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*** THE VERY UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD ***
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By Todd D. McCartney 1993 Edition
Revision 93.07.12
Released: July 6th, 1993
Feel Free to Distribute
(C)opyright 1991, 1992, 1993 by Todd D. McCartney
All Rights Reserved
This book is dedicated to every child, in other words,
every single person young and old alike.
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INTRODUCTION
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Walter Elias Disney was always a dreamer. Walt wanted to
create a place that would be as much fun for adults as for
children. This refers to the quotation "There is little adult in
every child, but there is a lot of child in every adult." Mr.
Disney also never liked amusement parks as he thought of them as
dirty and not as a source of family entertainment. One summer
day while he sat on a park bench Walt thought about a new kind of
family park. Here is what Walt said about that day: "Disneyland
really began when my two daughters were very young, Saturday was
always Daddy's Day, and I would take them to the merry-go-round,
and sit on a bench waiting and eating peanuts, while they rode.
And sitting there, alone, I felt there should be something built,
some kind of family park, where parents and children could have
fun together." Walt's dream of a family amusement park became a
reality, and on July 17, 1955 Disneyland opened its doors in
Anaheim, CA and became the "Happiest Place on Earth." Disneyland
was an instant success, and soon amusement parks around the
country followed Disney's model and began 'cleaning' up their
look.
During the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York the Walt Disney
Company displayed their attraction building talents by creating
some shows such as: It's a Small World, and Great Moments with
Mr. Lincoln. Headlines in the NY papers read "Walt Disney -
GIANT at the Fair." With this in Walt's mind, and the growing
success of Disneyland he decided to build the ultimate family
amusement park. He soon went to work on it and purchased 27,400
acres (43 square miles) of land near Orlando, Florida. This
piece of land was 150 times larger than that of Disneyland in
California. Walt made this statement on his TV show after
announcing what he was about to do: "Here in Florida, we have
something special. There's enough land to hold all the ideas and
plans we can possibly imagine." Here, not only would a theme
park be constructed but an entire resort complex with hotel and
recreational facilities, and Walt had a head full of ideas.
Unfortunately he never saw his Florida dream come true. He
passed away in December of 1966 right after introducing his
plans, but his brother Roy took command of the company Walt had
established and gave the go ahead on the creation of Walt's
biggest dream.
The creation of Disney World became the largest private
construction project in the United States ever. Over 8,000
workers built the Vacation Kingdom. More than eight million
cubic yards of earth had to be moved, swamps had to be drained,
and canals and lakes had to be dug. Then, after a lifetime of
dreaming and 4 years under construction, on October 1, 1971 the
Vacation Kingdom of Walt Disney World was opened to the public.
Roy O. Disney used Walt's comment in his dedication speech: "Walt
Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter
Elias Disney...and to the talents, the dedication, and the
loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's
dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration
and New Knowledge to all that come to this happy place...a Magic
Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play
and learn together. Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971."
What Roy said on opening day can now be found inscribed on a
bronze plaque in the Magic Kingdom. Walt wanted to call his
vacation land "Disney World", but after his death Roy insisted
that it be called "Walt Disney World". The resort became an
instant success and in one year it had attracted almost 11
million guests.
Before his untimely death, Walt had many ideas for other
parks. His concept of the Experimental Prototype Community of
Tomorrow, or EPCOT as he called it was born shortly after his
plans for Disney World were introduced. Again on his TV show
Walt showed America his plans. He wanted EPCOT to be a city that
people could actually live in, a entire community totally
surviving on its own. No to mention the fact that it would
demonstrate the highest technology available to the rest of the
world. The city would have its inhabitants living around a
central hub, or main building. This is how Walt described EPCOT
on that TV show:
EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new
technologies that are now emerging from the creative
centers of tomorrow that will never be completed,
but will always be introducing and testing and
demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT
will be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity
and imagination of American free enterprise. When
EPCOT has become a reality, it's our hope that it will
stimulate American industry to develop new solutions
that will meet the needs of people expressed right
here in this experimental community.
Eleven years after the opening of Walt Disney World, Walt's
dream of EPCOT became a reality. On October 1, 1982 EPCOT Center
was opened to the public. Although EPCOT Center was not as Walt
envisioned, it is a showcase of technology and the world. The
living community that Walt had envisioned is going to built, and
is expected to open in 1995 not under the name of EPCOT, but it
will be called Celebration. Almost seven years later, the
Disney/MGM Studios was opened on May 1, 1989. Here, guests can
experience the movies in Disney style.
Now in 1993, the Vacation Kingdom is a young twenty-two years
old, housing 3 theme parks, 2 water parks, 12 resorts, a night
club entertainment complex, a hotel complex, a shopping village,
a lot of magic, and much, much more. Will Disney World ever stop
growing? Most likely it won't as more and more ideas are
becoming a reality. Four more resorts are being built now,
construction for a large addition to the Disney/MGM Studios is
underway, and many ideas have yet to be released to the public.
Walt Disney World is truly The Vacation Kingdom of the World.
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Author's Notes For 93.03.11
-----------------------------
Greetings Disney Fans! This book is starting to take off!!
In early February I posted an article about my book on internet
news groups (rec.arts.disney). Within 2 weeks I had received over
350 responses requesting a copy through E-mail (one day I received
over 40 requests!!). Since the book is now starting to gain
popularity I will begin to do the following so that more people
may gain access to my book: Start a FTP site for those on the
internet, make an e-mail mailing list so people don't have to
request the new version of the book, and in the very far future I
may begin to work on a bound version of the book. All of these
ideas will take time, but I hope to get the FTP site and the e-
mail mailing list started very shortly.
This past Christmas my grandparents told my family and I that
they are taking us to Walt Disney World in July of 1993. We will
be staying at the Vacation Club Resort, and I can't wait! When I
get back I will have a swarm of new information to relay to you.
(The new information will be in the Sept. or August version of the
book). That is all for now! Enjoy this update of the book!!
-Todd D. McCartney
"When you wish upon a star you dreams come true."
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To the Reader:
I've been adding to this book for almost three years now and
it seems as though I've just begun. When I was in high school
most of my friends asked me why I would devote some of my free
time to writing a book. I usually reply with: "I enjoy it..." and
confusion streaks across their face after that response. Some day
I hope this material may be sold to a publisher, but right now I
am happy to share the information that I know with others for
free. This book actually started out as a letter to some friends
in England. They wrote a letter to my family stating that they
were planning to visit Disney World on their tour of the U.S. and
they wanted me to send them some information. I sat down one
Saturday after work and typed and typed and typed. Due to the
mail, my book was waiting for them when they arrived home from
their tour. So rather than put my work aside I decided to let the
rest of the world see it. That original letter was about 4000
words, and the book has now grown to almost 19,000 words! That's
how this whole thing started...
I have been to Walt Disney World six times and it is an
amazing place. You should know (providing you read the
introduction) that there are three main parks in Walt Disney World
(with a fourth under construction!): The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT
Center, and The Disney/MGM Studios. I'll describe each theme park
and tell you about each attraction in each park. The time given
after the description of an attraction is the actual time for that
ride (not including pre-show entertainment). An asterisk (*) next
to a description means the attraction is a personal favorite of
mine. An "at" sign (@) next to it, it means it is a popular
attraction to the general public, and you should ride it during
parades, fireworks, right after the park opens or right before the
park is about to close, if the lines are longer during peak hours.
I have divided the book into twenty main areas: When Should We
Go?, Resorts, Contacting WDW Making Reservations and Admissions,
Transportation, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, Disney/MGM Studios,
Night Life, Dining, Shopping, Water Parks, Other Attractions,
Tips, In the Future, Maps (Gif form for IBM), Fun Facts, Famous
Quotations from WDW, Special Thanks To, Revision Information, and
Glossary/Acronym List.
Please feel free to make copies of this book for friends,
family, roommates, neighbors, pets (well, read it first, then
paper train your puppy!) etc., but please don't add your own
information. This is copyrighted material so if you have
something to add, please write and tell me about it, and don't add
to it or copy it. If you use this information for reports etc, I
take no responsibility in the accuracy of the information
provided. I am now updating this every three months or so, every
month took me away from my school work.
I subscribe to the magazine "Disney News" so I am updated on
the newest things going on. The majority of my writings are based
on my opinion and personal descriptions. Any extra information
such as bus schedules, statistical data, etc., that I needed
please refer to the bibliography section.
After my physics teacher read over my book he mentioned that I
was missing one important item: information for the Handicapped.
I never even thought of it, sorry to say. WDW is VERY well
adapted for wheelchair use. Wheelchairs can be rented at the
following locations inside the parks: (Magic Kingdom: right after
you walk through the main gate there is a place to rent them.
EPCOT: To the left of Spaceship Earth, after you walk through the
main gate. MGM: To the right of the main gates, inside the gas
station.) Blind people can rent a audio cassette player and a
tape with a description of the park. I believe these can be
rented at the same locations (I'll find out definitely for the
next release). Almost any attraction in the entire resort complex
is well outfitted to accommodate wheelchairs. I will update and
expand this area in the future releases.
If you feel like making a comment, see an error, get a sudden
urge to send me some money so I can go to WDW again, or just want
to thank me, you can do so by writing to me at one of the
following two addresses. Use the New Jersey address during the
summer, and use the Massachusetts address during the school year.
This will insure that you letter will get to me ASAP.
*** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO ****
Todd D. McCartney Todd D. McCartney
18 Carroll Drive c/o Uncle Hank's BBS
Somerville, NJ 8 Hendrick Street
08876 Easthampton, MA
01027
If you have a modem, call Uncle Hank's BBS for the latest
revisions as well as back issues:
Uncle Hank's BBS
"Home of the Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"
Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA.
300/1200/2400/9600/14.4/v.42bis/MNP1-5/Dual Standard
Call (413)536-1233
Leave E-mail to Todd McCartney
There is another way of getting a hold of me: If you have
access to Internet, or BitNet you can send me E-mail using the
following addresses: [email protected] *
[email protected]
[email protected]
* Please use this address first.
I hope to hear from you, I love getting mail and I would like
to know what you think of this. Please write, only a few responses
have ever come through the mail so far!! I need to know what
needs improving! If you could please take the time to fill out
the evaluation form included in the zipped file (EVAL.TXT). Print
it out, fill it out, and send it out in the mail! Thanks. Well, I
hope that this book gives you a good idea of the Vacation Kingdom
of the World.
IMPORTANT NOTES
I will refer to AA many times throughout this book. This
stands for "Audio-Animatronics". Audio-Animatronics is the use
of computerized moving mannequins, and it is used in most of the
Disney attractions. The mannequins are quite realistic and
their movements are incredibly lifelike.
Also from now on, anytime you see WDW it means Walt Disney
World and anytime you see TTC it refers to the Ticket and
Transportation Center.
** For more information on acronyms, please see the **
** Glossary/Acronym list (Part XX) at the end of the book. **
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PART I
** WHEN SHOULD WE GO? **
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One of the most challenging questions for any vacation is
deciding when to go. The one thing about Walt Disney World that
never changes is the fact that it is open 365 days a year, so you
don't have to worry about timing your trip around their "season"
schedule. Personally I feel that October is the best month. The
temperature is mild and all the kids are back in school and the
crowds are much smaller. Taking the kids out of school for a week
should not be too much of a problem, but just make sure they get
their homework done BEFORE you leave, (especially high school
students (having been one myself I know) because once you get down
there, they won't be able to find any time to do it. The only
problem with October is that the parks usually close earlier (8 to
9pm), rather than staying open to midnight as in the summer. The
drawback from the parks closing early is that certain parades and
fireworks may or may not be presented. Call Disney for updated
information on parades and fireworks.
I found July and August to be VERY hot and crowded. If you do
like waiting in 1-2hr lines in 90-100 degree weather go in July or
August. Stay away from Christmas, New Years, President's week,
the Fourth of July, etc. The crowds at this time of the year tend
to be quite heavy. As for the spring, March - May are excellent
times. Again, kids are still in school (Florida students get out
in late may so plan accordingly), and the temperature is mild.
One thing, no matter what time of the year you go there will
be thunderstorms. Florida is known for having rain just about
every day (in the summer its around 4-5pm or so). Don't be
alarmed at rainy weather reports, go to the parks even if it is
raining because most people stay inside on those days or do other
indoor things. A little rain never hurts right?
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PART II
** RESORTS **
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There are 12 main resorts in the Vacation Kingdom, each with
its own theme. Many benefits result from staying in a Disney
owned resort. For one, you get to enter the park one hour earlier
than the public and you always get excellent service. I will
give a brief description of each resort, the number of rooms and
try to give you an idea of the prices. No matter where you stay
in WDW there is excellent transportation. However, the first
three resorts are by far the most convenient because of
connections to the monorail lines. (excellent for those staying
with children, ie: no bus lines to wait for in the heat)
Personally I feel you should rent a car no matter what resort you
are staying at. The car will come in handy when you want to go to
parks outside Disney property, or go shopping at the Disney
Marketplace, etc.
The Polynesian Village Resort - The brown a-frame buildings at
this resort transport you to the South Seas. Torches
illuminate the walkways at night, and tropical plants abound.
Traditional Polynesian architecture can be found here along
with two pools (one with a slide built into a "lava mountain"
with a waterfall). This resort is a personal favorite of
mine. The white sand beaches are an incredible romantic
setting. The restaurants here have seafood on the menu with a
twist of Polynesian style cooking. (GREAT FOOD!!) Not all of
the food is Polynesian style, most of it is American. This is
one of the original WDW resorts, but don't fear as it has
recently been renovated and it looks great! Moderately Priced.
