AOL File Library: 2,401 to 2,500/aol-file-protocol-4400-2401-to-2500.zip/AOLDLs/Travel Library/Disney World Planning a Trip/Planning Trip to WDW.txt

Text File | 2014-09-23 | 102KB | 2,143 lines

                                                    July 4, 1993

I have attached a few of my comments and suggestions on planning a trip
to Walt Disney World, and opinions on some of the attractions. I hope
they're of use in planning trips to the parks.

Comments, corrections, criticisms, questions appreciated.
                                       -- Bill Ellett
                                          (Internet:  [e-mail])

TIME OF YEAR:

   If you are going to Disney for the first time, you will want to see
   the rides, attractions, restaurants, shops, pools, shows, and so on
   that Walt Disney World has to offer. Even if you are going for the
   twentieth time, you probably still want to see and do things. This is
   best accomplished if you can AVOID THE CROWDS.

   Choosing the time of year for your visit is the best way to AVOID THE
   CROWDS. A week can make a World of difference. The week before
   Christmas, daily crowds average about 15,000 people. The week after
   Christmas, they average 75,000, reaching their year-long peak on New
   Year's Eve.

   While Disney does not release their attendance figures, the
   guidebooks report attendance similar to the following:

         Average
        Attendance     When
        ----------     ----------------------------------------------
          25,000       January after the New Year's holiday

          30,000       February, before President's Day holiday

          45,000       President's Day holiday (generally Feb. 12-22)

          35,000       After President's Day holiday until Easter and
                       Spring Break vacations.

          60,000       Easter and Spring Break Vacation period

          35,000       May until Memorial Day

          60,000       The Summer. Especially high crowds occur for the
                       Fourth of July.

          20,000       From after Labor Day until Thanksgiving vacation.

          55,000       Thanksgiving vacation

          15,000       From after Thanksgiving vacation until Christmas
                       vacation.

          75,000       Christmas vacation through New Year's. The parks
                       close early on Christmas Eve. The parks stay open
                       late for the busiest day of the entire year, New
                       Year's Eve.

   Special events, such as the October PGA Golf Tournament, may skew the
   numbers for a couple of days, but generally, if you can avoid the
   times "everybody" goes on vacation, you'll have quiet relatively
   line-free parks to tour. The best time to AVOID THE CROWDS is the
   period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most people, even the
   Florida locals, are involved in their own plans for Christmas, and
   the parks are almost empty.

   The advantages of going when the crowds are missing include:

     -- lines

        While there are lines for a few attractions, such as Space
        Mountain, they are nowhere near the length they reach on more
        crowded days. Attractions with long lines may reach 20 minutes,
        while most attractions have no line or a line of under five
        minutes.

        On more crowded days, attractions with short lines may be 20
        minutes, popular attractions' long lines may be over an hour.
        And then there are lines for hamburgers, coca-colas, t-shirts in
        the shops, or restrooms.

     -- waits for buses, monorails, boats

        Disney runs frequent buses at all times. When the crowds are
        missing, the buses will have plenty of space for you to pick a
        seat.

        On more crowded days, buses may be standing room only. You may
        even have to wait for the next bus.

        Not that having a car will save you. On crowded days, the
        parking lots are busy, the trams are full, and the roads are
        backed up.

     -- availability of reservations

        While it is always recommended to make reservations ahead for
        anything which accepts them -- hotels, restaurants, dinner
        shows, golf tee times --, in the less crowded times you can make
        your reservations much closer to the time you want to use them,
        and may be able to get into even the popular locations without a
        reservation. For things like dinner shows, however, tables are
        assigned based on when you make your reservation, so the best
        tables go to those who reserve early.

        In crowded times, advance planning and reservations become more
        crucial. Hotels, restaurants, dinner shows fill up. The hotel or
        dinner show you want may be booked solid even months ahead.
        Restaurants don't take reservations that far ahead, but
        preferred seating times at the most-desirable restaurants go
        quickly as soon as they begin accepting reservations, and even
        less-preferred times at less-desirable restaurants fill up
        eventually.

     -- cheaper room rates

        Disney has only a single rate schedule for their "budget"
        hotels: Dixie Landings, Caribbean Beach, and Port Orleans. But
        their other hotels, and even campsites, have a "value season"
        with cheaper rates. Not surprisingly, the value season rates are
        available at the same times that the parks have lower
        attendance. In 1993, the value season rates are available for
        the periods Jan. 3-Feb. 13, April 18-June 11, and Aug. 15-Dec.
        20. Non-Disney hotels experience the same periods of feast and
        famine, and their rates reflect similar seasonal shifts.

   The downside of going to Disney World during these periods includes:

     -- park hours

        During the busiest periods, the parks are generally open until
        midnight. In the less-crowded times, the Magic Kingdom and
        Disney/MGM usually close at 6:00 or 7:00, and Epcot at 9:00.

        But even if you have less hours to see the parks, you spend so
        much less time waiting in lines that you end up seeing and doing
        more. And even if the parks are open until midnight, you
        probably will want to spend some of your evening hours doing
        restaurants, dinner shows, clubs, or sleeping.

     -- fireworks and night-time parades

        Illuminations, the laser lights and fireworks show at Epcot, is
        held every night, regardless of the park's hours. But the
        fireworks displays at Magic Kingdom and Disney/MGM are only
        performed when the parks remain open late. This means that you
        may miss them if you go during the quiet times of the year.

        SpectroMagic, the night-time parade of lights in the Magic
        Kingdom, is also only available when the park is open late.

        SpectroMagic and the fireworks are not-to-be-missed events. But
        forced to choose between seeing them or going at an uncrowded
        time, there is no choice -- go at the uncrowded time. You'll
        still have at least one laser light and fireworks show.

        Sometimes during uncrowded periods, Disney leaves the Magic
        Kingdom open late on Saturdays, running the fireworks and
        SpectroMagic that night. If they do this, you will only miss the
        fireworks at the Disney/MGM Studios. This is scheduled well
        ahead, so call the Disney information number a month before your
        trip to see if you'll luck out.

     -- closed attractions for routine maintenance (rehab)

        Most attractions are closed for a few days each year, and every
        few years for several weeks, for routine maintenance and
        rehabilitation. This is usually scheduled for periods when the
        parks have low attendance.

        This means that you may miss two or three attractions during
        your visit, perhaps including one of the 'biggies'.

        Because routine closings are scheduled, you can call the park a
        month or so before your trip and find out what will be closed,
        so you won't be surprised when you arrive.

        While scheduled closings are usually planned for the periods of
        low attendance, there is no guarantee that all rides will be
        open even in the busiest of seasons. The unexpected happens.

   Other factors which are affected by when you go include:

     -- temperature for swimming

        If you want to go swimming, perhaps January isn't the best
        date for your trip. You may want to try an uncrowded part of
        September or October instead.

     -- Christmas decorations

        The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas has the lowest
        attendance of the year. It also has the very special bonus of
        Disney's Christmas decorations. Christmas trees, holly,
        comfortable fires, and Christmas entertainment all combine to
        make this a special time to go.

   If you just have to go at a busy time, you'll still enjoy the trip.
   Go when you can go.

     -- If you're planning a first-time trip, avoid the absolutely worst
        crowds of New Year's or Fourth of July.

     -- Disney has extra people and equipment to bring online when the
        crowds are large. These aren't enough by themselves to eliminate
        the difference of having five times more people in the parks,
        but they can handle more people per hour in the busier times.

     -- Disney has extra street performers and stage shows to keep
        more people entertained.

     -- Even New Year's and the 4th have special attractions. The
        biggest and longest fireworks are those nights, and other things
        help keep tens of thousands of repeat vistors coming back year
        after year.

DAYS NEEDED:

   No matter how long your trip, it won't be long enough. I went for two
   days in 1978, four days in 1988, five days in 1991, and six days
   in 1992. I'm planning to stay longer my next trip.

   I'm 40'ish and single, so your needs may vary.

   Minimal time to see the various parks is: a day and a half for Magic
   Kingdom, a day and a half for Epcot, and a day for the smaller
   Disney/MGM Studios. If you plan to take in the water parks, you will
   need more time. You will need an extra day for each if you want to go
   to Universal, Sea World, or Cape Canaveral. Golf, tennis, horseback
   riding, fishing all will require more time. Travel time to/from
   Orlando should be added.

   These times are minimal. You could easily enjoy two or three weeks at
   Disney World.

   If you only have a weekend, you just can't do everything in so short
   a time.  So just pick one park and enjoy it. And start planning which
   of the other parks to do on your next trip.

DISNEY'S BUDGET HOTELS:

   I've stayed both outside Disney and at the Disney hotels, and there
   is a big difference.

   There are three of the "reasonably-priced" or "budget" Disney hotels:
   (about $100 per night).
   They are
        -- Port Orleans
        -- Dixie Landings
        -- Caribbean Beach

   I would recommend trying for a reservation in that order. Port
   Orleans is only half the size of the other two, so it gets booked
   full earlier. But the other two may have rooms left even if you wait
   until late to book them. (especially if you are going at an uncrowded
   time).

   I have only stayed at Dixie Landings and Caribbean Beach so far, but
   I have looked around Port Orleans and other Disney hotels a bit.

   Caribbean Beach was Disney's first try at this category of hotel, and
   they perfected it with the other two. Caribbean Beach is just so big,
   so spread out, that it requires a separate bus route just to take
   guests from one part of the hotel to another. The other two are a
   little more compact. The rooms at all three are similar.

   But for any of the three, the advantages over staying outside WDW are
   well worth the extra expense to me. They include:

     -- transportation

        You have the Disney bus system. The buses claim to run every 20
        minutes, but they seem to really run about every 12-15. They
        start well before the parks open and continue until 2 hours
        after the parks close. They take you directly from your hotel to
        the park front gate, and pick you up for the return.

        While some people talk about crowded buses, they must be going
        at the peak busy times of the year. I have almost never had a
        problem in my trips.

        The Caribbean Beach has three bus routes to go to the three
        parks, so your bus simply picks up at the hotel and takes you
        directly to the park, without any extra stops along the way. The
        Port Orleans and Dixie Landings share the same buses, but they
        have no other stops and you still have a separate bus for each
        park.

        There are also buses from each that get you to Pleasure Island,
        the shopping area, and the transportation center if you need to
        go elsewhere. Port Orleans and Dixie Landings also have a
        boat alternative that takes you to Pleasure Island and back
        home.

