The Complete Idiot's Guide to Walt Disney World, 2012 Edition
Page 32
Sea World Parks
Sea World has grown into a multiple-park venue, with a water park, an aquatic life experience park, and the long-popular Sea World main park. Tickets can be ordered in advance at www.seaworld.com or 1-800-4ADVENTURE (423-8368). Ticket combinations with other parks such as Busch Gardens are also available, so look into those, too.
Sea World Adventure Park
This aquatic theme park gives visitors up-close and entertaining access to the wonders of the ocean. Long-popular shows with the famed killer whale Shamu, as well as manatees, dolphins, and other displays of sea life from around the world, are entertaining and educational all at once. There are also a few rides, such as the Kraken roller coaster and the Journey to Atlantis log flume. One day tickets are $80 for adults ($72 for children), with package combinations with Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and Aquatica available.
Discovery Cove
This attraction is not a theme park at all. Discovery Cove is a relatively new addition to the Orlando area that offers you a chance to swim with the dolphins. One of the Anheuser-Busch properties (like Sea World and Busch Gardens), it’s located next to Sea World. Reservations are required, as only 1,000 guests are allowed in at a time. Inside, guests can have a 30-minute session with dolphins, swim among rays in their own lagoon, or snorkel in a coral reef and along a lazy tropical river. Also inside are an aviary and a resort pool, all in a lush jungle setting that provides a very rare and relaxing experience. Tickets range from $229 to $289, depending on the time of year. Less expensive tickets without the dolphin experience are available. Reservations can be made at www.discoverycove.com or 1-877-4-DISCOVERY (1-877-434-7268).
Aquatica, Sea World’s Water Park
This water park often has ticket packages that combine with Sea World and Busch Gardens. This fairly new park has many of the standards that you would expect from a water park, like a wave pool, a lazy river, and lots of extreme water slides. One-day tickets start at $42 ($36 for children age 3–9), and are, as with all others parks listed here, available as part of several multi-park ticket options.
Wet ‘n Wild
The Wet ‘n Wild water park takes what you get at the two Disney water parks and thrills it up a bit. Some of the better attractions range from the thrill rides like Blue Niagara to multi-person rides such as the Black Hole and Disco H2O, that are very inventive and fun for a group. The kids’ areas are toned-down safe zones. Singleday tickets run $48 (adult) and $42 (child).
International Drive
There’s no nice way to put it: International Drive is a crazed, overdeveloped avenue of stores, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. It’s a great place to go if you’re ready to get away from the theme park haze or if you’re looking for something different for dinner. It is also likely where you will stay if your reason for visiting is a convention at the Orange County Convention Center. Just make sure that you plan enough time to get there, as the traffic congestion is significant, especially in the evening.
Summary
Now you have an idea about what lies outside the Disney enclave. Don’t feel like you have to stay on Disney property all the time. As long as you’re prepared, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a great addition to your vacation experience.
Appendix A
Itineraries
The itineraries included here are tools to help you navigate the parks. Each provides a general path through the parks, based on different kinds of travel groups. How do you use them?
Step 1: Put a check in the boxes of attractions that you want to try.
Step 2: Put an X in the boxes of attractions you want to avoid.
Step 3: When you enter the park, go down the checklist, visiting each land in order, and hitting those attractions checked.
Step 4: When you’ve hit all the rides you want to visit in a specific land, if you still have time, you can try some of the other attractions that remain on the card.
Those rides that I suggest you hit are numbered in parentheses. I also show the other options, by wherever you are in the park. Fireworks and parades are listed but not put into the itinerary order because they are scheduled events, and you may have to jump out of your plan at a certain time to watch. When you’re done making your plans, simply cut them out and take them with you!
Appendix B
Cards
Use these cards as you plan your vacation to Walt Disney World. You can record vital information, such as travel information, resort transportation options, meal-reservation confirmation numbers, and your daily schedule.
You will also want to put a check next to those attractions you want to visit and put an X next to the ones you want to avoid.
When you’re done, simply cut them out and take them with you!
Daily Schedule
Write down what park or restaurant you will be visiting.
Park/Extra Magic Hours
Write down the opening and closing times of each park and circle whether the park has morning or afternoon Extra Magic Hours.
Index
Numbers
50’s Prime Time Cafe
1900 Park Fare
A
ABC Commissary
accommodations
budget
campgrounds
deluxe resorts
deluxe villa resorts
Disney rooms
Disney Vacation Club
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
hotel comparison chart
Hotel Plaza Boulevard
moderate resorts
off-site hotels
on-property hotels
Orlando-area hotels
Shades of Green
Swan and Dolphin hotels
value resorts
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Walt Disney World Dolphin
Walt Disney World Swan
activities
adults
outdoor
special events
sporting
activity centers (children)
adult activities
Advance Dining Reservations system
Adventureland
Enchanted Tiki Room—Under New Management
Jungle Cruise
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
(Magic Kingdom)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Swiss Family Treehouse
Affection Section
Africa (Animal Kingdom)
air travel to Orlando
All-Star Movies Resort
All-Star Music Resort
All-Star Sports Resort
Aloha Island
AMC Pleasure Island Movie Theaters
The American Adventure
The American Idol Experience
Animal Kingdom
Africa
Asia
baby care center
Camp Minnie-Mickey
counter-service dining
dining options
DinoLand, U.S.A.
