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Legions of veteran visitors claim to know Walt Disney World Resort
“like a cast member.” But contrary to the belief that
everybody has already been to the world’s most popular family
destination resort, there also are many guests discovering the Vacation
Kingdom for the first time every year.
For those guests, the astounding array of vacation opportunities
that exist in an area twice the size of Manhattan Island can be
bewildering. For those first-timers, here are some of the vital
points of interest that can help turn bewildering into bewitching.
Walt Disney World Resort Overview
Walt Disney World Resort is a full-service vacation destination
resort that includes hotels, four theme parks, water parks, golf
courses, a sports complex, recreational facilities, dining, shopping
and entertainment on 30,500 acres (47 square miles).
Several “Birnbaum official guides” are available at
bookstores nationwide. Birnbaum’s Walt
Disney World is a complete volume of detailed information and
suggestions. Other official guides: Birnbaum’s
Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids and Birnbaum’s
Walt Disney World without kids.
Location
Walt Disney World Resort is located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.,
approximately 20 miles southwest of Orlando.
Transportation
 I-4 has five interchanges
which provide easy roadway access to Walt Disney World property.
Orlando International
Airport, located within 25 miles of most areas of Walt Disney World
Resort, is served by major airlines.
Mears Motor Shuttle offers
van transportation that departs Orlando International Airport regularly
around the clock. Information is available by calling 407/423-5566.
National Car Rental,
the official rental car company of Walt Disney World Resort, has
locations inside the Orlando International Airport terminal and
parking structures.
Walt Disney World transportation
includes a fleet of more than 200 motor coaches, with routes connecting
all Walt Disney World-operated hotels with other areas of the resort.
The Walt Disney World monorail system and boats are other modes
of passenger transit on Walt Disney World property.
Unlimited use of all
Disney buses, monorails and boats is available to guests of Walt
Disney World-operated hotels (with resort ID card), to guests with
valid Park Hopper Passes, and to guests with valid Annual Passes.
Valid one-day theme park
tickets permit guests to use all monorails and the ferries running
between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Accommodations
Some 21 themed
resorts operated by Walt Disney World Resort feature more than
23,000 rooms or units.
Nine additional
hoteliers feature more than 6,000 rooms on Walt Disney World
property.
The Orlando area features
tens of thousands of additional rooms, giving the region one of
the largest concentrations of hotel rooms of any city in the country.
Walt
Disney World hotels range from “Value Resorts” with
rooms starting at under $100 per night to “Moderate Resorts”
(starting at $133 per night depending upon room location and time
of visit) to “Deluxe Resorts” (starting at $199 per
night).
Walt Disney World Resort
has accommodations described as “Home Away From Home Resorts”
that offer facilities to cook meals.
Disney’s Fort
Wilderness Resort and Campground includes sites starting at
$35 per night.
Information and reservations
for Walt Disney World Resort hotels are available by calling 407/W-DISNEY
or by visiting a
local travel agent.
Disney Hotel Features
Rates are stated for one or two adults in a guestroom.
Children aged 17 and under stay at no additional charge in rooms
with adults.
Resort ID cards provide hotel guests with unlimited use of the Walt
Disney World transportation system.
Tickets
With four theme parks, two water parks, a sports complex and ticketed
entertainment areas, Walt Disney World Resort offers a variety of
ticket media:
One-day one-park tickets –
provides admission to ONE park on ONE day
Park Hopper –
provides admission to all four theme parks – Magic Kingdom,
Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom –
including multiple parks on any day used;
the days on which it is used do not have to be consecutive; unused
days never expire; currently it is offered in 4- and 5-day versions.
Park Hopper Plus –
provides all entitlements of Park Hopper for 5, 6 or 7 days;
additionally provides “Plus” visits to Blizzard Beach,
Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and
Downtown Disney Pleasure Island
The number of “Plus” visits varies from 2 to 4 (based
on 5-, 6- or 7-day pass)
Ultimate Park Hopper –
this is a special ticket available only to overnight guests at Walt
Disney World hotels
provides admission to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios,
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s
Wide World of Sports Complex, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island and
DisneyQuest during regular operating hours
the duration of the admission entitlement is from check-in through
midnight on check-out day
The various theme park
tickets provide admission to the park and unlimited use of attractions
and shows during regular theme park hours of operation.
In addition to “general”
tickets, Walt Disney World theme parks offer specially priced tickets
for guests aged 3 to 9.
