home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Current Shareware 1994 January
/
SHAR194.ISO
/
textfile
/
wdw8_93.zip
/
WDW8-93.TXT
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-08-21
|
203KB
|
3,779 lines
--------------------------------------------------
*** THE VERY UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD ***
--------------------------------------------------
By Todd D. McCartney 1993 Edition
Revision 93.08.13
Released: August 22, 1993
Next revision due out in October/November.
Feel Free to Distribute
(C)opyright 1991, 1992, 1993 by Todd D. McCartney
All Rights Reserved
This book is dedicated to every child, in other words,
every single person young and old alike.
------------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
------------
Walter Elias Disney was always a dreamer. Walt wanted to
create a place that would be as much fun for adults as for
children. This refers to the quotation "There is little adult in
every child, but there is a lot of child in every adult." Mr.
Disney also never liked amusement parks as he thought of them as
dirty and not as a source of family entertainment. One summer
day while he sat on a park bench Walt thought about a new kind of
family park. Here is what Walt said about that day: "Disneyland
really began when my two daughters were very young, Saturday was
always Daddy's Day, and I would take them to the merry-go-round,
and sit on a bench waiting and eating peanuts, while they rode.
And sitting there, alone, I felt there should be something built,
some kind of family park, where parents and children could have
fun together." Walt's dream of a family amusement park became a
reality, and on July 17, 1955 Disneyland opened its doors in
Anaheim, CA and became the "Happiest Place on Earth." Disneyland
was an instant success, and soon amusement parks around the
country followed Disney's model and began 'cleaning' up their
look.
During the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York the Walt Disney
Company displayed their attraction building talents by creating
some shows such as: It's a Small World, and Great Moments with
Mr. Lincoln. Headlines in the NY papers read "Walt Disney -
GIANT at the Fair." With this in Walt's mind, and the growing
success of Disneyland, he decided to build the ultimate family
amusement park. He soon went to work on it and purchased 27,400
acres (43 square miles) of land near Orlando, Florida. This
piece of land was 150 times larger than that of Disneyland in
California. Walt made this statement on his TV show after
announcing what he was about to do: "Here in Florida, we have
something special. There's enough land to hold all the ideas and
plans we can possibly imagine." Here, not only would a theme
park be constructed but an entire resort complex with hotel and
recreational facilities, and Walt had a head full of ideas.
Unfortunately he never saw his Florida dream come true. He
passed away in December of 1966 right after introducing his
plans, but his brother Roy took command of the company Walt had
established and gave the go ahead on the creation of Walt's
biggest dream.
The creation of Disney World became the largest private
construction project in the United States ever. Over 8,000
workers built the Vacation Kingdom. More than eight million
cubic yards of earth had to be moved, swamps had to be drained,
and canals and lakes had to be dug. Then, after a lifetime of
dreaming and 4 years under construction, on October 1, 1971 the
Vacation Kingdom of Walt Disney World was opened to the public.
Roy O. Disney used Walt's comment in his dedication speech: "Walt
Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter
Elias Disney...and to the talents, the dedication, and the
loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's
dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration
and New Knowledge to all that come to this happy place...a Magic
Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play
and learn together. Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971."
What Roy said on opening day can now be found inscribed on a
bronze plaque in the Magic Kingdom. Walt wanted to call his
vacation land "Disney World", but after his death Roy insisted
that it be called "Walt Disney World". The resort became an
instant success and in one year it had attracted almost 11
million guests.
Before his untimely death, Walt had many ideas for other
parks. His concept of the Experimental Prototype Community of
Tomorrow, or EPCOT as he called it was born shortly after his
plans for Disney World were introduced. Again on his TV show
Walt showed America his plans. He wanted EPCOT to be a city that
people could actually live in, a entire community totally
surviving on its own. No to mention the fact that it would
demonstrate the highest technology available to the rest of the
world. The city would have its inhabitants living around a
central hub, or main building. This is how Walt described EPCOT
on that TV show:
EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new
technologies that are now emerging from the creative
centers of tomorrow that will never be completed,
but will always be introducing and testing and
demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT
will be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity
and imagination of American free enterprise. When
EPCOT has become a reality, it's our hope that it will
stimulate American industry to develop new solutions
that will meet the needs of people expressed right
here in this experimental community.
Eleven years after the opening of Walt Disney World, Walt's
dream of EPCOT became a reality. On October 1, 1982 EPCOT Center
was opened to the public. Although EPCOT Center was not as Walt
envisioned, it is a showcase of technology and the world. The
living community that Walt had envisioned is going to built, and
it is expected to open in 1995 not under the name of EPCOT, but
it will be called Celebration. Almost seven years later, the
Disney/MGM Studios was opened on May 1, 1989. Here, guests can
experience the movies in Disney style.
Now in 1993, the Vacation Kingdom is a young twenty-two years
old, housing 3 theme parks, 2 water parks, 14 resorts, a night
club entertainment complex, a hotel complex, a shopping village,
a lot of magic, and much, much more. Will Disney World ever stop
growing? Most likely it won't as more and more ideas are
becoming a reality. Four more resorts are being built now,
construction for a large addition to the Disney/MGM Studios is
underway, a third water park is in the planning stages, and many
ideas have yet to be released to the public.
The place that Walt Disney and his company created brings
joy, happiness, and inspiration to each and everyone of its
visitors. It's a magical land...a place where everything seems
perfect...and to experience it is like nothing else. Walt Disney
World is truly The Vacation Kingdom of the World.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes For 93.08.13
-----------------------------
Greetings Disney Fans!
In July I visited Walt Disney World! Despite the crowds
I was able to see just about everything. I stayed at the Vacation
Club and I had a great time! This was my sixth time there and it
looks like I might be heading back in November if I can scrounge
up the money for my flight. In any case, I compiled quite a bit
of notes during my visit and I have added them into the latest
version of the book!
Since the book is now starting to gain popularity I have begun
to do the following so that more people may gain access to my
book: Start a FTP site for those on the internet, make an e-mail
mailing list so people don't have to request the new version of
the book, and in the very far future I may begin to work on a
bound version of the book. All of these ideas will take time, but
the e-mail mailing list is now in effect and I hope to get the FTP
site up and running by late August or early September. Keep
watching rec.arts.disney for more information on distribution of
the book!
Enjoy this revision!
-Todd D. McCartney
"When you wish upon a star you dreams come true..."
------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Reader:
I've been adding to this book for almost three years now and
it seems as though I've just begun. It's funny, most of my
friends will ask me why I would devote some of my free time to
writing a book. I usually reply with: "I enjoy it..." and
confusion streaks across their face after that response. Some day
I hope this material may be sold to a publisher, but right now I
am happy to share the information that I know with others for
free.
This book actually started out as a letter to some friends in
England. They wrote a letter to my family stating that they were
planning to visit Disney World on their tour of the U.S. and they
wanted me to send them some information. I sat down one Saturday
after work and typed and typed and typed. Due to the mail, my
book was waiting for them when they arrived home from their tour.
So rather than put my work aside I decided to let the rest of the
world see it. That original letter was about 4000 words, and the
book has now grown to almost 25,000 words! That's how this whole
thing started...
Things to know about this book
------------------------
I have been to Walt Disney World six times, or the
equivalence of staying their for 45 days straight. I first
traveled there in 1980, and again in 1986. When I visited in 1988
WDW seemed more magical to me than ever before. During The next
three visits I became more interested and gradually I began
absorbing any information on WDW I could grab. Granted many
people have been there many more times than I have, but I don't
just visit the parks just to have fun. I am constantly thinking
of how I could improve my vacation, and I am continually racing
from attraction to attraction so that I can see the most in the
minimum amount of time. Well I am now relaying all that
information to you the reader. I feel confident that if you
follow my tips and my suggestions you too will go home feeling the
magic that Walt Disney World puts in all of its visitors.
You should know (providing you read the introduction) that
there are three main parks in Walt Disney World: The Magic
Kingdom, EPCOT Center, and The Disney/MGM Studios. I'll describe
each theme park and tell you about each attraction in each park.
I have divided the book into twenty main areas: When Should We
Go?, Resorts, Contacting WDW Making Reservations and Admissions,
Transportation, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, Disney/MGM Studios,
Night Life, Dining, Shopping, Water Parks, Other Attractions,
Tips, In the Future, Maps (.gif file for majority of computers),
Fun Facts, Famous Quotations Relating to WDW, Special Thanks To,
Revision Information, and Glossary/Acronym List.
I subscribe to the magazine "Disney News" so I am updated on
the newest things going on. However, the majority of my writings
are based on my opinion and personal descriptions.
Please feel free to make copies of this book for friends,
family, roommates, neighbors, pets (well, read it first, then
paper train your puppy!) etc., but please don't add your own
information. This is copyrighted material so if you have
something to add, please write and tell me about it, and don't add
to it or copy it. If you use this information for reports etc, I
take no responsibility in the accuracy of the information
provided. I am now updating this every three months or so, every
month took me away from my school work.
If you feel like making a comment, see an error, get a sudden
urge to send me some money so I can go to WDW again, or just want
to thank me, you can do so by writing to me at the following
address, or if you have access to Internet, or BitNet you can send
me E-mail using the e-mail address shown below.
*** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO ****
Todd D. McCartney Internet or BitNet
18 Carroll Drive toddm@phobos.ucs.umass.edu
Somerville, NJ
08876
If you wish to be added to the e-mail mailing list, send me a
message and I will add you to the list. This will insure that you
receive every new update of the book.
The FTP site for the distribution of the book will be going
into effect very soon. Possibly by the end of August or early
September if everything goes right. However I'm not sure of the
sight name yet, as we are still compiling the program. The FTP
site will contain current versions of the book as well as back
issues dating back to October 1991.
If you have a modem, call Uncle Hank's BBS for the latest
revisions as well as back issues:
Uncle Hank's BBS
"Home of the Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"
Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA.
300/1200/2400/9600/14.4/v.42bis/MNP1-5/Dual Standard
Call (413)536-1233
Leave E-mail to Todd McCartney
I hope to hear from you, I love getting mail and I would like
to know what you think of this project. Please write, only a few
responses have ever come through the mail so far!! I need to know
what needs improving! If you could please take the time to fill
out the evaluation form included in the zipped file (EVAL.TXT).
Print it out, fill it out, and send it out in the mail! Thanks.
Well, I hope that this book gives you a good idea of the Vacation
Kingdom of the World.
IMPORTANT NOTES
I will refer to AA many times throughout this book. This
stands for "Audio-Animatronics". Audio-Animatronics is the use
of computerized moving mannequins, and it is used in most of the
Disney attractions. The mannequins are quite realistic and
they can fool most first time visitors into believe that there
are actors in the ride. Also from now on, anytime you see WDW it
means Walt Disney World and anytime you see TTC it refers to the
Ticket and Transportation Center.
** For more information on acronyms, please see the **
** Glossary/Acronym list (Part XX) at the end of the book. **
An asterisk (*) next to a description means the attraction is
a personal favorite of mine. An "at" sign (@) next to it, it
means it is a popular attraction to the general public, and you
should ride it during parades, fireworks, right after the park
opens or right before the park is about to close, if the lines are
longer during peak hours.
The time given after the description of an attraction is the
actual time for that ride (not including pre-show entertainment).
Pre-Show entertainment times are listed separately. Any age,
height, or medical restrictions that limit participation in the
attraction are also in the description. Please be aware of these
restrictions and limitations, as they have been added for your own
personal safety.
If in the description of the ride you see a line of asterisks
followed by the word Spoiler (****** SPOILER ******) that means
that the information that follows may spoil part of that
attraction for you. Examples might be where something scary
appears in a ride, or where there is and unexpected 'turn' in the
ride. Read those sections at your discretion, however if you wish
to be surprised don't read them.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART I
** WHEN SHOULD WE GO? **
--------------------
One of the most challenging questions for any vacation is
deciding when to go. The one thing about Walt Disney World that
never changes is the fact that it is open 365 days a year, so you
don't have to worry about timing your trip around their "season"
schedule. Personally I feel that October is the best month. The
temperature is mild, all the kids are back in school, and the
crowds are much smaller. Taking the kids out of school for a week
should not be too much of a problem, but just make sure they get
their homework done BEFORE you leave, (especially high school
students (having been myself one I know)) because once you get
down there, they won't be able to find any time to do it. The
only problem with October is that the parks usually close earlier
(8 to 9pm), rather than staying open to midnight as in the summer.
The drawback from the parks closing early is that certain parades
and fireworks may or may not be presented. Contact Walt Disney
World Information for updated information on parades and
fireworks, as the times change quite frequently.
I found July and August to be VERY hot and crowded. If you
like waiting in 1-2hr lines in 90-100 degree weather go during
that time of the year. Stay away from Christmas, New Years,
President's week, the Fourth of July, etc. The crowds at this
time of the year tend to be quite heavy. As for the spring, March
through May is an excellent time. Again, kids are still in school
(Florida students get out in late May so plan accordingly), and
the temperature is mild.
An aspect that is often overlooked is the fact that the cost
of your room is often related to the time of year that you decide
to travel. There are two types of 'seasons' at WDW: the "off
season", and the "regular season". The regular season reflects
the following time frames: Late December through early January;
Mid February through mid April; Mid June through mid August.
During these times you will pay the most for your room and the
crowds are usually medium to large at those times. Such is
opposite during the off season. The difference in price may be
minimal or it could be quite large. Check with Walt Disney World
Information for exact dates and room rates.
One minor thing to consider is that certain attractions do
close for general maintenance during the off season. During the
summer and regular season almost (if not) every attraction is
open, but in the fall it is common to see one or two attractions
closed. I have been disappointed many times as I found out
certain attractions were closed. However there is a way you can
avoid this disappointment! Disney has maintenance schedules for
each of its attractions, so if you give them a call and tell them
when you are going, they will tell you what attractions will be
closed at that time.
One thing, no matter what time of the year you go there will
be thunderstorms. Florida is known for having rain just about
every day (in the summer its around 4-5pm or so). Don't be
alarmed at rainy weather reports, go to the parks even if it is
raining because most people stay inside on those days or do other
indoor things. A little rain never hurts right?
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART II
** RESORTS **
---------
There are 14 main resorts in Walt Disney World, each with its
own theme. These fourteen resorts are situated in 3 different
resort areas: Magic Kingdom Resorts, EPCOT Resorts, and the
Village Resorts. You should know what resort area you are staying
at, as many of the signs and brochures don't refer to the
individual resorts, as they refer to the resort area. Below the
resorts are organized according to their areas.
Many benefits result from staying in a Disney owned resort.
For one, you may enter selected theme parks (usually the Magic
Kingdom) on selected days, one hour earlier than the general
public. Lately the early admission has been Saturday, Sunday,
Tuesday, and Thursday. You also receive: complimentary
transportation to and from every corner of WDW (via monorail, bus
or boat), complimentary parking at all parks, access to all WDW
owned pools and health clubs, and a lot more.
Despite the fact that every resort has some means of
transportation, the first three resorts listed below are by far
the most convenient because of connections to the monorail lines
(Excellent for those staying with children, ie: no bus lines to
wait for in the heat). Personally I feel you should rent a car
unless you are staying at a monorail-resort. The car will come in
handy when you want to go to parks outside Disney property, or go
shopping at the Disney Marketplace, etc. For more information on
transportation please refer to Part IV, "Transportation".
Now I will give a brief description of each resort, the number
of rooms, try to give you an idea of the prices, and tell you the
resort area that the resort is located in. Now the prices listed
below are based on a double occupancy per night basis and they use
the following form: $xxx to $yyy. Where $xxx is the price of the
cheapest room at OFF-season prices and $yyy is the price of the
most expensive room at regular season prices. Suite prices follow
the regular room rates. The prices listed are most likely not
correct, but they will give you a good idea of what to expect.
MAGIC KINGDOM RESORT AREA
The Polynesian Village Resort - The brown a-frame buildings at
this resort transport you to the South Seas. Torches
illuminate the walkways at night, and tropical plants abound.
Traditional Polynesian architecture can be found here along
with two pools (one with a slide built into a "lava mountain"
with a waterfall). The Great Ceremonial House is the main
building. Here you can purchase sundries, eat, and check
in/out. This resort is a personal favorite of mine. The
white sand beaches and torch-lit sidewalks make for an
incredible romantic setting. The Polynesian is a great place
to escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of WDW, as it
is very welcoming. The restaurants here have seafood on the
menu with a twist of Polynesian style cooking. (GREAT
FOOD!!) Not all of the food is Polynesian style, most of it
is American. This is one of the original WDW resorts, but
don't fear as it has recently been renovated and it looks
great! Boat rental. By far one of the most if not the MOST
convenient resort in WDW. 855 rooms. Moderately Priced:
$185 to $295. Suites: $1,000 MONORAIL SERVICE
The Grand Floridian Beach Resort - Jump back to the turn of the
century in this awe inspiring resort that was created to
replicate the same type of hotel in San Diego. A Big Band
plays music every night in the breath taking main building.
This resort has an 8,000 square foot swimming pool, a health
club and more. A perfect setting for a honeymoon, as there
are very romantic honeymoon suites that overlook the lagoon.
Very good Italian restaurant called Flaglers, a very
expensive upscale restaurant and a buffet. Boat rental,
tennis and more. 901 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced:
$230 to $440. Suites: $550 to $1,450 MONORAIL SERVICE
The Contemporary Resort - One of the original WDW resorts this A-
Frame building has Monorails gliding swiftly in and out of it
all day. WDW's largest arcade can be found here with the
latest in arcade technology. Many places to eat and drink
are here along with a dinner show at the top of the building.
