-------------------------------------------------- *** THE VERY UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD *** -------------------------------------------------- By Todd D. McCartney 1993 Edition Revision 93.07.12 Released: July 6th, 1993 Next revision due out in mid August. 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 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, 12 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, and many ideas have yet to be released to the public. Walt Disney World is truly The Vacation Kingdom of the World. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Author's Notes For 93.03.11 ----------------------------- Greetings Disney Fans! This book is starting to take off!! In early February I posted an article about my book on internet news groups (rec.arts.disney). Within 2 weeks I had received over 350 responses requesting a copy through E-mail (one day I received over 40 requests!!). Since the book is now starting to gain popularity I will begin 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 I hope to get the FTP site and the e- mail mailing list started very shortly. This past Christmas my grandparents told my family and I that they are taking us to Walt Disney World in July of 1993. We will be staying at the Vacation Club Resort, and I can't wait! When I get back I will have a swarm of new information to relay to you. (The new information will be in the Sept. or August version of the book). That is all for now! Enjoy this update of the book!! -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. When I was in high school most of my friends asked 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 19,000 words! That's how this whole thing started... I have been to Walt Disney World six times and it is an amazing place. You should know (providing you read the introduction) that there are three main parks in Walt Disney World (with a fourth under construction!): 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. The time given after the description of an attraction is the actual time for that ride (not including pre-show entertainment). 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. 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 form for IBM), Fun Facts, Famous Quotations from WDW, Special Thanks To, Revision Information, and Glossary/Acronym List. 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. I subscribe to the magazine "Disney News" so I am updated on the newest things going on. The majority of my writings are based on my opinion and personal descriptions. Any extra information such as bus schedules, statistical data, etc., that I needed please refer to the bibliography section. After my physics teacher read over my book he mentioned that I was missing one important item: information for the Handicapped. I never even thought of it, sorry to say. 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. 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 one of the following two addresses. Use the New Jersey address during the summer, and use the Massachusetts address during the school year. This will insure that you letter will get to me ASAP. *** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO **** Todd D. McCartney Todd D. McCartney 18 Carroll Drive c/o Uncle Hank's BBS Somerville, NJ 8 Hendrick Street 08876 Easthampton, MA 01027 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 There is another way of getting a hold of me: If you have access to Internet, or BitNet you can send me E-mail using the following addresses: toddm@ucsvax.ucs.umass.edu * toddm@rvcc.raritanval.edu tmccartn@pilot.njin.net * Please use this address first. I hope to hear from you, I love getting mail and I would like to know what you think of this. 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 their movements are incredibly lifelike. 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. ** ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 and 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 one myself 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. Call Disney for updated information on parades and fireworks. I found July and August to be VERY hot and crowded. If you do like waiting in 1-2hr lines in 90-100 degree weather go in July or August. 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 - May are excellent times. Again, kids are still in school (Florida students get out in late may so plan accordingly), and the temperature is mild. 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 12 main resorts in the Vacation Kingdom, each with its own theme. Many benefits result from staying in a Disney owned resort. For one, you get to enter the park one hour earlier than the public and you always get excellent service. I will give a brief description of each resort, the number of rooms and try to give you an idea of the prices. No matter where you stay in WDW there is excellent transportation. However, the first three resorts 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 no matter what resort you are staying at. The car will come in handy when you want to go to parks outside Disney property, or go shopping at the Disney Marketplace, etc. 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). This resort is a personal favorite of mine. The white sand beaches are an incredible romantic setting. 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! Moderately Priced. Boat rental. By far one of the most if not the MOST convenient resort in WDW. 855 rooms. 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 incredible 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, very expensive upscale restaurant and a buffet. Moderate to Very High prices. Boat rental, tennis and more. 901 rooms. 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. 