The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2012

List of Maps & Diagrams ix

Introduction 1

Why "Unofficial"? 1

Walt Disney World: An Overview 14

PART ONE Planning Before You Leave Home 22

Gathering Information 22

IMPORTANT WALT DISNEY WORLD ADDRESSES 25

WALT DISNEY WORLD PHONE NUMBERS 26-27

When to Go to Walt Disney World 30

PART TWO Making the Most of Your Time and Money 44

Allocating Money 44

Allocating Time 54

Understanding Walt Disney World Attractions 83

PART THREE Accommodations 96

The Basic Considerations 96

The Disney Resorts 100

Walt Disney World Hotel Profiles 133

How to Evaluate a Walt Disney World Travel Package 204

DISNEY LODGING FOR LESS 206-207

Hotels outside Walt Disney World 218

Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked 245

THE TOP 30 BEST DEALS 249

HOW THE HOTELS COMPARE 251-256

HOTEL INFORMATION CHART 257-274

PART FOUR Serenity Now! A Look at Disney-area Spas 275

Spa Profiles 276

PART FIVE The Disney Cruise Line 281

The Mouse at Sea 281

The Ships 284

Services and Amenities 286

Castaway Cay 291

Disney Cruise Line and the Economy 292

A Few Tips 294

PART SIX Walt Disney World with Kids 295

The Ecstasy and the Agony 295

Lost Children 314

Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff 317

SMALL-CHILD FRIGHT-POTENTIAL CHART 318-323

ATTRACTION AND RIDE RESTRICTIONS 327

Waiting-line Strategies for Adults with Young Children 328

The Disney Characters 332

Character Dining 338

CHARACTER-MEAL HIT PARADE 340

Babysitting 345

Special Programs for Children 346

Birthdays and Special Occasions 348

PART SEVEN Special Tips for Special People 349

Walt Disney World for Singles 349

Walt Disney World for Couples 349

TIPS FOR GOING SOLO 350-351

Walt Disney World "At Large" 352

Walt Disney World for Expectant Mothers 353

Walt Disney World for Seniors 355

Walt Disney World for Guests with Disabilities 357

PART EIGHT Arriving and Getting Around 363

Getting There 363

RENT AT THE AIRPORT OR OFF-SITE? 374-375

Getting Oriented 376

How to Travel around the World (or The Real Mr. Toad's Wild Ride) 377

DOOR-TO-DOOR COMMUTING TIMES TO AND FROM THE DISNEY RESORTS

AND PARKS 388-389

PART NINE Bare Necessities 396

Credit Cards and Money 396

Problems and Unusual Situations 397

Services 402

PART TEN Dining in and around Walt Disney World 406

Dining outside Walt Disney World 406

WHERE TO EAT OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD 408-411

Dining in Walt Disney World 414

Disney Dining 101 415

ADVANCE RESERVATIONS: THE OFFICIAL LINE 416

ADVANCE RESERVATIONS: THE UNOFFICIAL SCOOP 417

WALT DISNEY WORLD BUFFETS AND FAMILY-STYLE RESTAURANTS 424

Disney Dining Suggestions 431

Counter-service Restaurant Mini-profiles 442

Walt Disney World Restaurants: Rated and Ranked 451

Full-service Restaurant Profiles 452

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE 454-457

PART ELEVEN The Magic Kingdom 499

Arriving 499

Getting Oriented 502

Starting the Tour 503

Main Street, U.S.A. 504

Adventureland 505

Frontierland 508

Liberty Square 513

Fantasyland 516

Tomorrowland 524

Live Entertainment in the Magic Kingdom 531

Parades 534

Traffic Patterns in the Magic Kingdom 539

Magic Kingdom Touring Plans 541

PART TWELVE Epcot 547

Arriving 550

Getting Oriented 550

Future World 551

World Showcase 565

Live Entertainment in Epcot 575

Traffic Patterns in Epcot 580

Epcot Touring Plans 581

PART THIRTEEN Disney's Animal Kingdom 584

Arriving 589

Getting Oriented 590

The Oasis 591

Discovery Island 591

Camp Minnie-Mickey 593

Africa 595

Asia 599

DinoLand U.S.A. 604

Live Entertainment in Disney's Animal Kingdom 609

Traffic Patterns in Disney's Animal Kingdom 610

Disney's Animal Kingdom Touring Plan 611

PART FOURTEEN Disney's Hollywood Studios, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld 613

Disney's Hollywood Studios versus Universal Studios Florida 613

Disney's Hollywood Studios 618

Disney's Hollywood Studios Attractions 620

Live Entertainment at Disney's Hollywood Studios 640

Disney's Hollywood Studios Touring Plan 641

Universal Orlando 642

Universal Studios Florida 651

Universal Studios Florida Attractions 655

Live Entertainment at Universal Studios Florida 669

Universal Studios Florida Touring Plan 670

Universal's Islands of Adventure 670

Getting Oriented at Universal's Islands of Adventure 674

Universal's Islands of Adventure Attractions 675

Universal's Islands of Adventure Touring Plan 696

SeaWorld 698

PART FIFTEEN Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney World 702

Multipark Tours 702

Behind the Scenes at the Magic Kingdom 703

Behind the Scenes at Epcot 703

Behind the Scenes at Disney's Animal Kingdom 706

PART SIXTEEN The Water Parks 707

You're Soaking in It! 707

Blizzard Beach 708

Typhoon Lagoon 710

Wet 'n Wild 714

Aquatica by SeaWorld 717

Typhoon Lagoon versus Blizzard Beach 719

When to Go 720

Planning Your Day at Disney Water Parks 721

Water-park Touring Plans 725

PART SEVENTEEN Beyond the Parks 726

Downtown Disney 726

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex 730

Walt Disney World Speedway 730

Walt Disney World Golf 731

Golf beyond Walt Disney World 734

Miniature Golf 743

PART EIGHTEEN Shopping in and out of Walt Disney World 744

Hey, Big Spender 744

Shopping in Walt Disney World 748

Disney Outlet Stores 760

Shopping beyond Walt Disney World 760

PART NINETEEN Nightlife in and out of Walt Disney World 764

Walt Disney World at Night 764

Universal CityWalk 771

Appendix, Indexes, Touring Plans, and Reader Surveys 772

Readers' Questions to the Author 772

Readers' Comments 774

Accommodations Index 776

Restaurant Index 783

Subject Index 787

Touring Plans 814

TYPICAL WDW STANDBY WAIT TIMES 834-835

TYPICAL FASTPASS DISTRIBUTION TIMES 836-837

TYPICAL UNIVERSAL STANDBY WAIT TIMES 838-839

Clip-out Touring Plan Companions 841

2012 Unofficial Guide Reader Survey 849

Walt Disney World Restaurant Survey 851