        With this, you don't need the expense or hassle of a rental car,
        or trying to learn the road system of a new area. You just sit
        back and leave the driving to them.

     -- Convenience

        You are inside the WDW, closer to all the Disney parks. You
        don't have to worry about meeting the same hotel bus which
        brought you in the same parking lot where it let you off to get
        back to your hotel. The Disney buses go everywhere, you can
        transfer between them at will. And since they run for two hours
        after the parks' officially close, you can dawdle in the park,
        skip the mad rush, and eventually catch an uncrowded bus.
        Buses for outside hotels run less frequently and the last bus
        of the night may be just after closing.

        You can charge meals, tickets, souvenirs, and such to your
        room account, so you don't need to carry around much cash,
        and it all gets summarized on your hotel bill at the end.

        You can make lunch and dinner reservations at Epcot and the
        other parks' restaurants by telephone up to three days ahead.
        Park visitors not staying in a Disney hotel can only make
        same-day reservations in-person at the park, and this can be a
        hassle since everybody else is doing the same thing.

        You can make reservations for shows such as the Hoop-Dee-Doo
        Revue way in advance. Others may make them only 30 days ahead,
        and by then the best tables may be gone.

     -- extra benefits

        Sometimes, Disney has special promotions which permit guests who
        are staying at the on-site Disney hotels to enter the Magic
        Kingdom an hour ahead of everyone else. Normally, only one or
        two parts of the park are open for this extra hour, for example,
        Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. With the much smaller crowds, you
        can get a jump on the day, ride several attractions such as
        Space Mountain, and at official opening time you can move on to
        the rest of the park.

        Disney advertises "guaranteed admission" to the parks for resort
        guests. At peak busy seasons of the year, if the parking lots
        fill up, they will begin turning away people who arrive from
        outside. But if you go at any "reasonable" time of the year,
        when crowds are not so large, you will never have a chance to
        use this benefit.

     -- the Disney experience

        The swimming pools at all hotels are themed by Disney. The hotel
        grounds are themed. The rooms are themed, the restaurants are
        themed, the employees' uniforms are themed. The bath soap in the
        room is Mickey-Mouse soap. The whole experience is
        DISNEY-DISNEY-DISNEY. And after all, isn't that the reason for
        the trip to Orlando.

     -- and if you have kids...

        I don't have kids, but the guidebooks are fairly universal in
        their advice for parents of young children. Sehlinger's
        'Unofficial Guide', 'Walt Disney World With Kids' by Wiley,
        'Econoguide to WDW'... They all say to stay on-site if you can,
        so you can easily return to your hotel in mid-day for a dip in
        the pool, a nap, or just a quiet time. Don't try to stay in the
        park all day, even with a stroller. It gives the kids a break,
        and the parents too. Then return to the parks for a second round
        in the late afternoon/evening. Actually, the break, the dip, the
        siesta make for good advice for all ages.

        Also, the swimming pools at the Disney hotels are attractions in
        themselves, providing an extra no-cost fringe benefit.

   The three Disney "budget" hotels do not have everything that the
   more-expensive Disney hotels offer -- the latest brochures refer to
   the more-expensive hotels as "full-service resorts". But the "budget"
   hotels are still very nice places. While I have never stayed at any
   of the full-service resorts, I understand that the differences
   include:

     -- Larger rooms at the expensive hotels

        The rooms at the "budget" hotels are about 400 square feet,
        still fairly large. The ones at the expensive hotels are bigger.
        The "budget" hotels do not offer any suites.

     -- Discounts more likely at the expensive hotels

        Rates at Disney's "budget" hotels are less likely to be
        discounted in travel packages and are not included in Magic
        Kingdom Club discounts. So you may find that the price
        difference is not quite as great as the posted rate schedule
        would indicate. For example, the Yacht and Beach Club is
        available to Magic Kingdom Club members at as much as 30 percent
        off, bringing its $205+ per night rate much closer to the
        undiscounted rates at Dixie Landings. Discounts are seasonal,
        subject to availability, etc. etc., but it may be worth asking.

     -- Room service is available only at the expensive hotels

        The more-expensive hotels have room service available. The
        "budget" hotels do not offer room service; instead they offer a
        pizza-delivery service at night. Many rooms have in-room coffee
        makers. Each of the "budget" hotels offers a food court; you can
        eat there or bring the food back to the room. The rooms do not
        include kitchen facilities.

        You probably would want to eat at some of the unique and
        interesting restaurants throughout WDW instead of in your room
        anyway. If you are on a honeymoon, you might rate room-service
        as more important than the rest of us.

     -- Budget hotels are very spread out

        The more-expensive hotels are not quite as spread out as the
        "budget" hotels, where the lobby, the restaurants, the swimming
        pools, can be a substantial walk from your room.

        When you have 2,100 rooms in two-story buildings, like Dixie
        Landings or Caribbean Beach, and you have acres of Disney-themed
        space amongst the buildings, it takes a lot of room. The
        more-expensive hotels have more stories and less rooms,
        requiring less distance to walk.

        But the places at the greatest distance from your room are
        likely places you don't really need to go to anyway, like other
        rooms. There's always a convenient swimming pool, bus stop, and
        parking lot. In fact, the parking lot is usually more convenient
        to your room at the cheaper hotels.

     -- Fanciest restaurants are at the expensive hotels

        The restaurants at the "budget" hotels tend to be less
        extravagant or expensive. But, the restaurants at the parks and
        at all the hotels are available to you.

        Even if you were staying at one of the most expensive hotels,
        you might still find that the particular restaurant you wanted
        to go to is someplace else.

     -- Gyms, fitness centers, child care clubs, ...

        These tend to be located at the more-expensive hotels. If you
        are staying at any WDW hotel, you can take advantage of these
        facilities at some of the expensive hotels; you just have to
        make the effort to get to them.

   I hope to someday upgrade to Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, when I
   have the funds. But in the meantime, I'm sold on staying at the
   Disney "budget" hotels. I don't plan to stay off-site again.

PACKAGES:

   I've used the Disney package deal you get by calling 1-407-W-DISNEY
   (just like the TV commercial says) for my last two trips and was
   pleased. Room, park admission, character breakfast (fun even if I'm
   not a kid), guidebook, "surprise gift".

   I go with the cheaper packages which do not include all my meals and
   sports fees. I would never be able to come out ahead with the
   "deluxe" all-inclusive packages.

   I would probably come out about the same, or maybe a tad cheaper,
   buying everything separately, but it is soooooo convenient.

   To compare prices, a 1993 brochure quoted these packages, per person,
   based on double occupancy, four-nights at the hotel, five days
   admission to all the parks, and a copy of Birnbaum's guidebook to
   Disney World. (all prices were described as "starting at")

     $371 -- the Festival Magic Plan, with a "budget" Disney on-site
             hotel for four nights and park admission for five days.

     $591 -- The Resort Magic package, includes a more-expensive hotel
             and one breakfast.

     $982 -- The Deluxe Magic package, which also includes breakfast,
             lunch, and dinner each day and free use of the sports
             facilities (boats, tennis courts, golf courses,...). In
             prior years, this was called the "World Adventure" package.

     $1277 - The Grand Plan, which includes a room at the Grand
             Floridian and seemingly everything else. Part of the
             package are admission to all the parks, use of the sports
             facilities, private golf and tennis lessons, free in-room
             babysitting, use of a video camera, strollers, wheelchairs,
             valet parking, baggage handling, transportation from the
             airport, room-service or restaurant meals, meals at
             Victoria and Alberts, a free art lithograph to take home,
             ... Not included is long distance telephone calls,
             alcoholic drinks, or massages at the health club.

   All the packages can be extended for additional days. Disney and
   others also have many other packages available.

   Magic Kingdom Club members get reduced rates on similar packages.
   Depending on the dates and the hotel, up to 30 percent may be taken
   off the cost of the room, with additional savings on other parts of
   the package.

TICKETS:

   Always purchase your tickets BEFORE arriving at the parks.
   Otherwise, you will encounter lines, sometimes long lines, of other
   people needing to buy tickets. They are looking at all the options
   for tickets and trying to make up their minds, asking questions,
   writing checks, so the line moves slowly.

   If you already have your ticket, you can go directly to the turnstile
   and into the park.

   You can purchase your tickets at various places, including:

     -- through a travel agent or travel package.

     -- by mail, before leaving home. They say to allow 6 weeks for
        delivery. There is a handling charge added.

     -- from a Disney Store. There are a couple of hundred of these
        scattered around the country in shopping malls and such. The
        Disney Store does not add a surcharge above the price you'd pay
        at the gate.

     -- at the Orlando Airport. There is a Disney Store in the airport,
        and you can buy tickets while waiting for your bags. The Disney
        Store does not add a surcharge above the price you'd pay at the
        gate.

     -- at the hotel, if you are staying at a Disney hotel. You may
        be able to buy them at a non-Disney hotel; I don't know.
        At a non-Disney location, you may also have to pay a surcharge.

   Disney tickets vary in name, features, and price. Generally, if it is
   called a "ticket", it is good for one day at one park only. If it is
   called a "pass" or "passport", it is good for several days and
   permits you to visit more than one park each day. A "pass" or
   "passport" may also include admission to the water parks or Pleasure
   Island. The general one-day ticket and 4 and 5 day passports sols at
   the ticket window or in Disney Stores do not expire, and unused days
   may be used at any time. But  other tickets, passes, and passports
   may expire, depending on the details. For example, the Be-Our-Guest
   passport is good only for the duration of your current trip. Be sure
   to understand what you are buying.

RENTAL CARS:

   If you are spending your vacation "doing Disney", I recommend not
   getting a car. Use the Disney transportation system and let them
   worry about knowing the roads. Don't worry about having a few drinks
   at the parks or Pleasure Island, since you won't be driving. You skip
   the parking lot trams and the Disney buses let you off close to the
   gate at the parks. And you can even decide later in your trip to rent
   a car, if you decide you just must have one, and the rental company
   will deliver it to your hotel. National has an office right in WDW
   (they're the "official car rental company").

   If you decide to do a day at Universal or Sea World, Mear's provides
   a bus that will pick you up at your hotel and drop you back off. They
   run trips at least once an hour. The Disney Guest Relations desk at
   the hotel will make the bus reservation for you if asked, even though
   the other parks are competition. (Mear's is the same company that
   runs the airport shuttle).

