Chapter 16Enjoying the Rest of
Walt Disney World
In This Chapter
Playing in an interactive adventure park
Experiencing a sports fan’s nirvana
Golfing, Disney-style
Splashing into the Disney water parks
Enjoying holiday happenings
Cruising with Disney
I
n Chapters 12 through 15, I acquaint you with the major parks of Walt
Disney World. But the House of Mouse is home to much, much more.
In this chapter, I introduce you to the smaller, second-tier attractions, as
well as a few holiday happenings and the Disney Cruise Line.
Playing It Up at DisneyQuest
The minute you step inside you realize this is no ordinary arcade —
throughout the five levels are some of the most unique and cutting edge
games ever created. Disney has taken the state of the art technology of vir-
tual reality, added a spirit of adventure, and has shaken it all up with some
of that magical pixie dust for good measure. The result is the World’s most
interactive game complex. From kids just old enough to work the controls
to teens, reactions to DisneyQuest are pretty much the same: “Awesome!”
And although many adults enter the arcade thinking that they’re only
going to find kids’ stuff, many bite the hook as hard as their offspring
when they get a gander at the electronic wizardry — everything from old-
fashioned pinball with a newfangled twist to virtual-reality adventure rides.
Here are just some of the entrees that you can find at DisneyQuest:
Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride: straddling the magic carpet you’ll fly
through the 3-D Cave of Wonders, the alleys and streets of Agrabah,
in search of the magic lamp. This is definitely fun, but your head
may get hot from the virtual-reality helmets.
238 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldPirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold outfits you
and up to three mates in 3-D helmets so you can battle pirate ships
virtual-reality style. One of you volunteers to be the captain, steering
the ship, while the others assume positions behind cannons to blast
the black hearts into oblivion — maybe. Each time you do, you’re
rewarded with some doubloons, but beware of sea monsters that
can gobble up you and your treasure. In the game’s final moments,
you come face to face with the ghost of Davey Jones. It’s great fun
for all ages.
The Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam is an interactive, life-size game in
which the players ride platforms and use body English to try to
score points. It’s your opportunity to explore life as a pinball —
from the ball’s perspective. Just try to stop the quivering in your
arms after this.
If you have an inventive mind (and a steel stomach), stop in at
Cyberspace Mountain, where Bill Nye the Science-Turned-Roller-
Coaster Guy helps you create the ultimate loop-and-dipster, which
you then can ride in a very real-feeling simulator. It’s a major hit
with the coaster-crazy crowd. (I know some adrenaline junkies who
spent hours here constructing, then riding, one heart-stopper after
another.) Bring your own motion-sickness medicine (though you
can choose slow, medium, or quick death).
If you need some quiet time, sign up at Animation Academy for a
mini course in Disney cartooning. The academy also has snack and
food areas; a typical theme park–style meal and drink runs from
$12 to $15 per person.
Crowds really start building after lunch when the heat of the day begins
to truly kick in, and they’re simply maddening after dark.
While there are some rides and games appropriate for a variety of ages,
Disney Quest is by far most appealing to those over 8 or even 10 (some
attractions also have height requirements so be sure to check ahead of
time to avoid disappointments). If you have toddlers in tow, be aware
that strollers are not allowed in the building.
See map p. 168. In Downtown Disney West Side (off Buena Vista Drive). % 407-828-4600.
www.disneyquest.com. Admission: $34 adults, $28 kids 3–9 for unlimited play.
Open: Sun–Thurs 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sat 11:30 a.m. to midnight.
Fielding the Fun at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports
Disney’s Wide World of Sports is a 200-acre, megacomplex that has a
7,500-seat baseball stadium, 10 other baseball and softball fields, 6 bas-
ketball courts, 12 lighted tennis courts, a track-and-field complex, a golf
driving range, and 6 sand volleyball courts.
239Chapter 16: Enjoying the Rest of Walt Disney World
If you’re a true sports fan, call for a package of information about the
facilities and a calendar of events (see the listing data below). You can
also consult the facility’s Web site for up-to-date information.
Here’s a sampling of the options at Disney’s Wide World of Sports:
The Atlanta Braves play 16 spring training games in the stadium
during a one-month season that begins in early March. Tickets for
the stadium’s two seating areas cost $12 to $21. For tickets call
Ticketmaster (% 407-839-3900). Note: In addition to the Braves,
the facility also hosts the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ spring-
training camp.
The Multi-Sports Experience, which is included in Wide World’s
general admission price, is open on select days. It challenges
guests with activities covering many sports: football, baseball,
basketball, hockey, soccer, and volleyball.
The NBA, NCAA, PGA, and Harlem Globetrotters also stage
events, sometimes annually and sometimes more frequently,
at the complex.
See map p. 168. On Victory Way, just north of U.S. 192 (west of I-4). % 407-828-3267
or 407-939-4263, the sports information line is 407-939-1500 www.disneysports.com.
Admission: $10.75 adults, $8 kids 3–9 (tax included). Open: Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., but
hours may vary by venue.
Gearing Up at the Richard
Petty Driving Experience
Compared to the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Walt Disney
World Speedway, Epcot’s thriller Test Track is for sissies. This is your
chance to race like a pro in a 600-horsepower NASCAR race car. How real
is it?
You must sign a two-page waiver with words such as Dangerous, Calculated
Risk, and Update Your Will! before getting into a car. At one end of the
spectrum, you can ride shotgun for a couple of laps at 145 mph ($99).