Boat rental. By far one of the most if not the MOST
convenient resort in WDW. 855 rooms. MONORAIL SERVICE
The Grand Floridian Beach Resort - Jump back to the turn of the
century in this awe inspiring resort that was created to
replicate the same type of hotel in San Diego. A Big Band
plays music every night in the incredible main building. This
resort has an 8,000 square foot swimming pool, a health club
and more. A perfect setting for a honeymoon, as there are
very romantic honeymoon suites that overlook the lagoon. Very
good Italian restaurant, very expensive upscale restaurant and
a buffet. Moderate to Very High prices. Boat rental, tennis
and more. 901 rooms. MONORAIL SERVICE
The Contemporary Resort - One of the original WDW resorts this A-
Frame building has Monorails gliding swiftly in and out of it
all day. WDW's largest arcade can be found here with the
latest in arcade technology. Many places to eat and drink are
here along with a dinner show at the top of the building. If
you like tall buildings and walking out your hotel room door
to a hallway overlooking up to 14 stories this is for you! Not
a personal favorite, but it has great places to eat, shop and
excellent recreational facilities. Good all you can eat
buffet, a great dinner show on the 15th floor, and nice
lounges. Also located here are meeting and conference rooms
for different functions. Just as the Polynesia this resort
has recently been remodeled. 83,709 square feet of
convention space. Moderately Priced. Boat rental, tennis,
and more. 1,056 rooms. MONORAIL SERVICE
The Caribbean Beach Resort - Very affordable resort with a twist
of the Caribbean. Located just southeast of EPCOT center this
resort is cheerfully colored and is easily accessible. Steel
drums are heard in Port Royale, the main building. An
incredible pool is here; part of it shaped like a fort with
cannons that actually fire little bursts of water. Very Low
priced (Highest is approximately. $95 per night). For this
resort I recommend a rental car since it is quite a distance
from most of the parks. Unfortunately the only place to get
food at this resort is at Port Royale; pizza, and food court
style food. No "sit down" restaurants. Bike, boat, etc.
rental. 2,112 rooms. Low Priced: As low as $95 per night.
Dixie-Landings Resort - This resort takes on the theme of the time
when paddlewheel boats cruised the Mississippi. Nature
surrounds the resort, complete with ponds and natural
shrubbery. You can stay in two types of buildings: three
story plantation homes, or two story bayou buildings. Bayou
Bill's Cafe serves up the cuisine, and a large food court
accompanies it. 2,048 rooms. Moderately Priced.
The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts -Two separate resorts but right
next to each other and both with the same theme. These
resorts look like New England seaside resorts from the late
1880's. Features of the resorts include sand bottom pools,
snorkeling, croquet lawn, and more. Indoor clambakes, and
five other restaurants are here. Boat service to EPCOT Center
is available. 54,000 square feet of convention space is also
here. Yacht: 635 rooms Beach: 584 rooms Moderate to High
Priced.
Port Orleans Resort - Are you read for Mardi Gras? Than this
resort is for you! Resembling the streets of New Orleans the
gras atmosphere surrounds you. Eat at Cafe Bonfamiles and
listen to the jazz, or relax in the Mardi-Gras pool where the
tongue of a dragon is the slide! Sit down restaurant, and
food court style eating. Spas, marketplace dining, and
cobblestone streets are also found here. 1,008 rooms. Low
Priced. (Approximately the same price as the Caribbean Beach
Resort.)
The Disney Inn - This resort is tucked away in the northwest
corner of WDW. It is situated between two PGA tour
championship golf courses: The Magnolia and the Palm.
Swimming pools, tennis courts, and heath spas are all here. A
nice restaurant that serves a good meal and most people skip
is here. This resort has recently been remodeled, and a Snow
White theme has been added. Moderately priced.
Disney Village Resort Villas - Many different types of townhouses
can be yours for the duration of your stay. The famous
Treehouse Villas are set in the woods and offer privacy.
Other villas include One-and-Two Bedroom Villas (formally the
Vacation Villas), Club suites (formally the Club Lake Villas),
Two-Bedroom Villas (formally the Fairway Villas), and the
Grand Vista Suites. Most villas are set on lakes or in the
woods, and all of them are near golf courses. I recommend a
car since most of these villas are quite a distance from the
theme parks. Most villas have washing machines and dryers,
along with full kitchens. Some sleep up to eight people.
Great for large families. 576 rooms. A rental car is a must.
Moderately Priced.
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground - Are you driving your RV to
WDW? If so you might consider staying here. Hook up your RV
to full service, or stay in one of the permanent trailers with
full service also. Canoeing, campfires, biking, and fishing
make this resort for those who love the great outdoors.
Nightly campfires and marshmallow roasts, and daily canoe
excursions are also here for those who love the outdoors.
785 sites, 407 Trailer Homes. Moderately priced.
The Dolphin and the Swan - Both hotels (Both near the Yacht and
Beach clubs) were built by Disney but are run by separate
companies. The Swan is operated by Westin and The Dolphin is
operated by Sheraton. These are upscale hotels with
conference halls for big conventions. A 6,500 square foot
convention center is here along with a 505 seat theater. Boat
service to EPCOT Center is available. Dolphin: 758 rooms,
Swan: 758 rooms. High Priced.
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PART III
** Contacting WDW, Making **
Reservations, and Admissions
------------------------------
Contacting WDW is quite easy and they do their best to make
the reservation process as easy as possible. Call the number:
1-407-W-DISNEY 1-407-934-7639
This number will connect you to central reservation and
information line. Don't be discouraged if the phone isn't
answered right away. Disney realizes that it is not a toll-free
number so a computer puts the calls in order and lets the phone
ring instead of picking up and having you pay for the toll call.
Be expected to let it ring up to 5-10 minutes during peak hours.
Here are some helpful addresses and phone numbers that may come in
handy.
WDW Information WDW Central Reservations
PO Box 10,040 PO Box 10,0100
Lake Buena Vista, FL Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830 32830
Tel. 407-824-4321 Tel. 407-934-7639
407-W-DISNEY
WDW Travel Company Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card
PO Box 22094 P.O. Box 3850
Lake Buena Vista, FL Anaheim, CA
32830 92803-3850
407-828-3255 800-248-7833
There are many plans that one can obtain to go to Disney
World. For first time travelers I recommend that you go through
your local travel agent. Let them handle the rates, airline
tickets etc, but you should pick out where you want to stay etc.
Disney has so many packages its hard to find one that doesn't fit
your lifestyle, and most can be customized to fit your needs. The
most expensive is called the "World Adventure Plan". With this
plan everything is paid for in advance (I mean everything!!). In
1989 I stayed at the Polynesian Village on this plan. There were
eight of us and without airfare it cost $10,000 for 10 days. It
sounds expensive but here is what is included in that price: All
meals, breakfast lunch & dinner (You can order ANYTHING you want!
(Lobster tails every night if you want!)); Admission to all three
theme parks for 10 days; Admission to Pleasure Island, Typhoon
Lagoon, River Country, Discovery Island etc. for 10 days; All
boat, golf, fishing, etc. rentals for 10 days; Unlimited
transportation; VIP service (I mean it too!); Gratuity on all
meals; and a whole lot of fun!! The only items excluded are:
souvenirs, snacks purchased at a stand, alcohol, sundries, etc.
It is worth it if: You are very active and WILL rent boats, golf
equipment etc.; Your party EATS A LOT!!; and you have the money to
burn!
Admissions
----------
The following section is intended to give you an idea of
prices for admission to the theme parks and other attractions.
There are two prices listed, GP (General Public) and MKCM (Magic
Kingdom Club Member). If you are not a member of the Magic
Kingdom Club then you will pay the General Public prices,
otherwise be sure to have your club card with you when you
purchase admission tickets. The difference may not seem that
great, but if you figure after a family spends a week at WDW, the
money saved adds up. For more information regarding the Magic
Kingdom Club call: 1-800-248-7833 (2 year membership for $49, many
many benefits)
NOTE: These prices are as of May 23rd, 1993 and are subject to
change. Florida Sales tax is not figured into the price shown,
"Child" ages are 3 through 9 years of age, and the monetary
amounts shown are in U.S. Dollars.
GP = General Public Prices
MKCM = Magic Kingdom Club Member Prices
THEME PARK ADMISSION PRICES
---------------------------
Type of admission pass GP MKCM
-------------------------------------------------------------
1 day, one park admission Adult $ 34.00 $ 32.97
1 day, one park admission Child $ 27.00 $ 25.97
4 day, Super Pass Adult $125.00 $120.00
4 day, Super Pass Child $ 98.00 $ 93.00
5 day, Super Duper Pass Adult $170.00 $161.50
5 day, Super Duper Pass Child $135.00 $128.25
The 4 and 5 day passes allow the following for the allotted
amount of time:
1. Unlimited admission to The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center
and the Disney-MGM Studios.
2. Unlimited use of Disney transportation systems (Buses,
Monorails etc.)
3. 7 days admission to Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery
Island and Pleasure Island.
If you buy a 4 or 5 day pass you can enter all three parks in
one day (or just two). When you leave have your hand stamped (it
is an invisible ink that only shows up under a blacklight, so
don't worry about having ink on you if you are going out that
night.) When you return to one of the parks just go through a gate
that says "Same Day Re-entry" and be sure to have your admission
ticket with you (along with your hand!!)
Here are the admission prices for other parks and attractions
within WDW. Again GP and MKCM prices are in effect, and be sure
to take a look at the notes.
OTHER ADMISSION PRICES
Attraction/Park GP MKCM
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pleasure Island *See Note1* Adult/Child $13.95 $11.85
Typhoon Lagoon *See Note2* Adult $19.50 $18.50
Child $15.50 $14.75
River Country *See Note2* Adult $12.50 $12.00
Child $10.00 $ 9.25
Discovery Island *See Note2* Adult $ 8.00 $ 7.75
Child $ 4.50 $ 4.25
Note1 : Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a PARENT
Note2 : Those under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an Adult
If returning to Disney World is in your future plans you might
want to consider buying a season pass. The season pass entitles
you to UNLIMITED admission to every corner of WDW for one year
(See below for admission prices and restrictions). Believe it or
not the season pass is CHEAPER than the 5 day pass!!
Season Pass Price List
----------------------
GP MKCM
New Pass (Good for 1 year) Adult $190.00 $184.00
Child $165.00 $164.00
Renewal (After 1st year only) Adult $170.00
Child $145.00
Amenities for Season Pass
-------------------------
1 year admission to River Country/Discover Island add $30.00
1 year admission to Pleasure Island add $26.00
1 year admission to Typhoon Lagoon add $60.00
THIS SECTION WILL BE EXPANDED IN FUTURE RELEASES
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PART IV
** Transportation **
----------------
A. Getting to WDW from Orlando International Airport
This could be a simple task, however, there is a lot of
construction at the airport, which confuses the heck out of anyone
driving a rental car in some place they are unfamiliar with. Of
course the airport shuttles zooming by at MACH 2.3 really don't
help, but that's another story. After you have claimed you
luggage, (provided they have not been shipped off to Antarctica or
something like that) grab a sky-cap (not literally) and go down
stairs to the rental car counters. After you get your car drive
through the parking garage slowly, stop signs seem to pop out of
nowhere. Be careful merging into the MACH 2.3 traffic on the road
that goes around the airport. Follow the signs for Airport Exit,
it's not as easy as it seems, somehow you are in the right lane
and the next sign tells you to go into the left! After you have
exited the airport, (hopefully in one piece) follow the signs for
the Bee-Line Expressway (528 WEST), (don't go east like we
accidently did, it will eventually take you to Cocoa Beach). The
turn off comes very quick after exiting the airport. WARNING: The
Bee-Line Expressway is a Toll road. Bring quarters with you!!
The tolls to I4 amount to approximately $1.25. (yes, a $1.25 to
go about 10 miles.) Look for the signs for Interstate 4 and exits
for Walt Disney World resort. You want I4 South. After
approximately 5-10 minutes you will start seeing signs for WDW.
Now here comes the tricky part, follow this table for the correct
I4 exit number:
Destination Take Exit number
Village resorts, Village
Marketplace, Pleasure Island, 27
Hotel Plaza, and Typhoon
Lagoon
ALL OTHER RESORTS AND THEME PARKS 26B
If you take exit 27 you will be put on 535 North. You will
have to make a left turn onto Hotel Plaza Blvd., this road will
take you directly to the Marketplace, from there follow the signs
to your destination.
If you take exit 26B you will be put on EPCOT Center Drive.
Just follow the signs to your destination.
While travelling on I4 there will be a sign for the Magic
Kingdom and the exit number will be 25B. Don't take this exit as
it is a very round-about way and you will have to deal with day-
trippers coming from Tampa. This may sound very confusing but
once you see a map you will see what I mean, as it all comes
together. (If you have the map that is included with this book
take a look at it and it will explain the route.)
The signs on Walt Disney World property are very plentiful,
and it is hard to get lost. Just follow the signs, It might look
like you are out in the middle of nowhere, but you'll get there.
Keep in mind, Disney property is twice the size of Manhattan! If
you are confused by my directions, ask at any rental car desk for
a map and directions.
B. Travelling within WDW resort complex.
There are plenty of buses running to every theme park, resort
and area of the resort. The best way to get around WDW has to be
the Monorail system. Unfortunately, the monorail system has not
been expanded to include most of the resorts. Here are the stops
for each monorail:
*** MONORAIL ROUTES ***
Resort Monorail: TTC, Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian
Resort, The Magic Kingdom, and the
Contemporary Resort.
Magic Kingdom Monorail: TTC, and The Magic Kingdom.
EPCOT Center Monorail: TTC, and EPCOT Center.
The best way to get from EPCOT to The Magic Kingdom and back is
via Monorail. Get on the monorail at EPCOT center and then get off
at the next stop. This will be the TTC. From here you have two
options: you can board the ferry and float across the lake or take
another monorail. There are two choices for the 2nd monorail:
the Resort monorail or the Magic Kingdom monorail. The Resort
monorail will have short or no lines. You can only take this
monorail if you are staying in a Disney owned resort. If you are
staying at a Disney resort use your Resort ID card to board the
resort monorail. The cards are now printed by computer with your
name, resort, and room number (Sometimes stamped with FOR
TRANSPORTATION ONLY). Otherwise board the Magic Kingdom monorail.
Your best bet to get to MGM Studios from your Disney Resort is
via bus or by driving if you have a rental car. However, you are
now able to take a boat from EPCOT, The Swan, The Dolphin, The
Yacht Club, or The Beach Club to MGM.
All buses and boats running in WDW have different colored
triangles (referred to as flags) on the side of them for easy
identification. One color: solid triangle. Two colors: the first
is the background, the second a horizontal stripe. A "w/MK" or
"w/EC" etc means those colors with the letters MK, EC, etc. in a
circle in the center of the triangle. (I know this is confusing,
but once you see a bus you will get it...) I take no
responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided, so don't
write a nasty letter to me saying how you never did get to the
Magic Kingdom because you got on a bus that took you to PGA
championship at the Palm golf course. Due to the fact that new
resorts are constantly being opened, bus routes may be changed.
