About this Book ............ 7
Chapter 1: Before You Go ............ 11
When to Go ............ 14
Festivals & Seasonal Events ............ 17
Group Trips ............ 19
People With Disabilities ............ 22
Admission ............ 24
Dining at Disney ............ 27
Packing ............ 28
Getting To & Around Orlando/Disney ............ 28
Money Matters ............ 34
Park Basics ............ 35
Heads Up: The Scary Rides ............ 40
Chapter 2: The Magic Kingdom ............ 43
Main Street, U.S.A. ............ 50
Adventureland ............ 52
Frontierland ............ 56
Liberty Square ............ 59
Fantasyland ............ 62
Mickeys Toontown Fair ............ 68
Tomorrowland ............ 73
Entertainment, Parades & Fireworks ............ 76
Disabilities & Accessibility ............ 78
Eating in the Magic Kingdom ............ 82
Guided Tours ............ 83
Chapter 3: Epcot ............ 85
Future World ............ 90
World Showcase ............ 99
Entertainment & Fireworks ............ 109
Disabilities & Accessibility ............ 111
Eating in Epcot ............ 112
Guided Tours ............ 113
Chapter 4: Disneys Hollywood Studios ............ 117
Hollywood Boulevard ............ 122
Sunset Boulevard ............ 124
Animation Courtyard ............ 127
Mickey Avenue ............ 129
Streets of America ............ 130
Echo Lake ............ 132
Daily Performances ............ 135
Disabilities & Accessibility ............ 138
Eating in Disneys Hollywood Studios ............ 139
Chapter 5: Disneys Animal Kingdom ............ 143
The Oasis ............ 147
Discovery Island ............ 147
DinoLand U.S.A. ............ 148
Asia ............ 151
Africa ............ 154
Camp Minnie-Mickey ............ 156
Parade ............ 156
Disabilities & Accessibility ............ 160
Eating in the Animal Kingdom ............ 160
Guided Tours ............ 161
Chapter 6: The Water Parks ............ 163
Typhoon Lagoon ............ 164
Blizzard Beach ............ 171
Chapter 7: Disney Cruises ............ 175
Cruise Packages ............ 176
Staterooms ............ 177
Shore Excursions ............ 178
Adult Activities ............ 178
Childrens Activities ............ 179
Dining & Entertainment ............ 180
Castaway Cay ............ 182
Chapter 8: Universal Orlando ............ 183
Islands of Adventure ............ 189
Universal Studios Florida ............ 205
Universal CityWalk ............ 225
Wet ‘n Wild ............ 226
Chapter 9: SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica ............ 231
SeaWorld Orlando ............ 232
Discovery Cove ............ 248
Aquatica ............ 252
Chapter 10: Side Trips ............ 255
Kissimmee ............ 257
Celebration ............ 259
International Drive Area ............ 259
Central Orlando ............ 260
Winter Park ............ 262
Wekiwa Springs State Park ............ 265
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex ............ 265
Mount Dora ............ 268
Ocala National Forest ............ 269
Historic Bok Sanctuary ............ 269
Chapter 11: Where to Eat ............ 271
Walt Disney World Area ............ 274
Best Bets for Orlando Dining ............ 280
Lake Buena Vista ............ 297
Universal Orlando Area ............ 298
Kissimmee ............ 306
Celebration ............ 307
Orlando Metro Area ............ 309
Outlying Towns ............ 326
Chapter 12: Where to Stay ............ 331
Best Bets for Orlando Lodging ............ 334
The Disney Parks ............ 340
Other On-site Hotels ............ 350
Off-Site Hotels near Walt Disney World ............ 356
Universal Orlando Area ............ 366
Orlando Metro Area ............ 372
Outlying Towns ............ 385
Chapter 13: Nightlife ............ 387
Walt Disney World ............ 388
Universal Orlando ............ 401
Orlando ............ 404
Chapter 14: Sports & the Outdoors ............ 407
Auto Racing ............ 408
Biking ............ 409
Fishing ............ 410
Golf ............ 413
Horseback Riding ............ 420
Miniature Golf ............ 421
Running ............ 421
Skydiving & Parasailing ............ 422
Tennis ............ 422
Walt Disney World Sports ............ 423
Water Sports ............ 424
Chapter 15: Shopping ............ 425
Walt Disney World ............ 426
Universal Orlando ............ 435
SeaWorld ............ 438
The Orlando Area ............ 439
Winter Park ............ 444
Index ............ 446
About Our Writers ............ 464
Maps
Greater Orlando ............ 89
Central Florida ............ 10
The Magic Kingdom ............ 4849
Epcot ............ 88
Disneys Hollywood Studios ............ 120
Disneys Animal Kingdom ............ 145
Typhoon Lagoon ............ 167
Blizzard Beach ............ 172
Islands of Adventure ............ 191
Universal Studios ............ 208209
SeaWorld Orlando ............ 234
Side Trips ............ 258
Where to Eat in & near Walt Disney World ............ 276277
Where to Eat in & near Universal Orlando ............ 300301
Where to Eat in Central Orlando &
the Outlying Towns ............ 320321
Where to Stay in and Near WDW ............ 342343
Where to Stay in & near Universal Orlando ............ 368369
Where to Stay in Central Orlando &
Outlying Towns ............ 382
Downtown Disney ............ 392393
Golf Courses in & near Walt Disney World ............ 416417
Shopping in North Orlando ............ 440
Shopping in South Orlando ............ 441