| |
List of Maps |
xi |
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Introduction |
1 |
| |
Why This Pocket Guide? |
1 |
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Declaration of Independence |
1 |
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How This Guide Was Researched and Written |
2 |
| |
Walt Disney World: An Overview |
2 |
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What Walt Disney World Encompasses |
2 |
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The Major Theme Parks |
3 |
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Water Theme Parks |
4 |
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Other Disney World Venues |
4 |
| Part 1 |
Planning before You Leave Home |
8 |
| |
Gathering Information |
8 |
| |
Walt Disney World on the Web |
9 |
| |
Disney World Information by Mail |
11 |
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Important Disney World Telephone Numbers |
12 |
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When to Go to Walt Disney World |
12 |
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Selecting the Time of Year for Your Visit |
12 |
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Selecting the Day of the Week for Your Visit |
13 |
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Early Entry: Now you See It, Now You Don't, Now You See It ... |
14 |
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And Now ... Ta-Da! Our Recommendations |
14 |
| Part 2 |
Making the Most of Your Time and Money |
17 |
| |
Allocating Money |
17 |
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Walt Disney World Admission Options |
17 |
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Which Admission Should You Buy? |
20 |
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Where to Buy Your Admission in Advance |
21 |
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Allocating Time |
21 |
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Which Park to See First? |
21 |
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Operating Hours |
22 |
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The Cardinal Rules for Successful Touring |
22 |
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Touring Plans Explained |
24 |
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FASTPASS |
26 |
| Part 3 |
Selecting Your Hotel |
30 |
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The Basic Considerations |
30 |
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Benefits of Staying in the World |
30 |
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Staying in or out of the World: Weighing the Pros and Cons |
31 |
| |
How to Get Discounts on Lodging at Walt Disney World |
32 |
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Choosing a Walt Disney World Hotel |
36 |
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Camping at Walt Disney World |
42 |
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Hotels outside Walt Disney World |
43 |
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Selecting and Booking a Hotel outside Walt Disney World |
43 |
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Getting a Good Deal on a Room outside Walt Disney World |
44 |
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The Best Hotels for Families outside Walt Disney World |
46 |
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Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked |
59 |
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Room Ratings |
59 |
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How the Hotels Compare |
61 |
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The Top 30 Best Deals |
70 |
| Part 4 |
Walt Disney World with Kids |
72 |
| |
Recommendations for Making the Dream Come True |
72 |
| |
Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff |
77 |
| |
Switching Off (a.k.a. The Baby Swap) |
77 |
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Meeting the Disney Characters |
78 |
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Small-Child Fright Potential Chart |
80 |
| |
Character Dining |
84 |
| |
Character Meal Hit Parade |
86 |
| |
Baby-Sitting |
88 |
| Part 5 |
Special Tips for Special People |
90 |
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Walt Disney World for Singles |
90 |
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Walt Disney World for Couples |
90 |
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Weddings and Honeymoons |
90 |
| |
Romantic Getaways |
91 |
| |
Quiet, Romantic Places to Eat |
91 |
| |
Walt Disney World for Seniors |
92 |
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Getting Around |
92 |
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Lodging |
92 |
| |
Senior Dining |
93 |
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Walt Disney World for Disabled Guests |
93 |
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Visitors with Special Needs |
94 |
| Part 6 |
Arriving and Getting Around |
96 |
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Getting There |
96 |
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Directions |
96 |
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Getting to Walt Disney World from the Airport |
98 |
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Renting a Car |
99 |
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Getting Oriented |
99 |
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A Good Map |
99 |
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How to Travel around the World |
100 |
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Transportation Trade-Offs for Guests: Lodging outside Walt Disney World |
100 |
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All You Need to Know about Driving to the Theme Parks |
100 |
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The Disney Transportation System |
102 |
| Part 7 |
Bare Necessities |
105 |
| |
Credit Cards and Money |
105 |
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Credit Cards |
105 |
| |
Financial Matters |
105 |
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Problems and Unusual Situations |
106 |
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Attractions Closed for Repairs |
106 |
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Car Trouble |
106 |
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Lost and Found |