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 Polynesia this resort has recently been remodeled. 83,709 square feet of convention space. Moderately Priced. Boat rental, tennis, and more. 1,056 rooms. MONORAIL SERVICE 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. 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 (Highest 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. Bike, boat, etc. rental. 2,112 rooms. Low Priced: As low as $95 per night. 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. You can stay in two types of buildings: three story plantation homes, or two story bayou buildings. Bayou Bill's Cafe serves up the cuisine, and a large food court accompanies it. 2,048 rooms. Moderately Priced. The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts -Two separate resorts but right next to each other and both with the same theme. 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. Boat service to EPCOT Center is available. 54,000 square feet of convention space is also here. Yacht: 635 rooms Beach: 584 rooms Moderate to High Priced. Port Orleans Resort - Are you read 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. (Approximately the same price as the Caribbean Beach Resort.) 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. Moderately priced. Disney Village Resort Villas - 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. 576 rooms. A rental car is a must. Moderately Priced. 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. Moderately priced. 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 is available. Dolphin: 758 rooms, Swan: 758 rooms. High Priced. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 407-828-3255 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!!). In 1989 I stayed at the Polynesian Village on this plan. There were eight of us and without airfare it cost $10,000 for 10 days. 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 want!)); Admission to all three theme parks for 10 days; Admission to Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery Island etc. for 10 days; All boat, golf, fishing, etc. rentals for 10 days; 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! 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 many benefits) NOTE: These prices are as of May 23rd, 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 $ 34.00 $ 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 $161.50 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 etc.) 3. 7 days admission to Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery Island and Pleasure Island. 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!!) 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 $ 9.25 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 you might want to consider buying a season pass. The season pass entitles you to UNLIMITED admission to every corner of WDW for one year (See below for admission prices and restrictions). Believe it or not the season pass is CHEAPER 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 THIS SECTION WILL BE EXPANDED IN FUTURE RELEASES ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART IV ** Transportation ** ---------------- A. Getting to WDW from Orlando International Airport This 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) grab a sky-cap (not literally) and go down stairs to the rental car counters. After you get your car drive through the parking garage 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, 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), (don't go east like we accidently did, it will eventually take you to 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 approximately $1.25. (yes, a $1.25 to go about 10 miles.) Look for the signs for Interstate 4 and exits for Walt Disney World resort. You want I4 South. After approximately 5-10 minutes 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. While travelling on I4 there will be a sign for the Magic Kingdom and the exit number will be 25B. Don't take this exit as it is a very round-about way and you will have to deal with day- trippers coming from Tampa. This may sound very 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.) The signs on Walt Disney World property are very plentiful, and it is hard to get lost. 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, ask at any rental car desk for a map and directions. B. Travelling within WDW resort complex. 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 most 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). 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. Please confirm the bus route before boarding. As I get more information on bus schedules I will add it. Here is a list of the bus routes and their stops. THE STOPS ARE NOT IN THE ORDER THAT THEY ARE MADE. For Acronyms please refer to the Glossary/Acronym List. *** BUS ROUTES *** FLAG STOPS ---------------------------------------------- Blue - Ft. Wilderness, TTC Green - Polynesian Village, Disney Inn, TTC Gold - Contemporary Resort, TTC, Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian Gold & Black - Grand Floridian, Disney Inn, Polynesian w/MK Village, MGM Gold & Black - Contemporary Resort, Ft. Wilderness, TTC, w/MK MGM Gold & Black - EPCOT Center, MGM w/EC Red - TTC, EPCOT Center, Typhoon Lagoon, Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island Red & White - Hotel Plaza, TTC w/MK Red & White - Hotel Plaza, EPCOT Center w/EC Red & White - Hotel Plaza, MGM w/ST Green & Gold - WDW Resort Village, TTC w/MK Green & Gold - WDW Resort Village, EPCOT w/EC Green & Gold - WDW Resort Village, Village Marketplace, w/ST-V MGM, Pleasure Island White & Red - Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, Caribbean Beach Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, TTC w/MK Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, EPCOT Center w/EC Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, MGM w/ST Orange - Caribbean Beach Resort Brown - Ft. Wilderness (All Trailer Loops Settlement, Camping Loops, Reception Outpost) Silver - Ft. Wilderness (Settlement, Camping Loops, Creakside Meadow) Orange (tram) - 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 eats. The street is a recreation of the town Walt Disney grew up in and the buildings are built with turn of the century 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 the movie "The Walt Disney Story," which tells the story of the Man behind the Mouse. 