Guests under the age of
3 are not charged an admission.
Discount theme park tickets
can be purchased here.
Cash, traveler’s
checks, personal checks (with ID) and major credit cards are accepted.
Theme Park Services
Strollers and wheelchairs
are available for daily rental at each of the theme parks.
Baby Care Centers at each
theme park offer guests a clean, quiet area to attend to their little
ones.
Merchandise purchased
in any of the theme parks will be transferred – if the guest
desires – to a designated location near the entrance of the
park for guest pickup at the end of their visit. There is no charge
for this service.
An extensive indexing
system at Walt Disney World Resort ensures that lost items are quickly
retrievable for guests at Lost and Found locations throughout the
property.
Lockers are available
at each park for unlimited use throughout the day.
Tip Boards in each park
provide guests with a wealth of entertainment information, including
showtimes and approximate wait times for popular attractions.
ATMs are conveniently
located throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney’s FASTPASS
is a revolutionary system which provides all theme park guests
with an alternative to waiting in line at select attractions in
all four parks.
FASTPASS tickets -- offered
at no additional charge -- designate an hour timeframe when the
guest can return and bypass the standby line. The convenience frees
up time for guests to enjoy other experiences.
Travelers who bring their
pets to the Vacation Kingdom may lodge them in one of the five air-conditioned
Pet Care Kennels at Walt Disney World Resort. For more information,
call 407/824-6568.
Must-Do’s For First-Time Visitors
General
Ride the Walt Disney World
Monorail through the Grand Concourse of Disney’s Contemporary
Resort.
Treat the kids to a breakfast
with Disney characters.
In Magic Kingdom
Watch the fireworks over
Cinderella Castle (TIP: check the show schedule
when planning vacation).
Experience four of the
most-revered traditional favorite attractions: Space
Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean,
Haunted Mansion and It’s
a Small World.
If the vacation includes
small children, experience these kid-loving favorites: Country
Bear Jamboree, Dumbo the Flying Elephant,
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel, The
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Buzz
Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Stake a claim to a curb-side
location for the traditional 3 o’clock parade.
In Epcot
See the world’s
most elaborate nightly fireworks spectacle, “IllumiNations:
Reflections of Earth.” The show typically happens as the
“final act” of the day, at published closing time.
Other must-do’s:
Test Track, the longest, fastest ride in
any of the theme parks; and “Honey,
I Shrunk the Audience,” a rollicking, multi-media theater
experience that includes a 3-D motion picture.
Enjoy an international
dining experience at World Showcase.
In Disney's Hollywood Studios
Get to the “heart”
of Disney entertainment by participating in The
Magic of Disney Animation, an interactive attraction that provides
a look at the creative process behind Disney’s many animated
blockbusters.
“Must-see”
for small children: “Playhouse Disney-Live
on Stage!”
Experience the “thrills”
of entertainment with three Birnbaum’s BESTs: The Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror™, Rock ‘n’
Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and Star
Tours.
Treat the kids to Birnbaum’s
BEST selections perfect for the whole family: “Jim
Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D” and “Beauty
and the Beast-Live on Stage.”
Cap a day with “Fantasmic!”
the most elaborate live theme-park show ever created by Disney.
(Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World tip: We recommend sitting toward
the back.)
In Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Experience the wonder
of the African savannah -- in Florida -- on
Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Fill your eyes and ears
with the most colorful pageantry offered at a Disney park by sitting
in on a performance of “Festival of
the Lion King.”
Stake a claim to a parade-route
spot for “Mickey’s Jammin’
Jungle” daily parade.
See one of the world’s largest three-dimensional artworks,
The Tree of Life, featuring more than 325
animal images intricately carved into the trunk and limbs.
Advance
Arrangements
Hotel reservations for
any resort “on property” can be made online at our Disney
Travel Centre.
Priority
seating arrangements help guests avoid waiting for most dining
experiences in the Vacation Kingdom by calling 407/WDW-DINE.
In-room child
care can be arranged by contacting Guest Services in any Walt
Disney World resort.
Any of the resorts can
furnish a crib upon request.
Full-service restaurants
across property can accommodate special dietary needs such as low
sodium and lactose-free with advance notice. The magic “number”:
407/WDW-DINE.
Nonsmoking hotel rooms
and handicapped-accessible rooms are available at all Walt Disney
World resorts.
Each of the rooms in
the Walt Disney World resorts can be equipped with an in-room refrigerator
for medications.
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