The Disney Wiki is a wiki that began on May 8, 2005. Its goal is to create a database of all things Disney: characters, theme parks, attractions, people, companies, websites (official and fan-created), and more.
The Disney Wiki was inspired by Wikipedia and various pre-existing Wikimedia sites, but can expand on Disney information in greater detail and with more freedom than Wikipedia.
As a fan-created encyclopedia, Disney Wiki is not intended to be an official primary source, nor is it a replacement for any other source. Rather, it serves as a fan effort to summarize all aspects of the Disney universe or anything Disney-owned in the absolute best way possible, while pointing the reader to the respective official sources.
The Disney Wiki is currently in no way affiliated with any part of The Walt Disney Company and is intended to be an absolute source of information and community for Disney fans.
Contents[show]
What Disney Wiki covers
Disney Wiki covers information, as well as acquired information on, Disney and Disney-owned characters, films, TV shows, songs, places, video games, objects and etc.
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History
The Disney Wiki was founded on May 8, 2005 by Evanwohrman. It was one of the first wikis created in Wikia's then one year history. It is one of the most popular, most used wikis currently in existence.
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Themes
On special occasions, the Disney Wiki will change its theme for one month to commemorate an upcoming release of a Disney film, show, event, etc. (For example, when Frozen was about to be released theatrically in theaters, the theme was changed to match the colors of the film, and only include characters related to the film itself) And if a holiday was approaching, the theme would change to reflect that also.
Milestones and Press Coverages
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The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is an American diversified[2]:1 multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. It is the world's second largest broadcasting and cable company in terms of revenue, after Comcast.[3] Disney was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, and established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and theme parks. The company also operated under the names The Walt Disney Studio, then Walt Disney Productions. Taking on its current name in 1986, it expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theater, radio, music, publishing, and online media. In addition, Disney has since created corporate divisions in order to market more mature content than is typically associated with its flagship family-oriented brands. The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Studios, which is today one of the largest and best-known studios in American cinema. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, A+E Networks, and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, music, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses 14 theme parks around the world. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6, 1991. An early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, Mickey Mouse, is a primary symbol of The Walt Disney Company.
1923–1928: The silent era
In early 1923, Kansas City, Missouri, animator Walt Disney created a short film entitled Alice's Wonderland, which featured child actress Virginia Davis interacting with animated characters. After the bankruptcy in 1923 of his previous firm, Laugh-O-Gram Films,[ChWDC 1] Disney moved to Hollywood to join his brother, Roy O. Disney. Film distributor Margaret J. Winkler of M.J. Winkler Productions contacted Disney with plans to distribute a whole series of Alice Comedies purchased for $1,500 per reel with Disney as a production partner. Walt and Roy Disney formed Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio that same year. More animated films followed after Alice.[4] In January 1926, with the completion of the Disney studio on Hyperion Street, the Disney Brothers Studio's name was changed to the Walt Disney Studio.[ChWDC 2]
After the demise of the Alice comedies, Disney developed an all-cartoon series starring his first original character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit,[4] which was distributed by Winkler Pictures through Universal Pictures.[ChWDC 2] The distributor owned Oswald, so Disney only made a few hundred dollars.[4] Disney completed 26 Oswald shorts before losing the contract in February 1928, due to a legal loophole, when Winkler's husband Charles Mintz took over their distribution company. After failing to take over the Disney Studio, Mintz hired away four of Disney's primary animators (the exception being Ub Iwerks) to start his own animation studio, Snappy Comedies.
1928–1934: Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies
Original poster for Flowers and Trees (1932)
In 1928, to recover from the loss of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Disney came up with the idea of a mouse character named Mortimer while on a train headed to California, drawing up a few simple drawings. The mouse was later renamed Mickey Mouse (Disney's wife, Lillian, disliked the sound of 'Mortimer Mouse') and starred in several Disney produced films. Ub Iwerks refined Disney's initial design of Mickey Mouse.[4] Disney's first sound film Steamboat Willie, a cartoon starring Mickey, was released on November 18, 1928[ChWDC 3] through Pat Powers' distribution company.[4] It was the first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon released, but the third to be created, behind Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho.[ChWDC 3] Steamboat Willie was an immediate smash hit, and its initial success was attributed not just to Mickey's appeal as a character, but to the fact that it was the first cartoon to feature synchronized sound.[4] Disney used Pat Powers' Cinephone system, created by Powers using Lee De Forest's Phonofilm system.[ChWDC 3] Steamboat Willie premiered at B. S. Moss's Colony Theater in New York City, now The Broadway Theatre.[5] Disney's Plane Crazy and The Galloping Gaucho were then retrofitted with synchronized sound tracks and re-released successfully in 1929.[ChWDC 3]
Disney continued to produce cartoons with Mickey Mouse and other characters,[4] and began the Silly Symphonies series with Columbia Pictures signing on as Symphonies distributor in August 1929. In September 1929, theater manager Harry Woodin requested permission to start a Mickey Mouse Club which Walt approved. In November, test comics strips were sent to King Features, who requested additional samples to show to the publisher, William Randolph Hearst. On December 16, the Walt Disney Studios partnership was reorganized as a corporation with the name of Walt Disney Productions, Limited with a merchandising division, Walt Disney Enterprises, and two subsidiaries, Disney Film Recording Company, Limited and Liled Realty and Investment Company for real estate holdings. Walt and his wife held 60% (6,000 shares) and Roy owned 40% of WD Productions. On December 30, King Features signed its first newspaper, New York Mirror, to publish the Mickey Mouse comic strip with Walt's permission.[ChWDC 4]
In 1932, Disney signed an exclusive contract with Technicolor (through the end of 1935) to produce cartoons in color, beginning with Flowers and Trees (1932). Disney released cartoons through Powers' Celebrity Pictures (1928–1930), Columbia Pictures (1930–1932), and United Artists (1932–1937).[6] The popularity of the Mickey Mouse series allowed Disney to plan for his first feature-length animation.[4]
The feature film Walt Before Mickey based on the book by Diane Disney Miller featured these moments in the studio's history.[7]
1934–1945: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and World War II
Deciding to push the boundaries of animation even further, Disney began production of his first feature-length animated film in 1934. Taking three years to complete, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered in December 1937 and became highest-grossing film of that time by 1939.[8] Snow White was released through RKO Radio Pictures, which had assumed distribution of Disney's product in July 1937,[ChWDC 5] after United Artists attempted to attain future television rights to the Disney shorts.[9]
Using the profits from Snow White, Disney financed the construction of a new 51-acre (210,000 m2) studio complex in Burbank, California. The new Walt Disney Studios, in which the company is headquartered to this day, was completed and open for business by the end of 1939.[ChWDC 6] The following year on April 2, Walt Disney Productions had its initial public offering.[ChWDC 7]
The studio continued releasing animated shorts and features, such as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), and Bambi (1942).[4] After World War II began, box-office profits declined. When the United States entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of Disney's animators were drafted into the armed forces. The U.S. and Canadian governments commissioned the studio to produce training and propaganda films. By 1942 90% of its 550 employees were working on war-related films.[10] Films such as the feature Victory Through Air Power and the short Education for Death (both 1943) were meant to increase public support for the war effort. Even the studio's characters joined the effort, as Donald Duck appeared in a number of comical propaganda shorts, including the Academy Award-winning Der Fuehrer's Face (1943).
1946–1954: Post-war and television
The original Animation Building at the Walt Disney Studios
With limited staff and little operating capital during and after the war, Disney's feature films during much of the 1940s were "package films," or collections of shorts, such as The Three Caballeros (1944) and Melody Time (1948), which performed poorly at the box-office. At the same time, the studio began producing live-action films and documentaries. Song of the South (1946) and So Dear to My Heart (1948) featured animated segments, while the True-Life Adventures series, which included such films as Seal Island (1948) and The Vanishing Prairie (1954), were also popular. Eight of the films in the series won Academy Awards.[11]
The release of Cinderella in 1950 proved that feature-length animation could still succeed in the marketplace. Other releases of the period included Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Peter Pan (1953), both in production before the war began, and Disney's first all-live action feature, Treasure Island (1950). Other early all-live-action Disney films included The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), The Sword and the Rose (1953), and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). Disney ended its distribution contract with RKO in 1953, forming its own distribution arm, Buena Vista Distribution.[12]
In December 1950, Walt Disney Productions and The Coca-Cola Company teamed up for Disney's first venture into television, the NBC television network special An Hour in Wonderland. In October 1954, the ABC network launched Disney's first regular television series, Disneyland, which would go on to become one of the longest-running primetime series in history. Disneyland allowed Disney a platform to introduce new projects and broadcast older ones, and ABC became Disney's partner in the financing and development of Disney's next venture, located in the middle of an orange grove near Anaheim, California. It was the first phase of a long corporate relationship which, although no one could have anticipated it at the time, would culminate four decades later in the Disney company's acquisition of the ABC network, its owned and operated stations, and its numerous cable and publishing ventures.[citation needed]
1955–1965: Disneyland
Disneyland opens, July 1955.
In 1954, Walt Disney used his Disneyland series to unveil what would become Disneyland, an idea conceived out of a desire for a place where parents and children could both have fun at the same time. On July 18, 1955, Walt Disney opened Disneyland to the general public. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland was previewed with a live television broadcast hosted by Art Linkletter and Ronald Reagan. After a shaky start, Disneyland continued to grow and attract visitors from across the country and around the world. A major expansion in 1959 included the addition of America's first monorail system.
For the 1964 New York World's Fair, Disney prepared four separate attractions for various sponsors, each of which would find its way to Disneyland in one form or another. During this time, Walt Disney was also secretly scouting out new sites for a second Disney theme park. In November 1965, "Disney World" was announced, with plans for theme parks, hotels, and even a model city on thousands of acres of land purchased outside of Orlando, Florida.
Disney continued to focus its talents on television throughout the 1950s. Its weekday afternoon children's television program The Mickey Mouse Club, featuring its roster of young "Mouseketeers", premiered in 1955 to great success, as did the Davy Crockett miniseries, starring Fess Parker and broadcast on the Disneyland anthology show.[4] Two years later, the Zorro series would prove just as popular, running for two seasons on ABC.[13] Despite such success, Walt Disney Productions invested little into television ventures in the 1960s,[citation needed] with the exception of the long-running anthology series, later known as The Wonderful World of Disney.[4]
Disney's film studios stayed busy as well. Averaging five or six releases per year during this period. While the production of shorts slowed significantly during the 1950s and 1960s, the studio released a number of popular animated features, like Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959) and One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), which introduced a new xerography process to transfer the drawings to animation cels.[14] Disney's live-action releases were spread across a number of genres, including historical fiction (Johnny Tremain, 1957), adaptations of children's books (Pollyanna, 1960) and modern-day comedies (The Shaggy Dog, 1959). Disney's most successful film of the 1960s was a live action/animated musical adaptation of Mary Poppins, which was one of the all-time highest grossing movies[4] and received five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews and Best Song for Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman for "Chim Chim Cher-ee" .[15]
The theme park design and architectural group became so integral to the Disney studio's operations that the studio bought it on February 5, 1965, along with the WED Enterprises name.[16][17][18][19]
1966–1971: The deaths of Walt and Roy Disney and the opening of Walt Disney World
On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney died of complications relating to lung cancer,[4] and Roy Disney took over as chairman, CEO, and president of the company. One of his first acts was to rename Disney World as "Walt Disney World" in honor of his brother and his vision.[20]
In 1967, the last two films Walt actively supervised were released, the animated feature The Jungle Book[4] and the musical The Happiest Millionaire.[21] The studio released a number of comedies in the late 1960s, including The Love Bug (1969's highest grossing film)[4] and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969), which starred another young Disney discovery, Kurt Russell. The 1970s opened with the release of Disney's first "post-Walt" animated feature, The Aristocats, followed by a return to fantasy musicals in 1971's Bedknobs and Broomsticks.[4] Blackbeard's Ghost was another successful film during this period.[4]
On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World opened to the public, with Roy Disney dedicating the facility in person later that month. On December 20, 1971, Roy Disney died of a stroke. He left the company under control of Donn Tatum, Card Walker, and Walt's son-in-law Ron Miller, each trained by Walt and Roy.
1972–1984: Theatrical malaise and new leadership
While Walt Disney Productions continued releasing family-friendly films throughout the 1970s, such as Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)[4] and Freaky Friday (1976), the films did not fare as well at the box office as earlier material. However, the animation studio saw success with Robin Hood (1973), The Rescuers (1977), and The Fox and the Hound (1981).
As head of the studio, Miller attempted to make films to drive the profitable teenage market who generally passed on seeing Disney movies.[22] Inspired by the popularity of Star Wars, the Disney studio produced the science-fiction adventure The Black Hole in 1979 that cost $20 million to make, but was lost in Star Wars' wake.[4] The Black Hole was the first Disney production to carry a PG rating in the United States.[22][N 1] Disney dabbled in the horror genre with The Watcher in the Woods, and financed the boldly innovative Tron; both films were released to minimal success.[4]
Disney also hired outside producers for film projects, which had never been done before in the studio's history.[22] In 1979, Disney entered a joint venture with Paramount Pictures on the production of the 1980 film adaptation of Popeye and Dragonslayer (1981); the first time Disney collaborated with another studio. Paramount distributed Disney films in Canada at the time, and it was hoped that Disney's marketing prestige would help sell the two films.[22]
Finally, in 1982, the Disney family sold the naming rights and rail-based attractions to the Disney film studio for 818,461 shares of Disney stock then worth $42.6 million none of which went to Retlaw. Also, Roy E. Disney objected to the overvalued purchase price of the naming right and voted against the purchase as a Disney board director.[23] The 1983 release of Mickey's Christmas Carol began a string of successful movies, starting with Never Cry Wolf and the Ray Bradbury adaptation Something Wicked This Way Comes.[4] The Walt Productions film division was incorporated on April 1, 1983 as Walt Disney Pictures.[24] In 1984, Disney CEO Ron Miller created Touchstone Films as a brand for Disney to release more major release motion pictures. Touchstone's first release was the comedy Splash (1984), which was a box office success.[25]
With The Wonderful World of Disney remaining a prime-time staple, Disney returned to television in the 1970s with syndicated programing such as the anthology series The Mouse Factory and a brief revival of the Mickey Mouse Club. In 1980, Disney launched Walt Disney Home Video to take advantage of the newly emerging videocassette market. On April 18, 1983, The Disney Channel debuted as a subscription-level channel on cable systems nationwide, featuring its large library of classic films and TV series, along with original programming and family-friendly third-party offerings.
Walt Disney World received much of the company's attention through the 1970s and into the 1980s. In 1978, Disney executives announced plans for the second Walt Disney World theme park, EPCOT Center, which would open in October 1982. Inspired by Walt Disney's dream of a futuristic model city, EPCOT Center was built as a "permanent World's Fair", complete with exhibits sponsored by major American corporations, as well as pavilions based on the cultures of other nations. In Japan, the Oriental Land Company partnered with Walt Disney Productions to build the first Disney theme park outside of the United States, Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in April 1983.
Despite the success of the Disney Channel and its new theme park creations, Walt Disney Productions was financially vulnerable. Its film library was valuable, but offered few current successes, and its leadership team was unable to keep up with other studios, particularly the works of Don Bluth, who defected from Disney in 1979.
By the early 1980s, the parks were generating 70% of Disney's income.[4]
In 1984, financier Saul Steinberg's Reliance Group Holdings launched a hostile takeover bid for Walt Disney Productions,[4] with the intent of selling off some of its operations.[26] Disney bought out Reliance's 11.1% stake in the company. However, another shareholder filed suit claiming the deal devaluated Disney's stock and for Disney management to retain their positions. The shareholder lawsuit was settled in 1989 for a total of $45 million from Disney and Reliance.[4]
1984–2005: The Eisner era and the Save Disney campaign
A view of downtown Celebration, Florida: the city was planned by The Walt Disney Company
See also Timeline of The Walt Disney Company: 1984-2004.
