. Very good Italian restaurant called Flaglers, a very expensive upscale restaurant and a buffet. Boat rental, tennis and more. 901 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced: $230 to $440. Suites: $550 to $1,450 MONORAIL SERVICE The Contemporary Resort - One of the original WDW resorts this A- Frame building has Monorails gliding swiftly in and out of it all day. WDW's largest arcade can be found here with the latest in arcade technology. Many places to eat and drink are here along with a dinner show at the top of the building. If you like tall buildings and walking out your hotel room door to a hallway overlooking up to 14 stories this is for you! Not a personal favorite, but it has great places to eat, shop and excellent recreational facilities. This resort is excellent for those travelling with children as a common site is children running through the halls. Good all you can eat buffet, a great dinner show on the 15th floor, and nice lounges. Also located here are meeting and conference rooms for different functions. Just as the Polynesian, this resort has recently been remodeled. 83,709 square feet of convention space. Boat rental, tennis, and more. 1,056 rooms. Moderately Priced: $190 to $260. Suites: $750 to $1,430 MONORAIL SERVICE The Disney Inn - This resort is tucked away in the northwest corner of WDW. It is situated between two PGA tour championship golf courses: The Magnolia and the Palm. Swimming pools, tennis courts, and heath spas are all here. A nice restaurant that serves a good meal and most people skip is here. This resort has recently been remodeled, and a Snow White theme has been added. 228 Rooms. Moderately Priced: $180 to $215. Suites: $345 Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground - Are you driving your RV to WDW? If so you might consider staying here. Hook up your RV to full service, or stay in one of the permanent trailers with full service also. Canoeing, campfires, biking, and fishing make this resort for those who love the great outdoors. Nightly campfires and marshmallow roasts, and daily canoe excursions are also here for those who love the outdoors. 785 sites, 407 Trailer Homes. Low to Moderately Priced: $32 to $49 for trailer sites, $180 to $195 for trailer homes. Suites: NONE EPCOT CENTER RESORT AREA The Caribbean Beach Resort - Very affordable resort with a twist of the Caribbean. Located just southeast of EPCOT center this resort is cheerfully colored and is easily accessible. The buildings are named after Caribbean Islands. Steel drums are heard in Port Royale, the main building. An incredible pool is here; part of it shaped like a fort with cannons that actually fire little bursts of water. Very Low priced (Lowest is approximately. $95 per night). For this resort I recommend a rental car since it is quite a distance from most of the parks. Unfortunately the only place to get food at this resort is at Port Royale; pizza, and food court style food. No "sit down" restaurants. Internal Bus route (does not leave the resort). Bike, boat, etc. rental. 2,112 rooms. Low Priced: $89 to $109. Suites: NONE The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts -Two separate resorts but right next to each other and both with similar themings. These resorts look like New England seaside resorts from the late 1880's. Features of the resorts include sand bottom pools, snorkeling, croquet lawn, and more. Indoor clambakes, and five other restaurants are here. The Yacht Club is more upscale as it is quite fancy. The Beach Club is more family oriented as there is a "Goofy Breakfast" here. Both resorts share a common building for convention space and the most incredible pool ever created by Disney Imagineers (includes: a sand bottom, whirl-pools, and slides). Boat service to EPCOT Center & Disney/MGM Studios is available. 54,000 square feet of convention space is also here. Yacht: 635 rooms, Beach: 584 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced: $205 to $370. Suites: $390 to $620. The Dolphin and the Swan - Both hotels (Both near the Yacht and Beach clubs) were built by Disney but are run by separate companies. The Swan is operated by Westin and The Dolphin is operated by Sheraton. These are upscale hotels with conference halls for big conventions. A 6,500 square foot convention center is here along with a 505 seat theater. Boat service to EPCOT Center and the Disney/MGM Studios is available. Dolphin: 758 rooms, Swan: 758 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced: $185 to $375. Suites: $310 to $2,750. DISNEY VILLAGE RESORT AREA Dixie-Landings Resort - This resort takes on the theme of the time when paddlewheel boats cruised the Mississippi. Nature surrounds the resort, complete with ponds and natural shrubbery. The theming here is excellent, and the majority of the time you will not remember that your are staying at a "low priced" resort. There are two types of buildings that you can stay in: three story plantation homes, or two story bayou buildings. Boatwright's Cafe serves up the cuisine, a large food court accompanies it, and Boatwright's has an excellent selection of mild Creole and Cajun food. Boat Rental available. 2,048 rooms. Low Priced: $94 to $119. Suites: NONE Port Orleans Resort - Are you ready for Mardi Gras? Than this resort is for you! Resembling the streets of New Orleans the gras atmosphere surrounds you. Eat at Cafe Bonfamiles and listen to the jazz, or relax in the Mardi-Gras pool where the tongue of a dragon is the slide! Sit down restaurant, and food court style eating. Spas, marketplace dining, and cobblestone streets are also found here. 1,008 rooms. Low Priced: $94 to $119. Suites: NONE Disney Vacation Club Resort - How would you like to own a part of the Disney Magic? At the Vacation Club you can do just that. A time share system has been set up and by paying a one time fee, plus annual dues you may use your 'points' to stay at the Vacation Club, or hundreds of other resorts around the world. Save two years worth of points and take an extended vacation, or borrow from next years points. However time sharing is not the only way to stay at the Vacation Club as the villas may be rented out for a regular vacation. The villas are designed in a Key West style of architecture, complete with pastel colored buildings. One, two or three bedroom villas (sleeping from four to twelve) include the following: washer and dryer, fully equipped kitchen, Hi-Fi VCR, one 32 inch TV and 2-3 26 inch, two showers, whirlpool tub, wall safes and a patio. Boat, bike, shuffle board and other rentals are available. Pool with light house sauna and an excellent children's play area. Excellent food at Olivia's. Moderately to High Priced: $180 to $??? Suites: $???? Disney Village Resort - Many different types of townhouses can be yours for the duration of your stay. The famous Treehouse Villas are set in the woods and offer privacy. Other villas include One-and-Two Bedroom Villas (formally the Vacation Villas), Club suites (formally the Club Lake Villas), Two- Bedroom Villas (formally the Fairway Villas), and the Grand Vista Suites. Most villas are set on lakes or in the woods, and all of them are near golf courses. I recommend a car since most of these villas are quite a distance from the theme parks. Most villas have washing machines and dryers, along with full kitchens. Some sleep up to eight people. Great for large families. Boat rentals at the Village Marketplace. A rental car is a must unless you like buses. 576 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced: $185 to $360. Suites: $725 to $800. Hotel Plaza - While this is not exactly a resort, this area houses seven high-rise hotels which are on Disney property, but are not run by Disney. These hotels include: Buena Vista Palace, Grosvenor Resort, Travelodge Hotel, Guest Quarters Suite Resort, Hotel Royal Plaza, Howard Johnson Resort Hotel, and The Hilton. Take note that these hotels do not have bus service. Prices are usually in the moderate range. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART III ** Contacting WDW, Making ** Reservations, and Admissions ------------------------------ Contacting WDW is quite easy and they do their best to make the reservation process as easy as possible. Call the number: 1-407-W-DISNEY (1-407-934-7639) This number will connect you to central reservation and information line. Don't be discouraged if the phone isn't answered right away. Disney realizes that it is not a toll-free number so a computer puts the calls in order and lets the phone ring instead of picking up and having you pay for the toll call. Be expected to let it ring up to 5-10 minutes during peak hours. Here are some helpful addresses and phone numbers that may come in handy. WDW Information WDW Central Reservations PO Box 10,040 PO Box 10,0100 Lake Buena Vista, FL Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 32830 Tel. 407-824-4321 Tel. 407-934-7639 407-W-DISNEY WDW Travel Company Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card PO Box 22094 P.O. Box 3850 Lake Buena Vista, FL Anaheim, CA 32830 92803-3850 Tel. 407-828-3255 Tel. 800-248-7833 There are many plans that one can obtain to go to Disney World. For first time travelers I recommend that you go through your local travel agent. Let them handle the rates, airline tickets etc, but you should pick out where you want to stay etc. Disney has so many packages its hard to find one that doesn't fit your lifestyle, and most can be customized to fit your needs. The most expensive is called the "World Adventure Plan". With this plan everything is paid for in advance (I mean everything!!). I have been on this plan three times and all three times it works out to approximately $1000 per day (for an entire family, not per person). Yes it sounds expensive but here is what is included in that price: All meals, breakfast lunch & dinner (You can order ANYTHING you want! (Lobster tails every night if you so choose!)); Admission to all three theme parks for 10 days; Admission to Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery Island etc. for the duration of your stay; All boat, golf, fishing, etc. rentals for the duration of your stay; Unlimited transportation; VIP service (I mean it too!); Gratuity on all meals; and a whole lot of fun!! The only items excluded are: souvenirs, snacks purchased at a stand, alcohol, sundries, etc. It is worth it if: You are very active and WILL rent boats, golf equipment etc.; Your party EATS A LOT!!; and you have the money to burn as most likely you will come out behind. It's a lot of fun though. Admissions ---------- The following section is intended to give you an idea of prices for admission to the theme parks and other attractions. There are two prices listed, GP (General Public) and MKCM (Magic Kingdom Club Member). If you are not a member of the Magic Kingdom Club then you will pay the General Public prices, otherwise be sure to have your club card with you when you purchase admission tickets. The difference may not seem that great, but if you figure after a family spends a week at WDW, the money saved adds up. For more information regarding the Magic Kingdom Club call: 1-800-248-7833 (2 year membership for $49, many benefits) NOTE: These prices are as of July, 1993 and are subject to change. Florida Sales tax is not figured into the price shown, "Child" ages are 3 through 9 years of age, and the monetary amounts shown are in U.S. Dollars. GP = General Public Prices MKCM = Magic Kingdom Club Member Prices THEME PARK ADMISSION PRICES --------------------------- Type of admission pass GP MKCM ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 day, one park admission Adult $ 35.00 $ 32.97 1 day, one park admission Child $ 27.00 $ 25.97 4 day, Super Pass Adult $125.00 $120.00 4 day, Super Pass Child $ 98.00 $ 93.00 5 day, Super Duper Pass Adult $170.00 $161.20 5 day, Super Duper Pass Child $135.00 $128.25 The 4 and 5 day passes allow the following for the allotted amount of time: 1. Unlimited admission to The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center and the Disney-MGM Studios. 2. Unlimited use of Disney transportation systems (Buses, Monorails, boats etc.) 3. 7 days admission to Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery Island and Pleasure Island from the first days use. If you buy a 4 or 5 day pass you can enter all three parks in one day (or just two). When you leave have your hand stamped (it is an invisible ink that only shows up under a blacklight, so don't worry about having ink on you if you are going out that night.) When you return to one of the parks just go through a gate that says "Same Day Re-entry" and be sure to have your admission ticket with you (along with your hand!!) Also available is what Disney calls the "Be Our Guest" pass. This pass is purchased when you make your reservations and it good for your entire length of stay. The prices for this type of pass are not set in stone, as they are reflective of the duration of your visit. Here are the admission prices for other parks and attractions within WDW. Again GP and MKCM prices are in effect, and be sure to take a look at the notes. OTHER ADMISSION PRICES Attraction/Park GP MKCM ----------------------------------------------------------------- Pleasure Island *See Note1* Adult/Child $13.95 $11.85 Typhoon Lagoon *See Note2* Adult $19.50 $18.50 Child $15.50 $14.75 River Country *See Note2* Adult $12.50 $12.00 Child $10.00 $ 9.35 Discovery Island *See Note2* Adult $ 8.00 $ 7.75 Child $ 4.50 $ 4.25 Note1 : Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a PARENT Note2 : Those under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an Adult If returning to Disney World is in your future plans or you are staying for more than 5 days, you might want to consider buying a season pass. The season pass entitles you to UNLIMITED admission to all three theme parks and unlimited transportation for one year (See below for admission prices and restrictions). Believe it or not the season pass is only $20 more than the 5 day pass!! Season Pass Price List ---------------------- GP MKCM New Pass (Good for 1 year) Adult $190.00 $184.00 Child $165.00 $164.00 Renewal (After 1st year only) Adult $170.00 Child $145.00 Amenities for Season Pass ------------------------- 1 year admission to River Country/Discover Island add $30.00 1 year admission to Pleasure Island add $26.00 1 year admission to Typhoon Lagoon add $60.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART IV ** Transportation ** ---------------- A. Getting to WDW from Orlando International Airport There are two ways of doing this: 1. Contacting Mears Motor Service. They will drive from the airport to your WDW Resort and back again. 2. Rent a car, which is what my family does. Which is best for you? Take a look at the next paragraph where I do some comparisons. First lets take a family of five, staying for 6 nights and 7 days. Now the charge for Mears Motor Service is approximately $23 per person, round trip. If this family elects to use Mears, the total cost will be $115 for service to and from the airport. That price does not include tips for baggage handling. Now lets compare this to the price for the rental of a mid size for one week. The average price per day for the car is $27, so this family would pay $189 (plus tax & gas). Now as you can see, Mears is defiantly the cheaper of the two, but Mears's shuttles run every half hour, and if someone on your shuttle is going to a different resort then you must go there too. Also, if you elect to take a car you are free to leave the grounds of WDW without using buses. Which should you use? Think about the needs of your family. If you know you are strictly staying in WDW for the entire duration of your stay, and you don't mind using Disney's transportation, use Mears. Choose according to your family's lifestyle. If you choose to rent a car, you must now get to WDW on your own. Driving to WDW could be a simple task, however, there is a lot of construction at the airport, which confuses the heck out of anyone driving a rental car in some place they are unfamiliar with. Of course the airport shuttles zooming by at MACH 2.3 really don't help, but that's another story. After you have claimed you luggage, (provided they have not been shipped off to Antarctica or something like that) do one of the following: get someone to put your baggage on a cart or carry you baggage downstairs to the rental car counters. Ask the agent at the rental car desk for a map of the area, they are free and they help a lot. After you get the keys to your car, have one member of your party go get the car. That person can drive the car right up to the doors and you can load your car right there. Now as you exit the parking garage, drive slowly, stop signs seem to pop out of nowhere. Be careful merging into the MACH 2.3 traffic on the road that goes around the airport. Follow the signs for Airport Exit/Orlando Area Attractions, it's not as easy as it seems, somehow you are in the right lane and the next sign tells you to go into the left! After you have exited the airport, (hopefully in one piece) follow the signs for the Bee-Line Expressway (528 WEST) towards Tampa. This can be confusing as the signs are not really that clear, and don't go east on 528 or you will eventually end up in Cocoa Beach. The turn off comes very quick after exiting the airport. WARNING: The Bee-Line Expressway is a Toll road. Bring quarters with you!! The tolls to I4 amount to $1.25 (yes, a $1.25 to go about 10 miles.) The first toll plaza is $.75, and the second is $.50. If you see a