Please confirm the bus route before boarding. As I get more
information on bus schedules I will add it. Here is a list of the
bus routes and their stops. THE STOPS ARE NOT IN THE ORDER THAT
THEY ARE MADE. For Acronyms please refer to the Glossary/Acronym
List.
*** BUS ROUTES ***
FLAG STOPS
----------------------------------------------
Blue - Ft. Wilderness, TTC
Green - Polynesian Village, Disney Inn, TTC
Gold - Contemporary Resort, TTC, Polynesian
Village, Grand Floridian
Gold & Black - Grand Floridian, Disney Inn, Polynesian
w/MK Village, MGM
Gold & Black - Contemporary Resort, Ft. Wilderness, TTC,
w/MK MGM
Gold & Black - EPCOT Center, MGM
w/EC
Red - TTC, EPCOT Center, Typhoon Lagoon,
Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island
Red & White - Hotel Plaza, TTC
w/MK
Red & White - Hotel Plaza, EPCOT Center
w/EC
Red & White - Hotel Plaza, MGM
w/ST
Green & Gold - WDW Resort Village, TTC
w/MK
Green & Gold - WDW Resort Village, EPCOT
w/EC
Green & Gold - WDW Resort Village, Village Marketplace,
w/ST-V MGM, Pleasure Island
White & Red - Village Marketplace, Pleasure Island,
Typhoon Lagoon, Caribbean Beach
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, TTC
w/MK
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, EPCOT Center
w/EC
Orange & White - Caribbean Beach Resort, MGM
w/ST
Orange - Caribbean Beach Resort
Brown - Ft. Wilderness (All Trailer Loops
Settlement, Camping Loops, Reception
Outpost)
Silver - Ft. Wilderness (Settlement, Camping
Loops, Creakside Meadow)
Orange (tram) - River Country & Day Guest Parking
*** Boat Routes ***
FLAG STOPS
---------------------------------------------
Gold - Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, MK
Blue Contemporary Resort, Discovery Island,
- Ft. Wilderness
Green - Discovery Island, Ft. Wilderness, MK
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART V
** THE MAGIC KINGDOM **
-------------------
The Magic Kingdom is by far the most magical of all three
theme parks. It takes up 98 acres but that is small compared to
the amount of joy it creates in each and everyone of its visitors.
The park is divided into seven major "lands" or areas with their
own theme: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland,
Liberty Square, Mickey's Starland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
Cast members (name for Disney Employees) in each land are dressed
to match the theme of that land. The following is a description
of each land the attractions one would find there
-MAIN STREET USA-
This is where one can do a lot of shopping, not to mention a
little fun and eats. The street is a recreation of the town Walt
Disney grew up in and the buildings are built with turn of the
century architecture. There are a few attractions here: The Walt
Disney World Railroad, which I recommend riding when you are
tired of walking and need a break; an arcade with vintage arcade
games; and the movie "The Walt Disney Story," which tells the
story of the Man behind the Mouse. Stop and have an ice cream
cone and listen to the rag-piano, or cool off on a horse drawn
trolley.
-TOMORROWLAND-
Tomorrowland now looks more like "Yesterdayland", as it was
built with a 1950's view of tomorrow. Despite the fact that it
needs to be updated to today's view of tomorrow, this section of
the park houses some of the most popular attractions. Lines form
early in the day for Space Mountain, the Grand Prix Raceway, and
the Starjets, and by mid-day are quite long. Hungry? Pick up a
bite to eat at the "Lunch Pad" and then do a little shopping. The
facelift for Tommorowland should begin soon with replacement rides
for Carousel of Progress, and Mission to Mars.
@ * Space Mountain - A thrilling roller coaster ride in the
dark. This ride is tame, but still not for
the weak at heart. I have ridden it 3-4
times and I enjoyed it. This ride is
accompanied by long lines: ride it just prior
to park closing, or right after the park
opens and don't miss it if you like roller
coasters. When you are riding you don't know
what is going to happen next since there is
no light except for the occasional meteor or
galaxy going by. If the line is extended
outside of the building you might want to
wait, as there is plenty of room inside for
quite a few people and chances are there will
be a long wait. There are actually two
separate rides inside the mountain, one has
quick dips while the other contains more high
speed turns. Which is which is something I
will try and find out. Overall any wait is
worth the 2 minute and 38 second ride.
* Carousel of Progress - This attraction, originally debuting
at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair in New York, was
relocated to Disneyland in CA and then
Florida. It is an entertaining ride with a
catchy song (you will be singing it after the
ride!) that traces four generations of one
family's progress through two centuries. Go
on this ride if you are tired and hot. As it
is a great place to relax and the wait is
almost never longer than ten minutes. This
ride contains a lot of AA, and a rotating
theater!! Take note of the "present day"
representation, as it is getting a tad
outdated. 22 minutes.
* Dream Flight -This cute ride about the history of flight
replaced "If You Had Wings" which ran for
almost 15 years. Very short, but
entertaining, usually accompanied by no or
short lines. Large screens overhead simulate
landings, take offs etc. Some AA. The ride
includes, scenes from Paris, Tokyo, 2-D cut
outs, a "popup" book scene, a trip inside of
a jet engine and more. 4.5 minutes.
Mission to Mars - Outdated "simulator" (if you can call it
that) where you "fly" to Mars. The theater
has some neat effects (seats moving during
launch, etc.) yet it is not very exciting for
the older folks (13 years and up). However,
it is a good place to cool off. Small amount
of AA. Take note of how everything is
outdated in this attraction such as the
countdown timers and reel to reel recorders.
Children will get a kick out of this
attraction. Be sure to give a nod to Mr.
Johnson at the "preflight" briefing --he
looks just like the father in Carousel of
Progress, hmmm... 12 minutes.
* American Journeys - A 360 degree CircleVision film (the
screen surrounds you!) all about America.
Enjoyable and good sights of the USA.
Included in the film is The Statue of
Liberty, the Colorado Rockies, Mystic
Connecticut, Dodger Stadium, and a impressive
launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Take
note that there are NO seats in the theater.
21 minutes long.
@ Grand Prix Raceway - A fun ride if you like don't mind long
lines. You drive a miniature gasoline
powered car around a 2,260 foot track at a
blazing 7mph!! Small children under a
certain height are not allowed to drive.
Approximately 4 minutes long. A great ride
for kids to "drive" a car.
@ Star Jets - A simple rule for this ride is: Skip it! Not
very exciting and there is almost always a
1/2 hour or more wait. It is no more than on
of those carnival rides with the hydraulic
arms that lift the "spaceships" off the
ground. VERY similar to Dumbo the Flying
Elephant in Fantasyland. 1.5 minutes.
* WEDWAY People Mover - A fun and relaxing ride on
electromagnetic powered trains. They ride
above Tomorrowland and go into other
attractions and shops. If you have any
doubts about riding Space Mountain, ride this
first as it will take you into Space Mountain
and you will be able to see what it is like.
Other sights on this ride include: a look at
Dream Flight and some shops; and a view of
Walt Disney's model of what EPCOT was
supposed to look like. (When the narrator
says "This is what a future city could be
like" the train will slow down and on one
side will be this model. (It is inside a
dark tunnel)). 10 minutes.
-ADVENTURELAND-
This land has some of the best rides in the Magic Kingdom,
including some shops where you can buy unusual souvenirs (pirate
hats, pirate cap guns, rubber spiders, etc.). The buildings are of
Caribbean and Polynesian style. You also can have your picture
taken as a pirate here or relax and listen to the steel band
music!
The Enchanted Tiki Birds - An interesting but tame
attraction in which AA birds serenade the
audience with quite a few songs which will
leave you smiling. There are a few surprises,
such as: are those totem poles real? I won't
say any more... (Don't go in it twice in one
trip, you will get bored with it (at least I
did!)). 15.5 minutes.
* Pirates of the Caribbean - Probably the best AA attraction
in the Magic Kingdom. This is a boat ride
that takes you along on a pirates' raid on a
Caribbean island. A truly amazing ride that
will leave you singing the theme song. There
is a small log flume drop in the beginning,
but nothing to be scared about. It is a
truly a great ride! Don't miss it! When you
are about to go on this ride, go into the
LEFT line. It is ALWAYS shorter. (See Basic
Tips section) 7.5 minutes.
@ * Jungle Cruise - This is a good 10 minute boat ride where you
ride through the African jungle along with
your witty boat captain. Encountered along
the way are: Elephant bathing areas, hippos,
gorillas, snakes, large waterfalls, and more.
An enjoyable and entertaining ride, loaded
with AA. Kids love this ride! Beware, the
waiting lines are longer than they look. Go
just before the park closes, or right after
it opens. Oh, and be sure to give a nod to
the shrunken head salesman at the end of the
ride! 9 minutes.
Swiss Family Treehouse - This outdoor attraction is a
recreation of the treehouse from the Disney
movie entitled 'The Swiss Family Robinson'.
Climbing stairs is involved here, so those
who hate stairs beware. Despite the stairs,
the tree (which is artificial) has many
interesting and ingenious inventions that the
family 'devised' during their stay. This
does not have handicap access. Set your own
pace, but allow for at least 10 minutes.
-FRONTIERLAND-
This land takes a look at the Old West of the USA. Many of
the attractions are fun and enjoyable. As always shops and places
to eat can also be found here.
* Country Bear Vacation Hoedown - A great show where AA bears
sing about their vacation. The songs have
funny lyrics, and the show is altogether
fun and entertaining. Don't be discouraged
by long lines, they move all at once when
the show lets out. Be sure to give a nod to
the AA moose, deer and buffalo on your way
out. 15 minutes.
Tom Sawyer Island - Here kids can experience a playground
with barrel bridges, Fort Sam Clemens, and
more. Food and restrooms are available on
the island. Adults, relax and get a bite to
eat while the kids play.
@ * Splash Mountain - This is the same ride as the one in
Disneyland in CA but it has been redesigned
for a bigger thrill. It follows the
adventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends
from the Disney movie "Song of the South".
There is a plot to the entire ride, and at
the end you are treated to the 40 degree log
flume drop down Chickapin Hill!! 9 minutes
long.
* Walt Disney World Railroad - Located between Splash
Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,
this station is yet another place where you
can board the WDW Railroad. 19 minutes
(round trip).
@ * Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - This is another great roller
coaster. It's a lot of fun, but again it's
not for the weak at heart. If you are unsure
walk up to the exit of the ride, where you
can see the "runaway" mine trains going
around the track. Go on this ride during
the parades, fireworks, or at the end or
beginning of the day as it is a very popular
ride. There are terrific sights inside the
"caves" where the train goes. If you are
still shaky about whether or not to go on
it, try the ride at night, when it becomes
much tamer than it is during the day. Just
a note of warning: The worst drop on the
ride is after the 3rd hill (the hill is the
thing that brings you to the top (real
noisy)), after a sweeping left turn the
train will straighten out, and then all of a
sudden, down you go!! 3.5 minutes.
-LIBERTY SQUARE-
This land represents colonial USA. There are some neat shops
here along with a 130 year old oak tree. Shops and places to eat
are also here (You think Disney would create park of the park with
out food and merchandise stops??).
The Hall of Presidents - Not a thrilling attraction, but
informative and educational. The show takes
place in a theater and it is quite boring
for the most part. The show starts with a
film describing how important the
Constitution is to Americans. The good part
of the show is the roll call of all 42
presidents of the United States (Including
Bill Clinton). The AA figures are incredibly
lifelike. Then Abraham Lincoln stands up
and talks. Not incredibly thrilling, but a
good place to cool off. Not for kids under
10, as it will bore them to death (unless
they really fully understand what the
Constitution is and what it means to us as
Americans). 22 minutes.
Liberty Square Riverboat - This is a neat ride on a
recreated Mississippi Riverboat. It has
some great scenery including "injuns", a
cabin fire, and more. It's a nice way to
relax on the rivers of America and see
exactly what Mark Twain was writing about.
24 minutes.
* Haunted Mansion - This is not as scary as it sounds; in
fact, it is actually quite humorous. During
your journey through the house you meet up
with 999 happy haunts (and as the ride says
there is always room for one more!). The
lines are usually short and it is worthwhile
to ride it. Contains AA. Lots of fun!
Small children might be scared however. And
also: Is the ceiling going up, or is the
floor going down?? (You'll see what I
mean...) 8.5 minutes.
-MICKEY'S STARLAND-
This used to be Mickey's Birthdayland, but it was changed
when Mickey's 60th birthday party was over. It is now called
Mickey's Starland but overall it is still geared toward very young
kids as it was before.
Petting Zoo - Pet the farm animals. See Minnie Moo, the cow
with the Mickey Mouse ears on its side.
Mickey's house - Take a look at this (it's pretty cute).
+ Other Items, such as meet the characters from
The Disney afternoon etc. (In the back.)
Duckburg U.S.A. - A recreation of Uncle Scrooge's town.
* Walt Disney World Railroad - Yet another place to grab the
train.
-FANTASYLAND-
This is where you will find most of the smaller kids and
their parents on the rides. Most of the rides here are simple and
short, yet interesting and fun. Shops and places to eat are also
here (There are a lot of places to eat and buy things, have you
noticed that?).
* Magic Journeys - A 20 minute film with INCREDIBLE 3-
dimensional effects. The objects come right
out of the screen and in front of your
face!!! Don't miss it. It does not have
long lines and you get to see a 3-D Donald
Duck cartoon before the actual film The only
Disney cartoon ever made in 3-D: Working for
Peanuts. The actual "feature film" for the
attraction has a somewhat corny storyline
but overall it is worth it to sit down and
enjoy the effects... Oh yeah, it's also
Air-Conditioned!!! 24 minutes.
Skyway to Tomorrowland - This is your typical skyway cable
ride. If you don't feel like walking to
Tomorrowland then take this. The lines are
usually much shorter at Tomorrowland. By
taking this ride you get so see some of the
not so impressive sights of WDW, such as the
rooftops and the building that houses 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea. This attraction
closes when the wind starts blowing hard, or
when a Florida storm is brewing. 5 minutes.
