The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2017

857 Pages·2016·39.498 MB·English

by  Sehlinger, Bob;Testa, Len

Over
“A Tourist’s Best Friend!” “Indispensable”
6 million
—Chicago Sun-Times —The New York Times
Unoffi cial
Guides sold!
Six Great Features and Benefits
offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:
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A complete dining guide showing which restaurants
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Nearly 200 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, t
including the top non-Disney hotels for families l

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In-depth coverage of The Wizarding World of Harry D
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Objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and
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ISBN 978-1-62809-052-9 $19.99 US • How to cut your waits in line by 4 hours a day
51999 • Details on the new Frozen attractions at Epcot
• The latest Star Wars fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Cover photo: © Samantha Decker 9 781628 090529 • How much Disney vacation your family can get
for budgets from $500 to $2,000
Plan Your Trip Online at TouringPlans.com Bob Sehlinger & Len Testa
THE
unofficial

GUIDE®
Walt Disney
to
World®
2017
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Other Unofficial Guides
Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to SeaWorld, Universal Orlando,
& the Best of Central Florida
The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of
Walt Disney’s Dream
Mini-Mickey: The Pocket-Sized Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Universal vs. Disney: The Unofficial Guide to American Theme Parks’
Greatest Rivalry
The Unofficial Guide Color Companion to Walt Disney World
The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line
The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland
The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas
The Unofficial Guide to Mall of America
The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids
The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C.
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2017_M&G.indb 2 7/5/16 12:46 PM
COME CHECK US OUT!
Supplement your valuable guidebook with tips, news, and
THE
deals by visiting our websites:
unofficial
®
touringplans.com GUIDE
theunofficialguides.com
Walt Disney
to
Sign up for the Unofficial Guide newsletter for even more
travel tips and special offers.
World®
Join the conversation on social media:

@theUGSeries
2017
theUnofficialGuides
theUGSeries BOB SEHLINGER and LEN TESTA
theUGSeries