runway on the left side of the car at the first toll plaza you are headed in the right direction. Now while on 528, the speed limit is 65 mph, but there is a stretch where it jumps down to 55 mph. Obviously this is a speed trap for out-of-towners, so be careful. Look for the signs for Interstate 4 and exits for Walt Disney World resort, you want I4 South. The exit is kind of a right hand exit but you then curl around on a big banked left turn, and then merge into I4 traffic. After approximately 5-10 minutes on I4 you will start seeing signs for WDW. Now here comes the tricky part, follow this table for the correct I4 exit number: Destination Take Exit number Village resorts, Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island, 27 Hotel Plaza, and Typhoon Lagoon ALL OTHER RESORTS AND THEME PARKS 26B If you take exit 27 you will be put on 535 North. You will have to make a left turn onto Hotel Plaza Blvd., this road will take you directly to the Marketplace, from there follow the signs to your destination. If you take exit 26B you will be put on EPCOT Center Drive. Just follow the signs to your destination. But remember, know what resort area you are staying in. The signs on WDW property don't always list every resort name! (Please refer to part II, "Resorts", for more information). While travelling on I4 there will be a sign for the Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, and the Magic Kingdom Resorts. The exit number will be 25B for these destinations. Do NOT take this exit as it is a very round-about way and you will have to deal with day-trippers coming from Tampa. Disney does this to re-route traffic to avoid congestion on smaller roads. Now all of this may sound confusing but once you see a map you will see what I mean, as it all comes together. (If you have the map that is included with this book take a look at it and it will explain the route.) B. Travelling within Walt Disney World. The signs on Walt Disney World property are very plentiful, and it is hard to get lost. However many of the signs will list your resort area and not your specific resort name, so know your resort area!!! (Please refer to part II, "Resorts", for more information.) You will also notice that following the signs on WDW property is not necessarily the fastest route. (Again Disney does this to avoid congestion on smaller roads). I suggest that you pick-up a WDW map at your resort check-in desk. Study the map as this will insure that you get around WDW as fast as possible. Otherwise just follow the signs, It might look like you are out in the middle of nowhere, but you'll get there. Keep in mind, Disney property is twice the size of Manhattan! If you are confused by my directions, please pick up a WDW map at any resort or information center in WDW. There are plenty of buses running to every theme park, resort and area of the resort. The best way to get around WDW has to be the Monorail system. Unfortunately, the monorail system has not been expanded to include the majority of the resorts. Here are the stops for each monorail: *** MONORAIL ROUTES *** Resort Monorail: TTC, Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, The Magic Kingdom, and the Contemporary Resort. Magic Kingdom Monorail: TTC, and The Magic Kingdom. EPCOT Center Monorail: TTC, and EPCOT Center. The best way to get from EPCOT to The Magic Kingdom and back is via Monorail. Get on the monorail at EPCOT center and then get off at the next stop. This will be the TTC. From here you have two options: you can board the ferry and float across the lake or take another monorail. There are two choices for the 2nd monorail: the Resort monorail or the Magic Kingdom monorail. The Resort monorail will have short or no lines. You can only take this monorail if you are staying in a Disney owned resort. If you are staying at a Disney resort use your Resort ID card to board the resort monorail. The cards are now printed by computer with your name, resort, and room number (Sometimes stamped with "For Transportation Only" or "Not Valid for Charging"). Otherwise board the Magic Kingdom monorail. Your best bet to get to MGM Studios from your Disney Resort is via bus or by driving if you have a rental car. However, you are now able to take a boat from EPCOT, The Swan, The Dolphin, The Yacht Club, or The Beach Club to MGM. All buses and boats running in WDW have different colored triangles (referred to as flags) on the side of them for easy identification. One color: solid triangle. Two colors: the first is the background, the second a horizontal stripe. A "w/MK" or "w/EC" etc means those colors with the letters MK, EC, etc. in a circle in the center of the triangle. (I know this is confusing, but once you see a bus you will get it...) I take no responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided, so don't write a nasty letter to me saying how you never did get to the Magic Kingdom because you got on a bus that took you to PGA championship at the Palm golf course. Due to the fact that new resorts are constantly being opened, bus routes may be changed. Ask at your resort check-in desk for a bus-route card. This card lists the stops of all buses on WDW property. Here is a list of the bus routes and their stops. THE STOPS MAY NOT BE IN THE ORDER THAT THEY ARE MADE. For Acronyms please refer to the Glossary/Acronym List. *** BUS ROUTES *** As of July 1993 FLAG STOPS ---------------------------------------------- Blue - Ft. Wilderness, TTC Green - Disney Inn, Polynesian Village, TTC, MK (during park hours) Gold - Contemporary Resort, TTC, Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian Gold & Black - Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Disney Inn, w/STW Village, MGM, Pleasure Island (6pm-2am) Gold & Black - Contemporary Resort, Ft. Wilderness, MGM, w/STE Pleasure Island (6pm-2am) Blue & White - EPCOT Center, MGM w/EC Blue & White - TTC, MGM w/MK Red - TTC, EPCOT Center, Village Marketplace Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, EPCOT Center (Proper I.D. Required) Purple & Gold - EPCOT Resorts, MK w/MK Purple & Gold - EPCOT Resorts, Typhoon Lagoon, Village w/V Marketplace, Pleasure Island Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, MK w/MK Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, EPCOT Center w/EC Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, MGM w/ST Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, Village w/V Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, Typhoon Lagoon, w/V Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, Magic Kingdom w/MK Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, EPCOT Center w/EC Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, MGM w/ST Orange - Caribbean Beach Resort (internal circulation route) Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, Magic Kingdom w/MK Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, EPCOT Center w/EC Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, MGM w/ST Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, Typhoon w/V Lagoon, Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island Brown - Ft. Wilderness Internal Route (STC, All Trailer Loops, Camping Loops, Reception Outpost, Creakside Meadow) Silver - Ft. Wilderness Internal Route (STC, All Trailer Loops, Camping Loops, Reception Outpost, Creakside Meadow) Orange - Ft. Wilderness Internal Route (River Country, Day Guest Parking) *** Boat Routes *** FLAG STOPS --------------------------------------------- Gold - Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, MK Blue Contemporary Resort, Discovery Island, - Ft. Wilderness Green - Discovery Island, Ft. Wilderness, MK Take note, there are more boat routes than those listed. I will try to get more information for future revisions. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART V ** THE MAGIC KINGDOM ** ------------------- The Magic Kingdom is by far the most magical of all three theme parks. It takes up 98 acres but that is small compared to the amount of joy it creates in each and everyone of its visitors. The park is divided into seven major "lands" or areas with their own theme: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Mickey's Starland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Cast members (name for Disney Employees) in each land are dressed to match the theme of that land. The following is a description of each land the attractions one would find there -MAIN STREET USA- This is where one can do a lot of shopping, not to mention a little fun and a little eating on the side. The street is a recreation of the town Walt Disney grew up in and the buildings are built with a turn of the century style of architecture. There are a few attractions here: The Walt Disney World Railroad, which I recommend riding when you are tired of walking and need a break; an arcade with vintage arcade games, and shops. Stop and have an ice cream cone and listen to the rag-piano, or cool off on a horse drawn trolley. -TOMORROWLAND- Tomorrowland now looks more like "Yesterdayland", as it was built with a 1950's view of tomorrow. Despite the fact that it needs to be updated to today's view of tomorrow, this section of the park houses some of the most popular attractions, and some of the more outdated ones. Lines form early in the day for Space Mountain, the Grand Prix Raceway, and the Starjets, and by mid-day are quite long. Hungry? Pick up a bite to eat at the "Lunch Pad" and then do a little shopping. The facelift for Tommorowland should begin soon with replacement rides for Carousel of Progress, and Mission to Mars. @ * Space Mountain - A thrilling roller coaster ride in the dark. This ride is tame, but still not for the weak at heart. I have ridden it 4-5 times and I have enjoyed it every time. This ride is accompanied by long lines: ride it just prior to park closing, or right after the park opens and don't miss it if you like roller coasters. When you are riding you don't know what is going to happen next since there is no light except for the occasional meteor or galaxy going by. If the line is extended outside of the building you might want to wait, as there is plenty of room inside for quite a few people and chances are there will be a long wait. Also they let people into the queue area in groups so the line moves in big bunches. Overall any wait under one hour for the 2 minute and 38 second thrill is worth it. Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart problems, and those prone to motion sickness are advised not to participate. Children must be 44 inches or taller to ride. ****** SPOILER ****** There are actually two separate rides inside the mountain, one has quick dips while the other contains more high speed turns. When you are allowed to enter the actual queue area you have a choice to go to the left or right. The left side is more tame (the one with more turns), the right has more dips. * Carousel of Progress -This attraction, originally debuting at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York, was relocated to Disneyland in CA and then to Florida in 1971. It is an entertaining ride with a catchy song (you will be singing it after the ride!) that traces four generations of one family's progress through two centuries. Go on this ride if you are tired and hot, as it is a great place to relax and the wait is almost never longer than five to ten minutes. This ride contains a lot of older AA, and it is presented in a rotating theater!! Take note of the "present day" representation, as it is getting a tad outdated. 22 minutes. * Dream Flight - Presented by Delta Airlines. This cute ride about the history of flight replaced "If You Had Wings" which ran for almost 15 years. It is very short, but entertaining and is usually accompanied by no or short lines. Large screens overhead simulate landings, take offs etc. Some AA. The ride includes, scenes from Paris and Tokyo, 2-D cut outs, a "popup" book scene, a trip inside of a jet engine and more. 4.5 minutes. Mission to Mars - Outdated "simulator" (if you can call it that) where you "fly" to Mars. The theater has some neat effects (seats rumbling during launch, etc.) yet it is not very exciting for the older folks (13 years and up). However, it is a good place to cool off. Small amount of AA. Take note of how everything is outdated in this attraction such as the countdown timers and reel to reel flight recorders. Children will get a kick out of this attraction. Oh, be sure to give a nod to Mr. Johnson at the "preflight" briefing - -he looks just like the father in Carousel of Progress, hmmm... 12 minutes. This attraction is going to be removed in the near future to make way for Alien Encounter (a George Lucas attraction). * American Journeys - A 360 degree CircleVision film (the screen surrounds you!) all about America. Enjoyable and excellent sights of the USA are presented in this film. Including: The Statue of Liberty, the Colorado Rockies, Mystic Connecticut, Dodger Stadium, an impressive launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and more. Take note that there are NO seats in the theater but it is a great place to cool off. 21 minutes long. @ Grand Prix Raceway - A fun ride if you like don't mind long lines. You drive a miniature gasoline powered car around a 2,260 foot track at a blazing speed of 7mph! A great ride for kids to "drive" a car. Children under 52 inches are not allowed to drive but they can participate if accompanied by a older person. Children one year and older may participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Approximately 4 minutes long. @ Star Jets - A simple rule for this ride is: Skip it! Not very exciting and there is almost always a 1/2 hour or more wait. It is no more than on of those carnival rides with the hydraulic arms that lift the "spaceships" off the ground. VERY similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Fantasyland. 1.5 minutes. * WEDWAY People Mover - A fun and relaxing ride on "futuristic" trains powered by linear induction motors. They ride above Tomorrowland and go into other attractions and shops. If you have any doubts about riding Space Mountain, ride this first as it will take you into Space Mountain and you will be able to see what it is like. Look for the "spaceships" circling above and to the right (if you are travelling forward). Other sights on this ride include: a look at Dream Flight and some shops; and a view of Walt Disney's model of what EPCOT was supposed to look like. (When the narrator says "This is what a future city could be like" the train will slow down and left side you will see the model (if you are travelling forward), it is inside a dark tunnel. 10 minutes. -ADVENTURELAND- This land has some of the best rides in the Magic Kingdom, including some shops where you can buy unusual souvenirs (pirate hats, pirate cap guns, rubber spiders, etc.). The buildings are of Caribbean and Polynesian style. You also can have your picture taken as a pirate or relax and listen to the steel band music! The Enchanted Tiki Birds - An interesting but tame attraction in which AA birds serenade the audience with quite a few songs which will leave you smiling. There are a few surprises, such as: are those totem poles real? I won't say any more... (Don't go in it twice in one trip, you will get bored with it (at least I did!)). 15.5 minutes. * Pirates of the Caribbean - Probably the best AA attraction in the Magic Kingdom. This is a boat ride that takes you along on a pirates' raid on a Caribbean island. A truly amazing ride that will leave you singing the theme song. There is a small log flume drop in the beginning, but nothing to be scared about. It is a truly a great ride! Don't miss it! When you are about to go on this ride, go into the LEFT line, as it is ALWAYS shorter. It seems as though the right queue line was constructed to be much shorter than the right hand side... 7.5 minutes. ******** SPOILER ******** In the beginning of the ride there is a small log flume drop. You don't get wet, but some passengers don't expect it at all. When you see the skeleton navigating the ship on the left prepare to head downward! @ * Jungle Cruise - This is a good 10 minute boat ride where you ride through the African jungle along with your witty boat captain. Encountered along the way are: Elephant bathing areas, hippos, gorillas, snakes, large waterfalls, and more. An enjoyable and entertaining ride, loaded with AA. Kids love this ride! Beware, the waiting lines are longer than they look. Go just before the park closes, or right after it opens. Oh, and be sure to give a nod to the shrunken head salesman at the end of the ride! 9 minutes. Swiss Family Treehouse - This outdoor attraction is a recreation of the treehouse from the Disney movie entitled 'The Swiss Family Robinson'. Climbing stairs is involved here, so those who hate stairs beware. Despite the stairs, the tree (which is artificial and has 80,00 vinyl leaves) has many interesting and ingenious inventions that the family 'devised' during their stay. This attraction does not have handicap access due to the amount of climbing involved. Set your own pace, but allow for 10-15 minutes, depending on the crowds. -FRONTIERLAND- This land takes a look at the Old West of the USA. Many of the attractions are fun and enjoyable. As always shops and places to eat can also be found here. At certain times during the day cast members dressed up as outlaws, deputies, etc will roam the streets for a shoot out. * Country Bear Jamboree - A great show where AA bears sing a wide assortment of songs. The songs have funny lyrics, and the show is altogether fun and entertaining. Big Al sings his famous song called "Blood on the Saddle" and his guitar needs to be tuned. Sometimes the show is changed to feature a vacation theme: it is called the Vacation Hoedown, and the songs are changed. I have also heard of a Christmas show although I have never seen it. Don't be discouraged by long lines, they move at once when the show lets out. Be sure to give a nod to Melvin, Buff, and Max on your way out. 15 minutes. Tom Sawyer Island - Here kids of all ages can experience a playground with barrel bridges, Fort Sam Clemens, and more. Food and restrooms are also available on the island. It's Huck Finn country here! Adults, relax and get a bite to eat while the kids play. Take note: to get to the island you must take raft. The dock for the raft is between Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. Take note, the island closes at dusk. @ * Splash Mountain - This is the same ride as the one in Disneyland in CA but it has been redesigned for a bigger thrill. It follows the adventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends from the Disney movie "Song of the South". Brer Rabbit decides to leave his house and move on, but Brer Fox and Brer Bear follow him and eventually try to throw him (er, you) into the Briar Patch. At the end of the ride you are treated to a 47 degree log flume drop down Chickapin Hill! Even if you don't like log flumes try not to miss this one, the last drop looks worse that it actually is. 9 minutes long. Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart problems, and those prone to motion sickness are advised not to participate. Children must be at least 3 years old and 44 inches or taller to ride. ********* SPOILER ********* There are three major drops in Splash Mountain. The first is after you exit the 2nd lift hill and you are outside at this point. The 2nd is inside, you will see signs pointing to the "Laughing Place". Right before the 2nd drop Brer Rabbit is in a hole in a tree above your log. The 2nd drop goes down, and then back up. The 3rd drop is the largest: 52 feet, 47 degrees, 40 mph, and you know when that is coming! It is incredible! * Walt Disney World Railroad - Located between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, this station is yet another place where you can board the WDW Railroad. Take note you can see the final scene from Splash Mountain by boarding the train at Main Street U.S.A. 19 minutes (round trip). @ * Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - This is another great roller coaster. It's a lot of fun, but again it's not for the weak at heart. If you are unsure walk up to the exit of the ride, where you can see the "runaway" mine trains going around the track. Go on this ride during the parades, fireworks, or at the end or beginning of the day as it is a very popular ride. There are terrific sights inside the "caves" where the train goes. If you are still shaky about whether or not to go on it, try the ride at night, when it becomes much tamer than it is during the day. Just a note of warning: 3.5 minutes. Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart problems, and those prone to motion sickness are advised not to participate. Children must be 42 inches or taller to ride. ********* SPOILER ********** The worst drop on the ride is after the 2nd lift hill (the lift hill is the device that brings you to the top (real noisy)), after a long left spiral turn the train will straighten out for a bit, and then all of a sudden, down you go!! -LIBERTY SQUARE- This land represents colonial USA. There are some interesting shops here along with a 130 year old oak tree. Shops and places to eat are also here (You think Disney would create part of the park with out food and merchandise stops??). The Hall of Presidents - Not a thrilling attraction, but informative and educational. The show takes place in a theater and it is quite boring for the most part. The show starts with a film describing how important the Constitution is to Americans. The good part of the show is the roll call of all 42 presidents of the United States (Including Bill Clinton). The AA figures are incredibly lifelike. Then Abraham Lincoln stands up and talks. Not incredibly thrilling, but a good place to cool off. Not for kids under 10, as it will bore them to death (unless they really fully understand what the Constitution is and what it means to us as Americans). 22 minutes. Liberty Square Riverboat - This is a neat ride on a recreated Mississippi Riverboat. It has some great scenery including "injuns", a cabin fire, and more. It's a nice way to relax on the Rivers of America and see exactly what Mark Twain was writing about. 24 minutes. * Haunted Mansion - This is not as scary as it sounds; in fact, it is actually quite humorous. During your journey through the house you meet up with 999 happy haunts (and as the ride says there is always room for one more! You may just be it...). The lines are usually short and it is worthwhile to ride it. Contains AA. Lots of fun! Small children might be scared however. Is the ceiling going up, or is the floor going down?? Oh and one more thing, watch out for hitchhiking ghosts, they always wind up sitting next to me... (You'll see what I mean..) 8.5 minutes. Mike Fink Keel Boats - Ride down the Rivers of America in Davy Crockett style. These small boats (each seating about 40), will take you on a more personalized tour of the Rivers of America. Take note: the Keel Boats close at dusk. -MICKEY'S STARLAND- This used to be Mickey's Birthdayland, but it was changed when Mickey's 60th birthday party was over. It is now called Mickey's Starland but overall it is still geared toward very young kids as it was before. Petting Zoo - Pet the farm animals. See Minnie Moo, the cow with the Mickey Mouse ears on its side. Mickey's house - Take a look at this (it's pretty cute). + Other Items, such as meet the characters from The Disney afternoon etc. (In the back.) Duckburg U.S.A. - A recreation of Uncle Scrooge's town. * Walt Disney World Railroad - Yet another place to grab the train. -FANTASYLAND- This is where you will find most of the smaller kids and their parents on the rides. Most of the rides here are simple and short, yet interesting and fun. Shops and places to eat are also here (There are a lot of places to eat and buy things, have you noticed that?). * Magic Journeys - A 20 minute film with incredible 3- dimensional effects. The objects come right out of the screen and in front of your face!!! Don't miss it. It does not have long lines and you get to see a 3-D Donald Duck cartoon before the actual film. The film, called Working for Peanuts is the only Disney cartoon ever made in 3-D, and it starts Donald Duck, and Chip and Dale. The actual "feature film" for the attraction has a somewhat corny storyline at times it seems abstract, but overall it is worth it to sit down and enjoy the effects... Most people miss this attraction due to its low publicity. Oh yeah, it's also Air- Conditioned!!! 24 minutes. Skyway to Tomorrowland - This is your typical skyway cable ride. If you don't feel like walking to Tomorrowland then take this. The lines are usually much shorter at Tomorrowland. By taking this ride you get so see some of the not so impressive sights of WDW, such as the rooftops and the building that houses 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This attraction closes when the wind starts blowing hard, or when a Florida storm is brewing. 5 minutes. * It's a Small World - Presented by Mattel. A very cute and entertaining boat ride where AA dolls from all over the world sing a song that you will never forget. In fact, you'll probably be singing it for weeks! Includes AA. A relaxing and cooling ride. The premise for this ride came from the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York. The lines for this ride are usually minimal, especially at night. 10.5 minutes. Snow White's Scary Adventures - Don't be misled by the name of the ride as it's a cute ride, nothing spectacular yet it's not that scary at all. Its more and less like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride but with a Snow White theme. The witch keeps popping out at you and trying to "scare" you and make you eat that famous apple. At the end you get "hit" on the head by a large diamond and the effects are simple but done quite well. 2.5 minutes. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Actually it's not that wild as it is geared for kids. Throughout the rides it always looks like you are going to crash into something, but that's part of the fun. After taking a wrong turn, you seem to be in a tunnel with a train coming right at you, or heading for some crates full of TNT! Small children will enjoy this attraction and most of them exit laughing! Even adults will find themselves yelling and waving their hands at the zany things that pass them on their journey. 2 minutes. Peter Pan's Flight - A cute ride about Peter Pan, where you "fly" in Hook's boat (via overhead tracks) looking down on London (very well done), Captain Hook and other scenes from the movie. Many people enjoy this ride as it is quite tame. Includes AA. 3 minutes. @ * 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - A submarine ride based on the movie where you will "descend" 20,000 leagues under the sea (actually you never go under, yet the bubbles make for a convincing sight) to find sharks, the lost city of Atlantis, sea serpents, mermaids, and more (all artificial). The effects on this ride are not that incredible, but it is one of the most popular so watch out, the lines for this ride are LONG!! Take note: if you look carefully you'll be able to see the thin cables suspending some of the fish. 8.5 minutes. * Cinderella's Castle - Not really an attraction per se, but it's a great background for pictures. Inside there is a 6-7 panel tile mosaic with gold inlay that depicts the story of Cinderella. It also houses the restaurant King Stephens Banquet Hall. More inspiring than the castle in Disneyland, this castle has something magical about it when you look at it, and the architecture is astonishing... Mad Tea Party - Spin yourself dizzy in those famous teacups from Alice in Wonderland. You don't have to go fast if you don't want to. This ride is nothing exciting, but if you want to go on it you must fight with crowds, as it is surprisingly popular. I must say though, after riding this you become somewhat disoriented and dizzy. 1.5 minutes. Golden Carousel - Your typical theme park carousel, yet this one has something magical about it. Originally from Olympic Park in New Jersey, it was restored to an incredibly dazzling condition by WDW workers. Take note that everyone gets to ride a white horse on this carousel. 2 minutes. Dumbo, the Flying Elephant - Just like the StarJets in Tomorowland (including the long lines). This is extremely popular with the younger kids (as the StarJets are popular with the older kids). This ride is going to be renovated in the near future. The renovation will not only improve the look of the ride but it will increase it's passenger/hour ratio. (They are increasing the # of Dumbo's from 10 to 16). The same ride in Disneyland has recently gone under the same renovation process. 1.5 minutes. ----------------------------------------- EXTRA SHOWS IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM Check the information centers for EXACT times. After you see the shows once, take advantage of the crowds not trying to get on the rides. Most of the waiting times for most rides are cut more than 80% during parades and fireworks. Daily Parade - Usually around 3pm. See it once and then take advantage of it on your next visit to the park. The parade has huge cold air balloons of famous Disney characters and is set to a Mardi-Gras theme. SPECTRO-MAGIC - This new show replaced the old Main Street Electrical Parade which was shipped to Euro- Disneyland. This parade uses fiber-optic, prismatic, holographic, and electro-luminescent technologies. Clouds of underlit liquid nitrogen accompany the good old twinkle lights. Truly an incredible parade with great music and super effects. DON'T MISS IT. (The parade might not be running during the 'off' season. Check information centers for info.) During the summer the parade runs twice daily: 9pm and then again at 11pm. Fantasy in the Skies (fireworks) - 10pm. Don't worry about this, as you can see it from almost anywhere in the park. The Grand Floridian resort, The Polynesian Resort, and the Contemporary Resort are all good places to watch the fireworks. Personally I enjoy the Polynesian, grab a chair on the beach and look straight across the lagoon. There are only fireworks when the Magic Kingdom is open until 10pm or later. Other Shows - Check at Town Hall for information on this topic. Shows change quite frequently and are held at various places inside the Magic Kingdom such as the Tomorrowland Theater ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART VI ** EPCOT CENTER ** -------------- EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow) Center is divided into two major areas: Future World and World Showcase. In each of the two areas are pavilions about certain topics and countries. NOTE: Most of the rides in EPCOT Center use a continuous train, so people are always boarding the ride and the lines move rather quickly. The majority of the rides in Future World can be ridden during midday with average waiting times, however if you don't want to wait, go on the rides at night during Illuminations (the Laser Light show), or stay until the park closes; the lines get extremely short about 2 hours before closing. -FUTURE WORLD- Future world has 8 main pavilions, each with its own theme. Some pavilions have attractions within them. * Spaceship Earth - This ride (which is actually inside the big silver sphere!!) traces the history of communication and is one of the best rides in EPCOT. Don't miss it! See all sorts of sights such as the Sistine ceiling, Rome after it fell, King Tut, the telegraph, television, today's technology and the technology of Tomorrow's Child. The climax is when you reach the top of the geo-sphere and encounter a breathtaking view of the stars. This is by far one of the most incredible planetariums I have seen. Then you descend and listen to the song Tomorrow's Child. Narrated by Walter Cronkite. Presented by AT&T. 16 minutes. Take note, Spaceship Earth will be going through some major renovations very soon. It is expected that the attraction could be close for up to six months. * The Living Seas - This attraction is a walk through as well as a ride. First there is a brief preview, then you see a very informative (but loud) movie about the oceans. After that you descend in a "Hydrolator" to Sea Base Alpha and ride through part of the coral reef environment in your Sea-Cab. Next you are free to walk around Sea Base Alpha and try on a diving suit, see the manatees, learn about all sorts of marine life, and more. It's a lot of fun, and much can be learned here about the undersea world. Oh don't forget to Ascend in your "Hydrolator", or then again, just use the door next to them... Presented by United Technologies. About 12 minutes of movies, a three minute sea-cab ride, after that you set your own pace. but allow 30-45 minutes minimum. * The Land - This pavilion actually has 3 attractions in it along with a revolving restaurant and a food court. Presented by Nestle (formally Kraft). Take note: The Land will be going through some major changes in the next few months. Some attractions or areas may be close for renovation. * Listen to the Land - This is a boat ride through the gardens, ecosystems, and future agriculture that EPCOT houses. First the boat tour takes you through the prairies, the desert, a rain forest and then a farm. Next some pictures depict farming, after that you enter the are where they actually grow plants. See lettuce growing in styrofoam, plants hanging in mid-air, bananas growing next to rice right next to cacao. Most of the food grown here is served in WDW restaurants. The boat continues along and enters a fish hatchery where bass, shrimp and other marine life are being bred. Overall the ride is excellent. Some AA, 12 minutes. * Kitchen Kabaret - This theater show explains the 4 basic food groups and how good nutrition is essential in life. Presented in a slight comical way the show can crack a smile on anyone. Bread, Ham, Eggs, Milk and others sing to you about health with your AA host Bonnie Appetite. A lot of AA. 13 minutes. (This attraction will soon be changed. The new show will be called "Food Rocks") Symbiosis - A 19 minute film about agriculture and farming. Not my favorite, yet informative. 18.5 minutes. Also in this pavilion are two places to eat: The Land Bar Grille Room (a rotating sit-down restaurant) and a marketplace type food court with all sorts of goodies ranging from bread to frozen yogurt. * Journey Into Imagination - 3 attractions. Presented by Kodak. * Journey Into Imagination Ride - A ride about your imagination and where it can take you. There are some really interesting things to see in this attraction including: lasers, fiber optics and a surprise! Ride with Dreamfinder and his helper Figment (a purple childish dragon) through the world of imagination. 