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Frequently Asked Disney Questions
& Tips
Where should we go first?
The Walt Disney World resort covers 46 square miles including
18 resorts, 4 major Theme Parks, 3 Water Parks, a Sports Complex,
Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island. Depending on how much
time you have there, read about each individual park and decide
which ones you will visit. Allow at least one day per park.
What kind of helpful hints should
I keep in mind?
• Plan some breaks from the parks. At midday, enjoy
a relaxing lunch, whether at a Park or a nearby Walt Disney
World® Resort. Explore Discovery Island. Relax or work
out at a Disney Spa and health club. Or return to your own
Disney resort for a swim, or visit one of the Disney water
parks.
• Pick Up Guidemaps. Guidemaps list attractions, dining
locations, shops and schedules for live entertainment, including
parades and opportunities to meet the Disney Characters. Guidemaps
are free at all Resort Guest Services locations.
• Tips for the Magic Kingdom. Think of the Lands of
the Magic Kingdom like spokes on a wheel. Begin in Tomorrowland
and go counterclock wise around the park. Allow time to meet
Mickey and the gang.
• Visit the most popular Disney-MGM attractions early
in the morning or late in the day. These are the best times
for "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror", the "Aerosmith
Rockin Roller Coaster", "Jim Henson's Muppet Vision
3D", "The Great Epic Movie Ride, "Star Tours",
"Indian Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular", and the Studios
Backlot Tour.
• Have your hand stamped and your ticket ready for same
day admission. You can leave any Walt Disney World® Theme
Park and return the same day provided you receive a hand stamp
at the exit gate before leaving. For re-entry you must show
your hand stamp and a valid ticket.
What should I bring?
• The entire area is extremely casual, day and night,
so men will need a jacket and tie in only a handful of restaurants
if you are planning a night on the town, all other restaurants
are casual attire.
• Comfortable sneakers or walking shoes are a must!
• For sightseeing and theme-park visits, pack shorts,
sundresses, cotton slacks or jeans, T-shirts.
• Rather than a purse, we recommend a hip pack to hold
things such as your camera, sunscreen, hotel card - keys,
money, park maps, rain ponchos, and any other items you require.
• If you wear sunglasses it is a good idea to have a
neck strap for them so they don't fall off during some rides.
What are the advantages of staying
at an "onsite Disney resort"?
• You can enter the Parks early. As a Guest at a Disney
Resort hotel on selected days, you may visit selected attractions
at Disney Theme Parks 90 minutes before they open to everyone
else!!
• Enjoy convenient monorail, motorcoach, ferryboat and
water taxi transportation. Your parking is free too with a
valid resort ID!
• You can enjoy a nice midday break. Your staying so
close to the Parks, you can return to your resort for a quick
nap, lunch or a swim, then go to the Parks refreshed and ready
for more fun.
What are the busiest and least
busy times of the year?
• Walt Disney World offers packages and special events
year round. Summer is an extremely busy time as families travel
when kids are out of school. The Disney Specialists can indicate
which months are considered "peak times" and which
are not.
• There is a price difference on your package during
these times as well, and should be considered if you are flexible
to travel in the off-season.
Although special events and promotions may influence the Theme
Park attendance levels, the following list highlights historic
attendance trends throughout the year:
Lowest Attendance:
• January (except New Year's Day) until just prior to
Presidents' week in February
• The week following Labor Day until just prior to Thanksgiving
week
• The week following Thanksgiving until the week prior
to Christmas
Moderate Attendance:
• After Presidents' week in February through early March
• Late April through early June (except Memorial Day
weekend)
• The first part of Thanksgiving week
Highest Attendance:
• Presidents' week in February
• Mid-March through Late April ("Spring Break")
• Memorial Day weekend
• Mid-June through Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day and weekend
• Christmas week through New Year's Day
Also, during regular attendance periods, our Parks tend to
be the busiest on the following days:
• Magic Kingdom® Park: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
• Epcot®: Tuesday and Friday
• Disney-MGM Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday
What transportation
is available within the Walt Disney World® Resort?