If you like tall buildings and walking out your hotel room
door to a hallway overlooking up to 14 stories this is for
you! Not a personal favorite, but it has great places to eat,
shop and excellent recreational facilities. This resort is
excellent for those travelling with children as a common site
is children running through the halls. Good all you can eat
buffet, a great dinner show on the 15th floor, and nice
lounges. Also located here are meeting and conference rooms
for different functions. Just as the Polynesian, this resort
has recently been remodeled. 83,709 square feet of
convention space. Boat rental, tennis, and more. 1,056
rooms. Moderately Priced: $190 to $260. Suites: $750 to
$1,430 MONORAIL SERVICE
The Disney Inn - This resort is tucked away in the northwest
corner of WDW. It is situated between two PGA tour
championship golf courses: The Magnolia and the Palm.
Swimming pools, tennis courts, and heath spas are all here.
A nice restaurant that serves a good meal and most people
skip is here. This resort has recently been remodeled, and a
Snow White theme has been added. 228 Rooms. Moderately
Priced: $180 to $215. Suites: $345
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground - Are you driving your RV
to WDW? If so you might consider staying here. Hook up your
RV to full service, or stay in one of the permanent trailers
with full service also. Canoeing, campfires, biking, and
fishing make this resort for those who love the great
outdoors. Nightly campfires and marshmallow roasts, and
daily canoe excursions are also here for those who love the
outdoors. 785 sites, 407 Trailer Homes. Low to Moderately
Priced: $32 to $49 for trailer sites, $180 to $195 for
trailer homes. Suites: NONE
EPCOT CENTER RESORT AREA
The Caribbean Beach Resort - Very affordable resort with a twist
of the Caribbean. Located just southeast of EPCOT center
this resort is cheerfully colored and is easily accessible.
The buildings are named after Caribbean Islands. Steel drums
are heard in Port Royale, the main building. An incredible
pool is here; part of it shaped like a fort with cannons that
actually fire little bursts of water. Very Low priced
(Lowest is approximately. $95 per night). For this resort I
recommend a rental car since it is quite a distance from most
of the parks. Unfortunately the only place to get food at
this resort is at Port Royale; pizza, and food court style
food. No "sit down" restaurants. Internal Bus route (does
not leave the resort). Bike, boat, etc. rental. 2,112
rooms. Low Priced: $89 to $109. Suites: NONE
The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts -Two separate resorts but right
next to each other and both with similar themings. These
resorts look like New England seaside resorts from the late
1880's. Features of the resorts include sand bottom pools,
snorkeling, croquet lawn, and more. Indoor clambakes, and
five other restaurants are here. The Yacht Club is more
upscale as it is quite fancy. The Beach Club is more family
oriented as there is a "Goofy Breakfast" here. Both resorts
share a common building for convention space and the most
incredible pool ever created by Disney Imagineers (includes:
a sand bottom, whirl-pools, and slides). Boat service to
EPCOT Center & Disney/MGM Studios is available. 54,000
square feet of convention space is also here. Yacht: 635
rooms, Beach: 584 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced: $205
to $370. Suites: $390 to $620.
The Dolphin and the Swan - Both hotels (Both near the Yacht and
Beach clubs) were built by Disney but are run by separate
companies. The Swan is operated by Westin and The Dolphin is
operated by Sheraton. These are upscale hotels with
conference halls for big conventions. A 6,500 square foot
convention center is here along with a 505 seat theater.
Boat service to EPCOT Center and the Disney/MGM Studios is
available. Dolphin: 758 rooms, Swan: 758 rooms. Moderately
to Highly Priced: $185 to $375. Suites: $310 to $2,750.
DISNEY VILLAGE RESORT AREA
Dixie-Landings Resort - This resort takes on the theme of the
time when paddlewheel boats cruised the Mississippi. Nature
surrounds the resort, complete with ponds and natural
shrubbery. The theming here is excellent, and the majority
of the time you will not remember that your are staying at a
"low priced" resort. There are two types of buildings that
you can stay in: three story plantation homes, or two story
bayou buildings. Boatwright's Cafe serves up the cuisine,
a large food court accompanies it, and Boatwright's has an
excellent selection of mild Creole and Cajun food. Boat
Rental available. 2,048 rooms. Low Priced: $94 to $119.
Suites: NONE
Port Orleans Resort - Are you ready for Mardi Gras? Than this
resort is for you! Resembling the streets of New Orleans the
gras atmosphere surrounds you. Eat at Cafe Bonfamiles and
listen to the jazz, or relax in the Mardi-Gras pool where the
tongue of a dragon is the slide! Sit down restaurant, and
food court style eating. Spas, marketplace dining, and
cobblestone streets are also found here. 1,008 rooms. Low
Priced: $94 to $119. Suites: NONE
Disney Vacation Club Resort - How would you like to own a part of
the Disney Magic? At the Vacation Club you can do just that.
A time share system has been set up and by paying a one time
fee, plus annual dues you may use your 'points' to stay at
the Vacation Club, or hundreds of other resorts around the
world. Save two years worth of points and take an extended
vacation, or borrow from next years points. However time
sharing is not the only way to stay at the Vacation Club as
the villas may be rented out for a regular vacation. The
villas are designed in a Key West style of architecture,
complete with pastel colored buildings. One, two or three
bedroom villas (sleeping from four to twelve) include the
following: washer and dryer, fully equipped kitchen, Hi-Fi
VCR, one 32 inch TV and 2-3 26 inch, two showers, whirlpool
tub, wall safes and a patio. Boat, bike, shuffle board and
other rentals are available. Pool with light house sauna and
an excellent children's play area. Excellent food at
Olivia's. Moderately to High Priced: $180 to $??? Suites:
$????
Disney Village Resort - Many different types of townhouses can be
yours for the duration of your stay. The famous Treehouse
Villas are set in the woods and offer privacy. Other villas
include One-and-Two Bedroom Villas (formally the Vacation
Villas), Club suites (formally the Club Lake Villas), Two-
Bedroom Villas (formally the Fairway Villas), and the Grand
Vista Suites. Most villas are set on lakes or in the woods,
and all of them are near golf courses. I recommend a car
since most of these villas are quite a distance from the
theme parks. Most villas have washing machines and dryers,
along with full kitchens. Some sleep up to eight people.
Great for large families. Boat rentals at the Village
Marketplace. A rental car is a must unless you like buses.
576 rooms. Moderately to Highly Priced: $185 to $360.
Suites: $725 to $800.
Hotel Plaza - While this is not exactly a resort, this area
houses seven high-rise hotels which are on Disney property,
but are not run by Disney. These hotels include: Buena Vista
Palace, Grosvenor Resort, Travelodge Hotel, Guest Quarters
Suite Resort, Hotel Royal Plaza, Howard Johnson Resort Hotel,
and The Hilton. Take note that these hotels do not have bus
service. Prices are usually in the moderate range.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART III
** Contacting WDW, Making **
Reservations, and Admissions
------------------------------
Contacting WDW is quite easy and they do their best to make
the reservation process as easy as possible. Call the number:
1-407-W-DISNEY (1-407-934-7639)
This number will connect you to central reservation and
information line. Don't be discouraged if the phone isn't
answered right away. Disney realizes that it is not a toll-free
number so a computer puts the calls in order and lets the phone
ring instead of picking up and having you pay for the toll call.
Be expected to let it ring up to 5-10 minutes during peak hours.
Here are some helpful addresses and phone numbers that may come in
handy.
WDW Information WDW Central Reservations
PO Box 10,040 PO Box 10,0100
Lake Buena Vista, FL Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830 32830
Tel. 407-824-4321 Tel. 407-934-7639
407-W-DISNEY
WDW Travel Company Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card
PO Box 22094 P.O. Box 3850
Lake Buena Vista, FL Anaheim, CA
32830 92803-3850
Tel. 407-828-3255 Tel. 800-248-7833
There are many plans that one can obtain to go to Disney
World. For first time travelers I recommend that you go through
your local travel agent. Let them handle the rates, airline
tickets etc, but you should pick out where you want to stay etc.
Disney has so many packages its hard to find one that doesn't fit
your lifestyle, and most can be customized to fit your needs. The
most expensive is called the "World Adventure Plan". With this
plan everything is paid for in advance (I mean everything!!). I
have been on this plan three times and all three times it works
out to approximately $1000 per day (for an entire family, not per
person). Yes it sounds expensive but here is what is included in
that price: All meals, breakfast lunch & dinner (You can order
ANYTHING you want! (Lobster tails every night if you so
choose!)); Admission to all three theme parks for 10 days;
Admission to Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country,
Discovery Island etc. for the duration of your stay; All boat,
golf, fishing, etc. rentals for the duration of your stay;
Unlimited transportation; VIP service (I mean it too!); Gratuity
on all meals; and a whole lot of fun!! The only items excluded
are: souvenirs, snacks purchased at a stand, alcohol, sundries,
etc. It is worth it if: You are very active and WILL rent boats,
golf equipment etc.; Your party EATS A LOT!!; and you have the
money to burn as most likely you will come out behind. It's a lot
of fun though.
Admissions
----------
The following section is intended to give you an idea of
prices for admission to the theme parks and other attractions.
There are two prices listed, GP (General Public) and MKCM (Magic
Kingdom Club Member). If you are not a member of the Magic
Kingdom Club then you will pay the General Public prices,
otherwise be sure to have your club card with you when you
purchase admission tickets. The difference may not seem that
great, but if you figure after a family spends a week at WDW, the
money saved adds up. For more information regarding the Magic
Kingdom Club call: 1-800-248-7833 (2 year membership for $49, many
benefits)
NOTE: These prices are as of July, 1993 and are subject to change.
Florida Sales tax is not figured into the price shown, "Child"
ages are 3 through 9 years of age, and the monetary amounts shown
are in U.S. Dollars.
GP = General Public Prices
MKCM = Magic Kingdom Club Member Prices
THEME PARK ADMISSION PRICES
---------------------------
Type of admission pass GP MKCM
-------------------------------------------------------------
1 day, one park admission Adult $ 35.00 $ 32.97
1 day, one park admission Child $ 27.00 $ 25.97
4 day, Super Pass Adult $125.00 $120.00
4 day, Super Pass Child $ 98.00 $ 93.00
5 day, Super Duper Pass Adult $170.00 $161.20
5 day, Super Duper Pass Child $135.00 $128.25
The 4 and 5 day passes allow the following for the allotted
amount of time:
1. Unlimited admission to The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center
and the Disney-MGM Studios.
2. Unlimited use of Disney transportation systems (Buses,
Monorails, boats etc.)
3. 7 days admission to Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery
Island and Pleasure Island from the first days use.
If you buy a 4 or 5 day pass you can enter all three parks in
one day (or just two). When you leave have your hand stamped (it
is an invisible ink that only shows up under a blacklight, so
don't worry about having ink on you if you are going out that
night.) When you return to one of the parks just go through a gate
that says "Same Day Re-entry" and be sure to have your admission
ticket with you (along with your hand!!)
Also available is what Disney calls the "Be Our Guest" pass.
This pass is purchased when you make your reservations and it good
for your entire length of stay. The prices for this type of pass
are not set in stone, as they are reflective of the duration of
your visit.
Here are the admission prices for other parks and attractions
within WDW. Again GP and MKCM prices are in effect, and be sure
to take a look at the notes.
OTHER ADMISSION PRICES
Attraction/Park GP MKCM
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pleasure Island *See Note1* Adult/Child $13.95 $11.85
Typhoon Lagoon *See Note2* Adult $19.50 $18.50
Child $15.50 $14.75
River Country *See Note2* Adult $12.50 $12.00
Child $10.00 $ 9.35
Discovery Island *See Note2* Adult $ 8.00 $ 7.75
Child $ 4.50 $ 4.25
Note1 : Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a PARENT
Note2 : Those under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an Adult
If returning to Disney World is in your future plans or you
are staying for more than 5 days, you might want to consider
buying a season pass. The season pass entitles you to UNLIMITED
admission to all three theme parks and unlimited transportation
for one year (See below for admission prices and restrictions).
Believe it or not the season pass is only $20 more than the 5 day
pass!!
Season Pass Price List
----------------------
GP MKCM
New Pass (Good for 1 year) Adult $190.00 $184.00
Child $165.00 $164.00
Renewal (After 1st year only) Adult $170.00
Child $145.00
Amenities for Season Pass
-------------------------
1 year admission to River Country/Discover Island add $30.00
1 year admission to Pleasure Island add $26.00
1 year admission to Typhoon Lagoon add $60.00
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART IV
** Transportation **
----------------
A. Getting to WDW from Orlando International Airport
There are two ways of doing this: 1. Contacting Mears Motor
Service. They will drive from the airport to your WDW Resort and
back again. 2. Rent a car, which is what my family does. Which
is best for you? Take a look at the next paragraph where I do
some comparisons.
First lets take a family of five, staying for 6 nights and 7
days. Now the charge for Mears Motor Service is approximately $23
per person, round trip. If this family elects to use Mears, the
total cost will be $115 for service to and from the airport. That
price does not include tips for baggage handling. Now lets
compare this to the price for the rental of a mid size for one
week. The average price per day for the car is $27, so this
family would pay $189 (plus tax & gas). Now as you can see, Mears
is defiantly the cheaper of the two, but Mears's shuttles run
every half hour, and if someone on your shuttle is going to a
different resort then you must go there too. Also, if you elect
to take a car you are free to leave the grounds of WDW without
using buses. Which should you use? Think about the needs of your
family. If you know you are strictly staying in WDW for the
entire duration of your stay, and you don't mind using Disney's
transportation, use Mears. Choose according to your family's
lifestyle.
If you choose to rent a car, you must now get to WDW on your
own. Driving to WDW could be a simple task, however, there is a
lot of construction at the airport, which confuses the heck out of
anyone driving a rental car in some place they are unfamiliar
with. Of course the airport shuttles zooming by at MACH 2.3
really don't help, but that's another story. After you have
claimed you luggage, (provided they have not been shipped off to
Antarctica or something like that) do one of the following: get
someone to put your baggage on a cart or carry you baggage
downstairs to the rental car counters. Ask the agent at the
rental car desk for a map of the area, they are free and they help
a lot. After you get the keys to your car, have one member of
your party go get the car. That person can drive the car right up
to the doors and you can load your car right there. Now as you
exit the parking garage, drive slowly, stop signs seem to pop out
of nowhere. Be careful merging into the MACH 2.3 traffic on the
road that goes around the airport. Follow the signs for Airport
Exit/Orlando Area Attractions, it's not as easy as it seems,
somehow you are in the right lane and the next sign tells you to
go into the left! After you have exited the airport, (hopefully
in one piece) follow the signs for the Bee-Line Expressway (528
WEST) towards Tampa. This can be confusing as the signs are not
really that clear, and don't go east on 528 or you will eventually
end up in Cocoa Beach. The turn off comes very quick after
exiting the airport. WARNING: The Bee-Line Expressway is a Toll
road. Bring quarters with you!! The tolls to I4 amount to $1.25
(yes, a $1.25 to go about 10 miles.) The first toll plaza is $.75,
and the second is $.50. If you see a runway on the left side of
the car at the first toll plaza you are headed in the right
direction. Now while on 528, the speed limit is 65 mph, but there
is a stretch where it jumps down to 55 mph. Obviously this is a
speed trap for out-of-towners, so be careful. Look for the signs
for Interstate 4 and exits for Walt Disney World resort, you want
I4 South. The exit is kind of a right hand exit but you then curl
around on a big banked left turn, and then merge into I4 traffic.
After approximately 5-10 minutes on I4 you will start seeing signs
for WDW. Now here comes the tricky part, follow this table for
the correct I4 exit number:
Destination Take Exit number
Village resorts, Village
Marketplace, Pleasure Island, 27
Hotel Plaza, and Typhoon
Lagoon
ALL OTHER RESORTS AND THEME PARKS 26B
If you take exit 27 you will be put on 535 North. You will
have to make a left turn onto Hotel Plaza Blvd., this road will
take you directly to the Marketplace, from there follow the signs
to your destination.
If you take exit 26B you will be put on EPCOT Center Drive.
Just follow the signs to your destination. But remember, know
what resort area you are staying in. The signs on WDW property
don't always list every resort name! (Please refer to part II,
"Resorts", for more information).
While travelling on I4 there will be a sign for the Magic
Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, and the Magic Kingdom Resorts. The exit
number will be 25B for these destinations. Do NOT take this exit
as it is a very round-about way and you will have to deal with
day-trippers coming from Tampa. Disney does this to re-route
traffic to avoid congestion on smaller roads. Now all of this may
sound confusing but once you see a map you will see what I mean,
as it all comes together. (If you have the map that is included
with this book take a look at it and it will explain the route.)
B. Travelling within Walt Disney World.
The signs on Walt Disney World property are very plentiful,
and it is hard to get lost. However many of the signs will list
your resort area and not your specific resort name, so know your
resort area!!! (Please refer to part II, "Resorts", for more
information.) You will also notice that following the signs on
WDW property is not necessarily the fastest route. (Again Disney
does this to avoid congestion on smaller roads). I suggest that
you pick-up a WDW map at your resort check-in desk. Study the map
as this will insure that you get around WDW as fast as possible.
Otherwise just follow the signs, It might look like you are
out in the middle of nowhere, but you'll get there. Keep in mind,
Disney property is twice the size of Manhattan! If you are
confused by my directions, please pick up a WDW map at any resort
or information center in WDW.
There are plenty of buses running to every theme park, resort
and area of the resort. The best way to get around WDW has to be
the Monorail system. Unfortunately, the monorail system has not
been expanded to include the majority of the resorts. Here are
the stops for each monorail:
*** MONORAIL ROUTES ***
Resort Monorail: TTC, Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian
Resort, The Magic Kingdom, and the
Contemporary Resort.