At the other end, you can spend from three hours to two days learning
how to drive the car yourself and racing other daredevils in 8 to 30 laps
of excitement (for a cool $349 to $1,249, not including tax). You must be
18 or older to ride in the car.
See map p. 168. At Walt Disney World Speedway on World Drive at Vista Boulevard just
off U.S. 192, south of the Magic Kingdom. % 800-237-3889. www.1800bepetty.com.
Admission varies by seasons and hours, so call ahead. The speedway is open daily
9 a.m.–4 p.m., though hours may vary.
240 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldPreparing for the PGA at Disney Golf
The Magic Mickey offers 99 holes of golf: five 18-hole, par-72 courses
and a 9-hole, par-36 walking course. All WDW courses are open to the
public and offer pro shops, equipment rentals, and instruction. For tee
times and information, call % 407-939-4653 up to 60 days in advance.
(Disney resort guests can reserve up to 90 days in advance.) Golf pack-
ages are also available (with select packages available only 7 days in
advance), and you can call % 407-934-7639 to make reservations.
Greens fees for Disney hotel guests can range from $69 to $159 per
18-hole round (it’s $10 more if you’re not a resort guest), though rates
are subject to change at any time and do vary by season and by course.
Special pricing may also available for play after 10 a.m., after 3 p.m., and
after 5 p.m. Here’s a rundown of Disney’s courses:
Palm Course (18 holes): By PGA standards, the Palm is Disney’s
toughest course. Set among natural Florida woodlands, the elevated
greens, water, and sand traps offer more hazards than Interstate 4.
Good luck with the 18th hole; it’s rated among the toughest holes
on the PGA Tour.
Magnolia Course (18 holes): The longest course on Disney property
is designed in classic PGA style. Wide fairways are deceiving; you’ve
got to hunker down and whack the ball, but take care: Eleven holes
have water hazards, and 97 bunkers are on the course. The 6th hole
has a special hazard — a Mickey Mouse–shaped sand trap.
Lake Buena Vista Course (18 holes): This course has a classic
country-club style, with many pines spread across a residential
area. Well-bunkered, it’s also a challenge that demands accuracy.
This course is one of a few that have played host to PGA, LPGA,
and USGA events.
Eagle Pines Course (18 holes): Expansive traps and sloping fair-
ways follow the natural lay of the land. Rough pine straw and
sand replace grass on this course, and 16 holes feature water
hazards.
Osprey Ridge Course (18 holes): This Fazio-designed course
combines rolling fairways cut through forests of scrub oak, pine,
palmetto, cypress, and bay trees. The Osprey course is ranked as
one of the best courses in Florida by Golf Digest.
Oak Trail Course (9 holes): If you can’t go a day without getting in
a few holes, but don’t have time for the 18-hole courses, this course
is the place to spank the ball. This 9-hole walking course is designed
for families or for a quick golf fix.
241Chapter 16: Enjoying the Rest of Walt Disney World
Disney occasionally offers discounted twilight tee times after 3 p.m. and
5 p.m., and often, it’s during the summer season. To find out whether a
discount is available during your visit, call % 407-939-4653 up to seven
days in advance or consult the golf section (it’s under the “Recreation”
link) on Walt Disney World’s Web site at www.disneyworld.com.
If you want more golfing options or want to get out of Disney for a bit,
two excellent sources of information and tee time reservations are
Golfpac (% 888-848-8941 or 407-260-2288; www.golfpacinc.com),
and Tee Times USA (% 888-465-3356; www.teetimesusa.com).
Puttering Around at Disney Miniature Golf
Those too timid to tee off at Disney’s majors — or whose big games aren’t
yet up to par — can try their putters on the World’s miniature golf courses.
Thanks to four whimsically themed courses, everyone, from novices to
master minigolfers, should find at least one course to their liking.
Fantasia Gardens
Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, located across from Disney–MGM
Studios, offers two 18-hole miniature courses drawing inspiration from
the Walt Disney classic cartoon of the same name. On the Fantasia
Gardens course, hippos, ostriches, and gators appear, and the Sorcerer’s
Apprentice presides over the final hole. This is a good course for begin-
ners and kids. Seasoned minigolfers will probably prefer the tougher
Fantasia Fairways, a scaled-down golf course complete with sand traps,
water hazards, tricky putting greens, and holes ranging from 40 to
75 feet — as for the kids, only those who can actually golf may find
the Fairways any fun.
See map p. 168. On Buena Vista Drive, just east of World Drive. % 407-560-4582.
www.disneyworld.com. Admission: $10 adults, $8 kids 3–9. Open: Daily 10 a.m.–
11 p.m.
Winter Summerland
Santa Claus and his elves supply the theme at Winter Summerland, a
well-designed miniature-golf spread that has two 18-hole courses. The
Winter course takes you from an ice castle to a snowman to the North
Pole. The Summer course is pure Florida, from sand castles to surfboards
to a visit with Santa on the Winternet.
See map p. 168. East off Buena Vista Drive, across from Blizzard Beach. % 407-
60-3000. www.disneyworld.com. Admission: $10 adults, $8 kids 3–9. Open: Daily
10 a.m.– 11 p.m.
242 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldMaking a Splash at Disney’s Water Parks
Disney’s two water parks are great places to chill out for all or part of a
day. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you head off for a swim:
Go in the afternoons — about 2 p.m., even in summer — if you can
stand the heat that long and want to avoid crowds. The early birds
are usually gone by then, and lines are far shorter.
