Spread over a huge area of 47 sq miles (121 sq km) and brimming with top attractions, Walt Disney World Resort can offer entertainment for the whole family for at least one week. Guests who don’t have a lot of holiday time need to plan carefully to make the most of their visit to this dream vacationland. The information here are geared toward aiding them in this task.
WHEN TO VISIT
The busiest times of the year are Christmas, the last week of February until Easter, and
from June to August. During these times, the parks start to approach capacity – some
80,000 people a day in Magic Kingdom alone. All the rides will be operating and the parks are available for longer periods. During off-season, 11,000 guests a day might visit the Magic Kingdom, just only one water park may be operating, and certain attractions may be closed for maintenance. The weather is also a factor – in July & August, hot and humid afternoons are regularly punctuated by torrential thunderstorms. Between October & March, however, the temperatures and humidity are both more comfortable and permit a more energetic touring schedule.
BUSIEST DAYS
Each of the theme parks is packed on certain days. The busiest days are as follows: Magic Kingdom: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Epcot: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Disney’s
Hollywood Studios: Wednesday and Sunday. Note, however, that after a thunderstorm, the water parks are often almost empty – even at the peak times of the year.
OPENING HOURS
When the theme parks are busiest, opening hours are also offer the longest to , typically 9am to 10–11pm or midnight. In less busy time, hours are usually 9am to 6–8pm. Call to check. The parks available at least 30 minutes early for pass holders and guests at any of the WDW hotels and resorts.
LENGTH OF VISIT
To enjoy Walt Disney World to the full, you may want to give Magic Kingdom and Epcot two full days – or one and half days, with half a day at a water park – each, leaving a day for
Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Set aside three nights to see Fantasmic!,
Illuminations, and Wishes firework displays.
THE IDEAL SCHEDULE
To avoid the worst of the crowds and the heat: arrival as early as possible and visit the most popular attractions first take a break in the early afternoon, when it’s hottest and the parks are full return the parks in the cool of the evening to see parades and fireworks.
There are several customized package plans available. Start with a base ticket, called Magic
Your Way. This gives each member of your travel party entry to one theme park every ticketed day. The longer you stay, the less you pay per day. You can then add on up to three options.
The Park Hopper® lets you come and go through multiple parks and gives you extra visitor hours. Water Park Fun & More includes your choice of two water parks, Disney-Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, or a round of golf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course. The No Expiration option allows you to return in the future to take advantage of unused days, whereas the Magic Your Way base tickets expire in 14 days.
Non-Disney guests visiting for more than ten days should consider the Annual Pass or the Pre mium
Annual Pass, which costs little more than a seven-day Park Hopper. Separate Annual
Passes are offered by the water parks and Disney-Quest.
Child ticket pricing applies to ages three through nine.
Passes are available at Disney stores, the airport, the Tourist Information Center on I-Drive, and the official Disney website. In addition, passes are sometimes included in package deals.
GETTING AROUND
An extensive, efficient transportation system handles an average of 200,000 guests each day. Even if you stay outside Walt Disney World Resort, many nearby hotels offer free shuttle services to and from the theme parks, but you can check this when you make your reservation.
The transportation hub of Walt Disney World is the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). Connecting it to the Magic Kingdom are two monorail services. A third monorail links the
TTC to Epcot. Ferries run from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom across the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Ferries connect the Magic Kingdom and Epcot with the resorts in their respective areas, while buses link everything in Walt Disney World, including direct links to the Magic Kingdom. All ticket holders can use the entire transportation system for free.
Although Disney transportation is efficient, you may wish to rent a car if you want to enjoy the entire area without inconvenience. The theme parks are spread out and, especially for visits to swimming attractions such as Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, Disney transportation is not always the best option for children. Young children who are wet and tired from swimming will not welcome waiting for the Disney bus.
COPING WITH LINES
Lines tend to be shortest at the beginning and end of the day, and during parade and meal times. Lines for the rides move slowly, but the wait for a show is rarely longer than the show itself.
The Fastpass allows visitors to reserve time at 25 of the most popular attractions rather than wait in long lines. Disney parks fill rapidly after the first hour of opening. Until then,
you can usually just walk onto rides for which you’ll have to line up later.
DISABLED TRAVELERS
Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the park entrance and special bypass entrances
allow disabled guests and carers to board rides without waiting in line. Staff, however,
are not allowed to lift guests or assist with lifting for safety reasons.
VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
As Walt Disney World can be physically and emotionally tiring for children, try to adapt your schedule accordingly. If you’ve come with preschool-age kids, focus on Magic Kingdom.
The waiting and walking involved in a theme park visit can exhaust young children
quickly so it’s a good idea to rent a stroller, available at every park entrance. Each stroller is personalized when you rent it, but if it should go missing when you leave a ride, you can get a replacement with your rental receipt. Baby Care Centers for changing and feeding are located all around the parks.
In a system called “switching off,” parents can enjoy a ride one at a time while the other parent stays with the child – without having to line up twice.
MEETING MICKEY
For many youngsters, the most exciting moment at WDW Resort is meeting the
Disney characters. You will spot them in all the theme parks, but you can have more relaxed encounters in a number of restaurants, usually at breakfast. Each theme park and many of the resorts also offer “character dining,” though you must call well ahead of time to make a reservation.
SAFETY
The resort’s excellent safety record and first rate security force mean problems are rare
and dealt with promptly. Cast members watch out for young unaccompanied children and escort them to lost children centers. Bags of all visitors are checked.
STAYING & DINING
Lodging in the Disney-run hotels and villa complexes is of a very high standard. However, even the lowest-priced places are more expensive than many hotels outside Walt Disney World.
But do keep in mind that, apart from Disney quality, your money also buys:
early entry into the theme parks (up to 60 minutes) graduated admission the theme parks even when the parks are otherwise full the delivery of shopping purchases made anywhere
in Walt Disney World Resort.
For dining at any full-service restaurant in Walt Disney World, especially in Epcot, book a Priority Seating – the table booking equivalent of the Fast pass.
PARKING
Visitors to Magic Kingdom must park at the TTC and make their way by tram or foot; Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom have their own parking lots.
Parking is free for Disney resort residents – others must pay, but only once a day no matter how many times they move their vehicle. The lots are very large, so it’s important to remember the character name and row of the section where you are parked.
DIRECTORY
GENERAL
General Information
Tel (407) 939-6244.
http://disneyworlddisney.go.com/wdw/
Accommodation
Information/ Reservation
Tel (407) 939-6244.
Dining Reservations
(including Dinner Shows)
Tel (407) 939-3463.
Operational 7am–11pm Sat–Sun.
Disney Tours
Tel (407) 939-8687.
Golf Reservations
Tel (407) 939-4653.
THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS
Blizzard Beach
Tel (407) 560-3400.
Disney Cruise Line®
Tel (800) 939-2784.
www.disneytravelagents.com
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Tel (407) 824-4321.
Disney’s Animal
Kingdom®
Tel (407) 938-3000.
Disney’s Wide World of Sports®
Tel (407) 939-4263.
Downtown Disney®
Tel (407) 939-2648.
Epcot®
Tel (407) 934-7639.
Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Tel (407) 824-2900.
Magic Kingdom®
Tel (407) 934-7639.
The Richard Petty Driving Experience
Tel (407) 939-0130.
Typhoon Lagoon
Tel (407) 560-4141.
0 comments:
Post a Comment