With the Sid Bass family purchase of 18.7 percent of Disney, Bass and the board brought in Michael Eisner from Paramount Pictures as CEO and Frank Wells from Warner Bros. as president. Eisner emphasized Touchstone Films with Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1985) to start leading to increased output with Ruthless People (1986), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Pretty Woman (1990) and additional hits. Eisner used expanding cable and home video markets to sign deals using Disney shows and films with a long-term deal with Showtime Networks for Disney/Touchstone releases through 1996 and entering television with syndication and distribution for TV series as The Golden Girls and Home Improvement. Disney began limited releases of its previous films on video tapes in the late 1980s. Eisner's Disney purchased KHJ, an independent Los Angeles TV station.[4]
Organized in 1985, Silver Screen Partners II, LP financed films for Disney with $193 million. In January 1987, Silver Screen III began financing movies for Disney with $300 million raised, the largest amount raised for a film financing limited partnership by E.F. Hutton.[27] Silver Screen IV was also set up to finance Disney's studios.[28]
Beginning with Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1988, Disney's flagship animation studio enjoyed a series of commercial and critical successes with such films as The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992) and The Lion King (1994). In addition, the company successfully entered the field of television animation with a number of lavishly budgeted and acclaimed series such as Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Duck Tales, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck and Gargoyles.[citation needed] Disney moved to first place in box office receipts by 1988 and had increased revenues by 20% every year.[4]
In 1989, Disney signed an agreement-in-principle to acquire The Jim Henson Company (then known as Henson Associates) from its founder, Muppet creator Jim Henson. The deal included Henson's programming library and Muppet characters (excluding the Muppets created for Sesame Street), as well as Jim Henson's personal creative services. However, in May 1990, before the deal was completed, Jim Henson passed away, and the two companies broke off merger negotiations the following December.[29]
Named the "Disney Decade" by the company, the executive talent attempted to move the company to new heights in the 1990s with huge changes and accomplishments.[4] In September 1990, The Disney Company arranged for financing up to $200 million by a unit of Nomura Securities for Interscope films made for Disney. On October 23, Disney formed Touchwood Pacific Partners I which would supplant the Silver Screen Partnership series as their movie studios' primary source of funding.[28]
In 1991, hotels, home video distribution, and Disney merchandising became 28 percent of total company revenues with international revenues contributed 22 percent of revenues. The company committed its studios in the first quarter of 1991 to produce 25 films in 1992. However, 1991 saw net income drop by 23% and had no growth for the year, but saw the release of Beauty and the Beast, winner of 2 Academy Awards and top grossing film in the genre. Disney next moved into publishing with Hyperion Books and adult music with Hollywood Records while Disney Imagineering was laying off 400 employees.[4]
Disney also broadened its adult offerings in film when then Disney Studio Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg acquired Miramax Films in 1993. That same year Disney created the NHL team the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, named after the 1992 hit film of the same name. Disney purchased a minority stake in the Anaheim Angels baseball team around the same time.[4]
Wells died in a helicopter crash in 1994.[4] Shortly thereafter, Katzenberg resigned and formed DreamWorks SKG because Eisner would not appoint Katzenberg to Wells' now-available post (Katzenberg had also sued over the terms of his contract).[4] Instead, Eisner recruited his friend Michael Ovitz, one of the founders of the Creative Artists Agency, to be President, with minimal involvement from Disney's board of directors (which at the time included Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier, the CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation Stephen Bollenbach, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, Yale dean Robert A. M. Stern, and Eisner's predecessors Raymond Watson and Card Walker). Ovitz lasted only 14 months and left Disney in December 1996 via a "no fault termination" with a severance package of $38 million in cash and 3 million stock options worth roughly $100 million at the time of Ovitz's departure. The Ovitz episode engendered a long running derivative suit, which finally concluded in June 2006, almost 10 years later. Chancellor William B. Chandler, III of the Delaware Court of Chancery, despite describing Eisner's behavior as falling "far short of what shareholders expect and demand from those entrusted with a fiduciary position..." found in favor of Eisner and the rest of the Disney board because they hadn't violated the letter of the law (namely, the duty of care owed by a corporation's officers and board to its shareholders).[30]
Eisner attempted in 1994 to purchase NBC from GE, but the deal failed due to GE wanting to keep 51% ownership of the network. Disney acquired many other media sources during the decade, including a merger with Capital Cities/ABC in 1995 which brought broadcast network ABC and its assets, including the A&E Television Networks and ESPN networks, into the Disney fold.[4] Eisner felt that the purchase of ABC was an important investment to keep Disney surviving and allowing it to compete with international multimedia conglomerates.[31]
Disney lost a $10.4 million lawsuit in September 1997 to Marsu B.V. over Disney's failure to produce as contracted 13 half-hour Marsupilami cartoon shows. Instead Disney felt other internal "hot properties" deserved the company's attention.[32]
Disney took control of the Anaheim Angels in 1996, and purchased a majority stake in the team in 1998. That same year, Disney began a move into the internet field with the purchase of Starwave and 43 percent of Infoseek. In 1999, Disney purchased the remaining shares of Infoseek and launch the Go Network portal in January. Disney also launched its cruise line with the christening of Disney Magic and a sister ship, Disney Wonder.[4]
As the Katzenberg case dragged on as his contract included a portion of the film revenue from ancillary markets forever. Katzenberg had offered $100 to settle the case but Eisner felt the original claim amount of about half a billion too much, but then the ancillary market clause was found. Disney lawyers tried to indicate a decline situation which reveal the some of the problems in the company. ABC had declining rating and increasing costs while the film segment had two film failures. While neither party revealed the settlement amount, it is estimated at $200 million.[4]
Eisner's controlling style inhibited efficiency and progress according to some critics, while other industry experts indicated that "age compression" theory led to a decline in the company's target market due to youth copying teenage behavior earlier.[4]
2000 brought an increase in revenue of 9% and net income of 39% with ABC and ESPN leading the way and Parks and Resorts marking its sixth consecutive year of growth. However the September 11 attacks led to a complete halt of vacation travel and led to a recession. The recession led to a decrease in ABC revenue. Plus, Eisner had the company make an expensive purchase of Fox Family Worldwide. 2001 was a year of cost cutting laying off 4,000 employees, Disney parks operations decreased, slashing annual live-action film investment, and minimizing Internet operations. While 2002 revenue had a small decrease from 2001 with the cost cutting, net income rose to $1.2 billion with two creative film releases. In 2003, the Studio became the first studio to record over $3 billion in worldwide box office receipts.[4]
Eisner did not want the board to renominate Roy E. Disney, the son of Disney co-founder Roy O. Disney, as a board director citing his age of 72 as a required retirement age. Stanley Gold responded by resigning from the board and requesting the other board members oust Eisner.[4] In 2003, Disney resigned from his positions as the company's vice chairman and chairman of Walt Disney Feature Animation,[ChWDC 8] accusing Eisner of micromanagement, flops with the ABC television network, timidity in the theme park business, turning the Walt Disney Company into a "rapacious, soul-less" company, and refusing to establish a clear succession plan, as well as a string of box-office movie flops starting in the year 2000.
On May 15, 2003, Disney sold their stake in the Anaheim Angels baseball team to Arte Moreno. Disney purchased the rights to The Muppets and the Bear in the Big Blue House franchises from The Jim Henson Company on February 17, 2004.[33] The two brands were placed under control of the Muppets Holding Company, LLC, a unit of Disney Consumer Products.[34]
In 2004, Pixar Animation Studios began looking for another distributor after its 12-year contract with Disney ended, due to its strained relationship over issues of control and money with Eisner. Also that year, Comcast Corporation made an unsolicited $54 billion bid to acquire Disney. A couple of high budget movies flopped at the box office. With these difficulties and with some board directors dissatisfied, Eisner ceded the board chairmanship.[4]
On March 3, 2004, at Disney's annual shareholders' meeting, a surprising and unprecedented 45% of Disney's shareholders, predominantly rallied by former board members Roy Disney and Stanley Gold, withheld their proxies to re-elect Eisner to the board. Disney's board then gave the chairmanship position to Mitchell. However, the board did not immediately remove Eisner as chief executive.[ChWDC 9]
In 2005, Disney sold the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim hockey team to Henry and Susan Samueli.[4]
On March 13, 2005, Robert Iger was announced as Eisner successor as CEO. On September 30, Eisner resigned both as an executive and as a member of the board of directors.[ChWDC 10]
2005–present: The Iger era
Team Disney Burbank, which houses the offices of Disney's CEO and several other senior corporate officials
On July 8, 2005, Walt Disney's nephew, Roy E. Disney returned to The Walt Disney Company as a consultant and with the new title of Non Voting Director, Emeritus. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts celebrated the 50th anniversary of Disneyland Park on July 17, and opened Hong Kong Disneyland on September 12. Walt Disney Feature Animation released Chicken Little, the company's first film using 3-D animation. On October 1, Bob Iger replaced Michael Eisner as CEO. Miramax co-founders Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein also departed the company to form their own studio. On July 25, 2005, Disney announced that it was closing DisneyToon Studios Australia in October 2006, after 17 years of existence.[35]
In 2006, Disney acquired Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Disney’s pre-Mickey silent animation star.[36] Aware that Disney's relationship with Pixar was wearing thin, President and CEO Robert Iger began negotiations with leadership of Pixar Animation Studios, Steve Jobs and Ed Catmull, regarding possible merger. On January 23, 2006, it was announced that Disney would purchase Pixar in an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion. The deal was finalized on May 5; and among noteworthy results was the transition of Pixar's CEO and 50.1% shareholder, Steve Jobs, becoming Disney's largest individual shareholder at 7% and a member of Disney's Board of Directors.[37][38] Ed Catmull took over as President of Pixar Animation Studios. Former Executive Vice-President of Pixar, John Lasseter, became Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, its division DisneyToon Studios, and Pixar Animation Studios, as well assuming the role of Principal Creative Advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering.[38]
In April 2007, the Muppets Holding Company, LLC was renamed The Muppets Studio and placed under new leadership in an effort by Iger to re-brand the division. The re-branding was completed in September 2008, when control of The Muppets Studio was transferred from Disney Consumer Products to the Walt Disney Studios.[33]
After a long time working in the company as a senior executive and large shareholder, Director Emeritus Roy E. Disney died from stomach cancer on December 16, 2009. At the time of his death, he owned roughly 1% of all of Disney which amounted to 16 million shares. He is seen to be the last member of the Disney family to be actively involved in the running of the company and working in the company altogether.[citation needed]
On August 31, 2009, Disney announced a deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4.24 billion.[39] The deal was finalized on December 31, 2009 in which Disney acquired full ownership on the company.[40] Disney has stated that their acquisition of Marvel Entertainment will not affect Marvel's products, neither will the nature of any Marvel characters be transformed.[41]
In October 2009, Disney Channel president Rich Ross, hired by Iger, replaced Dick Cook as chairman of the company and, in November, began restructuring the company to focus more on family friendly products. Later in January 2010, Disney decided to shut down Miramax after downsizing Touchstone, but one month later, they instead began selling the Miramax brand and its 700-title film library to Filmyard Holdings. On March 12, ImageMovers Digital, Robert Zemeckis's company which Disney had bought in 2007, was shut down. In April 2010, Lyric Street, Disney's country music label in Nashville, was shut down. In May 2010, the company sold the Power Rangers brand, as well as its 700-episode library, back to Haim Saban. In June, the company canceled Jerry Bruckheimer's film project Killing Rommel.[42] In January 2011, Disney Interactive Studios was downsized.[43] In November, two ABC stations were sold.[44] With the release of Tangled in 2010, Ed Catmull said that the "princess" genre of films was taking a hiatus until "someone has a fresh take on it ... but we don't have any other musicals or fairytales lined up."[45] He explained that they were looking to get away from the princess era due to the changes in audience composition and preference.[citation needed] However in the Facebook page, Ed Catmull stated that this was just a rumor.[46]
In April 2011, Disney broke ground on Shanghai Disney Resort. Costing $4.4 billion, the resort is slated to open in 2015.[47] Later, in August 2011, Bob Iger stated on a conference call that after the success of the Pixar and Marvel purchases, he and the Walt Disney Company are looking to "buy either new characters or businesses that are capable of creating great characters and great stories."[48] Later, in early February 2012, Disney completed its acquisition of UTV Software Communications, expanding their market further into India and Asia.[49]
On October 30, 2012, Disney announced plans to acquire Lucasfilm, along with plans to produce a seventh instalment in its Star Wars franchise for 2015.[50] On December 4, 2012, the Disney-Lucasfilm merger was approved by the Federal Trade Commission, allowing the acquisition to be finalized without dealing with antitrust problems.[51] On December 21, 2012, the deal was completed with the acquisition value amounting to approximately $4.06 billion, and thus Lucasfilm became a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney (which coincidentally reunited Lucasfilm under the same corporate umbrella with its former spin-off and new sibling, Pixar).[52]
On May 29, 2013, Disney set release dates for eight currently untitled animated films through 2018, including four from Disney Animation and four from Pixar Animation.[53]
On March 24, 2014, Disney bought Maker Studios, a YouTube company generating billions of views each year, for over $500 million in order to advertise to viewers in the crucial teenage/young adult demographics.[54]
On May 9, 2014, Disney announced they have reached an agreement with Japan's TV Asahi Corporation to air an English dub of the Doraemon anime series on Disney XD.[55]
In July 2014, The Walt Disney Company announced 11 startups that would begin in the company’s accelerator program.[56]
In August 2014, The Walt Disney Company filed three patents for using drones. Patents included using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to lift marionettes in the air, raise mesh screens for floating video projections, and equipping drones with lights to make them part of a new kind of light show.[57]
On February 5, 2015, it was announced that Tom Staggs had been promoted to COO.[58]
Company divisions and subsidiaries
Main article: List of assets owned by Disney
The Walt Disney Company operates through five primary business units, which it calls "business segments": Studio Entertainment, with the primary business unit The Walt Disney Studios, which includes the company's film, recording label, and theatrical divisions; Parks and Resorts, featuring the company's theme parks, cruise line, and other travel-related assets; Disney Consumer Products, which produces toys, clothing, and other merchandising based upon Disney-owned properties; Media Networks, which includes the company's television properties; and Disney Interactive, which includes Disney's Internet, mobile, social media, virtual worlds, and computer games operations.[59] The first four segments are headed by chairmen, while Disney Interactive is currently headed by a president. Marvel Entertainment is also a direct CEO reporting business, while its financial results are primarily divided between the Studio Entertainment and Consumer Products segments.[citation needed] While Maker Studios is split between Studio Entertainment and Media Networks segments.[60]
Its main entertainment holdings include Walt Disney Studios, Disney Music Group, Disney Theatrical Group, Disney-ABC Television Group, Radio Disney, ESPN Inc., Disney Interactive Media Group, Disney Consumer Products, Disney India Ltd., The Muppets Studio, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment, UTV Software Communications, Lucasfilm and Maker Studios.
Its resorts and diversified related holdings include Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Euro Disney S.C.A., Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line.
Disney Media Networks
Disney Media Networks is a business segment and primary unit of The Walt Disney Company that contains the company's various television networks, cable channels, associated production and distribution companies and owned and operated television stations. Media Networks also manages Disney's interest in its joint venture with Hearst Corporation, A+E Networks and ESPN Inc.. Unlike the four other segments, it is the only one with two leaders or "co-chairs": the presidents of ESPN and Disney-ABC Television Group.[61] Thus, Disney has a total of eight business unit leaders who report to the CEO and COO.