        However, if you have a number of people, you may want to price
        the difference between renting a car and taking the airport
        shuttle. It may be cheaper to rent even if it stays in the hotel
        parking lot your entire stay. You might also want to price a
        taxi against the cost of the shuttle. Also, check with Mear's
        for group rates.

   If you drive your own car, you can still leave it sitting in the
   parking lot, and use the Disney transportation system.

   You may need a car if you plan to:

     -- go shopping outside Disney. Orlando has a city full of shops,
        malls, discount stores. Some people go grocery shopping while on
        vacation. Costs at stores inside Disney World will be higher
        than available outside, but the necessities can be found inside.

     -- partake in non-Disney activities. Some of the larger tourist
        attractions, such as Sea World, Universal, or Cape Canaveral are
        accessible by bus through Mear's or others. But if you plan to
        get off the beaten track, you'll surely need a car.

     -- make extensive forays amongst and between the various Disney
        hotels. The Disney buses and other transportation efficiently
        carry you between any of the hotels and each of the Disney
        parks, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, and Disney Marketplace.
        But to get from one hotel to another, you must generally travel
        to one of the hubs and transfer to another bus.

     -- go to non-Disney restaurants. There are over 150 food locations
        inside Disney World, but there are hundreds more outside the
        gates. Disney prices range from inexpensive to expensive, but
        "really cheap" is not in Disney's lexicon.

     -- have business appointments in the Orlando area.

     -- stay at a non-Disney hotel or elsewhere outside the park. Many
        hotels offer some form of transportation to Disney World. These
        vary in their frequency (usually not more than once an hour,
        sometimes only a few times a day), efficiency (sometimes these
        stop at a dozen other hotels in route to Disney, sometimes it's
        a direct route), hours (sometimes these stop soon after the
        parks close, leaving no chance for after-hours dining, shows, or
        clubs), and reliability. Other hotels, condos, or residences may
        offer no transportation at all.

   Some frequent park visitors disagree vehemently, feeling that you
   should always have a car.

BEFORE LEAVING HOME:

   I always check a couple of items while I'm planning my stay.

     -- Hours

        I check the Internet FAQ for the scheduled hours of each park.
        Then, just before I go I double-check by calling the Disney
        Information number. This way, I already know if, for example,
        the Magic Kingdom is only open late one day of my visit. Then I
        can plan my schedule to be sure I take advantage of the late
        session. In the less-than-crowded periods of the year, Epcot
        will probably be open 9:00-9:00 every day, and Disney/MGM
        9:00-7:00, but Magic Kingdom is frequently open until midnight
        on Friday or Saturday, closing at 7:00 the other days.

     -- Closed attractions

        A month before my trip, I call the Disney Information number and
        ask which attractions are scheduled to  be closed during my
        vacation. And I re-check with them a couple of days before
        leaving. This saves the disappointment of  finding out once you
        get to the park.

        Also, an attraction may be scheduled to close part-way through
        your stay, so you can make plans to see it while it is still
        open. For example, the Country Bear Playhouse closed in the
        middle of my last trip to let them change over to the Christmas
        show, so I made sure to go on the first day I was there.

        The information line will know which of the big attractions are
        scheduled to be closed. The longer in advance you call, the less
        reliable the list will be, since planned closings can change. It
        is, of course, also possible that an attraction will be closed
        for unexpected reasons, but this is fairly rare at Disney parks.
        And when rides close for unexpected reasons, they usually reopen
        after only a short time.

        Most attractions are closed for a few days annually for upkeep,
        and every few years for several weeks. Generally, this occurs
        during the periods when smaller crowds are expected, the very
        time you want to go. But no matter which attractions may be
        closed, there is still much much much that is open.

THINGS TO BRING:

   A few of the rides suggest putting all loose objects in your pockets.
   If you need eyeglasses to see, don't even think of taking them off
   and missing all the scenery of the rides. Instead, buy an elastic
   strap to keep them on your head. These are usually sold for athletes.
   If you don't have one, they are sold at opticians' stores for just a
   few bucks. Wearing one, you won't worry that your glasses might fly
   off your face and down into who-knows-where while speeding through
   Space Mountain or down the flume at Splash Mountain. And in the
   Florida heat, the sweat won't make them slide down your nose.

CHECKING IN:

   When you check into your on-site Disney hotel, you can go to the
   Guest Services desk in the lobby and pick up several items in the
   relative peace and quiet, and you'll have them when needed. Sure you
   can get them later, but this way you're all set and can look them
   over the night before you go to the parks, or glance through them on
   the bus trip over.

     -- maps to all the parks

        These are the little guidebooks they hand out free as you walk
        through the gates at the park.

        And don't forget the guides to the minor parks as well, such as
        Pleasure Island or Discovery Island.

     -- Entertainment schedules for each of the parks.

        These change every week and have the exact times of any special
        events in the parks, shows, bands, parades, Christmas tree
        lightings...

     -- any tickets you have ordered, such as Hoop-dee-Doo Revue. You can
        have them charged to your room.

     -- Disney bus routes

     -- reservations for Mear's bus to Universal or Sea World

     -- anything else you can think of

TOURING THE PARKS:

   Several generic thoughts on touring the parks and enjoying your day
   are listed here.

   With a multi-day passport, be-our-guest pass, or other multi-day
   ticket, you can switch parks during the day. One in the morning,
   another in the evening. If I am going to do the Disney Parks all day,
   which I usually do, I always do this. It forces you to take at least
   a short break from touring, and adds variety to your day.

   While it applies to some extent to any of the parks, especially in
   the Magic Kingdom the first couple of hours of the day are the
   absolutely best time to tour. The crowds (and lines) have yet to
   build up, so you can go on the most popular rides early and quickly.
   Later in the day, you'll have to wait in ever-increasing lines for
   Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain,
   Jungle Cruise, Maelstrom, Body Wars, Star Tours, Little Mermaid...
   While it's fun to just go with the flow and enjoy whatever comes
   along, you'll really gain from making the most of that prime two
   hours.

   The first time that you go to a new Disney park, you naturally want
   to spend some time just looking around, getting the lay of the land,
   gawking at the sights... This is part of the fun. Because of this, I
   recommend that your first trip to the Magic Kingdom be in the
   afternoon. Spend the morning at Epcot or the Studios instead. When
   you get to the Magic Kingdom, look around, see the park, ride some
   rides, but leave the rides with the longest lines for a morning later
   in your vacation. After having seen the park once, you will feel at
   home on the second day so you can target those most-popular rides for
   the morning rush.

   There are fancy touring plans in most of the Guidebooks. They provide
   a detailed listing of exactly what to do when, and in which order.
   Many people swear by them, but I suggest a more laid-back approach.
   If you select a few popular attractions for the mornings, then go
   where you'd like later on, you'll do as well, especially during the
   less-crowded times of the year. If you are more of a type-A person
   than me, and want a detailed itinerary to govern every step,
   Sehlinger's 'Unofficial Guide' has several to choose from. On my last
   trip, I saw people carrying his guide, studying it while waiting in
   lines, reading it over lunch, ... It was the only guide that people
   seem to actually take with them to the park.

   I've attached at the end of this my highly opinionated opinions about
   various specific rides and restaurants. I've also included my own
   touring plan. Read or ignore as you wish.

RAINY DAYS ARE FUN DAYS TOO:

   Disney World is open 365 days a year (366 in leap years). They don't
   give rain checks, because you don't need them.

   When it rains a bit, the crowds thin out, as many toursts retreat to
   their rooms and the Florida locals stay home. This leaves the parks
   almost empty, ready for you to enjoy it all.

   Since Disney knows that rain is not generally on tourists' lists of
   things they want on their vacation, Disney foregoes their usual
   mark-up on a $5.00 plastic rain poncho which is for sale in all the
   shops. These are cheap souvenirs of your trip, still utilitarian when
   you get back home, and fine protection. They even have an attached
   hood, to keep your head dry.

   "Illuminations" happens daily, good weather or bad. But there are no
   crowds if there's a bit more than a touch of mist, so you can do the
   rides, restaurants, and shops up until show time, then stand right at
   the rail for a great view with no wait.

DINNER SHOWS:

   I highly recommend the HOOP-DEE-DOO Revue, if you want to do one of
   the shows.

   The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is a dinner theatre in Pioneer Hall at Fort
   Wilderness. With three seatings nightly, I pick the last, so that I
   can spend my day and early evening at the parks, leaving in time to
   get to the Hall for the 9:30 or 10:00 show. Allow plenty of time for
   the travel, if you don't already know Ft. Wilderness. Take the Disney
   bus since the show has unlimited sangria/beer/softdrinks. Then you
   can drink hearty and not worry about driving home. The menu is always
   the same: all-you-can-eat barbecue ribs, fried chicken,
   corn-on-the-cob, strawberry shortcake, and all the fixin's. The show
   is from a  dancehall out west in the pioneering days, with a little
   vaudeville thrown in. G-rated entertainment, of course.

   Make your reservations for the show at the same time you make your
   room reservations, since this show is sold out months ahead. Even if
   you make your reservations close to the date of your trip, still try
   for a Hoop-Dee-Doo reservation. Last November I was surprised when I
   made a reservation with just three weeks notice. And then when I got
   to Hoop-Dee-Doo, there were actually a few empty tables. Note though,
   that this was a low-attendance period, a week-day night, and the late
   seating. At any time of the year, you just might luck into a
   cancellation.

   The other dinner shows include a Polynesian luau and a Broadway-style
   revue. There are also special dinner shows from time to time, such as
   the "Joyous Celebration" Christmas dinner show which runs for the
   month of December.

ALCOHOL:

   You don't have to drink to enjoy Disney World, but if you do, Disney
   is happy to serve you on-site.

   Walt Disney World has many restaurants, bars, and other sources of
   food. Many of these also serve beer, wine, and other spirited drinks.
   The full-service restaurants in Epcot and Disney/MGM all serve
   alcohol, as do the restaurants in the hotels. The dinner shows offer
   drinks. Bars are available pool-side, in food courts, and elsewhere
   at many hotels. Clubs at Pleasure Island offer various refreshments.

