Entering its 20th edition, Fodor’s Walt Disney World® with Kids delivers the definitive but always-easy-to-access advice of former Disney Magazine contributing editor Kim Wright Wiley, who has logged more than 50 visits to the parks both as a keen-eyed journalist and as a parent. Every family needs her tips and insider knowledge to make the most of a trip to Walt Disney World.
Wiley not only rates attractions and rides based on their age-related suitability and "scare" factor, but also incorporates feedback from hundreds of families who, like her, have not-so-tirelessly field tested it all. Inside you'll find:
Ø Everything a family needs to choose the right hotel, including driving times to the parks from each property
Ø Full ratings as well as quick-reference charts for the most kid-pleasing rides and restaurants
Ø Must-see attraction checklists geared toward young kids as well as preteens and teens
Ø Time-saving tips, such as how to avoid crowds and lines at the park
Ø Insider's secrets and the skinny on "Hidden Mickeys"
Ø Cautionary tales and success stories from parents about their park experiences
Ø Convenient maps of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios
"Must reading for everyone planning to bring their family."–Katie Couric, NBC's Today Show
Helpful Phone Numbers ............ ix
Helpful Web Sites ............ xi
List of Maps ............ xi
List of Quick-Guide Reference Tables ............ xi
Abbreviations, Terms, and Icons ............ xii
Preface ............ xiv
Chapter 1: Before You Leave Home ............ 1
Map of Walt Disney World ............ 2—3
What Time of Year Should We Visit?............ 4
How Long Should We Stay? ............ 8
Should We Take the Kids out of School?............ 9
Should We Buy a Package? ............ 12
What Kind of Tickets Do We Need?............ 17
Magic Your Way Price Chart ............ 18
Transportation ............ 21
Countdown to Disney World ............ 24
Things to Discuss with Your Kids Before You Leave Home ............ 27
Don’t Leave Home Without ............ 32
The Frantic Factor ............ 33
Chapter 2: Choosing a Hotel ............ 35
Map of On-Site & Off-Site Hotels ............ 36—37
General Information About the On-Site Disney Hotels ............ 38
Is It Worth the Expense to Stay On-Site? ............ 39
The Advantages of Staying On-Site ............ 42
Rating the On-Site Disney Hotels ............ 46
Quick Guide to On-Site Hotels ............ 48—49
Off-Site Hotels: Which Location Is Best? ............ 74
Quick Guide to Off-Site Hotels ............ 78—79
Great Off-Site Hotels for Families ............ 81
Chapter 3: Once You Get There ............ 93
Bare Necessities: Strollers, Babies, and First Aid ............ 94
More Things You Don’t Want to Think About ............ 99
Saving Money ............ 103
Meeting the Disney Characters ............ 106
Pal Mickey ............ 107
Chapter 4: Touring Tips and Plans ............ 109
General Disney World Touring Tips ............ 110
Touring Tips for Visitors Staying On-Site ............ 117
Touring Tips for Visitors Staying Off-Site ............ 118
Tips to Save Your Sanity ............ 119
Magical Beginnings for Preschoolers ............ 125
Tips for Big Families ............ 125
Tips for Guests with Disabilities ............ 127
Tips for Pregnant Guests ............ 130
Birthdays and Special Occasions ............ 130
How to Customize a Touring Plan ............ 132
Chapter 5: The Magic Kingdom ............ 139
Map of the Magic Kingdom............ 140—141
Getting to the Magic Kingdom ............ 142
Getting Around the Magic Kingdom ............ 144
Tips for Your First Hour in the Magic Kingdom ............ 145
Quick Guide to Magic Kingdom Attractions ............ 146—149
Main Street ............ 152
Fantasyland ............ 154
Mickey’s Toontown Fair ............ 161
Tomorrowland ............ 163
Adventureland ............ 168
Frontierland ............ 171
Liberty Square ............ 175
Food Choices in the Magic Kingdom ............ 178
Afternoon Resting Places ............ 180
Best Vantage Points for Watching the Parade ............ 180
Tips for Your Last Hour in the Magic Kingdom ............ 181
Tips for Leaving the Magic Kingdom ............ 183
Chapter 6: Epcot ............ 185
Map of Epcot ............ 186
Getting to Epcot ............ 187
Getting Around Epcot ............ 188
Tips for Your First Hour at Epcot ............ 188
Epcot Touring Tips ............ 189
Future World ............ 192
Quick Guide to Epcot Attractions: 194—195
World Showcase ............ 204
Food Choices at Epcot ............ 207
Epcot Extras ............ 209
Afternoon Resting Places ............ 213
Tips for Your Last Hour at Epcot............ 214
Tips for Leaving Epcot ............ 214
Chapter 7: Disney’s Hollywood Studios ............ 215
Map of Disney’s Hollywood Studios ............ 216
Getting to Disney’s Hollywood Studios ............ 217
Getting Around Hollywood ............ 217
Tips for Your First Hour at Hollywood............ 217
Hollywood Touring Tips ............ 218
Hollywood Attractions ............ 220
Quick Guide to Hollywood Attractions ............ 222—223
Coming Soon: American Idol ............ 236
Meeting the Characters at Hollywood ............ 237
Food Choices at Hollywood ............ 238
Tips for Your Last Hour at Hollywood ............ 239
Tips for Leaving Hollywood ............ 240
Chapter 8: The Animal Kingdom ............ 241
Map of the Animal Kingdom ............ 242
Getting to the Animal Kingdom ............ 243
Getting Around the Animal Kingdom ............ 243
Tips for Your First Hour in the Animal Kingdom ............ 244
Animal Kingdom Touring Tips ............ 245
Quick Guide to Animal Kingdom Attractions ............ 246—247
Animal Kingdom Attractions ............ 249