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World banner.jpg
DistrictsUnderstandGet inGet aroundSeeDoBuyEatSleepStay safe
Walt Disney World is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — have a look at each of them.
At the Walt Disney World Resort [1], you can explore human innovation and cooperation; enjoy rides both thrilling and enchanting; relax and recuperate on the beach or the golf course; and discover an entire resort where children and adults can have fun—together.
Walt Disney World, located in Bay Lake, Florida (mailing address is Lake Buena Vista, Florida), near Orlando, Florida, is the flagship of Disney's worldwide theme park empire. It is, by far, the most popular theme park resort in the world. Some visitors describe it as a place of magic, wonder, and fantasy; others speak of fun, excitement, and relaxation; and still others complain of crowds, artifice, and unrelenting tackiness. As with most things, the essence of Walt Disney World lies near the intersection of those three views.
The centerpieces of Walt Disney World are the four theme parks: The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney World also has two of the world's three most popular water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, both heavily themed. Two shopping and entertainment districts, Downtown Disney and Disney's Boardwalk, provide extensive shopping, dining, and entertainment options. If none of that strikes your fancy, check out some of the lesser-known activities: golf, tennis, boating, race car driving, spas and health clubs, backstage tours, sporting events, character dining, and much more.
Simply put, if you can't find something fun to do at Walt Disney World, you just aren't trying hard enough.
Districts[edit]
Walt Disney World can be divided into five distinct areas—one for each of the four theme parks, plus Downtown Disney. The various resort hotels, and the attractions and restaurants found within, are grouped with the nearest park.
The Magic Kingdom — Based on the original Disneyland in California, this is the oldest and most popular park of the complex; in fact, with over 17 million visitors annually, it's the most-visited single theme park in the world. This is the park people think of first when they think of Walt Disney World, a place where adventure meets fantasy and history meets the future. The Magic Kingdom has the most kid-friendly attractions and most of the classic rides beloved by kids-at-heart.
Epcot — A sort of "permanent World's Fair", Epcot is dedicated to both international culture and technological innovation. World Showcase takes you on a trip around the world as you visit themed pavilions filled with the art, architecture, people, and products of eleven different countries. Future World explores human achievements in pavilions dedicated to communication, imagination, conservation, and more. Not far from Epcot is Disney's Boardwalk, a collection of restaurants, gift shops, and nightlife spots themed as a 1920's Eastern Seaboard boardwalk.
Disney's Hollywood Studios — This park represents the "Hollywood that never was," with attractions themed around movies and television. You'll find a variety of live shows and attractions based on Disney, Pixar, and Lucasfilm productions. The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex is nearby.
Disney's Animal Kingdom — Something of a mix between a zoo and a theme park, Animal Kingdom features naturalistic live animal exhibits alongside more traditional Disney amusement rides. Blizzard Beach, a water park themed as a melting ski resort, is nearby.
Downtown Disney — For more "grown-up" activities, Downtown Disney has shopping, nightclubs, restaurants, and unique entertainment. This is where the most action is after dark. Downtown Disney is divided into three sections. Downtown Disney Marketplace has several shopping and eating establishments and is tailored towards a family setting. Pleasure Island is a more adult oriented section, with upscale restaurants and even a cigar bar. Finally, Downtown Disney West Side is home to AMC Theatres, House of Blues, and the exclusive Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba. Typhoon Lagoon water park is nearby.
Understand[edit]
Magic Kingdom parade
We're all in this together
Perhaps not surprisingly, the eight most visited theme parks in the world are all affiliated with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Walt Disney World's four theme parks all appear in that top eight.
Rank Park Attendance (2011)
1 Magic Kingdom 17,140,000
2 Disneyland (Anaheim, CA) 16,140,000
3 Tokyo Disneyland 13,996,000
4 Tokyo DisneySea 11,930,000
5 Disneyland Paris 10,990,000
6 Epcot 10,830,000
7 Disney's Animal Kingdom 9,780,000
8 Disney's Hollywood Studios 9,700,000
Source: TEA/AECOM Theme Index 2011 [2]
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be six or sixty. Call the child 'innocence'. The worst of us is not without innocence, although buried deeply it might be. In my work I try to reach and speak to that innocence, showing it the fun and joy of living; showing it that laughter is healthy; showing it that the human species, although happily ridiculous at times, is still reaching for the stars." — Walt Disney
The most important thing to understand about the Walt Disney World Resort is that it was designed to be fun for everyone. Don't make the mistake of staying away just because you don't have kids. Singles and couples without children who think a Walt Disney World vacation is just for kids ignore the many "adult" entertainments available throughout the resort. Gourmands, sun-worshippers, world travelers, thrill-seekers, comedy-lovers, film devotees, sports fans, club-hoppers, and history buffs will all find plenty of ways to have a great time.
Of course, if you do have kids, the best part of your Walt Disney World vacation is in experiencing the parks through their eyes. That is when you really understand Walt Disney's vision of a place where kids and parents can have fun together.
Walt Disney World is enormous, a multi-day resort destination. Each of its four theme parks is big enough to occupy visitors for a full day (and often two, depending on crowds). Unless you live nearby, four days is considered the bare minimum length of visit to even begin to experience the resort; some people stay as long as two weeks and still bypass some attractions.
Traveling to Walt Disney World represents a major pilgrimage for many American families, as well as a common element of childhood for nearly every family that can afford it. The "typical" visit involves flying into Orlando International Airport, busing to an on-site Disney hotel, spending about a week without leaving Disney property, and returning home. There are infinite variations possible, but this remains what most people mean when they talk of "going to Disney World".
Everything at Walt Disney World is carefully constructed and choreographed to maintain your perceptions of visiting an idealized world. Company jargon frames every aspect of customer service as part of the "show": employees are "cast members", visitors are "guests", and every prop and costume must be completely "in-character" while "on-stage" (visible to guests).
Disney prides themselves on customer service and friendliness. You will never find garbage lying in the streets or bathrooms that are too dirty, and anything that is damaged is either removed or fixed immediately. The streets are almost sparkling and the buildings look brand new no matter what time of the day or year you are there.
While some people find this attention to detail cloying and artificial, the vast majority of visitors are happy to immerse themselves in this relaxing, carefree environment. Even so, the realities of Walt Disney World can be stark: long lines, sweltering heat, rude guests, and expensive merchandise are common. There are ways to avoid the worst elements (namely by carefully choosing when to visit) and customer service is almost universally impeccable, even (or perhaps especially) when things go wrong.
Many first-time visitors try to do too much during their stay. Unless crowds are unusually small, this is a sure-fire recipe for burnout and exhaustion. You need to have a basic schedule in mind, but you should remain flexible in order to account for closed rides, full restaurants, special events, and just changing your mind. If the crowds get too heavy or the weather gets too hot, smart guests staying on-site head back to their hotels to relax, grab a snack, or take a swim, then return later in the day. Trying to adhere to a rigid schedule will only frustrate you and your family, and you're not going to Walt Disney World to get frustrated, are you?
With some careful basic planning, an open mind, and a cheerful attitude, a visit to Walt Disney World can be whatever you want it to be: fulfilling, exciting, relaxing, enlightening, or just plain fun. Whatever you chose to do, your visit is guaranteed to be an experience, in every sense of the word—one you'll never forget.
History[edit]
Disneyland was an unprecedented success. Walt Disney had created not just an amusement park, where children could ride kiddie rides while their parents watched from a bench, but the world's first theme park, a place where children and grown-ups could both have fun, together.
But it was not long after Disneyland's 1955 opening that Walt realized that the available space in Anaheim was too small. Coming out of the lean war years, Walt Disney Productions had struggled to raise enough money to build Disneyland. Walt hadn't been able to secure enough of a buffer zone around the park, meaning that all the surrounding land was immediately snatched up by entrepreneurs who filled it with tacky motels and restaurants. They also drove Anaheim land values through the roof, making it very difficult for him to buy any more land. He had his park, but he and his Imagineers were constantly coming up with new ideas, ideas that just weren't going to fit inside Disneyland. Furthermore, transcontinental flights were still relatively expensive and a coast-to-coast journey for most people was still three days by train. Marketing surveys showed that nearly all of Disneyland's visitors came from west of the Mississippi River, even though the vast majority of the U.S. population at that time still lived on the Eastern Seaboard and quite a number of them were Disney fans.
Therefore, in the sixties, Walt began looking to the East Coast, for a place with enough space to hold all of the ideas his team could dream up and which would serve Disney's East Coast audience. He found such a place in Central Florida, southwest of the sleepy city of Orlando. Here, along the new Interstate 4, there was plenty of space, far more than would be needed for just a single theme park. Walt had grander ideas in mind for this "Florida Project" of his.
After buying up over 27,000 acres (11,000 ha) of land on the sly through various corporate entities, Walt announced his ambitious Disney World plans to the world. A theme park would be built, of course—a Magic Kingdom on the north end of the property. But to get there from I-4, guests would need to pass through the true centerpiece of the project: EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.
EPCOT was Walt Disney's largest, most revolutionary idea yet—a real city, with 20,000 real people living and working within, making use of the most advanced technologies to grow food, provide transport, and enhance quality of life. Much of the technology was already in use at Disneyland—PeopleMovers and monorails, for instance—but these would not be amusement rides. EPCOT was to be a place where the Imagineers' ideas were put to practical use, for the betterment of all mankind.
Alas, it was not to be. Walt died in December 1966, just as the Florida Project was coming to fruition. Without Walt to drive the project, the company board refused to undertake the ambitious EPCOT plans. But Walt's brother Roy O. Disney insisted the project as a whole go forward, starting with the Magic Kingdom. Roy changed the project's name to Walt Disney World; this new resort would be a tribute to Walt's vision, but would never really be the fulfillment of it.
The Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, with two hotels, a campground, and two golf courses nearby. It was an immediate success, single-handedly sparking the development of the Orlando area as one of the country's busiest vacation destinations. Though Roy died before the year ended, he had succeeded in getting his brother's final project off the ground.
Walt Disney World's first decade passed quickly, and by the time of its "Tencennial" celebration in 1981, a new theme park was being built in the space Walt had envisioned for EPCOT. The new park would be called EPCOT Center, though it bore little resemblance to Walt's original plans. Instead, EPCOT Center would be a sort of "permanent world's fair", combining Future World, made up of grand pavilions devoted to human progress, with a World Showcase of meticulously detailed recreations of foreign lands. EPCOT Center opened in 1982, and was followed by a combination theme park and movie studio called Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, and then by Disney's Animal Kingdom, a zoological theme park, in 1998.
Over the years, numerous resort hotels and recreational activities were added to support the increased attendance at the multi-park resort. Two large water parks were added in 1989 and in 1995. In addition, a remote area of the property that started as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village evolved into the Disney Village Marketplace, and eventually expanded to become Downtown Disney, an adult-oriented shopping and entertainment district.
In a partial fulfillment of Walt Disney's original dream, a real planned town was eventually built by the company: Celebration. The problem with real towns is that they tend to be inhabited by real people who like to vote as they wish. To avoid that issue, Celebration was deliberately detached from Walt Disney World and built under the control of a separate entity, the Celebration Company.
Walt Disney never would have imagined what Walt Disney World has become, and it is far removed from his original vision. But one of his guiding principles was to "keep moving forward", and Disney World has done just that, becoming the largest and most popular theme park resort complex in the world.
Read[edit]
Enough books have been written about Walt Disney World to fill a good-sized bookshelf. One very informative set of books are the Imagineering Field Guides; there's one for each of the four parks (plus one for Disneyland). They go through each park area-by-area and feature great concept images (some rarely seen), behind-the-scenes details, and tricks of the Imagineering trade. They're also small enough to carry in your pocket as you tour the parks.
Surprisingly, not much fiction has been written about the parks themselves. Ridley Pearson has an ongoing series of young-adult novels set inside the parks, called The Kingdom Keepers. There's also Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, a science-fiction novel by Cory Doctorow that takes place primarily in a future version of the Magic Kingdom.
Watch[edit]
The Walt Disney Company is a multinational media conglomerate, so video productions featuring Walt Disney World are ubiquitous.
Several television programs have filmed on-location at the resort. The 1990s-era revival of The Mickey Mouse Club (the one that gave Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake their starts) was filmed entirely at the production facilities inside Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios). Full House, Roseanne, Family Matters, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch are among the sitcoms (mostly on Disney-owned ABC) with episodes showing the characters visiting Walt Disney World. Another fun option, if you can find it, is 1990's The Muppets at Walt Disney World, which was intended as a precursor to Disney's purchase of the Muppets (which finally happened in 2004).
Those shows only used the park as a backdrop, though, so they have limited "tourist" value. For meatier fare, there's always the yearly Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, which often includes segments showing the latest and greatest attractions around the World. If you're going to watch the parade just to get planning information, though, you might as well just call Disney at +1 407 W-DISNEY and ask for their free vacation planning video [3]. As expected, you won't find much official material that addresses the problems you might encounter at Walt Disney World, but they do offer a good introduction to the resort for first-timers who are trying to get a feel for the place before they go. Another good source of information is the official YouTube channel of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts [4].
Disney has also made a few full-length features based on various rides in the parks—the four Pirates of the Caribbean films being by far the best—but don't expect the rides to have much of anything to do with the films. Okay, yes, Jack Sparrow can now be spotted inside the Pirates ride, but it's just a cameo appearance.
Last but not least, Walt Disney World is featured in three "Disney Sing Along Songs" titles. Campout at Walt Disney World is set at Fort Wilderness Campground, Beach Party at Walt Disney World covers a wide range of activities including the two water parks, and Flik's Musical Adventure is set at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Climate[edit]
noframe
Check the weather forecast for Lake Buena Vista, FL from NOAA.
Like all of Central Florida, the climate at Walt Disney World is humid and subtropical. Summer (May–October) is hot and sticky and winter (November–April) is mild and drier. Visitors from higher latitudes are often surprised by the sheer intensity of the summer sun in Florida, which can rise to within a few degrees of straight overhead in June and July. In June through September, late afternoon thundershowers are very common; plan accordingly.
That said, climate problems are well known at Walt Disney World and there are several means to cope (see "Weather" in the Stay Safe section).
Inclement weather can often lead to the temporary closure of outdoor rides and live performances. In the case of rides, they will re-open after the weather improves, and FastPass tickets will continue to be accepted, even if the printed time interval has expired. Live performances may be either delayed or canceled outright. On the other hand, inclement weather could work to your advantage, as it drives some visitors away from outdoor areas, or out of the parks entirely.
When to visit[edit]
There used to be some times of year when the parks were relatively deserted, but not so much anymore. Now they just vary from "moderately busy" to "completely insane". Still, deciding when to go remains a game of trade-offs: you must decide whether to favor lower crowds or longer park hours, and decide whether you prefer scorching days or chilly nights.
The peak periods for attendance are late December, mid-June to mid-August, and mid-February to mid-April. Why? That's when kids are on break from school. If you have kids, you may have no choice but to go during these peak times. The bad news is that you'll be packed like sardines next to 50,000 of your new closest friends, you'll wait two hours to go on rides like Splash Mountain and Soarin', and you'll be paying a premium for the privilege. In the summer, you also get to listen to the kids complain about the heat. On the bright side, though, you'll have plenty of company, the parks are guaranteed to be open late, and as many rides as possible will be up and running.
If your schedule allows any flexibility at all, you should avoid these peak periods. Attendance is lowest in October, November (pre-Thanksgiving), December (pre-Christmas), and January. These can be very good times to go; crowds are low and prices are too, but keep in mind that you may find that several rides are shut down for maintenance, and the parks have shorter operating hours. In the winter, it's often too cold to go to the water parks, and you'll need a jacket at night.