Another way to enjoy the smallest crowds is to go early in the week
when most week-long guests are filling the lines at the theme parks.
Kids can get lost just as easily at a water park, and the consequences
can be worse. All Disney parks have lifeguards, usually wearing bright
red suits, but, to be safe, ask how to identify an on-duty lifeguard,
and keep an eye on your little ones. Life jackets are available, at no
charge, for an added measure of safety but are limited in availabil-
ity and are in no way a substitute for adult supervision.
If modesty is your policy, women should remember to bring a one-
piece bathing suit for the more daring slides. All bathers should
remember the wedgie factor on the more extreme rides, such as
Summit Plummet. You may enter the park wearing baggies, but,
thanks to high-speed water pressure, find yourself in a thong.
Blizzard Beach
The youngest of Disney’s water parks is also tops in the country in
attendance. Blizzard Beach is a 66-acre “ski resort” set in the midst
of a tropical lagoon beneath 90-foot, uh-oh, Mount Gushmore. The base
of Mount Gushmore has a sand beach and several other attractions,
including a wave pool and a smaller, kids’ version of the mountain.
Here are brief descriptions of other Blizzard Beach attractions:
Cross Country Creek is a 2,900-foot tube ride around the park and
through a cave where you get splashed with melting ice.
Runoff Rapids allows you and your tube to careen down your
choice of three twisting-and-turning runs, one of which plunges
you into darkness.
Ski Patrol Training Camp is designed for preteens. It features a
rope swing, an airborne water drop from a T-bar, slides, such as
the wet and slippery Mogul Mania, and a challenging ice-flow walk
along slippery floating icebergs.
Slush Gusher is a speed slide that shoots you along a snow-
banked gully. It packs a 48-inch minimum height requirement.
Melt Away Bay is a one-acre, relatively calm wave pool.
Snow Stormers has three flumes that descend from the top of Mount
Gushmore along a switchback course through ski-type slalom gates.
243Chapter 16: Enjoying the Rest of Walt Disney World
Summit Plummet is wild! Read every speed, motion, vertical-dip,
wedgie, and hold-onto-your-breastplate warning in this guide. Then
test your bravado in a bull ring, a space shuttle, or dozens of other
death-defying hobbies as a warm-up. This one starts out pretty slow,
with a lift ride (even in Florida’s 100° dog days) to the 120-foot
summit. Once you’re at the top, kiss any kids or religious medal you
may carry with you because, if you board, you will be on the world’s
fastest body slide. It’s a test of your courage and your swimsuit as
you’ll be headed virtually straight down and moving, sans vehicle,
at 60 mph by the time you reach the catch pool (the stop zone).
Even the hardiest of riders may find this slide hard to handle;
a veteran thrill-seeker has described the experience as “15 seconds
of paralyzing fear.” Minimum height requirement is 48 inches.
Teamboat Springs is the World’s longest white-water raft ride.
Your six-passenger raft twists down a 1,200-foot series of rushing
waterfalls.
Tike’s Peak is a mini version of Blizzard Beach for mini visitors.
It offers short slides, a squirting ice pool, a fountain play area, and
a snow castle.
Toboggan Racers is an eight-lane slide that sends you racing, head
first, over exhilarating dips into a “snowy” slope.
See map p. 168. On World Drive, north of the All-Star resorts and across from Winter
Summerland. % 407-560-3400. www.disneyworld.com. Admission: $34 adults,
$28 kids 3–9. Open: Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with extended hours during peak times, such
as summer.
Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon is the ultimate in water theme parks. Its fantasy setting
is a palm-fringed tropical island village of ramshackle, tin-roofed island
shacks, the entire area strewn with cargo, surfboards, and other marine
wreckage left by the great typhoon. The storm-stranded fishing boat (the
Miss Tilly) dangles precariously atop the 95-foot Mount Mayday, the steep
setting for several rides. Every 30 minutes, Tilly’s stack blows shooting a
50-foot geyser even higher into the air.
Here are some other park highlights:
Castaway Creek is a 2,100-foot lazy river that circles most of the
park. Hop onto a raft or an inner tube and meander through a misty
rain forest and then past caves and secluded grottoes. Water Works,
its theme area, is where jets of water spew from shipwrecked boats,
and a Rube Goldberg assemblage of broken bamboo pipes and
buckets soak you. Tubes are included in the admission.
Crush ’n’ Gusher is the newest addition to the park. Coaster crazies
will appreciate its gravity defying drops between which powerful
jets of water propel riders back uphill, through twists and turns,
244 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney Worldonly to drop them again. The Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher, and
Pineapple Plunger offer a unique, out-of-control experience, each
sending riders careening on a different route through the remains
of a ramshackle fruit exporting plant. Roughly the same length
(410–420-ft. long) the three spillways feature varying degrees of
slopes and turns to keep you coming back for more.
Humunga Kowabunga consists of three 214-foot Mount Mayday
slides that propel you down the mountain on a serpentine route
through waterfalls and bat caves and past nautical wreckage at up to
30 mph before depositing you into a bubbling catch pool; each slide
offers slightly different views and thrills. Seating also is available
for non-Kowabunga folks whose kids have commissioned them to
“watch me.” Women should wear a one-piece on the slides (unless
you don’t mind putting on a different sort of show for gawkers).