Food Choices in the Animal Kingdom ............ 261
Tips for Your Last Hour in the Animal Kingdom ............ 262
Chapter 9: The Disney World Water Parks ............ 263
Map of Typhoon Lagoon ............ 264
Getting to the Water Parks ............ 265
Water Parks Touring Tips ............ 266
Typhoon Lagoon ............ 268
Blizzard Beach ............ 273
Map of Blizzard Beach ............ 274
Chapter 10: The Rest of the World ............ 279
Map of Downtown Disney & Pleasure Island ............ 280—281
Beyond the Major Parks ............ 282
Getting to the Rest of the World ............ 282
Downtown Disney ............ 284
Downtown Disney Marketplace ............ 285
Downtown Disney Pleasure Island ............ 287
Downtown Disney West Side ............ 289
DisneyQuest ............ 290
Cirque du Soleil............ 292
BoardWalk and the ESPN Club ............ 293
Disney Extras ............ 294
That Sportin’ Life: on Water ............ 304
That Sportin’ Life: on Land ............ 307
Disney’s Wide World of Sports ............ 309
Chapter 11: Dining at Disney ............ 311
Full-Service Restaurants at Disney ............ 312
Making Reservations ............ 314
Finding Healthy Food ............ 317
Rating the Disney Restaurants ............ 318
Definition of Quick-Guide Ratings ............ 319
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom ............ 320—321
Magic Kingdom Restaurants ............ 320
Epcot Restaurants ............ 323
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants at Epcot ............ 324—325
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants at Hollywood ............ 329—330
Restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ............ 329
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Animal Kingdom ............ 330—331
Animal Kingdom Restaurants ............ 332
Restaurants in the WDW Hotels ............ 333
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the WDW Hotels ............ 334—337
Quick Guide to Full-Service Restaurants in the Rest of the World ............ 344—345
Restaurants in the Rest of the World ............ 347
Chapter 12: Disney After Dark ............ 351
Disney World After Dark with the Kids ............ 352
Disney World After Dark without the Kids: Finding a Sitter ............ 354
Dining without the Kids ............ 358
Chapter 13: The Disney Cruise Line ............ 361
The Cruise Vacation Package ............ 362
Approximate Costs ............ 364
Lodging ............ 368
Dining ............ 368
Ports of Call ............ 371
Kids’ Programs Onboard ............ 372
Onboard Entertainment ............ 374
Chapter 14: Universal Orlando ............ 377
Map of Universal Studios ............ 378—379
Should We Stay On-Site? ............ 381
What Kind of Tickets Do We Need? ............ 385
Tips for Your First Hour at Universal Studios ............ 387
Universal Studios Touring Tips ............ 389
The Scare Factor at Universal Studios............ 391
Universal Studios Attractions ............ 392
Quick Guide to Universal Studios Attractions ............ 394—395
Tips for Your Last Hour at Universal Studios ............ 408
Chapter 15: Islands of Adventure ............ 409
Map of Islands of Adventure ............ 410
Getting Around Islands of Adventure ............ 412
How Scary Is "Scary"? As Dr. Seuss Would Say, "Very!"............ 412
Tips for Your First Hour at Islands of Adventure ............ 415
Quick Guide to Islands of Adventure Attractions ............ 416—417
Port of Entry ............ 418
Marvel Super Hero Island ............ 420
Toon Lagoon ............ 426
Jurassic Park ............ 430
The Lost Continent ............ 434
Seuss Landing ............ 439
Afternoon Resting Places ............ 443
Meeting the Characters ............ 444
Tips for Your Last Hour at Islands of Adventure ............ 445
CityWalk ............ 445
Chapter 16: SeaWorld and Discovery Cove ............ 449
SeaWorld ............ 450
Discovery Cove ............ 458
Aquatica ............ 460
Index ............ 463
Helpful Web Sites
Walt Disney World ............ www.disneyworld.com
The Disney Corporation ............ www.disney.com
The Disney Cruise Line ............ www.disneycruise.com
Universal Orlando ............ www.universalorlando.com
SeaWorld ............ www.seaworld.com
Discovery Cove ............ www.discoverycove.com
LIST OF MAPS
Walt Disney World ............ 2—3
On-Site and Off-Site Hotels ............ 36—37
The Magic Kingdom ............ 140—141............ 186
Disney’s Hollywood Studios ............ 216
Disney’s Animal Kingdom ............ 242
Typhoon Lagoon ............ 264
Blizzard Beach ............ 274
Downtown Disney & Pleasure Island ............ 280—281
Universal Studios ............ 378—379
Islands of Adventure ............ 410
LIST OF QUICK-GUIDE REFERENCE TABLES
On-Site Hotels ............ 50—51
Off-Site Hotels ............ 80—81
Magic Kingdom Attractions ............ 150—153
Epcot Attractions ............ 200—201
Hollywood Attractions ............ 232—233
Animal Kingdom Attractions ............ 258—259
Full-Service Restaurants in the Magic Kingdom ............ 336—337
Full-Service Restaurants at Epcot ............ 340—341
Full-Service Restaurants at Hollywood ............ 344—345
Full-Service Restaurants in the Animal Kingdom ............ 346—347
Full-Service Restaurants in the WDW Hotels ............ 350—353
Full-Service Restaurants in the Rest of the World ............ 360—361
Universal Studios Attractions ............ 412—413
Islands of Adventure Attractions ............ 436—437
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Publisher: Fodor's Travel Publications
Distributor: Random House, Inc.
Publication Date: 08-05-2008
Pages: 496
Measurements: 9in X 6in X 1.06in X 1.4375lb