The weeks between Easter and Memorial Day are another slow period, as well as the months of August and September; both periods provide a good balance of price, crowds, temperature, and operating hours, but you may need to take the kids out of school if you're bringing them along.
Of course, you may want to coordinate your trip with a special event. (It's no coincidence that these events are scheduled during otherwise-slow periods for the parks.) Epcot has two months-long events: the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs from March to mid-May, and the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs from October through mid-November. Hollywood Studios is the location for Star Wars Weekends in May and June.
The Magic Kingdom hosts two special hard-ticket holiday events, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in September and October, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in November and December. These events, which let you stay in the park past the normal closing time, cost more than $50 per person, but tickets are limited so the crowds stay small.
How do they get the star on top?
Speaking of Christmas, the month of December may just be the most magical time of year at Walt Disney World. The entire resort goes all-out to decorate everything, with huge themed Christmas trees in each of the parks and each of the resorts, and the spectacular Castle Dreamlights draped onto Cinderella Castle. There are also countless holiday events at the resorts, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios, the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, and much much more. And as long as you avoid Thanksgiving week and Christmas week, the crowds really aren't that bad.
Timing[edit]
If your vacation dates are flexible, plan to arrive to the Orlando area on Thursday. Both Friday and Saturday are transition days for park visitors, especially in the summer months. Saturdays do draw in more Annual Pass holders to the park, but that is the major day that people either arrive or leave the area. This causes attendance figures to be down, making it a perfect day to visit the parks.
If you are planning to have a day of rest in your vacation, by arriving on Thursday you can enjoy two days of parks with reduced crowds and then use Sunday to rest. If during those first two days you are planning to visit the Magic Kingdom, plan to do it on Friday. Attendance figures pick up for that park on Saturday. You will be able to do more attractions in the first two days while you are revved up, and then it will allow you to relax and enjoy the park on the more crowded days.
Talk[edit]
As in most places in the United States, English is the default language throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. The cast members at World Showcase in Epcot are largely citizens of the featured countries, and so will be fluent in their native tongues as well as English. Other cast members throughout the property may also be bi- or tri-lingual; any such cast members can be identified by language signs on their name tags, representing the languages they speak . Spanish is also very common in Florida, and the US as a whole. Spanish speakers will not have any problems navigating the resort.
All four theme parks have an information center known as Guest Relations, near the main entrance. Cast members, who usually are multilingual, will be available here to answer any questions you may have.
Disney's Ears to the World is an audio headset that provides foreign-language translations of the dialogues of selected attractions in French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, or Spanish. It may be rented at Guest Relations, but there are a limited number of them available; a $25 deposit will be collected and refunded upon return.
For guests with visual disabilities, linguistic services are in the form of audiocassette tour guides and Braille guidebooks, also available for rent at Guest Relations.
For hearing-impaired guests, assistive listening devices and captioning (handheld, reflective, or video) are available for selected attractions. Cast Members with knowledge of American Sign Language can be identified by the appropriate symbol on their name tags, and interpreters are available by appointment.
Get in[edit]
Welcome!
"A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive." — Walt Disney
By plane[edit]
Why is it MCO and not ORL?
If you're booking air travel to Orlando, you'll need to remember that MCO airport code. The tourist-humor explanation is that MCO stands for "Mickey and COmpany", but the abbreviation actually comes from the airport's original name, McCoy Air Force Base. The expected ORL code is assigned to the Orlando Executive Airport, a general-aviation facility located several miles north of Orlando International.
Most visitors fly into Orlando International Airport (IATA: MCO) [5], +1 407-825-2001. It is served by nearly all major US airlines and a wide range of international carriers. From there, you can rent a car, take a taxi, order a limo or towncar, or take Disney's Magical Express [6]: a free bus service from the airport to the Disney-owned resort hotels (prior reservations required, call 1-407-WDISNEY). Florida State Roads 528 (to the north) and 417 (to the south) link the airport with Interstate 4, which leads directly into Walt Disney World.
Orlando-Sanford International Airport (IATA: SFB) [7] is a bit farther away from Walt Disney World than Orlando International. Aside from domestic flights on Allegiant Air, the airport primarily handles flights from the United Kingdom and Iceland. Disney's Magical Express is not available here. Florida State Road 417 connects the airport to Interstate 4.
By car[edit]
Interstate 4 is the most direct driving route into Walt Disney World. Depending on your point of origin, the Florida Turnpike can be quite useful. This is particularly true when you might be arriving from Miami or other points south. If you will be arriving from a cruise at Port Canaveral, Florida State Road 528 gets you to I-4, with Orlando International Airport and the Turnpike en route.
By train[edit]
Amtrak's [8] Silver Service Miami–New York City routes serve Orlando and Kissimmee. Service is four times daily, with two trains in either direction. Northbound trains from Miami arrive at the Orlando station at 1:43 PM and 7:08 PM; southbound trains from NYC arrive at 10:17 AM and 12:55 PM. The Auto Train, which can carry both passengers and automobiles, serves nearby Sanford non-stop from Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.). If you're coming from Volusia or Seminole Counties or from Maitland or Winter Park on a weekday, you might find it easier to take the new SunRail [9] service which runs between Debary, FL and Sand Lake Road in Orlando, where you could transfer at Lynx Central Station to Walt Disney World via the Link 50 Bus. Note that SunRail does not run on weekends or federal holidays and the trains operate every 30 minutes during rush hour periods (i.e. between 5:00 AM and 8:30 a.m and between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM) and every two hours during off-peak periods.
By bus[edit]
Disney's Magical Express [10] has proven to be a very popular option for guests staying at Disney resort hotels; it provides free transportation to and from the airport. Be sure to book service ahead of time, though!
The Disney Cruise Line [11] provides a similar bus service for their passengers, between the Walt Disney World resort hotels and their terminal at Port Canaveral. The one-way fare is $35 per person, although it's included in the price if you book a land-and-sea vacation package.
If you're not staying at a Disney resort, or aren't coming in via Orlando International or Disney Cruise Line, you do have some other choices. Mears Transportation [12] is the big dog in the area; in fact, Disney contracts with them to run the Magical Express and the Disney Cruise Line buses. But they also run their own shuttle buses and town cars that can take you to any of the local attractions or hotels.
Long-distance bus company Greyhound [13] serves both Orlando and Kissimmee, with the latter being closer to Walt Disney World.
Greyhound terminals:
Orlando Terminal, 555 N John Young Pkwy, +1 407 292-3424.
Kissimmee Terminal, 103 E Dakin Ave, +1 407 847-3911.
LYNX [14] is a public bus service of the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority. Ten LYNX routes provide service between Walt Disney World and the surrounding area. All except 56 travel via I-4 and Downtown Disney and serve the Downtown Disney West Side Transfer Center.
Regular routes:
Route 50, from the Transportation and Ticket Center, adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot, to SeaWorld and downtown Orlando. This route serves as WDW's primary public transit connection to International Drive [15], the main tourism corridor within the city of Orlando. This also provides connections to SunRail at Lynx Central Station.
Route 56, from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the Osceola Square Mall in Kissimmee.
Route 111, from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the Florida Mall and Orlando International Airport. Note: Operating once every half-hour, this route is a viable option for getting from the airport to the resort and back, but only for travelers with patience; the trip lasts roughly an hour and ten minutes. For those who wish to visit the Florida Mall, this is the most direct option.
Routes 300–306 are commuter routes with very limited service:
Route 300, from Downtown Disney to downtown Orlando.
Route 301, from Animal Kingdom to Pine Hills.
Route 302, from the Magic Kingdom resorts to Rosemont.
Route 303, from Hollywood Studios to Washington Shores.
Route 304, from Downtown Disney to Rio Grande.
Route 305, from the All-Star Resorts to Kirkman/Raleigh.
Route 306, from Downtown Disney to Poinciana.
Tickets[edit]
Warning: Purchasing tickets online
Many tickets sold online through auction websites such as eBay or Craigslist are partially used multi-day park-hopper tickets. While this is a very common activity, it is prohibited by Disney: the tickets are non-transferable. There is also an inherent risk to you as a buyer, because you don't know for certain how many days remain on the ticket. If you are purchasing tickets online, only purchase from authorized brokers; resold tickets are subject to rejection at the gate.
Visiting Walt Disney World is a very expensive affair. Tickets are sold at several levels: the Magic Your Way base tickets cover the cost of visiting one of the four theme parks a day for each day of the ticket. On top of this, you can add the Park Hopper option, which allows you to enter multiple theme parks on the same day as many times as you like. You can also add the Water Park Fun & More option, which grants admission to the two Disney water parks as well as other attractions. Each of those add-on options costs $57 (or $79 for both) above the cost of your tickets, regardless of how many days are on your tickets. Neither one is likely worth it if you buy only a one-day ticket, but their value goes up sharply as you add more days.
The Park Hopper option in particular is often overlooked, but it's strongly recommended because of the flexibility it offers. Without it, you could be stuck with nowhere else to go after doing everything you want to do at one park; or you could run out of time to do one last attraction and be unable to come back another day to pick it up. If you have seven-day tickets, it only costs about $8 a day to add this option; the value of being able to visit one park in the morning and another in the evening should not be underestimated.
With the Water Park Fun & More option, you receive a number of admissions to attractions outside the four main parks. The number is equal to the number of days on your Magic Your Way ticket (or two admissions for one-day tickets), though they can be used anytime. You can use these admissions at Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, DisneyQuest, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and the nine-hole Oak Trail golf course. You can also use an admission for a round of golf at the Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland miniature golf courses, but only before 4PM. Depending on which attractions you visit, the cost of the option may be covered by the money you save on admission after just two visits.
Multi-day tickets do not have to be used on consecutive days. However, these tickets will expire 14 days after they are first used, so be sure to use all the days purchased prior to that. A no-expiration option can be added to any multi-day ticket with at least one day remaining; with this option, the ticket expires when the last purchased day is used, which can be months or even years after the initial use. A side benefit of this option is locking in your admission price for your next visit(s). The price for this option is variable, based on the number of days purchased.
The best feature of a Disney admission ticket is its flexibility. Options can be added even if the ticket has already been used at least once. For example, a base ticket (no park-hopping) can be upgraded to include park-hopping by paying the $55 cost for the option. Or, if a change in travel plans will not allow the user to utilize all purchased days prior to the ticket's expiration date, the "no-expiration" option can be purchased for the remaining days. These changes may be made at any ticket window or at the Guest Relations office inside each theme park as well as the Concierge desk at Disney Resort Hotels. Any ticket upgrades must be made within 14 days of the first date of use, and you have to still have some remaining value on the ticket.
Too good to be true?
Billboards along interstate highways in Florida and even southern Georgia promote the availability of cut-rate admission tickets for Walt Disney World and other central Florida theme parks. While these offers are genuine, there is often a catch. Many of these promotions require the buyer to tour a time-share resort and sit through a high-pressure sales pitch for the property prior to getting the tickets.
The prices below were accurate as of March 2014 (6.5% Florida sales tax not included):
"Magic Your Way" Online Prices
Days ages 10+ ages 3-9
Total Per Day Total Per Day
1(Magic Kingdon) $99 $99.00 $93 $93.00
1(other) $94 $94.00 $94 $88.00
2 $188 $94.00 $175 $87.50
3 $274 $91.4 $255 $85.00
4 $294 $73.50 $274 $68.50
5 $304 $60.80 $284 $56.80
6 $314 $52.34 $294 $49.00
7 $324 $46.29 $304 $43.43
8 $334 $41.75 $314 $39.25
9 $344 $38.23 $324 $36.00
10 $354 $35.40 $334 $33.40
Children under age three are admitted for free.
There are Magic Your Way Premium and Magic Your Way Platinum packages available as well; they add some interesting luxury options to your vacation package. They both include the Deluxe Dining Plan, preferred fireworks viewing, unlimited access to select recreational activities, tours, and a portrait session. The Platinum package adds to that a spa treatment, a fireworks cruise, and more. If you're sure you're going to use the benefits these packages provide, they may just be worth the extra cost. Purchasing these packages does require booking and staying at a Disney owned resort hotel.
Florida residents who provide proof of residence get discounts of varying degrees, but they can't purchase beyond a 7-day ticket (meaning that Florida residents who ask for the discount can't purchase 8-, 9-, or 10-day tickets). Annual passes are also available for frequent visitors or residents.
Disney resort guests (those staying on-site at Disney hotels) are usually best served by getting package deals that include both lodging and admission.
Get around[edit]
Walt Disney World Resort overview map
Getting around Walt Disney World is easy and often fun. You may walk, drive, or ride public transit (in this case, buses, monorails, or ferryboats). In most cases, the service is direct and non-stop. All Walt Disney World transit vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, and there is no additional fee to use any of them. If you are traveling with a stroller, you must take your child out of the stroller, then fold it and hand-carry it onto the vehicle.
By foot[edit]
A whole new world
Walt Disney World and Google Earth have teamed up to create a comprehensive, state-of-the-art 3-D virtual tour of the resort. All four theme parks and over 20 Disney resort hotels are rendered as fully textured 3-D buildings in a special layer in Google Earth. It's a great way to get a feel for the lay of the land, or just to reminisce about a previous trip.
In some places, walking is the most convenient way to travel from one area to another. Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the five resorts in between (Swan & Dolphin, Yacht & Beach Clubs, and Boardwalk) are connected by walkways, as is Downtown Disney to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. If you are staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort, you will find it quicker to walk to the Magic Kingdom than to take the ferry or monorail. From Shades of Green (a military-only resort) it's a five-minute walk to Disney's Polynesian Resort, to take the monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom; and from the Polynesian Resort it's another five-minute walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center, to take the monorail to Epcot.
Keep in mind, though, that you'll be doing a lot of walking within the parks, especially at Epcot and Animal Kingdom, so don't tire yourself out early!
Strollers, wheelchairs, and electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) are readily available to rent at the entrance to each park. If you have a problem standing too long, or if walking on the hot pavement makes your feet ache, renting a wheelchair or ECV can make a big difference. Wheelchairs can be brought up to the loading area of most rides, where you'll usually need to transfer to the ride vehicle. Both wheelchairs and ECVs are accommodated in most theater and stage attractions. Strollers will usually need to be left outside; most attractions have a designated stroller parking area.
A Single stroller rents for $15, or $13/day for multi-day rentals. Double strollers are $31, or $27/day. Wheelchairs are $12, or $10/day. ECVs are $50, with a $20 refundable deposit. Even if you park-hop, you only have to pay once per day; simply show a same-day receipt to avoid paying a second fee.
By bus[edit]
Disney buses
Learn to love the ubiquitous Walt Disney World bus system. You'll be using it a lot, especially if you didn't bring a car.
The bus routes are set up to facilitate travel from a resort to a park, but not from one resort to another or from one park to another. Most resorts have five bus routes originating from them, providing direct service to all four theme parks and Downtown Disney. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are served by the Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom routes respectively.
Disney's Boardwalk is actually part of a resort, so visitors from other resorts (except Swan/Dolphin or Yacht/Beach Clubs) will have to travel there via one of the parks. The most convenient option is Disney's Hollywood Studios, which has two connections to the Boardwalk: walking or ferry. (Although Epcot is the closest park to the Boardwalk, using it as an interchange is not recommended, as it would require entering through the main entrance and exiting out the back entrance, thereby costing the admission fee.)