#theUGseries (Walt Disney World® is officially known as Walt Disney World® Resort.)
Other Unofficial Guides
Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to SeaWorld, Universal Orlando,
& the Best of Central Florida
The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of
Walt Disney’s Dream
Mini-Mickey: The Pocket-Sized Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Universal vs. Disney: The Unofficial Guide to American Theme Parks’
Greatest Rivalry
The Unofficial Guide Color Companion to Walt Disney World
The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line
The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland
The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas
The Unofficial Guide to Mall of America
The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids
The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C.
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2017_M&G.indb 3 7/5/16 12:46 PM
Please note that prices fluctuate in the course of time and that travel information changes
under the impact of many factors that influence the travel industry. We therefore suggest
that you write or call ahead for confirmation when making your travel plans. Every effort
has been made to ensure the accuracy of information throughout this book, and the con-
tents of this publication are believed to be correct at the time of printing. Nevertheless, the
publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, for changes in details given
in this guide, or for the consequences of any reliance on the information provided by the
same. Assessments of attractions and so forth are based upon the authors’ own experiences;
therefore, descriptions given in this guide necessarily contain an element of subjective opin-
ion, which may not reflect the publisher’s opinion or dictate a reader’s own experience on
another occasion. Readers are invited to write the publisher with ideas, comments, and sug-
gestions for future editions.
The Unofficial Guides
An imprint of AdventureKEEN
2204 First Ave. S., Suite 102
Birmingham, AL 35233
theunofficialguides.com, facebook.com/theunofficialguides, twitter.com/theugseries
Copyright © 2017 by Robert W. Sehlinger. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
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Unofficial Guide is a registered trademark of Google Inc. in the United States and other coun-
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vendor mentioned in this book.
Cover design by Scott McGrew
Text design by Vertigo Design and Annie Long
For information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please
contact us from within the United States at 888-604-4537 or by fax at 205-326-1012.
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ISBN: 978-1-62809-052-9, eISBN: 978-1-62809-053-6
Distributed by Publishers Group West
Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2017_M&G.indb 4 7/5/16 12:46 PM
CONTENTS
List of Maps and Diagrams xv
Dedication xvi
Introduction 1
Why “Unofficial”? 1
Declaration of Independence 1
Dance to the Music 1
The Importance of Being Goofy 2
Honey, I Blew Up the Book! 3
Your Unofficial Walt Disney World Toolbox 4
The Death of Spontaneity 5
The Big Hurt 5
Don’t Let the Tail Wag the Dog 5
We’ve Got Attitude 7
The Sum of All Fears 8
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen? 8
The Unofficial Team 9
This Is Not a Novel! 10
Corrections, Updates, and Breaking News 12
The Unofficial Guide Publishing Year 12
Letters and Comments from Readers 12
Walt Disney World: An Overview 13
What Walt Disney World Encompasses 13
Disney-Speak Pocket Translator and Guide to Common Abbreviations 14
The Major Theme Parks 15
WHAT’S NEW AT WALT DISNEY WORLD SINCE YOUR LAST VISIT 16
The Water Parks 17
Other Walt Disney World Venues 18
The People 19
Universal Orlando 20
Time to Take Off the Blinders 20
PART ONE Planning Before You Leave Home 26
Gathering Information 26
Your Disney Trip-Planning Timeline, a.k.a. The Quick-Start Guide to
 Using the Guide 29
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vi CONTENTS
IMPORTANT WALT DISNEY WORLD ADDRESSES 29
WALT DISNEY WORLD PHONE NUMBERS 30–31
Disney Online: Official and Otherwise 36
When to Go to Walt Disney World 39
Selecting the Time of Year for Your Visit 39
Extra Magic Hours 43
Morning Extra Magic Hours (a.k.a. Early Entry) 44
Summer and Holidays 47
The Walt Disney World Calendar 48
PART TWO  Making the Most of Your Time and Money 53
Crossing the Line 53
Readers Speak Out 54
Allocating Money 55
Can You Afford a Disney Vacation? We Crunch the Numbers 55
WHAT YOU GET AND WHAT YOU PAY AT WDW 56–58
Walt Disney World Admission Options 60
This Is a Job for . . . a Computer! 61
Magic Your Way 61
Ticket Add-Ons 64
How to Get the Most from Magic Your Way 65
Disney Price Increases 65
Tickets, Biometrics, Wristbands, and RFID 66
Where to Purchase Magic Your Way Tickets 66
For Additional Information on Passes 68
Where the Real Deals Are 68
The British Are Coming! 68
More Discounts on Admissions 68
How Much Does It Cost Per Day? 69
RFID: It’s All in the Wrist 70
Allocating Time 71
Which Park to See First? 72
Operating Hours 72
Official Opening Versus Real Opening 72
The Vacation That Fights Back 72
The Practicality of Returning to Your Hotel for Rest 73
Arrival- and Departure-Day Blues:
 What to Do When You Have Only Half a Day 74
The Cardinal Rules for Successful Touring 76
What’s a Queue? 78
Of Utmost Importance: Read This! 79
Touring Plans: What They Are and How They Work 79
Overview of the Touring Plans 82
Extra Magic Hours and the Touring Plans 87
FastPass+ 88
Understanding Walt Disney World Attractions 99
Cutting Your Time in Line by Understanding the Rides 101
Cutting Your Time in Line by Understanding the Shows 103
A Word About Disney Thrill Rides 105
Central Florida Roller Coasters 105
PART THREE Accommodations 112