106 |
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Medical Matters |
106 |
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Rain |
107 |
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Services |
107 |
| |
Messages |
107 |
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Pet Care |
108 |
| |
Lockers and Package Pick-up |
108 |
| |
Cameras and Film |
108 |
| Part 8 |
Dining in Walt Disney World |
109 |
| |
Disney Dining 101 |
109 |
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Priority Seating |
109 |
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Dress |
109 |
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Smoking |
109 |
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Walt Disney World Restaurant Categories |
110 |
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Disney Dining Suggestions |
112 |
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The Magic Kingdom |
113 |
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Epcot |
113 |
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Disney-MGM Studios |
113 |
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Animal Kingdom |
114 |
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Walt Disney World Restaurants: Rated and Ranked |
114 |
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Walt Disney World Restaurants by Cuisine |
115 |
| Part 9 |
The Magic Kingdom |
119 |
| |
Arriving |
119 |
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Getting Oriented |
119 |
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Starting the Tour |
122 |
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FASTPASS at the Magic Kingdom |
122 |
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Main Street, U.S.A. |
123 |
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Adventureland |
125 |
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Frontierland |
128 |
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Liberty Square |
133 |
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Fantasyland |
135 |
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Mickey's Toontown Fair |
141 |
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Tomorrowland |
145 |
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Live Entertainment in the Magic Kingdom |
152 |
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Parades |
155 |
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Afternoon Parade |
155 |
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Evening Parade(s) |
155 |
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Parade Route and Vantage Points |
156 |
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Magic Kingdom Touring Plans |
157 |
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Choosing the Appropriate Touring Plan |
157 |
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The Single-Day Touring Conundrum |
159 |
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E-Ride Night |
159 |
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Preliminary Instructions for All Magic Kingdom Touring Plans |
160 |
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Park Opening Procedures |
161 |
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Before You Go |
161 |
| |
Magic Kingdom Touring Plans |
162 |
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Magic Kingdom One-Day Touring Plan for Adults |
162 |
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Author's Selective Magic Kingdom One-Day Touring Plan for Adults |
164 |
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Magic Kingdom One-Day Touring Plan for Parents with Young Children |
166 |
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Magic Kingdom Dumbo-or-Die-in-a-Day Touring Plan for Parents with Young Children |
169 |
| |
Magic Kingdom Two-Day Touring Plan |
171 |
| Part 10 |
Epcot |
174 |
| |
Overview |
174 |
| |
Operating Hours |
174 |
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Arriving |
175 |
| |
Getting Oriented |
176 |
| |
Future World |
177 |
| |
Guest Relations |
178 |
| |
World Showcase |
191 |
| |
Live Entertainment in Epcot |
198 |
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The Best Ways to See IllumiNations |
200 |
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Epcot Touring Plans |
204 |
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Preliminary Instructions for All Epcot Touring Plans |
204 |
| |
Epcot One-Day Touring Plan |
205 |
| |
Author's Selective Epcot One-Day Touring Plan |
207 |
| |
Epcot Two-Day Sunrise/Starlight Touring Plan |
209 |
| |
Epcot Two-Day Early Riser Touring Plan |
211 |
| Part 11 |
The Animal Kingdom |
215 |
| |
Arriving |
218 |
| |
Operating Hours |
218 |
| |
When to Go |
219 |
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Getting Oriented |
220 |
| |
The Oasis |
220 |
| |
Discovery Island |
221 |
| |
Camp Minnie-Mickey |
223 |
| |
Africa |
225 |
| |
Asia |
230 |
| |
DinoLand U.S.A. |
233 |
| |
Live Entertainment in the Animal Kingdom |
237 |
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Animal Kingdom Touring Plan |
238 |
| |
Animal Kingdom One-Day Touring Plan |
238 |
| Part 12 |
Disney-MGM Studios |
241 |
| |
Arriving |
245 |
| |
Getting Oriented |
245 |
| |
Attractions |
246 |
| |
Live Entertainment at Disney-MGM Studios |
261 |
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Disney-MGM Studios Touring Plan |
263 |
| |
Disney-MGM Studios One-Day Touring Plan |
264 |
| Part 13 |
The Water Theme Parks |
266 |
| |
Blizzard Beach |
266 |
| |
Typhoon Lagoon |
267 |
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When to Go |
267 |
| Part 14 |
Beyond the Parks |
269 |
| |
Downtown Disney |
269 |
| |
Downtown Disney Marketplace |
269 |
| |
Pleasure Island |
270 |
| |
Disney's West Side |
270 |
| |
DisneyQuest |
271 |
| |
Disney's Wide World of Sports |
271 |
| |
The Disney Wilderness Preserve |
271 |
| |
Walt Disney World Speedway |
272 |
| |
Walt Disney World Recreation |
272 |
| |
Walt Disney World Golf |
273 |
| |
Miniature Golf |
274 |
| Part 15 |
Nightlife in Walt Disney World |
275 |
| |
Walt Disney World at Night |
275 |
| |
In the Theme Parks |
275 |
| |
At the Hotels |
275 |
| |
At Fort Wilderness Campground |
276 |
| |
At Disney's BoardWalk |
276 |
| |
At Downtown Disney |
276 |
| |
Walt Disney World Dinner Theaters |
278 |
| |
Pleasure Island |
280 |
| |
Index |
283 |
| |
Reader Survey |
299 |