Walt Disney World with Kids, 2003

by Wiley, Kim Wright

• ISBN13: 9780761537175
• ISBN10: 0761537171
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-08-27
• Publisher: Fodor's

Summary

Your VIP Ticket to a Magical Family Vacation At your fingertips is the ultimate family fun guide to Walt Disney World and Orlando's other great theme parks. Written by a kid-travel expert with the help of more than 300 families, the latest edition of this guide to all things fun in Orlando helps you and your family create a perfect touring plan. Now children, teens, and parents alike can see and doexactlywhat they want at Walt Disney World and surrounding attractions. Inside you'll find: Ratings for restaurants and hotels and easy-to-read maps to parks and surrounding areas Favorite attractions for kids, preteens, and teens Time- and money-saving tips, insider secrets, and scare factors for every ride and venue Updates on Disney's FASTPASS system and helpful hints for avoiding crowds and lines And so much more! "Must reading for everyone planning to bring their family." Katie Couric,NBC'sToday Show

Table of Contents

Helpful Phone Numbers	ix
List of Maps	xi
List of Quick Guide Reference Tables	xi
Abbreviations, Terms, and Icons	xii
Preface	xv
Before You Leave Home	1	(36)
Map of Walt Disney World	2	(2)
What Time of Year Should We Visit?	4	(3)
How Long Should We Stay?	7	(1)
Should We Take the Kids Out of School?	7	(3)
Should We Buy a Package?	10	(6)
What Kind of Tickets Do We Need?	16	(4)
Ticket Purchases and Advance Reservations	20	(6)
Things to Discuss with Your Kids Before You Leave Home	26	(6)
Don't Leave Home Without	32	(2)
How to Get Up-to-Date Information Before You Leave	34	(1)
Getting Info at the Hotel	35	(1)
Getting Info in the Parks	35	(1)
The Frantic Factor	35	(2)
Choosing a Hotel	37	(50)
Map of Walt Disney World Hotels	38	(2)
Guide to On-Site Hotels	40	(1)
General Information About the On-Site Disney Hotels	41	(1)
Quick Guide to On-Site Hotels	42	(2)
Is It Worth the Expense to Stay On Site?	44	(2)
The Advantages of Staying On Site	46	(6)
Rating the On-Site Disney Hotels	52	(28)
Off Site Hotels: Which Location Is Best?	80	(7)
Once You Get There	87	(30)
Bare Necessities: Strollers, Babies, and First Aid	88	(5)
Things You Don't Want to Think About	93	(5)
Saving Time	98	(2)
Saving Money	100	(3)
Meeting the Disney Characters	103	(1)
Camcorder Taping Tips	104	(1)
Best Souvenirs	105	(2)
Special Tips for Extra-Crowded Times	107	(2)
Special Tips for Big Families	109	(1)
Special Tips for Grandparents	110	(1)
Special Tips for Pregnant Guests	111	(1)
Special Tips for Disabled Guests	112	(2)
Birthdays and Special Occasions	114	(3)
Touring Tips and Plans	117	(26)
General Disney World Touring Tips	118	(11)
The FASTPASS System	129	(2)
Touring Tips for Visitors Staying On Site	131	(1)
Touring Tips for Visitors Staying Off Site	132	(2)
How to Customize a Touring Plan	134	(9)
The Magic Kingdom	143	(42)
Map of the Magic Kingdom	144	(2)
Getting to the Magic Kingdom	146	(1)
Getting Around the Magic Kingdom	147	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour in the Magic Kingdom	148	(1)
Main Street Touring Tips	149	(1)
Fantasyland	150	(2)
Quick Guide to Magic Kingdom Attractions	152	(8)
Mickey's Toontown Fair	160	(1)
Tomorrowland	161	(6)
Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square Touring Tips	167	(1)
Adventureland	168	(2)
Frontierland	170	(3)
Liberty Square	173	(2)
Food Choices in the Magic Kingdom	175	(2)
Afternoon Resting Places	177	(1)
Best Vantage Points for Watching the Parades	178	(1)
Best Restroom Locations in the Magic Kingdom	179	(1)
Tips for Your Last Hour in the Magic Kingdom	179	(1)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom	180	(2)
Tips for Leaving the Magic Kingdom	182	(3)
Epcot	185	(38)
Map of Epcot	186	(2)
Getting to Epcot	188	(1)
Getting Around Epcot	189	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour at Epcot	189	(1)
Epcot Touring Tips	190	(4)