Magic Kingdom Monorail: TTC, and The Magic Kingdom.
EPCOT Center Monorail: TTC, and EPCOT Center.
The best way to get from EPCOT to The Magic Kingdom and back is
via Monorail. Get on the monorail at EPCOT center and then get off
at the next stop. This will be the TTC. From here you have two
options: you can board the ferry and float across the lake or take
another monorail. There are two choices for the 2nd monorail:
the Resort monorail or the Magic Kingdom monorail. The Resort
monorail will have short or no lines. You can only take this
monorail if you are staying in a Disney owned resort. If you are
staying at a Disney resort use your Resort ID card to board the
resort monorail. The cards are now printed by computer with your
name, resort, and room number (Sometimes stamped with "For
Transportation Only" or "Not Valid for Charging"). Otherwise
board the Magic Kingdom monorail.
Your best bet to get to MGM Studios from your Disney Resort is
via bus or by driving if you have a rental car. However, you are
now able to take a boat from EPCOT, The Swan, The Dolphin, The
Yacht Club, or The Beach Club to MGM.
All buses and boats running in WDW have different colored
triangles (referred to as flags) on the side of them for easy
identification. One color: solid triangle. Two colors: the first
is the background, the second a horizontal stripe. A "w/MK" or
"w/EC" etc means those colors with the letters MK, EC, etc. in a
circle in the center of the triangle. (I know this is confusing,
but once you see a bus you will get it...) I take no
responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided, so don't
write a nasty letter to me saying how you never did get to the
Magic Kingdom because you got on a bus that took you to PGA
championship at the Palm golf course. Due to the fact that new
resorts are constantly being opened, bus routes may be changed.
Ask at your resort check-in desk for a bus-route card. This card
lists the stops of all buses on WDW property. Here is a list of
the bus routes and their stops. THE STOPS MAY NOT BE IN THE ORDER
THAT THEY ARE MADE. For Acronyms please refer to the
Glossary/Acronym List.
*** BUS ROUTES ***
As of July 1993
FLAG STOPS
----------------------------------------------
Blue - Ft. Wilderness, TTC
Green - Disney Inn, Polynesian Village, TTC, MK
(during park hours)
Gold - Contemporary Resort, TTC, Polynesian
Village, Grand Floridian
Gold & Black - Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Disney Inn,
w/STW Village, MGM, Pleasure Island (6pm-2am)
Gold & Black - Contemporary Resort, Ft. Wilderness, MGM,
w/STE Pleasure Island (6pm-2am)
Blue & White - EPCOT Center, MGM
w/EC
Blue & White - TTC, MGM
w/MK
Red - TTC, EPCOT Center, Village Marketplace
Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, EPCOT
Center (Proper I.D. Required)
Purple & Gold - EPCOT Resorts, MK
w/MK
Purple & Gold - EPCOT Resorts, Typhoon Lagoon, Village
w/V Marketplace, Pleasure Island
Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, MK
w/MK
Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, EPCOT Center
w/EC
Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, MGM
w/ST
Green & Gold - Vacation Club, Village Resort, Village
w/V Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Typhoon
Lagoon
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, Typhoon Lagoon,
w/V Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, Magic Kingdom
w/MK
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, EPCOT Center
w/EC
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, MGM
w/ST
Orange - Caribbean Beach Resort (internal circulation
route)
Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, Magic Kingdom
w/MK
Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, EPCOT Center
w/EC
Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, MGM
w/ST
Pink & Green - Port Orleans, Dixie Landings, Typhoon
w/V Lagoon, Village Marketplace, Pleasure
Island
Brown - Ft. Wilderness Internal Route (STC, All
Trailer Loops, Camping Loops, Reception
Outpost, Creakside Meadow)
Silver - Ft. Wilderness Internal Route (STC, All
Trailer Loops, Camping Loops, Reception
Outpost, Creakside Meadow)
Orange - Ft. Wilderness Internal Route (River
Country, Day Guest Parking)
*** Boat Routes ***
FLAG STOPS
---------------------------------------------
Gold - Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, MK
Blue Contemporary Resort, Discovery Island,
- Ft. Wilderness
Green - Discovery Island, Ft. Wilderness, MK
Take note, there are more boat routes than those listed. I
will try to get more information for future revisions.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART V
** THE MAGIC KINGDOM **
-------------------
The Magic Kingdom is by far the most magical of all three
theme parks. It takes up 98 acres but that is small compared to
the amount of joy it creates in each and everyone of its visitors.
The park is divided into seven major "lands" or areas with their
own theme: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland,
Liberty Square, Mickey's Starland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
Cast members (name for Disney Employees) in each land are dressed
to match the theme of that land. The following is a description
of each land the attractions one would find there
-MAIN STREET USA-
This is where one can do a lot of shopping, not to mention a
little fun and a little eating on the side. The street is a
recreation of the town Walt Disney grew up in and the buildings
are built with a turn of the century style of architecture. There
are a few attractions here: The Walt Disney World Railroad, which
I recommend riding when you are tired of walking and need a break;
an arcade with vintage arcade games, and shops. Stop and have an
ice cream cone and listen to the rag-piano, or cool off on a horse
drawn trolley.
-TOMORROWLAND-
Tomorrowland now looks more like "Yesterdayland", as it was
built with a 1950's view of tomorrow. Despite the fact that it
needs to be updated to today's view of tomorrow, this section of
the park houses some of the most popular attractions, and some of
the more outdated ones. Lines form early in the day for Space
Mountain, the Grand Prix Raceway, and the Starjets, and by mid-day
are quite long. Hungry? Pick up a bite to eat at the "Lunch Pad"
and then do a little shopping. The facelift for Tommorowland
should begin soon with replacement rides for Carousel of Progress,
and Mission to Mars.
@ * Space Mountain - A thrilling roller coaster ride in the
dark. This ride is tame, but still not for
the weak at heart. I have ridden it 4-5
times and I have enjoyed it every time. This
ride is accompanied by long lines: ride it
just prior to park closing, or right after
the park opens and don't miss it if you like
roller coasters. When you are riding you
don't know what is going to happen next since
there is no light except for the occasional
meteor or galaxy going by. If the line is
extended outside of the building you might
want to wait, as there is plenty of room
inside for quite a few people and chances are
there will be a long wait. Also they let
people into the queue area in groups so the
line moves in big bunches. Overall any wait
under one hour for the 2 minute and 38 second
thrill is worth it. Expectant Mothers, those
with back and heart problems, and those prone
to motion sickness are advised not to
participate. Children must be 44 inches or
taller to ride.
****** SPOILER ******
There are actually two separate rides inside
the mountain, one has quick dips while the
other contains more high speed turns. When
you are allowed to enter the actual queue
area you have a choice to go to the left or
right. The left side is more tame (the one
with more turns), the right has more dips.
* Carousel of Progress -This attraction, originally debuting
at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York, was
relocated to Disneyland in CA and then to
Florida in 1971. It is an entertaining ride
with a catchy song (you will be singing it
after the ride!) that traces four generations
of one family's progress through two
centuries. Go on this ride if you are tired
and hot, as it is a great place to relax and
the wait is almost never longer than five to
ten minutes. This ride contains a lot of
older AA, and it is presented in a rotating
theater!! Take note of the "present day"
representation, as it is getting a tad
outdated. 22 minutes.
* Dream Flight - Presented by Delta Airlines. This cute ride
about the history of flight replaced "If You
Had Wings" which ran for almost 15 years.
It is very short, but entertaining and is
usually accompanied by no or short lines.
Large screens overhead simulate landings,
take offs etc. Some AA. The ride includes,
scenes from Paris and Tokyo, 2-D cut outs, a
"popup" book scene, a trip inside of a jet
engine and more. 4.5 minutes.
Mission to Mars - Outdated "simulator" (if you can call it
that) where you "fly" to Mars. The theater
has some neat effects (seats rumbling during
launch, etc.) yet it is not very exciting for
the older folks (13 years and up). However,
it is a good place to cool off. Small amount
of AA. Take note of how everything is
outdated in this attraction such as the
countdown timers and reel to reel flight
recorders. Children will get a kick out of
this attraction. Oh, be sure to give a nod
to Mr. Johnson at the "preflight" briefing -
-he looks just like the father in Carousel of
Progress, hmmm... 12 minutes. This
attraction is going to be removed in the near
future to make way for Alien Encounter (a
George Lucas attraction).
* American Journeys - A 360 degree CircleVision film (the
screen surrounds you!) all about America.
Enjoyable and excellent sights of the USA are
presented in this film. Including: The
Statue of Liberty, the Colorado Rockies,
Mystic Connecticut, Dodger Stadium, an
impressive launch of the Space Shuttle
Columbia, and more. Take note that there are
NO seats in the theater but it is a great
place to cool off. 21 minutes long.
@ Grand Prix Raceway - A fun ride if you like don't mind long
lines. You drive a miniature gasoline
powered car around a 2,260 foot track at a
blazing speed of 7mph! A great ride for kids
to "drive" a car. Children under 52 inches
are not allowed to drive but they can
participate if accompanied by a older person.
Children one year and older may participate,
but they must be accompanied by an adult.
Approximately 4 minutes long.
@ Star Jets - A simple rule for this ride is: Skip it! Not
very exciting and there is almost always a
1/2 hour or more wait. It is no more than on
of those carnival rides with the hydraulic
arms that lift the "spaceships" off the
ground. VERY similar to Dumbo the Flying
Elephant in Fantasyland. 1.5 minutes.
* WEDWAY People Mover - A fun and relaxing ride on
"futuristic" trains powered by linear
induction motors. They ride above
Tomorrowland and go into other attractions
and shops. If you have any doubts about
riding Space Mountain, ride this first as it
will take you into Space Mountain and you
will be able to see what it is like. Look
for the "spaceships" circling above and to
the right (if you are travelling forward).
Other sights on this ride include: a look at
Dream Flight and some shops; and a view of
Walt Disney's model of what EPCOT was
supposed to look like. (When the narrator
says "This is what a future city could be
like" the train will slow down and left side
you will see the model (if you are travelling
forward), it is inside a dark tunnel. 10
minutes.
-ADVENTURELAND-
This land has some of the best rides in the Magic Kingdom,
including some shops where you can buy unusual souvenirs (pirate
hats, pirate cap guns, rubber spiders, etc.). The buildings are of
Caribbean and Polynesian style. You also can have your picture
taken as a pirate or relax and listen to the steel band music!
The Enchanted Tiki Birds - An interesting but tame
attraction in which AA birds serenade the
audience with quite a few songs which will
leave you smiling. There are a few surprises,
such as: are those totem poles real? I won't
say any more... (Don't go in it twice in one
trip, you will get bored with it (at least I
did!)). 15.5 minutes.
* Pirates of the Caribbean - Probably the best AA attraction
in the Magic Kingdom. This is a boat ride
that takes you along on a pirates' raid on a
Caribbean island. A truly amazing ride that
will leave you singing the theme song. There
is a small log flume drop in the beginning,
but nothing to be scared about. It is a
truly a great ride! Don't miss it! When you
are about to go on this ride, go into the
LEFT line, as it is ALWAYS shorter. It seems
as though the right queue line was
constructed to be much shorter than the right
hand side... 7.5 minutes.
******** SPOILER ********
In the beginning of the ride there is a small
log flume drop. You don't get wet, but some
passengers don't expect it at all. When you
see the skeleton navigating the ship on the
left prepare to head downward!
@ * Jungle Cruise - This is a good 10 minute boat ride where you
ride through the African jungle along with
your witty boat captain. Encountered along
the way are: Elephant bathing areas, hippos,
gorillas, snakes, large waterfalls, and more.
An enjoyable and entertaining ride, loaded
with AA. Kids love this ride! Beware, the
waiting lines are longer than they look. Go
just before the park closes, or right after
it opens. Oh, and be sure to give a nod to
the shrunken head salesman at the end of the
ride! 9 minutes.
Swiss Family Treehouse - This outdoor attraction is a
recreation of the treehouse from the Disney
movie entitled 'The Swiss Family Robinson'.
Climbing stairs is involved here, so those
who hate stairs beware. Despite the stairs,
the tree (which is artificial and has 80,00
vinyl leaves) has many interesting and
ingenious inventions that the family
'devised' during their stay. This attraction
does not have handicap access due to the
amount of climbing involved. Set your own
pace, but allow for 10-15 minutes, depending
on the crowds.
-FRONTIERLAND-
This land takes a look at the Old West of the USA. Many of
the attractions are fun and enjoyable. As always shops and places
to eat can also be found here. At certain times during the day
cast members dressed up as outlaws, deputies, etc will roam the
streets for a shoot out.
* Country Bear Jamboree - A great show where AA bears sing a
wide assortment of songs. The songs have
funny lyrics, and the show is altogether
fun and entertaining. Big Al sings his
famous song called "Blood on the Saddle" and
his guitar needs to be tuned. Sometimes the
show is changed to feature a vacation theme:
it is called the Vacation Hoedown, and the
songs are changed. I have also heard of a
Christmas show although I have never seen
it. Don't be discouraged by long lines,
they move at once when the show lets out.
Be sure to give a nod to Melvin, Buff, and
Max on your way out. 15 minutes.
Tom Sawyer Island - Here kids of all ages can experience a
playground with barrel bridges, Fort Sam
Clemens, and more. Food and restrooms are
also available on the island. It's Huck
Finn country here! Adults, relax and get a
bite to eat while the kids play. Take note:
to get to the island you must take raft.
The dock for the raft is between Big Thunder
Mountain and Splash Mountain. Take note,
the island closes at dusk.
@ * Splash Mountain - This is the same ride as the one in
Disneyland in CA but it has been redesigned
for a bigger thrill. It follows the
adventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends
from the Disney movie "Song of the South".
Brer Rabbit decides to leave his house and
move on, but Brer Fox and Brer Bear follow
him and eventually try to throw him (er,
you) into the Briar Patch. At the end of
the ride you are treated to a 47 degree log
flume drop down Chickapin Hill! Even if you
don't like log flumes try not to miss this
one, the last drop looks worse that it
actually is. 9 minutes long. Expectant
Mothers, those with back and heart problems,
and those prone to motion sickness are
advised not to participate. Children must
be at least 3 years old and 44 inches or
taller to ride.
********* SPOILER *********
There are three major drops in Splash
Mountain. The first is after you exit the
2nd lift hill and you are outside at this
point. The 2nd is inside, you will see
signs pointing to the "Laughing Place".
Right before the 2nd drop Brer Rabbit is in
a hole in a tree above your log. The 2nd
drop goes down, and then back up. The 3rd
drop is the largest: 52 feet, 47 degrees, 40
mph, and you know when that is coming! It
is incredible!
* Walt Disney World Railroad - Located between Splash
Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,
this station is yet another place where you
can board the WDW Railroad. Take note you
can see the final scene from Splash Mountain
by boarding the train at Main Street U.S.A.
19 minutes (round trip).
@ * Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - This is another great roller
coaster. It's a lot of fun, but again it's
not for the weak at heart. If you are unsure
walk up to the exit of the ride, where you
can see the "runaway" mine trains going
around the track. Go on this ride during
the parades, fireworks, or at the end or
beginning of the day as it is a very popular
ride. There are terrific sights inside the
"caves" where the train goes. If you are
still shaky about whether or not to go on
it, try the ride at night, when it becomes
much tamer than it is during the day. Just
a note of warning: 3.5 minutes. Expectant
Mothers, those with back and heart problems,
and those prone to motion sickness are
advised not to participate. Children must
be 42 inches or taller to ride.
********* SPOILER **********
The worst drop on the ride is after the 2nd
lift hill (the lift hill is the device that
brings you to the top (real noisy)), after a
long left spiral turn the train will
straighten out for a bit, and then all of a
sudden, down you go!!
-LIBERTY SQUARE-
This land represents colonial USA. There are some interesting
shops here along with a 130 year old oak tree. Shops and places to
eat are also here (You think Disney would create part of the park
with out food and merchandise stops??).
The Hall of Presidents - Not a thrilling attraction, but
informative and educational. The show takes
place in a theater and it is quite boring
for the most part. The show starts with a
film describing how important the
Constitution is to Americans. The good part
of the show is the roll call of all 42
presidents of the United States (Including
Bill Clinton). The AA figures are incredibly
lifelike. Then Abraham Lincoln stands up
and talks. Not incredibly thrilling, but a
good place to cool off. Not for kids under
10, as it will bore them to death (unless
they really fully understand what the
Constitution is and what it means to us as
Americans). 22 minutes.
Liberty Square Riverboat - This is a neat ride on a
recreated Mississippi Riverboat. It has
some great scenery including "injuns", a
cabin fire, and more. It's a nice way to
relax on the Rivers of America and see
exactly what Mark Twain was writing about.
24 minutes.
* Haunted Mansion - This is not as scary as it sounds; in
fact, it is actually quite humorous. During
your journey through the house you meet up
with 999 happy haunts (and as the ride says
there is always room for one more! You may
just be it...). The lines are usually short
and it is worthwhile to ride it. Contains
AA. Lots of fun! Small children might be
scared however. Is the ceiling going up, or
is the floor going down?? Oh and one more
thing, watch out for hitchhiking ghosts,
they always wind up sitting next to me...
(You'll see what I mean..) 8.5 minutes.
Mike Fink Keel Boats - Ride down the Rivers of America in
Davy Crockett style. These small boats
(each seating about 40), will take you on a
more personalized tour of the Rivers of
America. Take note: the Keel Boats close at
dusk.
-MICKEY'S STARLAND-
This used to be Mickey's Birthdayland, but it was changed
when Mickey's 60th birthday party was over. It is now called
Mickey's Starland but overall it is still geared toward very young
kids as it was before.