This attraction has a 48-inch height minimum.
Ketchakiddie Creek is a kiddie area designed exclusively for the
kiddie set (2–5 years). An innovative water playground, it has bub-
bling fountains in which kids can frolic, mini waterslides, a pint-size
white-water tubing run, spouting whales and squirting seals, rubbery
crocodiles on which to climb, grottoes to explore, and waterfalls
under which to loll.
Typhoon Lagoon is the park’s main swimming area. This large
(2.75 million gallons) and lovely lagoon (one of the world’s largest
inland wave pools) is the size of two football fields and is surrounded
by a white sandy beach. The chlorinated water has a turquoise hue
much like the waters of the Caribbean. Large waves hit the shore
every 90 seconds. A foghorn sounds to warn you when a wave is
coming. Young children can wade in the lagoon’s more peaceful
tidal pools — Blustery Bay and Whitecap Cove.
You can catch a wave at popular early-bird surfing sessions that
take place at the lagoon on select mornings before the park offi-
cially opens. For those not brave enough to learn in the ocean,
this controlled environment may be a good alternative. For more
information on the surfing program, see Chapter 27.
White-Water Rides, found in Mount Mayday, is the setting for three
white-water rafting adventures — Keelhaul Falls, Mayday Falls, and
Gang Plank Falls — all of which offer steep drops coursing through
caves and passing lush scenery. Keelhaul Falls has the most spiral-
ing route, Mayday Falls has the steepest drops and fastest water,
and the slightly tamer Gang Plank Falls uses large tubes so that the
whole family can pile on.
See map on p. 168. Located off Buena Vista Drive between the Downtown Disney
Marketplace and Disney–MGM Studios. % 407-560-4141. www.disneyworld.com.
Admission: $34 adults, $28 kids 3–9. Open: Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with extended hours
during some holiday periods and summer.
245Chapter 16: Enjoying the Rest of Walt Disney World
Enjoying the Holiday Season at Disney
Disney uses extra pixie dust during the holidays as the parks and resorts
are decked out even more spectacularly than you can even imagine.
They bring out the holiday spirit in a way only Disney can. Lights, trees,
caroling, and special activities begin around Thanksgiving and last until
the first of the new year. For more information on all of the events in this
section, call % 407-934-7639 or check out www.disneyworld.com.
Three of the best Yuletide attractions include the following:
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, an after-dark ticketed
event (7 p.m. to midnight), takes place on select nights at Magic
Kingdom and offers a traditional Christmas parade and a breath-
taking fireworks display. The charge ($44 adults, $35 kids 3–9; if
purchased in advance you will save $5 per ticket) includes cookies,
cocoa, and a souvenir photo. The best part? Shorter lines for the
rides that are open.
The Candlelight Procession at Epcot features hundreds of candle-
holding carolers, a celebrity narrator telling a Christmas story, a
450-voice choir, and a 50-piece orchestra. Also held on select nights,
this moving event features several celebrities during its five-week run.
Normal theme park admission ($60 adults, $48 kids 3–9) is charged.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights came to Disney–MGM
Studios in 1995, when an Arkansas family ran into trouble with home-
town authorities over their multimillion-light display. It seems they’d
committed the ultimate Little Rock sin, taking to heart the old hymn
that says, “You can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine.” Their
Christmas-light collection of 2-million-plus blinkers, twinklers, and
strands was so bright that their neighbors complained. (Imagine it
next to your bedroom window!) After the flow of faithful spectators
in cars caused mile-long backups, the neighbors, finally seeing the
light, went to court. Disney came to the rescue and, in 1995, moved
the whole thing to Orlando, adding a million or so bulbs to the dis-
play. You can see it all for the normal park admission ($60 adults,
$48 kids 3–9).
For those 21 and over, Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island features
an Island Wide New Year’s Eve celebration featuring big name per-
formers (in the past acts have included Cheap Trick, Tone Loc, Kurtis
Blow, and Kim Waters among others). Tickets include entrance to
all the P.I. clubs and a spectacular midnight fireworks display —
not to mention all the loud music your ears can handle.
The other Orlando parks and many of the WDW resorts hold their own
holiday festivities featuring special activities, spectacular decorations,
holiday-themed parades, and more. Be sure to ask in advance or check
with your concierge or at guest services when you arrive.
246 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldSailing the Seas with Disney
It took them a while to catch on, which is unusual for the Disney folks,
but they finally discovered another place to expand their empire — the
high seas. Despite delays, the Disney Cruise Line launched the Disney
Magic and the Disney Wonder in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
The two ships have small differences. The Magic is Art Deco, with a giant
Mickey in its three-level lobby and a Beauty and the Beast mural in its top
restaurant, Lumiere’s. The Wonder is Art Nouveau; Ariel commands its
lobby, and its featured eatery, Triton’s, sports a mural from The Little
Mermaid. Both ships have recently been refurbished.
The restaurants, nightlife, shows, and other onboard activities on both
vessels are very family-oriented (indeed, the Disney ships are the best in
all cruisedom for kids). One of the ships’ unique features is a dine-around
option that lets you move among main restaurants (each ship has four)
from night to night while keeping the same servers. Disney also offers
Castaway Cay, its own private Bahamian island featuring water sports
and other activities.