No matter where you're off to around the Resort, we've got
a ride. Disney has worked hard to make transportation to and
around the Walt Disney World® Resort hassle free. Zip
around by monorail. Sail leisurely by boat. Or hop aboard
a bus. We'll get you to where ever the magic is calling. All
charges for transportation are included in the price of your
multi-day passport. Monorail, launches, buses, and trams all
operate from early in the morning until at least midnight,
although hours are shorter during early closing periods. Check
on the operating hours of the service you need if you plan
to be out, especially late at night.
1. By Bus: The Magic Kingdom Park is accessible by bus from
all parts
of the Walt Disney World Resort, including the Disney Resorts
and
other Theme Parks.
2. By Ferry Boat: The Magic Kingdom Park is accessible by
water taxi from Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand
Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's
Fort Wilderness Resort or Campground, and Disney's Wilderness
Lodge. The Disney ferryboat connects the Magic Kingdom to
the Transportation and Ticket Center (adjacent to Magic Kingdom
parking).
3. By Monorail: Disney's monorail runs among Magic Kingdom
Park, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian
Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, and the Transportation
and Ticket Center (adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot).
A connecting monorail takes Guests from the Transportation
and Ticket Center to Epcot.
4. By Boat: Motor launches connect Walt Disney World parks
and resorts located on waterways. Specifically, they operate
between the Epcot Center resorts (except the Caribbean Beach,)
and Disney's MGM Studio, as well as between Discovery Island
in Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, the Wilderness
Lodge, and the Polynesian, Contemporary and the Grand Floridian
resorts.
5. By Car: Every theme park has a parking lot, so don't worry
about there not being enough parking. Always write down where
you park and take the number with you. Trams will take you
from the parking lot to the front gate. For each lot, admission
is $5 for cars, $6 for RV and campers and free for Walt Disney
World resort guests with ID. Save your receipt; if you want
to visit another park the same day, you won't have to pay
to park twice. Parking is always free at Typhoon Lagoon, River
Country and Blizzard Beach, as well as for the Marketplace/Downtown
Disney area.
What are the
Theme Park's operating hours?
Operating hours vary greatly from Park to Park at different
times of the year.
• Disney's Magic Kingdom Park normally opens at 9 a.m.
The closing time varies from 6 p.m. to midnight. The later
closing times occur near the winter holidays, the Easter holiday,
and during the summer, generally from mid June through late
August.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Park normally opens at 8 a.m.
The closing time varies from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The later closing
times occur near the winter holidays, the Easter holiday,
and during the summer, generally from mid June through late
August.
• The Disney-MGM Studios normally opens at 9 a.m. The
closing time varies from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The later closing
times occur near the winter holidays, the Easter holiday,
and during the summer, generally from mid June through late
August.
• Epcot Future World normally opens at 9 a.m. And the
World Showcase does not open till 11am. The closing time varies
from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. The later closing times occur near
the winter holidays, the Easter holiday, and during the summer,
generally from mid June through late August.
What is the weather like?
Florida weather is unpredictable, you should probably obtain
an up-to-the-minute weather report prior to your visit. But
here is an idea of the average temperatures.
| Month |
Average High |
Average Low |
| January |
72 |
49 |
| February |
73 |
50 |
| March |
78 |
55 |
| April |
84 |
60 |
| May |
88 |
66 |
| June |
91 |
71 |
| July |
92 |
73 |
| August |
93 |
73 |
| September |
90 |
73 |
| October |
84 |
18 |
| November |
78 |
57 |
| December |
73 |
57 |
Which resort
should I stay in?
If at all possible, stay on site where you are in the center
of the action. Walt Disney World offers more than just accommodations.
While enjoying the theme parks, the water parks, Downtown
Disney, Pleasure Island and more are all situated outside
your door. Disney's own unique transportation system links
all of these great resorts to all of the exciting attractions.