* It's a Small World - Don't miss it!! A very cute and
entertaining boat ride where AA dolls from
all over the world sing a song that you will
never forget. In fact, you'll probably be
singing it for weeks! Includes AA. A
relaxing and cooling ride. This ride came
from the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York.
10.5 minutes.
Snow White's Scary Adventures - Don't be misled my the name
of the ride as it's a cute ride, nothing
spectacular yet it's not that scary at all.
Its more and less like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
but with a Snow White theme. The witch
keeps popping out at you and trying to
"scare" you and make you eat that famous
apple. At the end you get "hit" on the head
by a large diamond and the effects are done
quite well. 2.5 minutes.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Actually it's not that wild as it is
geared for kids. Throughout the rides it
always looks like you are going to crash
into something, but that's part of the fun.
After taking a wrong turn, you seem to be in
a tunnel with a train coming right at you,
or heading for some crates full of TNT!
Small children will enjoy this attraction
and most of them exit laughing!
2 minutes.
Peter Pan's Flight - A cute ride about Peter Pan, where you
"fly" in Hook's boat (via overhead tracks)
looking down on London (very well done),
Captain Hook and other scenes from the
movie. Many people enjoy this ride as it is
quite tame. Includes AA. 3 minutes.
@ * 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - A submarine ride based on the
movie where you will "descend" 20,000
leagues under the sea (actually you never go
under, yet the bubbles make for a convincing
sight) to find sharks, the lost city of
Atlantis, sea serpents, mermaids, and more
(all artificial). The effects on this ride
are not that incredible, but it is one of
the most popular so WATCH OUT, the lines for
this ride are LONG!! Take note: if you look
carefully you'll be able to see the thin
cables suspending some of the fish. 8.5
minutes.
* Cinderella's Castle - Not really an attraction per se, but
it's a great background for pictures. Inside
there is a 6-7 panel tile mosaic with gold
inlay that depicts the story of Cinderella.
It also houses the restaurant King Stephens
Banquet Hall. More inspiring than the castle
in Disneyland, this castle has something
magical about it when you look at it, and
the architecture is astonishing...
Mad Tea Party - Spin yourself dizzy in those famous teacups
from Alice in Wonderland. You don't have to
go fast if you don't want to. This ride is
nothing exciting, but if you want to go on
it you must fight with crowds, as it is
surprisingly popular. 1.5 minutes.
Golden Carousel - Your typical theme park carousel, yet this
one has something magical about it.
Originally from Olympic Park in New Jersey,
it was restored to an incredibly dazzling
condition by WDW workers. Take note that
everyone gets to ride a white horse on this
carousel. 2 minutes.
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant - Just like the StarJets in
Tomorowland (including the long lines). This
is extremely popular with the younger kids
(as the StarJets are popular with the older
kids). This ride is going to be renovated in
the near future. The renovation will not
only improve the look of the ride but it
will increase it's passenger/hour ratio.
(They are increasing the # of Dumbo's from
10 to 16). The same ride in Disneyland has
recently gone under the same renovation
process. 1.5 minutes.
-----------------------------------------
EXTRA SHOWS IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM
Check the information centers for EXACT times. After you see
the shows once, take advantage of the crowds not trying to get on
the rides. Most of the waiting times for most rides are cut more
than 80% during parades and fireworks.
Daily Parade - Usually around 3pm. See it once and then take
advantage of it on your next visit to the park. The
20th anniversary parade has huge cold air balloons of
famous Disney characters and more.
SPECTRO-MAGIC - This new show replaces the old Main Street
Electrical Parade which is being sent to Euro-
Disneyland. This parade uses fiber-optic, prismatic
holographics, and electro-luminescent technologies.
Clouds of underlit liquid nitrogen accompany the good
old twinkle lights. Truly an incredible parade with
great music and super effects. DON'T MISS IT. (The
parade might not be running during the 'off' season.
Check information centers for info.)
Fireworks - 10pm. Don't worry about this, as you can see it from
almost anywhere in the park. The Grand Floridian
resort, The Polynesian Resort, and the Contemporary
Resort are all good places to watch the fireworks.
Personally I enjoy the Polynesian, grab a chair on
the beach and look straight across the lagoon. There
are only fireworks when the Magic Kingdom is open
after 10pm.
Other Shows - Check at Town Hall for information on this topic.
Shows change quite frequently.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART VI
** EPCOT CENTER **
--------------
EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow) Center is
divided into two major areas: Future World and World Showcase. In
each of the two areas are pavilions about certain topics and
countries. NOTE: Most of the rides in EPCOT Center use a
continuous train, so people are always boarding the ride and the
lines move rather quickly. The majority of the rides in Future
World can be ridden during midday with average waiting times,
however if you don't want to wait, go on the rides at night during
Illuminations (the Laser Light show), or stay until the park
closes; the lines get extremely short about 2 hours before
closing.
-FUTURE WORLD-
Future world has 8 main pavilions, each with its own theme. Some
pavilions have attractions within them.
* Spaceship Earth - This ride (which is actually inside the
big silver sphere!!) traces the history of
communication and is one of the best rides
in EPCOT. DON'T MISS IT!! TONS OF AA!! See
all sorts of sights such as the Sistine
ceiling, Rome after it fell, King Tut, the
telegraph, television, today's technology
and the technology of Tomorrow's Child. The
climax is when you reach the top of the geo-
sphere and encounter a breathtaking view of
the stars. This is by far one of the most
incredible planetariums I have seen. Then
you descend and listen to the song
Tomorrow's Child. Narrated by Walter
Cronkite. DON'T MISS THIS RIDE!! Presented
by AT&T. 16 minutes.
* The Living Seas - This attraction is a walk through as well
as a ride. First there is a brief preview,
then you see a very informative (but loud)
movie about the oceans. After that you
descend in a "Hydrolator" to Sea Base Alpha
and ride through part of the coral reef
environment. Next you are free to walk
around Sea Base Alpha and try on a diving
suit, see the manatees, learn about all
sorts of marine life, and more. It's a lot
of fun. Much can be learned here about the
undersea world. Oh don't forget to Ascend
in your "Hydrolator", or then again, just
use the door next to them... Presented by
United Technologies. Three minute ride,
after that you set your own pace.
* The Land - This pavilion actually has 3 attractions in it
along with a revolving restaurant and a food
court. Presented by Nestle (formally Kraft).
* Listen to the Land - This is a boat ride
through the gardens, ecosystems, and future
agriculture that EPCOT houses. See lettuce
growing in styrofoam, plants hanging in
midair, bananas growing next to rice right
next to cacao. Most of the food grown here
is served in WDW restaurants. Some AA
Excellent. 12 minutes.
* Kitchen Kabaret - This theater show explains
the 4 basic food groups in a comical way.
Bread, Ham, Eggs, Milk and others sing to
you about health with your AA host Bonnie
Appetite. A lot of AA. 13 minutes.
Symbiosis - A 19 minute film about
agriculture and farming. Not my favorite,
yet informative. 18.5 minutes.
Also in this pavilion are two places to eat: a
rotating sit-down restaurant and a
marketplace type food court.
* Journey Into Imagination - 3 attractions. Presented by Kodak.
* Journey Into Imagination Ride - A ride about
your imagination and where it can take you.
There are some really interesting things to
see in this attraction including: lasers,
fiber optics and a surprise: when you see a
white light flashing ahead in the ride,
smile!! Your picture will be taken and
shown at the end of the ride. Ride with
Dreamfinder and his helper Figment (a
purple childish dragon) through the world
of imagination. 13 minutes.
* The Image Works - A futuristic playground
where you can conduct an orchestra, star in
a movie, play with sounds, lasers,
pinboards, sound effects, bubbles, a neon
tunnel and more. Very imaginative and
loads of fun for all ages! (Even my
grandfather was "playing"!!)
*** Captain EO - Another 3-D movie that is
absolutely incredible!!! DON'T MISS IT!!!
Lasers shoot throughout the theater along
with flashing lights that make the entire
movie more exciting. AN INCREDIBLE movie.
(18 minutes) There is a pre-show about
taking pictures, which is good. The movie
stars Michael Jackson. And he and his
puppet friends must turn an ugly empress
into a beautiful princess through music,
lights, and 3-D! 17 minutes.
* World of Motion - 2 excellent attractions are found here.
Presented by General Motors
* World of Motion Ride - This shows man's
progress in his quest for better means of
transportation. A lot of AA make this ride
exceptional. Don't miss it, it's worth any
wait. See the wheel being invented, a train
being held up, a "small" automobile
accident, planes from the Golden Age of
aviation, and the future of transportation.
14.5 minutes.
Transcenter - Here you can see the cars and
transportation of the future. Actual
working prototype cars are on display here,
along with the Geo Tracker Boom Box Truck.
You can also look at and sit in the newest
GM models.
* Horizons - This ride looks at 3 aspects of the future:
Desert, Space and Sea. This attraction has
lots of AA and is one not to be missed! At
the end of the ride you can choose which way
you want it to end. There are also two
three story movie screens which make you
feel like you are flying. See the future of
desert farming, undersea habitation, and
space colonization. Don't miss it!!
Presented by General Electric. 15 minutes.
* Wonders of Life - 3 Main Attractions. Presented by
Metropolitan Life.
* Body Wars - A flight simulator ride through
the human body. Here you are "shrunk" down
really small and you are injected into the
human body. When an emergency occurs
however, your tour becomes more than just
for sightseeing. The entire 40 seat theater
bucks and pivots to the movie. Very good
but too short. *NOT for the weak at heart
or those prone to motion sickness*
6 minutes.
* Cranium Command - A very imaginative
attraction where you look through the head
of a 12 year old boy and see his thought
processes. Includes such stars as Bobcat
Goldwaith, Hans & Frans from SNL, and a
cute story line. Try not to miss it, as it
is worth a few laughs and it is presented
extremely well. Includes AA. 13 minutes.
The Making of Me - Dramatic micro-photogrophy
explains the reproduction cycle from
fertilization to birth. This attraction
had the longest wait in all of Disney
World. Some people may not want their
children to see such material. A sign
explains what this attraction is about. It
is up to your discretion to see it or not.
Surrounding the attractions are many other "mini"
attractions such as: Sports Goofy, a Sports
analyzer, a health bar and more.
* Universe of Energy - This ride, which is interesting to
those who want to learn, is about energy.
It has one great part where you travel back
millions of years to the time of the
dinosaurs and see them (They are AA). Very
informative look at the diminishing supply
of energy on the planet earth. The entire
theater in this attraction actually moves!!
The solar cells on the roof of the building
provide the power. Presented by Exxon.
NOTE: Due to the recent 'Dinosaur revival'
(From the release of Jurassic Park) this
attraction may become more crowded in 1993
as kids want to see dinosaurs. Plan
accordingly. 26.5 minutes.
SPACE PAVILION - PLANS COMPLETE, NO WORD YET ON WHEN
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN.
There are 2 other small pavilions in EPCOT Center:
Communicore East and West - These smaller pavilions have
computers and other electronic gadgets to
play with, as well as places to eat and
shop. Communicore East also hosts
Backstage Magic. This is a look at the
computers that run EPCOT Center.
-WORLD SHOWCASE-
World Showcase depicts 11 countries from around the world.
Some of them have attractions; others do not. They all have
restaurants where you can sample authentic food from that country.
The people who work in these pavilions are from the countries that
they represent. Each pavilion has shops where you can buy
authentic merchandise from that country. The countries are listed
in a counter clockwise direction around the EPCOT Lagoon (Except
for Russia).
Canada - This country is depicted by a 360 degree Circle
Vision film, two shops and a cafeteria style
restaurant called Le Cellier. The movie, named
O' Canada, displays the life of the people in
Canada. Some of the most impressive sights are in
this film; skiing down slopes, the Cathedral of
Notre Dame, ice hockey, and part of the Canadian
air force, all in 360 degrees! The castle like
building in this pavilion was styled after Chateau
Laurier in Ottawa. The two shops offer authentic
French-Canadian gifts and souvenirs. In the shop
called the Trading Post there are some audio
animatronic animals that occasionally move and may
even speak a bit. See ya en Canada, eh? (Duration
of film: 18 minutes).
* United Kingdom - This pavilion recreates an English town;
complete with a tea shop and a pub. The Rose and
Crown Pub offers traditional English cooking, I
recommend the seafood medley (broiled scallops,
shrimp and muscles) as an appetizer and the Fish
N' Chips with malt vinegar for the main course.
The lamb chops are also very good. The Pub also
offers many other dishes, dark beer, and ale. The
shops include The Toy Soldier (toy shop), tea
shop, and... A few times a day the English
Players present a hilarious street play based in
Shakespeare's time. This play would not be
complete with out the help from the audience
though! Have a jolly good time old chap!!
France - A miniature Eiffel Tower sets the mood for France.
A few restaurants offer up the traditional French
cuisine complete with escargot and crepes. To cool
off go inside and see the movie. A very elegant
theater (complete with a crystal chandelier and
velvet curtins) depicts France on a 180 degree
screen. The film is very well done. Other shops
are here where you can purchase all sorts of French
merchandise. Bon Appetite!
(Duration of film: 18 minutes).
Morocco - The prayer tower Koutoubia Minaret dominates this
country's representation. In the front of the
pavilion an impressive irrigation system waters the
flowers, be sure to take a look at it. In the
Gallery of Arts and History one can view exhibits
on Moroccan culture. Hungry? If so stop off at
Marrakesh where you can have an authentic Moroccan
meal. Many shops at this pavilion offer up a wide
variety of merchandise including: carpets, jewelry,
clothing, bamboo furniture and off course a fez.
Japan - Excellent food, shops and entertainment can be
found in the Japan pavilion. If you are in the
courtyard area of the pavilion, keep your eye out
for the man who sculpts candy. I am not kidding
either, it's pretty neat. A performing drum troupe
can also be found in the courtyard. The Japanese
gardens are authentically reproduced and I highly
recommend a walk through them. The restaurants and
snack bars serve up traditional Japanese cuisine.
In one restaurant the chef cooks on your table and
puts on a small comical routine. Towards the back
of the pavilion you will notice the gates to the
Emperor's palace. These will be used as an
entrance to the new roller coaster ride that is
still in the planning stages. (See the 'In the
Future' section for more information on this
topic). Soyonara!
* U.S.A. - Here you can get the traditional hot dog and soda.