The Disney Magic sails seven-day eastern Caribbean (St. Thomas,
St. Maarten, and Castaway Cay) and seven-day western Caribbean
(Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Castaway Cay) itineraries
on an alternating basis year-round. A special 10-day Caribbean cruise
is scheduled for the end of December 2006; call for details and rates.
The Disney Wonder offers shorter three- and four-day Bahamas cruises
that are often (though not necessarily) sold as part of seven-day vaca-
tion packages, combining the sailings with a Walt Disney World land
experience. Subtle differences aside, these two ships are nearly identical
twins. Both are 83,000 tons with 12 decks, 875 extra large cabins, and
room for up to 1,755 guests (when each ship’s children’s berths are filled
to capacity, that total can reach as high as 3,325). The ships have some
adults-only areas, but no casinos.
Recently updated, the line’s free kids’ programs are some of the best at
sea. Just like at Disney World, costumed Disney characters are available
at scheduled times during the voyage, so that passengers can line up
for hugs and photos. The children’s program is divided into four age
groups: the Flounder’s Reef Nursery for ages 3 months to 3 years;
Disney’s Oceaneer Club for ages 3 to 7; Disney’s Oceaneer Lab for ages
8 to 12; and The Stack for ages 13 to 17. Each program offers numerous
age-appropriate activities and diversions.
Especially important to parents with young kids, Disney has expanded its
Flounder’s Reef Nursery on both ships to hold as many as 30 children
with a child/counselor ratio of four to one. Extended hours are featured
on seven-night cruises so parents can dine alone, try a spa treatment, or
sneak off for a shore excursion. Best of all, unlike other cruise lines, the
247Chapter 16: Enjoying the Rest of Walt Disney World
nursery welcomes infants from as young as 12 weeks old to 3-year-old
toddlers. The space has cribs and counselors do change diapers (though
you must supply them). The price is $6 per child per hour with a two-
hour minimum.
You can get discounted fares if you book well in advance and go during
non-peak periods. The line also offers special fares for kids 3 to 12 travel-
ing as a third, fourth, or fifth passenger sharing a cabin with two adults.
All cruises depart from Port Canaveral, which is about an hour east of
Orlando by car. If you buy a Land and Sea package, transportation to and
from Orlando is included. For more information, call Disney Cruise Line
or check out its very informative Web site, which also allows you to plan
and reserve shore excursions before you go.
Hwy. 528 at A1A, Cape Canaveral. % 800-951-3532. www.disneycruise.com.
Seven-day land-sea packages include three or four days afloat with the rest of the
week at a WDW resort. Prices range from $799–$5,199 for adults, $399–$2,199 for
kids 3–12, and $139 for kids younger than 3, depending on your choice of resort and
stateroom. Some packages include round-trip air, and unlimited admission to Disney
parks, Pleasure Island, and other attractions. Cruise-only options for three nights are
$399–$2,849 for adults, $229–$1,099 for kids 3–12, and $99 for those younger than 3;
four-night cruises are $499–$3,249 for adults, $329–$1,199 for kids 3–12, and $99 for
kids younger than 3.
Chapter 17Shopping in Walt
Disney World
In This Chapter
Getting money-saving tips
Shopping inside the parks
Cruising the shopping districts outside of Disney
Taking advantage of airport options
P
art of the fun of going on vacation is stocking up on souvenirs. A
trip to Walt Disney World shouldn’t be any different — unless you
want to arrive home with money in your wallet. In this chapter, you dis-
cover the ins and outs of shopping for Walt Disney World mementos.
Money-Saving Tips for Top-Notch Take-Homes
The kids are tugging at your shirt, begging you for 14-carat mouse ears
and the biggest stuffed Mickey on the planet, your mother just has to have
a pair of Goofy slippers, and you’ve always wanted a crystal Cinderella
clock for the den. Then you see the price tags. Gasp! Are they kidding?
No, unfortunately, they are not.
You’re an emotional and physical captive of a commercial enterprise
sprinkled with feel-good pixie dust when you’re at Disney. Now I’m just
guessing and don’t know this for sure, but I think Disney uses a simple
formula for setting prices: Start with reasonable retail and then multiply . . .
by three. Don’t panic just yet, not everything is so completely out of
reach, and if you keep reading I’ll point you in the right direction.
But no matter how much I warn you, most of you probably won’t escape
without a sizable contribution to the stockholders’ fund, especially if it’s
your first trip to Walt Disney World or you have kids in tow. So before you
start spending, here are a few things to think about:
If there’s a Disney Store near your hometown, some of what’s sold
in the Disney parks likely is sold in there as well. You can also get a
fairly large selection of it on the Internet through the shopping link
249Chapter 17: Shopping in Walt Disney World
at www.disney.com. So there’s no need to rush into a purchase.
(Notable exceptions however are goods sold in the World Showcase
pavilions at Epcot and Walt Disney World logo merchandise sold
throughout the parks.)
At the other end of the spectrum, many WDW shops sell products
themed to their particular area of the park (such as the shops
found at the exit of many rides or the kiosks found throughout
the different lands), and finding the identical item elsewhere
in the parks (let alone outside the parks) may be difficult at best.
(You do get an eleventh-hour shot at the airport, but the selection
is limited. See “Last Chance: Shopping for Disney Doodads at the
Airport,” at the end of this chapter.)
Don’t be fooled the discount stores offering you a “bargain.” You
usually won’t find bargains or discounts on true or authentic WDW
merchandise anywhere. If someone offers you one (especially out-
side the parks), beware. The bargain or discount may be a cheap
imitation or knock off — or worse, “hot.”
