Table of Contents

Introduction


Why "Unofficial,"


Walt Disney World: An Overview


What's NEW at Walt Disney World since your last visit?



PART ONE Planning Before You Leave Home


Gathering Information


When to Go to Walt Disney World



PART TWO Making the Most of Your Time and Money


Allocating Money


Allocating Time


Understanding Walt Disney World Attractions


Central Florida Roller Coasters


What you Get and What you Pay at WDW



PART THREE Accommodations


The Basic Considerations


The Disney Resorts


Walt Disney World Hotel Profiles


How to Evaluate a Walt Disney World Travel Package


Disney Lodging for Less


Hotels outside Walt Disney World


Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked


The top 20 deals


How the Hotels Compare


Hotel Information Chart


How the Hotels Compare


Hotel Information Chart



PART FOUR Dining in and around Walt Disney World


Dining outside Walt Disney World


Where to Eat Outside Walt Disney World


Dining in Walt Disney World


Disney Dining 101


Advance Reservations: The Official Line


Advance Reservations: The Unofficial Scoop


Walt Disney World Buffets and Family-Style


Restaurants


Disney Dining Suggestions


Counter-Service Restaurant Mini-Profiles


Full-Service Restaurant Rated and Ranked


Walt Disney World Restaurants by Cuisine



PART FIVE Walt Disney World with Kids


The Ecstasy and the Agony


Lost Children


Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff


Small Child Fright Potential Chart


Attraction and Ride Restrictions


Waiting-Line Strategies for Adults with Young Children


The Disney Characters


Character Dining


Character Meal Hit Parade


Babysitting


Special Programs for Children


Birthdays and Special Occasions


PART SIX Special Tips for Special People


Walt Disney World for Singles


Tips for Going Solo


Walt Disney World for Couples


Walt Disney World "At Large"


Walt Disney World for Expectant Mothers


Walt Disney World for Seniors


Walt Disney World for Guests with Special Needs



PART SEVEN Arriving and Getting Around


Getting There


Getting Oriented


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


Door-to-Door Commuting Times to and from the Disney Resorts and Parks



PART EIGHT Bare Necessities


Money, Etc.


Problems and Unusual Situations


Services



PART NINE The Magic Kingdom


Arriving


Getting Oriented


Main Street, U.S.A.


Adventureland


Frontierland


Liberty Square


Fantasyland


Tomorrowland


Live Entertainment in the Magic Kingdom


Mickey's Halloween and Christmas Parties and 23-Hour-Events


Parades


Traffic Patterns in the Magic Kingdom


Magic Kingdom Touring Plans



PART TEN Epcot


Arriving


Getting Oriented


Future World


World Showcase


Live Entertainment in Epcot


Traffic Patterns in Epcot


Epcot Touring Plans



PART ELEVEN Disney's Animal Kingdom


Arriving


Getting Oriented


The Oasis


Discovery Island


Africa


Asia


DinoLand U.S.A.


Live Entertainment in Disney's Animal Kingdom


Traffic Patterns in Disney's Animal Kingdom


Disney's Animal Kingdom Touring Plan



PART TWELVE Disney's Hollywood Studios


DHS: A Brief History


The Studios in Perspective


DHS at a Glance


Disney's Hollywood Studios Attractions


Live Entertainment at Disney's Hollywood Studios


Disney's Hollywood Studios Touring Plan



PART THIRTEEN Universal Orlando


A Universal Primer


Universal on the Web


Cost


A Word about Crowds


How Much Time to Allocate


Lodging at Universal Orlando


Arriving at Universal Orlando


Universal Express


Singles Lines


UBot


Lockers


Universal, Kids, and Scary Stuff


Blue Man Group


Universal Orlando Dining Plan


New and Upcoming at Universal Orlando



PART FOURTEEN Universal?s Islands of Adventure


Getting Oriented at Universal?s Islands of Adventure


Universal's Islands of Adventure Attractions


Dining at Universal's Islands of Adventure


Universal's Islands of Adventure Touring Plan



PART FIFTEEN Universal Studios Florida


Universal Studios Florida Attractions


Live Entertainment at Universal Studios Florida


Dining at Universal Studios Florida


Universal Studios Florida Touring Plan



PART SIXTEEN SeaWorld Orlando


SeaWorld at a Glance


Discovery Cove



PART SEVENTEEN The Water Parks


You're Soaking in It!


Blizzard Beach


Typhoon Lagoon


Typhoon Lagoon versus Blizzard Beach


When to Go


Planning Your Day at Disney Water Parks


Water-Park Touring Plans


Aquatica by SeaWorld



PART EIGHTEEN Behind-the-Scenes and VIP Tours at Walt Disney World


Multi-park Tours


Behind the Scenes at the Magic Kingdom


Behind the Scenes at Epcot


Behind the Scenes at Disney's Animal Kingdom


VIP Tours



PART NINETEEN Disney Springs, Universal City Walk, Shopping, and Nightlife


Disney Springs


Universal CityWalk


Dining


Shopping in the Theme Parks and Orlando


Tips for Avoiding Buyer's Remorse


Walt Disney World Shopping at a Glance


Shopping at Universal Orlando


Shopping Outside the Theme Parks


Entertainment and Nightlife


Nightlife at Walt Disney World Resorts


Nightlife at Disney Springs


Nightlife at Universal Orlando Resorts


Nightlife at Universal CityWalk


Live Music at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando


Walt Disney World Dinner Theaters



PART TWENTY Recreation, Sports, and Spas


Walt Disney World Recreation


Run, Disney, Run


ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex


Walt Disney World Golf


Miniature Golf


Serenity Now! A Look at Disney-Area


Spas



Appendix


Readers' Questions to the Author


Readers' Comments



Accommodations Index


Restaurant Index


Subject Index


Touring Plans


Clip-Out Touring Plan Companions

About the Author

Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of The Unofficial Guide series. He's the author of 27 books and lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

Len Testa, a lifelong Disney theme park fan, is also coauthor of The Color Companion to Walt Disney World, The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, and The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. Len leads the team at TouringPlans.com, the website and research arm of The Unofficial Guides. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

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