But eating is not the only thing to do here. The
attraction, called The American Adventure, is one
of the most impressive in World Showcase. This 29
minute presentation shows the most important parts
in the history of the United States. Moments
recreated include: the Pilgrims, Valley Forge, The
Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, World War II,
and more. Overall the show is the most emotional
of all the attractions in WDW, the final scene will
choke up even the hardest hearts, and everyone
leaves the theater with a feeling of American
pride. Also, not one of the people on stage are
real!!! They are all AA. Please don't miss this
one. See ya later! Presented by The Coca-Cola
Company. (Duration of attraction: 29 minutes).
Italy - The reproduction of Venice's Doge's Palace marks
this pavilion. Here in an open air market all
sorts of goodies can be found ranging from Italian
chocolates and leather goods, to lead crystal
bowels and earrings. The restaurant here,
L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, serves up
an incredible meal. All pasta is made on the
premise and is bound to satisfy any Italian
appetite. If your not hungry look through the
windows and watch the chefs make the pasta. In
the mood for a little comedy? Hang around the
street for a bit and soon enough "Il Teatro de
Bologna" (translation: Bologna Theater) will come
out and entertain you with they're comical plays.
Beware, you may become part of the play!
Germany - Bloatworst, Beer and a Teddy Bear is what you
will find here. The food is quite authentic and
you will leave the restaurant feeling a bit
stuffed. There are some excellent shops including
(my favorite) Der Teddy Bear. This is a toy shop
that sells (you guessed it) Teddy Bears,
Playmobile, LGB Model Trains and more. Threre is
also a cart out front the pavillion that sells
German lead crystal items, some of whice are
beautiful.
China - Go back to the days of the Ming Dynasty when you
visit Disney's recreation of China. Beautiful
architecture is found throughout the entire
pavilion. There is an excellent 360 degree circle
vision film which gives a great overview of the
country. The food here is exceptional and they
have the best egg rolls I have ever had. (Duration
of film: 19 minutes).
@ * Norway - DON'T MISS the ride Maelstrom at this pavilion!!
It is a ride in a Viking boat through the
Norwegian seas. With a few surprises!! -But very
short. The ride does move you backwards for a
bit, and makes it look as if you are going to go
over a cliff. Some folks might find this
unnerving. Excellent cafeteria style and sit down
food is available here along with shops selling
miscellaneous items and a travel center (If you
plan to visit). If the line for Maelstrom is
outside the building you may want to wait. Disney
imagineers have come up with an incredible way of
herding people into an attraction and at times it
can be quite deceiving! (Duration of ride: 14
minutes (5 minute ride & 9 minute movie).
* Mexico - Almost the entire pavilion is enclosed in a large
reproduction of a Mexican pyramid. This means
that it is all air-conditioned!! Inside it is set
up as a Mexican market at night. The ride called
"El Rio del Tiempo" (Translated means: The River
of Time) is here. This boat ride takes you
through Mexico's past and present. Although the
ride is depicted mainly by grainy rear-projection
movies and parts of it get quite corny, this is an
enjoyable and pleasant ride. The end has some of
the best "imitation" firework effects I have ever
seen. Mexican food is served on the bank of this
"river". Many authentic Mexican gifts can be
purchased here, ranging from sombreros to ponchos.
In the entrance to the pavilion there is an
ongoing display of Mexican art depicting the
history of the country. (Duration of ride: 8.5
minutes).
RUSSIA - PLANS COMPLETE, NO WORD YET ON WHEN CONSTRUCTION
WILL BEGIN.
I am putting a catchy phrase from that country at the end of
each description. I need something for the following countries:
Morocco, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, & Mexico. Please send me
any suggestions. Thanks.
Try to see all of the rides marked with an asterisk (*). Any
rides that you miss during the day, go back and see during
Illuminations.
Extra Shows in EPCOT Center - Check the information centers for
the time that the show starts. After you see the shows once,
take advantage of the crowds not trying to get on the rides. As
in the Magic Kingdom most of the waiting times for most rides are
cut more than 70% during parades and fireworks.
Illuminations - An incredible laser & fireworks show over the
lagoon in EPCOT center. Don't miss it. But warning, crowds
start lining up around the lagoon as early as 2 hours before
the show starts!! The ultimate firework/laser show!!!
Surprise in the Skies - A special daytime fireworks show along
with kites, ultralights to celebrate WDW's 20th Anniversary.
For the show's finale, cold-air balloons of famous Disney
characters, representing all EPCOT countries, are blown up
all around the lagoon. This show may have changed, but there
is usually some sort of midday show.
There also may be some other shows on the lagoon in EPCOT center
during midday, again check with information centers for times.
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PART VII
** DISNEY MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK **
-------------------------------
At this park you can see actual films being made, so the
brochure says. Actually there is a minimal amount of shooting
going on, but the park will give you an excellent idea of how
movies are made. There are only a few attractions, but an entire
day can easily be spent here. This park is much smaller than the
other two, so it doesn't take many people to make it crowded and
often they limit the amount of people inside the gates. The lines
are bearable in the early morning hours (7-10am) and after 5pm.
Despite its small size the studios will make you walk. Be
prepared to be on your feet for most of the day. Not just for
waiting, but some tours last an hour and you are on your feet for
the whole time.
@ * The Great Movie Ride - This ride contains some of the most
sophisticated AA figures ever created and some
of Hollywood's greatest films are featured
here. It is a great attraction but the lines
can get quite long during midday. Movies
featured are Singing in the Rain, Casablanca,
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, and The Wizard
of Oz, just to name a few. The show features
excellent special effects, some of the best AA
figures ever created, and an excellent but
short film at the end that gives tribute to
academy award winning movies. 19 minutes.
@ * Backstage Studio Tour - This is a tram ride through the
back lot of the studio. It features
Catastrophe Canyon: a simulated rainstorm,
earthquake, flash flood, and explosions all
rolled into one. Other aspects of the tour
include wardrobe, lighting, set design,
and camera departments etc. Many props from
movies can also be seen here, some include:
Snow Speeder from The Empire Strikes Back, the
pod from Flight of the Navigator, and the
Bulldog Cafe from The Rocketeer. The tram
also takes you down what is called the
"residential" street. The facades of these
'houses' are used for outside shots in movies
and tv shows. One house you may recognize is
from the Golden Girls television series.
After the tram ride your are dropped off by
the New York street. Here you are free to
walk through the "city". Approx. 40 minutes.
@ * Inside Magic: Special Effects and Production Tour - This
tour, which lasts approximately 1 hour, shows
how miniatures, blue mats, and other special
effects are done in movies, as well as
editing, audio recording, and final
production. The highlight of the tour is
where you are allowed to look at the three
soundstages. Here you may see absolutely
nothing, or you may actually see a set from a
tv show. I have seen the sets for: Delta
commercials, The New Mickey Mouse Club, and
Wheel of Fortune. You never know what is in
there! At the end of the tour a preview of
new Disney/Touchstone movies is shown.
Approximately 1 hour.
@ * SuperStar Television - This is a great production where the
audience actually takes part in a television
broadcast. The audience can star on the
Tonight Show (with Johnny Carson), Late Night
with David Letterman, Cheers, I Love Lucy, NBC
News, and even hit a home run for the New York
Mets. (They were my favorite team...until this
year...go Red Sox!) Don't miss this one, it is
hilarious and I guarantee it will leave you
(at the very least) smiling. If you would like
to take part in the production get to the
front of the crowd in the pre-show area, this
is were they pick out the people to use in the
"production". RAISE YOUR HAND and you will
have an excellent chance of being picked. If
you do not want to take part on stage, stay
outside of the pre-show area and lay low! 30
minutes.
* Animation Building - Here you can take a tour and see how
cartoons and full length animated features are
created by Disney animators. See actual
animation cells from Disney classics, and
watch Disney artists work on current animation
projects. If you are interested in art, I
recommend taking this tour as it is very
informative and interesting. The lines for
this attraction are usually shorter than
others. Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams
are your "Video Hosts" through the tour. The
two of them together present animation to you
in a amusing way.
* Monster Sound Show - Here you can learn how sound effects
are added to a movie and how they can add
suspense and excitement to a film. Of course
this is done with the help of a few volunteers
(should we call them volunteers?) from the
audience. The sound effects are produced on
the famous Foley stage, named after its
creator. The outcome is quite humorous due to
the fact that the volunteers are untrained
tourists! The short movie stars Martin Short
and Chevy Chase. The pre-show tv screens
above the crowd show David Letterman
interviewing Mr. Foley in a hilarious way.
There is a post-show entertainment area for
this attraction. Outside the theater you can
get a chance to make some of your own sound
effects using the same techniques that were
illustrated in the show. Beware however, this
area is usually very crowed!
20 minutes.
@ *** Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - All I can say is
DON'T Miss it. This show demonstrates how
stunts are part of movies by doing all kinds
of different skits in the Indian Jones
tradition. The famous plane scene from
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is reenacted along
with some other scenes from the movie. There
are only a few shows a day, so get the times
and decide when to see it. If you see a crowd
forming, get in the line --chances are they
know the starting time and they are getting a
head start. If you can, sit near the middle
top for the best view. After dusk the show is
sometimes shortened: go during midday to see
the entire show. Almost any seat in the
outdoor theater provides an excellent view of
the action. For the best view, sit towards the
top and the center. This way you don't have
to fight crowds when it is over, and you still
have a good view. (Warning, this show is
somewhat violent and very loud. Some small
children may be frightened, (Although my
little sisters enjoyed it!) use your own
discretion.) 30 minutes.
@ ** Star Tours - This is a flight simulator ride through rebel
and imperial forces based on the movie Star
Wars. You are supposed to be going to the
planet Endor, but your "pilot" (An AA robot)
does not really know how to fly this ship. It
is his first flight and you are in for a bumpy
ride after you some how get off course and
eventually wind up at the Death Star! The
entire 40 seat theater bucks and moves in time
to the movie, creating a very good effect. You
must be a certain height to ride this
attraction. Expectant Mothers, and those with
back and heart problems are advised not to
participate. 7 minutes.
@ ** Muppets 3-D Movie - Probably the best 3-D movie of all time.
Incredible 3-D effects follow the humor of the
crazy and lovable Muppets created by the late
Jim Henson. Those two cranky critics (AA)
start the show, and then the penguin orchestra
(AA) strikes up a tune. The effects in this
movie are almost 4-D: When Fozzy Bear squirts
water at the audience you feel it, and bubbles
come out of the ceiling when Miss Piggy sings
"Dream a Little Dream." You know your in
trouble when the Sweedish Chef is the
projectionist!! The end is a real "BANG" when
Sam the Eagle presents his "Salute to all
Nations, but mostly America". (You'll see what
I mean!). This attraction also contains a few
live actors. Be sure not to miss the pre-show
entertainment as it includes all your favorite
muppet characters including: Kermit, Gonzo,
Beaker, Prof. Bunsen Honeydew and more!
* The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Move Set Adventure - Here you
can experience what it would be like to be
shrunk down to a quarter of an inch in size.
Truly a very imaginative playground. Included
is the Kodak film slide, giant Legos, a HUGE
Oreo cookie, a massive dog nose, a dripping
garden hose and much more. "BIG" Fun for all
ages. Try to see it, kids will LOVE it! Set
your own pace but a minimum of 30 minutes is
required, and maybe more with children.
* Voyage of The Little Mermaid - This attraction has just
opened in the past year. Although I have
never seen it, people have told me it is
spectacular! The stage show incorporates live
action, AA, lasers, holographic imaging and
more to present the songs and other items from
the classic animated movie. It stars Ariel,
Flounder, Sebastian and other characters from
the movie (including a 2 story AA Ursula). If
you have small children be sure not to miss
this one!! Even the adults will love it!
Hollywood Blvd. - (Main street at the entrance to MGM) Not
an attraction per se. Stroll down the
Hollywood of the 1930's. Here you can star in
your own music video, make a movie, have your
picture taken on the cover of a magazine, buy
actual props from movies and more. Then eat
at the Brown Derby.
SUNSET BLVD. - UNDER CONSTRUCTION (For more information,
please refer to the "In the Future" section.)
TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR - UNDER CONSTRUCTION, 8 story
free fall drop!! (originally 13 stories, but
downgraded recently to 8). (For more
information please refer to the "In the
Future" section.
Extra Shows at The Disney MGM Studios
Aladdin's Royale Caravan Parade: This afternoon parade has
many colorful floats and live actors that present Aladdin
and his companions from the animated feature. Camels that
'spit' water, the Genie, Jaffar, and of course Jasmine are
all part of the show. Presented daily at 3pm.
Sorcery in the Skies: This laser and fireworks is presented
nightly at MGM. The finale includes a 4 story inflatable
Mickey in his Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit comes out from
behind Grummans Theater and ends the show.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART VIII
** NIGHT LIFE **
------------
If you are staying in Disney World when the theme parks close
around 8pm-9pm, don't fear!! The night is young at that time!
Almost every resort offers some type of night activity.
Personally, I enjoy going over to the Grand Floridian, sitting in
the main building and listening to the band play. It plays every
night around the same time. The Polynesian has a 6pm and 9pm luau
every night. Reservations are required, but it is a lot of fun.
The Contemporary Resort offers Broadway music with dinner
(Broadway at the Top Dinner Show (Reservations required 30 days in
advance)), The Outer Rim (a lounge, but they serve non-alcoholic
drinks to those under 21, and they show Monday Night football,
baseball etc.) and also WDW's largest arcade with the latest in
arcade technology. Take at least one night go up to the 15th floor
of the Contemporary resort. There is a breathtaking view of the
Vacation Kingdom up there, along with a lounge; a great place to
watch the fireworks. For the ultimate in night-life, go to
Pleasure Island. People under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
There is a 10 theater movie house, The Comedy Warehouse, The Neon
Armadillo (Country music), XZFR Rock & Roll Beach Club, The
Adventurers Club, and much more. Some are night club and dancing,
others are comedy and music. Pleasure Island's motto is "New
Year's Eve every night!!", and they mean it: fireworks and all!!!
(For more information on Pleasure Island please see the section
"Other Attractions".)
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART IX
** Dining **
--------
Now for a section on places to eat. Most restaurants in
Disney World can be expensive depending on what you order. I'll
tell you about some of the restaurants that I have been to and
enjoyed. Although, all the food in Disney World is great!
Reservations are required for almost all sit down restaurants.
The Magic Kingdom does not have many restaurants. I believe
there are only a few places to sit down and have a dinner. But
there are plenty of places to snack on hot dogs, hamburgers etc.
In the Magic Kingdom try King Stephen's Banquet Hall located in
Cinderella's Castle. Also try Tony's Town Square Cafe and the
Plaza Restaurant, both located on Main Street U.S.A. A full
service dinner/show is available in Frontierland at the Diamond
Horseshoe (reservations required). The Liberty Square Tavern in
Liberty Square also offers full service. For cafeteria service
try the Crystal Palace.
EPCOT Center has plenty of restaurants (More than one could ask
for!). Future World offers the Coral Reef Restaurant in the
Living Seas pavilion. Here you can eat seafood right next to the
aquarium! It is really a lot of fun. In the Land pavilion there
is The Land Grille Room restaurant. This restaurant actually
rotates and you can see part of the rides in the building. In
World Showcase, England's Rose and Crown Pub has great food (Like
I said before, the fish n' chips are great!) The Chinese
restaurant Nine Dragons has excellent traditional hunan, and
szheuzan food. Every pavilion in World Showcase has some sort of
restaurant with authentic food from that country. Dine in France
for a romantic night, or party the Oktoberfest way in Germany.
Then hop over to Japan where your food is cooked on your table in
front of you, or head over to Italy for some pasta. There are
almost unlimited possibilities for dining in EPCOT Center. If
hamburgers and hot dogs are all you want then head over to the
American pavilion in World Showcase, or visit the Communicore East
and West in Future World.
In MGM I recommend the Brown Derby for a good meal. The
prices are a little expensive, but it is worth it. For something
a little out of the ordinary try The 50's Prime Time Cafe. Here
you sit in a mock "kitchen" with 50's decor while "Mom" serves the
food. The food offered is Magnificent Meat Loaf, Granny's pot
roast, Aunt Selma's chicken salad, and alphabet soup. While
eating you get to watch reruns of famous TV shows from the 50's
such as Car 54, Donna Reed, etc. There are also plenty of places
to get a hot dog, such as the Backstage Express, and The
Soundstage Restaurant. For the ultimate in dining experiences try
the Sci-Fi Drive-in Diner. Set up like a drive-in movie theater
your booths are shaped like classic cars from the 1950's and you
sit underneath the "stars" and watch an actual movie while eating.
In the Disney resorts there are restaurants too, and the food
is just as good as anywhere else (if not better!). The Polynesian
Resort has excellent seafood at the Papeete Bay Verandah. Go to
Flagler's in The Grand Floridian for a great Italian dinner
complete with accordion music and of course the song Amore. The
Dolphin offers 7 restaurants, Port Orleans has one or two
restaurants along with a food court. The Caribbean Beach also has
a food court, and the Contemporary has a $13.95 all-you-can-eat
buffet with roast beef, shrimp, pizza, salad, dessert and more!!
There is one thing for sure though, you won't go hungry in
WDW. You will always see some place and say: "Ooo, I think we
should try that sometime." Yet you never get the time to sample
all of the restaurants. So, I have compiled a list of the
restaurants that I think one should try on their visit. Next to
the name of the restaurant is where it is located and what meals I
think you should try there (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner). The list
is in NO specific order.
Flaglers - Grand Floridian B,L,D
Victoria and Albert's - Grand Floridian D
Broadway at the Top - Contemporary D
Papeete Bay Verandah - Polynesian Village B,L,D
Tangaroo Terrace - Polynesian Village B
Coral Isle Cafe - Polynesian Village B,L
Nine Dragons - EPCOT, China D
Rose and Crown Pub - EPCOT, United Kingdom L,D
Coral Reef Restaurant - EPCOT, Living Seas D
The Land Grille Room - EPCOT, The Land B,L,D
The Brown Derby - MGM D
50's Prime Time Cafe - MGM D
Sci-Fi Drive-in Diner - MGM D
TAKE NOTE: Broadway at the Top and Victoria and Albert's are VERY
fancy restaurants. Jackets and ties are required for men at
both places, and reservation might have to be made up to 30
days in advance. Call Disney for more info.
All around the food is delicious and I never really had a
"bad" experience. Dinner reservations can usually be made 2-3
days in advance if you want to. Plan ahead and decide what park
you are going to go to the next day, then plan where you will eat
dinner.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART X
** SHOPPING **
----------
Ah, the dreaded part of every vacation... Trying to figure
out what to buy your friends back at home. There are shops all
over the place in the theme parks and resorts and this can make
shopping for the "right" gift seem quite overwhelming. A trip
over to the Disney Marketplace (Lake Buena Vista) might be
worthwhile if you like to do all of your shopping at once. Here
you can find almost any gift imaginable, ranging from refrigerator
magnets and stuffed toys to $5000 animation cells! Souvenirs are
not the only items sold in the marketplace, there are also gourmet
food shops, clothing stores, a nature store, a toy store and more.
For those staying in a suite or condo equipped with a kitchen
might want to go over to The Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista. The
Crossroads (137,000 square feet) was built by Disney and then
leased out to store chains. Goodings, a 24 hour supermarket, is a
great place to pickup food and other items such as baby needs.
A few stores in the Crossroads include: Foot Locker, McKids,
MoJo's Surfin' USA, Beyond Electronics, and Mitzi's Hallmark.
Some popular restaurant chains also reside here such as TGI
Friday's, Taco Bell, Red Lobster, Perkins, and of course the ever
popular (except with me!) McDonalds. The Crossroads of Lake Buena
is near the WDW Hotel Plaza and is convenient to those staying the
hotel plaza and WDW's Villas.
THIS SECTION TO BE EXPANDED IN FUTURE RELEASES
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XI
** WATER PARKS **
-------------
There are two main water parks in Walt Disney World. The two
parks were built almost 20 years apart, so obviously there are
some major advantages to the new one. Here are some features of
each one.
River Country - This water park has white sandy beaches, rope
swings, tube water slides, and other water
attractions. This park was built in 1971 and the
admission price is nominal: $13.25 for an adult,
$10.60 children 3-9 years old.
Typhoon Lagoon -The ultimate water park!!! The world's
largest wave pool can be found here along with
Humunga Kowabunga. This is a body slide at an
incredibly steep angle in which you reach speeds
of 40mph!!! Castaway Creek is a relaxing slow
water raft ride through tropical rain forests,
water falls and more. Some of the best water
slides are here also along with saltwater
snorkeling with fish!! The white beaches are also
a relaxing sight. When you're there don't forget
to hit Mayday Falls, Keelhall Falls, and Gangplank
Falls for some water slide fun. Get the tubes
that hold 4 people for Gangplank Falls. NOTE:
Typhoon Lagoon has been reaching capacity around
10-11am recently. Plan on going early or you will
be turned away at the gate.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XII
** OTHER ATTRACTIONS **
-------------------
The three theme parks and the two water parks are not the only
things to do in WDW. During the day take time off to swim in the
pool or rent some boats. The boats can be rented from most resort
marinas. The fees are high, however, if you stay in a Disney
resort offering boat rental, you might be able to get a special
deal such as: $50 will buy 2 hours of boat rental per day per
person in your party for the duration of your stay. That is an
incredible deal, since the regular price is $17.50 to rent a mini-
speed boat for 30 minutes. Just about every resort in WDW has
some sort of pool. Recently Disney has been going crazy with its
pool designs. At the Beach and Yacht Club resorts the pool has a
sand bottom, at Port Orleans there is a dragon for a slide, and at
the Polynesian there is a waterslide through a fake lava mountain.
The best pool for laps is over at the Contemporary resort.
Pleasure Island is the ultimate in night club entertainment.
Opening at 7pm, guests must be over 18 to enter alone. (U.S.
driver's license or passport must be presented.) Under 18 must be
accompanied by an PARENT (Yes a parent, not an adult). Here is a
brief description of what you will find at Pleasure Island: (Age
restrictions given where applicable.)
Neon Armadillo Music Saloon - The hottest live country music
on this side of Nashville.
XZFR Rock & Roll Beach Club - Classic rock from the 50's to
the 90's played live. Surf's up!!
Mannequins Dance Palace - Contemporary music, dancing on a
rotating dance floor with incredible sets and special
effects. The spaceship from Close Encounters can be
quite
realistically reproduced here. (Ages 21 and older).
CAGE! - Best in European and American Top 40 video dance
music. (Ages 21 and older).
Adventurers Club - Eccentric travelers, talking masks, and
outrageous stories. This 1930's explorer's club can
have anything happen!! Good fun for the entire family.
The Comedy Warehouse - Live stand-up comedy. Watch 5
hilarious comedians make fun of Disney in a way you
will never forget!
New Year's Eve Street Party - Live dance, band, nightclub on
the street. Every night countdown for a fireworks
show, and confetti! New Year's Eve every night!
Shops - Shops for clothing, gifts, Disney Memorabilia, food,
posters, and more can be found here.
Restaurants - American barbecue at The Fireworks Factory,
Italian food at Portobello Yacht Club and sweets at
Sweet Surrender. Counter service available at
Merriweather's Market.
AMC Pleasure Island 10 Theaters - 10 movie theaters playing
the latest films with state-of-the-art projection and
sound systems.
NOTE: Pleasure Island will be going through some major changes
with in the next few weeks. Here is what is "expected" to
happen: The CAGE! will close indefinitely and be replaced by
"Boomer's Back Alley" with disco music, lava lamps, and the
good old bean-bag chairs. New Year's Every Night will still
remain, however a Mardi-Gras theme maybe presented.
Merriweather's Market is being converted into a Jazz Club
that has still yet to be named.
Discovery Island is a certified zoological park. To get over
there you must hop aboard one of the big boats that look like
yachts. There is a admission fee of $8.48 for adults and $4.77
for children ages 3 to 9. Here you can explore an "exotic" island
with all sorts of wildlife on it. See toucans, parrots,
flamingos, giant turtles, and more. There are streams and foot
bridges throughout the island. It is a nice place to escape from
the everyday hustle and bustle of WDW. Take note: NO drinking
straws are allowed on the island. As the animals might strangle
themselves.
Fort Wilderness offers, biking, canoeing, campfires, and more.
If you are a golfer then you are in heaven. Six PGA championship
tour courses are at your disposal (The Magnolia, The Palm, The
Lake Buena Vista, The Disney Village Clubhouse, The Osprey Ridge,
and The Eagle Pines courses) offering a total of 99 holes! The
Oldsmobile Golf Classic is held annually on the Palm and Magnolia
courses.
If you really become bored (very doubtful) you can leave
Disney property and head over to Universal Studios Florida or Sea
World of Florida. Both offer an enjoyable day under the Florida
sun. Farther away (1hr and 30mins) is Kennedy Space Center. This
is a great place to learn about NASA's programs, the space
shuttle, and the heavens above. You can see the space shuttle
here among other NASA artifacts. One can see the launch of the
space shuttle if you go at the right time (a once in a lifetime
event!).
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XIII
** TIPS **
------
Here are some basic tips for ANY Disney theme park:
1. Arrive 10-30 minutes before the park opens!!! Have a light
breakfast (bagel w/cream cheese, cereal, coffee, juice etc.).
2. Quickly go to the most popular attractions first!! Those are
the attractions I have marked with a @ sign. Go on as many as
you can before the lines get too long. At EPCOT, start
halfway around Future World, instead of at Spaceship Earth.
3. Make reservations for dinner around 9-10pm. Your reservations
should be set for about 4-5pm.
4. Eat lunch before the crowds do. 11am is usually good. (I know
it probably doesn't sound too good to eat lunch early, but you
won't have to fight larger lines!)
5. WHEN ENTERING ANY RIDE ALWAYS GO TO INTO THE LEFT LINE!!!!!
Why? - Most people are right brained and right handed so they
assume right is better. (I am not making this up.) I found
this to be true.
6. Parade time!! (3pm) Now, you have eaten lunch, and the rest of
the crowds are watching the parade, quick you have 1 hour to
see the popular rides!!
7. Eat dinner around 4:30-5:30pm. After 5pm the lines for the
rides start to shorten. Then go on more rides.
8. Fireworks, parades, Illuminations, are now being presented.
(9pm, 11pm etc.) Quickly go on more rides, putting emphasis on
the popular ones.
9a. Stay until the park closes (providing your kids aren't asleep
yet!), going on the more popular rides as it gets later.
9b. Return to your hotel, get washed-up and go to one of the
resorts and walk around. For kids go to the Contemporary
resort, there is a huge arcade there. For couples I
recommend a romantic walk on the Polynesian's beach or relax
to the big band music at the Grand Floridian.
10. Sleep and start over. (Or stay up all night...)
Change this around anyway you want, but numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,
8, and 9 are the most important!!
** Insider's Tips **
----------------
Here are some tips that will help you make the most out of
the time that you have allotted for your vacation. These tips are
the way that I visit the park.
1. Always go in the LEFT line while queuing up for an
attraction. (Don't ask why, just do it!) A good example
of this is the Pirates of the Caribbean.
2. Go on the most popular rides during parades, fireworks,
shows etc. Lines usually decrease 50-80 percent.
3. Stay until the park closes. Again the lines dissipate.
4. Midday is the worst time, so visit the park in the morning
around noon go back to the hotel and go for a swim. Eat
dinner around 4-4:30, and then head back to the parks.
5. Make reservations in advance for ALL restaurants.
6. Do all your shopping at once.
7. Watch ANY Magic Kingdom parade (Daily parade, Spectromagic,
etc.) from Liberty Square or Frontierland. There are
little or no people there.
8. If you are pressured for time, you may want to refrain from
visiting Pleasure Island, Discovery Island, River Country
or Typhoon Lagoon.
9. While on the Backstage Tour at MGM, don't worry who is
first, as people in the front, middle, and rear have equal
viewing areas.
10. Ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at night. Not only are
the lines much shorter, but the effects are the same due
to the fact that 95% of the ride takes place inside a
building!
11. If you are staying at the Grand Floridian or the
Polynesian Resorts you might want to take the small boat
back from the Magic Kingdom, as is usually faster than the
monorail and you don't have to fight with the crowds.
12. If you are staying in a WDW resort take the resort monorail
rather than the Magic Kingdom monorail. It has more
stops, but you don't have to fight the crowds.