Petting Zoo - Pet the farm animals. See Minnie Moo, the cow
with the Mickey Mouse ears on its side.
Mickey's house - Take a look at this (it's pretty cute).
+ Other Items, such as meet the characters from
The Disney afternoon etc. (In the back.)
Duckburg U.S.A. - A recreation of Uncle Scrooge's town.
* Walt Disney World Railroad - Yet another place to grab the
train.
-FANTASYLAND-
This is where you will find most of the smaller kids and
their parents on the rides. Most of the rides here are simple and
short, yet interesting and fun. Shops and places to eat are also
here (There are a lot of places to eat and buy things, have you
noticed that?).
* Magic Journeys - A 20 minute film with incredible 3-
dimensional effects. The objects come right
out of the screen and in front of your
face!!! Don't miss it. It does not have
long lines and you get to see a 3-D Donald
Duck cartoon before the actual film. The
film, called Working for Peanuts is the only
Disney cartoon ever made in 3-D, and it
starts Donald Duck, and Chip and Dale. The
actual "feature film" for the attraction has
a somewhat corny storyline at times it seems
abstract, but overall it is worth it to sit
down and enjoy the effects... Most people
miss this attraction due to its low
publicity. Oh yeah, it's also Air-
Conditioned!!! 24 minutes.
Skyway to Tomorrowland - This is your typical skyway cable
ride. If you don't feel like walking to
Tomorrowland then take this. The lines are
usually much shorter at Tomorrowland. By
taking this ride you get so see some of the
not so impressive sights of WDW, such as the
rooftops and the building that houses 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea. This attraction
closes when the wind starts blowing hard, or
when a Florida storm is brewing. 5 minutes.
* It's a Small World - Presented by Mattel. A very cute and
entertaining boat ride where AA dolls from
all over the world sing a song that you will
never forget. In fact, you'll probably be
singing it for weeks! Includes AA. A
relaxing and cooling ride. The premise for
this ride came from the 1964-65 World's Fair
in New York. The lines for this ride are
usually minimal, especially at night. 10.5
minutes.
Snow White's Scary Adventures - Don't be misled by the name
of the ride as it's a cute ride, nothing
spectacular yet it's not that scary at all.
Its more and less like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
but with a Snow White theme. The witch
keeps popping out at you and trying to
"scare" you and make you eat that famous
apple. At the end you get "hit" on the head
by a large diamond and the effects are
simple but done quite well. 2.5 minutes.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Actually it's not that wild as it is
geared for kids. Throughout the rides it
always looks like you are going to crash
into something, but that's part of the fun.
After taking a wrong turn, you seem to be in
a tunnel with a train coming right at you,
or heading for some crates full of TNT!
Small children will enjoy this attraction
and most of them exit laughing! Even adults
will find themselves yelling and waving
their hands at the zany things that pass
them on their journey.
2 minutes.
Peter Pan's Flight - A cute ride about Peter Pan, where you
"fly" in Hook's boat (via overhead tracks)
looking down on London (very well done),
Captain Hook and other scenes from the
movie. Many people enjoy this ride as it is
quite tame. Includes AA. 3 minutes.
@ * 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - A submarine ride based on the
movie where you will "descend" 20,000
leagues under the sea (actually you never go
under, yet the bubbles make for a convincing
sight) to find sharks, the lost city of
Atlantis, sea serpents, mermaids, and more
(all artificial). The effects on this ride
are not that incredible, but it is one of
the most popular so watch out, the lines for
this ride are LONG!! Take note: if you look
carefully you'll be able to see the thin
cables suspending some of the fish. 8.5
minutes.
* Cinderella's Castle - Not really an attraction per se, but
it's a great background for pictures. Inside
there is a 6-7 panel tile mosaic with gold
inlay that depicts the story of Cinderella.
It also houses the restaurant King Stephens
Banquet Hall. More inspiring than the castle
in Disneyland, this castle has something
magical about it when you look at it, and
the architecture is astonishing...
Mad Tea Party - Spin yourself dizzy in those famous teacups
from Alice in Wonderland. You don't have to
go fast if you don't want to. This ride is
nothing exciting, but if you want to go on
it you must fight with crowds, as it is
surprisingly popular. I must say though,
after riding this you become somewhat
disoriented and dizzy. 1.5 minutes.
Golden Carousel - Your typical theme park carousel, yet this
one has something magical about it.
Originally from Olympic Park in New Jersey,
it was restored to an incredibly dazzling
condition by WDW workers. Take note that
everyone gets to ride a white horse on this
carousel. 2 minutes.
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant - Just like the StarJets in
Tomorowland (including the long lines). This
is extremely popular with the younger kids
(as the StarJets are popular with the older
kids). This ride is going to be renovated in
the near future. The renovation will not
only improve the look of the ride but it
will increase it's passenger/hour ratio.
(They are increasing the # of Dumbo's from
10 to 16). The same ride in Disneyland has
recently gone under the same renovation
process. 1.5 minutes.
-----------------------------------------
EXTRA SHOWS IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM
Check the information centers for EXACT times. After you see
the shows once, take advantage of the crowds not trying to get on
the rides. Most of the waiting times for most rides are cut more
than 80% during parades and fireworks.
Daily Parade - Usually around 3pm. See it once and then take
advantage of it on your next visit to the park. The
parade has huge cold air balloons of famous Disney
characters and is set to a Mardi-Gras theme.
SPECTRO-MAGIC - This new show replaced the old Main Street
Electrical Parade which was shipped to Euro-
Disneyland. This parade uses fiber-optic, prismatic,
holographic, and electro-luminescent technologies.
Clouds of underlit liquid nitrogen accompany the good
old twinkle lights. Truly an incredible parade with
great music and super effects. DON'T MISS IT. (The
parade might not be running during the 'off' season.
Check information centers for info.) During the
summer the parade runs twice daily: 9pm and then
again at 11pm.
Fantasy in the Skies (fireworks) - 10pm. Don't worry about this,
as you can see it from almost anywhere in the park.
The Grand Floridian resort, The Polynesian Resort,
and the Contemporary Resort are all good places to
watch the fireworks. Personally I enjoy the
Polynesian, grab a chair on the beach and look
straight across the lagoon. There are only fireworks
when the Magic Kingdom is open until 10pm or later.
Other Shows - Check at Town Hall for information on this topic.
Shows change quite frequently and are held at various
places inside the Magic Kingdom such as the
Tomorrowland Theater
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART VI
** EPCOT CENTER **
--------------
EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow) Center is
divided into two major areas: Future World and World Showcase. In
each of the two areas are pavilions about certain topics and
countries. NOTE: Most of the rides in EPCOT Center use a
continuous train, so people are always boarding the ride and the
lines move rather quickly. The majority of the rides in Future
World can be ridden during midday with average waiting times,
however if you don't want to wait, go on the rides at night during
Illuminations (the Laser Light show), or stay until the park
closes; the lines get extremely short about 2 hours before
closing.
-FUTURE WORLD-
Future world has 8 main pavilions, each with its own theme. Some
pavilions have attractions within them.
* Spaceship Earth - This ride (which is actually inside the
big silver sphere!!) traces the history of
communication and is one of the best rides
in EPCOT. Don't miss it! See all sorts of
sights such as the Sistine ceiling, Rome
after it fell, King Tut, the telegraph,
television, today's technology and the
technology of Tomorrow's Child. The climax
is when you reach the top of the geo-sphere
and encounter a breathtaking view of the
stars. This is by far one of the most
incredible planetariums I have seen. Then
you descend and listen to the song
Tomorrow's Child. Narrated by Walter
Cronkite. Presented by AT&T. 16 minutes.
Take note, Spaceship Earth will be going
through some major renovations very soon.
It is expected that the attraction could be
close for up to six months.
* The Living Seas - This attraction is a walk through as well
as a ride. First there is a brief preview,
then you see a very informative (but loud)
movie about the oceans. After that you
descend in a "Hydrolator" to Sea Base Alpha
and ride through part of the coral reef
environment in your Sea-Cab. Next you are
free to walk around Sea Base Alpha and try
on a diving suit, see the manatees, learn
about all sorts of marine life, and more.
It's a lot of fun, and much can be learned
here about the undersea world. Oh don't
forget to Ascend in your "Hydrolator", or
then again, just use the door next to
them... Presented by United Technologies.
About 12 minutes of movies, a three minute
sea-cab ride, after that you set your own
pace. but allow 30-45 minutes minimum.
* The Land - This pavilion actually has 3 attractions in it
along with a revolving restaurant and a food
court. Presented by Nestle (formally Kraft).
Take note: The Land will be going through
some major changes in the next few months.
Some attractions or areas may be close for
renovation.
* Listen to the Land - This is a boat ride through
the gardens, ecosystems, and future
agriculture that EPCOT houses. First the
boat tour takes you through the prairies,
the desert, a rain forest and then a farm.
Next some pictures depict farming, after
that you enter the are where they actually
grow plants. See lettuce growing in
styrofoam, plants hanging in mid-air,
bananas growing next to rice right next to
cacao. Most of the food grown here is
served in WDW restaurants. The boat
continues along and enters a fish hatchery
where bass, shrimp and other marine life
are being bred. Overall the ride is
excellent. Some AA, 12 minutes.
* Kitchen Kabaret - This theater show explains the
4 basic food groups and how good nutrition
is essential in life. Presented in a
slight comical way the show can crack a
smile on anyone. Bread, Ham, Eggs, Milk
and others sing to you about health with
your AA host Bonnie Appetite. A lot of AA.
13 minutes. (This attraction will soon be
changed. The new show will be called "Food
Rocks")
Symbiosis - A 19 minute film about agriculture
and farming. Not my favorite, yet
informative. 18.5 minutes.
Also in this pavilion are two places to eat: The
Land Bar Grille Room (a rotating sit-down
restaurant) and a marketplace type food
court with all sorts of goodies ranging
from bread to frozen yogurt.
* Journey Into Imagination - 3 attractions. Presented by Kodak.
* Journey Into Imagination Ride - A ride about
your imagination and where it can take you.
There are some really interesting things to
see in this attraction including: lasers,
fiber optics and a surprise! Ride with
Dreamfinder and his helper Figment (a
purple childish dragon) through the world
of imagination. 13 minutes.
******* SPOILER ********
When you see a white light flashing ahead
in the ride, smile!! Your picture will be
taken and shown at the end of the ride.
* The Image Works - A futuristic playground where
you can conduct an orchestra, star in a
movie, play with sounds, lasers, pinboards,
sound effects, a neon tunnel, electronic
coloring books, and more. There is also an
interesting area where a computer takes
your picture, and you then can add big
lips, ears, a new hair style and glasses to
your face! Very imaginative and loads of
fun for all ages! (Even my grandfather was
"playing"!!) One interesting note, in the
room were you step on the floor to make
sounds, the last cluster of lights, if
stepped on in the right order, will
reproduce the famous 5 notes from Close
Encounters.
*** Captain EO - Another 3-D movie (the other one
is in the Magic Kingdom) that is absolutely
incredible! Try not to miss it! The movie
stars Michael Jackson as Captain EO. He
and his puppet friends must turn an ugly
evil leader into a beautiful princess
through music, lights, and 3-D! Lasers
shoot throughout the theater along with
flashing lights and smoke machines that
make the entire movie quite an experience.
There is also some pre-show entertainment:
A slide show with music that keeps the
audiences eyes on the screen. (Can you name
the man who sings the songs in the
preshow?? It's Bob from Sesame Street!)
Preshow: 8 min, movie: 17 minutes. (This
film is going to be replaced by a movie
themed after Honey I Shrunk the Kids)
* World of Motion - 2 excellent attractions are found here.
Presented by General Motors
* World of Motion Ride - This ride presents
mankind's progress in his quest for better
means of transportation. Starting off with
our feet the attraction eventually leads up
to the future of transportation. See the
wheel being invented, a train being held
up, a "small" automobile accident, planes
from the Golden Age of aviation, and the
future of transportation. There are also
some great tunnel like movie theaters where
you are put in the action (Such as a
bobsled, an airplane etc.) The last scene,
which shows what a city may look like some
day, leaves most visitors in awe as it is
beautiful. A lot of AA make this ride
exceptional. Don't miss it, it's worth any
wait. 14.5 minutes.
******* SPOILER ********
Right after the last scene (which is the
futuristic city) you will be put in a car
of the future via holograms. It is a very
convincing effect, despite the fact that
you can put your hands through the car.
Transcenter - Here you can see the cars and
transportation of today and the future.
Actual working prototype cars are on
display here, along with a mock up of a
wind tunnel, a demonstration of the mag-lev
train, and more. There are also a few
short shows including the Bird and the
Robot (very funny and entertaining), and
The Water Engine. You can also look at and
sit in the newest GM models.
* Horizons - This ride looks at 3 aspects of the future:
Desert, Space and Sea. Supposedly you are
boarding some sort of craft that will show
you the future. The attraction begins by
looking at views of future from the past,
including Jules Verne's idea of space
travel. Next you are treated to two huge 3
story movie screens that present the
"building blocks" of the future (includes:
the city, DNA, crystals and more). The
effects from the films are quite deceiving
and at times you feel like you are flying.
Next up you are shown many different scenes
of what future life might be like in the
desert, under the sea, or out in space At
the end of the ride you are given the option
to choose which way you would like to return
(via desert, space or sea), and you are then
shown a 30 second film that "takes" you
back. Don't miss it!! This attraction has
lots of AA and is one not to be missed!
Formally presented by General Electric, no
new sponsor yet. 15 minutes. (This
attraction, although a favorite may be torn
down to make way for a new space pavilion)
* Wonders of Life - This 100,000 square foot gold colored
dome situated between Horizons and Universe
of Energy houses three main attractions, and
many smaller ones. All attractions have a
health/body theme to them, and the general
message is good health. Presented by
Metropolitan Life.
* Body Wars - A flight simulator ride through
the human body. Here you are "shrunk" down
in size while in your vehicle and you are
the injected into the human body.
Supposedly you are to pick up a Dr. who is
in one of the blood streams taking some
measurements on a wound. When an emergency
occurs however, your tour becomes more then
just for sightseeing. The entire 40 seat
theater bucks and pivots to the movie. Very
good but too short. 6 minutes. Expectant
Mothers, those with back and heart
problems, and those prone to motion
sickness are advised not to participate.
Children must be at least 3 years old to
ride with an adult, or 7 years old to ride
alone.
* Cranium Command - A very imaginative
attraction where you look through the head
of a 12 year old boy and see his thought
processes. Includes such stars as Bobcat
Goldwaith, Hans & Frans from SNL, Norm from
Cheers, John Lovitz, and a cute story line.
Try not to miss it, as it is worth a few
laughs and it is presented extremely well.
The preshow entertainment should be seen to
set up the plot of the attraction.
Includes AA. 13 minutes.
The Making of Me - Dramatic micro-photogrophy
explains the reproduction cycle from
fertilization to birth. This attraction
had the longest wait in all of Disney
World. Some people may not want their
children to see such material. A sign
explains what this attraction is about. It
is up to your discretion to see it or not.
Surrounding the attractions are many other "mini"
attractions such as: Sports Goofy, a Sports
analyzer, a health bar and more.
* Universe of Energy - This ride, which is interesting to
those who want to learn, is about energy.
The preshow area is presented on a screen
that has rotating parts. Next you sit down
in the "theater" to watch a film. The
"theater" then splits up as the seats
become vehicles that take you back millions
of years to the age of the dinosaurs. The
dinosaurs (which are AA) are quite
realistic. Soon you travel back to present
day to see another film which is a very
informative look at the diminishing supply
of energy on the planet earth. From the
monorail you will notice solar cells on the
roof of the building. They harness the
suns rays and provide some of the power to
run the attraction. Presented by Exxon.
NOTE: Due to the recent 'Dinosaur revival'
(From the release of Jurassic Park) this
attraction may become more crowded in 1993
as kids want to see dinosaurs. Plan
accordingly. 26.5 minutes.
SPACE PAVILION - PLANS COMPLETE, NO WORD YET ON WHEN
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN.
There are 2 other small pavilions in EPCOT Center:
Communicore East and West - These smaller pavilions have
computers and other electronic gadgets to
play with, as well as places to eat and
shop. Communicore East also hosts
Backstage Magic. This is a look at the
computers that run EPCOT Center.
* I will be updating this section on communicore in the next *
* revision of the book. Sorry for any inconvenience *
-WORLD SHOWCASE-
World Showcase depicts 11 countries from around the world.
Some of them have attractions, while others do not. They all have
restaurants where you can sample authentic food from that country.
The people who work in these pavilions are from the countries that
they represent and each pavilion has shops where you can buy
authentic merchandise from that country. The countries are listed
in a counter clockwise direction around the EPCOT Lagoon (Except
for Russia).
Canada - This country is depicted by a 360 degree Circle
Vision film, two shops and a cafeteria style
restaurant called Le Cellier. The movie, named
O' Canada, displays the life of the people in
Canada. Some of the most impressive sights are in
this film; skiing down slopes, the Cathedral of
Notre Dame, ice hockey, and part of the Canadian
air force, all in 360 degrees! The castle like
building in this pavilion was styled after Chateau
Laurier in Ottawa. The two shops offer authentic
French-Canadian gifts and souvenirs. In the shop
called the Trading Post there are some audio
animatronic animals that occasionally move and may
even speak a bit. See ya en Canada, eh?
(Duration of film: 18 minutes).
* United Kingdom - This pavilion recreates an English town;
complete with a tea shop and a pub. The Rose and
Crown Pub offers traditional English cooking, I
recommend the seafood medley (broiled scallops,
shrimp and muscles) as an appetizer and the Fish
N' Chips with malt vinegar for the main course.