Quick Guide to Epcot Attractions	194	(2)
Future World	196	(11)
World Showcase	207	(4)
General Information About Epcot Restaurants	211	(1)
Food Choices at Epcot	212	(2)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants at Epcot	214	(3)
Epcot Extras	217	(1)
Epcot Food and Wine Festival	218	(2)
Afternoon Resting Places at Epcot	220	(1)
Best Restroom Locations at Epcot	220	(1)
Tips for Your Last Hour at Epcot	221	(1)
Tips for Leaving Epcot	221	(2)
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park	223	(28)
Map of Disney-MGM Studios	224	(2)
Getting to the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park	226	(1)
Getting Around MGM	226	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour at MGM	227	(1)
MGM Touring Tips	228	(2)
MGM Attractions	230	(2)
Quick Guide to MGM Attractions	232	(13)
Meeting the Characters at MGM	245	(1)
Food Choices at MGM	246	(2)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants at MGM	248	(1)
Tips for Your Last Hour at MGM	249	(1)
Tips for Leaving MGM	250	(1)
The Animal Kingdom	251	(22)
Map of Animal Kingdom	252	(2)
The Newest Park	254	(1)
Getting to the Animal Kingdom	255	(1)
Getting Around the Animal Kingdom	255	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour in the Animal Kingdom	255	(1)
Animal Kingdom Touring Tips	256	(2)
Animal Kingdom Attractions	258	(2)
Quick Guide to Animal Kingdom Attractions	260	(8)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Animal Kingdom	268	(2)
Food Choices in the Animal Kingdom	270	(2)
Tips for Your Last Hour at the Animal Kingdom	272	(1)
Tips for Leaving the Animal Kingdom	272	(1)
The Disney World Water Parks	273	(18)
Map of Walt Disney World Water Parks	274	(2)
Getting to the Water Parks	276	(2)
River Country	278	(2)
Typhoon Lagoon	280	(4)
Blizzard Beach	284	(4)
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Touring Tips	288	(3)
The Rest of the World	291	(34)
Map of Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island	292	(2)
Beyond the Major Parks	294	(1)
Getting to the Rest of the World	294	(1)
Downtown Disney	295	(2)
Downtown Disney Marketplace	297	(1)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Rest of the World	298	(2)
Pleasure Island	300	(3)
Downtown Disney West Side	303	(1)
DisneyQuest	304	(2)
Cirque du Soleil	306	(1)
BoardWalk and the ESPN Club	307	(2)
Disney Extras	309	(7)
That Sportin' Life: On Water	316	(3)
That Sportin' Life: On Land	319	(4)
Disney's Wide World of Sports	323	(2)
Dining at Disney	325	(32)
Full-Service Restaurants at Disney	326	(2)
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants	328	(8)
Definition of Restaurant Ratings	336	(1)
Restaurant Descriptions	337	(19)
Finding Healthful Food	356	(1)
The Disney Cruise Line	357	(12)
The Disney Cruise Line Vacation Package	358	(2)
Approximate Costs	360	(2)
Lodging	362	(1)
Dining	363	(1)
Ports of Call	364	(1)
Kids' Programs	365	(2)
Onboard Entertainment	367	(2)
Disney After Dark	369	(14)
Disney World After Dark with the Kids	370	(3)
Disney World After Dark Without the Kids: Finding a Sitter	373	(5)
Dining Without the Kids	378	(5)
Universal Orlando	383	(34)
Map of Universal Orlando	384	(3)
Map of Universal Studios	387	(1)
What's Universal Orlando?	388	(2)
Tips for Your First Hour at Universal Studios	390	(2)
Universal Studios Touring Tips	392	(4)
The Scare Factor at Universal Studios	396	(3)
Universal Studios Attractions	399	(5)
Quick Guide to Universal Attractions	404	(13)
Islands of Adventure	417	(22)
Map of Islands of Adventure	419	(1)
Islands of Adventure	420	(1)
Tips for Your First Hour at Islands of Adventure	421	(1)
Islands of Adventure Touring Tips	421	(5)
The Scare Factor at Islands of Adventure	426	(2)
Islands of Adventure Attractions	428	(2)
Quick Guide to Islands of Adventure Attractions	430	(7)
Tips for Your Last Hour at Islands of Adventure	437	(2)
Life Beyond Disney World: Sea World and Other Orlando Attractions	439	(12)
Sea World	440	(6)
Discovery Cove	446	(1)
Gatorland	447	(1)
Wet 'n Wild	448	(3)
Index	451