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. 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 3-4 times and I enjoyed it. 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. There are actually two separate rides inside the mountain, one has quick dips while the other contains more high speed turns. Which is which is something I will try and find out. Overall any wait is worth the 2 minute and 38 second ride. * Carousel of Progress - This attraction, originally debuting at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York, was relocated to Disneyland in CA and then Florida. 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 ten minutes. This ride contains a lot of AA, and a rotating theater!! Take note of the "present day" representation, as it is getting a tad outdated. 22 minutes. * Dream Flight -This cute ride about the history of flight replaced "If You Had Wings" which ran for almost 15 years. Very short, but entertaining, usually accompanied by no or short lines. Large screens overhead simulate landings, take offs etc. Some AA. The ride includes, scenes from Paris, 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 moving 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 recorders. Children will get a kick out of this attraction. 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. * American Journeys - A 360 degree CircleVision film (the screen surrounds you!) all about America. Enjoyable and good sights of the USA. Included in the film is The Statue of Liberty, the Colorado Rockies, Mystic Connecticut, Dodger Stadium, and a impressive launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Take note that there are NO seats in the theater. 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 7mph!! Small children under a certain height are not allowed to drive. Approximately 4 minutes long. A great ride for kids to "drive" a car. @ 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 electromagnetic powered trains. 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. 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 on one side will be this model. (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 here 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. It is ALWAYS shorter. (See Basic Tips section) 7.5 minutes. @ * 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) has many interesting and ingenious inventions that the family 'devised' during their stay. This does not have handicap access. Set your own pace, but allow for at least 10 minutes. -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. * Country Bear Vacation Hoedown - A great show where AA bears sing about their vacation. The songs have funny lyrics, and the show is altogether fun and entertaining. Don't be discouraged by long lines, they move all at once when the show lets out. Be sure to give a nod to the AA moose, deer and buffalo on your way out. 15 minutes. Tom Sawyer Island - Here kids can experience a playground with barrel bridges, Fort Sam Clemens, and more. Food and restrooms are available on the island. Adults, relax and get a bite to eat while the kids play. @ * 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". There is a plot to the entire ride, and at the end you are treated to the 40 degree log flume drop down Chickapin Hill!! 9 minutes long. * 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. 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: The worst drop on the ride is after the 3rd hill (the hill is the thing that brings you to the top (real noisy)), after a sweeping left turn the train will straighten out, and then all of a sudden, down you go!! 3.5 minutes. -LIBERTY SQUARE- This land represents colonial USA. There are some neat shops here along with a 130 year old oak tree. Shops and places to eat are also here (You think Disney would create park 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!). The lines are usually short and it is worthwhile to ride it. Contains AA. Lots of fun! Small children might be scared however. And also: Is the ceiling going up, or is the floor going down?? (You'll see what I mean...) 8.5 minutes. -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 only Disney cartoon ever made in 3-D: Working for Peanuts. The actual "feature film" for the attraction has a somewhat corny storyline but overall it is worth it to sit down and enjoy the effects... 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 - Don't miss it!! 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. This ride came from the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York. 10.5 minutes. Snow White's Scary Adventures - Don't be misled my 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 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! 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. 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 20th anniversary parade has huge cold air balloons of famous Disney characters and more. SPECTRO-MAGIC - This new show replaces the old Main Street Electrical Parade which is being sent to Euro- Disneyland. This parade uses fiber-optic, prismatic holographics, 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.) 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 after 10pm. Other Shows - Check at Town Hall for information on this topic. Shows change quite frequently. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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!! TONS OF AA!! 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. DON'T MISS THIS RIDE!! Presented by AT&T. 16 minutes. * 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. 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. 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. Three minute ride, after that you set your own pace. * The Land - This pavilion actually has 3 attractions in it along with a revolving restaurant and a food court. Presented by Nestle (formally Kraft). * Listen to the Land - This is a boat ride through the gardens, ecosystems, and future agriculture that EPCOT houses. See lettuce growing in styrofoam, plants hanging in midair, bananas growing next to rice right next to cacao. Most of the food grown here is served in WDW restaurants. Some AA Excellent. 12 minutes. * Kitchen Kabaret - This theater show explains the 4 basic food groups in a comical way. Bread, Ham, Eggs, Milk and others sing to you about health with your AA host Bonnie Appetite. A lot of AA. 13 minutes. 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: a rotating sit-down restaurant and a marketplace type food court. * 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: 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. Ride with Dreamfinder and his helper Figment (a purple childish dragon) through the world of imagination. 13 minutes. * The Image Works - A futuristic playground where you can conduct an orchestra, star in a movie, play with sounds, lasers, pinboards, sound effects, bubbles, a neon tunnel and more. Very imaginative and loads of fun for all ages! (Even my grandfather was "playing"!!) *** Captain EO - Another 3-D movie that is absolutely incredible!!! DON'T MISS IT!!! Lasers shoot throughout the theater along with flashing lights that make the entire movie more exciting. AN INCREDIBLE movie. (18 minutes) There is a pre-show about taking pictures, which is good. The movie stars Michael Jackson. And he and his puppet friends must turn an ugly empress into a beautiful princess through music, lights, and 3-D! 17 minutes. * World of Motion - 2 excellent attractions are found here. Presented by General Motors * World of Motion Ride - This shows man's progress in his quest for better means of transportation. A lot of AA make this ride exceptional. Don't miss it, it's worth any wait. 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. 14.5 minutes. Transcenter - Here you can see the cars and transportation of the future. Actual working prototype cars are on display here, along with the Geo Tracker Boom Box Truck. 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. This attraction has lots of AA and is one not to be missed! At the end of the ride you can choose which way you want it to end. There are also two three story movie screens which make you feel like you are flying. See the future of desert farming, undersea habitation, and space colonization. Don't miss it!! Presented by General Electric. 15 minutes. * Wonders of Life - 3 Main Attractions. Presented by Metropolitan Life. * Body Wars - A flight simulator ride through the human body. Here you are "shrunk" down really small and you are injected into the human body. When an emergency occurs however, your tour becomes more than just for sightseeing. The entire 40 seat theater bucks and pivots to the movie. Very good but too short. *NOT for the weak at heart or those prone to motion sickness* 6 minutes. * 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, and a cute story line. Try not to miss it, as it is worth a few laughs and it is presented extremely well. 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. It has one great part where you travel back millions of years to the time of the dinosaurs and see them (They are AA). Very informative look at the diminishing supply of energy on the planet earth. The entire theater in this attraction actually moves!! The solar cells on the roof of the building provide the power. 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. -WORLD SHOWCASE- World Showcase depicts 11 countries from around the world. Some of them have attractions; 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. 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 curtins) 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. 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. 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). Soyonara! * U.S.A. - Here you can get the traditional hot dog and soda. But eating 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, and 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. (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. Threre is also a cart out front the pavillion that sells German lead crystal items, some of whice 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 - DON'T MISS the ride Maelstrom at this pavilion!! It is a ride in a Viking boat through the 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). * 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. 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. 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!!! Surprise in the Skies - A special daytime fireworks show along with kites, ultralights to celebrate WDW's 20th Anniversary. For the show's finale, cold-air balloons of famous Disney characters, representing all EPCOT countries, are blown up all around the lagoon. This show may have changed, but there is usually some sort of midday 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, some of the best AA figures ever created, 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: Snow Speeder from The Empire Strikes Back, the pod from Flight of the Navigator, and the Bulldog Cafe from The Rocketeer. 