   The 107 acres of the Magic Kingdom is completely dry. This is the
   only such area in WDW. But Disney made its name as a family-oriented
   destination. While alcohol is available at most locations for those
   old enough, unlike Las Vegas you must ask for it. Virtually every
   part of the World is available and accessible to all ages, and the
   restaurants and bars have other refreshments suitable for all ages.

   Though I am significantly past the minimum drinking age, I was
   thrilled to actually be carded once on my last trip, proof that at
   WDW you not only feel younger, you even look it! They do seem to be
   very careful to follow the laws of the state of Florida, so don't ask
   for alcohol if you shouldn't.

I CAN'T FIND MGM?:

   The official name of the theme park is "the Disney/MGM Studios Theme
   Park".

   Disney and MGM had a falling out sometime after they agreed to open
   the themepark and before it actually opened. This led to various
   court battles. As a result, Disney sometimes abbreviates the name to
   "Disney/MGM", or, more frequently, "The Studios", but they NEVER use
   the term "MGM" by itself to refer to the park; not on signs,
   brochures, ticket stubs, or anyplace. If they ever use the characters
   "MGM", it is always preceeded by the characters "Disney/"

   So if you are looking for the right bus to catch, look for one
   labeled "The Studios". You'll be waiting all day if you hold out for
   one labeled "MGM".

   If you ask a Disney employee (cast member) about "MGM", he'll know
   what you're talking about, but he'll call it something different in
   his answer.

GUIDEBOOKS, VIDEOS, AND ONLINE FILES:

   For more information, get the FAQ from rec.arts.disney and the
   WDWINF.TXT file from Compuserve. If you'd like, I'll be glad to mail
   you a copy of the Internet FAQ. Also, the Official and the Unofficial
   guides are available at a bookstore or library. These are generally
   recognized as the best of the guidebooks.

   Birnbaum is the "official" guide, and is published by a Disney-owned
   company. It is the only guidebook that is licensed to include
   pictures of the Disney attractions. It contains listings of every
   ride, every restaurant, every hotel. Some say they think it is bad
   because it does not include value judgements from the critics, but
   that's not what it is designed for.

   Because it includes pictures of where you're going, Birnbaum gives
   more of an atmosphere to getting ready than the straight text of the
   others. Birnbaum's does not change much from year-to-year, so if you
   had a 1992, or '91, or '90 version, don't buy a new one.

        Birnbaum, Stephen. Birnbaum's Walt Disney World
             Hyperion and Hearst Business Publishing, updated annually
             ISBN: 1-56282-946-7 (1993 ed.)

   Whatever is said to be missing from Birnbaum's 'Official' guide,
   Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide includes. Critiques of each ride, how to
   manage a trip when you have kids, descriptions of the various minor
   parks, ... Birnbaum's includes only Walt Disney World, Sehlinger's
   also includes sections on Universal and Sea World.

        Sehlinger, Bob. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World &
                        Epcot.
             Prentice Hall Travel, updated annually
             ISBN 0-13-953944-1 (1993 ed.)

   There are other guides in the bookstore, but these are the best. You
   should check out the travel section at your local library as well,
   for additional information. And at the library, it's free!

   Disney and Delta Airlines have just released a new 45-minute video,
   the "Walt Disney World Vacation Planner", available from the Disney
   Store nearest you for $9.99. It can also be ordered from Disney's
   reservation number, 1-407-W-DISNEY, if you have a credit card. The
   video provides a nice overview of the features available on your
   vacation. It includes the following sections (times are estimates):

    Duration     Topic
    ========     ======================================================
       1:45  --  Quick scenes of guests enjoying their Disney vacation,
                 with the theme "Be Our Guest" music playing.
       1:45  --  Narrated overview of the components of Walt Disney
                 World.
       6:45  --  The Magic Kingdom Theme Park
       8:45  --  The Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park
       8:00  --  The EPCOT Theme Park, including Future World and World
                 Showcase.
       1:15  --  Typhoon Lagoon
       1:00  --  Golf at Disney World
       1:10  --  Pleasure Island
       8:15  --  The hotels of Walt Disney World.
                 Also includes features located at the hotels such as
                 dinner shows.
       2:50  --  General tips on enjoying your vacation, such as "wear
                 comfortable shoes", "plan ahead", "come when the
                 crowds don't", or "fly Delta".
       2:00  --  General comments, such as "it's good", "it's great",
                 "it's fun."

COMPUSERVE:

   I don't think that you can access Usenet news groups such as
   rec.arts.disney directly from Compuserve, but Compuserve has its own
   Disney group: DisneyMania, in the Florida Forum.

   The Florida Forum, like most of the Compuserve forums, is an extended
   service but is not a premium service.

   To access the forum:
        >> GO FLORIDA

   Then, once in the forum, Disney is Section 13 in the messages
   directory, and files are in Library 13. The first file to download is
   WDWINF.TXT, which is a guidebook to the parks. Also available in the
   library are various peoples' descriptions of vacations, Disney press
   releases, park hours, and other information.

   The Compuserve group tends to be fairly heavily aimed at Walt Disney
   World, but there are threads on Disneyland, movies, oscar night,
   cartoons, the FBI connection, and many of the other topics that also
   appear in rec.arts.disney.

   There are long-time WDW castmembers on the Forum staff who respond
   quickly and frequently to questions raised about the parks in
   Florida.

   I have found that information about WDW tends to get posted on
   Compuserve well in advance of its appearance on rec.arts.disney.
   However, things about other parts of the Disney mystique, including
   Disneyland, movies, or the Disney corporation, usually show up first
   on rec.arts.disney.

   There are Disney-related GIFs available in both Library 13 (Disney)
   and Library 14 (graphics) in the forum.


Enjoy your trip.



                     Some highly opinionated opinions
                     --------------------------------

   Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, these are some of mine. I
   am single and 40, so I may not love all the same things that a
   three-year-old would love, or do the same things a teenager would do.
   But mostly, most everybody likes most everything about WDW.

   Note that I don't go during the most crowded times of the year, so my
   references to lines are based on my experience. If you go July 4 or
   December 31, don't expect the lines to be short for anything...

   This is not an all-inclusive list of the attractions or restaurants.

MAGIC KINGDOM: MAIN STREET USA

   Main Street is atmosphere. Its two blocks are the first things you
   see when you arrive. It contains shops, the lost-and-found, the
   information center, bank machines, ... When you see it, it's just
   like the pictures. But don't expect to see the big attractions here.
   Main Street is the biggest, fanciest front hallway you ever saw, but
   the rest of the park contains treasures you have only imagined. So
   look around a bit, but go on through to the rest of the lands and
   know that you will be back, for Main Street is the way to the parking
   lot at the end of the day.

   Walt Disney World Railroad -- One of Walt Disney's personal hobbies
        was railroads, so you can feel a kinship with him while riding
        "his" train. The railroad circles the complete park. It makes
        three stops: Main Street, Frontierland, and Mickey's Starland.
        Get on at any and ride until you make the complete circuit. A
        nice relaxing way to spend a little time in the afternoon,
        sitting and watching the scenery.

   The Walt Disney Story -- closed. Tell them you want to see it brought
        back. The Walt Disney Story told of his life and his vision.

   Main Street Cinema -- not worth more than a couple of minutes. Never
        a crowd. You stand up in a room with a different silent movie
        being shown on each wall. Things like Steamboat Willie or the
        Great Train Robbery. You can see these back home.

   Main Street Vehicles -- Usually a line. You can ride an antique car
        or trolley or fire engine from one end of Main Street to the
        other. I'd rather walk than wait. You can see the vehicles pass
        by as you walk along the street.

MAGIC KINGDOM: ADVENTURELAND

   My favorite land of the Magic Kingdom. It has only four attractions,
   but every one is a major winner.

   Swiss Family Treehouse -- Maybe it's because Swiss Family Robinson
        was one of my favorite books growing up, but I love this
        attraction.

        The treehouse is a different experience in the bright sunlight,
        when you can look out over the surroundings, or at night when
        you walk through the Robinson's home in the flickering
        candlelight. I always go twice: once in the daylight and once
        after dark.

        Sometimes there's a line, but it doesn't last, so if you see a
        line, come back by later.

   Jungle Cruise -- One of my favorite rides. Always a line. Again, a
        different experience in the day or night.

        In Jungle Cruise, you ride a boat with a real-life human guide.
        The jokes are corny, but fit the jungle you are riding through.
        Plastic elephants play in the water while other animals threaten
        the people on shore. Only the plants, the guide, and the
        tourists are live.

   Tropical Serenade (Enchanted Tiki Birds) -- One of my favorite
        attractions. The science of Audio-Animatronics was first
        introduced to the world in this attraction. There is rarely a
        line, though you must wait for the next show. You sit down in
        the theatre while parrots, plants, and clay pots come alive
        throughout the rafters. A good place to relax and enjoy.

   Pirates of the Caribbean -- While some people say this is their
        favorite ride in the entire park, I don't. It is a nice ride,
        and I always go, but come on. The very best?? The guidebooks do
        say that this one is better at the parks in California and
        France.

MAGIC KINGDOM: FRONTIERLAND

   Splash Mountain -- certainly the newest, but also the best ride in
        the Magic Kingdom (perhaps in all of WDW).

        This is much more than a mere thrill-ride. Yes, there is a
        hurtling splash as your log descends the mountain, but Splash
        Mountain is much much more. The ride takes about ten minutes as
        it meanders through the insides of the mountain, past
        audio-animatronic scenes from Song of the South. The songs, the
        music, the characters, the scenes, the anticipation of the
        splash: Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, it's a wonderful ride.

   Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- a roller-coaster ride, but in the
        Disney image. The sights and sounds which you pass are as
        important as the swing and sway of the ride.

   Country Bear Jamboree -- fun. Audio-animatronic giant bears sing and
        tell jokes which would fit right in with Hee-Haw. The theatre is
        smaller than some, and the waiting area is always crowded.

   The Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree -- While this is a nice attraction, it
        is just too much work to see it. If you go to Hoop-Dee-Doo
        Revue, the dinner theatre at Fort Wilderness, skip the Jamboree.
        Otherwise, you must get a ticket on Main Street soon after the
        park opens; then re-arrange your day around the time of your
        seating. You arrive early and wait in line at the theatre, then
        once you get in it takes another half-hour to get everyone's
        orders taken and served. The food is not as good as what's
        available from the pushcarts elsewhere in the Kingdom, for
        example, a dry ham-and-cheese sandwich and a coke, and it's just
        as expensive, plus tip. Then they finally start the (short)
        show. On the other hand, Hoop-Dee-Doo is great.