Discovery Island
FASTPASS attractions
hours of operation
layout
Must Do! sights
Oasis
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
shopping
table-service dining
tip board
touring strategies
transportation to/from
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Animal Kingdom Villas
Animation Courtyard
annual theme park passes
Aquatica water park
Around the World at Epcot
Art of Animation Resort
The Art of Disney
Artist Point
Arusha Rock Savanna Outlook
Asia (Animal Kingdom)
Astro Orbiter
ATAS Hall of Fame Plaza
Atlanta Braves
Atlantic Dance Hall
ATMs
attractions
Animal Kingdom
Affection Section
; Boneyard
Camp Minnie-Mickey Greeting Trails
Conservation Station
Cretaceous Trail
Dino-Sue
DINOSAUR
Discovery Island Trails
Expedition Everest
Festival of the Lion King
Finding Nemo—The Musical
Flights of Wonder
Fossil Fun Games
Fossil Fun Games
Habitat Habit!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
Oasis Exhibits
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Primeval Whirl
Tree of Life
TriceraTop Spin
Wildlife Express Train
Blizzard Beach
Epcot
American Adventure
Circle of Life
Ellen’s Energy Adventure
Gran Fiesta Tour
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
ImageWorks—The Kodak What If Labs
Impressions de France
Innoventions East & West
Journey into Imagination with Figment
KidCot Fun Stops
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
Living with the Land
Maelstrom
Mission: SPACE
Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Labs
O Canada!
Reflections of China
Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
Soarin’
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Turtle Talk with Crush
Hollywood Studios
The American Idol Experience
ATAS Hall of Fame Plaza
Backlot Tour
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
Fantasmic!
The Great Movie Ride
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3-D,
Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
Magic of Disney Animation
Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade
Playhouse Disney—Live on Stage!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Sounds Dangerous—Starring Drew Carey
Star Tours
Toy Story Midway Mania!
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
Magic Kingdom
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Carousel of Progress
Cinderella Castle
Dream Along with Mickey
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
FASTPASS rides
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
The Hall of Presidents
The Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world,”
Jungle Cruise
Liberty Square Riverboat
Mad Tea Party
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Main Street, U.S.A. vehicles
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Snow White’s Scary Adventure
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Stitch’s Great Escape!
Swiss Family Treehouse
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tom Sawyer Island
Walt Disney World Railroad
Orlando-area
Typhoon Lagoon
Crush ‘n’ Gusher
Humunga Kowabunga
Ketchakiddee Creek
Shark Reef
Storm Slides
Surf Pool
audio-animatronics
Audubon Preserve golf course
B
baby care centers
Animal Kingdom
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Magic Kingdom
baby-sitting services
Backlot Express
Backlot Tour (Hollywood Studios)
Backstage Magic
Backstage Safari
Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm
Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary Resort)
Be Our Guest Restaurant
Beach Club Resort and Yacht Club Resort
Beach Club Villas
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
Beauty and the BeastLive on Stage
Behind the Seeds at Epcot
Best Friends Pet Care
Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Biergarten Restaurant
Big River Grille & Brewing Works
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty
Bistro de Paris
Blizzard Beach
Chairlift
child care
dining options
hours of operation
layout
Melt-Away Bay
Runoff Rapids
shopping
Snow Stormers
Summit Plummet
tickets
Tikes Peak
touring strategies
transportation to/from
BoardWalk
dining options
entertainment
hours of operation
layout
Must Do! sights
shopping
transportation to/from
BoardWalk Bakery
BoardWalk Inn
BoardWalk Pizza Window
BoardWalk Villas
boat services
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Magic Kingdom
zones
boating activities
Boatwright’s Dining Hall
Boma—Flavors of Africa
The Boneyard
Bongos Cuban Café
Boulangerie Patisserie
The British Invasion
budget
accommodations
cost-saving strategies
dining
incidentals
tickets
transportation
Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa
bus services
Animal Kingdom
Disney Magical Express
Epcot
getting around Disney World
Hollywood Studios
Magic Kingdom
water parks
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
C
cab services
Cabana Bar & Beach Club
California Grill
Camp Minnie-Mickey (Animal Kingdom)
campgrounds
Campsites at Fort Wilderness
Canada (Epcot)
Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant
Cape May Café
Captain’s Grille
Caribbean Beach Resort
carnival attractions
Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Astro Orbiter
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Liberty Square Riverboat
Mad Tea Party
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Main Street, U.S.A. vehicles
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Walt Disney World Railroad
Carousel of Prog
ress
Casey’s Corner
Castaway Cay
Castle Makeover
Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade
Celebration cruises
Celebration Hotel
Celebration-area hotels
Centra Care
Chairlift
character meals
Characters in Flight
charging privileges
Chef Mickey’s
child care
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Kid’s Night Out
Magic Kingdom
water parks
China (Epcot)
Cinderella Castle
Cinderella’s Royal Table
The Circle of Life
Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba
Citricos
CityWalk (Universal Studios)
Columbia Harbour House
Conservation Station
contact information
activity centers
Best Friends Pet Care
Castle Makeover
dining reservations
Kid’s Night Out
Quicksilver Tours
reservations
Sea World
Contemporary Resort
The Cooking Place
Coral Reef Restaurant
Coronado Springs Resort
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
cost-saving strategies
costs
Disney Dining Plan
tickets
counter-service dining
Animal Kingdom
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Magic Kingdom
Country Bear Jamboree
Cretaceous Trail
crowd considerations
cruise line
Crush ‘n’ Gusher
The Crystal Palace
Curl by Sammy Duvall
D
D Street
daily planning
dark rides
Dawa Bar
deluxe dining plan
deluxe resorts
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Beach Club Resort and Yacht Club Resort
BoardWalk Inn
Contemporary Resort
dining options
features
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
locations
Polynesian Resort
rooms
Wilderness Lodge
deluxe villa resorts
Animal Kingdom Villas
Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary Resort)
Beach Club Villas
BoardWalk Villas
dining options
Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Old Key West Resort
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa