Walt Disney World With Kids, 2001

by Wiley, Kim Wright

• ISBN13: 9780761524182
• ISBN10: 0761524185
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2000-06-15
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles

Summary

With the help of more than 300 families, kid-travel expertKim Wright Wileyhas compiled the ultimate travel companion to Walt Disney World and other Orlando theme parks. She offers touring plans for families with children of different ages and interests, suggests helpful time- and money-saving ideas, and rates attractions and rides by their age-related suitability and "scare" factor. Inside You'll Find: New updates on Disney's FASTPASS system Tips such as how to save up to 20% at Disney-owned hotels Favorite attractions for teens and preteens Helpful hints for avoiding crowds and lines at the park Detailed maps and restaurant guides And much more! "Must reading for everyone planning to bring their family."Katie Couric, NBC'sToday Show About the Author Kim Wright Wileyhas updated her popular guideWalt Disney World with Kidsfor ten consecutive years. She is the online Disney expert for /family.com, and a contributing editor atDisney Magazine.She and her children have visited Walt Disney World at least 35 times and still love to go back.

Table of Contents

Helpful Phone Numbers	xi
List of Maps	xiii
List of Quick Guide Reference Tables	xiii
Abbreviations, Terms, and Icons	xiv
Preface: How Has Walt Disney World Changed?	xv
Before You Leave Home	1	(38)
Map of Walt Disney World	2	(2)
What Time of Year Should We Visit?	4	(2)
How Long Should We Stay?	6	(1)
Should We Take the Kids Out of School?	7	(1)
Epcot Projects	8	(1)
Animal Kingdom Projects	8	(1)
Camp Disney at the Disney Institute	9	(2)
Other Orlando Educational Programs	11	(2)
Should We Buy a Package?	13	(4)
Magic Kingdom Club Gold Cards	17	(1)
What Kind of Ticket Do We Need?	18	(4)
Advance Reservations and Ticket Purchases	22	(5)
Things to Discuss with Your Kids Before You Leave Home	27	(6)
Don't Leave Home Without	33	(2)
How to Get Up-to-Date Information	35	(1)
The Frantic Factor	36	(3)
Choosing a Hotel	39	(48)
Map of Walt Disney World Hotels	40	(2)
Guide to On-Site Hotels	42	(1)
General Information About the On-Site Disney Hotels	43	(1)
Quick Guide to On-Site Hotels	44	(2)
Is It Worth the Expense to Stay On-Site?	46	(2)
The Advantages of Staying On-Site	48	(4)
Rating the On-Site Disney Hotels	52	(1)
Best On-Site Choices at a Glance	53	(25)
Great Off-Site Hotels for Families	78	(9)
Once You Get There	87	(28)
Bare Necessities: Strollers, Babies, and First Aid	88	(5)
Things You Don't Want to Think About	93	(3)
Saving Time	96	(2)
Saving Money	98	(4)
Meeting the Disney Characters	102	(1)
Disney Photo Ops	103	(1)
Camcorder Taping Tips	104	(1)
Best Souvenirs	105	(2)
Special Tips for Extra-Crowded Times	107	(1)
Special Tips for Big Families	108	(1)
Special Tips for Grandparents	109	(1)
Special Tips for Pregnant Guests	110	(2)
Special Tips for Disabled Guests	112	(3)
Touring Tips and Plans	115	(24)
General Disney World Touring Tips	116	(9)
Must-See List for WDW	125	(2)
FASTPASS	127	(1)
Touring Tips for Visitors Staying On-Site	128	(1)
Touring Tips for Visitors Staying Off-Site	129	(2)
How to Customize a Touring Plan	131	(4)
Favorite Preschool Attractions	135	(1)
Favorite Preteen and Teen Attractions	136	(3)
The Magic Kingdom	139	(40)
Map of the Magic Kingdom	140	(2)
Getting to the Magic Kingdom	142	(1)
Getting Around the Magic Kingdom	143	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour in the Magic Kingdom	144	(1)
Main Street Touring Tips	145	(1)
Fantasyland	146	(1)
The Magic Kingdom Don't-Miss List	147	(1)
Quick Guide to Magic Kingdom Attractions	148	(7)
Mickey's Toontown Fair	155	(2)
Tomorrowland	157	(5)
Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square Touring Tips	162	(2)
Adventureland	164	(2)
Frontierland	166	(3)
Liberty Square	169	(2)
Full-Service Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom	171	(1)
Notable Fast-Food Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom	171	(1)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom	172	(1)
Afternoon Resting Places	172	(2)
Best Vantage Points for Watching the Parades	174	(1)
Best Restroom Locations in the Magic Kingdom	175	(1)
Tips for Your Last Hour in the Magic Kingdom	176	(1)
Tips for Leaving the Magic Kingdom	177	(2)
Epcot Center	179	(36)
Map of Epcot Center	180	(2)
Getting to Epcot	182	(1)
Getting Around Epcot	183	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour at Epcot	183	(1)
Epcot Touring Tips	184	(3)
The Epcot Don't-Miss List	187	(1)
The Epcot Worth-Your-While List	187	(1)
Quick Guide to Epcot Attractions	188	(2)
Future World	190	(10)
World Showcase	200	(4)
General Information About Epcot Restaurants	204	(1)
Full-Service Restaurants at Epcot	205	(1)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants at Epcot	206	(2)
Notable Fast-Food Restaurants at Epcot	208	(1)
Epcot Extras	209	(2)
Afternoon Resting Places at Epcot	211	(1)
Best Restroom Locations at Epcot	212	(1)
Tips for Your Last Hour at Epcot	212	(1)
Tips for Leaving Epcot	213	(2)
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park	215	(26)
Map of Disney-MGM Studios	216	(2)
Getting to the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park	218	(1)
Getting Around MGM	218	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour at MGM	219	(1)
MGM Touring Tips	220	(2)
Quick Guide to MGM Attractions	222	(2)
The MGM Don't-Miss List	224	(1)
The MGM Worth-Your-While List	224	(1)
MGM Attractions	225	(11)
Meeting the Characters at MGM	236	(1)
Full-Service Restaurants at MGM	237	(1)
Quick-Guide to Full-Service Restaurants at MGM	238	(1)
Notable Fast-Food Restaurants at MGM	238	(2)
Tips for Your Last Hour at MGM	240	(1)
Tips for Leaving MGM	240	(1)
The Animal Kingdom	241	(20)
Map of Animal Kingdom	242	(2)
The Newest Park	244	(1)
Getting to the Animal Kingdom	245	(1)
Getting Around the Animal Kingdom	245	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour in the Animal Kingdom	245	(1)
Animal Kingdom Touring Tips	246	(1)
Animal Kingdom Attractions	247	(1)
Quick Guide to Animal Kingdom Attractions	248	(2)
The Animal Kingdom Don't-Miss List	250	(1)
The Animal Kingdom Worth-Your-While List	250	(6)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Animal Kingdom	256	(2)
Food Choices in the Animal Kingdom	258	(1)
Tips for Your Last Hour at the Animal Kingdom	258	(1)
Tips for Leaving the Animal Kingdom	259	(2)
The Disney World Water Parks	261	(20)
Map of Walt Disney World Water Parks	262	(2)
Getting to the Water Parks	264	(1)
Quiz: Which Water Park Is Right for You?	265	(1)
River Country	266	(3)
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Touring Tips	269	(2)
Typhoon Lagoon	271	(1)
Typhoon Lagoon Attractions	272	(3)
Blizzard Beach	275	(1)
Blizzard Beach Attractions	276	(5)
The Rest of the World	281	(34)
Map of Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island	282	(2)
Beyond the Major Parks	284	(1)
Getting to the Rest of the World	284	(2)
The Don't-Miss List for the Rest of the World	286	(1)
The Worth-Your-While List for the Rest of the World	286	(1)
Downtown Disney	286	(1)
Downtown Disney Marketplace	287	(1)
Pleasure Island	288	(4)
Downtown Disney West Side	292	(1)
DisneyQuest	293	(1)
Cirque du Soleil	294	(1)
BoardWalk and the ESPN Center	295	(2)
Disney Extras	297	(3)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Rest of the World	300	(6)
That Sportin' Life: On Water	306	(2)
That Sportin' Life: On Land	308	(4)
Disney's Wide World of Sports	312	(3)
Dining at Disney	315	(32)
Full-Service Restaurants at Disney	316	(1)
Definition of Restaurant Ratings	316	(2)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants	318	(8)
Restaurant Descriptions	326	(18)
Finding Healthful Food	344	(3)
The Disney Cruise Line	347	(10)
The Disney Cruise Line Vacation Package	348	(2)
Approximate Costs	350	(2)
Lodging	352	(1)
Dining	353	(1)
Ports of Call	353	(2)
Kids' Programs	355	(1)
Onboard Entertainment	355	(2)
Disney After Dark	357	(16)
Disney World After Dark with the Kids	358	(4)
Disney World After Dark Without the Kids: Finding a Sitter	362	(5)
Dining Without the Kids	367	(6)
Universal Orlando	373	(36)
Map of Universal Orlando	374	(3)
Map of Universal Studios	377	(1)
What's Universal Orlando?	378	(2)
Tips for Your First Hour at Universal Studios	380	(2)
Universal Studios Touring Tips	382	(3)
The Scare Factor at Universal Studios	385	(1)
The Universal Studios Don't-Miss List	385	(1)
The Universal Studios Worth-Your-While List	386	(1)
Fine for Anyone	386	(1)
Consider Waiting Until Your Kids Are at Least 7	387	(1)
Favorite Preteen and Teen Attractions at Universal	388	(1)
Attractions Especially Popular with Teens and Preteens	388	(1)
Universal Studios Attractions	388	(2)
Quick Guide to Universal Attractions	390	(13)
The Best Food Bets at Universal Studios	403	(3)
Tips for Your Last Hour at Universal Studios	406	(3)
Islands of Adventure	409	(22)
Map of Islands of Adventure	411	(1)
Islands of Adventure	412	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour at Islands of Adventure	413	(1)
Islands of Adventure Touring Tips	413	(2)
Islands of Adventure Don't-Miss List	415	(1)
Islands of Adventure Worth-Your-While List	416	(1)
The Scare Factor at Islands of Adventure	416	(2)
Quick Guide to Islands of Adventure Attractions	418	(2)
Islands of Adventure Attractions	420	(6)
Tips for Your Last Hour at Islands of Adventure	426	(1)
CityWalk	427	(4)
Life Beyond Disney World: Sea World and Other Orlando Attractions	431	(14)
Sea World	432	(6)
Gatorland	438	(1)
Wet'n Wild	439	(1)
Mystery Fun House	440	(1)
Off-Site Dinner Shows for the Whole Family	440	(5)
Index	445