ORLANDO THEME PARKS
DISCOVERY COVE
DISNEY ANIMAL KINGDOM
ISLANDS OF ADVENTURES
SEAWORLD
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
WALT DISNEY WORLD
HOTELS
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
POP CENTURY RESORT
ORLANDO PARK TICKETS
DISNEY WORLD
SEAWORLD
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
DISCOVERY COVE
DISNEY ANIMAL KINGDOM
ISLANDS OF ADVENTURES
SEAWORLD
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
WALT DISNEY WORLD
HOTELS
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
POP CENTURY RESORT
ORLANDO PARK TICKETS
DISNEY WORLD
SEAWORLD
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
The Best of Walt Disney World
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’re headed to Walt Disney World ... but where to start?
Disney offers such a wealth of fantastic resorts, restaurants, and
top-drawer entertainment experiences it can be difficult to choose
which fantasy you wish to indulge. How best can you plan a visit in
which each day comes with the finest Disney has to offer? Here
are a few tips that can make the difference between a mediocre
trip and a fantastic one:
BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR A DISNEY VACATION
If at all possible plan a trip to Disney during the slower seasons of
the year when you’ll find half-filled parks, little waiting in line, and
lower resort rates. If you can stand the guilt and your children are
good students, take them out of school, whatever, to avoid the
busiest times of the year. If not, the summer months or holidays
are certainly better than nothing and, with a bit of planning and a
lot of energy, can be more than enjoyable. These are the least
busy times of the year: the second week of January through the
first week of February (avoiding the Martin Luther King holiday
weekend in January); the third week of August until the beginning
of October; the month of November excluding Thanksgiving
weekend; the week after Thanksgiving until the week of Christmas,
a special time when the parks and resorts are festively decorated
for the holidays.
Best Deluxe Resort
Disney’s flagship resort, The Grand Floridian, with its red-gabled
roofs and Victorian elegance, draws inspiration from the grand
Florida seaside “palace hotels” of 19th-century America’s Gilded
Age. Just a short monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom, it spreads
along the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, offering spectacular
views of Cinderella’s Castle and the Wishes fireworks display.
Best Home Away From Home Property
Disney’s Home Away From Home Resorts are a great choice for
those who want a vacation with all the amenities including a full
kitchen, living room, and a bath for each bedroom. For
outstanding atmosphere choose the Villas at Wilderness Lodge
with its Bay Lake location and national park character or the new
Beach Club Villas conveniently located next door to Epcot’s
International Gateway.
Best Resort For Access to the Parks
Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts
offer monorail access to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Ticket
& Transportation Center.
Best Resort For Nature Lovers
Wilderness Lodge is Disney’s dramatic depiction of an early 1900s
national park resort. In its awesome eight-story lobby are walls of
ponderosa pine logs, a massive 82-foot tall fireplace, and two
authentic 55-foot Pacific Northwest totem poles. Outside is a
breathtaking scene of sparkling waterfalls, rushing creeks,
towering pines, and Disney’s very own geyser. And it’s all only a
boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom.
Best Resort Pool
Stormalong Bay, the eye-popping free form, mini-water park
complex at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, is simply divine. Three
acres of winding, watery delight, it offers sandy bottom pools, a
giant “shipwreck” water slide, a tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a
kiddie pool with its own slide next to the beach, and enough
waterway to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart’s content.
Best Resort Lounge
California Grill Lounge on the 15th floor at Disney’s Contemporary
Resort offers unrivaled views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven
Seas Lagoon along with cocktails, sushi, and a view of the Wishes
fireworks display.
Best Disney Attractions For Thrill Seekers
For a shot of adrenaline head to Disney-MGM Studios, where thrill
junkies beeline it to the Tower of Terror for a 13-story bungee-
style plummet. Next-door is the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster that
rockets from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds then loops and
corkscrews in the dark through a Hollywood night. It’s a scream
come true!
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
If you’re a registered guest of a Disney resort, drop off the kids at
one of their child care centers for around $10 an hour per child
where they are given dinner along with classic Disney movies, arts
and crafts, and video games. If your child is under 4 or not potty
trained, call Kid’s Nite Out at 407-827-5444 for in-room childcare.
Then head to one of Disney’s world-class restaurants. For fine
dining in a stunning setting combined with virtually flawless service
choose Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Here you’ll dine on white linen covered tables set with Royal
Doulton china and crystal wine glasses to the strains of
enchanting harp music.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Away From the Parks
The addition of the West Side and Pleasure Island to Disney
Marketplace created what is now known as the wildly successful
Downtown Disney, a combination of over 70 scene-setting
restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. During the day it’s a perfect
getaway from the parks, but at night after the parks close,
Downtown Disney comes alive. At Disney Marketplace you’ll find A-
plus shopping, the largest Disney Store in the world, and the
volcano-smoking Rainforest Cafe. Pleasure Island is a nighttime
mecca with 8 clubs and a nightly New Year’s Eve celebration. And
then there’s the West Side, loaded with dining and entertainment
venues including Wolfgang Puck Cafe, House of Blues, Gloria
Estefan’s Bongos, Cirque du Soleil, and Disney Quest.