The lamb chops are also very good. The Pub also
offers many other dishes, dark beer, and ale. The
shops include The Toy Soldier (toy shop), tea
shop, and... A few times a day the English
Players present a hilarious street play based in
Shakespeare's time. This play would not be
complete with out the help from the audience
though! Have a jolly good time old chap!!
France - A miniature Eiffel Tower sets the mood for France.
A few restaurants offer up the traditional French
cuisine complete with escargot and crepes. To cool
off go inside and see the movie. A very elegant
theater (complete with a crystal chandelier and
velvet curtains) depicts France on a 180 degree
screen. The film is very well done. Other shops
are here where you can purchase all sorts of French
merchandise. Bon Appetite! (Duration of film: 18
minutes).
Morocco - The prayer tower Koutoubia Minaret dominates this
country's representation. In the front of the
pavilion an impressive irrigation system waters the
flowers, be sure to take a look at it. In the
Gallery of Arts and History one can view exhibits
on Moroccan culture. Hungry? If so stop off at
Marrakesh where you can have an authentic Moroccan
meal complete with belly dancers for entertainment.
Many shops at this pavilion offer up a wide variety
of merchandise including: carpets, jewelry,
clothing, bamboo furniture and off course a fez.
Japan - Excellent food, shops and entertainment can be
found in the Japan pavilion. If you are in the
courtyard area of the pavilion, keep your eye out
for the man who sculpts candy. I am not kidding
either, it's pretty neat and his show is quite
humorous. A performing drum troupe can also be
found in the courtyard. The Japanese gardens are
authentically reproduced and I highly recommend a
walk through them. The restaurants and snack bars
serve up traditional Japanese cuisine. In one
restaurant the chef cooks on your table and puts on
a small comical routine. Towards the back of the
pavilion you will notice the gates to the Emperor's
palace. These will be used as an entrance to the
new roller coaster ride that is still in the
planning stages. (See the 'In the Future' section
for more information on this topic). There is a
large shop here, and there is usually some sort of
ongoing art display. Soyonara!
* U.S.A. - Here you can get the traditional hot dog and soda.
But chowing down is not the only thing to do here.
The attraction, called The American Adventure, is
one of the most impressive in World Showcase. This
29 minute presentation shows the most important
parts in the history of the United States. Moments
recreated include: the Pilgrims, Valley Forge, The
Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, World War II,
and more. Overall the show is the most emotional
of all the attractions in WDW, the final scene will
choke up even the hardest hearts, as everyone
leaves the theater with a feeling of American
pride. Also, not one of the people on stage are
real!!! They are all AA. Please don't miss this
one. See ya later! Presented by The Coca-Cola
Company and American Express. (Duration of
attraction: 29 minutes).
Italy - The reproduction of Venice's Doge's Palace marks
this pavilion. Here in an open air market all
sorts of goodies can be found ranging from Italian
chocolates and leather goods, to lead crystal
bowels and earrings. The restaurant here,
L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, serves up
an incredible meal. All pasta is made on the
premise and is bound to satisfy any Italian
appetite. If your not hungry look through the
windows and watch the chefs make the pasta. In
the mood for a little comedy? Hang around the
street for a bit and soon enough "Il Teatro de
Bologna" (translation: Bologna Theater) will come
out and entertain you with they're comical plays.
Beware, you may become part of the play!
Germany - Bloatworst, Beer and a Teddy Bear is what you
will find here. The food is quite authentic and
you will leave the restaurant feeling a bit
stuffed. There are some excellent shops including
(my favorite) Der Teddy Bear. This is a toy shop
that sells (you guessed it) Teddy Bears,
Playmobile, LGB Model Trains and more. There is
also a cart out front the pavilion that sells
German lead crystal items, some of which are
beautiful.
China - Go back to the days of the Ming Dynasty when you
visit Disney's recreation of China. Beautiful
architecture is found throughout the entire
pavilion. There is an excellent 360 degree circle
vision film which gives a great overview of the
country. The food here is exceptional and they
have the best egg rolls I have ever had. (Duration
of film: 19 minutes).
@ * Norway - Try not to miss the ride Maelstrom at this
pavilion! It is a ride in a Viking boat through
the rough Norwegian seas. With a few surprises!!
-But very short. The ride does move you backwards
for a bit, and makes it look as if you are going
to go over a cliff. Some folks might find this
unnerving. Excellent cafeteria style and sit down
food is available here along with shops selling
miscellaneous items and a travel center (If you
plan to visit). If the line for Maelstrom is
outside the building you may want to wait. Disney
imagineers have come up with an incredible way of
herding people into an attraction and at times it
can be quite deceiving! (Duration of ride: 14
minutes (5 minute ride & 9 minute movie).
Expectant Mothers, those with back and heart
problems, and those prone to motion sickness are
advised not to participate, although it is quite
tame.
* Mexico - Almost the entire pavilion is enclosed in a large
reproduction of a Mexican pyramid. This means
that it is all air-conditioned!! Inside it is set
up as a Mexican market at night. The ride called
"El Rio del Tiempo" (Translated means: The River
of Time) is here. This boat ride takes you
through Mexico's past and present. Although the
ride is depicted mainly by grainy rear-projection
movies and parts of it get quite corny, this is an
enjoyable and pleasant ride. The end has some of
the best "imitation" firework effects I have ever
seen. Mexican food is served on the bank of this
"river". Many authentic Mexican gifts can be
purchased here, ranging from sombreros to ponchos.
In the entrance to the pavilion there is an
ongoing display of Mexican art depicting the
history of the country. (Duration of ride: 8.5
minutes).
RUSSIA - PLANS COMPLETE, NO WORD YET ON WHEN CONSTRUCTION
WILL BEGIN.
I am putting a catchy phrase from that country at the end of
each description. I need something for the following countries:
Morocco, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, & Mexico. Please send me
any suggestions. Thanks.
Try to see all of the rides marked with an asterisk (*). Any
rides that you miss during the day, go back and see during
Illuminations.
Extra Shows in EPCOT Center - Check the information centers for
the time that the show starts. There is usually some sort of
show presented in front of the American Pavilion sometime
during midday. After you see the shows once, take advantage
of the crowds not trying to get on the rides. As in the
Magic Kingdom most of the waiting times for most rides are
cut more than 70% during parades and fireworks.
Illuminations - An incredible laser & fireworks show over the
lagoon in EPCOT center. Each country around the lagoon is
featured, one at a time, and they are lit up in small white
lights. Don't miss it. But warning, crowds start lining up
around the lagoon as early as 2 hours before the show
starts!! The ultimate firework/laser show!!!
There also may be some other shows on the lagoon in EPCOT center
during midday, again check with information centers for times.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART VII
** DISNEY MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK **
-------------------------------
At this park you can see actual films being made, so the
brochure says. Actually there is a minimal amount of shooting
going on, but the park will give you an excellent idea of how
movies are made. There are only a few attractions, but an entire
day can easily be spent here. This park is much smaller than the
other two, so it doesn't take many people to make it crowded and
often they limit the amount of people inside the gates. The lines
are bearable in the early morning hours (7-10am) and after 5pm.
Despite its small size the studios will make you walk. Be
prepared to be on your feet for most of the day. Not just for
waiting, but some tours last an hour and you are on your feet for
the whole time.
@ * The Great Movie Ride - This ride contains some of the most
sophisticated AA figures ever created and some
of Hollywood's greatest films are featured
here. It is a great attraction but the lines
can get quite long during midday. Movies
featured are Singing in the Rain, Casablanca,
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, and The Wizard
of Oz, just to name a few. The show features
excellent special effects and an excellent but
short film at the end that gives tribute to
academy award winning movies. 19 minutes.
@ * Backstage Studio Tour - This is a tram ride through the
back lot of the studio. It features
Catastrophe Canyon: a simulated rainstorm,
earthquake, flash flood, and explosions all
rolled into one. Other aspects of the tour
include wardrobe, lighting, set design,
and camera departments etc. Many props from
movies can also be seen here, some include:
the pod from Flight of the Navigator, and the
Bulldog Cafe from The Rocketeer, the Trolley
and a car from Who Framed Roger Rabbit and
many more. On display for 1993 only is Walt
Disney's private airplane. The tram also takes
you down what is called the "residential"
street. The facades of these 'houses' are
used for outside shots in movies and tv shows.
One house you may recognize is from the Golden
Girls television series. After the tram ride
your are dropped off by the New York street.
Here you are free to walk through the "city".
Approx. 40 minutes.
@ * Inside The Magic: Special Effects and Production Tour - This
tour, which lasts approximately 1 hour, shows
how miniatures, blue mats, and other special
effects are done in movies, as well as
editing, audio recording, and final
production. The highlight of the tour is
where you are allowed to look at the three
soundstages. Here you may see absolutely
nothing, or you may actually see a set from a
tv show. I have seen the sets for: Delta
commercials, The New Mickey Mouse Club, and
Wheel of Fortune. You never know what is in
there! At the end of the tour a preview of
new Disney/Touchstone movies is shown.
Approximately 1 hour.
@ * SuperStar Television - This is a great production where the
audience actually takes part in a television
broadcast. The audience can star on the
Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson), Late Night
with David Letterman, Cheers, I Love Lucy, NBC
News from 1955, and you can even have a dry-
wall nailing race with Tim Taylor on Home
Improvement. Don't miss this one, it is
hilarious and I guarantee it will leave you
(at the very least) smiling. If you would
like to take part in the production get to the
front of the crowd in the pre-show area, this
is were they pick out the people to use in the
"production". RAISE YOUR HAND and you will
have an excellent chance of being picked. If
you do not want to take part on stage, stay
outside of the pre-show area and lay low! 30
minutes.
* The Magic of Disney Animation - Here you can take a tour and
see how cartoons and full length animated
features are created by Disney animators. See
actual animation cells from Disney classics,
and watch Disney artists work on current
animation projects. If you are interested in
art, I recommend taking this tour as it is
very informative and interesting. The lines
for this attraction are usually shorter than
others. Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams
are your "Video Hosts" through the tour. The
two of them together present animation to you
in a amusing way. You may set your own pace
after the initial movie, but allow 30-40
minutes to see everything.
* Monster Sound Show - Here you can learn how sound effects
are added to a movie and how they can add
suspense and excitement to a film. Of course
this is done with the help of a few volunteers
(should we call them volunteers?) from the
audience. The sound effects are produced on
the famous Foley stage, named after its
creator. The outcome is quite humorous due to
the fact that the volunteers are untrained
tourists! The short movie stars Martin Short
and Chevy Chase. The pre-show tv screens
above the crowd show David Letterman
interviewing Jimmie McDonald in a hilarious
way. (Jimmie did the voice of Mickey after
Walt died, and he also created many sound
effect techniques for use in Disney Films).
There is a post-show entertainment area for
this attraction. Outside the theater you can
get a chance to make some of your own sound
effects using the some of techniques that were
illustrated in the show. Add lasers to
Star Wars films, or do a voice over to Who
Framed Roger Rabbit. To relax a bit go into
one of the sound booths. Here you will
experience 3-D sound that puts you in the
middle of the action. It's incredible!
Beware however, this area is usually very
crowed! 20 minutes.
@ *** Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - All I can say is
DON'T Miss it. This show demonstrates how
stunts are part of movies by doing all kinds
of different skits in the Indian Jones
tradition. The famous plane scene from
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is reenacted along
with some other scenes from the movie. There
are only a few shows a day, so get the times
and decide when to see it. If you see a crowd
forming, get in the line --chances are they
know the starting time and they are getting a
head start. If you can, sit near the middle
top for the best view. After dusk the show is
sometimes shortened: go during midday to see
the entire show. Almost any seat in the
outdoor theater provides an excellent view of
the action. For the best view, sit towards the
top and the center. This way you don't have
to fight crowds when it is over, and you still
have a good view. (Warning, this show is
somewhat violent and very loud. Some small
children may be frightened, (Although my
little sisters enjoyed it!) use your own
discretion.) 30 minutes.
@ ** Star Tours - This is a flight simulator ride through rebel
and imperial forces based on the movie Star
Wars. You are supposed to be going to the
planet Endor, but your "pilot" (An AA robot)
does not really know how to fly this ship. It
is his first flight and you are in for a bumpy
ride after you some how get off course and
eventually wind up at the Death Star! The
entire 40 seat theater bucks and moves in time
to the movie, creating a very good effect. You
must be a certain height to ride this
attraction. 7 minutes. Expectant Mothers,
those with back and heart problems, and those
prone to motion sickness are advised not to
participate. Children must be at least 3
years old to ride with an adult, or 7 years
old to ride alone.
@ ** Muppet*Vision 4-D - Probably the best 3-D (er, 4-D) movie of
all time. Incredible effects follow the humor
of the crazy and lovable Muppets created by
the late Jim Henson. Those two cranky critics
(AA) start the show, and then the penguin
orchestra (AA) strikes up a tune. The effects
in this movie are almost 4-D: When Fozzy Bear
squirts water at the audience you feel it, and
bubbles come out of the ceiling when Miss
Piggy sings "Dream a Little Dream." You know
your in trouble when the Sweedish Chef is the
projectionist!! The end is a real "BANG" when
Sam the Eagle presents his "Salute to all
Nations, but mostly America". (You'll see what
I mean!). This attraction also contains a few
live actors. Be sure not to miss the pre-show
entertainment as it includes all your favorite
Muppet characters including: Kermit, Gonzo,
Beaker, Prof. Bunsen Honeydew and more!
The Muppets on Location - Those lovable Muppets take to the
stage two times a day in a hilarious
presentation that will leave anyone smiling.
Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and Fozzy decide to
make a movie, and you get to watch, and help
them produce it. It features all your
favorite Muppet characters. (people in
costumes).
* The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure - Here you
can experience what it would be like to be
shrunk down to a quarter of an inch in size.
Truly a very imaginative playground. Included
is the Kodak film slide, giant Legos, a HUGE
Oreo cookie, a massive dog nose, a dripping
garden hose and much more. "BIG" Fun for all
ages. Try to see it, kids will LOVE it! Set
your own pace but a minimum of 15-30 minutes
is required, and maybe more with children.
* Voyage of The Little Mermaid - This stage/puppet show
incorporates live action, AA, puppets, lasers,
holographic imaging and more to present the
songs and other items from the classic
animated movie. The presentation starts out
as you "descend" into the ocean (hmm feels
like water doesn't it...), then Sebastian and
friends sing Under the Sea, and you are
convinced you are under the sea. Next Ariel
sings Part of Your World. The show goes on to
follow the plot of the movie. Overall the
show is done extremely well). If you have
small children be sure not to miss this one!!
Even the adults will love it!
Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage - If you like the movie
Beauty and the Beast then you better not miss
this stage show. All your favorite characters
from the academy award wining film are on hand
to sing and dance to the movie's many songs.
Some numbers include: Be Our Guest, Gaston,
Kill the Beast, and of course Beauty and the
Beast. The show follows the plot of the
movie, and overall the show is something that
shouldn't be missed. This show is extremely
popular, and people start lining up for good
seats approximately an hour and a half before
curtain. Also, there are usually only 5-6
shows per day, plan accordingly.
Studio Showcase - This building houses some of the sets and
props used in television and movie
productions. Currently on display are: items
from Honey I Blew up the Baby, Johnny Carson's
desk from The Tonight Show, the backpack from
The Rocketeer, motorcycles from Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade, and many more. A great
place to cool off and see the movies from a
different point of view.
Hollywood Blvd. - (Main street at the entrance to MGM) Not
an attraction per se. Stroll down the
Hollywood of the 1930's. Here you can star in
your own music video, make a movie, have your
picture taken on the cover of a magazine, buy
actual props from movies and more. Then eat
at the Brown Derby.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Autograph Session - At certain
times of the day you can have Rafael,
Donatello, Michaelangelo and Leonardo sign
your autograph books, or pose with you for
pictures.
Tom and Jerry Autograph Session - Tom and Jerry are also
available for autographs and pictures at
specified times.
SUNSET BLVD. - UNDER CONSTRUCTION (For more information,
please refer to the "In the Future" section.)
TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR - UNDER CONSTRUCTION, 8 story
free fall drop!! (originally 13 stories, but
downgraded recently to 8). (For more
information please refer to the "In the
Future" section.
Extra Shows at The Disney MGM Studios
Aladdin's Royale Caravan Parade: This afternoon parade has
many colorful floats and live actors that present Aladdin
and his companions from the animated feature. Camels that
'spit' water, the Genie, Jaffar, and of course Aladdin and
Jasmine are all part of the show. Presented daily at 11am
and 3:30pm.
Sorcery in the Skies: This laser and fireworks is presented
nightly at MGM. The fireworks, choreographed to classical
music and the music of Disney is spectacular. The finale
includes a 4 story inflatable Mickey in his Sorcerer's
Apprentice outfit comes out from behind Grummans Theater
and ends the show.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART VIII
** NIGHT LIFE **
------------
If you are staying in Disney World when the theme parks close
around 8pm-9pm, don't fear!! The night is young at that time!
Almost every resort offers some type of night activity.
Personally, I enjoy going over to the Grand Floridian, sitting in
the main building and listening to the band play. It plays every
night around the same time. The Polynesian has a 6pm and 9pm luau
every night. Reservations are required, but it is a lot of fun.