Note that there is no bus service to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot from the Magic Kingdom-area resorts; they are served by the monorail system. Likewise, service to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios from the Epcot-area resorts is by ferry or walking. There is also no direct bus service between the theme parks and Downtown Disney. To travel to Downtown Disney from a theme park, or vice versa, you must travel to any resort and change buses. The most convenient resort for this purpose is Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, which is right next door to Downtown Disney; you can get there via a pedestrian bridge, bus, or ferry.
The buses are reliable, fairly efficient, and reasonably comfortable, but they can be slow and inconvenient if, for example, you are traveling with young children or strollers. Expect to wait up to fifteen minutes for a bus to your destination, and another ten to thirty minutes to get there—possibly longer during the busy season. Also keep in mind that guests in wheelchairs have first priority when boarding.
By monorail[edit]
Monorail Coral
Walt Disney World's monorail system is one of its signature attractions, and it's not even inside one of the parks. They do a great job of getting large numbers of guests from place to place, but they're also quite comfortable and fun to ride.
The monorail service is limited and only goes to certain areas, all originating from the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). There are three monorail lines:
Express: This route travels from the Transportation and Ticket Center (adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot) to the Magic Kingdom gates and back, without stopping at the resorts. This is primarily used by Magic Kingdom guests who parked in the lot or are coming from Epcot. This route runs on the outer rail, counter-clockwise around Seven Seas Lagoon.
Resort: This route runs parallel to the Express route, clockwise on the inner rail, and stops at all the resorts it passes. The stops are, in order: Transportation and Ticket Center, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, and Contemporary. This route is used by resort guests to get to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, and by guests visiting one of the resorts.
Epcot: This route travels between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Epcot gates. When entering Epcot this way, the monorail makes a nice loop in the park before arriving at the station, giving a great aerial view of Future World and the World Showcase.
If you are going to Epcot from the Polynesian Resort, you may walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center to get to the Epcot monorail; it's usually faster than taking the Resort monorail completely through the loop. It is also possible to walk to the TTC from Disney's Wilderness Lodge, which is not connected to the monorail. The distance is about ½ mile (800 m), and takes around 10 minutes.
By boat[edit]
Walt Disney World also has several waterways which are used by ferryboats to transport guests.
From the Magic Kingdom, large ferries transport guests to the Transportation and Ticket Center, adjacent to the parking lot. Smaller ferries travel to the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Fort Wilderness Campground, and Wilderness Lodge.
From Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, service is to the Swan/Dolphin, Yacht/Beach Club, and Boardwalk.
From Downtown Disney, service is to Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and the two Port Orleans resorts.
By car[edit]
If you are staying on-site, a car is not necessary, unless you wish to travel off-property during your stay. Some people purchase groceries to use during their stay; while there are a couple of places on the property to buy them, better selection and prices are found off property. Other people use a car to avoid the delays that can sometimes affect the public transportation options.
If you are staying at a hotel off Disney property, on the other hand, a car is strongly recommended. Many off-resort hotels offer shuttle service to the parks, but the schedules may not be convenient.
Getting around Walt Disney World by car is not much of a problem. All you need to do is follow the purple directional signs with black Mickey Mouse ears to your destination. Your WDW resort will also provide a map of the complex. If you run into problems, just drop by the Walt Disney World Car Care Center on World Drive, near the Magic Kingdom toll plaza.
The five golf courses (see below) are accessible only by car; however, complimentary taxi service is available for guests of Disney-owned hotels.
Rent[edit]
Several car rental agencies have locations on Walt Disney World property:
Alamo and National, which are both owned by the same company, have dual locations in three places:
WDW Car Care Center (near the Magic Kingdom toll plaza), +1 407 824-3470
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, +1 407 934-4930
Buena Vista Palace (in the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza), +1 407 827-6363
Avis at the Hilton in the Hotel Plaza. +1 407 827-2847
Budget at the Doubletree in the Hotel Plaza. +1 407 827-6089
Dollar at the Regal Sun Resort in the Hotel Plaza. +1 407 583-8000
Hertz at Shades of Green. +1 407 938-0600
U-Save at the Best Western in the Hotel Plaza. +1 407 938-9585
Fuel[edit]
There are three Hess gas stations within the resort: at the Car Care Center on World Drive, on Buena Vista Drive near the entrance to Hollywood Studios, and on Buena Vista Drive across from Downtown Disney. The Hess stations on Disney property do charge market rate for their fuel, unlike a few Orlando gas stations where the cost of fuel is still outrageous despite the recent drop in gas prices. Gas stations along State Road 535 (Apopka-Vineland Road) near the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza are notorious for pricing well above the market rate for fuel.
However, for sheer chutzpah, you gotta hand it to Suncoast Energys, located on State Road 436 (Semoran Boulevard), just outside the Orlando International Airport. Its location across the street from the Hertz and Thrifty rental-car lots makes it a tempting top-off-the-tank stop, but be sure you take note of the pump price, which is usually $1.50-$2 higher than the local average.
Visit Orlando Gas Prices [16] to find the local average price and get addresses for other handy gas stations.
Parking[edit]
The parking fee at the four theme park lots is $14 for most vehicles (campers and trailers are $15; buses and tractor trailers are $18). Parking is free, though, for guests staying at any of the on-site Disney Resorts (your Key to the World card serves as your parking ticket), or who have a valid Annual Pass. The four theme park lots are huge, and are divided into subsections; this is to enable you to remember your car's location. To save you from having to walk the long distances, there are trams that will shuttle you from the parking lot to the park gates and back (except in the case of the Magic Kingdom, where the tram will take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, from which you may take the ferry or the monorail to the park).
Parking at the two water parks or Downtown Disney is free. However, there are no parking lot trams available, so be prepared to walk.
Valet parking is available at Deluxe resorts (see the Sleep section) for $12/day.
See[edit][add listing]
Never completed
Walt Disney once said himself that "Disneyland will never be completed." Well, neither will Walt Disney World. The resort has changed dramatically over the years, and many things have come and gone like magic. Revisit the Walt Disney World of the past at Walt Dated World [17] or Yesterland [18] (scroll down to the section labeled "Yester World")
"Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland — the blessing of size. There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine." — Walt Disney
Theme Parks[edit]
It's a small world, after all
Walt Disney World and Verizon Wireless have teamed up to introduce a number of amenities for mobile phone users.
For Verizon customers with Android phones or iPhones, Disney Mobile Magic is an interactive theme park map application complete with features such as games, messages from Disney characters, and finding wait times for rides. The application may be acquired at the Verizon Media Store [19], the iTunes App Store [20], or by texting "MAGIC" to 2777 from a Verizon phone.
For non-Verizon phones, a text-message interface [21] is available; ride wait times, character appearances, park hours, and exclusive offers can all be sent directly to your phone. Just register your phone at the website and you can get started; normal text-messaging rates apply.
Finally, the official Walt Disney World mobile website [22] may be accessed through a mobile phone browser. However, this site will only contain basic park information like park hours and entertainment schedules, and will only provide limited information about wait times and FastPass return times.
The four theme parks are Walt Disney World's bread and butter. These are not traditional amusement parks, where age is a hindrance to full enjoyment. The Disney parks have rides, sure, but many of them are quite sedate and can be enjoyed by everyone, not just those with a high tolerance for thrills. And even beyond the rides, there are stage shows to watch, shops to browse, characters to meet, and atmosphere to soak in.
Most importantly, though, none of these rides, shows, and stores just "sits there". Each one tells a story, in much the same way that Disney's animated films do, and each is crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. There are also the bigger stories to be found in each themed land, and in the park as a whole. When you enter the Magic Kingdom, and the entrance tunnels give way to the vista of Main Street, with Cinderella Castle at the far end, you're raising the curtain on a new production—and you're the featured player.
You won't find dirt or peeling paint or run-down mechanics at a Disney Park, not even at the oldest attractions. Disney takes quality very seriously, and if anything intrudes on your perception of the "show", it gets fixed quickly. It's all about suspension of disbelief: total immersion into worlds of imagination, art, and history.
The sheer number of attractions—including rides, stage shows, parades, and fireworks displays—at Walt Disney World's four theme parks can be intimidating to guests. It's usually best to have a plan going in. Check the guide map for the park you plan to visit and decide which attractions will be your highest priorities before you leave for the park. Keep in mind that parades and some shows occur only at specific times, and plan your route to put you nearby in time to get a seat. Be flexible, though—once you've hit your priority attractions, you can go back and pick up more if you have time remaining.
The traditional amusement park advice of arriving early and heading to the back of the park first tends to work well, although more and more guests are starting to catch on, so the benefit may be reduced.
Be aware that during the busiest times of year, lines can be up to two hours long for the most popular attractions. One option for avoiding these lines is the free service known as FastPass, available only at select attractions. Simply insert your park ticket into the machine, and you'll get a FastPass ticket with a time interval stamped on it. At any time during that interval, you may enter the attraction using a separate, shorter queue. You can only have one FastPass at a time, so you won't avoid every line, but it can still be a great time-saver. Note that the FastPass queues may bypass some or all of the scenery and theming found in the longer lines, which for some guests is a significant part of the Disney experience. Consider what you may be missing if you choose to get a FastPass.
The Magic Kingdom[edit]
Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom is the main park, based on the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It is organized around the central landmark of Cinderella Castle, with various "lands" arrayed around a central hub. The lands are, starting from the main entrance and going clockwise around Cinderella Castle: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
The park is the oldest, most popular, and the most child-friendly, although many adults love it as well. Adult visitors who do not enjoy rides such as it's a small world, where you sit in vehicles that take you in a circle through a tunnel as animatronic figures sing children's songs to the riders, may want to visit Epcot or Hollywood Studios instead. On the other hand, roller coasters like Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad provide plenty of thrills, and dark rides like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean are classics that only the most curmudgeonly would dismiss.
The lines at the Magic Kingdom can be endless, but they always keep moving. Though the FastPass system works well, it is not available for all attractions. Even just walking around, you will likely encounter bottlenecks where there are huge masses of people, and they all seem to be going to the same place you are. Then there's the food and the merchandise, which can be pricey, but not too bad considering where you are. Despite it all, most people would agree that the lines, the crowds, and the prices are worth it for the experience.
Epcot[edit]
Epcot is an "educational park." It is divided into two distinct areas, Future World and World Showcase. Future World features eight indoor pavilions, each one focused on a specific area of human achievement or endeavor. World Showcase replicates, on a small scale but with great attention to detail, eleven of the world's nations, complete with authentic food and merchandise.
Don't miss the cheesy but fun Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros ride in the Mexico pavilion. In Future World, the Test Track, a recent addition in which visitors go through the motions of tests for new cars, is probably the most fun, and the most traditionally theme-park-y, of the Epcot rides. Recent additions to the park include Soarin', a ride where visitors "hang-glide" through many landscapes, and Mission: SPACE, a centrifugal spaceflight simulator.
Epcot has a bit of a reputation as a more "grown-up" park. While some of the slower, more intellectual attractions may be over the heads of the youngest visitors, the park still has plenty to keep them entertained. Of course there are character greetings, especially at World Showcase, but there are also Kidcot Fun Stops, which encourage children to work on a craft and interact with cast members who are representing their home countries. The Seas with Nemo & Friends is great fun for fans of Finding Nemo, too.
Epcot may also be considered a little bit of a "grown up" park because of the "Food and Wine Festival". The Food and Wine Festival is a time where they celebrate food around the world and have samples of foods from around the world. Booths set up around the counties of Epcot feature great foods that you may have never experienced before. Not only are there booths of food, but celebrity chefs come down for the event, there are night time performances throughout the countries, wine tastings and the Party of the Senses, which is where famous chefs make one dish that is paired up with a fantastic wine. The Food and Wine Festival is only held in September, October and November.
Disney's Hollywood Studios[edit]
Indy finds an idol
Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) opened in May 1989 as the third theme park of Walt Disney World. The park is themed around film and television, and features a variety of live shows and attractions based on some of the most iconic productions in Hollywood history. Upon it's opening it was described as, "the Hollywood that never was, and always will be."
Among the attractions are a few exceptional thrill rides, most notably The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (which drops you 13 stories) and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (which launches you 0–60 in 2.8 seconds). The 3-D shooting gallery Toy Story Mania! also grabs big crowds, as does the Star Wars-based simulator ride Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
Disney's Animal Kingdom[edit]
Disney's Animal Kingdom, a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is a wildlife discovery park, a mix between a zoo and a theme park. Naturalistic animal exhibitions are interspersed, and sometimes integrated, with typical Disney rides. Among these are Kilimanjaro Safaris, a jeep safari past live animal enclosures; Kali River Rapids, a raft ride through the deforestation of a tropical rainforest; Dinosaur, a time travel ride which includes close encounters with dinosaurs; and the newest and most popular ride, Expedition Everest, a roller coaster that includes an encounter with the Yeti.
The park is organized in a Magic Kingdom-like format, with different continents revolving around the central Tree of Life. While light on rides, there are also shows and plenty of animals to view (though the variety of species seems a bit sparse when compared to many larger city zoos). Animal Kingdom is more of a kid-friendly theme park with many animals that would attract the attention of younger generations as well as Camp Minnie-Mickey, a special space for youngsters where they can meet all of their favorite characters. (Camp Minnie-Mickey is closed. They are building Avatar land there.)
Meet the characters[edit]
Especially for kids, character greetings are one of the most exciting reasons to visit Disney World. Kids and adults alike can give hugs to, take a photo with, or get autographs from many of their favorite Disney characters. Some kids like to bring or purchase a special autograph book in which the characters can inscribe their names.
Character appearances tend to be surprises (to avoid huge lines), so keep a close eye out. If there's a character your child really wants to see, you can ask at Guest Relations if they know of any upcoming appearances, but nothing is ever guaranteed. And remember that it's hot inside those character costumes; sometimes the character has to leave even if there are people still waiting to say hello. It's disappointing but necessary for safety.
Most often, character greetings will happen in the parks, in particular the Magic Kingdom, but they can happen just about anywhere! The Magic Kingdom does have the widest variety of characters, though; everyone from Mickey Mouse to Captain Jack Sparrow. Disney's "Big Six" (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto) might be found anywhere in the park—for example, you might see Donald Duck in a Davy Crockett-like outfit in Frontierland. Other characters stick to the themed land most appropriate for their genre: Jack Sparrow in Adventureland, Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland, and so on.
At the other parks, character appearances are somewhat rarer. At Epcot, for instance, you'll generally only find characters who hail from one of the themed foreign lands of World Showcase—Mulan in the China pavilion, for example. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom tend to have more structured greetings, where characters will make scheduled appearances at designated locations, but stay out of sight of most of the park. Kids looking for autographs won't want to miss Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom, though; there are always at least a few characters there happy to meet some young guests.
If you miss out on random encounters with the characters, be sure to look into character dining options. While restaurants that offer character dining are extremely popular, if you can get a table, you're virtually guaranteed a few minutes of face time with the characters. See Character Dining in the Eat section, below.
Do[edit][add listing]
Pin trading[edit]
The trading of commemorative pins has been popular at Olympic Games for decades. At the turn of the millennium, Disney decided to get in on the act and began creating metallic lapel pins specifically for trading. The monster they created has endured for over a decade, and it has grown to mythic proportions. More than 60,000 different pin designs have been produced since the beginning.
Getting started is easy. Most every store has pins for sale, along with lanyards on which to display them. These pins are not very valuable, so you'll need to trade up to get the more interesting (and much more rare) pins. The most reliable way to do so is to keep an eye out for Cast Members wearing pin lanyards. Cast Members are required to trade one-for-one if asked (up to two per guest per day) and can't refuse a trade based on pin rarity or design (although they can refuse to accept another copy of a pin they already have displayed). Cast Members with green lanyards will trade only to kids under 13.