Theme park shops keep the same hours as the attractions: usually
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or whatever time the park happens to close that
day) though the main shops near the parks’ entrances often remain
open at least a few minutes extra for those last minute shoppers on
their way out.
Don’t forget to account for the 6.5 percent sales tax on purchases.
Loading Up Your Cart at
Walt Disney World
In general, you’ll find three categories of merchandise in the WDW parks.
Souvenirs that scream “Disney!” are the most common. (The number of
choices — from Ariel to Winnie the Pooh and beyond — can, and will,
fog your brain.) Collectibles, including some not related to Disney, are
another. You find these items in some of the Main Street shops in the
Magic Kingdom, as well as around the World Showcase in Epcot and
at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The last category, merchandise
native to the 11 countries showcased throughout Epcot’s World Showcase,
and is completely unrelated to Disney whatsoever, is aptly considered a
World Showcase specialty.
Why lug all your bulky purchases around? You can send your purchases
from any store to designated areas near the entrance, where you can pick
them up as you leave the park that day. In the Magic Kingdom, you can
pick up packages at Guest Relations next to City Hall in the Plaza area. In
Epcot, you can send your packages to The Gift Stop in the Entrance Plaza
or the World Traveler at the International Gateway in World Showcase.
Disney–MGM Studios shop clerks will send your goodies to the package
pickup next to Oscar’s Super Service in front of the park. And you can
250 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney Worldpick up your Animal Kingdom purchases at Garden Gate Gifts near the
Entrance Plaza. (Allow at least three hours for delivery.) If you’re a Disney
resort guest, you can have your packages delivered to your room for
free — ask the shops about this service. Packages, however, may not
arrive until the next afternoon if purchased prior to 7 p.m.; if purchased
after 7 p.m. they will arrive the second afternoon after your purchase
was made.
Magic Kingdom
The Emporium along Main Street, U.S.A., has a large selection of
Disneyana including pricey collectibles such as Minnie Mouse cookie
jars and vintage Mickey Mouse wristwatches, as well as apparel, toys,
and trinkets. The Fantasy Faire inside Cinderella Castle sells family
crests, tapestries, suits of armor, and other medieval wares, as well as
miniature carousels.
Pirates Bazaar in Adventureland peddles hats, Captain Hook T-shirts,
ships in bottles, toy muskets, and loads of other yo-ho-ho buccaneer
booty, in addition to jewelry and a small selection of resort wear. It’s
outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Also look for the tiny little
shack (selling mostly camera supplies) just up the way before you get
to Frontierland — it sells Mickey and Minnie two-way radios, which
are a great way to communicate in the parks.
The Frontier Trading Post in Frontierland hawks cowboy hats, western
shirts, coonskin caps, turquoise jewelry, belts, and toy rifles.
The Yankee Trader in Liberty Square is a charming country store that
sells Lion King and Pooh cookie jars, Disney cookie cutters, and fancy
food items. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe features plenty of holiday ideas,
some Disney, some not.
Sir Mickey’s in Fantasyland is supply central for a variety of Disney-motif
trinkets. Wares at Tinker Bell’s Treasures include Peter Pan merchan-
dise, costumes (Tinker Bell, Snow White, Cinderella, Pocahontas, and
others), and collector dolls. And just at the exit of Mickey’s PhilharMagic,
you’ll find a collection of trinkets, toys, and T’s that feature Donald Duck.
Pooh’s Thotful Shop in Fantasyland is dedicated to 100 Acre gang mer-
chandise, including plenty of Pooh and Tigger items.
Inside the Toontown Hall of Fame you’ll find a large array of toys, T’s,
candy, and other Disney-themed trinkets.
Mickey’s Star Traders and Merchants of Venus in Tomorrowland is
another place to get a look at Disney collectibles along with just about
anything else Disney, and the spaceship shaped kiosk just outside Buzz
Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has enough Toy Story toys to fill any
kid’s toy chest.
251Chapter 17: Shopping in Walt Disney World
Epcot
World Showcase pavilions carry unique and unusual items that represent
their respective pavilion’s country. Following are some of the shopping
highlights.
Heritage Manor Gifts in The American Adventure sells autographed
presidential photographs, needlepoint samplers, quilts, pottery, candles,
Davy Crockett hats, books on American history, historically costumed
dolls, classic political campaign buttons, and vintage newspapers with
banner headlines such as “Nixon Resigns!” You can also buy Disney art
and character merchandise, as well as popular Disney pins.
The Canada pavilion’s Northwest Mercantile carries sandstone and
soapstone carvings, fringed leather vests, duck decoys, moccasins,
an array of stuffed animals, Native American dolls and spirit stones,
rabbit-skin caps, knitted sweaters, and, of course, maple syrup.
China’s Yong Feng Shangdian Department Store is a bustling marketplace
filled with an array of merchandise including silk robes, brocade pajamas,
lacquer and inlaid mother-of-pearl furniture, jade figures, cloisonné vases,
tea sets, silk rugs and embroideries, dolls, fans, wind chimes, and clothing.
Artisans demonstrate calligraphy here, too.
Emporia is the covered shopping area filled with several little boutiques
found in France. Merchandise includes art, cookbooks, cookware, wines
(there’s a tasting counter), Madeline and Babar books and dolls, perfumes,
and original letters written by famous Frenchmen, such as Napoleon.
This is one of only two locations in the entire world to feature signature
Guerlain fragrances (cosmetics and accessories are available as well).
Germany’s shops feature Hümmel figurines (one of only eight worldwide
locations to carry a complete collection), crystal, glassware, cookware,
cuckoo clocks, cowbells, Alpine hats, German wines (there’s a tasting
counter) and foods, books, and toys (German Disneyana, teddy bears,
dolls, and puppets). An artisan sometimes demonstrates molding and
painting Hümmel figures; another paints detailed scenes on eggs.
La Cucina Italiana and Il Bel Cristallo in Italy stock cameo and delicate
filigree jewelry, fine-leather goods, Armani figurines, cookware, Italian
wines and foods, Murano and other Venetian glass, alabaster figurines,
inlaid wooden music boxes, and festive Carnivale masks.
The Mitsukoshi Department Store (Japan’s answer to Sears) stocks lac-
querware, kimonos, kites, fans, dolls in traditional costumes, origami
books, samurai swords, Japanese Disneyana, bonsai trees, Japanese
foods, Netsuke carvings, pottery, and electronics. Artisans in the court-
yard demonstrate the ancient arts of anesaiku (shaping brown rice candy
into dragons, unicorns, and dolphins), sumi-e (calligraphy), and origami
(paper folding). Kids interested in the Hello Kitty gang or anime cartoons
will find plenty to ask you to buy.
252 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldGreat things to buy at Epcot
Epcot’s World Showcase shines in the shopping department. Although the selections
here change from time to time and may not necessarily represent bargains — Disney
never quits trying to lighten your wallet — they are the kind of unique and unusual items
you may not find anywhere else.
If you’re into silver jewelry, don’t miss the Mexico pavilion. You can find trinkets
ranging from simple flowered hair clips to stone-and-silver bracelets.
The shops in Norway have great sweaters and Scandinavian trolls that are so ugly,
you’re likely to fall in love with them.
In China, browse through jade teardrop earrings, Disney art, and more. Its mer-
chandise is among the most expensive and most fetching in Epcot.
Italy’s 100-percent silk scarves and ties come in several patterns.
Style-conscious teenagers may love a Taquia knit cap, something of a colorful
fezlike chapeau, that’s available in Morocco. You can also find beautifully painted
pottery.
Wimbledon shirts, shorts, and skirts are among the hard-to-find items in the
United Kingdom, which also has an assortment of tea accessories, sweaters, and
Beatles memorabilia.
Given Tokyo’s notorious astronomical prices, this store may be one of
the few places in WDW where you can actually score a relative bargain.
Shops in and around the Plaza de Los Amigos (a Mexican mercado
market with a tiered fountain and street lamps) display an array of
leather goods, baskets, sombreros, piñatas, pottery, embroidered
dresses and blouses, maracas, jewelry, serapes, paper flowers, colorful
papier-mâché birds, and blown-glass objects (an artisan gives glass-
blowing demonstrations).
Morocco’s streets lead to the souk, a bustling marketplace where
handcrafted pottery, brassware, hand-knotted Berber carpets, color-
ful Rabat carpets, ornate silver and camel-bone boxes, straw baskets,
and prayer rugs are sold. You can also catch weaving demonstrations
during the day.
Norway’s shops sell hand-knitted wool hats and sweaters (including a
collection by Dale of Norway), toys (there’s a LEGO table where kids can
play), trolls, woodcarvings, Scandinavian foods, pewterware, jewelry,
and Christmas items. There’s also a nice selection of fragrances, body
creams, and candles.
253Chapter 17: Shopping in Walt Disney World
High Street and Tudor Lane shops in the United Kingdom display a broad
sampling of British merchandise, including toy soldiers, Paddington bears,
Thomas the Tank Engine wooden train sets, personalized coats of arms,
Scottish clothing (cashmere and Shetland sweaters, golf wear, tams, knits,
and tartans), Wimbledon sportswear, fine English china, Waterford crys-
tal, and pub items such as tankards and dartboards. A tea shop occupies
a replica of Anne Hathaway’s thatch-roofed 16th-century cottage in
Stratford-upon-Avon. Other stores represent the Georgian, Victorian,
Queen Anne, and Tudor periods.
Disney–MGM Studios
The Animation Gallery carries collectible animation cels, books about
animation, arts-and-crafts kits for future animators, and collector figurines.
Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind sells autographed photos of the stars,
original movie posters, and star-touched jewelry and other memorabilia.
Over at The Darkroom/Cover Story, you can have your photograph put
on the cover of your favorite magazine, anything from Forbes to Psychology
Today to Golf Digest. Celebrity 5 & 10, modeled after a 1940s Woolworth’s,
is filled with unique Disneyesque housewares, MGM Studio T-shirts, and
movie posters.
Many of the park’s major attractions also have shops or kiosks filled
with items such as Indiana Jones adventure clothing, Little Mermaid
stuffed characters, Star Wars light sabers and LEGO sets, and so on.
Animal Kingdom
The Oasis’s Outpost Shop deals in T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, toys, and
other souvenir items.
Beastly Bazaar in Safari Village has a wide selection of items related to
The Tree of Life and the show, It’s Tough to Be a Bug! Along with choco-
lates, candies, and home décor items. Creature Comforts sells clothing,
stuffed animals, and toys, and is mostly geared for kids. Island Mercantile
offers theme merchandise that represents the park’s lands with a plenti-
tude of character merchandise. They also have a hair-braiding service
and are a pin-trading location.