The Contemporary Resort offers Broadway music with dinner
(Broadway at the Top Dinner Show (Reservations required 30 days in
advance)), The Outer Rim (a lounge, but they serve non-alcoholic
drinks to those under 21, and they show Monday Night football,
baseball etc.) and also WDW's largest arcade with the latest in
arcade technology. Take at least one night go up to the 15th floor
of the Contemporary resort. There is a breathtaking view of the
Vacation Kingdom up there, along with a lounge; a great place to
watch the fireworks. For the ultimate in night-life, go to
Pleasure Island. People under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
There is a 10 theater movie house, The Comedy Warehouse, The Neon
Armadillo (Country music), Rock 'N Roll Beach Club, The
Adventurers Club, 8-Trax and much more. Some are night club types
with dancing and music, others are comedy and music. Pleasure
Island's motto is "New Year's Eve every night!!", and they mean
it: fireworks and all!!! (For more information on Pleasure Island
please see the section "Other Attractions").
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART IX
** Dining **
--------
Now for a section on places to eat. Most restaurants in
Disney World can be either be expensive or inexpensive, depending
on what you order. I'll tell you about some of the restaurants
that I have been to and enjoyed. Although, all the food in Disney
World is great! Reservations are not required for all sit down
restaurants, but they are highly recommended (not just by myself,
but by Disney too). Disney offers and excellent pocket-sized
guide on Dining and Shopping that I suggest you pick up. It gives
a brief description of every restaurant in the vacation kingdom,
and it tells you how to make reservations. The guide is available
at most Disney resorts and theme parks.
First, The Magic Kingdom does not offer many restaurants. I
believe there are only a few places to sit down and have a dinner.
But there are plenty of places to snack on hot dogs, hamburgers
etc. For a sit down dinner try King Stephen's Banquet Hall
located in Cinderella's Castle, Tony's Town Square Cafe and the
Plaza Restaurant both located on Main Street U.S.A., or The
Liberty Tree Tavern located in Liberty Square. A full service
lunch/show (old west vaudeville type show) is available in
Frontierland at the Diamond Horseshoe a few times daily
(reservations required). For cafeteria service there is the
Crystal Palace which is located at the end of Main Street U.S.A.
EPCOT Center is the complete opposite of the Magic Kingdom as
it has plenty of restaurants to offer! (More than one could ask
for!) Future World offers the Coral Reef Restaurant in the Living
Seas pavilion. Here you can eat next to the aquarium! It is
really a lot of fun and the menu is basically all seafood. In the
Land pavilion there is The Land Grille Room restaurant. This
restaurant actually rotates and you can see part of the rides in
the building. In World Showcase, England's Rose and Crown Pub has
great food (The fish n' chips are great!) The Chinese restaurant
Nine Dragons has excellent traditional hunan, and szheuzan food.
Every pavilion in World Showcase has some sort of restaurant with
authentic food from that country. Dine in France for a romantic
night, or party the Oktoberfest way in Germany. Then hop over to
Japan where your food is cooked on your table in front of you, or
head over to Italy for some pasta. There are almost unlimited
possibilities for dining in EPCOT Center. If hamburgers and hot
dogs are all you want then head over to the American pavilion in
World Showcase, or the Odyssey Restaurant in Future World for fast
food service. You may also want to try (for lunch) Pasta and
Pizza at Communicore West in Future World.
In MGM I recommend the Brown Derby for a good meal. The
prices are a little expensive, but it is worth it. For something
a little out of the ordinary try The 50's Prime Time Cafe. Here
you sit in a mock "kitchen" with 50's decor while "Mom" serves the
food. The food offered is Magnificent Meat Loaf, Granny's pot
roast, Aunt Selma's chicken salad, and alphabet soup. While
eating you get to watch reruns of famous TV shows from the 50's
such as Car 54, Donna Reed, etc. For the ultimate in dining
experiences try the Sci-Fi Dine-In. Set up like a drive-in movie
theater your booths are shaped like classic cars from the 1950's
and you sit underneath the "stars" and watch an actual movie while
eating. Just keep the ketchup off the seats and no necking
please. In an Italian mood?? Well head over to Mama Melrose's
Ristorante Italiano to ill your stomach! The menu includes fresh
pasta, brick oven pizza and seafood. There are also plenty of
places to get a hot dog, such as the Backstage Express, and The
Soundstage Restaurant. For cafeteria style food, visit Hollywood
and Vine.
In the Disney resorts there are restaurants too, and the food
is just as good as anywhere else (if not better!). The Polynesian
Resort has excellent seafood at the Papeete Bay Verandah. Go to
Flagler's in The Grand Floridian for a great Italian dinner
complete with accordion music and of course the song Amore. The
Dolphin offers 7 restaurants, Port Orleans has one or two
restaurants along with a food court. The Caribbean Beach also has
a food court, and the Contemporary has a $13.95 all-you-can-eat
buffet with roast beef, shrimp, pizza, salad, dessert and more!!
Dixie Landings serves up Cajun and Creole style food in a price
range that is very affordable at Boatwright's Dining Hall. The
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is presented three times a night at
Fort Wilderness. This dinner show is fun, entertaining and it
will fill your stomach! All you can eat ribs, fried chicken, and
rootbeer are all served.
There is one thing for sure though, you won't go hungry in
WDW. You will always see some place and say: "Ooo, I think we
should try that sometime." Yet you never get the time to sample
all of the restaurants. So, I have compiled a list of the
restaurants that I think one should try on their visit. Next to
the name of the restaurant is where it is located and what meals
the server there (Breakfast=B, Lunch=L, Dinner=D). The list is in
NO specific order, but it is organized by resorts and theme parks.
Also take note that many of the restaurants listed also offer
snacks.
Flaglers - Grand Floridian B D
Victoria and Albert's - Grand Floridian D
1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian B D
(Buffet)
Contemporary Cafe - Contemporary B D
(All you can eat)
Broadway at the Top - Contemporary D
(Dinner Show)
Papeete Bay Verandah - Polynesian Village B,L,D
(Character Breakfast)
Coral Isle Cafe - Polynesian Village B,L,D
Trail's End Buffeteria - Fort Wilderness B,L,D
Boatwright's - Dixie Landings B D
Bonfamille's Cafe - Port Orleans B D
Olivia's - Vacation Club B,L,D
Old Port Royale - Caribbean Beach B,L,D
(Food Court)
Ariel's - Beach Club D
Yachtsman Steakhouse - Yacht Club D
The Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom B,L,D
(Buffet)
King Stefan's Bq. Hall - Magic Kingdom L,D
Liberty Tree Tavern - Magic Kingdom L,D
Nine Dragons - EPCOT, China D
Rose and Crown Pub - EPCOT, United Kingdom L,D
Coral Reef Restaurant - EPCOT, Living Seas L,D
The Land Grille Room - EPCOT, The Land B,L,D
Teppanyaki Dining Room - EPCOT, Japan L,D
Restaurant Akershus - EPCOT, Norway L,D
Bistro de Paris - EPCOT, France L,D
The Brown Derby - MGM L,D
50's Prime Time Cafe - MGM L,D
Sci-Fi Dine-in Rest. - MGM L,D
Hollywood & Vine - MGM B,L,D
Chef Mickey's Rest. - Village Marketplace B,L,D
Capt'n Jacks Oyster Bar - Village Marketplace L,D
Portobello Yacht Club - Pleasure Island L,D
The Fireworks Factory - Pleasure Island L,D
TAKE NOTE: Broadway at the Top and Victoria and Albert's are VERY
fancy restaurants. Jackets and ties are required for men at
Victoria and Albert's but they are optional at Broadway at the
top. Women should wear and evening gown. Reservation might
have to be made up to 30 days in advance. Call Disney for
more info.
All around the food is delicious and I never really had a
"bad" experience. Dinner reservations can usually be made 2-3
days in advance if you want to, although same day reservations
work quite well. Plan ahead and decide what park you are going to
go to the next day, then plan where you will eat dinner.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART X
** SHOPPING **
----------
Ah, the dreaded part of every vacation... Trying to figure
out what to buy your friends back at home. There are shops all
over the place in the theme parks and resorts and this can make
shopping for the "right" gift seem quite overwhelming. A trip
over to the Disney Marketplace (Lake Buena Vista) might be
worthwhile if you like to do all of your shopping at once. Here
you can find almost any gift imaginable, ranging from refrigerator
magnets and stuffed toys to $5000 animation cells! Souvenirs are
not the only items sold in the marketplace, there are also gourmet
food shops, clothing stores, a nature store, a toy store and more.
You will notice however that the majority of souvenirs and
merchandise is sold just about everywhere at WDW. So if you see
something one place, chances are you can find it elsewhere, unless
the item is geared toward that attraction or resort (i.e. Star
Wars toys at Star Tours, or a handbag with the Dixie Landing's
Resort logo on it).
If you purchase something at a theme park, the Village
Marketplace etc, and you do not want to carry it around, you may
have it delivered to your room. As far as I know there is no
charge for this provided you are staying at a Disney owned resort.
For those staying in a suite or condominium equipped with a
kitchen might want to go over to The Crossroads of Lake Buena
Vista. The Crossroads (137,000 square feet) was built by Disney
and then leased out to store chains. Goodings, a 24 hour
supermarket, is a great place to pickup food and other items such
as baby needs. A few stores in the Crossroads include: Foot
Locker, McKids, MoJo's Surfin' USA, Beyond Electronics, and
Mitzi's Hallmark. Some popular restaurant chains also reside here
such as TGI Friday's, Taco Bell, Red Lobster, Perkins, and of
course the ever popular (except with me!) McDonalds. The
Crossroads of Lake Buena is near the WDW Hotel Plaza and is
convenient to those staying the hotel plaza and WDW's Villas.
THIS SECTION TO BE EXPANDED IN FUTURE RELEASES
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XI
** WATER PARKS **
-------------
There are two main water parks in Walt Disney World. The two
parks were built almost 20 years apart, so obviously there are
some major advantages to the new one. However, both can provide a
fun filled day in the Florida sun! Here are some features of each
one.
River Country - This water park has white sandy beaches, rope
swings, tube water slides, and other water
attractions. This park was built in 1971 and the
admission price is nominal: $13.25 for an adult,
$10.60 children 3-9 years old.
Typhoon Lagoon -The ultimate water park!!! The world's
largest wave pool can be found here along with
Humunga Kowabunga. This is a body slide at an
incredibly steep angle in which you reach speeds
of 40mph!! Castaway Creek is a relaxing slow
water raft ride through tropical rain forests,
water falls and more. Some of the best water
slides are here also along with saltwater
snorkeling with fish!! The white beaches are also
a relaxing sight. When you're there don't forget
to hit Mayday Falls, Keelhall Falls, and Gangplank
Falls for some water slide fun. Get the tubes
that hold 4 people for Gangplank Falls. NOTE:
Typhoon Lagoon has been reaching capacity around
10-11am recently. Plan on going early or you will
be turned away at the gate.
Blizzard Beach - The 3rd themed water park for WDW. This park
is still in the planning stages and no plans have
been finalized yet.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XII
** OTHER ATTRACTIONS **
-------------------
The three theme parks and the two water parks are not the only
things to do in WDW. During the day take time off to swim in the
pool or rent some boats. The boats can be rented from most resort
marinas. The fees are high, however, if you stay in a Disney
resort offering boat rental, you might be able to get a special
deal such as: $50 will buy 2 hours of boat rental per day per
person in your party for the duration of your stay. That is an
incredible deal, since the regular price is $17.50 to rent a mini-
speed boat for 30 minutes.
Just about every resort in WDW has some sort of pool.
Disney has a knack for creating some of the most incredible pools.
At the Beach and Yacht Club resorts the pool, which spans the area
between both resorts, has a sand bottom, tidal pools, a ship with
a "mast" water slide, hot tubs, and is huge! Over at Port Orleans
there is a dragon for a slide, and at the Polynesian there is a
waterslide through a fake lava mountain. The best pool for laps
is over at the Contemporary resort. Fort Wilderness offers,
biking, canoeing, campfires, and more.
If you are a golfer then you are in heaven. Five PGA
championship tour courses are at your disposal (The Magnolia, The
Palm, The Lake Buena Vista, The Osprey Ridge, and The Eagle Pines
courses) offering a total of 99 holes! The Oldsmobile Golf
Classic is held annually on the Palm and Magnolia courses in early
October.
Now here are two smaller places at WDW where you can spend
quite a bit of time either dancing the night away, or putting
yourself right next to nature.
* Pleasure Island *
Pleasure Island is the ultimate in night club entertainment.
Opening at 7pm, guests must be over 18 to enter alone. (U.S.
driver's license or passport must be presented.) Under 18 must be
accompanied by an PARENT (Yes a parent, not an adult). Here is a
brief description of what you will find at Pleasure Island: (Age
restrictions given where applicable.)
8-Trax - Flash back to the disco age of the 1970's when you
dance here. Bean bag chairs and lava lamps are part
of the decor. Disco and rock music are played and
please, roll up those bell-bottoms ok?
Neon Armadillo Music Saloon - Put on your cowboy boots and
ten-gallon hat for this place! Dance the night away
to today's country hits performed by a live band.
Mannequins - Dance to today's hottest tunes on a rotating
dance floor with incredible lights and special
effects. This is place to be if some serious dancing
and lights is what you are after! (Ages 21 and
older).
Adventurers Club - Eccentric travelers, talking masks, and
outrageous stories is all part of the Adventurers
Club. Anything can happen here, including: shrinking
bar stools, and a 500-pound tap dancing pigeon!! You
have to see it to believe it! Good fun for the entire
family.
The Comedy Warehouse - Live stand-up comedy. Watch 5
hilarious comedians tickle your ribs and smash your
funny bone in a totally improv show. Watch them make
fun of Disney in a way you will never forget!
The Pleasure Island Jazz Company - Relax to the cool sound of
today's biggest jazz and blues performers. Classic
jazz as well as contemporary is played, and some
vocalists perform as well. (Opens Summer '93)
Rock N Roll Beach Club - Whoa dudes, like get out your
surfboard man, this is serious dancing man! Dance to
Old time favorites and classic rock is the theme here!
New Year's Eve Street Party - Live dance, band, nightclub on
the street. Every night countdown for a fireworks
show, and confetti! New Year's Eve every night!
Shops - Shops for clothing, gifts, Disney Memorabilia, food,
posters, and more can be found here.
Restaurants - American barbecue at The Fireworks Factory,
Italian food at Portobello Yacht Club and sweets at
D-Zertz.
AMC Pleasure Island 10 Theaters - 10 movie theaters playing
the latest films with state-of-the-art projection and
sound systems.
* Discovery Island *
Discovery Island is a certified zoological park. To get over
there you must hop aboard one of the big boats that look like
yachts. You can board them at Fort Wilderness, or the Magic
Kingdom. There is a admission fee of $8.50 for adults and $4.75
for children ages 3 to 9. Here you can explore an "exotic" island
with all sorts of wildlife on it. See toucans, parrots,
flamingos, giant turtles, and more. There are streams and foot
bridges throughout the island. It is a nice place to escape from
the everyday hustle and bustle of WDW. Take note: NO drinking
straws are allowed on the island. As the animals might strangle
themselves.
If you really become bored (very doubtful) you can leave
Disney property and head over to Universal Studios Florida or Sea
World of Florida. Both offer an enjoyable day under the Florida
sun. Further away (1hr and 30mins) is Kennedy Space Center. This
is a great place to learn about NASA's programs, the space
shuttle, and the heavens above. You can see the space shuttle
here among other NASA artifacts, and a great Omni-Max film. One
can see the launch of the space shuttle if you go at the right
time (a once in a lifetime event!).
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XIII
** TIPS **
------
This section has three types of tips to help you maximize the
time allocated for your vacation. The first is a general overview
of a day at any Disney theme park, the next has tips for specific
parks, attractions etc., the third contains tips for traveling
with children. Pay attention to details as this section can prove
the most helpful on your vacation.
** A Day at Disney **
-----------------
Here are some basic tips to follow for a day at
ANY Disney theme park:
1. Arrive 10-30 minutes before the park opens!!! Have a light
breakfast (bagel w/cream cheese, cereal, coffee, juice etc.).
You are allowed to walk around the parks to a certain point
before the official opening time.
2. Quickly go to the most popular attractions first!! Those are
the attractions I have marked with a @ sign. Go on as many as
you can before the lines get too long. At EPCOT, start
halfway around Future World, instead of at Spaceship Earth.
3. Make reservations for dinner around 9-11am. Your reservations
should be set for about 5-6pm.
4. Eat lunch before the crowds do. 11am is usually good. (I know
it probably doesn't sound too good to eat lunch early, but you
won't have to fight larger lines!)
5. WHEN ENTERING ANY RIDE ALWAYS GO TO INTO THE LEFT LINE!!!!!
Why? - Most people are right brained and right handed so they
assume right is better and we drive on the right side of the
road. (I am not making this up.) I found this to be true.
6. Parade time!! (3pm) Now, you have eaten lunch, and the rest of
the crowds are watching the parade, quick you have 1 hour to
see the popular rides!!
7. Eat dinner around 5-6pm. After 6pm the lines for the rides
start to shorten. Then go on more rides.
8. Fireworks, parades, Illuminations, are now being presented.
(9pm, 11pm etc.) Quickly go on more rides, putting emphasis on
the popular ones.
9a. Stay until the park closes (providing your kids aren't asleep
yet!), going on the more popular rides as it gets later.
9b. Return to your hotel, get washed-up and go to one of the
resorts and walk around. For kids go to the Contemporary
resort, there is a huge arcade there. For couples I
recommend a romantic walk on the Polynesian's beach or relax
to the big band music at the Grand Floridian. If your single
head of to Pleasure Island and dance the night away!
10. Sleep and start over. (Or stay up all night...)
Change this around anyway you want, but numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,
8, and 9a are the most important!!