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 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, and even hit a home run for the New York Mets. (They were my favorite team...until this year...go Red Sox!) 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. * Animation Building - 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. * 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 Mr. Foley in a hilarious way. 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 same techniques that were illustrated in the show. 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. Expectant Mothers, and those with back and heart problems are advised not to participate. 7 minutes. @ ** Muppets 3-D Movie - Probably the best 3-D movie of all time. Incredible 3-D 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 Honey I Shrunk the Kids Move 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 30 minutes is required, and maybe more with children. * Voyage of The Little Mermaid - This attraction has just opened in the past year. Although I have never seen it, people have told me it is spectacular! The stage show incorporates live action, AA, lasers, holographic imaging and more to present the songs and other items from the classic animated movie. It stars Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian and other characters from the movie (including a 2 story AA Ursula). If you have small children be sure not to miss this one!! Even the adults will love it! 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. 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 Jasmine are all part of the show. Presented daily at 3pm. Sorcery in the Skies: This laser and fireworks is presented nightly at MGM. 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 an adult. There is a 10 theater movie house, The Comedy Warehouse, The Neon Armadillo (Country music), XZFR Rock & Roll Beach Club, The Adventurers Club, and much more. Some are night club and dancing, 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 expensive 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 required for almost all sit down restaurants. The Magic Kingdom does not have 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. In the Magic Kingdom try King Stephen's Banquet Hall located in Cinderella's Castle. Also try Tony's Town Square Cafe and the Plaza Restaurant, both located on Main Street U.S.A. A full service dinner/show is available in Frontierland at the Diamond Horseshoe (reservations required). The Liberty Square Tavern in Liberty Square also offers full service. For cafeteria service try the Crystal Palace. EPCOT Center has plenty of restaurants (More than one could ask for!). Future World offers the Coral Reef Restaurant in the Living Seas pavilion. Here you can eat seafood right next to the aquarium! It is really a lot of fun. 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 (Like I said before, 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 visit the Communicore East and 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. There are also plenty of places to get a hot dog, such as the Backstage Express, and The Soundstage Restaurant. For the ultimate in dining experiences try the Sci-Fi Drive-in Diner. 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. 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!! 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 I think you should try there (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner). The list is in NO specific order. Flaglers - Grand Floridian B,L,D Victoria and Albert's - Grand Floridian D Broadway at the Top - Contemporary D Papeete Bay Verandah - Polynesian Village B,L,D Tangaroo Terrace - Polynesian Village B Coral Isle Cafe - Polynesian Village B,L Nine Dragons - EPCOT, China D Rose and Crown Pub - EPCOT, United Kingdom L,D Coral Reef Restaurant - EPCOT, Living Seas D The Land Grille Room - EPCOT, The Land B,L,D The Brown Derby - MGM D 50's Prime Time Cafe - MGM D Sci-Fi Drive-in Diner - MGM D TAKE NOTE: Broadway at the Top and Victoria and Albert's are VERY fancy restaurants. Jackets and ties are required for men at both places, and 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. 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. For those staying in a suite or condo 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. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. Recently Disney has been going crazy with its pool designs. At the Beach and Yacht Club resorts the pool has a sand bottom, 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. 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.) Neon Armadillo Music Saloon - The hottest live country music on this side of Nashville. XZFR Rock & Roll Beach Club - Classic rock from the 50's to the 90's played live. Surf's up!! Mannequins Dance Palace - Contemporary music, dancing on a rotating dance floor with incredible sets and special effects. The spaceship from Close Encounters can be quite realistically reproduced here. (Ages 21 and older). CAGE! - Best in European and American Top 40 video dance music. (Ages 21 and older). Adventurers Club - Eccentric travelers, talking masks, and outrageous stories. This 1930's explorer's club can have anything happen!! Good fun for the entire family. The Comedy Warehouse - Live stand-up comedy. Watch 5 hilarious comedians make fun of Disney in a way you will never forget! 