MAGIC KINGDOM: LIBERTY SQUARE

   The Haunted Mansion -- While it won't shock or scare you, it is a fun
        house, a must-see. The Disney Imagineers put their efforts into
        many special effects. You go inside, and after an introduction
        in the s-t-r-e-t-c-h r-o-o-m, you get aboard a doom buggy for a
        ride through the home of 999 ghosts. Since there's room for a
        thousand, you may want to stay. The attraction is all indoors,
        but somehow just knowing that it's dark outside makes it better
        at night.

   The Hall of Presidents -- You have to go through. I don't think
        they've added Clinton yet, but he'll arrive soon. This is a big
        theatre, so the crowds may look big but they will all fit in the
        auditorium for the next show. It's a nice place to sit down and
        rest for a few minutes when your legs feel about ready to give
        out. American Adventure at Epcot is better.

   Liberty Square Riverboat -- a big boat that circles Tom Sawyer
        Island. You can see part of the landscape that you might
        otherwise miss, and listen to the narration. The boat is big
        enough so everybody in line ought to fit on-board.

   Mike Fink Keelboats ride -- a small boat that circles Tom Sawyer
        Island. You can see part of the landscape that you might
        otherwise miss, and listen to the narration. You probably don't
        want to do both the Riverboat and the Keelboat, since they go
        the same place.

MAGIC KINGDOM: FANTASYLAND

   It's A Small World -- a Disney classic. You can't skip this. There is
        usually not much of a line; if there is, come back later. See
        dolls from around the world singing and dancing. And when you
        come out, see if you can remember the words to the song.

   Peter Pan's Flight -- There are three fairly similar rides: Peter
        Pan, Mr. Toad, and Snow White. Peter Pan is by far the best. If
        you like it, and the lines aren't too bad, try the other two.

        In Peter Pan, you sail across the London sky in a pirate ship,
        looking down on the city below.

   Mr. Toad's Wild Ride -- Not as good as Peter Pan. Plus, who ever
        heard of this story anyway?

   Snow White's Scary Adventures -- Not very scary. And not as good as
        Peter Pan.

   Magic Journeys -- a three-D movie. The pre-show is Disney's only 3-D
        cartoon from the 3-D fad of the '50's, with Chip and Dale and
        some peanuts. This is a nice spot to rest in mid-day, after your
        feet give out. This movie started out life in Epcot, but moved
        here when Captain EO arrived.

   Cinderella's Castle -- the visual centerpiece of the Kingdom. You can
        walk through parts of the castle. While you can't explore
        throughout the upper parts of the castle, spend some time
        walking around on ground level.

        You can have lunch or dinner in King Stefan's Banquet Hall. This
        opens up a bit more area for you to roam through.

        Song and dance entertainers perform on the front stoop (the
        Castle Forecourt Stage) through the day. The Castle remains a
        center of attention during the fireworks displays at night.
        Tinkerbell flies from the top of the Castle down to the roofs of
        Main Street buildings below.

        The Castle is well worth spending some time seeing. During the
        midst of shows, the front entrance is closed, but it re-opens as
        soon as the entertainers are through.

   Skyway -- a one-way trip, either from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, or
        the other way around. From overhead, you look down at the park
        below from a different perspective.

   20,000 Leagues Under the Sea -- An unbelievable ride. No, not that
        great, just that unbelievable. The ocean depths were decorated
        by the room designers for the Holiday Inns of the '60's, using
        garish green and purple obviously-fake plastic fish. I always
        try to go, and always come out shaking my head. It's not worth a
        long wait, and there is always a line. Sehlinger's Unofficial
        Guide says that the line is because it isn't designed to handle
        the numbers of people efficiently.

MAGIC KINGDOM: MICKEY'S STARLAND

   The street where He lives -- Well worth the couple of minutes it
        takes to detour down through the street where Mickey lives. The
        buildings are real, but they are designed to look like a cartoon
        drawing, with bright solid colors and building-block style.

        Apparently they started with Mickey's birthday land, a temporary
        area for the birthday, then made it permanent and called it
        Mickey's Starland, then expanded on the idea with Toon-Town in
        California, and now will bring the rest of Toon-Town east to
        Disney/MGM next year.

   Mickey's House -- walk through his home. See his grocery list
        (several different kinds of cheese). See his photo collection.
        This is just a walk-through exhibit, so it only takes a couple
        of minutes if you don't like it, or more if you do, so go.

   Grandma Duck's Farm -- see Minnie Moo, a cow with an interesting
        pattern of color on its side: three circles in the standard
        shape of The Mouse. Featured nationally in Disney ads, Minnie
        Moo is now a celebrity. And yes, you can meet her.

        Also you can see other farm animals. Another walk-through
        exhibit.

MAGIC KINGDOM: TOMORROWLAND

   Space Mountain -- An indoor roller-coaster. Huge lines all day long.
        This is one of the "big three" thrill rides at Disney. It is
        different than your regular coaster when you go whizzing through
        the darkness. If you only do one 'thrill-ride', make it Splash
        Mountain, but go ahead and do all three.

   Carousel of Progress (COP) -- if it is open, GO!!! A great attraction
        and sentimental favorite from the New York World's Fair. It is
        open only infrequently. It is rumored that it will be updated to
        include a combination of The Disney Story and the COP of old. It
        is also rumored it will be closed forever.

        COP has gotten a little dated. You enter the theatre and sit
        down, facing the stage at the center of the building. Then,
        while you remain seated, the entire audience section rotates.
        Once you are facing a new stage, the audio-animatronic show
        begins, telling you about the joys of electricity in the 1880's.
        Then the audience rotates again, and the new stage tells you of
        the joys of electricity, a little later. Eventually you arrive
        at the final scene. In New York, this was the today of 1964.
        Only the last scene has been updated, so it doesn't quite fit as
        well as it did in 64. But it's still great.

   Mission to Mars -- very dated. But after 20 years, it is almost ready
        to close, to be replaced with Alien Encounter. Take the
        opportunity to go see it one last time. You probably won't ever
        get another chance. Lines are not a problem here.

   American Journeys -- a Circlevision-360 movie. This means that you
        stand through the movie, and it is projected on the screen all
        around you, giving you the feeling of being there. By standing,
        you can turn in every direction. While it is air-conditioned,
        you won't rest your feet in a Circlevision-360 theatre.

        The other Circlevision-360 films are at Epcot (China and
        Canada). If you see only one, see China. But this one is nice
        too.

   Dreamflight -- this ride is frequently mentioned as an example of
        where even Disney can miss the mark. It's not really all that
        bad, In fact, you'd be really impressed by it at Six Flags.  But
        you expect more from Disney.  With Dreamflight's reputation,
        there's never a line. If you haven't seen it, go.

        This ride appears much like several of the rides at Epcot, where
        you ride through the attraction in plastic carts. But they are
        better done at Epcot.

   WEDway PeopleMover -- no line. You ride at second-story level over
        the people and attractions of Tomorrowland, while listening to
        the canned narration. The ride takes you through a corner of
        Space Mountain, which is a special treat if the Mountain is
        closed and the work lights are on!

   Skyway -- a one-way trip, either from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland, or
        the other way around. From overhead, you look down at the park
        below from a different perspective.

   Grand Prix Raceway -- I drive a real car back home, so I skip this
        ride.

MAGIC KINGDOM: RESTAURANTS

   King Stefan's Banquet Hall -- you need reservations. You dine on the
        second floor of the castle. The windows overlook Fantasyland and
        the carousel. And Cinderella will greet you herself when you
        arrive for your reservation. It is good food, and a nice
        atmosphere. Of course, since you are in the Magic Kingdom, the
        restaurant is dry, but you can quench your thirst with ice tea
        or  fruit juice.

   Main Street Bake Shop -- One of the shops on Main Street is a bakery,
        with all the pastries and chocolate treats you'd expect. Main
        Street stays open a half hour after the rest of the park has
        closed down for the night, and you have to pass by here on the
        way to the exit anyway, so why not stop off and enjoy while the
        crowds hustle to the parking lots.

MAGIC KINGDOM: My Suggested Touring Plan

   (Note that I go to the parks in the off-season. I don't know how well
   this plan will work in very busy times.)

   If you have an early-bird admission which permits you into the park
   before official opening time, for example, as a guest at a Disney
   on-site hotel or as part of a travel package, take full advantage.
   These usually permit you into a selected section of the park one hour
   ahead of the crowds. Whichever section you are permitted into, first
   do those rides which will have ever-increasing long lines later.

   If you arrive in the park in the afternoon or evening, just strike
   out in a likely direction and enjoy what you find.

   There are two house-keeping chores which you may need to handle
   before heading to any attractions: make reservations for a meal at
   King Stefan's inside the castle, and make a reservation for the
   Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree. If you elect to do either of these, you
   will need a reservation, and they go too quickly to wait until the
   park fills up.

        After the park opens, head directly to Frontierland.
        Ride Splash Mountain.
        Ride Splash Mountain again.
        Ride Splash Mountain again.
        After the lines at Splash Mountain have grown, move next door.
        Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
        Go to Adventureland.
        Ride Jungle Cruise.
        Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.

   At this point, the crowds have begun to catch up to you. Proceed with
   your day at the park in an enjoyable manner. I normally proceed
   around the park clockwise, hitting those attractions which will have
   growing lines such as Country Bear Jamboree, Haunted Mansion,  Peter
   Pan, 20,000 Leagues. As the crowds increase, I slow down, shop, eat,
   relax, look around the park, take in restful attractions such as the
   Railroad, Magic Journeys, Tiki Birds, Hall of Presidents, It's a
   Small World, Liberty Square Riverboat. Also, parades, fireworks,
   stage entertainment, or other specials listed in the park's
   Entertainment Guide.

   Because Space Mountain and Splash Mountain are at opposite sides of
   the park, you cannot hit both in the early hours of the morning.
   Well, maybe you can if you literally run from point to point, but
   you can't if you take a relaxed attitude towards enjoying the park.
   Following this plan, you will encounter lines at Space Mountain. Just
   swallow the line, take your lumps, and wait. If you have a second
   morning in the park, you might want to start at Space Mountain
   instead of Splash Mountain, and see the park in a counter-clockwise
   order. If you have an early-bird admission to the park AND if they
   have Space Mountain open for you, you have hit the touring jackpot!
   You really can DO IT ALL.