13 minutes. ******* SPOILER ******** When you see a white light flashing ahead in the ride, smile!! Your picture will be taken and shown at the end of the ride. * The Image Works - A futuristic playground where you can conduct an orchestra, star in a movie, play with sounds, lasers, pinboards, sound effects, a neon tunnel, electronic coloring books, and more. There is also an interesting area where a computer takes your picture, and you then can add big lips, ears, a new hair style and glasses to your face! Very imaginative and loads of fun for all ages! (Even my grandfather was "playing"!!) One interesting note, in the room were you step on the floor to make sounds, the last cluster of lights, if stepped on in the right order, will reproduce the famous 5 notes from Close Encounters. *** Captain EO - Another 3-D movie (the other one is in the Magic Kingdom) that is absolutely incredible! Try not to miss it! The movie stars Michael Jackson as Captain EO. He and his puppet friends must turn an ugly evil leader into a beautiful princess through music, lights, and 3-D! Lasers shoot throughout the theater along with flashing lights and smoke machines that make the entire movie quite an experience. There is also some pre-show entertainment: A slide show with music that keeps the audiences eyes on the screen. (Can you name the man who sings the songs in the preshow?? It's Bob from Sesame Street!) Preshow: 8 min, movie: 17 minutes. (This film is going to be replaced by a movie themed after Honey I Shrunk the Kids) * World of Motion - 2 excellent attractions are found here. Presented by General Motors * World of Motion Ride - This ride presents mankind's progress in his quest for better means of transportation. Starting off with our feet the attraction eventually leads up to the future of transportation. See the wheel being invented, a train being held up, a "small" automobile accident, planes from the Golden Age of aviation, and the future of transportation. There are also some great tunnel like movie theaters where you are put in the action (Such as a bobsled, an airplane etc.) The last scene, which shows what a city may look like some day, leaves most visitors in awe as it is beautiful. A lot of AA make this ride exceptional. Don't miss it, it's worth any wait. 14.5 minutes. ******* SPOILER ******** Right after the last scene (which is the futuristic city) you will be put in a car of the future via holograms. It is a very convincing effect, despite the fact that you can put your hands through the car. Transcenter - Here you can see the cars and transportation of today and the future. Actual working prototype cars are on display here, along with a mock up of a wind tunnel, a demonstration of the mag-lev train, and more. There are also a few short shows including the Bird and the Robot (very funny and entertaining), and The Water Engine. You can also look at and sit in the newest GM models. * Horizons - This ride looks at 3 aspects of the future: Desert, Space and Sea. Supposedly you are boarding some sort of craft that will show you the future. The attraction begins by looking at views of future from the past, including Jules Verne's idea of space travel. Next you are treated to two huge 3 story movie screens that present the "building blocks" of the future (includes: the city, DNA, crystals and more). The effects from the films are quite deceiving and at times you feel like you are flying. Next up you are shown many different scenes of what future life might be like in the desert, under the sea, or out in space At the end of the ride you are given the option to choose which way you would like to return (via desert, space or sea), and you are then shown a 30 second film that "takes" you back. Don't miss it!! This attraction has lots of AA and is one not to be missed! Formally presented by General Electric, no new sponsor yet. 15 minutes. (This attraction, although a favorite may be torn down to make way for a new space pavilion) * Wonders of Life - This 100,000 square foot gold colored dome situated between Horizons and Universe of Energy houses three main attractions, and many smaller ones. All attractions have a health/body theme to them, and the general message is good health. Presented by Metropolitan Life. * Body Wars - A flight simulator ride through the human body. Here you are "shrunk" down in size while in your vehicle and you are the injected into the human body. Supposedly you are to pick up a Dr. who is in one of the blood streams taking some measurements on a wound. When an emergency occurs however, your tour becomes more then just for sightseeing. The entire 40 seat theater bucks and pivots to the movie. Very good but too short. 6 minutes. Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart problems, and those prone to motion sickness are advised not to participate. Children must be at least 3 years old to ride with an adult, or 7 years old to ride alone. * Cranium Command - A very imaginative attraction where you look through the head of a 12 year old boy and see his thought processes. Includes such stars as Bobcat Goldwaith, Hans & Frans from SNL, Norm from Cheers, John Lovitz, and a cute story line. Try not to miss it, as it is worth a few laughs and it is presented extremely well. The preshow entertainment should be seen to set up the plot of the attraction. Includes AA. 13 minutes. The Making of Me - Dramatic micro-photogrophy explains the reproduction cycle from fertilization to birth. This attraction had the longest wait in all of Disney World. Some people may not want their children to see such material. A sign explains what this attraction is about. It is up to your discretion to see it or not. Surrounding the attractions are many other "mini" attractions such as: Sports Goofy, a Sports analyzer, a health bar and more. * Universe of Energy - This ride, which is interesting to those who want to learn, is about energy. The preshow area is presented on a screen that has rotating parts. Next you sit down in the "theater" to watch a film. The "theater" then splits up as the seats become vehicles that take you back millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs (which are AA) are quite realistic. Soon you travel back to present day to see another film which is a very informative look at the diminishing supply of energy on the planet earth. From the monorail you will notice solar cells on the roof of the building. They harness the suns rays and provide some of the power to run the attraction. Presented by Exxon. NOTE: Due to the recent 'Dinosaur revival' (From the release of Jurassic Park) this attraction may become more crowded in 1993 as kids want to see dinosaurs. Plan accordingly. 26.5 minutes. SPACE PAVILION - PLANS COMPLETE, NO WORD YET ON WHEN CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN. There are 2 other small pavilions in EPCOT Center: Communicore East and West - These smaller pavilions have computers and other electronic gadgets to play with, as well as places to eat and shop. Communicore East also hosts Backstage Magic. This is a look at the computers that run EPCOT Center. * I will be updating this section on communicore in the next * * revision of the book. Sorry for any inconvenience * -WORLD SHOWCASE- World Showcase depicts 11 countries from around the world. Some of them have attractions, while others do not. They all have restaurants where you can sample authentic food from that country. The people who work in these pavilions are from the countries that they represent and each pavilion has shops where you can buy authentic merchandise from that country. The countries are listed in a counter clockwise direction around the EPCOT Lagoon (Except for Russia). Canada - This country is depicted by a 360 degree Circle Vision film, two shops and a cafeteria style restaurant called Le Cellier. The movie, named O' Canada, displays the life of the people in Canada. Some of the most impressive sights are in this film; skiing down slopes, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, ice hockey, and part of the Canadian air force, all in 360 degrees! The castle like building in this pavilion was styled after Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. The two shops offer authentic French-Canadian gifts and souvenirs. In the shop called the Trading Post there are some audio animatronic animals that occasionally move and may even speak a bit. See ya en Canada, eh? (Duration of film: 18 minutes). * United Kingdom - This pavilion recreates an English town; complete with a tea shop and a pub. The Rose and Crown Pub offers traditional English cooking, I recommend the seafood medley (broiled scallops, shrimp and muscles) as an appetizer and the Fish N' Chips with malt vinegar for the main course. The lamb chops are also very good. The Pub also offers many other dishes, dark beer, and ale. The shops include The Toy Soldier (toy shop), tea shop, and... A few times a day the English Players present a hilarious street play based in Shakespeare's time. This play would not be complete with out the help from the audience though! Have a jolly good time old chap!! France - A miniature Eiffel Tower sets the mood for France. A few restaurants offer up the traditional French cuisine complete with escargot and crepes. To cool off go inside and see the movie. A very elegant theater (complete with a crystal chandelier and velvet curtains) depicts France on a 180 degree screen. The film is very well done. Other shops are here where you can purchase all sorts of French merchandise. Bon Appetite! (Duration of film: 18 minutes). Morocco - The prayer tower Koutoubia Minaret dominates this country's representation. In the front of the pavilion an impressive irrigation system waters the flowers, be sure to take a look at it. In the Gallery of Arts and History one can view exhibits on Moroccan culture. Hungry? If so stop off at Marrakesh where you can have an authentic Moroccan meal complete with belly dancers for entertainment. Many shops at this pavilion offer up a wide variety of merchandise including: carpets, jewelry, clothing, bamboo furniture and off course a fez. Japan - Excellent food, shops and entertainment can be found in the Japan pavilion. If you are in the courtyard area of the pavilion, keep your eye out for the man who sculpts candy. I am not kidding either, it's pretty neat and his show is quite humorous. A performing drum troupe can also be found in the courtyard. The Japanese gardens are authentically reproduced and I highly recommend a walk through them. The restaurants and snack bars serve up traditional Japanese cuisine. In one restaurant the chef cooks on your table and puts on a small comical routine. Towards the back of the pavilion you will notice the gates to the Emperor's palace. These will be used as an entrance to the new roller coaster ride that is still in the planning stages. (See the 'In the Future' section for more information on this topic). There is a large shop here, and there is usually some sort of ongoing art display. Soyonara! * U.S.A. - Here you can get the traditional hot dog and soda. But chowing down is not the only thing to do here. The attraction, called The American Adventure, is one of the most impressive in World Showcase. This 29 minute presentation shows the most important parts in the history of the United States. Moments recreated include: the Pilgrims, Valley Forge, The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, World War II, and more. Overall the show is the most emotional of all the attractions in WDW, the final scene will choke up even the hardest hearts, as everyone leaves the theater with a feeling of American pride. Also, not one of the people on stage are real!!! They are all AA. Please don't miss this one. See ya later! Presented by The Coca-Cola Company and American Express. (Duration of attraction: 29 minutes). Italy - The reproduction of Venice's Doge's Palace marks this pavilion. Here in an open air market all sorts of goodies can be found ranging from Italian chocolates and leather goods, to lead crystal bowels and earrings. The restaurant here, L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, serves up an incredible meal. All pasta is made on the premise and is bound to satisfy any Italian appetite. If your not hungry look through the windows and watch the chefs make the pasta. In the mood for a little comedy? Hang around the street for a bit and soon enough "Il Teatro de Bologna" (translation: Bologna Theater) will come out and entertain you with they're comical plays. Beware, you may become part of the play! Germany - Bloatworst, Beer and a Teddy Bear is what you will find here. The food is quite authentic and you will leave the restaurant feeling a bit stuffed. There are some excellent shops including (my favorite) Der Teddy Bear. This is a toy shop that sells (you guessed it) Teddy Bears, Playmobile, LGB Model Trains and more. There is also a cart out front the pavilion that sells German lead crystal items, some of which are beautiful. China - Go back to the days of the Ming Dynasty when you visit Disney's recreation of China. Beautiful architecture is found throughout the entire pavilion. There is an excellent 360 degree circle vision film which gives a great overview of the country. The food here is exceptional and they have the best egg rolls I have ever had. (Duration of film: 19 minutes). @ * Norway - Try not to miss the ride Maelstrom at this pavilion! It is a ride in a Viking boat through the rough Norwegian seas. With a few surprises!! -But very short. The ride does move you backwards for a bit, and makes it look as if you are going to go over a cliff. Some folks might find this unnerving. Excellent cafeteria style and sit down food is available here along with shops selling miscellaneous items and a travel center (If you plan to visit). If the line for Maelstrom is outside the building you may want to wait. Disney imagineers have come up with an incredible way of herding people into an attraction and at times it can be quite deceiving! (Duration of ride: 14 minutes (5 minute ride & 9 minute movie). Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart problems, and those prone to motion sickness are advised not to participate, although it is quite tame. * Mexico - Almost the entire pavilion is enclosed in a large reproduction of a Mexican pyramid. This means that it is all air-conditioned!! Inside it is set up as a Mexican market at night. The ride called "El Rio del Tiempo" (Translated means: The River of Time) is here. This boat ride takes you through Mexico's past and present. Although the ride is depicted mainly by grainy rear-projection movies and parts of it get quite corny, this is an enjoyable and pleasant ride. The end has some of the best "imitation" firework effects I have ever seen. Mexican food is served on the bank of this "river". Many authentic Mexican gifts can be purchased here, ranging from sombreros to ponchos. In the entrance to the pavilion there is an ongoing display of Mexican art depicting the history of the country. (Duration of ride: 8.5 minutes). RUSSIA - PLANS COMPLETE, NO WORD YET ON WHEN CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN. I am putting a catchy phrase from that country at the end of each description. I need something for the following countries: Morocco, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, & Mexico. Please send me any suggestions. Thanks. Try to see all of the rides marked with an asterisk (*). Any rides that you miss during the day, go back and see during Illuminations. Extra Shows in EPCOT Center - Check the information centers for the time that the show starts. There is usually some sort of show presented in front of the American Pavilion sometime during midday. After you see the shows once, take advantage of the crowds not trying to get on the rides. As in the Magic Kingdom most of the waiting times for most rides are cut more than 70% during parades and fireworks. Illuminations - An incredible laser & fireworks show over the lagoon in EPCOT center. Each country around the lagoon is featured, one at a time, and they are lit up in small white lights. Don't miss it. But warning, crowds start lining up around the lagoon as early as 2 hours before the show starts!! The ultimate firework/laser show!!! There also may be some other shows on the lagoon in EPCOT center during midday, again check with information centers for times. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART VII ** DISNEY MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK ** ------------------------------- At this park you can see actual films being made, so the brochure says. Actually there is a minimal amount of shooting going on, but the park will give you an excellent idea of how movies are made. There are only a few attractions, but an entire day can easily be spent here. This park is much smaller than the other two, so it doesn't take many people to make it crowded and often they limit the amount of people inside the gates. The lines are bearable in the early morning hours (7-10am) and after 5pm. Despite its small size the studios will make you walk. Be prepared to be on your feet for most of the day. Not just for waiting, but some tours last an hour and you are on your feet for the whole time. @ * The Great Movie Ride - This ride contains some of the most sophisticated AA figures ever created and some of Hollywood's greatest films are featured here. It is a great attraction but the lines can get quite long during midday. Movies featured are Singing in the Rain, Casablanca, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, and The Wizard of Oz, just to name a few. The show features excellent special effects and an excellent but short film at the end that gives tribute to academy award winning movies. 