This makes it great to come in and take a break (especially
when traveling with children,) and then returning to the parks
in the evenings for the spectacular fireworks, laser shows
and parades. If your on a budget, Disney has the perfect solution
with it's value All Star resorts. Disney resort guests also
receive early park admission and services for children such
as in-room babysitting, learning programs and dinner clubs.
The other alternative is staying in the Downtown Disney or
the main-gate area. Ask an agent for details.
What time is Check-in and Check-out?
Check in is after 4pm at almost all of the resorts. Check-out
time is 11am at all Walt Disney World Resorts. If you arrive
prior to check-in time, you may pre-register, receive your
Disney Resort I.D. cards and return later when your accommodations
are prepared.
How do I get
to the resort?
If you're arriving by plane…Mears Airport Shuttle is
available from Orlando International Airport right to your
Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel. Shuttle tickets may be
purchased at the time of boarding. To return to the airport,
you can board the shuttle at the entrance to every Walt Disney
World® Resort hotel. Make reservations 24 hours in advance
and allow a minimum of two hours before flight.
Special Tips to Know Before You
Leave:
• From adventuresome to elegant, there are over 200
Walt Disney World® restaurants to please every palate
and every pocketbook. Plan ahead and call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)
for priority seating.
• Walt Disney World® multi-day tickets enable you
to make the most of your stay, and save while you play! Order
advance tickets. That way, you're ready for the fun the moment
you arrive.
• ATM (Automated Teller Machines) are available across
property. SunTrust offers full-service banking including foreign
currency exchange. Foreign currency exchange up to $50 is
also available at Theme Park Guest Relations, and selected
Walt Disney World® Resorts.
• Don't forget to pack a camera, film and bathing suit.
• There are lots of sunny days in Florida. Bring your
sunscreen, hat, and comfortable shoes.
Explore these
other great activities offered at the Walt Disney World®
Resort:
Water Parks: Dive into any of our three sun-splashed
Water Parks. At Blizzard Beach, Florida sun meets alpine snow.
River Country is slipin', slidin' all American fun. And for
an exotic, tropical paradise, splash into Typhoon Lagoon.
Whichever you choose, you'll enjoy a day of wonderful watery
fun complete with thrills for every member of the family and
distinctly Disney touches all around.
Downtown Disney: Check this out when you're
ready for cutting-edge dining, one-of-a-kind shops, a music
superstore, 24 movie screens, and Pleasure Island, a nonstop
street party with eight outrageous clubs.
Cirque du Soleil®: A stunning blend of
circus art and street entertainment, Cirque du Soleil®
presents La Nouba™. This dazzling array of outrageous
costumes, magical lighting, and fantastically original acts
is presented in a state-of-the-art venue. For ticket reservations
and information, call (407) 939-7600.
Disney Quest®: Interactive Adventures: Experience
the first-ever indoor interactive theme park. Shoot rapids
in a virtual prehistoric world. Hop into a motion simulator
and ride a roller coaster that you design. Fly a magic carpet
through an ancient city. All- in-one afternoon. It's a breakthrough
concept in family fun.
Is there anything
special I can plan for a birthday or special occasion?
A variety of activities are available at our Resort to help
make birthdays more
special and memorable. For instance, your family may wish
to dine with the Disney characters at one of our many character
breakfasts, lunches, or dinners.
Where can
we meet Disney Characters?
There are several places around the Walt Disney World®
Resort where you can catch a little quality time with the
Disney Characters. Character dining is available all around
the Walt Disney World® Resort. Call 407-WDW-DINE to make
reservations.
How do I book my Disney Vacation?
Our experienced Disney College of Knowledge graduates are
available to assist you in customizing your vacation. We can
arrange the airfare, accommodations, and admission to all
of the parks, as well as taking care of rental car arrangements,
airport transfers, recommending dining and other entertainment
options. To receive a quote call us at 1-800-486-0860 or 262-373-1000
or drop us an email at inquiries@brookfieldtravel.com
with the specifics of your vacation (Destination, dates,
number of adults/children traveling, budget etc.)
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