EPCOT CENTER

EPCOT CENTER: FUTURE WORLD
--------------------------
EPCOT: SPACESHIP EARTH

   The Spaceship Earth pavilion is the big geosphere you see when you
   enter the gates. In the morning, the crowds may mob this attraction
   since it is the first that they see. If the lines are too long, come
   back later, but don't leave the park without riding.

   Spaceship Earth (ride) -- One of the top attractions in Epcot. A ride
        through the history of civilization and communication, brought
        to you by ATT and narrated by Walter Cronkite.

   EarthStation -- a general information center for the park,
        EarthStation is located at the foot of the geosphere. Since
        day-visitors must make their dinner reservations at terminals
        located here, it is mobbed in the early morning. If you stay at
        a Disney hotel, you can make your reservation up to three days
        ahead, from the comfort of your hotel room telephone, and skip
        this mob.

EPCOT: UNIVERSE OF ENERGY

   The Universe of Energy Pavilion contains the attraction Universe of
   Energy.

   Universe of Energy (ride) -- Brought to you by Exxon. While most of
        this exhibit is good, it is ruined at the end by the blatent
        propaganda of Exxon. Starting off, you travel through the
        distant past, with audio-animatronic dinosaurs overhead. As the
        dinosaurs move realistically, you can even smell the sulpher in
        the primordial air. But the ride eventually ends up in a movie
        which, in effect, proclaims, "We are Exxon. We are progress. We
        sent the Exxon Valdez to Alaska to do a job, and so what if a
        little oil washed over the side; that's the cost of progress."
        [This is not a verbatim transcript of the narration]. Aside from
        the political stance, the ride is just too long -- the longest
        of any ride in Epcot.

        I always go, once. The dinosaurs are great. And then I just
        shake my head throughout that movie and walk out vowing to send
        a contribution to Greenpeace.

EPCOT: WONDERS OF LIFE

   The newest pavilion in Future World, brought to you by Met Life.

   Body Wars -- A ride where you almost suffer if there is NOT a line.
        Very similar to Star Tours, this ride uses a flight simulator.
        This is a very good ride. While it doesn't quite meet the level
        of Star Tours, it is still the best ride at Epcot.

        The storyline for this ride is given on video monitors which you
        watch as you wait in line. If there is no line, you will miss
        the setup, and the ride won't make as much sense. If you are not
        "lucky" enough to be there when there are long lines,  take some
        extra time to dawdle in the queue area, and watch the monitors.
        Of course, no lines means you can ride two or three or
        seventy-seven times. Once you've seen the setup, you've seen it,
        but once you've ridden the ride, you're ready to ride again.

    Cranium Command -- This attraction is a bit quirky. It takes place
        in a theatre which is designed by the Disney Imagineers to be an
        attraction in itself, certainly the best theatre in Epcot. You
        are along when a raw recruit takes charge of the brain of a
        young teenager -- and a harrowing time it will be. It may not
        sound like it, but it really all fits together and makes sense
        when you see it.  The audio-animatronics are great, the
        characters who took part in creating this attraction include
        Norm from Cheers, Hans and Franz from SNL, Bob Goldthwaite from
        no-one-knows-where... A Not-To-Be-Missed attraction.

   The Making of Me -- a movie in which Martin Short looks back to his
        past to ask "where did I come from?". If you like Martin Short,
        you'll enjoy the humor. While it asks The Question, remember
        that it is Disney answering it, so it is done with care and
        tact.

EPCOT: HORIZONS

   The Horizons Pavilion contains the ride Horizons.

   Horizons (ride) -- The Carrousel of Progress family, updated to the
        mid-21st century. You see what life may be like in the future.
        Sponsored by GE, the future is shown to include many electric
        gadgets, at home, in the desert, in space, and under the ocean
        depths. One of my favorite attractions.

EPCOT: WORLD OF MOTION

   The World of Motion Pavilion contains the ride World of Motion and
   the Transcenter.

   World of Motion (ride) -- While some people really like this ride, I
        think it just doesn't quite jell as well as some of the other
        attractions. It's not as bad as the other "transportation" show,
        Dreamflight. Lots of audio-animatronics tell the history of
        ground transportation, leading up to the wonders of today and
        tomorrow. Brought to you by General Motors.

   Transcenter -- The Transcenter is sort of like a permanent auto show.
        The World of Motion ride lets you out right in the middle of the
        transcenter, so you can decide whether you want to spend a lot
        of time or walk straight through. Some of the exhibits are nice.

        On your way out, pick up a GM brochure. If you take this to a GM
        dealer for a test drive (and dealer signature), you can send it
        in for a free WDW travel video.

EPCOT: JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION

   The Journey into Imagination Pavilion contains the Journey into
   Imagination ride, the Magic Eye theatre (with Captain EO), and other
   exhibits. Just outside the pavilion, the magical jumping fountain is
   a wonder to see. Sponsored by Kodak.

   Journey into Imagination (ride) -- This ride has multiple levels you
        can enjoy. First, the simple audio-animatronics and the scenes
        you pass. But the ride really tells a story and takes you into
        the imagination to explore the different kinds of stimuli and
        reactions which cause creativity of various kinds.

   Magic Eye Theater -- In 1985, this was the biggest, baddest, music
        video ever. Starring Michael Jackson and set in the distant
        future in outer space, this 3-D movie must be seen. By now, most
        people who would want to see this 57 times per day have already
        done so, and the lines of a few years back are no longer so
        intense.

EPCOT: THE LAND

   The Land is the story of nutrition. It used to be brought to you by
   Kraft, but Nestles took over in 1993. I don't know what changes this
   may portend.

   Kitchen Kabaret -- A MUST-SEE attraction. This audio-animatronic
        banquet tells the story of nutrition and the four food groups.
        It appeals to children of all ages, from sesame street age up.
        It has the light touch of the best of the Magic Kingdom, spilled
        over into Epcot.

   Listen to the Land (Boat Ride) -- A boat trip begins by looking at
        American agriculture, and then moves on to the WDW Epcot
        greenhouses of the future. You can see hydroponics farming,
        aquaculture, and other future technologies which have been
        proven to work.

   Harvest Theater -- A movie named "Symbiosis". Located almost exactly
        180 degrees around Future World from the Exxon show, it is also
        180 degrees opposite in viewpoint. This one is pro-environment,
        and says that we must all live together on the planet.
        Unfortunately, it is not as well done as the Exxon presentation.
        You can see movies like this any night on the Discovery Channel,
        PBS, and the like.

   Farmers' Market -- Much like the fast-food court at your local
        shopping center. You can go to various small stands and buy the
        parts of your meal or a snack. Unlike your shopping center, all
        the food stands are run by the same company (Disney), so there
        is no competition and little duplication. The food is probably a
        little better for you than the shopping center, but if you want
        "health food", go to Wonders of Life.

   The Land Grille Room -- I have never eaten here, but this rotating
        full-service restaurant is supposed to be good. I plan to try it
        on my next trip.

EPCOT: THE LIVING SEAS

   The Living Seas Pavilion contains one of the largest aquariums
   you'll ever see, 5.7 million gallons. It also contains the Living
   Seas attraction and a very nice seafood restaurant.

   The Living Seas (attraction) -- If you'd like a real introduction to
        the fish and mammals of the sea, go to Sea World. But the Living
        Seas is a nice attraction if you're at Epcot anyway.

        You walk through the pre-show area where diving gear and science
        fiction of the past are intermixed, presenting the roots of
        deep-sea exploration. The show then begins with a short movie.
        After the movie, you board "hydrolators" for your descent to the
        depths. The illusion is that you're aboard an elevator
        descending a hundred feet to an underwater research station, but
        in reality you probably descend about a half inch. You then
        board an all-too-short ride which takes you past the aquarium,
        where you can watch fish, and perhaps men or even a mouse, swim
        by. You emerge at "Seabase Alpha", which is filled with exhibits
        and hands-on experiences. You can spend anywhere from ten
        minutes to three hours wandering around here.

   Coral Reef Restaurant -- A seafood restaurant. Every table overlooks
        the giant 5.7 million gallon aquarium. Fish swim by as you eat.

        Some say this restaurant is over-priced, compared to seafood
        restaurants outside the park. What a surprise! Food is always
        more expensive inside an attraction than outside, for example,
        popcorn is more expensive at your movie theater than at the
        grocery store. And the fish-watching, combined with good food,
        makes for a unique experience. I think it is worth it.

EPCOT: COMMUNICORE

   Communicore is right in the midst of Future World. However, you
   should avoid it during the early part of the day. Once the crowds hit
   the real attractions, stop by here to see the dated exhibits and do
   some souvenir shopping.

   Backstage Magic -- This purports to show how computers are used at
        Disney World. The computers are Burroughs, which helps you date
        the attraction.

   Exhibits -- The computer learning games were almost state-of-the-art
        when Epcot opened, but are very dated today. You can do more on
        your home Nintendo than here.

EPCOT: WORLD SHOWCASE:
---------------------
   In World Showcase, every country represented has shops and a
   restaurant. Some have additional attractions such as movies or rides.
   Most countries also have native dancers, musicians, actors,
   magicians, and others who perform in the country's courtyard
   throughout the day. Performance times are listed in the weekly
   "Entertainment Schedule" brochure.

   In the notes below, I have excluded most of the stores and shops.
   They sell various items from the country, ranging from cheap to
   expensive, from small to large.

EPCOT: MEXICO

   El Rio del Tiempo -- On a boat cruise, you ride on "the River of
        Time", past an Aztec temple under the night sky. As time passes
        and you approach the present, however, the ride loses its
        luster, making a mockery of the refined atmosphere for shopping
        offered in the markets of Tiajuana.

   San Angel Inn Restaurant -- Dine under the indoor night sky, on a
        balcony which overlooks the best of El Rio del Tiempo, as the
        boats pass by. Even at mid-day, you can watch the twinkling
        stars and see the Aztec Temple as you eat. Good food.

   Cantina de San Angel -- Perched right at the entrance to World
        Showcase, the cantina makes a nice stop for a frozen marguerita
        as you pause to relax.

EPCOT: NORWAY

   The newest pavilion in World Showcase.