The Basic Considerations 112
The Latest in Lodging 112
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CONTENTS vii
The Tax Man Cometh 113
About Hotel Inspections 113
Benefits of Staying in the World 115
Staying in or out of the World: Weighing the Pros and Cons 116
The Disney Resorts 118
Disney Resorts 101 118
How to Get Discounts on Lodging 122
Choosing a Walt Disney World Hotel 126
Researching Walt Disney World Hotels 142
Unofficial Guide Readers Speak Out 148
Readers’ 2016 Disney Resort Report Card 149
Walt Disney World Hotel Profiles 153
The Magic Kingdom Resorts 153
The Epcot Resorts 172
The Bonnet Creek Resorts 188
The Animal Kingdom Resorts 199
Independent Hotels of the Disney Springs Resort Area 215
Camping at Walt Disney World 219
How to Evaluate a Walt Disney World Travel Package 224
Cut to the Chase 225
Walt Disney Travel Company Magic Your Way Packages 225
DISNEY LODGING FOR LESS 228–229
Doing the Math 234
Throw Me a Line! 235
Hotels Outside Walt Disney World 235
Selecting and Booking a Hotel Outside Walt Disney World 235
Driving Time to the Parks for Visitors Lodging Outside Walt Disney World 237
Hotel Shopping on the Internet: Welcome to the Wild West 242
Condominiums and Vacation Homes 246
The Best Hotels for Families Outside Walt Disney World 253
Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked 267
What’s in a Room? 267
Room Ratings 267
A Word About Toll-Free Telephone Numbers 269
The 30 Best Hotel Values 269
THE TOP 30 BEST DEALS 270
HOW THE HOTELS COMPARE 272–276
HOTEL INFORMATION CHART 277–291
PART FOUR  Dining In and Around Walt Disney World 292
Dining Outside Walt Disney World 292
Dining at Universal CityWalk 292
Buffets and Meal Deals Outside Walt Disney World 295
WHERE TO EAT OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD 296–298
Dining in Walt Disney World 300
Getting It Right 301
What’s New? 301
Disney Dining 101 302
Disney Dining Plans 302
Waiter, These Prices Are Giving Me Heartburn! 302
Behind the Scenes at Advance Reservations 302
Getting Advance Reservations at Popular Restaurants 303
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS: THE OFFICIAL LINE 304
THE REALITY OF GETTING LAST-MINUTE DINING RESERVATIONS 305
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viii CONTENTS
Dress 308
Noise at Restaurants 308
Stop the Assembly Line! 308
Food Allergies and Special Requests 308
A Few Caveats 309
Walt Disney World Restaurant Categories 309
Hard Choices 310
WALT DISNEY WORLD BUFFETS AND FAMILY-STYLE RESTAURANTS 311
Full-Service Dining for Families with Young Children 312
Quiet, Romantic Places to Eat 313
Fast Food in the Theme Parks 314
Disney Dining Suggestions 317
The Magic Kingdom 317
Epcot 319
Disney’s Animal Kingdom 322
Disney’s Hollywood Studios 323
Walt Disney World Dinner Theaters 324
More Reader Comments About Walt Disney World Dining 327
Counter-Service Mini-Profiles 329
Full-Service Restaurants: Rated and Ranked 339
Full-Service Restaurant Profiles 341
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE 342–345
PART FIVE Walt Disney World with Kids 388
The Ecstasy and the Agony 388
Reality Testing: Whose Dream Is It? 389
Recommendations for Making the Dream Come True 389
About the Unofficial Guide Touring Plans 398
Stuff to Think About 399
Strollers 401
Lost Children 405
How Kids Get Lost 406
Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff 408
The Fright Factor 409
SMALL-CHILD FRIGHT-POTENTIAL CHART 410–413
A Bit of Preparation 413
Attractions That Eat Adults 414
A Word About Height Requirements 414
ATTRACTION AND RIDE RESTRICTIONS 415
Waiting-Line Strategies for Adults with Young Children 416
The Disney Characters 418
Meeting Characters for Free 421
WDW CHARACTER-GREETING VENUES 422–423
Character Dining 424
What to Expect 425
When to Go 426
How to Choose a Character Meal 426
CHARACTER-MEAL HIT PARADE 428–429
Getting an Advance Reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table 431
Other Character Events 431
Babysitting 431
Special Programs for Children 433
Birthdays and Special Occasions 434
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CONTENTS ix
PART SIX Special Tips for Special People 435
Walt Disney World for People with Bad Attitudes 435
Walt Disney World for Singles 435
TIPS FOR GOING SOLO 436–437
Walt Disney World for Couples 436
Weddings, Commitment Ceremonies, and Vows Renewals 437
Legalities 438
Honeymoons and Honeymoon Registries 438
Romantic Getaways 438
Celebrating . . . Everything! 438
Walt Disney World “At Large” 439
Walt Disney World for Expectant Mothers 440
More Tips for Moms-to-Be 441
Walt Disney World for Seniors 441
Getting Around 442
Timing Your Visit 443
Lodging 443
Transportation 444
Senior Dining 444
Walt Disney World for Guests with Special Needs 444
Visitors with Disabilities 445
Friends of Bill W. 448
International Visitors 448
PART SEVEN Arriving and Getting Around 449
Getting There 449
Directions 449
The I-4 Blues 452
Alternative Airports 452
Security at Orlando International Airport 453
Getting to Disney World from the Airport 453
Disney’s Magical Express 455
Renting a Car 458
Getting Oriented 461
A Good Map 461
GPS Coordinates for the Theme Parks 461
Finding Your Way Around 462
How to Travel Around the World (or, The Real Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride) 462
Transportation Trade-Offs for Guests Lodging Outside Walt Disney World 463
All You Need to Know About Driving to the Theme Parks 463
Good Fuzz, Bad Fuzz 464
Sneak Routes 464
Taking a Shuttle Bus from Your Out-of-the-World Hotel 470
The Disney Transportation System 471
DOOR-TO-DOOR COMMUTING TIMES TO AND FROM THE DISNEY RESORTS
 AND PARKS 474–475
PART EIGHT Bare Necessities 479
Money, Etc. 479
Credit Cards, Mobile Payments, and Disney Gift Cards 479
Banking Services 479
Currency Exchange 479
Visiting More Than One Park in a Single Day 479
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