13. For those residing at the Polynesian Resort: Walk to the
TTC (or the Ferry Boat), don't take the monorail.
14. In the American Adventure in EPCOT, people queue up in the
far upper right corner of the first floor. Try to be in
the Middle of the crowd, as you will have the best seats.
15. After riding Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion there is a
short movie. If you just want to go on the ride, one DOES
have enough time to walk through the theater and exit
before the film begins.
16. If the line for Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion extends
outside the building, beware, the wait will be 20-30
minutes.
17. Board the Skyway (in the Magic Kingdom) in Tomorrowland
rather than Fantasyland, as it is almost always shorter.
18. In EPCOT Center people will begin to save their spots for
Illuminations as early as 6:00 for the 9:00 show. I
recommend saving your spot around 7-8pm, but if it starts
to look crowded around the lagoon grab your spot.
19. If you want to ride in the cab of the monorail, just ask
an attendant. For you best chances ask at either EPCOT
Center or the TTC (EPCOT monorail). It works 99% of the
time!! (Children will be thrilled to ride in the front.)
20. When the time rolls around for the park to close, stick
around and walk through the park. They won't kick you
out, and it is something to see the parks at night with no
one there.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XIV
** IN THE FUTURE **
---------------
This section is reserved for information regarding resorts,
attractions and other items of that nature that have not been
opened yet, are still on the drawing board, have just opened
within the last revision, or are under construction. There is
also information on new Disney Animated films. The information in
this section comes from Disney News magazine, Disney related
sources (ie. Annual Report), newspaper clippings, rec.arts.disney
on the news-net, and friends that have just returned from their
visit. Due to the nature of this section, I can not guarantee
that any of these plans will become a reality. This section is
for the kind of person that MUST know what Disney is doing at all
times and I don't know of any other source where this information
is all put together.
MK=Magic Kingdom EP=EPCOT Center MGM=Disney/MGM Studios
Attraction Name Where is it?? When does it open?
----------------- --------------- --------------------
Twilight Zone Tower MGM (Next to main 1994
of Terror entrance)
Aladdin Parade MGM NOW SHOWING
Tomorrowland facelift MK (Tomorrowland) 1990's
Updated Star-Jets MK (Tomorrowland) 199?
Updated Carousel of MK (Tomorrowland) 199?
Progress
Alien Encounter MK (Replacing "Mission 199?
to Mars")
Show featuring "Jungle MK 199?
Book" characters
New show for the MK (Adventureland) 199?
Tiki Birds (comical)
Renovation of Dumbo MK (Fantasyland) 1994
Ride
Replacement attractions for:
Snow White's Scary Adv. MK (Fantasyland) 199?
Hall of Presidents MK (Liberty Square) 199?
Expansion of MGM All over, making All throughout
MGM twice as large the 1990's
Monorail to MGM Route to MGM 199?
Sunset Blvd. MGM 1994
AMPAS Music Hall MGM Fall 1993
of Fame
Fantasmic! MGM Possibly 1994
Bonnet Creek Golf Near Dixie Landings OPEN
Club
Disney's Vacation East of EPCOT Center OPEN
Club
Disney's Vacation East of EPCOT Center '93-'94
Club, Phase II
All-Star-Sports Southwest of EP 1994
Resort
All-Star-Music Southwest of EP 1995
Resort
Mexican Resort West of EPCOT 199?
Wilderness Lodge South of the Contemporary, Spring '94
Resort NE of the tool plaza.
Mediterranean Resort Between the Contemporary Mid 1990's
(3000 rooms!!) & the TTC, next to the
Wilderness Lodge Resort
2 New Golf courses Near the Disney Villa's OPEN
Eagle Pines and
The Osprey Ridge
Walt Disney's Private MGM 1993 ONLY
Airplane on Display
Blizzard Beach Near All-Star Resort NO TIME KNOWN
(3rd water park)
Mt. Fuji Roller EP, Japan Pavilion 199?
Coaster
Space Pavilion EP, Future World 199?
Russia Pavilion EP, World Showcase 199?
(Plans complete)
Multi-Country EP, World Showcase 199?
Pavilion
Disney's Boardwalk Near the EP Resorts DELAYED INDEFINITELY
Celebration; Disney Southern edge of WDW Groundbreaking 1993
city for residency 1st phase: 1995
Disney Institute Temporary: WDW Village '94-'95
Permanent: In Celebration
The Workplace In Celebration 199?
High-Speed train; For now plan has been abandoned
running from Orlando
Intl. Airport to an
area near WDW.
NON-FLORIDA RELATED DISNEY INFORMATION
For those of you who must know what Disney is doing.
--------------------------------------
EURO-Disneyland France, (Near Paris) Construction to
Phase II start this year.
Disney/MGM Studios EURO-Disneyland 1995
Tour-Europe
Beauty & the Beast and
The Little Mermaid EURO-Disneyland 199?
Thrill Rides
Splash Mountain EURO-Disneyland 199?
Discovery Mountain EURO-Disneyland 199?
(Like Space Mtn.)
Second Theme Park in PLAN HAS BEEN ABANDONED
Palm Beach, CA
Mickey's Toontown Disneyland OPEN
Roger Rabbit's Car Disneyland Mid-Late '93
Toon Spin (in Toontown)
Indiana Jones Ride Disneyland Late 1994
Splash Mountain Tokyo Disneyland OPEN
Adventureland Tokyo Disneyland OPEN
Marketplace
Swiss Family Treehouse Tokyo Disneyland MID-1993
Second Theme Park in Tokyo Disneyland NO TIME KNOWN
Tokyo
WESTCOT (EPCOT out west Disneyland's Current 1996
near Disneyland Parking lot
-----------------------------
NO LOCATION KNOWN or NO TIME KNOWN means that I have yet to
find information that suggests the location or approximate
opening day of the attraction. No guarantee that all of these
attractions will become a reality, however those projects listed
have either been started, made public or are on the drawing
board. (With the exception of the mini Disneyland.)
ANIMATED FILMS TO BE (RE)RELEASED IN THEATERS AND ON VIDEO
----------------------------------------------------------
NAME NEW OR RERELEASE WHEN?
------------------- -------------------- ---------
Snow White and the RERELEASE IN THEATERS NOW
Seven Dwarfs
The Lion King NEW Summer '94
(Music by Elton John
and Tim Rice)
Pocahontas NEW Fall '94
Fantasia Continued NEW 1997
Swan Lake NEW ????
Song of the Sea NEW 1997
3rd Roger Rabbit Short NEW ????
Toy Story
Completely computer NEW ????
Animated movie
101 Dalmations RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW
Beauty and the Beast RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW
The Rescuers RELEASE ON VIDEO IN STORES NOW
Aladdin RELEASE ON VIDEO Oct. 1993
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XV
** MAPS **
------
In the first version there was a map in IFF (ILBM) format.
This format is standard for Amiga computers. The second GIF file
was in 320x200 resolution and it was quite crude. In the 93.07.12
revision I have included a NEW map. It is in 640x400 resolution
and it is updated and easier to read. All versions after May '92
include the 320x200 map, all versions after July '93 contain the
640x400 map. Below are the codes.
1 - Magic Kingdom E - Disney/MGM Studios
2 - Grand Floridian Resort F - Discovery Island
3 - Polynesian Resort G - Fort Wilderness Campground
4 - Ticket & Transportation Center H - River Country
5 - Contemporary Resort I - Disney's Village Resort
6 - Magic Kingdom Parking J - Disney's Market Place
7 - Car Care Center K - Pleasure Island
8 - Main Toll Plaza L - Hotel Plaza
9 - EPCOT Center M - Caribbean Beach Resort
A - EPCOT Parking N - Typhoon Lagoon
B - Dolphin Resort O - Disney Inn
C - Beach & Yacht Club Resorts P - Port Orleans Resort
D - Swan Resort Q - Vacation Club Resort
R - Dixie Landings Resort
Solid black lines = Roads Green = Other attractions
Dotted green lines = Monorail Yellow = Resorts
Red Logos = Theme Parks Flag = Golf Course
Grey = Parking Purple = Toll Plazas
Golf Course Codes
-------------------
1. Osprey Ridge Course 4. Palm Course
2. Eagle Pines Course 5. Disney Village Clubhouse
3. Magnolia Course & Golf Course
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XVI
** DISNEY FUN FACTS **
------------------
Here are some interesting and trivial facts about WDW to test
your and your friend's knowledge with!!
1. Built in 1917 the Golden Carousel in The Magic Kingdom
originally came from Olympic Park in Maplewood, NJ. The
carousel was refurbished, and all horses painted white.
(My mom rode this when she was little in the 1950's)
2. The Walt Disney World Railroad locomotives were originally used
in Mexico to haul sugar! They were completely refurbished and
the four locomotives were given the names: Lilly Belle, Roy
O. Disney, Walter E. Disney, and the Roger Broggie.
3. Cinderellas Castle is 180 feet high, and has a private
apartment in the castle that Walt designed so he could stay
overnight in the park. Unfortunately he never got to use it.
4. The Jungle Cruise attraction uses 100 gas-fired heaters to heat
up the air to keep the tropical plants growing. 25 million
BTU's kick in when the temperature drops below 36 degrees
Fahrenheit.
5. The Swiss Family Treehouse is artificial, with 42 foot roots,
800,000 vinyl leaves, and 600+ branches.
6. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad track is 2,780 feet long, is
on 2.5 acres of land, took 15 years of planning, 2 years of
construction, 650 tons of steel, and 16,000 gallons of paint.
When finished in 1981 it cost $17 million, or the entire cost
of Disneyland in 1955!! The fastest speed on the ride is 30
some mph.
7. The nautical flags that fly at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
attraction were once hung wrong! A navy officer pointed it
out when the park first opened, instead of reading "Leagues"
it read "seugael". The attraction's lagoon contains 11.5
million gallons of water!!
8. Space Mountain is 180+ feet tall, 300+ feet in diameter, has
4,508,500 cubic feet of space, occupies a 10 acre site, and is
composed of 72 pre-stressed concrete beams weighing 74 tons
each! The ride never exceeds 28mph, slower than Big Thunder
Mountain!
9. Mission to Mars was originally named Flight to the Moon. It
was changed in 1975 after the dream of landing men on the
moon had become a reality.
10. The mini-race cars on the Grand Prix Raceway cost over $6,000
each. The track is 2,260 feet long and the cars go 7mph max.
11. Spaceship Earth is 164 feet in diameter, 180 feet high, and
contains 2,200,000 cubic feet of space. The outside "skin"
of the geosphere is made up of 954 triangular panels, none of
equal size or shape. Spaceship Earth is NOT perfectly round,
so it is not a geodesic dome, the word geosphere was born.
12. The Living Seas tank is 27 feet deep, 200 feet in diameter,
and contains 5.7 million gallons of seawater. The acrylic
windows are 18 feet high, and 8 inches thick!
13. The Wonders of Life is enclosed in a 100,000 square foot
geodesic dome. The attraction cost $100 million!
14. In The Universe of Energy, the moving theater cars weigh
30,000 lbs when fully loaded with 96 passengers. However
they are guided by a wire on the floor that is only 1/8 inch
thick!!
15. There are more than 6,000 different food items available at
Walt Disney World!
16. Disney World uses 5.5 million pounds of potatoes each year
just to make french fries! That's enough julienned potatoes
to circle the world 2.5 times.
17. In 1990 22 tons of vegetables were grown in the Land
Pavilion's greenhouse.
18. There are 166 restaurants and snack spots from which to
choose from, and 35 varieties of cheese are served.
19. The chefs offer up 400 cases of fresh fruit daily.
20. Visitors order 2.1 million pounds of seafood each year and
over twice that in poultry.
21. Each year WDW serves enough hamburgers to cover every inch of
a four-hundred mile line.
22. The Caribbean Beach resort contains 2,112 rooms, making it the
sixth largest hotel complex in the United States!!
23. The creation of Walt Disney World became the largest private
construction project in the United States ever.
24. The Vacation Kingdom of the World was going to be called
Disney World, but it was Walt's brother Roy who insisted that
it be called WALT Disney World.
25. "By early 1992 hotels on Walt Disney World property will
provide more than 17,000 guest rooms and 580,000 square feet
of meeting space."
26. By opening day on October 1, 1971 there were 60,000 trees and
shrubs planted. Enough sod was used to cover 500 football
fields.
27. Walt Disney World has recently acquired new monorails.
Talking to the driver I found out that: The new monorails
began their daily runs in August of '91; and the monorails
are now all computerized with a speed restriction: 40mph.
Although, the driver of the monorail stated that on test runs
they have gone 90mph and could go faster!!
28. The lost and found department of WDW holds more than a
thousand hand tagged items lost by visitors. Some items that
were lost include: a wheelchair, a lamp, a Casio portable
organ, and fake ID's. A pair of false teeth and a glass eye
were never claimed!!
29. The Magic Kingdom itself is actually on the 2nd floor!!! A
complete maze of service tunnels is under the park!! The
tunnels contain the wardrobe and sanitation departments,
employee lounges and cafeterias, computer networks, and more!
30. Some people may think that Disneyland in California is just as
big as the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Wrong... Disneyland can
fit inside of the main parking lot for the Magic Kingdom, or
in the lagoon in EPCOT Center!
31. In 1991 28 MILLION people visited WDW as it ranked #1 in
attendance for theme parks across the U.S.!! Disneyland in
California ranked #2 with 11.6 million visitors.
32. Take a look at your tour guide for MGM. If you look at the
map of the park upside down you will notice that the
landscaping and buildings form the head of Mickey Mouse. This
is not just on the map as the park was built that way.
33. Did you know that Mickey Mouse is hidden somewhere in the
following attractions?? Body Wars, The World of Motion, Star
Tours, Horizons, The Great Movie Ride, Splash Mountain, Big
Thunder Mountain, Cinderella's Castle, Kitchen Kabaret,
Symbiosis, The Land Pavillion, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom and
more!! (But I'm not telling you where!)
34. Splash Mountain is one of the steepest and fastest log flumes
in the world: 5 story 47 degree drop with a top speed of
40mph.
More to come next time!!