Mombasa Marketplace/Ziwani Traders in Africa sells Kilimanjaro Safaris
apparel and gifts, as well as realistic animal items, including beautiful
wood carvings, and other authentic African gifts.
Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures in DinoLand U.S.A. has wild
and wacky dinosaur souvenirs, tons of toys, and T-shirts.
Other shopping ops include Mandala Gifts in Asia just beyond Kali
River Rapids and the Dino Institute Shop just beyond DINOSAUR in
DinoLand U.S.A.
254 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldDisney Shopping Outside the Theme Parks
Don’t think that the enticement to spend money magically disappears
when you step outside the theme parks. Walt Disney World also encom-
passes some shopping districts that house a multitude of shops — some
of which carry merchandise you can’t get anywhere else — that offer
you the chance to blow your budget.
Disney West Side
Disney West Side has many rather unique specialty stores where you
can find plenty of unusual gifts and souvenirs.
Guitar Gallery tempts string-strokers with custom guitars, including
one-of-a-kind and rare collectibles with a selection of accessories, books,
and clothing. Hoypoloi Gallery is a New Age store offering artsy glass,
ceramics, sculptures, and other decorative doodads made from metal,
stone, and wood. Magnetron is — well, wow! Can there be a market for
this many refrigerator magnets? Magic Masters, a re-creation of Harry
Houdini’s private library, is the place for magic tricks and illusions, and the
magic experts here often entertain guests with a few tricks of their own.
Smoking may be on the way to sayonara-ville, but Sosa Family Cigars
beckons with sweet smells and a tradition reaching back to yesterday’s
Cuba. Over at Starabilias, the main events are jukeboxes, Coke machines,
and other lost treasures.
Disney West Side (% 407-828-3800; www.disneyworld.com) is on
Buena Vista Drive. From I-4, exit on Highway 536 or Highway 535 and
follow the signs. Some shop times vary, but the complex is open daily
from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Downtown Disney Marketplace
Basin offers a cornucopia of fresh-made bath products, including glycerin
soaps and wonderful bath bombs. The Art of Disney is a one-of-a-kind
gallery that also includes sculpture, crystal, and more. EUROSPAIN comes
calling with products that crystal and metal artists make before your eyes.
Once Upon a Toy has Disney-themed versions of many popular games,
including Mr. Potato Head and Monopoly.
The newly-renovated LEGO Imagination Center is one of the best shops
around. This spot is fabulous for moms and dads to relax while your
young whippersnappers unwind in a free LEGO building play area beside
the store. World of Disney comes with the (don’t-hold-it-to-them) prom-
ise that if it exists, and it’s Disney, it’s on their shelves.
Downtown Disney Marketplace (% 407-828-3800; www.disneyworld.
com) is on Buena Vista Drive at Hotel Plaza Boulevard. From I-4, exit on
Highway 536 or Highway 535 and follow the signs. It’s open daily from
9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Part VExploring the Rest
of Orlando
In this part . . .M
ickey may be the toughest mouse around, but he
doesn’t own Orlando anymore. Yes, this is still the
town that Disney built, but the fact is, half of the eight big-
league attractions in Orlando don’t belong to Disney.
This part of the book explores the rest of Orlando, including
the exciting attractions at Universal Orlando as well as what
you find at SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, the smaller attractions,
and some of the best shopping venues outside the parks. It
also includes information on great day trips to two of the
most popular attractions outside of the immediate Orlando
area: Busch Gardens and the Kennedy Space Center.
Chapter 18Universal Studios Florida
In This Chapter
Discovering helpful Universal facts
Seeing the best things at Universal Studios Florida
Eating at USF
Shopping for souvenirs
W
ith two studios in Orlando, you soon get the picture, literally and
figuratively, about which studio produces what films in the movie
business. Both Universal and Disney–MGM Studios (see Chapter 14) have
plenty to offer, and they both spend plenty of money plugging their movies
and characters. At Universal, that investment means you’ll encounter the
Mummy, Twister, Terminator, Jaws, E.T., Shrek, Barney, and many more.
You’ll also find plenty of grown-up, cutting edge, hurl-’em-and-twirl-’em
rides, such as Back to the Future, Men in Black Alien Attack, and Earthquake.
Universal has recently made great strides to appeal to younger kids as
well, especially with Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone and its pint-size rides,
shows, and play areas.
As a plus, Universal is a working television and movie studio, so occa-
sionally there’s some live filming done at Nickelodeon’s sound stages or
elsewhere in the park. You can also see reel history displayed in the form
of actual sets exhibited along Hollywood Boulevard and Rodeo Drive.
A talented troupe of actors portraying Universal stars, such as the Blues
Brothers, or a wide range of not-so-recognizable characters, often wander
the park chatting with guests along the way. And park shows, such as
Terminator 2: 3D Battle Across Time and Fear Factor Live deliver heart-
pumping excitement.
In this chapter, I give you helpful hints and basic information about visit-
ing Universal Studios Florida and experiencing its attractions.
Finding Out Important Park Information
Before I get on to the good stuff of USF, I first need to get the logistical
information out of the way; believe me, you’ll appreciate it when you get
there.
258 Part V: Exploring the Rest of OrlandoUniversal Studios Florida
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