19 minutes. @ * Backstage Studio Tour - This is a tram ride through the back lot of the studio. It features Catastrophe Canyon: a simulated rainstorm, earthquake, flash flood, and explosions all rolled into one. Other aspects of the tour include wardrobe, lighting, set design, and camera departments etc. Many props from movies can also be seen here, some include: the pod from Flight of the Navigator, and the Bulldog Cafe from The Rocketeer, the Trolley and a car from Who Framed Roger Rabbit and many more. On display for 1993 only is Walt Disney's private airplane. The tram also takes you down what is called the "residential" street. The facades of these 'houses' are used for outside shots in movies and tv shows. One house you may recognize is from the Golden Girls television series. After the tram ride your are dropped off by the New York street. Here you are free to walk through the "city". Approx. 40 minutes. @ * Inside The Magic: Special Effects and Production Tour - This tour, which lasts approximately 1 hour, shows how miniatures, blue mats, and other special effects are done in movies, as well as editing, audio recording, and final production. The highlight of the tour is where you are allowed to look at the three soundstages. Here you may see absolutely nothing, or you may actually see a set from a tv show. I have seen the sets for: Delta commercials, The New Mickey Mouse Club, and Wheel of Fortune. You never know what is in there! At the end of the tour a preview of new Disney/Touchstone movies is shown. Approximately 1 hour. @ * SuperStar Television - This is a great production where the audience actually takes part in a television broadcast. The audience can star on the Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson), Late Night with David Letterman, Cheers, I Love Lucy, NBC News from 1955, and you can even have a dry- wall nailing race with Tim Taylor on Home Improvement. Don't miss this one, it is hilarious and I guarantee it will leave you (at the very least) smiling. If you would like to take part in the production get to the front of the crowd in the pre-show area, this is were they pick out the people to use in the "production". RAISE YOUR HAND and you will have an excellent chance of being picked. If you do not want to take part on stage, stay outside of the pre-show area and lay low! 30 minutes. * The Magic of Disney Animation - Here you can take a tour and see how cartoons and full length animated features are created by Disney animators. See actual animation cells from Disney classics, and watch Disney artists work on current animation projects. If you are interested in art, I recommend taking this tour as it is very informative and interesting. The lines for this attraction are usually shorter than others. Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams are your "Video Hosts" through the tour. The two of them together present animation to you in a amusing way. You may set your own pace after the initial movie, but allow 30-40 minutes to see everything. * Monster Sound Show - Here you can learn how sound effects are added to a movie and how they can add suspense and excitement to a film. Of course this is done with the help of a few volunteers (should we call them volunteers?) from the audience. The sound effects are produced on the famous Foley stage, named after its creator. The outcome is quite humorous due to the fact that the volunteers are untrained tourists! The short movie stars Martin Short and Chevy Chase. The pre-show tv screens above the crowd show David Letterman interviewing Jimmie McDonald in a hilarious way. (Jimmie did the voice of Mickey after Walt died, and he also created many sound effect techniques for use in Disney Films). There is a post-show entertainment area for this attraction. Outside the theater you can get a chance to make some of your own sound effects using the some of techniques that were illustrated in the show. Add lasers to Star Wars films, or do a voice over to Who Framed Roger Rabbit. To relax a bit go into one of the sound booths. Here you will experience 3-D sound that puts you in the middle of the action. It's incredible! Beware however, this area is usually very crowed! 20 minutes. @ *** Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - All I can say is DON'T Miss it. This show demonstrates how stunts are part of movies by doing all kinds of different skits in the Indian Jones tradition. The famous plane scene from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is reenacted along with some other scenes from the movie. There are only a few shows a day, so get the times and decide when to see it. If you see a crowd forming, get in the line --chances are they know the starting time and they are getting a head start. If you can, sit near the middle top for the best view. After dusk the show is sometimes shortened: go during midday to see the entire show. Almost any seat in the outdoor theater provides an excellent view of the action. For the best view, sit towards the top and the center. This way you don't have to fight crowds when it is over, and you still have a good view. (Warning, this show is somewhat violent and very loud. Some small children may be frightened, (Although my little sisters enjoyed it!) use your own discretion.) 30 minutes. @ ** Star Tours - This is a flight simulator ride through rebel and imperial forces based on the movie Star Wars. You are supposed to be going to the planet Endor, but your "pilot" (An AA robot) does not really know how to fly this ship. It is his first flight and you are in for a bumpy ride after you some how get off course and eventually wind up at the Death Star! The entire 40 seat theater bucks and moves in time to the movie, creating a very good effect. You must be a certain height to ride this attraction. 7 minutes. Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart problems, and those prone to motion sickness are advised not to participate. Children must be at least 3 years old to ride with an adult, or 7 years old to ride alone. @ ** Muppet*Vision 4-D - Probably the best 3-D (er, 4-D) movie of all time. Incredible effects follow the humor of the crazy and lovable Muppets created by the late Jim Henson. Those two cranky critics (AA) start the show, and then the penguin orchestra (AA) strikes up a tune. The effects in this movie are almost 4-D: When Fozzy Bear squirts water at the audience you feel it, and bubbles come out of the ceiling when Miss Piggy sings "Dream a Little Dream." You know your in trouble when the Sweedish Chef is the projectionist!! The end is a real "BANG" when Sam the Eagle presents his "Salute to all Nations, but mostly America". (You'll see what I mean!). This attraction also contains a few live actors. Be sure not to miss the pre-show entertainment as it includes all your favorite Muppet characters including: Kermit, Gonzo, Beaker, Prof. Bunsen Honeydew and more! The Muppets on Location - Those lovable Muppets take to the stage two times a day in a hilarious presentation that will leave anyone smiling. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and Fozzy decide to make a movie, and you get to watch, and help them produce it. It features all your favorite Muppet characters. (people in costumes). * The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure - Here you can experience what it would be like to be shrunk down to a quarter of an inch in size. Truly a very imaginative playground. Included is the Kodak film slide, giant Legos, a HUGE Oreo cookie, a massive dog nose, a dripping garden hose and much more. "BIG" Fun for all ages. Try to see it, kids will LOVE it! Set your own pace but a minimum of 15-30 minutes is required, and maybe more with children. * Voyage of The Little Mermaid - This stage/puppet show incorporates live action, AA, puppets, lasers, holographic imaging and more to present the songs and other items from the classic animated movie. The presentation starts out as you "descend" into the ocean (hmm feels like water doesn't it...), then Sebastian and friends sing Under the Sea, and you are convinced you are under the sea. Next Ariel sings Part of Your World. The show goes on to follow the plot of the movie. Overall the show is done extremely well). If you have small children be sure not to miss this one!! Even the adults will love it! Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage - If you like the movie Beauty and the Beast then you better not miss this stage show. All your favorite characters from the academy award wining film are on hand to sing and dance to the movie's many songs. Some numbers include: Be Our Guest, Gaston, Kill the Beast, and of course Beauty and the Beast. The show follows the plot of the movie, and overall the show is something that shouldn't be missed. This show is extremely popular, and people start lining up for good seats approximately an hour and a half before curtain. Also, there are usually only 5-6 shows per day, plan accordingly. Studio Showcase - This building houses some of the sets and props used in television and movie productions. Currently on display are: items from Honey I Blew up the Baby, Johnny Carson's desk from The Tonight Show, the backpack from The Rocketeer, motorcycles from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and many more. A great place to cool off and see the movies from a different point of view. Hollywood Blvd. - (Main street at the entrance to MGM) Not an attraction per se. Stroll down the Hollywood of the 1930's. Here you can star in your own music video, make a movie, have your picture taken on the cover of a magazine, buy actual props from movies and more. Then eat at the Brown Derby. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Autograph Session - At certain times of the day you can have Rafael, Donatello, Michaelangelo and Leonardo sign your autograph books, or pose with you for pictures. Tom and Jerry Autograph Session - Tom and Jerry are also available for autographs and pictures at specified times. SUNSET BLVD. - UNDER CONSTRUCTION (For more information, please refer to the "In the Future" section.) TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR - UNDER CONSTRUCTION, 8 story free fall drop!! (originally 13 stories, but downgraded recently to 8). (For more information please refer to the "In the Future" section. Extra Shows at The Disney MGM Studios Aladdin's Royale Caravan Parade: This afternoon parade has many colorful floats and live actors that present Aladdin and his companions from the animated feature. Camels that 'spit' water, the Genie, Jaffar, and of course Aladdin and Jasmine are all part of the show. Presented daily at 11am and 3:30pm. Sorcery in the Skies: This laser and fireworks is presented nightly at MGM. The fireworks, choreographed to classical music and the music of Disney is spectacular. The finale includes a 4 story inflatable Mickey in his Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit comes out from behind Grummans Theater and ends the show. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART VIII ** NIGHT LIFE ** ------------ If you are staying in Disney World when the theme parks close around 8pm-9pm, don't fear!! The night is young at that time! Almost every resort offers some type of night activity. Personally, I enjoy going over to the Grand Floridian, sitting in the main building and listening to the band play. It plays every night around the same time. The Polynesian has a 6pm and 9pm luau every night. Reservations are required, but it is a lot of fun. The Contemporary Resort offers Broadway music with dinner (Broadway at the Top Dinner Show (Reservations required 30 days in advance)), The Outer Rim (a lounge, but they serve non-alcoholic drinks to those under 21, and they show Monday Night football, baseball etc.) and also WDW's largest arcade with the latest in arcade technology. Take at least one night go up to the 15th floor of the Contemporary resort. There is a breathtaking view of the Vacation Kingdom up there, along with a lounge; a great place to watch the fireworks. For the ultimate in night-life, go to Pleasure Island. People under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. There is a 10 theater movie house, The Comedy Warehouse, The Neon Armadillo (Country music), Rock 'N Roll Beach Club, The Adventurers Club, 8-Trax and much more. Some are night club types with dancing and music, others are comedy and music. Pleasure Island's motto is "New Year's Eve every night!!", and they mean it: fireworks and all!!! (For more information on Pleasure Island please see the section "Other Attractions"). ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART IX ** Dining ** -------- Now for a section on places to eat. Most restaurants in Disney World can be either be expensive or inexpensive, depending on what you order. I'll tell you about some of the restaurants that I have been to and enjoyed. Although, all the food in Disney World is great! Reservations are not required for all sit down restaurants, but they are highly recommended (not just by myself, but by Disney too). Disney offers and excellent pocket-sized guide on Dining and Shopping that I suggest you pick up. It gives a brief description of every restaurant in the vacation kingdom, and it tells you how to make reservations. The guide is available at most Disney resorts and theme parks. First, The Magic Kingdom does not offer many restaurants. I believe there are only a few places to sit down and have a dinner. But there are plenty of places to snack on hot dogs, hamburgers etc. For a sit down dinner try King Stephen's Banquet Hall located in Cinderella's Castle, Tony's Town Square Cafe and the Plaza Restaurant both located on Main Street U.S.A., or The Liberty Tree Tavern located in Liberty Square. A full service lunch/show (old west vaudeville type show) is available in Frontierland at the Diamond Horseshoe a few times daily (reservations required). For cafeteria service there is the Crystal Palace which is located at the end of Main Street U.S.A. EPCOT Center is the complete opposite of the Magic Kingdom as it has plenty of restaurants to offer! (More than one could ask for!) Future World offers the Coral Reef Restaurant in the Living Seas pavilion. Here you can eat next to the aquarium! It is really a lot of fun and the menu is basically all seafood. In the Land pavilion there is The Land Grille Room restaurant. This restaurant actually rotates and you can see part of the rides in the building. In World Showcase, England's Rose and Crown Pub has great food (The fish n' chips are great!) The Chinese restaurant Nine Dragons has excellent traditional hunan, and szheuzan food. Every pavilion in World Showcase has some sort of restaurant with authentic food from that country. Dine in France for a romantic night, or party the Oktoberfest way in Germany. Then hop over to Japan where your food is cooked on your table in front of you, or head over to Italy for some pasta. There are almost unlimited possibilities for dining in EPCOT Center. If hamburgers and hot dogs are all you want then head over to the American pavilion in World Showcase, or the Odyssey Restaurant in Future World for fast food service. You may also want to try (for lunch) Pasta and Pizza at Communicore West in Future World. In MGM I recommend the Brown Derby for a good meal. The prices are a little expensive, but it is worth it. For something a little out of the ordinary try The 50's Prime Time Cafe. Here you sit in a mock "kitchen" with 50's decor while "Mom" serves the food. The food offered is Magnificent Meat Loaf, Granny's pot roast, Aunt Selma's chicken salad, and alphabet soup. While eating you get to watch reruns of famous TV shows from the 50's such as Car 54, Donna Reed, etc. For the ultimate in dining experiences try the Sci-Fi Dine-In. Set up like a drive-in movie theater your booths are shaped like classic cars from the 1950's and you sit underneath the "stars" and watch an actual movie while eating. Just keep the ketchup off the seats and no necking please. In an Italian mood?? Well head over to Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano to ill your stomach! The menu includes fresh pasta, brick oven pizza and seafood. There are also plenty of places to get a hot dog, such as the Backstage Express, and The Soundstage Restaurant. For cafeteria style food, visit Hollywood and Vine. In the Disney resorts there are restaurants too, and the food is just as good as anywhere else (if not better!). The Polynesian Resort has excellent seafood at the Papeete Bay Verandah. Go to Flagler's in The Grand Floridian for a great Italian dinner complete with accordion music and of course the song Amore. The Dolphin offers 7 restaurants, Port Orleans has one or two restaurants along with a food court. The Caribbean Beach also has a food court, and the Contemporary has a $13.95 all-you-can-eat buffet with roast beef, shrimp, pizza, salad, dessert and more!! Dixie Landings serves up Cajun and Creole style food in a price range that is very affordable at Boatwright's Dining Hall. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is presented three times a night at Fort Wilderness. This dinner show is fun, entertaining and it will fill your stomach! All you can eat ribs, fried chicken, and rootbeer are all served. There is one thing for sure though, you won't go hungry in WDW. You will always see some place and say: "Ooo, I think we should try that sometime." Yet you never get the time to sample all of the restaurants. So, I have compiled a list of the restaurants that I think one should try on their visit. Next to the name of the restaurant is where it is located and what meals the server there (Breakfast=B, Lunch=L, Dinner=D). The list is in NO specific order, but it is organized by resorts and theme parks. Also take note that many of the restaurants listed also offer snacks. Flaglers - Grand Floridian B D Victoria and Albert's - Grand Floridian D 1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian B D (Buffet) Contemporary Cafe - Contemporary B D (All you can eat) Broadway at the Top - Contemporary D (Dinner Show) Papeete Bay Verandah - Polynesian Village B,L,D (Character Breakfast) Coral Isle Cafe - Polynesian Village B,L,D Trail's End Buffeteria - Fort Wilderness B,L,D Boatwright's - Dixie Landings B D Bonfamille's Cafe - Port Orleans B D Olivia's - Vacation Club B,L,D Old Port Royale - Caribbean Beach B,L,D (Food Court) Ariel's - Beach Club D Yachtsman Steakhouse - Yacht Club D The Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom B,L,D (Buffet) King Stefan's Bq. Hall - Magic Kingdom L,D Liberty Tree Tavern - Magic Kingdom L,D Nine Dragons - EPCOT, China D Rose and Crown Pub - EPCOT, United Kingdom L,D Coral Reef Restaurant - EPCOT, Living Seas L,D The Land Grille Room - EPCOT, The Land B,L,D Teppanyaki Dining Room - EPCOT, Japan L,D Restaurant Akershus - EPCOT, Norway L,D Bistro de Paris - EPCOT, France L,D The Brown Derby - MGM L,D 50's Prime Time Cafe - MGM L,D Sci-Fi Dine-in Rest. - MGM L,D Hollywood & Vine - MGM B,L,D Chef Mickey's Rest. - Village Marketplace B,L,D Capt'n Jacks Oyster Bar - Village Marketplace L,D Portobello Yacht Club - Pleasure Island L,D The Fireworks Factory - Pleasure Island L,D TAKE NOTE: Broadway at the Top and Victoria and Albert's are VERY fancy restaurants. Jackets and ties are required for men at Victoria and Albert's but they are optional at Broadway at the top. Women should wear and evening gown. Reservation might have to be made up to 30 days in advance. Call Disney for more info. All around the food is delicious and I never really had a "bad" experience. Dinner reservations can usually be made 2-3 days in advance if you want to, although same day reservations work quite well. Plan ahead and decide what park you are going to go to the next day, then plan where you will eat dinner. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART X ** SHOPPING ** ---------- Ah, the dreaded part of every vacation... Trying to figure out what to buy your friends back at home. There are shops all over the place in the theme parks and resorts and this can make shopping for the "right" gift seem quite overwhelming. A trip over to the Disney Marketplace (Lake Buena Vista) might be worthwhile if you like to do all of your shopping at once. Here you can find almost any gift imaginable, ranging from refrigerator magnets and stuffed toys to $5000 animation cells! Souvenirs are not the only items sold in the marketplace, there are also gourmet food shops, clothing stores, a nature store, a toy store and more. You will notice however that the majority of souvenirs and merchandise is sold just about everywhere at WDW. So if you see something one place, chances are you can find it elsewhere, unless the item is geared toward that attraction or resort (i.e. Star Wars toys at Star Tours, or a handbag with the Dixie Landing's Resort logo on it). If you purchase something at a theme park, the Village Marketplace etc, and you do not want to carry it around, you may have it delivered to your room. As far as I know there is no charge for this provided you are staying at a Disney owned resort. For those staying in a suite or condominium equipped with a kitchen might want to go over to The Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista. The Crossroads (137,000 square feet) was built by Disney and then leased out to store chains. Goodings, a 24 hour supermarket, is a great place to pickup food and other items such as baby needs. A few stores in the Crossroads include: Foot Locker, McKids, MoJo's Surfin' USA, Beyond Electronics, and Mitzi's Hallmark. Some popular restaurant chains also reside here such as TGI Friday's, Taco Bell, Red Lobster, Perkins, and of course the ever popular (except with me!) McDonalds. The Crossroads of Lake Buena is near the WDW Hotel Plaza and is convenient to those staying the hotel plaza and WDW's Villas. THIS SECTION TO BE EXPANDED IN FUTURE RELEASES ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XI ** WATER PARKS ** ------------- There are two main water parks in Walt Disney World. The two parks were built almost 20 years apart, so obviously there are some major advantages to the new one. However, both can provide a fun filled day in the Florida sun! Here are some features of each one. River Country - This water park has white sandy beaches, rope swings, tube water slides, and other water attractions. This park was built in 1971 and the admission price is nominal: $13.25 for an adult, $10.60 children 3-9 years old. Typhoon Lagoon -The ultimate water park!!! The world's largest wave pool can be found here along with Humunga Kowabunga. This is a body slide at an incredibly steep angle in which you reach speeds of 40mph!! Castaway Creek is a relaxing slow water raft ride through tropical rain forests, water falls and more. Some of the best water slides are here also along with saltwater snorkeling with fish!! The white beaches are also a relaxing sight. When you're there don't forget to hit Mayday Falls, Keelhall Falls, and Gangplank Falls for some water slide fun. Get the tubes that hold 4 people for Gangplank Falls. NOTE: Typhoon Lagoon has been reaching capacity around 10-11am recently. Plan on going early or you will be turned away at the gate. Blizzard Beach - The 3rd themed water park for WDW. This park is still in the planning stages and no plans have been finalized yet. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XII ** OTHER ATTRACTIONS ** ------------------- The three theme parks and the two water parks are not the only things to do in WDW. During the day take time off to swim in the pool or rent some boats. The boats can be rented from most resort marinas. The fees are high, however, if you stay in a Disney resort offering boat rental, you might be able to get a special deal such as: $50 will buy 2 hours of boat rental per day per person in your party for the duration of your stay. That is an incredible deal, since the regular price is $17.50 to rent a mini- speed boat for 30 minutes. Just about every resort in WDW has some sort of pool. Disney has a knack for creating some of the most incredible pools. At the Beach and Yacht Club resorts the pool, which spans the area between both resorts, has a sand bottom, tidal pools, a ship with a "mast" water slide, hot tubs, and is huge! Over at Port Orleans there is a dragon for a slide, and at the Polynesian there is a waterslide through a fake lava mountain. The best pool for laps is over at the Contemporary resort. Fort Wilderness offers, biking, canoeing, campfires, and more. If you are a golfer then you are in heaven. Five PGA championship tour courses are at your disposal (The Magnolia, The Palm, The Lake Buena Vista, The Osprey Ridge, and The Eagle Pines courses) offering a total of 99 holes! The Oldsmobile Golf Classic is held annually on the Palm and Magnolia courses in early October. Now here are two smaller places at WDW where you can spend quite a bit of time either dancing the night away, or putting yourself right next to nature. * Pleasure Island * Pleasure Island is the ultimate in night club entertainment. Opening at 7pm, guests must be over 18 to enter alone. (U.S. driver's license or passport must be presented.) Under 18 must be accompanied by an PARENT (Yes a parent, not an adult). Here is a brief description of what you will find at Pleasure Island: (Age restrictions given where applicable.) 8-Trax - Flash back to the disco age of the 1970's when you dance here. Bean bag chairs and lava lamps are part of the decor. Disco and rock music are played and please, roll up those bell-bottoms ok? Neon Armadillo Music Saloon - Put on your cowboy boots and ten-gallon hat for this place! Dance the night away to today's country hits performed by a live band. Mannequins - Dance to today's hottest tunes on a rotating dance floor with incredible lights and special effects. This is place to be if some serious dancing and lights is what you are after! (Ages 21 and older). Adventurers Club - Eccentric travelers, talking masks, and outrageous stories is all part of the Adventurers Club. Anything can happen here, including: shrinking bar stools, and a 500-pound tap dancing pigeon!! You have to see it to believe it! Good fun for the entire family. The Comedy Warehouse - Live stand-up comedy. Watch 5 hilarious comedians tickle your ribs and smash your funny bone in a totally improv show. Watch them make fun of Disney in a way you will never forget! The Pleasure Island Jazz Company - Relax to the cool sound of today's biggest jazz and blues performers. Classic jazz as well as contemporary is played, and some vocalists perform as well. (Opens Summer '93) Rock N Roll Beach Club - Whoa dudes, like get out your surfboard man, this is serious dancing man! Dance to Old time favorites and classic rock is the theme here! New Year's Eve Street Party - Live dance, band, nightclub on the street. Every night countdown for a fireworks show, and confetti! New Year's Eve every night! Shops - Shops for clothing, gifts, Disney Memorabilia, food, posters, and more can be found here. Restaurants - American barbecue at The Fireworks Factory, Italian food at Portobello Yacht Club and sweets at D-Zertz. AMC Pleasure Island 10 Theaters - 10 movie theaters playing the latest films with state-of-the-art projection and sound systems. * Discovery Island * Discovery Island is a certified zoological park. To get over there you must hop aboard one of the big boats that look like yachts. You can board them at Fort Wilderness, or the Magic Kingdom. There is a admission fee of $8.50 for adults and $4.75 for children ages 3 to 9. Here you can explore an "exotic" island with all sorts of wildlife on it. See toucans, parrots, flamingos, giant turtles, and more. There are streams and foot bridges throughout the island. It is a nice place to escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of WDW. Take note: NO drinking straws are allowed on the island. As the animals might strangle themselves. If you really become bored (very doubtful) you can leave Disney property and head over to Universal Studios Florida or Sea World of Florida. Both offer an enjoyable day under the Florida sun. Further away (1hr and 30mins) is Kennedy Space Center. This is a great place to learn about NASA's programs, the space shuttle, and the heavens above. You can see the space shuttle here among other NASA artifacts, and a great Omni-Max film. One can see the launch of the space shuttle if you go at the right time (a once in a lifetime event!). ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XIII ** TIPS ** ------ This section has three types of tips to help you maximize the time allocated for your vacation. The first is a general overview of a day at any Disney theme park, the next has tips for specific parks, attractions etc., the third contains tips for traveling with children. Pay attention to details as this section can prove the most helpful on your vacation. ** A Day at Disney ** ----------------- Here are some basic tips to follow for a day at ANY Disney theme park: 1. Arrive 10-30 minutes before the park opens!!! Have a light breakfast (bagel w/cream cheese, cereal, coffee, juice etc.). You are allowed to walk around the parks to a certain point before the official opening time. 2. Quickly go to the most popular attractions first!! Those are the attractions I have marked with a @ sign. Go on as many as you can before the lines get too long. At EPCOT, start halfway around Future World, instead of at Spaceship Earth. 3. Make reservations for dinner around 9-11am. Your reservations should be set for about 5-6pm. 4. Eat lunch before the crowds do. 11am is usually good. (I know it probably doesn't sound too good to eat lunch early, but you won't have to fight larger lines!) 5. WHEN ENTERING ANY RIDE ALWAYS GO TO INTO THE LEFT LINE!!!!! Why? - Most people are right brained and right handed so they assume right is better and we drive on the right side of the road. (I am not making this up.) I found this to be true. 6. Parade time!! (3pm) Now, you have eaten lunch, and the rest of the crowds are watching the parade, quick you have 1 hour to see the popular rides!! 7. Eat dinner around 5-6pm. After 6pm the lines for the rides start to shorten. Then go on more rides. 8. Fireworks, parades, Illuminations, are now being presented. (9pm, 11pm etc.) Quickly go on more rides, putting emphasis on the popular ones. 9a. Stay until the park closes (providing your kids aren't asleep yet!), going on the more popular rides as it gets later. 9b. Return to your hotel, get washed-up and go to one of the resorts and walk around. For kids go to the Contemporary resort, there is a huge arcade there. For couples I recommend a romantic walk on the Polynesian's beach or relax to the big band music at the Grand Floridian. If your single head of to Pleasure Island and dance the night away! 10. Sleep and start over. (Or stay up all night...) Change this around anyway you want, but numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9a are the most important!! ** Insider's Tips ** ---------------- Here are some tips that will help you make the most out of the time that you have allotted for your vacation. These tips are the way that I visit the park. 1. Always go in the LEFT line while queuing up for an attraction. (Don't ask why, just do it!) A excellent example of this is the Pirates of the Caribbean. 2. Go on the most popular rides during parades, fireworks, shows etc. Lines usually decrease 50-80 percent. 3. Stay until the park closes. Again the lines dissipate. 4. Midday is the worst time for crowds, so visit the park in the morning around noon go back to the hotel and go for a swim. Eat dinner around 4-4:30, and then head back to the parks. 5. Make reservations in advance for ALL restaurants. 6. Do all your shopping at once. 7. Watch ANY Magic Kingdom parade (Daily parade, Spectromagic, etc.) from Liberty Square or Frontierland. There are the least amount of people there. 8. If you are pressured for time, you may want to refrain from visiting Pleasure Island, Discovery Island, River Country or Typhoon Lagoon. 9. While on the Special Effects Tour at MGM, don't worry who is first, as people in the front, middle, and rear have equal viewing areas. 10. Ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at night. Not only are the lines much shorter, but the effects are the same due to the fact that 95% of the ride takes place inside a building! 11. If you are staying at Ft. Wilderness, the Grand Floridian, or the Polynesian Resorts you might want to take the small boat back from the Magic Kingdom, as is usually faster than the monorail and you don't have to fight with the crowds. 12. If you are staying in a WDW resort take the resort monorail rather than the Magic Kingdom monorail. It has more stops, but you don't have to fight the crowds. 13. For those residing at the Polynesian Resort: Walk to the TTC (or the Ferry Boat), don't take the monorail. 14. In the American Adventure in EPCOT, people queue up in the far upper right corner of the first floor. Try to be in the middle of the crowd, after you go up the escalators, as you will have the best seats. Oh and the theater is huge, it can fit many people so don't' worry if the crowd is large. 15. After riding Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion there is a short movie. If you just want to go on the ride, one DOES have enough time to walk through the theater and exit before the film begins. 16. If the line for Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion extends outside the building, beware, the wait will be approximately 20 minutes. 17. Board the Skyway (in the Magic Kingdom) in Tomorrowland rather than Fantasyland, as the wait is almost always shorter because the queue area there is shorter. 18. In EPCOT Center people will begin to save their spots for Illuminations two hours before the show. I recommend saving your spot one hour before, but if it starts to look crowded around the lagoon grab your spot. 19. If you want to ride in the cab of the monorail, just ask an attendant. For you best chances ask at either EPCOT Center or the TTC (EPCOT monorail). It works 99% of the time!! (Children will be thrilled to ride in the front.) 20. When the time rolls around for the park to close, stick around and walk through the park. They won't kick you out, and it is something to see the parks at night with no one there. 21. While queuing up for any attraction let the crowd rush ahead of you. Everyone gets equal views at almost every attraction, your party wont get separated, and you don't have to push and shove. 22. If you are in EPCOT and you are hot and tired, walk to the Mexico pavilion. There is a slow relaxing boat ride here. While it is not the most spectacular attraction, it will cool you off and there are never any lines! 23. When you are queuing up for the Haunted Mansion, stay to the left side of the crowd if it is a hot day. Why? Well on that side a cool breeze blows off the Rivers of America and keeps you cool while everyone else is fanning themselves. 24. Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and Peter Pan's Flight all have long lines during the day. Wait until after dusk before getting in line. 25. Dumbo the Flying Elephant will always have long lines, even just prior to park closing, as it is very popular with young children. So, if your children wish to participate, do it in the early morning, just as the park opens. (The lines during mid-day can get as long as 40-60 minutes) 26. Horizons in EPCOT usually has little or no lines. Save this attraction for times when other attractions are crowded. 27. At The Backstage Studio Tour in MGM your tour guide will mention the fact that people on the left side of the tram will get wet. Fear not, all you feel is a spray and the people on the left actually have a better view of the entire ride itself! 28. If the line for Splash Mountain is backed up to the wooden bridge, think again about riding. Chances are the wait will be over an hour in the hot sun. 29. To cool off in Tomorrowland, try the Carousel of Progress, Dreamflight or The Peoplemover. These three attractions have little or no lines the majority of the time. ** Tips for Travelling with Children ** ----------------------------------- Here are some tips that might come in handy if you are travelling with children ranging from 2 to 10 years of age. 1. Set a meeting point where you will meet the children if one of them should get separated from your party. Examples of such places are: Magic Kingdom: in front of Cinderella's Castle, EPCOT: World Key Information, MGM: in front of Grummans Theater. 2. Name tags for your children are also available so that if he/she should get lost it would be easier to return him/her with you. 3. In the event that your child does get separated from you, check at City Hall in the Magic Kingdom, Earth Station at EPCOT Center, or Guest Services in MGM. They keep a log of lost children and they can reunite you with your child quite easily. 4. Stroller rentals: Here is where WDW claims a little bit of your money. You pay $5 for an all day stroller rental and at the end of the day you show your receipt and you get a Disney Dollar back. In a sense you are paying $4, but if you forget about returning it you don't get your dollar. If you leave one park and enter another on the same day show your receipt at the second park and you will not be charged. 5. Where do you park that stroller when you go into an attraction is a common question. The almost everyone leaves it at the entrance, however, the attraction's exit is usually some distance from the entrance. So be wise, send one person from your party to park the stroller at the exit. If you are unsure of the location of the exit as a cast member, they will be more than happy to assist you. Your stroller will also have your name on it for easy identification. 6. After parking your stroller, take all valuables with you. 7. Almost every restroom (male and female) in WDW has changing facilities. Disposable diapers are often sold in stores but not displayed. Ask a cast member for the nearest location. 8. Children from the ages of 3 to 10 (and even older) may enjoy a character breakfast. This is a breakfast where many Disney characters come around to each table for pictures and autographs. Children get a kick out of it, although parents beware, Goofy and Pluto can find your ticklish spot (as my dad found out). 9. Take note of age and height restrictions. The last thing a child wants to hear is how he can't ride space mountain because he isn't tall enough. 10. When it is hot at Disney World it is HOT! Bring bottles of water along and keep them in the stroller's basket. Freezing small containers of water (Evian, Poland Spring etc) the night before is an excellent way to keep cool throughout the day. It keeps the children occupied too. 11. Some children may tend to get cranky and irritable during mid-day. At that time it might be wise to head back to the hotel for a swim and to get freshened up. 12. Babysitting services are available at most resorts, but for a fee. The price is usually $6-$7 per hour with a three hour minimum. 13. Hold hands with your children at all times. While queuing up for an attraction it is very easy for a child to get separated. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XIV ** IN THE FUTURE ** --------------- This section is reserved for information regarding resorts, attractions and other items of that nature that have not been opened yet, are still on the drawing board, have just opened within the last revision, or are under construction at Walt Disney World, and other theme parks. There is also information on new Disney Animated films. The information in this section comes from Disney News magazine, Disney related sources (ie. Annual Report), newspaper clippings, rec.arts.disney on the news-net, and friends that have just returned from their visit. Due to the nature of this section, I can not guarantee that any of these plans will become a reality. This section is for the kind of person that MUST know what Disney is doing at all times and I don't know of any other source where this information is all put together. MK=Magic Kingdom EP=EPCOT Center MGM=Disney/MGM Studios Attraction Name Where is it?? When does it open? ----------------- --------------- -------------------- 4th Theme Park No Location Known 2000 (Safari Theme) Twilight Zone Tower MGM (Next to main 1994 of Terror entrance) Aladdin Parade MGM NOW SHOWING Tomorrowland facelift MK (Tomorrowland) 1990's Updated Star-Jets MK (Tomorrowland) 199? Updated Carousel of MK (Tomorrowland) 199? Progress Alien Encounter MK (Replacing "Mission 199? to Mars") Show featuring "Jungle MK 199? Book" characters New show for the MK (Adventureland) 199? Tiki Birds (comical) Renovation of Dumbo MK (Fantasyland) 1994 Ride Replacement attractions for: Snow White's Scary Adv. MK (Fantasyland) 199? Hall of Presidents MK (Liberty Square) 199? Expansion of MGM All over, making All throughout MGM twice as large the 1990's Monorail to MGM Route to MGM 199? Sunset Blvd. MGM 1994 AMPAS Music Hall MGM Fall 1993 of Fame Fantasmic! MGM Possibly 1994 Disney's Vacation East of EPCOT Center '93-'94 Club, Phase II All-Star-Sports Southwest of EP 1994 Resort All-Star-Music Southwest of EP 1995 Resort Mexican Resort West of EPCOT 199? Wilderness Lodge South of the Contemporary, Spring '94 Resort NE of the tool plaza. Mediterranean Resort Between the Contemporary Mid 1990's (3000 rooms!!) & the TTC, next to the Wilderness Lodge Resort Walt Disney's Private MGM 1993 ONLY Airplane on Display Blizzard Beach Near All-Star Resort NO TIME KNOWN (3rd water park) New film footage for EP, The Land June 1994 Symbiosis Kitchen Kabaret EP, The Land June 1994 replaced by "Food Rocks" show New food court, like EP, The Land June 1994 the outdoors Redecoration of The EP, The Land June 1994 Land Grille Room Captain-EO replaced by EP, Journey Into 199? film based on "Honey Imagination I Shrunk the Kids" Renovation of EP, Spaceship Earth 199? Spaceship Earth Mt. Fuji Roller EP, Japan Pavilion 199? Coaster Space Pavilion EP, Future World 199? Russia Pavilion EP, World Showcase 199? (Plans complete) Multi-Country EP, World Showcase 199? Pavilion Disney's Boardwalk Near the EP Resorts DELAYED INDEFINITELY Celebration; Disney Southern edge of WDW Groundbreaking 1993 city for residency 1st phase: 1995 Disney Institute Temporary: WDW Village Late Summer 1995 (learning center) Permanent: In Celebration The Workplace In Celebration 199? High-Speed train; For now plan has been abandoned running from Orlando Intl. Airport to an area near WDW. NON-FLORIDA RELATED DISNEY INFORMATION For those of you who must know what Disney is doing. -------------------------------------- EURO-Disneyland France, (Near Paris) Construction to Phase II start this year. Disney/MGM Studios EURO-Disneyland 1995 Tour-Europe Beauty & the Beast and The Little Mermaid EURO-Disneyland 1995 thrill rides Splash Mountain EURO-Disneyland 199? Discovery Mountain EURO-Disneyland 1995 (Like Space Mtn.) Second Theme Park in PLAN HAS BEEN ABANDONED Palm Beach, CA Mickey's Toontown Disneyland OPEN Roger Rabbit's Car Disneyland Mid-Late '93 Toon Spin (in Toontown) Indiana Jones Ride Disneyland Late 1994 Splash Mountain Tokyo Disneyland OPEN Adventureland Tokyo Disneyland OPEN Marketplace Swiss Family Treehouse Tokyo Disneyland MID-1993 Second Theme Park in Tokyo Disneyland NO TIME KNOWN Tokyo WESTCOT (EPCOT out west Disneyland's Current 1996 near Disneyland Parking lot ----------------------------- NO LOCATION KNOWN or NO TIME KNOWN means that I have yet to find information that suggests the location or approximate opening day of the attraction. No guarantee that all of these attractions will become a reality, however those projects listed have either been started, made public or are on the drawing board. (With the exception of the mini Disneyland.) ANIMATED FILMS TO BE (RE)RELEASED IN THEATERS AND ON VIDEO ---------------------------------------------------------- NAME NEW OR RERELEASE WHEN? ------------------- -------------------- --------- Snow White and the RERELEASE IN THEATERS NOW Seven Dwarfs The Lion King NEW Summer '94 (Music by Elton John and Tim Rice) Pocahontas NEW Fall '94 Fantasia Continued NEW 1997 Swan Lake NEW ???? Song of the Sea NEW 1997 3rd Roger Rabbit Short NEW ???? Toy Story Completely computer NEW ???? Animated movie Silly Hillbillies NEW ???? on Mars (short?) 101 Dalmations RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW Beauty and the Beast RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW The Rescuers RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW Aladdin RELEASE ON VIDEO Sept. 28, 1993 ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XV ** MAPS ** ------ In the first version there was a map in IFF (ILBM) format. This format is standard for Amiga computers. The second GIF file was in 320x200 resolution and it was quite crude. In the 93.07.12 revision I have included a NEW map. It is in 640x400 resolution and it is updated and easier to read. All versions after May '92 include the 320x200 map, all versions after July '93 contain the 640x400 map. Below are the codes. 1 - Magic Kingdom E - Disney/MGM Studios 2 - Grand Floridian Resort F - Discovery Island 3 - Polynesian Resort G - Fort Wilderness Campground 4 - Ticket & Transportation Center H - River Country 5 - Contemporary Resort I - Disney's Village Resort 6 - Magic Kingdom Parking J - Disney's Market Place 7 - Car Care Center K - Pleasure Island 8 - Main Toll Plaza L - Hotel Plaza 9 - EPCOT Center M - Caribbean Beach Resort A - EPCOT Parking N - Typhoon Lagoon B - Dolphin Resort O - Disney Inn C - Beach & Yacht Club Resorts P - Port Orleans Resort D - Swan Resort Q - Vacation Club Resort R - Dixie Landings Resort Solid black lines = Roads Green = Other attractions Dotted green lines = Monorail Yellow = Resorts Red Logos = Theme Parks Flag = Golf Course Grey = Parking Purple = Toll Plazas Golf Course Codes ------------------- 1. Osprey Ridge Course 4. Palm Course 2. Eagle Pines Course 5. Disney Village Clubhouse 3. Magnolia Course & Golf Course ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XVI ** DISNEY FUN FACTS ** ------------------ Here are some interesting and trivial facts about WDW to test your and your friend's knowledge with!! 1. Built in 1917 the Golden Carousel in The Magic Kingdom originally came from Olympic Park in Maplewood, NJ. The carousel was refurbished, and all horses painted white. (My mom rode this when she was little in the 1950's) 2. The Walt Disney World Railroad locomotives were originally used in Mexico to haul sugar! They were completely refurbished and the four locomotives were given the names: Lilly Belle, Roy O. Disney, Walter E. Disney, and the Roger Broggie. 3. Cinderellas Castle is 180 feet high, and has a private apartment in the castle that Walt designed so he could stay overnight in the park. Unfortunately he never got to use it. 4. The Jungle Cruise attraction uses 100 gas-fired heaters to heat up the air to keep the tropical plants growing. 25 million BTU's kick in when the temperature drops below 36 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. The Swiss Family Treehouse is artificial, with 42 foot roots, 800,000 vinyl leaves, and 600+ branches. 6. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad track is 2,780 feet long, is on 2.5 acres of land, took 15 years of planning, 2 years of construction, 650 tons of steel, and 16,000 gallons of paint. When finished in 1981 it cost $17 million, or the entire cost of Disneyland in 1955!! The fastest speed on the ride is 30 some mph. 7. The nautical flags that fly at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction were once hung wrong! A navy officer pointed it out when the park first opened, instead of reading "Leagues" it read "seugael". The attraction's lagoon contains 11.5 million gallons of water!! 8. Space Mountain is 180+ feet tall, 300+ feet in diameter, has 4,508,500 cubic feet of space, occupies a 10 acre site, and is composed of 72 pre-stressed concrete beams weighing 74 tons each! The ride never exceeds 28mph, slower than Big Thunder Mountain! 9. Mission to Mars was originally named Flight to the Moon. It was changed in 1975 after the dream of landing men on the moon had become a reality. 10. The mini-race cars on the Grand Prix Raceway cost over $6,000 each. The track is 2,260 feet long and the cars go 7mph max. 11. Spaceship Earth is 164 feet in diameter, 180 feet high, and contains 2,200,000 cubic feet of space. The outside "skin" of the geosphere is made up of 954 triangular panels, none of equal size or shape. Spaceship Earth is NOT perfectly round, so it is not a geodesic dome, the word geosphere was born. 12. The Living Seas tank is 27 feet deep, 200 feet in diameter, and contains 5.7 million gallons of seawater. The acrylic windows are 18 feet high, and 8 inches thick! 13. The Wonders of Life is enclosed in a 100,000 square foot geodesic dome. The attraction cost $100 million! 14. In The Universe of Energy, the moving theater cars weigh 30,000 lbs when fully loaded with 96 passengers. However they are guided by a wire on the floor that is only 1/8 inch thick!! 15. There are more than 6,000 different food items available at Walt Disney World! 16. Disney World uses 5.5 million pounds of potatoes each year just to make french fries! That's enough julienned potatoes to circle the world 2.5 times. 17. In 1990 22 tons of vegetables were grown in the Land Pavilion's greenhouse. 18. There are 166 restaurants and snack spots from which to choose from, and 35 varieties of cheese are served. 19. The chefs offer up 400 cases of fresh fruit daily. 20. Visitors order 2.1 million pounds of seafood each year and over twice that in poultry. 21. Each year WDW serves enough hamburgers to cover every inch of a four-hundred mile line. 22. The Caribbean Beach resort contains 2,112 rooms, making it the sixth largest hotel complex in the United States!! 23. The creation of Walt Disney World became the largest private construction project in the United States ever. 24. The Vacation Kingdom of the World was going to be called Disney World, but it was Walt's brother Roy who insisted that it be called WALT Disney World. 25. "By early 1992 hotels on Walt Disney World property will provide more than 17,000 guest rooms and 580,000 square feet of meeting space." 26. By opening day on October 1, 1971 there were 60,000 trees and shrubs planted. Enough sod was used to cover 500 football fields. 27. Walt Disney World acquired new monorails in 1991 to replace the old ones that had been making their daily runs for twenty years. Talking to the driver I found out that: The new monorails began their daily runs in August of '91; and the monorails are now all computerized with a speed restriction: 40mph. Although, the driver of the monorail stated that on test runs they have gone 90mph and could go faster!! 28. The lost and found department of WDW holds more than a thousand hand tagged items lost by visitors. Some items that were lost include: a wheelchair, a lamp, a Casio portable organ, and fake ID's. A pair of false teeth and a glass eye were never claimed!! 29. The Magic Kingdom itself is actually on the 2nd floor! A complete maze of service tunnels is under the park! The tunnels contain the wardrobe and sanitation departments, employee lounges and cafeterias, computer networks, and more! 30. Some people may think that Disneyland in California is just as big as the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Wrong... Disneyland can fit inside of the main parking lot for the Magic Kingdom, or in the lagoon in EPCOT Center! 31. In 1992 30.2 MILLION people visited WDW as it ranked #1 in attendance for theme parks across the U.S.!! Disneyland in California ranked #2 with 16 million visitors, Tokyo Disneyland ranked #3, and EuroDisneyland ranked #4! 32. Take a look at your tour guide for MGM. If you look at the map of the park upside down you will notice that the landscaping and buildings form the head of Mickey Mouse. This is not just on the map as the park was built that way. 33. Did you know that Mickey Mouse is hidden somewhere in the following attractions?? Body Wars, The World of Motion, Star Tours, Horizons, The Great Movie Ride, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Cinderella's Castle, Kitchen Kabaret, Symbiosis, The Land Pavilion, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom and more!! (But I'm not telling you where!) 34. The Hydrolators in the Living Seas never descend, nor do they ascend! Take note that the Otis elevator corporation did the work for the doors. 