Last year marked Walt Disney World's
25th Anniversary! Living in Florida makes you an immediate Disney
Theme park fan. Not because of the tourism it brings, but because
of the sense of magic and transportation back to days of joy and
carefree living that it ultimately instills in all that visit there.
I've lived in Florida for 18 years now, and this is the third year
that I've been a Florida Resident Seasonal Passport holder. The
annual tickets have given us the motivation to visit more frequently.
I thought that we would quickly become bored, but to the contrary I
find that each time we visit, I discover more things that I want
to see and do on our next visit.
I thought I'd take a moment
to share some of my favorite highlights from each of the Disney Parks,
beginning with the Magic Kingdom. One of the newest things you will notice when
approaching the entry gates is the walk of fame that covers the pathway from the Magic Kingdom entrance and continuing around the lake toward the Resort Hotels. The walkway consists of individual bricks that have been purchased by families, businesses and individuals engraved with their names, date, and special message as well as coded marker numbers so they can locate their brick on future visits. It's just one way that some individuals can become a permanent fixture at the most Magical place in the world!
As you enter The Magic Kingdom many are stunned by the awesome
sight
of Cinderella's castle which sits at the far end of main street. At night, Disney puts on a
breathtaking display of fireworks directly over the castle. To herald the
beginning of the fireworks, Tinkerbell flies from the top of the highest spire
across the park above the spectators' heads. And for the record, Tinkerbell is
real, not animated!
Every afternoon you can delight to the Remember the Magic Parade which begins in
Frontier land and ends at the beginning of Main Street by the main entrance.
Of course all your favorite characters including Aladdin, The Lion King, Cinderella,
The Little Mermaid and others are there upon their respective float to greet you.
The parade makes periodic stops allowing the characters to grab
some lucky children from the sidelines to dance with them in
the street. My 3.5 year old girl had the good fortune of being
chosen for the parade during our last visit and her excitement
could barely be contained. I'm sure she will long Remember the
Magic!
After dark, the magic really
gets into
full swing. In addition to the fireworks display, you can also marvel at the Spectro-
Magic Parade! Plan on finding a seat early along the parade route if you want a good
view because all the best spots are taken half an hour to 45 minutes before parade time.
The parade is perhaps one of the most spectacular sites you will ever see! The wonder
that fills the eyes and hearts of both young and old can't be feigned as a multitude of
brightly illuminated floats begin their way through the park. I won't spoil it by
describing the floats to you, just believe me when I tell you that you won't be disappointed.
One thing to keep in mind though is that the music is very loud during this parade, so
warn young children and be prepared to comfort frightened infants at first.
Try to make a special effort to attend at least one character meal during your visit. They are
great fun for children as well as adults. The ultimate experience is to dine in
Cinderella's Castle. Reservations are required for this establishment;
can only be made 60 days in advance of your visit, and fill up almost
immediately so you must be very diligent if you want to dine there.
I have been unsuccessful in obtaining reservations for every visit so
far, but am determined to do so for my next visit in October. I'll
let you know how it goes. One of your first purchases when arriving
at the park should be an official Disney Autograph book ($5.00 in just
about every store). It will be worth it's weight in gold as you meet
characters throughout the parks who are always happy to sign their
name for you!
EPCOT is an educational visit for older children and adults
but I don't recommend it for very young children. My daughter liked the
boat ride in the Mexico exhibit, the ride through the Dinosaur exhibit
(she thought it was very gross when the dinosaur spit on her), and the
boat ride through The Land exhibit. The rest of the park didn't interest her
in the least. She did enjoy the Illuminations presentation on the lake
after dark. It was a bright and creative display of lazers, fireworks and
lights. It is worthwhile seeing, but if you have to choose between
Illuminations and Spectro Magic, I certainly recommend Spectro Magic.
Personally, I found the MGM Studios park to be a major disappointment.
Certainly not worth purchasing a separate ticket for. If you can get in
on an annual passport or an extended visit pass, OK, otherwise, save the
money and spend the day at one of the other theme or water parks. Some of
the more notable experiences include the Indiana Jones Special Effects
show which uses audience participants as extras, The Muppet's 3-D Adventure,
and CoCa Cola's Ride the Movies presentation. Stage shows definitely worth
seeing include Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Little
Mermaid (see this first because the lines get very long as the day wears on).
There is so much to do at Disney World that you would probably have to plan
a month long visit to get it all in on one trip. Other activities include golf,
miniature golf, shopping at The Disney Village, several water theme parks including
the new Blizzard Beach, and of course the Disney Institute. I'm looking forward
to participating in one of the Disney Institute day programs in October and will
report back to you then. There are several behind the scenes tours available at both
EPCOT and MGM and of course, the famous underground tour at The Magic Kingdom! Some
are free, others require advance reservations and charge an additional fee. The Magic
Kingdom underground tour is one of the more expensive tours, but one I plan to take
in October. Check out Disney World on-line for more information on all that they have to offer
and for their current calendar of special events.
I strongly advise spending the extra money to stay at one of the on-site resorts.
Disney now boasts many different resorts in all price ranges, each one boasting their
own theme. For the economy minded traveler, there are the All-Star Music and Sports
Resorts and if price is no object, then the spectacular
Grand Floridian Resort is for you! The advantages of staying at one of the Disney
Resorts include close proximity, unlimited free round trip transportation to all the
parks during operating hours and no parking fees. In addition, as a Disney Resort guest,
you are entitled to early admission to a different park each day! This means you are
allowed to enter an hour before the general public allowing you to visit those rides that
typically have long lines!
In the Summer of 1998, Disney will be unveiling its new Animal Kingdom park which
promises to be one of the most extraordinary theme parks in the world! I'll be bringing
you more information on it as it becomes available. I hope you enjoyed your tour here
today. Keep checking back for updates and more Disney World visitor tips which will be
added frequently. A collection basket will be available at the exit for your Tour Guide
Gratuity!