You can also trade with your fellow guests, and here things can get interesting. You may need to offer several more common pins to get your hands on a single rare pin. Dedicated traders carry a supply of common pins for just this purpose. Your best way to find people willing to trade is to head to a dedicated pin kiosk or store, such as the one underneath the Sorcerer's Hat at Hollywood Studios, but there is also ample opportunity for trading while waiting in lines or while riding the monorail or bus.
Some tours and special events have unique pins that can only be obtained by participants. These pins are thus very rare and highly coveted. Make sure you (and especially your kids) don't trade these pins away without getting something really nice in return—but even then, think very carefully. Many people treat these more as souvenirs than commodities.
Tours[edit]
Each of the theme parks offers at least one tour, some of which are very popular. For an extra fee, a cast member will take you and a small group and introduce you to some of the "secrets" behind Disney operations. Many of these tours go into backstage areas where guests are not normally allowed, although children may be restricted from these to avoid spoiling the "magic".
The gold standard among the tours is the Keys to the Kingdom tour at the Magic Kingdom, a five-hour tour that includes a peek into the park's Utilidors. At Epcot, the Around the World at Epcot tour is a great chance to try out Segway vehicles, and there are several tours at The Seas with Nemo & Friends that take you into the huge aquarium to get up close to the animals who live there. The newest tour offering is the Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom, which will let you go on-foot into some remote areas of the park's African savanna and forest.
Water Parks[edit]
Walt Disney World's two water parks, Blizzard Beach near Animal Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon near Downtown Disney, are the most-visited water parks in the country (for Typhoon Lagoon, in the world), with a combined total yearly attendance of almost 4 million. Unlike most ordinary water parks, each has a unique central theme. Blizzard Beach brings to life the absurdity of what would happen if a ski resort suddenly melted, while Typhoon Lagoon makes use of the runoff from a tropical storm for sliding and floating fun.
Both parks are big enough to spend several hours sliding, floating, or just soaking up the sun. Counter-service restaurants provide for a hearty lunch. If you have an extra $250 to spend, consider renting a private cabana for the day; they come with towels, lockers, a cabana attendant, and all the bottled water you can drink.
Shopping, dining, and nightlife[edit]
Disney's Boardwalk
Sometimes you just want to get away from the theme parks for a while. Maybe do some shopping, have a quiet meal, or get away from the kids and go out dancing.
Downtown Disney is just what the doctor ordered: an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment paradise, geared primarily toward adults. Most of the entertainment activities are found on Downtown Disney West Side; the featured attraction is the Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba. DisneyQuest, a five-story indoor theme park focusing on interactive "virtual" rides and featuring some of the most innovative technology at Disney World, is also on the West Side. The east side, known as Downtown Disney Marketplace, is made up largely of shops and family restaurants.
Disney's BoardWalk, located next to Epcot, is a smaller collection of nightlife themed as a 1920's Eastern Seaboard boardwalk. The Boardwalk is also home to carnival midway games, tandem bike rentals, the Atlantic Dance Hall, and the ESPN Club.
Sporting activities[edit]
Often overlooked during a Walt Disney World vacation—whether due to time constraints or just lack of knowledge—are several recreational activities that have nothing to do with theme parks and rides.
Golf[edit]
Walt Disney World is home to four 18-hole championship golf courses, plus a nine-hole walking course and two different miniature golf experiences. [23]
The Lake Buena Vista and Osprey Ridge Golf Courses are in the Downtown Disney area; they're the most scenic of the courses. The Magnolia and Palm courses, which host the PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic, are in the Magic Kingdom area, adjacent to the Shades of Green resort. The four championship courses require standard golf attire, and metal cleats are not allowed. Golf clubs are available for rent. A golf cart must be used, but it is included in your greens fee.
The Oak Trail Golf Course, in the Magic Kingdom area next to the Magnolia and Palm courses, is a nine-hole walking course. It's designed for less-experienced golfers and older children. The same rules and regulations apply here as at the championship courses, except golf carts are prohibited.
The five golf courses can be reached only via car or, in some limited cases, walking. The Disney-owned resorts offer complimentary taxi vouchers for their guests traveling to the golf courses. For more information or assistance, or to reserve a tee time, call +1 407 WDW-GOLF (939-4653). Tee times can be reserved up to 90 days in advance if you're staying at a Disney hotel (up to 60 days in advance otherwise).
The miniature golf courses are Fantasia Gardens, across the street from the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel in the Epcot resort area, and Winter Summerland, right next to Blizzard Beach. Each has two 18-hole layouts, with whimsical, kid-friendly holes and decor.
Watersports[edit]
Walt Disney World boasts a number of expansive waterways, and that means boating and other watersports can be a great way to spend a few hours away from the parks.
The Magic Kingdom-area resorts each have a small marina with a selection of recreational boats, but it's the Contemporary Resort that boasts Sammy Duvall's Watersports. You don't have to be staying at the Contemporary to enjoy the marina's offerings; you might try waterskiing, wakeboarding, or even parasailing!
At the Yacht Club Resort (adjacent to the Boardwalk), Bayside Marina offers SeaRaycers, pontoon boats, and a variety of chartered cruises, including an IllumiNations fireworks cruise to Epcot. At Downtown Disney, Captain Jack's Marina will rent you a "water mouse" or canopy boat, or take you out for a bass fishing excursion.
Other[edit]
The Walt Disney World Speedway is located south of the Magic Kingdom and offers both Indy car and NASCAR-style racing experiences, although neither is cheap.
On the other hand, if spectator sports are more your speed, you may want to check out the ESPN Wide World of Sports, a state-of-the-art sports complex near Hollywood Studios. The biggest event there is in March, when the Atlanta Braves host spring training baseball games, but there are events all year, especially high school and collegiate-level sports.
Spas and health clubs[edit]
If you feel the need for a bit of pampering, Walt Disney World's spa facilities offer a full array of massage, skin, and nail treatments. The Spa at Disney's Saratoga Springs near Downtown Disney recalls the heyday of Saratoga Springs, New York, with its healing mineral baths. The spa is operated by Niki Bryan Spas [24]. On January 16, the spa will close for renovation but will reopen in the summer.
The Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club, which closed in September 2011 for refurbishment, has been remodeled into Senses: A Disney Spa. Scheduled to open on December 17, it will be fully owned and operated by Disney.
Mandara Spa [25] has a facility at the Walt Disney World Dolphin near Epcot, and there's also the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa at the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza.
Buy[edit][add listing]
Troublesome souvenirs
Snowglobes were once a very popular gift item found at Walt Disney World, until U.S. airplane regulations began prohibiting them in carry-on luggage. Recently, that restriction has been relaxed for very small snowglobes (about the size of a golf ball). Nonetheless, it's still safest to either place souvenir globes in checked luggage, or have them shipped back to your home for a fee. The retail cast member handling your purchase can assist you with packaging or shipping.
Similarly, stores selling knives and swords, such as chef's knives and katana swords at the Mitsukoshi store in Epcot's Japan pavilion, are required to ship the purchase to the buyer's home; these items will be shipped free of charge to U.S. addresses.
"I like to dive around in my money like a porpoise! And burrow through it like a gopher! And toss it up and let it hit me on the head!" — Scrooge McDuck
Finding souvenirs is one of the easiest things to do at Walt Disney World; avoiding the expense is considerably harder. Many attractions, especially the most popular ones, route their exit queues directly into a merchandise store, usually one themed to the attraction. (In fact, several rides even take your picture, which will be available for purchase in the shop.) On the bright side, this does make it easier to find merchandise with a particular theme. Disney's Hollywood Studios is a particularly rich source of themed merchandise, especially for fans of Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and the Muppets.
Sometimes overlooked by shoppers are the various resorts. All of the resorts have a gift shop of some sort, but many go further. The Grand Canyon Concourse on the fourth floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort, underneath the monorail platform, has several specialty shops selling merchandise such as jewelry, sundries, and housewares. Zawadi Marketplace at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has unique African merchandise not available elsewhere. At Disney's Boardwalk, look for the Wyland Galleries, with underwater-themed prints and paintings, featuring the work of the artist Wyland. In fact, each of the resorts has something a little different that you won't find elsewhere on the property, and it can be fun to look for those little hidden gems.
Realizing that many of its souvenirs such as the giant Mickey dolls simply aren't made to be lugged around a theme park all day, Disney will save the day with its package pickup and package delivery services, available at all Disney-run stores. Guests staying at an on-site resort hotel can have their purchases delivered to their hotel gift shop, while everyone else can have their purchases held at the Package Pick-Up window at the front gate of each theme park. The service is free of charge, but be sure to factor in delivery times—allow 24 hours for a package to be delivered to your hotel, or about three hours for it to reach the front gate of the park.
If you're stuck at home and dying to get some merchandise from the parks, you're in luck:
Walt Disney World Mail Order, ☎ +1 407 363-6200 (wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com, fax: +1 407 352-6369). M-F 9AM-8PM. Shop Walt Disney World from home! Simply call, fax, or e-mail with a detailed description of an item known to be sold anywhere at Walt Disney World, and they'll look it up and ship it to you for the normal retail price plus shipping. edit
Eat[edit][add listing]
Lighting up the night at Downtown Disney
"Hot dogs! Hot dogs!" — Mickey Mouse, from The Karnival Kid (1929)
Like everything else, food is expensive at Walt Disney World. Fortunately, the food is pretty good, top to bottom.
At the bottom you'll find portable food carts and fast counter-service (or "quick-service" in Disney's parlance) options. Once upon a time, these options were dismal; each counter service location served the same bland menu of burgers and chicken fingers, to the point where even the kids were sick of them by the end of your vacation. Happily, this has all changed in the last 15 years or so.
The small stands usually sell pre-packaged treats and snacks. The counter-service restaurants are on par with most chain fast-food joints in quality, but significantly more expensive in price. Still, it's not your typical amusement park fare; some of them are in fact quite good, and there's a lot of variety to be had. Three excellent options are Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, the Seasons Food Court at The Land pavilion in Epcot, and Flame Tree Barbecue on Discovery Island at Animal Kingdom. The ABC Commissary at Hollywood Studios has a surprisingly international menu, and Toy Story Pizza Planet in the same park has arcade games to pass the time.
For the lowest possible prices, there is one McDonald's restaurant on WDW property, at the intersection of Buena Vista Drive and Osceola Parkway, between Blizzard Beach and the All-Star resort hotels.
Moving up the scale, there is a fairly big gap between the counter-service and the lower-end table-service restaurants. If anything can be said to fill that gap, it's the buffets, but there are not many around, and most of them feature walk-around characters. For table service, you'll find the menus tend to be surprisingly limited; although the food is generally good, if your party has a lot of picky eaters you may have trouble finding a restaurant everyone can agree on. (Fortunately, Disney is very accommodating of special requests, so don't be afraid to ask for the demi-glace to be left off or to substitute fries for the au-gratin potatoes.)
At the high-end of Disney dining, you'll find some options on par with the best in the country, including perhaps the fanciest restaurant in all of Central Florida, Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian. These high-end restaurants do tend to be found at the resorts; few people want to go out to a fancy dinner after walking around the parks all day without changing first. Don't feel like you have to leave the kids behind, either; every restaurant on property (except Victoria and Albert's) welcomes kids and will accommodate them as best as they can.
If a dietary restriction requires you to bring your own food into the parks, it is permissible to do so, on the condition that it does not require heating or any other kind of preparation. To ensure freshness, carry it in an insulated lunch box or bag. Keep in mind, though, that Florida Department of Health regulations prohibit Disney's Culinary Cast Members from preparing, or even handling, foods brought in by guests.
If you're interested in making sure your kids (or your spouse) get healthy meals and snacks, keep an eye out for the new Mickey Check logo, introduced in 2012 and prominently displayed next to the healthiest options on menus and snack stands. Items with the Mickey Check meet Disney's new nutrition guidelines, which are aligned with U.S. federal guidelines.
Prices[edit]
Walt Disney World uses a four-part "dollar sign" dining price classification system:
$: $14.99 and under
$$: $15 – $29.99
$$$: $30 – $75.99
$$$$: $76+
Most counter service restaurants have $ ratings, and most table service restaurants are either $$ or $$$. "Signature" restaurants are usually $$$. Victoria and Albert's is the only restaurant with a $$$$ rating.
Character dining[edit]
One of the unique attractions of dining at Walt Disney World is the opportunity to interact up-close with favorite characters during Disney's character dining meals. Needless to say, these opportunities are extremely popular; for all practical purposes, advance reservations are required. In exchange for planning ahead, though, you will get to meet and take pictures with the characters, making for a memorable experience.
The range of characters to be found is enormous. Mickey and Minnie and the gang are the most common of course, at places like Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort, but you might also find Mary Poppins at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian, or characters from Disney Junior at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios. And of course the (fairy) godmother of them all is Cinderella's Royal Table, inside the castle in the Magic Kingdom, where little girls can indulge their princess fantasies to their hearts' content, so long as their parents can actually get reservations.
Disney Dining Plan[edit]
Guests purchasing a Disney vacation package with hotel stay are eligible to participate in the Disney Dining Plan. For a flat additional fee, the plan allows guests a set number of meals per person per night of their stay. The Disney Dining Plan is accepted at any Disney-run restaurant on the property except Victoria and Albert's. In addition, all of the restaurants at Downtown Disney, even those run by outside companies, also accept the Dining Plan.
The Dining Plan is available at three different levels (prices are approximate):
Magic Your Way package plus Quick-Service Dining
Two quick-service meals and one snack per person per night. Cost: $38/night for adults and juniors, $14/night for children 3–9
Magic Your Way package plus Dining
One table-service meal, one quick-service meal, and one snack per person per night, plus one refillable mug per person. Cost: $57/night for adults and juniors, $18/night for children 3–9
Magic Your Way package plus Deluxe Dining
Three meals (table- or quick-service) and two snacks per person per night. Cost: $102/night for adults and juniors, $29/night for children 3–9
The Magic Your Way Premium and Platinum packages also include Deluxe Dining. The "Wine and Dine" option offered in previous years is no longer available. A "snack" as part of the dining plan is a single prepackaged item, piece of fruit, or soft drink at any counter-service, snack cart, or merchandise location.
All dining plans also include a resort refillable drink mug. This plastic mug can be refilled at the quick service location at a guest's resort for their entire length of stay. It cannot be refilled in the parks, but during the hot summer months, you can fill it with water from the many water fountains.
Some "signature" restaurants, plus the dinner shows, require two table-service credits for one meal. These restaurants are Artist's Point, California Grill, Le Cellier, Cinderella's Royal Table, Citricos, Flying Fish Cafe, Fulton's Crab House, the Hollywood Brown Derby, Jiko-The Cooking Place, Narcoossee's, Wolfgang Puck's The Dining Room, and Yachtsman Steakhouse, plus the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, and Disney's Spirit of Aloha dinner shows. Room service, where available, also takes two table-service credits, except for pizza delivery.
To use the Dining Plan, simply present your Key to the World card to your server. Gratuities are not included, but you can charge the tip to your room account with your Key to the World card.
Advance Dining Reservations[edit]
Walt Disney World restaurants do not take reservations, per se. Disney's system for its table-service restaurants is called Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs). An ADR is sort of like a restaurant FastPass. Essentially, when you make an ADR, you are reserving a spot on the restaurant's waiting list. When you arrive at the restaurant at your reserved time, you will immediately be placed at the top of the waiting list and get the next available table suitable for your party.
The importance of ADRs cannot be understated. During the slowest times of the year, you may find you don't have any problem walking up to a restaurant and getting a seat within 15-30 minutes. If you don't particularly care where you eat, or are willing to eat early or late, you can probably get by without ADRs. But if you have your heart set on a particular restaurant, or you want to make sure you can eat right at noon or 6PM, you'll want an ADR. And if it's peak season, better safe than sorry; without an ADR you may find yourself searching high and low for a table even at 8PM.