Best Restaurant For Kids
Dine among crashing waterfalls, lush tropical foliage, and dripping
vines while being bombarded with thunderstorms and noisy Audio-
Animatronic wildlife at the Rainforest Cafe. Or head to the
Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for an all-
you-care-to-eat blow-out of rib-stickin’ barbecue served piping hot
in iron skillets accompanied by plenty of hootin’ and hollerin’. Kids
love the crazy show put on by the hobby horse-racing waiters
outfitted in western attire who can’t resist making a huge
production out of serving food, birthday celebrations, and those
unfortunate enough to leave for the restroom.
Best Disney Resort Restaurant
The California Grill on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary
Resort is a definite highlight for any connoisseur of cutting-edge
cuisine. The immense windows present an unbeatable panorama
of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon and on many
nights picture-perfect views of the Wishes fireworks show. From
pristinely fresh sushi to the exceptional New American Cuisine to
sensational desserts and the outstanding California wine list, this
place has it all.
Best Theme Park Restaurant
In Epcot’s France Pavilion is Bistro de Paris, a charming Belle
Époque dining room with an air of exclusivity. Filled with gilded
mirrors and crimson banquettes, its billowy white drapes frame
windows that overlook the World Showcase Lagoon. Servers with
delicious French accents roll out sensational dishes prepared with
only the freshest ingredients. Afterward order a dessert of crepes
prepared and flamed at your table while lingering over cordials
and coffee in anticipation of the nightly Illuminations spectacle.
Best Way to View the Epcot Fireworks Presentation
Each evening boatloads of visitors depart from the docks of
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht Club headed for Epcot
where, from a prime position under the bridge between the United
Kingdom and France, is a view of the Illuminations fireworks
spectacular that can’t be beat. Cruises are offered nightly with
your choice of either a pontoon boat seating 10 or a beautiful
reproduction of a 1930s Chris Craft accommodating 6-7 people.
Although reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance,
they sometimes sell out on the first day. Call 407-WDW-PLAY.
Best Way to Spend a Lazy Afternoon
When your muscles are aching and your body is screaming for
rest after days at the parks, sooth your jangled nerves at Disney’s
Grand Floridian Spa. Immerse yourself in luxury with one or two
feel-good treatments guaranteed to rejuvenate and swiftly get you
back on your feet and ready for another long day of walking. For
the ultimate in romance consider the Grand Romantic Evening
where, in a candle-lit couple’s room, each person receives an
aromatherapy massage.
Most importantly slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist the urge
to see everything at breakneck speed. You can’t possibly cover it
all, so think of this as your first trip to Disney, not your last. There
will be time to pick up all the things you missed on the next go-
round. Be spontaneous. If something catches your eye, even if it’s
not on your daily list of things to do, stop and explore or else you
may miss
something wonderful.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney
World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer
available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.
com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.
com.
info@luxurydisneyguide.com
The Best of Walt Disney World
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’re headed to Walt Disney World ... but where to start?
Disney offers such a wealth of fantastic resorts, restaurants, and
top-drawer entertainment experiences it can be difficult to choose
which fantasy you wish to indulge. How best can you plan a visit in
which each day comes with the finest Disney has to offer? Here
are a few tips that can make the difference between a mediocre
trip and a fantastic one:
BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR A DISNEY VACATION
If at all possible plan a trip to Disney during the slower seasons of
the year when you’ll find half-filled parks, little waiting in line, and
lower resort rates. If you can stand the guilt and your children are
good students, take them out of school, whatever, to avoid the
busiest times of the year. If not, the summer months or holidays
are certainly better than nothing and, with a bit of planning and a
lot of energy, can be more than enjoyable. These are the least
busy times of the year: the second week of January through the
first week of February (avoiding the Martin Luther King holiday
weekend in January); the third week of August until the beginning
of October; the month of November excluding Thanksgiving
weekend; the week after Thanksgiving until the week of Christmas,
a special time when the parks and resorts are festively decorated
for the holidays.
Best Deluxe Resort
Disney’s flagship resort, The Grand Floridian, with its red-gabled
roofs and Victorian elegance, draws inspiration from the grand
Florida seaside “palace hotels” of 19th-century America’s Gilded
Age. Just a short monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom, it spreads
along the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon, offering spectacular
views of Cinderella’s Castle and the Wishes fireworks display.
Best Home Away From Home Property
Disney’s Home Away From Home Resorts are a great choice for
those who want a vacation with all the amenities including a full
kitchen, living room, and a bath for each bedroom. For
outstanding atmosphere choose the Villas at Wilderness Lodge
with its Bay Lake location and national park character or the new
Beach Club Villas conveniently located next door to Epcot’s
International Gateway.
Best Resort For Access to the Parks
Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts
offer monorail access to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Ticket
& Transportation Center.
Best Resort For Nature Lovers
Wilderness Lodge is Disney’s dramatic depiction of an early 1900s
national park resort. In its awesome eight-story lobby are walls of
ponderosa pine logs, a massive 82-foot tall fireplace, and two
authentic 55-foot Pacific Northwest totem poles. Outside is a
breathtaking scene of sparkling waterfalls, rushing creeks,
towering pines, and Disney’s very own geyser. And it’s all only a
boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom.