35. Splash Mountain is one of the steepest and fastest log flumes in the world: 5 story (52 feet) 47 degree drop with a top speed of 40mph. 36. Cinderella Castle is fabricated of fiberglass and the entire castle can be dismantled in 14 hours in case of a hurricane threat. 37. The Fire House on Main Street U.S.A. is named Engine Company Number 71. Why 71 you ask? Well Walt Disney World opened in 1971!! More to come next time!! If you know of some interesting information about Walt Disney World send it to me!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XVII ** Quotations Relating to Walt Disney World ** ---------------------------------------- This section of the book has been put together to show the idea behind all Disney theme parks. I also wrote this section to give tribute to a man who gave us so much. The majority of the quotations came from Walt himself, and I hope they give you a good idea of what he was aiming for when he created Disneyland back in 1955. WALT DISNEY WORLD is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney ...and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all that come to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together. Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971 -Roy O. Disney The above is what Roy O. Disney stated when he dedicated Walt Disney World. The bronze plaque on which this is inscribed can be found in Town Square on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. "To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." - Walter Elias Disney July 17, 1955 "I only hope that we never loose sight of one thing...that it was all started by a mouse." - Walter Elias Disney "I've always had a feeling that any time you can experiment, you ought to do it. Because you never know what will happen." - Walter Elias Disney "Disneyland is like Alice stepping through the Looking Glass. To step through the portals of Disneyland will be like entering another world." - Walter Elias Disney "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walter Elias Disney "Part of the Disney success is our ability to create a believable world of dreams that appeals to all age groups." - Walter Elias Disney "Here in Florida, we have something special. There's enough land to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine." - Walter Elias Disney "You can dream, create and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality." - Walter Elias Disney "If we can dream it, we can do it." - Horizons pavilion in EPCOT Center ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XVIII ** SPECIAL THANKS TO ** ------------------- This section is where I can express my gratitude towards those that have helped make this travel guide possible. Walter Elias Disney - Walt demonstrated to the world that if you put your mind to it you can create your dreams. He is a direct inspiration to me. My Parents and Grandparents - For taking me to Disney World six times, without that I wouldn't have been able to write this book. My Friends - For their constant support in helping me make a dream come true. (Yes Christy, this means you!!) Adam Liss - He did a great job in finding all those errors I made while typing for hours and hours. Thank you for changing the IFF file to GIF. January Adams - Co-worker at my former place of employment. She helped me proofread the entire document for grammatical and other types of errors. James Kelly - My Physics teacher back in High School who also enjoys Disney World. I'd like to thank him for getting me information on the new Little Mermaid Attraction, Splash Mountain, and for giving me some suggestions. Uncle Hank - (Not my uncle) He publishes a Shareware Review newsletter, and in his January/February '92 issue he summarized my work. Thank You for the first publicity of this book and the continued support you give me!!! Suzanne Thomas - Suzanne sent me a letter mentioning that the fact that I was missing the 'Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista' in the book. Thanks to her it is now included! R.C. Edens - Mr. Edens suggested some improvements such as a table of contents, index, and page numbers. He also suggested a small version of the book to use while you are at the park. Scott and Keith Mueller - Scott and Keith both composed a long letter to me with some interesting information about WDW, some suggestions, complements and many questions. I answered the questions as best as I could guys! Alan & Nanci Hughes - Thank you so much for sending an article with a list of new WDW happenings and plans. Without it, the "In the Future" section would not be what it is! Richard Fehl, Jan Penovich, Neil Patterson, David Jodeit, and everyone else who responded to me via E-mail - Thanks for you suggestions, they are greatly appreciated!! Rich & Carol Koster - Rich and Carol reviewed the "In the Future" section of my book. Together they found some errors and gave me some new information. Thank You! Tom Tanida - Thanks for getting the most recent prices to me via E-mail! Everyone on Internet and r.a.d. - Thank you so much for your help in making this book possible and your continued support!! THE LIST IS GROWING!! All you have to do to get your name in here is to write a letter to me with some sort of new, trivial, or interesting information about Disney World!! ----------------------------------------------------------------- PART XIX ** RAVING REVIEWS ** ---------------- "Compared to Birnbaums's book I would say that yours is more concise." - Neil Patterson "...the most useful piece of info was the business of left lines vs. right lines. It was amazing how people always went to the right..." - Jan Penovich "We took your guide with us on your vacation to WDW. It was great! Lots of useful information. Very accurate descriptions!" - Lori Carrol Easton, PA "Wow! Terrific work..." - Pamela Brown Columbus, Ohio "...I expect they [kids] will find it easier to read than Birnbaum's." - Neil Patterson "...you have done a wonderful job on this..." - Chris Gryszowka Indianapolis, IN ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XX ** REVISION INFORMATION ** AND COMING ATTRACTIONS ------------------------ Here is a brief explanation of what has changed in each revision, and how to read the revision code. 93.07.12 93 is the year, 07 is the month and 12 is the number of revisions. So 93.07.12 would read: July 1993, 12th revision. The zipped file name takes a standard form: WDW3-92.ZIP 3 is the month (April) 92 is the year (1992) The size is the Un-zipped Professional Write file, not ASCII. 91.10.1 - Original document. Tons of problems: spelling, LF and CR, mistyped data, absence of some data. IFF form Map released with this version. What a mess, You practically couldn't read it without finding errors! Well all books start somewhere I suppose! Size: 65k 91.12.2 - The entire document was checked for spelling by the computer so if you find errors, don't blame me. The `In the Future' section was extended to include new information and Disney cartoon movies (Touchstone films to follow). The entire document was fixed for CR and LF problems. 'Special Thanks To' section added, along with 'Revision Information', 'Contacting and Making Reservations', 'Fun Facts', and 'Famous Quotations'. General Cleanup. GIF form map released with this version. Expansion of Pleasure Island information, some bus info added. Full Bibliography added. Boxes around sections added, along with solid lines. Size: 88k 92.02.3 - New data on future items, 4th theme park information added. New margins, more fun facts. Some Touchstone movie information added. EPCOT Center World Showcase Information expanded (well, not much). Grammatical clean up. Released 6 days late. PC-Exec BBS number added. Size: 93k 92.03.4 - Expanded the EPCOT Center World Showcase Information. More people added to the Special Thanks to Section. Little Mermaid attraction info added. EPCOT quote in the introductions expanded. Some handicapped information was added. General clean up and rewording. Non-Florida Disney related info added. Part of the "To the Reader" section reworded. Size: 102k 92.04.5 - Reservation info added. EPCOT Center World Showcase information expanded. Two new fun facts added. General clean up and rewording. "ORDER.TXT" file added to zipped archive. Program file now available. Dixie Landings Resort added to the resort section. Some minor changes in the resort section. Section titles and other lines centered. Size: 104k 92.05.6 - More fun facts added. Glossary/Acronym List added. To the Reader, MGM, and Transportation section updated and expanded. New information on Splash Mountain and the Frontierland RR Station added. General rewording throughout the entire book. New color-coded map. Updated and expanded Part XV (Maps). Magic Kingdom introduction somewhat reworked. Size: 114k 92.06.7 - A small amount of new information added. Rewording of the attractions in the Magic Kingdom. Additions to the Glossary and Acronym list. Bus and other transportation routes updated. Helpful addresses added to "Contacting WDW". Ride lengths added to almost every attraction for all three parks. Minor corrections. Sponsors added to EPCOT attractions (Exxon, GE, etc.). More "In the Future" info added. Quotation added. Size: 125k 92.07.8 - Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista added to the shopping section. Shopping section expanded. Two names added to the 'Special Thanks To:' section. Dining Section expanded and updated. Admission prices added to the Contacting WDW and Make Reservation section. Coming attractions added to the Revision Information section. Evaluation sheet included in the zipped file. Entire document rechecked for spelling errors. Movies to be released on video now included. General Cleanup, and rewording. Size: 133k 92.08.9 - Some new acronyms added to list. More animated movies added. New info for the 'In the Future' section. Names added to the 'Special Thanks To:' section. Season pass information now included. World Showcase information expanded (Morocco, Japan, USA). My new address for 1993 now included. 'Basic Tips' section changed to 'Tips'. Insider's Tips included in the 'Tips' section. General cleanup. File added to zipped archive called (BBS.TXT). BBS.TXT is a list of BBS's supporting The Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Size: 139k 92.09.10 - Network address added. More updated information in the "In the Future" added. New movies and videos added to the "In the Future Section". Italy in the World Showcase section expanded. Massachusetts address added. Some minor errors corrected. General clean up. Released 1 week late (sorry!). Size: 143k 93.02.11 - Authors Notes section added. "In the Future" section immensely expanded. Name added to the "Special Thanks To" section. More "Fun Facts" and "Insider's Tips" added. Special E-Mail Edition. Size: 149k 93.07.12 - More E-mail addresses included. New introduction. Updated the following sections: "When Should We Go?" "Resorts", "Transportation", "Magic Kingdom", "EPCOT Center", "Disney MGM Studios" and many more. Current admission prices added. "In the Future" section greatly improved and updated. This revision was very intense, on the outside you may not see many changes, but many things were updated, reworded and cleaned up for better readability. "Raving Reviews" section added. New 640x400 resolution map included in the zipped archive version, but the file (BBS.TXT) was removed. Size: 158k 93.08.13 - Major overhaul on almost ever aspect of the book. Add information from my trip. Miscellaneous info added to "When Should We Go?" "Resorts", "Transportation", and just about every section in the book was greatly improved. Updated bus schedule added. Many restaurants added to the list. More items added to the "Insiders Tips", and "Fun Facts" sections. Pleasure Island information updated. Admission prices fixed. Example prices added to the "Resorts" section as well as the Vacation Club and the Hotel Plaza. More quotes added to the "Raving Reviews" section. "Tips for Travelling with Children" added. Height and age restrictions for some rides added. Size: 200k Coming Attractions ------------------ 1. FTP distribution site. 2. Phone numbers for all resorts, theme parks, and restaurants. 3. Complete list of restaurants. 4. Small quick reference version. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XXII ** Glossary/Acronym List ** ----------------------- AA - Audio Animatronics Audio Animatronics - The Disney technique of using moving mannequins controlled by a computer Cast - Name for Disney employees. CircleVision - Disney technique of presenting a movie on nine screens that surround the audience (360 degrees). Take note: CircleVision theaters have NO seats. DL - Disneyland EC - EPCOT Center, used on bus flags EP - EPCOT Center EPCOT - Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow EU - Euro Disneyland Imagineers - Disney name for their engineers. MGM - Refers to Disney-MGM Studios. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer MK - Magic Kingdom ST - Disney/MGM Studios, used on bus flags STC - Settlement Transportation Circle (Ft. Wilderness) TTC - Ticket and Transportation Center V - Village Marketplace, used on bus flags. WDW - Walt Disney World ------------------------------------------------------------------ ** Final Words from the Author ** ----------------------------- I hope you found this information valuable in planning your Walt Disney World vacation. I am not affiliated with WDW in any way so I am not being paid to promote WDW here, but it truly is a great place to be. Again you can contact me by writing to me at the following postal address, or if you have access to Internet, or BitNet you can send me E-mail using the E-mail address shown below. *** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO **** Todd D. McCartney Internet/Bitnet 18 Carroll Drive toddm@phobos.ucs.umass.edu Somerville, NJ 08876 If you wish to be added to the e-mail mailing list, send me a message and I will add you to the list. This will insure that you receive every new update of the book. The FTP site for the distribution of the book will be going into effect very soon. Possibly by the end of August or early September if everything goes right. However I'm not sure of the sight name yet, as we are still compiling the program. The FTP site will contain current versions of the book as well as back issues dating back to October 1991. Or, if you have a modem, call Uncle Hank's BBS for the latest revisions as well as back issues: Uncle Hank's BBS "Home of the Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA. 300/1200/2400/9600/14.4/v.42bis/MNP1-5/Dual Standard Call (413)536-1233 Leave E-mail to Todd McCartney If you would like the latest version of this "book" and it is not on your local BBS please print out the following file: ORDER.TXT (the file is in the zipped archive). Instructions on how to order are in this file. If you don't have this file please write to me and I will send them to you free of charge. Remember I will be updating this every month (hopefully), so there is always something new!! Also if you have any magazine or newspaper clippings or any other information about Walt Disney World please send it to me and it will be added to the guide. I will also put your name in the file in a section called 'Special Thanks To:'. Thank you very much and have a great vacation at Walt Disney World. M - I - C, See ya real soon!! K - E - Y, Why? Because we like you! M - O - U - S - E Todd D. McCartney ------------------------------------------------------------------ ** MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ** This section is reserved for information that I have typed up, but may have not found an place where I can put it in the book. WDW is VERY well adapted for wheelchair use. Wheelchairs can be rented at the following locations inside the parks: (Magic Kingdom: right after you walk through the main gate there is a place to rent them. EPCOT: To the left of Spaceship Earth, after you walk through the main gate. MGM: To the right of the main gates, inside the gas station.) Blind people can rent a audio cassette player and a tape with a description of the park. I believe these can be rented at the same locations (I'll find out definitely for the next release). Almost any attraction in the entire resort complex is well outfitted to accommodate wheelchairs. I will update and expand this area in the future releases. ------------------------------------------------------------------ ** BIBLIOGRAPHY ** -------------- "Give credit where credit is due." Birnbaum, Steve; Steve Birnbaum Brings You the Best of WDW. 1993 Edition, Hearst Professional Magazines, Inc. Newsweek, Inc.; Disney World, 20 Years of Magic, a Yearlong Birthday Party. Fall/Winter 1991, Newsweek, Inc. Walt Disney Company; Walt Disney World. 1985, The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Company; Disney Vacation Club Guide. 1991 The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Company; Disney Village Marketplace and Pleasure Island Directory. 1991 The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Company; Disney News. Fall 1991, The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Company; 1991 Annual Report. 1991 The Walt Disney Company. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse, Audio Animatronics, and Circle Vision are registered trademarks of the Walt Disney Company. All resort names, ride names and other items in the theme parks are also the property of The Walt Disney Company. Some information such as ride length, and other statistical data was taken from: Steve Birnbaum Brings You The Best of Walt Disney World, 1993 Edition.