   Maelstrom -- A great ride. You board a viking ship for a ride through
        part of the Norwegian past. The boat proceeds despite the
        warning of the gods of the sea. Your boat travels backwards
        after being hurtled down a waterfall by the restive gods,
        emerging in today's North Sea.

        The ride is followed by a short travelogue movie. The ride is
        worth doing again and again, the movie is good once. So when the
        doors open to enter the movie, you can enter and sit down, or
        enter, cross directly to the other side, and exit into the
        sunshine, skipping the movie. Norway would rather you feel happy
        and come again than feel trapped. Do stay for the movie once
        during your stay, it's short enough to remain interesting.

   Restaurant Akershus -- I've never eaten here, but it is supposed to
        be good. I hope to eat here on my next trip.

   Kringla Bakeri og Kafe -- For a quick bite, stop at the bakery for
        some herring on a sandwich. Skip this if you think McDonalds
        offers adventuresome food.

EPCOT: CHINA

   Wonders of China -- the best of the CircleVision-360 films.  You
        stand through the movie, and it is projected on the screen all
        around you, giving you the feeling of being there. By standing,
        you can turn in every direction, making you feel that you are
        standing in the middle of the Forbidden City, in Red Square, or
        on the parapets of the Great Wall.

   Lotus Blossom Cafe -- Get a quick snack here if you want nice but
        predictable Chinese fast-food.

EPCOT: GERMANY

   Biergarten -- a great dining experience, for dinner. You share a
        table for eight with other parties as necessary. Dine on typical
        German food, and wash it down with large steins of das bier.
        During dinner, there is a show with dancing, yodeling, singing,
        and a German band. Since the show does not run during lunch,
        make sure you come here at supper-time.

   Sommerfest -- As you pass by, see the shops of Germany and stop here
        for a quick beer.

EPCOT: ITALY

   L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Risorante -- the most disappointing food
        I ever had at Disney. There are many Italian restaurants
        throughout the United States, find a good one elsewhere.

EPCOT: AMERICA

   The American Adventure -- In a half-hour, Ben Franklin and Mark Twain
        tell the story of our history. Real sets, audio-animatronics,
        films, slides, and music all combine to create a multimedia
        feast of patriotic joy.

        A group of singers perform for the last 15-minutes of your wait
        in the lobby.

        The biggest problem is that because this attraction is at the
        back end of the park, you will have been touring a long time
        when you get to the big, comfortable cushioned chairs in the
        dark air-conditioned theatre. If you feel yourself nodding off a
        bit, plan to come back. If you proceed quickly out of the
        theatre at the end of the presentation and directly back through
        the front doors of the pavilion, you will be just in time to
        join the next audience. Since the theatre is large, there should
        still be space for you.

EPCOT: JAPAN

   Japan includes a Japanese department store and several restaurants.

   Matsu No Ma Lounge -- the best stop in Epcot. At the very back end of
        the park, you've walked a long way to get to Japan. On the first
        floor is a department store. Now ascend the steps to the second
        floor, and enter the Matsu-No-Ma Lounge. Here you can sit in
        front of large picture windows and watch the crowds hurry by on
        the pavement below. You can look out over the lagoon, watching
        the workers prepare for that night's showing of Illuminations.
        Meanwhile, you can relax, sipping hot sake.

EPCOT: MOROCCO

   Restaurant Marrakesh -- The food is alright, and the belly dancers
        are entertaining, but the service here was less than the Disney
        norm.

EPCOT: FRANCE

   In France, you get that special Disney attention to detail: the cast
   members even have that stereotypical French rudeness, but it's all in
   fun.

   Impressions de France -- a travelogue movie on France. You might see
        a similar travelogue on PBS, but it would be on a smaller
        screen.

   Chefs de France -- a nice restaurant. Good food.

   Boulangerie Patisserie -- a nice stop just before or after
        Illuminations. Pick up a French pastry.

EPCOT: UNITED KINGDOM

   Rose & Crown Pub -- pick up a pint of Guinness on your way out of
        World Showcase.

EPCOT: CANADA

   O Canada! -- A CircleVison-360 movie. You stand through the movie,
        and it is projected on the screen all around you, giving you the
        feeling of being there. By standing, you can turn in every
        direction, making you feel that you are standing in the middle
        of a nice, somewhat familiar, country.

        If you see only one CircleVision-360 film, see China. But this
        one is nice too.

   Le Cellier -- While the other countries in World Showcase provide big
        restaurants, Canada provides an up-scale cafeteria. No
        reservations needed. Stand in line with your tray, select your
        food, pay for it, go to a table, and eat it.

        This restaurant does not really seem as special or unique as the
        ones in other countries. Maybe this is just because there isn't
        all that much difference between American food and Canadian
        food.

EPCOT: My Suggested Touring Plan

   (Note that I go to the parks in the off-season. I don't know how well
   this plan will work in very busy times.)

   Twice the size of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot does not lend itself
   easily to complex touring. Just start off in some direction, stop at
   each pavilion as you get to it, and then head on to the next.

   There are three attractions which may develop lines even in the best
   times of the year: Spaceship Earth, Body Wars, and Maelstrom. But
   even these do not experience the sustained long lines of Magic
   Kingdom's Space Mountain. If an attraction has a very long line, pass
   it by for the moment and come by later; it may have shrunk.

   If you arrive as the park opens, and the line has yet to form at
   Spaceship Earth, go through Spaceship Earth. If the line has already
   formed, or after you have seen Spaceship Earth, go to the Wonders Of
   Life pavilion for Body Wars and Cranium Command.

   I assume that you are a guest of one of the on-site Disney hotels,
   and as such you have already made your reservations for lunch and
   dinner. If not, you will need to alter your morning to accommodate
   this.




DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS

DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS: ATTRACTIONS

   The Great Movie Ride -- Disney audio-animatronics tells the story of
        the movies. This attraction has the very latest in Disney
        technology: the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz is the most
        up-to-date life-like audio-animatronic figure available.

        You'll see Bogart at the plane in Casablanca, John Wayne on a
        horse, Tarzan swing through the jungle, Gene Kelly singing in
        the rain, dancers in a Busby Berkeley extravaganza. After you've
        maxed out on audio-animatronic re-creations, your car will pause
        for a few clips from the classic movies.

        On each cycle of this ride, two cars are filled with riders;
        each has a human driver. Depending on whether you picked the
        left or right line when you entered the building, you will
        either be loaded into the front or back car. Halfway through the
        ride, the two cars will separate. "Something" will happen in a
        live-action sequence. But depending on which car you are in, you
        will experience a different "something". (I don't want to give
        away too much). So when you go in, remember which line you
        picked, left or right. If you go back through, pick the other
        line.

        Unlike some of the other attractions, if you take  The Great
        Movie Ride several times, you will enjoy it more if you take
        some other attractions in-between, giving the mind a chance to
        assimilate the varied movies and integrate the experience into
        your memories.

        The Great Movie Ride is presented inside Disney's replica of
        Graumann's Chinese Theatre. On the terrace outside the entrance,
        the hand-prints, foot-prints, and signatures of stars who have
        visited the park are preserved in cement. Scan the ground for
        your favorite personality. Your visit may even come at a time
        when a new star is being added to this walkway of fame; check
        whether they take off their shoes before standing in the wet
        cement.

   SuperStar Television -- Audience members, selected before the show
        starts, appear live on stage while Disney Magic inserts them
        into scenes from television shows of the past. For example, they
        knock on the door, and the Golden Girls open it. One lucky girl
        joins Lucy on the production line at a chocolate factory.

        This is probably more fun if you are a participant. Go if the
        line isn't too bad.

   The Monster Sound Show -- A movie with Chevy Chase and Martin Short
        is shown once with a regular soundtrack, complete with many
        sound effects. Then three audience members, selected before the
        show,  watch the film a second time, creating a new soundtrack
        with new  sound effects. The movie is then re-shown, this time
        with the new soundtrack. Of course, the audience members never
        get the right sounds made at the right time.

        Once you've experienced the show from the perspective of a
        volunteer sound-maker, the show will never seem quite the same
        again; it'll be better.

   Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! -- This live show is performed
        by stunt people and re-creates many of the scenes from Indiana
        Jones' movie. Because of the massive fires, explosions, and
        general havoc, the show is only presented a few times each day.
        When you arrive at the park, check the entertainment schedule to
        find out when it will be presented and plan your day to include
        one of those times. This is a MUST-SEE attraction.

   Star Tours -- One of the top attractions at WDW.  Very similar to
        Body Wars, this ride uses a flight simulator. But Star Tours
        tells a better story.

        Riding on a spaceship with a new robot pilot, you are attacked
        by the Imperial forces, caught in a tractor beam, suffer several
        almost-deadly catastrophies, and ultimately get swept into
        battle to destroy the Death Star.

   The Magic of Disney Animation -- Disney made animation what it is
        today. So this is truly THE place to go to learn about it.

        The pre-show waiting area is an art gallery containing drawings,
        and a few of the Oscars which have been awarded for Disney's
        animation.

        Walter Cronkite and a pre-Alladin animated Robin Williams star
        in a film showing how animation works. Mood swings, action,
        background, are woven together in humor. You then walk past the
        artists at work, while Walter and Robin narrate from overhead
        monitors. To conclude, you enter another theatre to  see a
        collage of Disney animation through the years.

   Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure -- a playground. The area
        is themed as the backyard with you "shrunk" as in the movie.
        Giant blades of grass, paperclips, and insects grace the
        grounds. The remains of a corroded battery make for a slide.

        The playground is aimed at the pre-school generation, but anyone
        will enjoy a quick walk-through. If there's a line, it's not
        worth waiting for adults. You can look through the fence instead.

   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- The turtles go out on the streets to
        film a movie. This is a live performance where you can get their
        autographs.

   Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D -- Don't be misled into thinking this
        is just a kiddie show. This is the best theatre show in all of
        Disney World, for all ages.

        The Muppets star in a 3-D movie, all about their experiences as
        they set out to make a 3-D movie.

        This movie combines on-screen 3-D effects with characters
        actually sitting in the box seats around the theatre. When they
        blow a soap bubble towards the audience, they drop a fine mist
        of water on the audience, just enough to feel that the soap
        bubble hit you. Cannons roar, explosions explode, Miss Piggy
        sings.

   Beauty and the Beast -- a live performance based on the movie. I
        understand that the outdoor theatre has been torn down as part
        of the park's expansion, and the show will be moved to a new
        location.