Of course, you can also get by without ADRs if you decide to only eat at counter-service restaurants (which don't take reservations at all).
A few restaurants are so popular that they regularly fill up even during the slowest periods. ADRs are essential for these. The one that takes the cake is Cinderella's Royal Table, inside the castle in the Magic Kingdom, which is usually booked solid within minutes of reservations opening. Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion at Epcot has a reputation as the best steakhouse on the property and so is very popular. Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian also strongly suggests ADRs so that you can get a menu customized to your tastes. ADRs are also a good idea for any of the dinner shows, and any meal featuring the Disney characters.
To make Advance Dining Reservations, do not try to call the restaurants directly. Call Disney Dining at +1 407 WDW-DINE (daily 7AM-10PM ET) to make all of your reservations. ADRs are accepted up to 180 days in advance of the date of the reservation. If you want to get in to any of the restaurants mentioned above, especially Cinderella's Royal Table, start dialing at 6:55 on the first day you can make the reservation, and keep hitting redial until you stop getting told they're closed.
As of June 2009, you can book ADRs online. Go to Disney's restaurants page [26], find the restaurant you want to eat at, and see if it has an orange "Book a Reservation" button. Many people continue to stick with the tried-and-true phone call, though, because the operators can quickly suggest and check for alternatives if your first choices aren't available.
Note that guests staying at a Disney-owned hotel are allowed to make ADRs for their entire trip on the 180th day before they arrive. That means you can make an ADR for the seventh day of your trip 186 days in advance; this is a big perk of staying at a Disney hotel.
If you're already on your vacation, you can visit Guest Relations at any park or Downtown Disney, or even your hotel concierge, to book your ADRs. Restaurants frequently get cancellations, so don't be afraid to ask if that popular restaurant you've had your eye on has an opening tomorrow, especially if you're willing to eat early or late.
In most cases, cancellations can be accommodated without penalty, especially if done in advance. However, select restaurants will charge a $10 cancellation fee if the reservation is canceled fewer than 24 hours in advance. When making an ADR for one of those restaurants, the agent will ask for a credit card number; the card will only be charged for a no-show or a late cancellation. If you need to cancel an ADR, use the special cancellations line, +1 407-WDW-CNCL (939-2625).
In-park dining[edit]
Try the great stuff, it's delicious
By summer 2013, Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom and Fountain View in Epcot will be redesigned into Starbucks shops. These will be distinctly different from most ordinary Starbucks locations, retaining the interior design and continuing to serve Disney treats alongside their own products.
Food is easier than easy to find in all four theme parks. In-park dining opportunities range from snack carts to the most common fast-food joints to the less common table service restaurants. Bear in mind that the hours between noon and 2PM are generally considered the "peak" dining time in the parks. If you find yourself eating lunch within this time frame, expect to wait 30 minutes to an hour in line before being served, unless you have a reservation at a table service restaurant. As an alternative, some snack carts serve fairly large portions (such as smoked turkey legs in the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland), and have short lines most of the time.
Every park has low cost meals in the $3–$4 range for kid meals and $6–$8 for adult meals at the sandwich shops, ethnic specialty nooks, cafeterias, and communal dining halls. They provide ample food for the money. You can often feed your whole family for little more than the cost of one expensive entrée at any of the upscale restaurants.
Resort dining[edit]
All of the Disney Resorts have at least one restaurant, ranging from food courts and buffets all the way up to award-winning table-service restaurants. The Value resorts only have simple food courts, but the dining options expand as you go up the price scale. Best of all, some of the hotel restaurants have Disney character greetings.
Most people, when visiting other hotels, make reservations at the resorts' buffets and sit-down restaurants. However, what they don't always realize is that some of the hotels' most delicious and unique foods can be found in their food courts and smaller dining areas—and they're cheap, too. Check out some of these hidden gems:
Boardwalk To Go, Boardwalk Inn. BTG serves many quick foods like corn dogs and chicken sandwiches, but one of its tastiest items is the cheese and/or chili fries. You can get a basket of cheese fries for $4.00. The chili fries are also $4.00. Chili and cheese fries are $4.50. It makes for a great afternoon or evening snack.
Captain Cook's, Polynesian Resort. One of the Polynesian's specialties is Tonga Toast—a deep fried and battered breakfast dish made from sourdough bread, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and stuffed with bananas. It's available at the Kona Café for $10.99, served with strawberry compote and your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage. However, for those of you on a budget, you can also get Tonga Toast at Captain Cook's food court for only $5.09. If that's not to your liking, try the adult breakfast platter for just $6.29, which has more than enough food to share with others.
Mara, Animal Kingdom Lodge. One of the resort's most unique and popular desserts is the Zebra Domes. They are a layer of yellow cake topped with mocha-chocolate mouse, covered in white chocolate ganache and painted over with milk chocolate ganache stripes to resemble a zebra. They are originally made and served in Boma, the resort's buffet restaurant. However, guests on the go can buy a four-pack at Mara for $3.69 during lunch and dinner.
Market Street Food Court, Caribbean Beach Resort. One of this food court's specialties is the rotisserie chicken in the Bridgetown Broiler section. It's only served at dinner and comes with your choice of two sides.
Roaring Fork, Wilderness Lodge. Don't miss this food court's brownies. Each $3.29 brownie is frosted and cut in squares roughly four inches wide and half an inch thick, making them well worth the price. They're quite hefty, so be careful when picking one up. You might need to use both hands!
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, Port Orleans-French Quarter. One of the specialty foods here are the beignets, medium-sized fried French donuts covered in powdered sugar. They are part of the New Orleans culture and exclusively served at the Port Orleans Resort. You can buy three beignets for $2.99 or six for $4.29. They're tasty, but watch out for the sugar. It can get everywhere!
Drink[edit][add listing]
Once upon a time, Pleasure Island was a hot and happening nightspot, right on Disney property—and after a certain hour you knew there'd be no kids around. Today, Pleasure Island's nightclubs are but a memory, but that doesn't mean adults can't have some grown-up fun after dark.
Certainly Downtown Disney is still a vibrant and active place at night. Several of the restaurants there, especially in Pleasure Island and on the West Side, have full-service bars; Raglan Road in particular is really more an Irish pub than a restaurant. And the DJ at Bongos Cuban Cafe will keep you dancing throughout the evening.
Despite the closures at Pleasure Island, don't think Walt Disney World is completely devoid of nightclubs these days. If you take a trip over to Disney's BoardWalk, you'll find a modern dance club called Atlantic Dance Hall and a dueling-pianos bar called Jellyrolls. The rest of the BoardWalk also stays brightly lit until late at night, with sidewalk cafes, strolling magicians, and other quaint beach-style nightlife.
Most of the resort hotels have their own lounges as well. While they're not exactly a good place to dance the night away, they do offer a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere and plenty of adult beverages. And if you just want to have a drink with dinner, most of the restaurants on property offer at least a few alcoholic options—though you won't find any in the Magic Kingdom.
In Epcot, a popular stunt is called Drinking Around the World: have a drink in each of the countries of World Showcase. (Or, for a fun, free, and sober trip "around the world", try a variety of international Coca-Cola products at Club Cool in the Innoventions pavilion.)
There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing alcohol at WDW:
There are no alcoholic beverages for sale in the Magic Kingdom, except for Be Our Guest in Fantasyland.
The drinking age for alcohol in Walt Disney World (and all of Florida, for that matter) is 21. Be prepared for strict enforcement of this rule; anybody caught drinking underage, even with parents, may be subject to ejection from the property and criminal prosecution.
Be sure to bring an actual I.D. with you when purchasing beverages. Copies will not suffice.
No alcoholic beverages may be brought in to any of the theme parks.
Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed outside of, or even removed from, their designated places of purchase (i.e., alcohol purchased in Disney's Hollywood Studios cannot leave the park). Alcohol purchased at selected gift shops (such as Weinkeller in Epcot's Germany pavilion in World Showcase) will be sealed in a gift box; if the box is opened, the purchase cannot be carried out of the park. As an alternative, the shop will have the package delivered to the front gate or to your on-site resort hotel free of charge, or you can arrange for shipping back home for a fee.
Sleep[edit][add listing]
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget Less than $150
Mid-range $150–$250
Splurge $250 and up
One of the most important choices you must make when planning a Walt Disney World vacation is whether to stay on-site at one of the famed Disney resorts, or off-site at one of countless less expensive but more traditional hotels.
For many visitors, a vital part of the Walt Disney World "experience" is staying at one of the 24 Disney-owned and -operated resorts. Each and every one of the Disney resorts is strongly themed, impeccably maintained, and a vacation experience all to itself. Although none of the resorts can really be called cheap—in fact, most of them are luxurious and priced accordingly—the least expensive resorts have rooms for as little as $82 a night in the off-season.
Perhaps the greatest perk of staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort is the monorail station located conveniently in the atrium.
There are a number of perks that are available only to Disney resort hotel guests:
Free shuttle to and from Orlando International Airport with Disney's Magical Express
Your Key to the World card serves as your room key, park ticket, and room-charge card all in one
Extra Magic Hours – Extra morning and evening hours at selected parks
Free and convenient access to the parks via Disney transportation: motor coach, monorail, or water taxis
Your hotel is only a quick trip away, allowing you to leave the parks when the crowds (or the sun) get to be too much and take a nap or go for a dip in one of the hotel pools
Free parking at the parks if you choose to drive
Guaranteed admission to the parks (during the busiest of peak times, a park may (rarely) fill up and even guests with tickets may be turned away, but Disney resort guests will still be able to get in)
Eligibility for the Disney Dining Plan, which can save money on dining throughout the property
Ability to make advance dining reservations for your entire trip as early as 180 days before you arrive
Disney Cast Members available to answer your questions
Free package delivery from Disney-operated retail stores to your hotel
Free taxi service to the golf courses, if you don't have your own car
Unique Disney-style resort entertainment and theming
On the other hand, staying off-property can have its own perks. Lodging and food costs are indisputably cheaper—often significantly so, with frequent discounts. You can book condos or home rentals for large groups, which allows you to cook meals making dining costs even cheaper and lodging costs very cheap. Many off-site resorts do have shuttle service to the Disney parks, although the service can be limited, potentially inconvenient, and may carry a fee.
One possible compromise between the two approaches is to stay at the Walt Disney World Swan or Walt Disney World Dolphin, which offer a more traditional hotel experience with most of the Disney resort benefits available. Another option is to stay at a hotel in the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza; they're fairly generic and have few Disney amenities, but they're just across the street from Downtown Disney.
Disney resorts[edit]
Disney price seasons
(lowest to highest cost)
Value
January to mid-February; mid-July to September; early December
Regular
late April to mid-July; October and November
Peak
mid-February to mid-April
Summer
(value resorts only) late May to early August
Holiday
late December
Disney has created an incredible variety of themed resorts over the years, each one offering a unique experience to guests, ranging from the basic services and colorful decor at the three All-Star resorts, to the opulence and luxury of the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, to the rustic, wooded charm of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
Check-in time at Disney resorts is 3PM (4PM for the All-Star Resorts), and check-out time is 11AM—but don't fret if your flight schedule doesn't match up. You can do an early check-in starting at 8AM; leave your bags with bell services and they'll be delivered to your room when it's ready. You'll get your Key to the World card, so you can go enjoy the parks right away. Likewise at check-out; you can get into the parks all day on the day of your departure, so just leave your bags with bell services and pick them up before you leave for the airport.
Please see each district's Sleep section for details on individual hotels.
Please note that all Disney hotel rooms and other indoor areas are 100% smoke-free.
Budget[edit]
Disney classifies their cheapest options as Value resorts. These resorts are great for guests with a limited budget, or for families with young kids on whom the sophisticated theming and amenities at the other resorts would be wasted. Prices (one room, two adults and two children) range from $82/night for a standard room in the value season to $160/night for a preferred room during Christmas week. There is a $10 fee for each adult beyond two per room.
The Value resorts have basic rooms with exterior entrances and minimal amenities. The theming is bold and colorful—kids love the larger-than-life decorations—but not particularly evocative of any particular environment. Hotel amenities include food courts and swimming pools, but no sit-down restaurants or other on-site recreation options.
The Value resorts are All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All-Star Music near Animal Kingdom; and Art of Animation and Pop Century near Hollywood Studios.
If you have a tent, camper, or motorhome, perhaps the best value on Disney property is at Fort Wilderness (near the Magic Kingdom), where you can rent a campsite for as little as $43 a night.
Mid-range[edit]
These are Disney's Moderate resorts. Guests who want the full Disney resort experience without paying for the extra luxuries and amenities at the Deluxe resorts will be more than satisfied by the Moderate resorts. Prices (one room, two adults and two children) range from $149/night for a standard room in the value season to $250/night for a preferred room during Christmas week. Prices can go even higher for the new pirate-themed rooms at Caribbean Beach and club-level rooms and suites at Coronado Springs. There is a $15 fee for each adult beyond two per room.
The Moderate resorts have basic rooms with exterior entrances. The theming is straightforward but fun and evocative of the appropriate time and place, from the Louisiana bayou at Port Orleans-Riverside to the warm Caribbean colors of the Caribbean Beach. Hotel amenities include food courts, sit-down restaurants (usually), limited room service, swimming pools with extras (such as a slide), and some on-site recreation activities.
The Moderate resorts are Caribbean Beach near Hollywood Studios; Port Orleans-Riverside and Port Orleans-French Quarter near Downtown Disney; and Coronado Springs near Animal Kingdom.
Splurge[edit]
Disney's Deluxe resorts and the Deluxe villas fall into this category, the largest by far.
Deluxe resorts[edit]
The Deluxe resorts are for guests who want the ultimate in Disney hospitality, with luxury-hotel amenities and signature Disney experiences. Prices in this category vary widely. Some basic rooms can be had for as little as $240 a night in the value season, but more commonly start at $355/night and go up to $835 or more for the best single rooms. Luxurious suites are available at most of the resorts, starting at over $1,000/night and going up from there. There is a $25 fee for each adult beyond two per room.
Deluxe resorts feature well-appointed rooms with interior entrances and extensive theming to match the resort. A Deluxe resort's decor is evocative and all-encompassing, with as much attention paid to detail as at any of the Disney theme parks. Hotel amenities include multiple full-service and casual restaurants, often with character dining; full room service; extensive pool and beach facilities with plenty of extras; numerous on-site recreation activities; and valet parking.
The Deluxe resorts are the Contemporary, the Wilderness Lodge, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian near the Magic Kingdom; the Boardwalk Inn, the Yacht Club, and the Beach Club near Epcot, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge near Animal Kingdom.
The rental cabins at Fort Wilderness (near the Magic Kingdom) have full kitchens, plumbing, and maid service. They sleep six for $265–$410 a night.
Deluxe villas[edit]
The Deluxe villas were created to be part of the Disney Vacation Club, a time-share program created by Disney, but when DVC members aren't using them, they're open to the general public. The villas offer a more "home-away-from-home" feel, with studios and one-, two-, and even three-bedroom suites available. Prices range from $295/night for a studio at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs during the value season to $2,215/night for a three-bedroom Grand Villa at the Boardwalk or Beach Club Villas during Christmas week. If that price seems astonishing, consider that those villas sleep twelve people!
Studios have a kitchenette; the suites have full kitchens, and the largest ones, Grand Villas, have full dining rooms. Most of the DVC resorts are attached to one of Disney's Deluxe resorts, sharing amenities with the "parent" resort; the others (Old Key West and Saratoga Springs) are standalone but have comparable amenities.
