WALT DISNEY WORLD IN JUST 3 DAYSWritten by Cara Goldsbury
So your headed to Walt Disney World, but you only have time for a long weekend. Although it’s certainly not ideal way to see “The Happiest Place on Earth”, it definitely can be done, especially if you’re willing to hit parks early, stay late, and be content with only catching highlights. Even though you’ll only be touring for 3 days, buy a 4-day Hopper Pass (unused days never expire) in order to visit two parks on last day. Stay on Disney property for easy access and pre-arrange priority seating, Disney’s answer to dining reservations, weeks before your trip by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Most importantly, bring along a great pair of walking shoes and lots of energy. Hang on for a whirlwind of a tour.Friday at The Magic Kingdom 1. Arrive one hour prior to opening which allows enough time to park, shuttle to Ticket and Transportation Center, and cruise over Seven Seas Lagoon by monorail or ferry to park’s entrance. 2. Grab a quick breakfast at Main Street Bakery. They usually begin serving their mouthwatering pastries around thirty minutes before official park opening time. 3. Head straight to Splash Mountain in Frontierland, then take in Big Thunder Mountain next door. 4. Cut back through hub to Tomorrowland, pick up a Fastpass (Disney’s nifty, free, timesaving device allowing you to return at a given time with little or no wait in line) for Space Mountain (if necessary). During your wait see ride Buzz Lightyear. 5. If anyone in your party is interested in Fantasyland attractions (as I usually am) go there now. It will probably be necessary to pick up a Fastpass for either Peter Pan’s Flight or Winnie Pooh, so check it out first. Ride Peter Pan’s Flight and The Many Adventure of Winnie Pooh and be sure to see Mickey’s Philharmagic. 6. After Fantasyland have a fast food lunch at Pecos Bill Cafe. 7. Pick up a Fastpass at The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square before settling down for afternoon Share a Dream Come True Parade at 3 PM. 8. After parade, head to The Haunted Mansion and then to Pirates of Caribbean in Adventureland. 9. Make a priority seating reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table or Tony’s Town Square Restaurant for dinner and enjoy park until evening’s festivities begin. 10. See SpectroMagic parade and don’t-you-dare-miss Wishes fireworks. Saturday at Epcot 1. Have breakfast at your hotel and be at park one half-hour before opening time. 2. Head to Mission Space and Test Track first and then move over to west side of Future World to see Honey I Shrunk Audience at Imagination pavilion. 3. Hop next door to The Land where you’ll want to ride Living With The Land attraction. 4. Ride Spaceship Earth. 5. Move on to Universe of Energy. 6. Head to World Showcase and pick up a late lunch at one of many international fast food spots. 7. Work your way around World Showcase for remainder of afternoon, making time between stops for shopping and a few highlights including Maelstrom in Norway, Reflections of China film, The American Adventure show, and Impressions de France. 8. Make priority seating at one of World Showcase restaurants for 7 PM. My favorites are Mexico’s San Angel Inn, France’s Bistro de Paris, and Morocco’s Restaurant Marrakesh. Search for a nice viewing spot around lagoon for 9PM Illuminations spectacular about thirty minutes prior to showtime.
| | Tips For Disney World First-TimersWritten by Cara Goldsbury
So you’ve finally decided to head to Walt Disney World. With so much to see and do, it’s important to come prepared. Here are some excellent tips to make your trip one that will be remembered for a lifetime. • Plan ahead. - Decide ahead of time what your priorities are and make a plan of action. • Get to parks early. - It’s amazing, particularly in busy season, how many of popular rides you can knock off before half “World” gets out of bed. • Take time to rest in middle of day. - Stay at one of Magic Kingdom or Epcot resorts, allowing a return in middle of day for a nap or dip in pool. • Call exactly 90 days prior at 7 AM Orlando time for priority seating if breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom is tops on your child’s list. - The only way you might get away with sleeping in and booking a bit later for this highly coveted character breakfast is if you are traveling in extremely slow season. • Come prepared for an afternoon shower during rainy summer months even if sky looks perfectly clear in morning. - Rent a locker to store your raingear and circle back if skies start to look threatening. However, if you’re caught unprepared, just about every store in parks sells inexpensive rain ponchos. • Use Fastpass, Disney’s free, nifty timesaving device. - It’s offered at all four theme parks and is a great way to save hours of waiting in line. Just insert your park pass in one of machines located at each individual Fastpass attraction and receive a ticket printed with a designated one-hour window in which you may return and enter a special line with little or no waiting. •Pre-arrange priority seating, Disney’s answer to dining reservations, by calling 407-WDW-DINE. - On arrival you’ll receive next table available for your party size, thus saving hours of frustration and waiting. • Allow plenty of time to reach theme parks each morning. - It’s easy to miss your breakfast priority seating is you don’t allocate enough time. • Be spontaneous. - If something catches your eye, even if it’s not on your daily list of things to do, stop and explore. If not, you could miss something wonderful.
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