If you know of some interesting information about
Walt Disney World send it to me!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XVII
** Quotations from Walt Disney World **
-----------------------------------
WALT DISNEY WORLD
is a tribute to the philosophy and life of
Walter Elias Disney
...and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty
of the entire Disney organization that made Walt
Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring
Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all that come
to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young
at heart of all ages can laugh and
play and learn together.
Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971
-Roy O. Disney
The above is what Roy O. Disney stated when he dedicated Walt
Disney World. The bronze plaque on which this is inscribed can
be found in Town Square on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
"To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your
land. Here age relives fond memories of the past - and here
youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.
Disneyland is dedicated... with the hope that it will be a
source of joy and inspiration to all the world."
- Walter Elias Disney
July 17, 1955
"Part of the Disney success is our ability to create a believable
world of dreams that appeals to all age groups."
- Walter Elias Disney
"Here in Florida, we have something special. There's enough land
to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine."
- Walter Elias Disney
"You can dream, create and build the most wonderful place in the
world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality."
- Walter Elias Disney
"If we can dream it, we can do it."
- Horizons ride in EPCOT Center
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XVIII
** SPECIAL THANKS TO **
-------------------
This section is where I can express my gratitude towards those
that have helped make this travel guide possible.
Walter Elias Disney - Walt demonstrated to the world that if you
put your mind to it you can create your dreams. He is a
direct inspiration to me.
My Parents and Grandparents - For taking me to Disney World six
times, without that I wouldn't have been able to write this
book.
My Friends - For their constant support in helping me make a dream
come true. (Yes Christy, this means you!!)
Adam Liss - He did a great job in finding all those errors I made
while typing for a zillion hours. Thank you for changing the
IFF file to GIF.
January Adams - Co-worker at my former place of employment. She
helped me proofread the entire document for grammatical and
other types of errors.
James Kelly - My Physics teacher back in High School who also
enjoys Disney World. I'd like to thank him for getting me
information on the new Little Mermaid Attraction, Splash
Mountain, and for giving me some suggestions.
Uncle Hank - (Not my uncle) He publishes a Shareware Review
newsletter, and in his January/February '92 issue he
summarized my work. Thank You for the first publicity of this
book and the continued support you give me!!!
Suzanne Thomas - Suzanne sent me a letter mentioning that the fact
that I was missing the 'Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista' in the
book. Thanks to her it is now included!!!
R.C. Edens - Mr. Edens suggested some improvements such as a table
of contents, index, and page numbers. He also suggested a
small version of the book to use while you are at the park.
Scott and Keith Mueller - Scott and Keith both composed a long
letter to me with some interesting information about WDW, some
suggestions, complements and many questions. I answered the
questions as best as I could guys!
Alan & Nanci Hughes - Thank you so much for sending an article
with a list of new WDW happenings and plans. Without it, the
"In the Future" section would not be what it is!
Richard Fehl, Jan Penovich, Neil Patterson, David Jodeit, and
everyone else who responded to me via E-mail - Thanks for you
suggestions, they are greatly appreciated!!
Rich & Carol Koster - Rich and Carol reviewed the "In the Future"
section of my book. Together they found some errors and gave
me some new information. Thank You!
Tom Tanida - Thanks for getting the most recent prices to me via
E-mail!
THE LIST IS GROWING!!
All you have to do to get your name in here is to write a letter
to me with some sort of new, trivial, or interesting information
about Disney World!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PART XIX
** RAVING REVIEWS **
----------------
"Compared to Birnbaums's book I would say that yours is more
concise." - Neil Patterson
"...the most useful piece of info was the business of left lines
vs. right lines. It was amazing how people always went to
the right..." - Jan Penovich
"...I expect they (kids) will find it easier to read than
Birnbaum's." - Neil Patterson
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XX
** REVISION INFORMATION **
AND COMING ATTRACTIONS
------------------------
Here is a brief explanation of what has changed in each
revision, and how to read the revision code.
93.07.12 93 is the year, 07 is the month and
12 is the number of revisions.
So 93.07.12 would read: July 1993, 12th revision.
The zipped file name takes a standard form:
WDW3-92.ZIP 3 is the month (April)
92 is the year (1992)
The size is the Un-zipped Professional Write file, not ASCII.
91.10.1 - Original document. Tons of problems: spelling, LF and
CR, mistyped data, absence of some data. IFF form Map
released with this version. What a mess, You practicly
couldn't read it without finding errors! Well all books
start somewhere I suppose! Size: 65k
91.12.2 - The entire document was checked for spelling by the
computer so if you find errors, don't blame me. The `In
the Future' section was extended to include new
information and Disney cartoon movies (Touchstone films
to follow). The entire document was fixed for CR and
LF problems. 'Special Thanks To' section added, along
with 'Revision Information', 'Contacting and Making
Reservations', 'Fun Facts', and 'Famous Quotations'.
General Cleanup. GIF form map released with this
version. Expansion of Pleasure Island information,
some bus info added. Full Bibliography added.
Boxes around sections added, along with solid lines.
Size: 88k
92.02.3 - New data on future items, 4th theme park information
added. New margins, more fun facts. Some Touchstone
movie information added. EPCOT Center World Showcase
Information expanded (well, not much). Grammatical
clean up. Released 6 days late. PC-Exec BBS number
added. Size: 93k
92.03.4 - Expanded the EPCOT Center World Showcase Information.
More people added to the Special Thanks to Section.
Little Mermaid attraction info added. EPCOT quote in
the introductions expanded. Some handicapped
information was added. General clean up and rewording.
Non-Florida Disney related info added. Part of the "To
the Reader" section reworded. Size: 102k
92.04.5 - Reservation info added. EPCOT Center World Showcase
information expanded. Two new fun facts added. General
clean up and rewording. "ORDER.TXT" file added to
zipped archive. Program file now available. Dixie
Landings Resort added to the resort section. Some
minor changes in the resort section. Section titles
and other lines centered. Size: 104k
92.05.6 - More fun facts added. Glossary/Acronym List added. To
the Reader, MGM, and Transportation section updated and
expanded. New information on Splash Mountain and the
Frontierland RR Station added. General rewording
throughout the entire book. New color-coded map.
Updated and expanded Part XV (Maps). Magic Kingdom
introduction somewhat reworked. Size: 114k
92.06.7 - A small amount of new information added. Rewording of
the attractions in the Magic Kingdom. Additions to the
Glossary and Acronym list. Bus and other
transportation routes updated. Helpful addresses added
to "Contacting WDW". Ride lengths added to almost
every attraction for all three parks. Minor
corrections. Sponsors added to EPCOT attractions
(Exxon, GE, etc.). More "In the Future" info added.
Quotation added. Size: 125k
92.07.8 - Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista added to the shopping
section. Shopping section expanded. Two names added
to the 'Special Thanks To:' section. Dining Section
expanded and updated. Admission prices added to the
Contacting WDW and Make Reservation section. Coming
attractions added to the Revision Information section.
Evaluation sheet included in the zipped file. Entire
document rechecked for spelling errors. Movies to be
released on video now included. General Cleanup, and
rewording. Size: 133k
92.08.9 - Some new acronyms added to list. More animated movies
added. New info for the 'In the Future' section.
Names added to the 'Special Thanks To:' section.
Season pass information now included. World Showcase
information expanded (Morocco, Japan, USA). My new
address for 1993 now included. 'Basic Tips' section
changed to 'Tips'. Insider's Tips included in the
'Tips' section. General cleanup. File added to zipped
archive called (BBS.TXT). BBS.TXT is a list of BBS's
supporting The Very Unoffficial Guide to Walt Disney
World. Size: 139k
92.09.10 - Network address added. More updated information in the
"In the Future" added. New movies and videos added to
the "In the Future Section". Italy in the World
Showcase section expanded. Massachusetts address
added. Some minor errors corrected. General clean
up. Released 1 week late (sorry!). Size: 143k
93.02.11 - Authors Notes section added. "In the Future" section
immensely expanded. Name added to the "Special Thanks
To" section. More "Fun Facts" and "Insider's Tips"
added. Special E-Mail Edition. Size: 149k
93.07.12 - More E-mail addresses included. New introduction.
Updated the following sections: "When Should We Go?"
"Resorts", "Transportation", "Magic Kingdom", "EPCOT
Center", "Disney MGM Studios" and many more. Current
admission prices added. "In the Future" section
greatly improved and updated. This revision was very
intense, on the outside you may not see many changes,
but many things were updated, reworded and cleaned up
for better readability. "Raving Reviews" section
added. New 640x400 resolution map included in the
zipped archive version. But the file (BBS.TXT)was
removed. Size: 158k
Coming Attractions
------------------
1. Phone numbers for all resorts, theme parks, and restaurants.
2. Complete list of restaurants.
3. Small quick reference version.
4. FTP distribution site.
5. E-Mail mailing list.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PART XXII
** Glossary/Acronym List **
-----------------------
AA - Audio Animatronics
Audio Animatronics - The Disney technique of using moving
mannequins controlled by a computer
Cast - Name for Disney employees.
CircleVision - Disney technique of presenting a movie on nine
screens that surround the audience (360 degrees). Take
note: CircleVision theaters have NO seats.
DL - Disneyland
EP - EPCOT Center
EPCOT - Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
EU - Euro Disneyland
Imagineers - Disney name for their engineers.
MGM - Refers to Disney-MGM Studios. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MK - Magic Kingdom
TTC - Ticket and Transportation Center
WDW - Walt Disney World.
------------------------------------------------------------------
** Final Words from the Author **
-----------------------------
I hope you found this information valuable in planning your
Walt Disney World vacation. I am not affiliated with WDW in any
way so I am not being paid to promote WDW here, but it truly is a
great place to be. Again any suggestions should be sent to one of
the following two addresses. Use the New Jersey address during
the summer, and use the Massachusetts address during the college
school year. This will insure that you letter will get to me
ASAP.
*** ALL LETTERS WILL BE RESPONDED TO ****
Todd D. McCartney Todd D. McCartney
18 Carroll Drive c/o Uncle Hank's BBS
Somerville, NJ 8 Hendrick Street
08876 Easthampton, MA
01027
There is also another way of getting a hold of me: If you
have access to Internet, or BitNet you can send me E-mail using
the following address: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
If you would like the latest version of this "book" and it is
not on your local BBS please print out the following file:
ORDER.TXT (the file is in the zipped archive). Instructions on
how to order are in this file. If you don't have this file please
write to me and I will send them to you free of charge. Remember
I will be updating this every month (hopefully), so there is
always something new!! The new version ALWAYS comes out on the
twentieth of the month. Also if you have any magazine or
newspaper clippings or any other information about Walt Disney
World please send it to me and it will be added to the guide. I
will also put your name in the file in a section called 'Special
Thanks To:'. Thank you very much and have a great vacation at
Walt Disney World.
M - I - C, See ya real soon!!
K - E - Y, Why? Because we like you!
M - O - U - S - E
Todd D. McCartney
------------------------------------------------------------------
** BIBLIOGRAPHY **
--------------
"Give credit where credit is due."
Birnbaum, Steve; Steve Birnbaum Brings You the Best of WDW.
1993 Edition, Hearst Professional Magazines, Inc.
Newsweek, Inc.; Disney World, 20 Years of Magic, a Yearlong
Birthday Party. Fall/Winter 1991, Newsweek, Inc.
Walt Disney Company; Walt Disney World. 1985, The Walt
Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; Disney Vacation Club Guide. 1991 The
Walt Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; Disney Village Marketplace and Pleasure
Island Directory. 1991 The Walt Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; Disney News. Fall 1991, The Walt
Disney Company.
Walt Disney Company; 1991 Annual Report. 1991 The Walt
Disney Company.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse, Audio Animatronics, and
Circle Vision are registered trademarks of the Walt Disney
Company. All resort names, ride names and other items in the
theme parks are also the property of The Walt Disney Company.
Some information such as ride length, and other statistical data
was taken from: Steve Birnbaum Brings You The Best of Walt Disney
World, 1993 Edition.
The Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Evaluation Sheet
Please take the time to fill out the following
questionaire seriously. The results will help me decide on
what needs improvement. Sent the completed questionaire to:
Todd McCartney
18 Carroll Drive
Somerville, NJ
08876
Thank you for your support.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Latest revision you read: 9__.___.___
(# found on page 1)
Your three favorite sections. Three sections you found
the most helpful.
1._________________________
1.__________________________
2._________________________
2.__________________________
3._________________________
3.__________________________
Please rate the following sections of the book on a 1 to 10
scale. (1=Poor, 10=Excellent)
Resort Info. ___ Water Parks ___
Contacting WDW ___ Basic Tips ___
Transportation ___ In the Future ___
Magic Kingdom ___ Fun Facts ___
EPCOT Center ___ Revision Info. ___
MGM Studios ___ Glossary/Acronym ___
Night Life ___ Readability ___
Dining ___ Grammar ___
Shopping ___ Overall Rating ___
Did you encounter any errors? (Please list if yes)
___________________________________________________________
What do you think needs improving? ________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Additional Comments:_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Ordering Information for
"The Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"
by Todd D. McCartney
The Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is now available
through the mail! The latest text file version can always be found on
Uncle Hank's BBS (See below for number). If you don't have a modem
the latest text file version is available through the mail. It's as
easy as filling out the following form and sending it along with a
check, money order made out to Todd McCartney.
Thank You for your support.
If you have a modem, call Uncle Hank's BBS for the latest
revisions as well as back issues:
Uncle Hank's BBS
"Home of the Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World"
Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA.
300/1200/2400/9600/v.42bis/MNP1-5
Call (413)536-1233
Leave E-mail to Todd McCartney
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PLEASE PRINT!
NAME___________________________________
ADDRESS________________________________
CITY_______________________STATE_______
ZIP/POSTAL CODE________________________
Quantity ITEM EACH TOTAL
-------------------------------------------------------------
| | Latest TEXT file version on a 360k | $1.00 | |
| | 5 1/4" disk. (Includes map GIF file) | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| | Latest TEXT file version printed | $3.00 | |
| | on a laser printer. | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
SUB-TOTAL | |
|-------|
(ALL ORDERS) Shipping & Handling add: | $1.00 |
|-------|
2-Day Priority Mail add $2.90 | |
|-------|
GRAND TOTAL | |
|-------|
Make checks and money orders payable to: Todd McCartney
Send all orders to: Todd McCartney
18 Carroll Drive
Somerville, NJ
08876
|