The DVC resorts are Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary and the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge near the Magic Kingdom; the Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas near Epcot; the Animal Kingdom Villas near Animal Kingdom; and Old Key West and Saratoga Springs near Downtown Disney.
Non-Disney resorts[edit]
This section covers only those resorts that are not owned/operated by Disney, but are located on Disney property.
If you're going to stay off-property, there are scores of options, but be sure to research your selection well. Lots of hotels advertise themselves as being close to Walt Disney World, often with the word "Maingate" in their names, but they could be several miles away in reality. See Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee for off-property listings.
Budget[edit]
If you or a family member is an employee or retiree of the United States Department of Defense, including the military, you're in luck. Shades of Green, near the Magic Kingdom has rooms starting at $93, depending on the employee's pay grade. Amenities are somewhat limited, though; see the full listing for details.
For everyone else, affordable deals can be found at the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza located adjacent to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. There are seven franchised or independent hotels in the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza. Disney amenities are virtually nonexistent; only their proximity to Downtown Disney separates them from the other hotels in Lake Buena Vista. Their prices are quite reasonable, though, considering their location.
Splurge[edit]
The Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin, located near Epcot and not far from Hollywood Studios, have most of the amenities of Disney Resorts but are operated by Starwood Hotels, under the Westin and Sheraton banners (respectively). They are ideal for guests who want a more traditional hotel experience while still being right in the middle of Disney property. The whimsical exteriors are a sight to see all by themselves.
Contact[edit]
Generally, visitors enjoy coming to Walt Disney World for a break from daily life, but that doesn't mean you want to be cut off completely. Mail can be dropped off at locations just inside each theme park's gates. Or, to really get into the spirit, drop your postcard in a real vintage mailbox on Main Street U.S.A.; cast members pick up such mail daily. Deluxe hotels might provide copies of the local newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel; ask at the front desk.
After years of guest grumbling, Internet access is improving significantly. All resorts now offer free Wi-Fi in each guest room (free wired access at Fort Wilderness campsites) and in most common areas. As of Summer 2012, free Wi-Fi is also available at the Wide World of Sports and the Magic Kingdom, soon to be expanded to the other parks; this is expected to help alleviate the many cellular network load issues currently experienced at the Disney parks. The speed may not be great, but at least you'll be able to check your e-mail... and use Disney's mobile apps!
But remember, Walt Disney World is designed to be an immersive environment; you'll miss a lot if your eyes are locked onto a mobile device. Make an effort to keep the electronics usage to a minimum, and just enjoy a respite from the world outside the World.
Call[edit]
Useful phone numbers:
General Reservations and Disney's Magical Express: +1-800-4-DISNEY (434-7639) or +1 407-W-DISNEY (934-7639)
Walt Disney World Dining: +1 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463)
Walt Disney World Recreation: +1 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529)
Walt Disney World Fairy Tale Weddings: +1 407-828-3400
Walt Disney World College Program: +1 407-828-2850
Stay safe[edit]
Almost like being in Paris... almost
Walt Disney World is a very safe area, and the company spends a lot of time and money ensuring that it remains so. Still, it's wise to take common-sense precautions; even Disney can't account for every contingency. People have been victimized, injured, and even (very rarely) killed while visiting Walt Disney World, but there are plenty of steps you can take to minimize the chance of anything happening.
Security[edit]
Weapons of all sorts are prohibited in the parks; if you are carrying in a bag or backpack, a security officer will check its contents before you enter.
While theft is rare and security is always present throughout the resort, it's still a good idea to keep valuables locked in the electronic safe in your hotel room. Avoid bringing unnecessary items with you, and if you must, rent a locker and store them locked inside during your visit.
Keep your eye on your belongings at all times. Do not display cash in public. Consider wearing a money belt. Do not leave anything in an unattended stroller or wheelchair, especially when you go on a ride. If possible, leave loose articles with a non-rider.
Children are very safe at Walt Disney World, but it's not uncommon for parents and children to get separated due to the crowds. One suggestion is to write down your child's name with your name, resort, cell phone number, and any vital medical information on a 3x5 index card. Place the card in your child's pocket and instruct him/her to show the card to any Cast Member in the event that you get separated. Likewise, if you lose your child, notify a Cast Member immediately. They are all well trained and will get you reunited as quickly as possible. Some families also wear T-shirts with very bright, bold colors, making it less difficult to spot a member of your party in a sea of people.
If your child goes on a ride on his/her own, make sure you know where the ride's exit is. Arrange a place to meet with all members of your party if you become separated. Make the meeting place easy to find, but out of the way; areas such as in front of Cinderella Castle or the front of the park are likely to be too crowded to be useful.
Ride safety[edit]
Travel Warning WARNING: Some attractions have safety restrictions. Children not meeting the minimum height requirement and pregnant women are not permitted to experience these attractions. Persons susceptible to motion sickness or having high blood pressure or heart, neck, or back problems should also avoid riding as these conditions are easily aggravated. Restraining devices may prevent persons of certain body shapes or sizes from riding.
The above warning applies to the following attractions:
Magic Kingdom
Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Epcot
Test Track, Mission: Space
Hollywood Studios
Star Tours, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Animal Kingdom
Dinosaur, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, Primeval Whirl
Stitch's Great Escape in the Magic Kingdom has the same restrictions, except for the prohibition on pregnant women.
If your child does not meet the ride's height requirement, there is a "rider swap" service available. This service enables one person to wait with the child while another goes on the ride; afterwards the person waiting with the child may board the ride without having to wait in line. Ask a Cast Member for more information.
Also note that lap children are not permitted on most rides, especially if there are restraining devices.
Animal safety[edit]
With the exception of working service animals, pets are not permitted in the parks, Downtown Disney, transportation vehicles, or resorts. Designated areas of Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground do allow pets, specifically dogs, but those areas are limited. Best Friends Pet Care [27] operates a "pet resort" near the Port Orleans resorts, offering a variety of packages, including both day stays and overnight accommodations, with separate areas for dogs, cats, and "pocket pets" like hamsters.
Do not leave your pet in your car. It is against the law in Florida, as well as potentially fatal. The penalty is a $5,000 fine. A car with a pet locked inside will be broken into to remove the pet, and WDW will not be held liable for any damages incurred.
Service animals may not be accommodated on some attractions. In that case, they must remain with a non-riding member of your party, as Cast Members are not authorized to handle service animals.
Assistance[edit]
If you have car trouble while in a theme park's parking lot, raise your car's hood, and someone will come to your assistance.
Just like anywhere else in the USA, the emergency number throughout Walt Disney World is 911. Contacting this number will get you in touch with Reedy Creek Emergency Services [28], WDW's fire, and emergency medical service. Police services are provided by Orange County Sheriff's Office or Osceola County Sheriff's Department.
Minor first aid services are available free of charge at any park or resort and offer a quiet and cool place to rest:
Magic Kingdom — next to the Crystal Palace, left around the central hub.
Epcot — next to the baby center on the World Showcase side of the Odyssey Center.
Hollywood Studios — at Guest Relations
Animal Kingdom — in Discovery Island, next to Creature Comforts
If an emergency need for prescription drugs occurs, Turner Drugs [29], +1 407-828-8125 at 1530 Celebration Blvd Suite 105-A will deliver the medication. They also will deliver OTC items and pick-up many items they do not stock and deliver them, as well. Most WDW hotels will pay for the delivery and charge the guest's room. There are also several Walgreens locations nearby.
There are two full-service medical facilities just outside the property lines:
Celebration Health, 400 Celebration Pl, +1 407-303-4000, [30]. Located at the intersection of I-4, US-192, and FL-417.
CentraCare, 12500 S Apopka Vineland Rd, +1 407 934-2273, [31]. Located adjacent to the Downtown Disney Hotel Plaza.
Weather[edit]
Especially during the spring and summer, heat is the most likely weather-related issue you'll encounter.
To cope:
Wear a light-colored shirt during the summer. White and light colors reflect sunlight better than darker colors, so you won't get overheated as easily. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your head, face and eyes. Sunscreen may be purchased at most gift shops, but are often sold exorbitantly overpriced, so it may be easier on your wallet to bring your own.
Drink lots of water. You can easily become dehydrated in the heat. Stay clear of carbonated drinks, tea and coffee. Dehydration can lead to weakness, fatigue, and eventually heat stroke due to the body's reduced ability to regulate its temperature.
Go back to your hotel in the afternoon for a dip in the pool to cool you off. Or cool off in the one of the many interactive fountains that can be found in the parks. (Don't forget to take spare clothing with you!) Another good idea would be to visit Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon in the morning, then head to the theme parks afterwards; this will give your body adequate hydration to better withstand the heat.
Go indoors, into an air-conditioned shop or attraction. Try to do the outdoor attractions in the morning, and save the indoor attractions and shows until the afternoon when it's hotter.
If your trip is in the late summer or early fall, you'll soon learn about the daily afternoon thundershowers. They are usually brief and won't ruin your whole day. If you want to stay dry, rain ponchos and umbrellas are sold throughout the parks. Walt Disney World does not close down due to rain, though some outdoor rides and attractions may temporarily do so.
Hurricanes, though, are a different story. The Orlando area is as far from the coasts as anyplace in the state, so hurricane-related closures are very rare. If the parks do end up closed for high winds, though, your resort hotel will make sure you stay entertained, sometimes with special appearances from the Disney characters. The hotels are perfectly safe in high winds.
Cope[edit]
Sometimes you just want to relax on the beach
There's a way to get just about anything you might need while at Walt Disney World, although some may be more convenient than others.
All resorts have coin-operated laundry facilities, daily maid service, and at least one shop selling basic essentials and sundries.
Most of the resorts have exercise facilities; at the value resorts, though, you'll have to be content with just using a jogging path or swimming in the pool. Deluxe resorts will have more extensive "health club" facilities—in particular, the Grand Floridian's health club, attached to the spa, is quite spacious.
If you find yourself in need of a haircut, there are a number of options. Most interesting is the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom; first haircuts are their specialty, but anyone can walk in for a trim. The Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs, the Grand Floridian, and the Yacht and Beach Clubs also have hair salons.
Child care[edit]
Sometimes, parents want to spend some time for themselves at Walt Disney World, be it going to a fancy dinner, enjoying some alcoholic beverages, or even sneaking another ride on Space Mountain without the kids tagging along. Parents of teenagers can just set them loose in a theme park and trust they'll be all right, but younger kids require more supervision.
What's a parent to do? There are a number of options.
Several of the resorts offer safe and secure Children's Activity Centers, and you don't have to be staying at the resort to take advantage of them! The Centers are open daily from 4:30PM until midnight, and are well staffed by trained and certified child care personnel. Children must be potty trained and be between the ages of 4 and 12 (inclusive). The cost is $11.50 per hour per child, with a two-hour minimum; dinner is included if the kids are there between 6PM and 8PM. Your children will enjoy so many games, crafts, and activities that they won't even care you're off having fun without them. Of course, you'll be given a pager in case there's an emergency, and you can call at any time to check up on your kid.
The Children's Activity Centers include:
Cub's Den, Wilderness Lodge
The Mouseketeer Club, Grand Floridian Resort
The Neverland Club, Polynesian Resort
Sandcastle Club, Yacht and Beach Club Resorts (WDW resort guests only)
Simba's Clubhouse, Animal Kingdom Lodge
If your kids are too young for the activity centers, or you want to stay out past their bedtime, you can get in-room babysitting. WDW recommends Kid's Nite Out [32], +1-800-696-8105, but other equally reliable services operate in the area as well. Some, including Kid's Nite Out, offer 24/7 service. Rates run about $12–$25 an hour, depending on time and number of children.
Get out[edit]
Avoid I-4
In some cases, it may be a good idea to avoid Interstate 4 and instead use Turkey Lake Road, a surface street that parallels I-4 to the west, to travel from Walt Disney World to SeaWorld and Universal. This strategy can easily save you time, fuel, and aggravation.
Alternatively, you can also take LYNX Route 50 to SeaWorld from the Transportation and Ticket Center or Downtown Disney Westside.
It is also possible to get to Universal via the LYNX system, but it involves making transfers. Take Route 50 to SeaWorld and transfer to Route 8 which will take you to Wet 'n Wild, at the intersection of International Drive and Universal Boulevard. Here you can either transfer to Route 37 or walk about 15 minutes to get to Universal.
Mears Transportation [33] provides round-trip shuttle service to Busch Gardens from various locations in the Orlando area. The fare is $10 per person, or free with the Orlando Flex Ticket Plus. Note that you are responsible for your own transportation to/from the pickup point.
Walt Disney World lies at the heart of an archetypal Floridian paradise, with enough attractions and activities outside of Disney property to fill a good-sized book. You'll need to arrange some sort of transportation—be it rental car, municipal bus, or one of the many area shuttle services (see infobox)—to get to these other attractions, but they are certainly worth a look if you have the time, or if you just want to get away from Disney for a while.
If you are planning to visit the other Orlando theme parks, you might want to consider getting the Orlando Flex Ticket [34] ($265), which is valid for 14 consecutive days beginning with the first use, and gives unlimited admission to Universal Orlando Resort (both parks), SeaWorld Orlando, and their water parks; or the Orlando Flex Ticket Plus ($304), which covers Universal, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens, and also includes a free round trip shuttle bus to Busch Gardens from Orlando.
For a broader spectrum of entertainment options, the Go Orlando Card [35] is available in increments of 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days and gives free admission and express entry to a number of attractions in and around Orlando and Kissimmee. Unfortunately, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal are not included in the Go Orlando Card. The complete list of attractions where it is accepted may be found here [36].
To Orlando...[edit]
International Drive [37] is Orlando's dynamic tourist corridor. With a multitude of attractions, dining, and shopping, it makes for the perfect side trip. Here you can also find Orlando's two other world-famous theme parks:
SeaWorld Orlando, 7007 SeaWorld Dr (I-4 at SR 528), ☎ +1-888-800-5447, [38]. See Shamu and his friends perform the most fascinating animal shows ever. Also, cool off at the sister water park Aquatica [39], or swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove [40]. Admission to Discovery Cove is limited to 1,000 people a day, and reservations are an absolute must. $42-$280. edit
Universal Orlando Resort, 6000 Universal Blvd (I-4 to Exit 74B or 75A), ☎ +1 407-363-8000, [41]. Features Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk. If the heat becomes unbearable, take a break between the parks at Wet 'n Wild Orlando [42], just a short drive, bus ride, or walk south. And the perfect way to wrap up your visit to Universal is by watching a performance of the Blue Man Group [43]. $74-$104. edit
...and beyond[edit]
It's not just about Orlando, either; Central Florida is packed with attractions from coast to coast.
Tampa (I-4 west to I-75) — Theme park enthusiasts will come to Tampa for Busch Gardens [44], but there's plenty else to do and see in Florida's third most populous city, including Buccaneers football, Rays baseball, and Lightning hockey.
Clermont (I-4 to US 192 to US 27 N) — Check out one of the oldest central Florida landmarks, the Citrus Tower [45]. Completed in 1956, this 226-foot observation tower still stands tall over former orange groves.
Daytona Beach (I-4 east to I-95) — Home to NASCAR's most legendary racetrack. The Daytona 500 Experience is billed as "The Official Attraction of NASCAR", a must for car-racing fans.
Cape Canaveral (I-4 east to SR 528) — While countless cruise ships dock at Port Canaveral just to the north, the Cape is most well known for the Kennedy Space Center [46], where American astronauts have been launching into space since the 1960s. There's a museum on the history of space exploration, two IMAX theatres, and tour buses to the (otherwise restricted) launch facility.
Dodo's Toy Box (Dodo'nun Oyuncak Kutusunda Neler Var?) by Dodo
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