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 Sweet Surrender. Counter service available at Merriweather's Market. AMC Pleasure Island 10 Theaters - 10 movie theaters playing the latest films with state-of-the-art projection and sound systems. NOTE: Pleasure Island will be going through some major changes with in the next few weeks. Here is what is "expected" to happen: The CAGE! will close indefinitely and be replaced by "Boomer's Back Alley" with disco music, lava lamps, and the good old bean-bag chairs. New Year's Every Night will still remain, however a Mardi-Gras theme maybe presented. Merriweather's Market is being converted into a Jazz Club that has still yet to be named. Discovery Island is a certified zoological park. To get over there you must hop aboard one of the big boats that look like yachts. There is a admission fee of $8.48 for adults and $4.77 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. Fort Wilderness offers, biking, canoeing, campfires, and more. If you are a golfer then you are in heaven. Six PGA championship tour courses are at your disposal (The Magnolia, The Palm, The Lake Buena Vista, The Disney Village Clubhouse, 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. 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. Farther 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. 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 ** ------ Here are some basic tips for 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.). 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 9-10pm. Your reservations should be set for about 4-5pm. 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. (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 4:30-5:30pm. After 5pm 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. 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 9 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 good 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, 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 little or no 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 Backstage 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 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, as you will have the best seats. 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 20-30 minutes. 17. Board the Skyway (in the Magic Kingdom) in Tomorrowland rather than Fantasyland, as it is almost always shorter. 18. In EPCOT Center people will begin to save their spots for Illuminations as early as 6:00 for the 9:00 show. I recommend saving your spot around 7-8pm, 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. 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? ----------------- --------------- -------------------- 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 Bonnet Creek Golf Near Dixie Landings OPEN Club Disney's Vacation East of EPCOT Center OPEN Club 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 2 New Golf courses Near the Disney Villa's OPEN Eagle Pines and The Osprey Ridge Walt Disney's Private MGM 1993 ONLY Airplane on Display Blizzard Beach Near All-Star Resort NO TIME KNOWN (3rd water park) 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 '94-'95 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 199? Thrill Rides Splash Mountain EURO-Disneyland 199? Discovery Mountain EURO-Disneyland 199? (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 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 Oct. 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 has recently acquired new monorails. 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 1991 28 MILLION people visited WDW as it ranked #1 in attendance for theme parks across the U.S.!! Disneyland in California ranked #2 with 11.6 million visitors. 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, Cinderella's Castle, Kitchen Kabaret, Symbiosis, The Land Pavillion, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom and more!! (But I'm not telling you where!) 34. Splash Mountain is one of the steepest and fastest log flumes in the world: 5 story 47 degree drop with a top speed of 40mph. More to come next time!! If you know of some interesting information about Walt Disney World send it to me!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------ PART XVII ** Quotations from Walt Disney World ** ----------------------------------- 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... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world." - Walter Elias Disney July 17, 1955 "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 ride 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 a zillion 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! 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 "...I expect they (kids) will find it easier to read than Birnbaum's." - Neil Patterson ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 practicly 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 Unoffficial 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 Coming Attractions ------------------ 1. Phone numbers for all resorts, theme parks, and restaurants. 2. Complete list of restaurants. 3. Small quick reference version. 4. FTP distribution site. 5. E-Mail mailing list. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 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 TTC - Ticket and Transportation Center 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 any suggestions should be sent to one of the following two addresses. Use the New Jersey address during the summer, and use the Massachusetts address during the college school year. This will insure that you letter will get to me ASAP. *** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO **** Todd D. McCartney Todd D. McCartney 18 Carroll Drive c/o Uncle Hank's BBS Somerville, NJ 8 Hendrick Street 08876 Easthampton, MA 01027 There is also another way of getting a hold of me: If you have access to Internet, or BitNet you can send me E-mail using the following address: toddm@ucsvax.ucs.umass.edu toddm@rvcc.raritanval.edu tmccartn@pilot.njin.net 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!! The new version ALWAYS comes out on the twentieth of the month. 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------ ** 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.