   The Little Mermaid -- huge lines. Last November, this was the longest
        line I encountered at any of the Disney parks. It is a
        combination live-action/animation show in a small theatre.

   Dinosaurs Live -- The Dinosaurs show up and let you get their
        autographs. I don't know if the new "Alladin's Caravan" has
        affected the Dinosaurs. They used to be the stars of the parade.

   Muppets on Location -- A live performance of your favorite Muppet
        characters.

   Studio Showcase -- A museum-type setting. Included are props from
        various movies such as the Rocketeer, Johnny Carson's desk,
        costumes... No line, just walk in and through.

   Backstage Tour Part I (Tram Ride) -- includes Catastrophe Canyon.
        Ride a tram which takes you past various parts of the back lot
        which are off-limits for walking. You ride by the costume
        department and lighting department. You see various automobiles
        in the boneyard. Plants of varying types and sizes sit in tubs
        ready to be moved to a movie set.

        After passing down Residential Street and the home of the Golden
        Girls TV show, the tram carries you to Catastrophe Canyon, where
        you will live through an earthquake and the resulting explosion
        and fire at an oil well.

        The trams load quickly, so there is not a bad line even at the
        worst times of the day.  If you ride only once, do it during the
        daylight, when you can see more of the park. Catastrophe Canyon
        takes on a new side once dusk arrives, so you may want to ride
        again.

   Backstage Tour Part II (Soundstages +) -- this is a one-hour walking
        tour through the soundstages. You will see various sets and
        props. Trick photography puts several volunteers into boats on the
        rough seas, or on the back of a speeding giant insect. Both
        informative and entertaining.

DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS: RESTAURANTS

   Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant -- A great setting, not great food.

        This is the most-unique themed setting of any restaurant at WDW.
        The tables appear to be seats in cars, and you watch clips from
        "B" movies of the 40's and 50's projected on the screen of the
        drive-in. Completely indoors, you sit under the night stars at
        any hour of the day.

        The fare is slowly getting better, but many WDW restaurants have
        far-better kitchens. Go here for the experience, not for the
        best in food.

   The Hollywood Brown Derby -- the high-class restaurant at the park.

        This restaurant is modeled after the Brown Derby in Hollywood.
        It is a classy spot, with good food.

   50's Prime Time Cafe -- I have yet to eat here, though I have looked
        in. Many people like the setting, which is that of "home" in the
        '50's. You are served by waitresses who play the part of "mom,"
        and chide you if you don't eat your vegetables or clean your
        plate.

   Tune in Lounge -- This bar is part of the 50's Prime Time Cafe. Drink
        a beer while you watch part of old family-oriented TV shows.
        "Mom" stays next door in the cafe.

   The Catwalk Bar -- Worth finding. Up on the second floor catwalk,
        overlooking the Soundstage Restaurant below. You pass through
        movie scenery and props in the soundstage to get here. The trip,
        not the bar, is worth the walk up here.

DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS: My Suggested Touring Plan

   (Note that I go to the parks in the off-season. I don't know how well
   this plan will work in very busy times.)

   On Hollywood Boulevard, soon after you enter the park, you will see
   the "tip board". This is a large chalk board on which Disney has
   written the estimated current waiting times for each of the
   attractions and shows. So you know right away what sort of lines you
   will be facing. The estimates are updated throughout the day, as the
   lines come and go. Use the board to help plan your starting point in
   the park. Note, though, that even if the board lists "no wait", you
   may still encounter a short line at the attraction.

   If you arrive so early that there is no line, see The Littlest
   Mermaid. Otherwise, take The Great Movie Ride, which helps transport
   your mind from the worries of your regular life into the glory of the
   movies, and sets up your day.

   Then proceed to Star Tours. Ride several times unless the lines
   overwhelm you. Now head across the way to MuppetVision 3-D for the
   best laughs that Disney has to offer. Check your Entertainment Guide
   and schedule which showing of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt
   Spectacular you will see. Plan the rest of your day around that
   showing, any lunch or dinner reservations you may have, and your
   planned departure time from the park.

   Enjoy the rest of the attractions and exhibits in the park, being
   sure to stop off at The Great Movie Ride for at least one more ride.




UNIVERSAL STUDIOS VS DISNEY/MGM STUDIOS

   Go to both.

   If you have to choose between them, and if you have never been to
   either one, I would suggest going to Disney/MGM. If you've already
   seen Disney/MGM on a prior trip, go to Universal.

   In Back to the Future and E.T, Universal brings a ride, a story, and
   a setting together with such mastery that Disney is hard-pressed to
   equal them. But Disney is consistently excellent, technically
   superior, and just makes their park a more magical place.

   Disney knows better how to manage lines and how to set up waiting
   areas which leave you a bit entertained and less-aware that you are
   just standing around.

   Disney attractions normally work. Universal attractions have become
   famous for frequent breakdowns and for stranding guests in the midst
   of a ride.

   Some parts of the two parks seem comparable, but both show great
   creativity and originality; neither is a rip-off of the other.

     -- Disney/MGM: Hollywood Boulevard
        Universal:  The Front Lot

        Both serve as a front-hallway to get you into the park, and
        contain things like lost-and-found, first-aid, guest assistance.
        But Universal just makes it a block to walk past, while Disney
        fills the street with shops, characters, and props to get you
        into the mood of the movies.

     -- Disney/MGM: The Monster Sound Show
        Universal:  Gory, Gruesome and Grotesque Horror Make-Up Show

        These are both stage presentations where the audience learns
        about some aspect of how movies use special effects, either
        sound or make-up. Universal is more factual, Disney more
        humorous.

     -- Disney/MGM: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
        Universal:  Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show

        Disney does it better.

        These stunt shows are held several times a day. Both consist of
        stuntmen and women putting on a show; the "plot" of the show is
        very thin. At Disney, the actors talk with the audience and give
        you more of a feeling that the stunt is the thing. At Universal,
        the stunts are just part of the story, but since the plot is so
        poor, you're left less satisfied. Also, the final segment of the
        show is bigger and more earth-shattering at Disney than at
        Universal.

     -- Disney/MGM: The Magic of Disney Animation

        In the history of animation, Disney helped shape the art into
        what it has become today.

        There is no comparable attraction at Universal. There can't be.

     -- Disney/MGM: Backstage Tour Part I (Tram Ride)
        Universal:  Boneyard
        Universal:  Production Tour
        Universal:  Earthquake (subway segment)

        At Disney, the tram tour takes you past various departments and
        outdoor sets, past the Boneyard, and then on to Catastrophe
        Canyon.

        At Universal, the boring tram tour takes you past various
        outdoor sets. You may walk around the outside fence of the
        Boneyard. You get the shakes of disaster in Earthquake.

        The Boneyard is better at Universal, since you can linger and
        see it at your own pace. Disney's tram tour, even without
        Catastrophe Canyon, is better. The tram tour is so poor at
        Universal that Disney would be hard-pressed to do so badly.
        Earthquake is slightly better than Catastrophe Canyon.

     -- Disney/MGM: Backstage Tour Part II (Soundstages)
        Universal:  Murder She Wrote Mystery Theatre
        Universal:  Hitchcock's 3-d Theatre
        Universal:  Earthquake (the theatre segments)

        At Disney, a one-hour walking tour of the soundstages teaches
        you a bit about how movies are made. Universal takes a different
        approach, with several theatre presentations discussing various
        aspects of the art.

        Universal is more entertaining, but Disney provides a
        better-structured cohesive single presentation.

        One advantage at Universal: Disney's hour-long walking tour
        doesn't stop for bathroom breaks, and an hour can seem mighty
        long.

     -- Disney/MGM: Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
        Universal: Fieval's Playground

        Both provide playgrounds for kids.

     -- Universal:  E.T. Adventure

        The E.T. Adventure, the best ride in any of the Orlando parks, is
        unequalled by anything at Disney/MGM.

     -- Disney/MGM: Star Tours
        Universal:  Back to the Future, the Ride

        Back to the Future is the most turbulent of any of the
        simulator-based rides in the Orlando parks. It has a nice
        waiting area, once you finally make it into your final holdings
        cell. And the combination of the vehicle, the big-screen film
        projection, and the rock and tumble of the simulator creates a
        masterpiece. And it even tells a fairly good story.

        Star Tours has a great story-line, told with the characteristic
        Disney humor. But it doesn't equal the range of motion provided
        by Back to the Future. Sitting in the 70-person cargo bay of a
        shuttle can't equal the personal involvement of sitting in a
        six-passenger deLorian.

        It's a close call, but Back to the Future is slightly the better
        of two tremendously great rides.

     -- Some attractions just don't have easy one-to-one comparisons
        between the parks. That's part of the reason to see both.

        Disney/MGM: Beauty and the Beast
        Disney/MGM: Dinosaurs Live
        Disney/MGM: The Great Movie Ride
        Disney/MGM: Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D
        Disney/MGM: The Little Mermaid
        Disney/MGM: Muppets on Location
        Disney/MGM: Studio Showcase
        Disney/MGM: SuperStar Television
        Disney/MGM: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
        Disney/MGM: Theater of the Stars
        Universal:  Animal Actors' Stage
        Universal:  Dynamite Mights Stunt Spectacular
        Universal:  Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera
        Universal:  Ghostbusters
        Universal:  Kongfrontation
        Universal:  Lucy: A Tribute



SEA WORLD

   While Disney/MGM and Universal are the same type of park, Sea World
   has no corollary at Disney. The Living Seas is but one attraction
   inside the large Epcot park and no match for Sea World, which is an
   entire park devoted to the World of the Sea.

   It takes a full day to see all of Sea World. There are many exhibits,
   shows, rides, and attractions. Sea World considers education an
   important part of the entertainment, so you will learn more here than
   in a normal day's touring at a Disney park.

   However, if you have been to Sea World in San Diego, you will find
   this park very familiar. Sea World also has parks in Ohio and Texas,
   I haven't been to them so I don't know how different they may be.

   Sea World is located not too far from Disney, on the way towards
   Orlando. Mear's provides hourly bus service that will pick you up at
   your hotel and bring you back at the end of the day (reservations
   required).

     -- Bill Ellett
        Library Systems Expert
        Data Research Associates
        (Internet:  [e-mail] )

     [usual disclaimers]

============================================================