Best Resort Pool
Stormalong Bay, the eye-popping free form, mini-water park
complex at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, is simply divine. Three
acres of winding, watery delight, it offers sandy bottom pools, a
giant “shipwreck” water slide, a tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a
kiddie pool with its own slide next to the beach, and enough
waterway to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart’s content.
Best Resort Lounge
California Grill Lounge on the 15th floor at Disney’s Contemporary
Resort offers unrivaled views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven
Seas Lagoon along with cocktails, sushi, and a view of the Wishes
fireworks display.
Best Disney Attractions For Thrill Seekers
For a shot of adrenaline head to Disney-MGM Studios, where thrill
junkies beeline it to the Tower of Terror for a 13-story bungee-
style plummet. Next-door is the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster that
rockets from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds then loops and
corkscrews in the dark through a Hollywood night. It’s a scream
come true!
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
If you’re a registered guest of a Disney resort, drop off the kids at
one of their child care centers for around $10 an hour per child
where they are given dinner along with classic Disney movies, arts
and crafts, and video games. If your child is under 4 or not potty
trained, call Kid’s Nite Out at 407-827-5444 for in-room childcare.
Then head to one of Disney’s world-class restaurants. For fine
dining in a stunning setting combined with virtually flawless service
choose Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Here you’ll dine on white linen covered tables set with Royal
Doulton china and crystal wine glasses to the strains of
enchanting harp music.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Away From the Parks
The addition of the West Side and Pleasure Island to Disney
Marketplace created what is now known as the wildly successful
Downtown Disney, a combination of over 70 scene-setting
restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. During the day it’s a perfect
getaway from the parks, but at night after the parks close,
Downtown Disney comes alive. At Disney Marketplace you’ll find A-
plus shopping, the largest Disney Store in the world, and the
volcano-smoking Rainforest Cafe. Pleasure Island is a nighttime
mecca with 8 clubs and a nightly New Year’s Eve celebration. And
then there’s the West Side, loaded with dining and entertainment
venues including Wolfgang Puck Cafe, House of Blues, Gloria
Estefan’s Bongos, Cirque du Soleil, and Disney Quest.
Best Restaurant For Kids
Dine among crashing waterfalls, lush tropical foliage, and dripping
vines while being bombarded with thunderstorms and noisy Audio-
Animatronic wildlife at the Rainforest Cafe. Or head to the
Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for an all-
you-care-to-eat blow-out of rib-stickin’ barbecue served piping hot
in iron skillets accompanied by plenty of hootin’ and hollerin’. Kids
love the crazy show put on by the hobby horse-racing waiters
outfitted in western attire who can’t resist making a huge
production out of serving food, birthday celebrations, and those
unfortunate enough to leave for the restroom.
Best Disney Resort Restaurant
The California Grill on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary
Resort is a definite highlight for any connoisseur of cutting-edge
cuisine. The immense windows present an unbeatable panorama
of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon and on many
nights picture-perfect views of the Wishes fireworks show. From
pristinely fresh sushi to the exceptional New American Cuisine to
sensational desserts and the outstanding California wine list, this
place has it all.
Best Theme Park Restaurant
In Epcot’s France Pavilion is Bistro de Paris, a charming Belle
Époque dining room with an air of exclusivity. Filled with gilded
mirrors and crimson banquettes, its billowy white drapes frame
windows that overlook the World Showcase Lagoon. Servers with
delicious French accents roll out sensational dishes prepared with
only the freshest ingredients. Afterward order a dessert of crepes
prepared and flamed at your table while lingering over cordials
and coffee in anticipation of the nightly Illuminations spectacle.
Best Way to View the Epcot Fireworks Presentation
Each evening boatloads of visitors depart from the docks of
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht Club headed for Epcot
where, from a prime position under the bridge between the United
Kingdom and France, is a view of the Illuminations fireworks
spectacular that can’t be beat. Cruises are offered nightly with
your choice of either a pontoon boat seating 10 or a beautiful
reproduction of a 1930s Chris Craft accommodating 6-7 people.
Although reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance,
they sometimes sell out on the first day. Call 407-WDW-PLAY.
Best Way to Spend a Lazy Afternoon
When your muscles are aching and your body is screaming for
rest after days at the parks, sooth your jangled nerves at Disney’s
Grand Floridian Spa. Immerse yourself in luxury with one or two
feel-good treatments guaranteed to rejuvenate and swiftly get you
back on your feet and ready for another long day of walking. For
the ultimate in romance consider the Grand Romantic Evening
where, in a candle-lit couple’s room, each person receives an
aromatherapy massage.
Most importantly slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist the urge
to see everything at breakneck speed. You can’t possibly cover it
all, so think of this as your first trip to Disney, not your last. There
will be time to pick up all the things you missed on the next go-
round. Be spontaneous. If something catches your eye, even if it’s
not on your daily list of things to do, stop and explore or else you
may miss
something wonderful.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney
World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer
available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.
com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.
com.
info@luxurydisneyguide.com
WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATIONS
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