** Insider's Tips **
----------------
Here are some tips that will help you make the most out of
the time that you have allotted for your vacation. These tips are
the way that I visit the park.
1. Always go in the LEFT line while queuing up for an
attraction. (Don't ask why, just do it!) A excellent
example of this is the Pirates of the Caribbean.
2. Go on the most popular rides during parades, fireworks,
shows etc. Lines usually decrease 50-80 percent.
3. Stay until the park closes. Again the lines dissipate.
4. Midday is the worst time for crowds, so visit the park in
the morning around noon go back to the hotel and go for a
swim. Eat dinner around 4-4:30, and then head back to the
parks.
5. Make reservations in advance for ALL restaurants.
6. Do all your shopping at once.
7. Watch ANY Magic Kingdom parade (Daily parade, Spectromagic,
etc.) from Liberty Square or Frontierland. There are the
least amount of people there.
8. If you are pressured for time, you may want to refrain from
visiting Pleasure Island, Discovery Island, River Country
or Typhoon Lagoon.
9. While on the Special Effects Tour at MGM, don't worry who
is first, as people in the front, middle, and rear have
equal viewing areas.
10. Ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at night. Not only are
the lines much shorter, but the effects are the same due
to the fact that 95% of the ride takes place inside a
building!
11. If you are staying at Ft. Wilderness, the Grand Floridian,
or the Polynesian Resorts you might want to take the small
boat back from the Magic Kingdom, as is usually faster
than the monorail and you don't have to fight with the
crowds.
12. If you are staying in a WDW resort take the resort monorail
rather than the Magic Kingdom monorail. It has more
stops, but you don't have to fight the crowds.
13. For those residing at the Polynesian Resort: Walk to the
TTC (or the Ferry Boat), don't take the monorail.
14. In the American Adventure in EPCOT, people queue up in the
far upper right corner of the first floor. Try to be in
the middle of the crowd, after you go up the escalators,
as you will have the best seats. Oh and the theater is
huge, it can fit many people so don't' worry if the crowd
is large.
15. After riding Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion there is a
short movie. If you just want to go on the ride, one DOES
have enough time to walk through the theater and exit
before the film begins.
16. If the line for Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion extends
outside the building, beware, the wait will be
approximately 20 minutes.
17. Board the Skyway (in the Magic Kingdom) in Tomorrowland
rather than Fantasyland, as the wait is almost always
shorter because the queue area there is shorter.
18. In EPCOT Center people will begin to save their spots for
Illuminations two hours before the show. I recommend
saving your spot one hour before, but if it starts to look
crowded around the lagoon grab your spot.
19. If you want to ride in the cab of the monorail, just ask
an attendant. For you best chances ask at either EPCOT
Center or the TTC (EPCOT monorail). It works 99% of the
time!! (Children will be thrilled to ride in the front.)
20. When the time rolls around for the park to close, stick
around and walk through the park. They won't kick you
out, and it is something to see the parks at night with no
one there.
21. While queuing up for any attraction let the crowd rush
ahead of you. Everyone gets equal views at almost every
attraction, your party wont get separated, and you don't
have to push and shove.
22. If you are in EPCOT and you are hot and tired, walk to the
Mexico pavilion. There is a slow relaxing boat ride here.
While it is not the most spectacular attraction, it will
cool you off and there are never any lines!
23. When you are queuing up for the Haunted Mansion, stay to
the left side of the crowd if it is a hot day. Why? Well
on that side a cool breeze blows off the Rivers of America
and keeps you cool while everyone else is fanning
themselves.
24. Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and
Peter Pan's Flight all have long lines during the day.
Wait until after dusk before getting in line.
25. Dumbo the Flying Elephant will always have long lines, even
just prior to park closing, as it is very popular with
young children. So, if your children wish to participate,
do it in the early morning, just as the park opens. (The
lines during mid-day can get as long as 40-60 minutes)
26. Horizons in EPCOT usually has little or no lines. Save
this attraction for times when other attractions are
crowded.
27. At The Backstage Studio Tour in MGM your tour guide will
mention the fact that people on the left side of the tram
will get wet. Fear not, all you feel is a spray and the
people on the left actually have a better view of the
entire ride itself!
28. If the line for Splash Mountain is backed up to the wooden
bridge, think again about riding. Chances are the wait
will be over an hour in the hot sun.
29. To cool off in Tomorrowland, try the Carousel of Progress,
Dreamflight or The Peoplemover. These three attractions
have little or no lines the majority of the time.
** Tips for Travelling with Children **
-----------------------------------
Here are some tips that might come in handy if you are
travelling with children ranging from 2 to 10 years of age.
1. Set a meeting point where you will meet the children if one
of them should get separated from your party. Examples of
such places are: Magic Kingdom: in front of Cinderella's
Castle, EPCOT: World Key Information, MGM: in front of
Grummans Theater.
2. Name tags for your children are also available so that if
he/she should get lost it would be easier to return
him/her with you.
3. In the event that your child does get separated from you,
check at City Hall in the Magic Kingdom, Earth Station at
EPCOT Center, or Guest Services in MGM. They keep a log
of lost children and they can reunite you with your child
quite easily.
4. Stroller rentals: Here is where WDW claims a little bit of
your money. You pay $5 for an all day stroller rental and
at the end of the day you show your receipt and you get a
Disney Dollar back. In a sense you are paying $4, but
if you forget about returning it you don't get your
dollar. If you leave one park and enter another on the
same day show your receipt at the second park and you will
not be charged.
5. Where do you park that stroller when you go into an
attraction is a common question. The almost everyone
leaves it at the entrance, however, the attraction's exit
is usually some distance from the entrance. So be wise,
send one person from your party to park the stroller at
the exit. If you are unsure of the location of the exit
as a cast member, they will be more than happy to assist
you. Your stroller will also have your name on it for
easy identification.
6. After parking your stroller, take all valuables with you.
7. Almost every restroom (male and female) in WDW has changing
facilities. Disposable diapers are often sold in stores
but not displayed. Ask a cast member for the nearest
location.
8. Children from the ages of 3 to 10 (and even older) may
enjoy a character breakfast. This is a breakfast where
many Disney characters come around to each table for
pictures and autographs. Children get a kick out of it,
although parents beware, Goofy and Pluto can find your
ticklish spot (as my dad found out).
9. Take note of age and height restrictions. The last thing a
child wants to hear is how he can't ride space mountain
because he isn't tall enough.
10. When it is hot at Disney World it is HOT! Bring bottles of
water along and keep them in the stroller's basket.
Freezing small containers of water (Evian, Poland Spring
etc) the night before is an excellent way to keep cool
throughout the day. It keeps the children occupied too.
11. Some children may tend to get cranky and irritable during
mid-day. At that time it might be wise to head back to
the hotel for a swim and to get freshened up.
12. Babysitting services are available at most resorts, but for
a fee. The price is usually $6-$7 per hour with a three
hour minimum.
13. Hold hands with your children at all times. While queuing
up for an attraction it is very easy for a child to get
separated.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XIV
** IN THE FUTURE **
---------------
This section is reserved for information regarding resorts,
attractions and other items of that nature that have not been
opened yet, are still on the drawing board, have just opened
within the last revision, or are under construction at Walt Disney
World, and other theme parks. There is also information on new
Disney Animated films. The information in this section comes from
Disney News magazine, Disney related sources (ie. Annual Report),
newspaper clippings, rec.arts.disney on the news-net, and friends
that have just returned from their visit. Due to the nature of
this section, I can not guarantee that any of these plans will
become a reality. This section is for the kind of person that
MUST know what Disney is doing at all times and I don't know of
any other source where this information is all put together.
MK=Magic Kingdom EP=EPCOT Center MGM=Disney/MGM Studios
Attraction Name Where is it?? When does it open?
----------------- --------------- --------------------
4th Theme Park No Location Known 2000
(Safari Theme)
Twilight Zone Tower MGM (Next to main 1994
of Terror entrance)
Aladdin Parade MGM NOW SHOWING
Tomorrowland facelift MK (Tomorrowland) 1990's
Updated Star-Jets MK (Tomorrowland) 199?
Updated Carousel of MK (Tomorrowland) 199?
Progress
Alien Encounter MK (Replacing "Mission 199?
to Mars")
Show featuring "Jungle MK 199?
Book" characters
New show for the MK (Adventureland) 199?
Tiki Birds (comical)
Renovation of Dumbo MK (Fantasyland) 1994
Ride
Replacement attractions for:
Snow White's Scary Adv. MK (Fantasyland) 199?
Hall of Presidents MK (Liberty Square) 199?
Expansion of MGM All over, making All throughout
MGM twice as large the 1990's
Monorail to MGM Route to MGM 199?
Sunset Blvd. MGM 1994
AMPAS Music Hall MGM Fall 1993
of Fame
Fantasmic! MGM Possibly 1994
Disney's Vacation East of EPCOT Center '93-'94
Club, Phase II
All-Star-Sports Southwest of EP 1994
Resort
All-Star-Music Southwest of EP 1995
Resort
Mexican Resort West of EPCOT 199?
Wilderness Lodge South of the Contemporary, Spring '94
Resort NE of the tool plaza.
Mediterranean Resort Between the Contemporary Mid 1990's
(3000 rooms!!) & the TTC, next to the
Wilderness Lodge Resort
Walt Disney's Private MGM 1993 ONLY
Airplane on Display
Blizzard Beach Near All-Star Resort NO TIME KNOWN
(3rd water park)
New film footage for EP, The Land June 1994
Symbiosis
Kitchen Kabaret EP, The Land June 1994
replaced by
"Food Rocks" show
New food court, like EP, The Land June 1994
the outdoors
Redecoration of The EP, The Land June 1994
Land Grille Room
Captain-EO replaced by EP, Journey Into 199?
film based on "Honey Imagination
I Shrunk the Kids"
Renovation of EP, Spaceship Earth 199?
Spaceship Earth
Mt. Fuji Roller EP, Japan Pavilion 199?
Coaster
Space Pavilion EP, Future World 199?
Russia Pavilion EP, World Showcase 199?
(Plans complete)
Multi-Country EP, World Showcase 199?
Pavilion
Disney's Boardwalk Near the EP Resorts DELAYED INDEFINITELY
Celebration; Disney Southern edge of WDW Groundbreaking 1993
city for residency 1st phase: 1995
Disney Institute Temporary: WDW Village Late Summer 1995
(learning center) Permanent: In Celebration
The Workplace In Celebration 199?
High-Speed train; For now plan has been abandoned
running from Orlando
Intl. Airport to an
area near WDW.
NON-FLORIDA RELATED DISNEY INFORMATION
For those of you who must know what Disney is doing.
--------------------------------------
EURO-Disneyland France, (Near Paris) Construction to
Phase II start this year.
Disney/MGM Studios EURO-Disneyland 1995
Tour-Europe
Beauty & the Beast and
The Little Mermaid EURO-Disneyland 1995
thrill rides
Splash Mountain EURO-Disneyland 199?
Discovery Mountain EURO-Disneyland 1995
(Like Space Mtn.)
Second Theme Park in PLAN HAS BEEN ABANDONED
Palm Beach, CA
Mickey's Toontown Disneyland OPEN
Roger Rabbit's Car Disneyland Mid-Late '93
Toon Spin (in Toontown)
Indiana Jones Ride Disneyland Late 1994
Splash Mountain Tokyo Disneyland OPEN
Adventureland Tokyo Disneyland OPEN
Marketplace
Swiss Family Treehouse Tokyo Disneyland MID-1993
Second Theme Park in Tokyo Disneyland NO TIME KNOWN
Tokyo
WESTCOT (EPCOT out west Disneyland's Current 1996
near Disneyland Parking lot
-----------------------------
NO LOCATION KNOWN or NO TIME KNOWN means that I have yet to
find information that suggests the location or approximate
opening day of the attraction. No guarantee that all of these
attractions will become a reality, however those projects listed
have either been started, made public or are on the drawing
board. (With the exception of the mini Disneyland.)
ANIMATED FILMS TO BE (RE)RELEASED IN THEATERS AND ON VIDEO
----------------------------------------------------------
NAME NEW OR RERELEASE WHEN?
------------------- -------------------- ---------
Snow White and the RERELEASE IN THEATERS NOW
Seven Dwarfs
The Lion King NEW Summer '94
(Music by Elton John
and Tim Rice)
Pocahontas NEW Fall '94
Fantasia Continued NEW 1997
Swan Lake NEW ????
Song of the Sea NEW 1997
3rd Roger Rabbit Short NEW ????
Toy Story
Completely computer NEW ????
Animated movie
Silly Hillbillies NEW ????
on Mars (short?)
101 Dalmations RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW
Beauty and the Beast RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW
The Rescuers RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW
Aladdin RELEASE ON VIDEO Sept. 28, 1993
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XV
** MAPS **
------
In the first version there was a map in IFF (ILBM) format.
This format is standard for Amiga computers. The second GIF file
was in 320x200 resolution and it was quite crude. In the 93.07.12
revision I have included a NEW map. It is in 640x400 resolution
and it is updated and easier to read. All versions after May '92
include the 320x200 map, all versions after July '93 contain the
640x400 map. Below are the codes.
1 - Magic Kingdom E - Disney/MGM Studios
2 - Grand Floridian Resort F - Discovery Island
3 - Polynesian Resort G - Fort Wilderness Campground
4 - Ticket & Transportation Center H - River Country
5 - Contemporary Resort I - Disney's Village Resort
6 - Magic Kingdom Parking J - Disney's Market Place
7 - Car Care Center K - Pleasure Island
8 - Main Toll Plaza L - Hotel Plaza
9 - EPCOT Center M - Caribbean Beach Resort
A - EPCOT Parking N - Typhoon Lagoon
B - Dolphin Resort O - Disney Inn
C - Beach & Yacht Club Resorts P - Port Orleans Resort
D - Swan Resort Q - Vacation Club Resort
R - Dixie Landings Resort
Solid black lines = Roads Green = Other attractions
Dotted green lines = Monorail Yellow = Resorts
Red Logos = Theme Parks Flag = Golf Course
Grey = Parking Purple = Toll Plazas
Golf Course Codes
-------------------
1. Osprey Ridge Course 4. Palm Course
2. Eagle Pines Course 5. Disney Village Clubhouse
3. Magnolia Course & Golf Course
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XVI
** DISNEY FUN FACTS **
------------------
Here are some interesting and trivial facts about WDW to test
your and your friend's knowledge with!!
1. Built in 1917 the Golden Carousel in The Magic Kingdom
originally came from Olympic Park in Maplewood, NJ. The
carousel was refurbished, and all horses painted white.
(My mom rode this when she was little in the 1950's)
2. The Walt Disney World Railroad locomotives were originally used
in Mexico to haul sugar! They were completely refurbished and
the four locomotives were given the names: Lilly Belle, Roy
O. Disney, Walter E. Disney, and the Roger Broggie.
3. Cinderellas Castle is 180 feet high, and has a private
apartment in the castle that Walt designed so he could stay
overnight in the park. Unfortunately he never got to use it.
4. The Jungle Cruise attraction uses 100 gas-fired heaters to heat
up the air to keep the tropical plants growing. 25 million
BTU's kick in when the temperature drops below 36 degrees
Fahrenheit.
5. The Swiss Family Treehouse is artificial, with 42 foot roots,
800,000 vinyl leaves, and 600+ branches.
6. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad track is 2,780 feet long, is
on 2.5 acres of land, took 15 years of planning, 2 years of
construction, 650 tons of steel, and 16,000 gallons of paint.
When finished in 1981 it cost $17 million, or the entire cost
of Disneyland in 1955!! The fastest speed on the ride is 30
some mph.
7. The nautical flags that fly at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
attraction were once hung wrong! A navy officer pointed it
out when the park first opened, instead of reading "Leagues"
it read "seugael". The attraction's lagoon contains 11.5
million gallons of water!!
8. Space Mountain is 180+ feet tall, 300+ feet in diameter, has
4,508,500 cubic feet of space, occupies a 10 acre site, and is
composed of 72 pre-stressed concrete beams weighing 74 tons
each! The ride never exceeds 28mph, slower than Big Thunder
Mountain!
9. Mission to Mars was originally named Flight to the Moon. It
was changed in 1975 after the dream of landing men on the
moon had become a reality.
10. The mini-race cars on the Grand Prix Raceway cost over $6,000
each. The track is 2,260 feet long and the cars go 7mph max.
11. Spaceship Earth is 164 feet in diameter, 180 feet high, and
contains 2,200,000 cubic feet of space. The outside "skin"
of the geosphere is made up of 954 triangular panels, none of
equal size or shape. Spaceship Earth is NOT perfectly round,
so it is not a geodesic dome, the word geosphere was born.
12. The Living Seas tank is 27 feet deep, 200 feet in diameter,
and contains 5.7 million gallons of seawater. The acrylic
windows are 18 feet high, and 8 inches thick!
13. The Wonders of Life is enclosed in a 100,000 square foot
geodesic dome. The attraction cost $100 million!
14. In The Universe of Energy, the moving theater cars weigh
30,000 lbs when fully loaded with 96 passengers. However
they are guided by a wire on the floor that is only 1/8 inch
thick!!
15. There are more than 6,000 different food items available at
Walt Disney World!
16. Disney World uses 5.5 million pounds of potatoes each year
just to make french fries! That's enough julienned potatoes
to circle the world 2.5 times.
17. In 1990 22 tons of vegetables were grown in the Land
Pavilion's greenhouse.
18. There are 166 restaurants and snack spots from which to
choose from, and 35 varieties of cheese are served.
19. The chefs offer up 400 cases of fresh fruit daily.
20. Visitors order 2.1 million pounds of seafood each year and
over twice that in poultry.
21. Each year WDW serves enough hamburgers to cover every inch of
a four-hundred mile line.
22. The Caribbean Beach resort contains 2,112 rooms, making it the
sixth largest hotel complex in the United States!!
23. The creation of Walt Disney World became the largest private
construction project in the United States ever.
24. The Vacation Kingdom of the World was going to be called
Disney World, but it was Walt's brother Roy who insisted that
it be called WALT Disney World.
25. "By early 1992 hotels on Walt Disney World property will
provide more than 17,000 guest rooms and 580,000 square feet
of meeting space."
26. By opening day on October 1, 1971 there were 60,000 trees and
shrubs planted. Enough sod was used to cover 500 football
fields.
27. Walt Disney World acquired new monorails in 1991 to replace
the old ones that had been making their daily runs for twenty
years. Talking to the driver I found out that: The new
monorails began their daily runs in August of '91; and the
monorails are now all computerized with a speed restriction:
40mph. Although, the driver of the monorail stated that on
test runs they have gone 90mph and could go faster!!
28. The lost and found department of WDW holds more than a
thousand hand tagged items lost by visitors. Some items that
were lost include: a wheelchair, a lamp, a Casio portable
organ, and fake ID's. A pair of false teeth and a glass eye
were never claimed!!
29. The Magic Kingdom itself is actually on the 2nd floor! A
complete maze of service tunnels is under the park! The
tunnels contain the wardrobe and sanitation departments,
employee lounges and cafeterias, computer networks, and more!
30. Some people may think that Disneyland in California is just as
big as the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Wrong... Disneyland can
fit inside of the main parking lot for the Magic Kingdom, or
in the lagoon in EPCOT Center!
31. In 1992 30.2 MILLION people visited WDW as it ranked #1 in
attendance for theme parks across the U.S.!! Disneyland in
California ranked #2 with 16 million visitors, Tokyo
Disneyland ranked #3, and EuroDisneyland ranked #4!
32. Take a look at your tour guide for MGM. If you look at the
map of the park upside down you will notice that the
landscaping and buildings form the head of Mickey Mouse. This
is not just on the map as the park was built that way.
33. Did you know that Mickey Mouse is hidden somewhere in the
following attractions?? Body Wars, The World of Motion, Star
Tours, Horizons, The Great Movie Ride, Splash Mountain, Big
Thunder Mountain Railroad, Cinderella's Castle, Kitchen
Kabaret, Symbiosis, The Land Pavilion, Spaceship Earth,
Maelstrom and more!! (But I'm not telling you where!)
34. The Hydrolators in the Living Seas never descend, nor do they
ascend! Take note that the Otis elevator corporation did the
work for the doors.
35. Splash Mountain is one of the steepest and fastest log flumes
in the world: 5 story (52 feet) 47 degree drop with a top
speed of 40mph.
36. Cinderella Castle is fabricated of fiberglass and the entire
castle can be dismantled in 14 hours in case of a hurricane
threat.
37. The Fire House on Main Street U.S.A. is named Engine Company
Number 71. Why 71 you ask? Well Walt Disney World opened in
1971!!
More to come next time!!
If you know of some interesting information about
Walt Disney World send it to me!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XVII
** Quotations Relating to Walt Disney World **
----------------------------------------
This section of the book has been put together to show the
idea behind all Disney theme parks. I also wrote this section to
give tribute to a man who gave us so much. The majority of the
quotations came from Walt himself, and I hope they give you a good
idea of what he was aiming for when he created Disneyland back in
1955.
WALT DISNEY WORLD
is a tribute to the philosophy and life of
Walter Elias Disney
...and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty
of the entire Disney organization that made Walt
Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring
Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all that come
to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young
at heart of all ages can laugh and
play and learn together.
Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971
-Roy O. Disney
The above is what Roy O. Disney stated when he dedicated Walt
Disney World. The bronze plaque on which this is inscribed can
be found in Town Square on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
"To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is
your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and
here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.
Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the
hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it
will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."
- Walter Elias Disney
July 17, 1955
"I only hope that we never loose sight of one thing...that it was
all started by a mouse."
- Walter Elias Disney
"I've always had a feeling that any time you can experiment, you
ought to do it. Because you never know what will happen."
- Walter Elias Disney
"Disneyland is like Alice stepping through the Looking Glass. To
step through the portals of Disneyland will be like entering
another world." - Walter Elias Disney
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
- Walter Elias Disney
"Part of the Disney success is our ability to create a believable
world of dreams that appeals to all age groups."
- Walter Elias Disney
"Here in Florida, we have something special. There's enough land
to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine."
- Walter Elias Disney
"You can dream, create and build the most wonderful place in the
world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality."
- Walter Elias Disney
"If we can dream it, we can do it."
- Horizons pavilion in EPCOT Center
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XVIII
** SPECIAL THANKS TO **
-------------------
This section is where I can express my gratitude towards those
that have helped make this travel guide possible.
Walter Elias Disney - Walt demonstrated to the world that if you
put your mind to it you can create your dreams. He is a
direct inspiration to me.
My Parents and Grandparents - For taking me to Disney World six
times, without that I wouldn't have been able to write this
book.
My Friends - For their constant support in helping me make a dream
come true. (Yes Christy, this means you!!)
Adam Liss - He did a great job in finding all those errors I made
while typing for hours and hours. Thank you for changing the
IFF file to GIF.
January Adams - Co-worker at my former place of employment. She
helped me proofread the entire document for grammatical and
other types of errors.
James Kelly - My Physics teacher back in High School who also
enjoys Disney World. I'd like to thank him for getting me
information on the new Little Mermaid Attraction, Splash
Mountain, and for giving me some suggestions.
Uncle Hank - (Not my uncle) He publishes a Shareware Review
newsletter, and in his January/February '92 issue he
summarized my work. Thank You for the first publicity of this
book and the continued support you give me!!!
Suzanne Thomas - Suzanne sent me a letter mentioning that the fact
that I was missing the 'Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista' in the
book. Thanks to her it is now included!
R.C. Edens - Mr. Edens suggested some improvements such as a table
of contents, index, and page numbers. He also suggested a
small version of the book to use while you are at the park.
Scott and Keith Mueller - Scott and Keith both composed a long
letter to me with some interesting information about WDW, some
suggestions, complements and many questions. I answered the
questions as best as I could guys!
Alan & Nanci Hughes - Thank you so much for sending an article
with a list of new WDW happenings and plans. Without it, the
"In the Future" section would not be what it is!
Richard Fehl, Jan Penovich, Neil Patterson, David Jodeit, and
everyone else who responded to me via E-mail - Thanks for you
suggestions, they are greatly appreciated!!
Rich & Carol Koster - Rich and Carol reviewed the "In the Future"
section of my book. Together they found some errors and gave
me some new information. Thank You!
Tom Tanida - Thanks for getting the most recent prices to me via
E-mail!
Everyone on Internet and r.a.d. - Thank you so much for your
help in making this book possible and your continued support!!
THE LIST IS GROWING!!
All you have to do to get your name in here is to write a letter
to me with some sort of new, trivial, or interesting information
about Disney World!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PART XIX
** RAVING REVIEWS **
----------------
"Compared to Birnbaums's book I would say that yours is more
concise." - Neil Patterson
"...the most useful piece of info was the business of left lines
vs. right lines. It was amazing how people always went to
the right..." - Jan Penovich
"We took your guide with us on your vacation to WDW. It was
great! Lots of useful information. Very accurate
descriptions!" - Lori Carrol
Easton, PA
"Wow! Terrific work..."
- Pamela Brown
Columbus, Ohio
"...I expect they [kids] will find it easier to read than
Birnbaum's." - Neil Patterson
"...you have done a wonderful job on this..."
- Chris Gryszowka
Indianapolis, IN
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XX
** REVISION INFORMATION **
AND COMING ATTRACTIONS
------------------------
Here is a brief explanation of what has changed in each
revision, and how to read the revision code.
93.07.12 93 is the year, 07 is the month and
12 is the number of revisions.
So 93.07.12 would read: July 1993, 12th revision.
The zipped file name takes a standard form:
WDW3-92.ZIP 3 is the month (April)
92 is the year (1992)
The size is the Un-zipped Professional Write file, not ASCII.
91.10.1 - Original document. Tons of problems: spelling, LF and
CR, mistyped data, absence of some data. IFF form Map
released with this version. What a mess, You
practically couldn't read it without finding errors!
Well all books start somewhere I suppose! Size: 65k
91.12.2 - The entire document was checked for spelling by the
computer so if you find errors, don't blame me. The `In
the Future' section was extended to include new
information and Disney cartoon movies (Touchstone films
to follow). The entire document was fixed for CR and
LF problems. 'Special Thanks To' section added, along
with 'Revision Information', 'Contacting and Making
Reservations', 'Fun Facts', and 'Famous Quotations'.
General Cleanup. GIF form map released with this
version. Expansion of Pleasure Island information,
some bus info added. Full Bibliography added.
Boxes around sections added, along with solid lines.
Size: 88k
92.02.3 - New data on future items, 4th theme park information
added. New margins, more fun facts. Some Touchstone
movie information added. EPCOT Center World Showcase
Information expanded (well, not much). Grammatical
clean up. Released 6 days late. PC-Exec BBS number
added. Size: 93k
92.03.4 - Expanded the EPCOT Center World Showcase Information.
More people added to the Special Thanks to Section.
Little Mermaid attraction info added. EPCOT quote in
the introductions expanded. Some handicapped
information was added. General clean up and rewording.
Non-Florida Disney related info added. Part of the "To
the Reader" section reworded. Size: 102k
92.04.5 - Reservation info added. EPCOT Center World Showcase
information expanded. Two new fun facts added. General
clean up and rewording. "ORDER.TXT" file added to
zipped archive. Program file now available. Dixie
Landings Resort added to the resort section. Some
minor changes in the resort section. Section titles
and other lines centered. Size: 104k
92.05.6 - More fun facts added. Glossary/Acronym List added. To
the Reader, MGM, and Transportation section updated and
expanded. New information on Splash Mountain and the
Frontierland RR Station added. General rewording
throughout the entire book. New color-coded map.
Updated and expanded Part XV (Maps). Magic Kingdom
introduction somewhat reworked. Size: 114k
92.06.7 - A small amount of new information added. Rewording of
the attractions in the Magic Kingdom. Additions to the
Glossary and Acronym list. Bus and other
transportation routes updated. Helpful addresses added
to "Contacting WDW". Ride lengths added to almost
every attraction for all three parks. Minor
corrections. Sponsors added to EPCOT attractions
(Exxon, GE, etc.). More "In the Future" info added.
Quotation added. Size: 125k
92.07.8 - Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista added to the shopping
section. Shopping section expanded. Two names added
to the 'Special Thanks To:' section. Dining Section
expanded and updated. Admission prices added to the
Contacting WDW and Make Reservation section. Coming
attractions added to the Revision Information section.
Evaluation sheet included in the zipped file. Entire
document rechecked for spelling errors. Movies to be
released on video now included. General Cleanup, and
rewording. Size: 133k
92.08.9 - Some new acronyms added to list. More animated movies
added. New info for the 'In the Future' section.
Names added to the 'Special Thanks To:' section.
Season pass information now included. World Showcase
information expanded (Morocco, Japan, USA). My new
address for 1993 now included. 'Basic Tips' section
changed to 'Tips'. Insider's Tips included in the
'Tips' section. General cleanup. File added to zipped
archive called (BBS.TXT). BBS.TXT is a list of BBS's
supporting The Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney
World. Size: 139k
92.09.10 - Network address added. More updated information in the
"In the Future" added. New movies and videos added to
the "In the Future Section". Italy in the World
Showcase section expanded. Massachusetts address
added. Some minor errors corrected. General clean
up. Released 1 week late (sorry!). Size: 143k
93.02.11 - Authors Notes section added. "In the Future" section
immensely expanded. Name added to the "Special Thanks
To" section. More "Fun Facts" and "Insider's Tips"
added. Special E-Mail Edition. Size: 149k
93.07.12 - More E-mail addresses included. New introduction.
Updated the following sections: "When Should We Go?"
"Resorts", "Transportation", "Magic Kingdom", "EPCOT
Center", "Disney MGM Studios" and many more. Current
admission prices added. "In the Future" section
greatly improved and updated. This revision was very
intense, on the outside you may not see many changes,
but many things were updated, reworded and cleaned up
for better readability. "Raving Reviews" section
added. New 640x400 resolution map included in the
zipped archive version, but the file (BBS.TXT) was
removed. Size: 158k
93.08.13 - Major overhaul on almost ever aspect of the book.
Add information from my trip. Miscellaneous info
added to "When Should We Go?" "Resorts",
"Transportation", and just about every section in the
book was greatly improved. Updated bus schedule
added. Many restaurants added to the list. More
items added to the "Insiders Tips", and "Fun Facts"
sections. Pleasure Island information updated.
Admission prices fixed. Example prices added to the
"Resorts" section as well as the Vacation Club and the
Hotel Plaza. More quotes added to the "Raving
Reviews" section. "Tips for Travelling with Children"
added. Height and age restrictions for some rides
added. Size: 200k
Coming Attractions
------------------
1. FTP distribution site.
2. Phone numbers for all resorts, theme parks, and restaurants.
3. Complete list of restaurants.
4. Small quick reference version.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XXII
** Glossary/Acronym List **
-----------------------
AA - Audio Animatronics
Audio Animatronics - The Disney technique of using moving
mannequins controlled by a computer
Cast - Name for Disney employees.
CircleVision - Disney technique of presenting a movie on nine
screens that surround the audience (360 degrees). Take
note: CircleVision theaters have NO seats.
DL - Disneyland
EC - EPCOT Center, used on bus flags
EP - EPCOT Center
EPCOT - Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
EU - Euro Disneyland
Imagineers - Disney name for their engineers.
MGM - Refers to Disney-MGM Studios. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MK - Magic Kingdom
ST - Disney/MGM Studios, used on bus flags
STC - Settlement Transportation Circle (Ft. Wilderness)
TTC - Ticket and Transportation Center
V - Village Marketplace, used on bus flags.
WDW - Walt Disney World
------------------------------------------------------------------
** Final Words from the Author **
-----------------------------
I hope you found this information valuable in planning your
Walt Disney World vacation. I am not affiliated with WDW in any
way so I am not being paid to promote WDW here, but it truly is a
great place to be. Again you can contact me by writing to me at
the following postal address, or if you have access to Internet,
or BitNet you can send me E-mail using the E-mail address shown
below.
*** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO ****
Todd D. McCartney Internet/Bitnet
18 Carroll Drive toddm@phobos.ucs.umass.edu
Somerville, NJ
08876
If you wish to be added to the e-mail mailing list, send me a
message and I will add you to the list. This will insure that you
receive every new update of the book.
The FTP site for the distribution of the book will be going
into effect very soon. Possibly by the end of August or early
September if everything goes right. However I'm not sure of the
sight name yet, as we are still compiling the program. The FTP
site will contain current versions of the book as well as back
issues dating back to October 1991.
Or, if you have a modem, call Uncle Hank's BBS for the
latest revisions as well as back issues:
Uncle Hank's BBS
"Home of the Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"
Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA.
300/1200/2400/9600/14.4/v.42bis/MNP1-5/Dual Standard
Call (413)536-1233
Leave E-mail to Todd McCartney
If you would like the latest version of this "book" and it is
not on your local BBS please print out the following file:
ORDER.TXT (the file is in the zipped archive). Instructions on
how to order are in this file. If you don't have this file please
write to me and I will send them to you free of charge. Remember
I will be updating this every month (hopefully), so there is
always something new!! Also if you have any magazine or newspaper
clippings or any other information about Walt Disney World please
send it to me and it will be added to the guide. I will also put
your name in the file in a section called 'Special Thanks To:'.
Thank you very much and have a great vacation at Walt Disney
World.
M - I - C, See ya real soon!!
K - E - Y, Why? Because we like you!
M - O - U - S - E
Todd D. McCartney
------------------------------------------------------------------
** MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION **
This section is reserved for information that I have typed up,
but may have not found an place where I can put it in the book.
WDW is VERY well adapted for wheelchair use. Wheelchairs can
be rented at the following locations inside the parks: (Magic
Kingdom: right after you walk through the main gate there is a
place to rent them. EPCOT: To the left of Spaceship Earth, after
you walk through the main gate. MGM: To the right of the main
gates, inside the gas station.) Blind people can rent a audio
cassette player and a tape with a description of the park. I
believe these can be rented at the same locations (I'll find out
definitely for the next release). Almost any attraction in the
entire resort complex is well outfitted to accommodate
wheelchairs. I will update and expand this area in the future
releases.
------------------------------------------------------------------
** BIBLIOGRAPHY **
--------------
"Give credit where credit is due."
Birnbaum, Steve; Steve Birnbaum Brings You the Best of WDW.
1993 Edition, Hearst Professional Magazines, Inc.
Newsweek, Inc.; Disney World, 20 Years of Magic, a Yearlong
Birthday Party. Fall/Winter 1991, Newsweek, Inc.
Walt Disney Company; Walt Disney World. 1985, The Walt
Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; Disney Vacation Club Guide. 1991 The
Walt Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; Disney Village Marketplace and Pleasure
Island Directory. 1991 The Walt Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; Disney News. Fall 1991, The Walt
Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; 1991 Annual Report. 1991 The Walt
Disney Company.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse, Audio Animatronics, and
Circle Vision are registered trademarks of the Walt Disney
Company. All resort names, ride names and other items in the
theme parks are also the property of The Walt Disney Company.
Some information such as ride length, and other statistical data
was taken from: Steve Birnbaum Brings You The Best of Walt Disney
World, 1993 Edition.