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P a r t F i v e
Orlando:
Walt Disney World,
Universal, and Beyond
Introduction
When Walt Disney flew over the Orlando area and selected 28,000 acres on which to build his theme park, he jump-started a multibillion-dollar tourism industry and forever changed the face of sleepy Central Florida. Truth is, the attractions got their start way before Walt, back in the 1930s when Richard Pope bought 200 acres along the shores of Lake Eloise near Winter Haven and created a water-themed park called Cypress Gardens, with daily ski shows (the park closed in 2003). Today, Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, and other attractions vie for the time (and dollars) of millions of vacationers. There are now more than 110,000 hotel rooms and dozens of man-made attractions that lure vacationers from around the world. Beyond the glitz of the themed attractions, there are little towns such as Winter Park, where you can wander amid the world’s most extensive col- lection of Tiffany glass in the Morse Museum of American Art; and Kissimmee, where camping, horseback riding, bass fishing, and the rodeo take precedence. The ocean may be miles away, but the lakes in Central Florida offer adventures from canoe rides to airboat treks through alligator country. Or you can traverse the St. John’s River, the state’s longest naviga- ble waterway, by pontoon or on guided boat tours. Covering 378,178 acres, Ocala National Forest is divided into three recreation areas linked by a 65-mile-long trail. You can hike, fish, camp, snorkel, swim, and canoe.
A Brief History
Long before Walt Disney World forever changed the sleepy Central Florida landscape from cattle and citrus, Orlando was an army post, Fort Gatlin. The name Orlando most likely came from a soldier, Orlando Reeves, who was injured by Seminole Indians on the shores of Lake Eola in 1835. Cuba’s demand for beef cattle created a major industry in Orlando in the mid-1800s, and people began to plant orange seeds in the 1870s. At the
industry’s peak in the 1950s, more than 80,000 acres of citrus trees thrived in Central Florida. That same decade, nearby Cape Canaveral brought a technology boom, overshadowed in the 1960s when Walt Disney started buying up land to build his theme park. Since the opening of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in 1971, nearly 100 theme parks and attractions have opened, and most of those orange groves have been replaced by new devel- opments. Today, there are more than 110,000 hotel rooms and 4, restaurants catering to more than 43 million visitors annually.
Visiting the Orlando Area
Gathering Information
Kissimmee–St. Cloud Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1925 East Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee 34744; (800) 327-9159 (U.S. and Canada); (800) 333-5477 (worldwide); www.floridakiss.com.
Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 20763 US 27, Groveland 34736; (352) 429-3673 or (800) 798-1071 (U.S. only); www.lakecounty fl.com.
Orlando-Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 8123 Inter- national Drive, open daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m.); (800) 551-0181 (U.S. and Canada) or (407) 363-5871; www.orlandoinfo.com.
The Walt Disney Travel Company, Walt Disney World Vacations Brochure, Walt Disney World, P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista 32830- 1000; (407) 934-7639 or (800) 327-2996; www.disneyworld.com.
Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tourist Develop- ment Council, 105 International Parkway, Heathrow 32746; (407) 665- 2900 or (800) 800-7832 (U.S. and Canada); www.visitseminole.com.
Getting There
By Plane Two airports service Central Florida. Orlando International Airport is seven miles south of Orlando; (407) 825-2001. Orlando-Sanford Airport is two miles east of Sanford; (407) 322-7771. More than 49 sched- uled airlines and 41 charters provide nonstop service from 69 U.S. destina- tions and 17 international cities.
By Train Amtrak (phone (800) USA - RAIL ; www.amtrak.com ) serves Orlando with four daily trains originating from New York and Miami with stops in downtown Orlando, Winter Park, Sanford, and Kissimmee, as well as with a tri-weekly train originating from Los Angeles. Amtrak also offers the Auto Train, which transports passengers and their vehicles, running daily between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, leaving each town at 4 p.m. and arriving at the destination at 9 a.m. the next morning
By Car Orlando is approximately in the center of the state, midway between Jacksonville and Miami. Major interstates include I-4, which runs from Daytona Beach in the east to St. Petersburg on the west coast,
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Outdoor Adventures and Sports
Recommended Excursions
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides These half-hour rides cover ten miles of wetlands and creeks with plenty of wildlife. The U.S. Coast Guard–approved outfit is open daily, 9 a.m.–dusk. Rides are $18, $13 for children ages 12 and under. Nightly gator tours, held 9–10 p.m., cost $30, $25 for children ages 12 and under. Located at 3702 Big Bass Road, Kissimmee; (407) 344-9550.
Forever Florida Just minutes from Disney World, experience a wilder- ness adventure that combines a two-hour tour of the 1,500-acre working Crescent J. Ranch and a 3,200-acre nature preserve with nine Florida ecosystems. It’s Florida au naturel, with deer, alligators, herds of cattle, and flocks of sandhill cranes, and the best way to take it all in is the guided Cracker Coach Tour in an elevated swamp buggy. The first tour of the morning leaves at 9 a.m., and we recommend this one to both avoid the heat and to improve your odds for sighting wildlife. After the tour, kids can feed calves and goats at the petting zoo or take a pony ride. The attraction is open daily and costs $28, $18 for ages 5–12. Trips for groups of 12 or more can be arranged anytime during the week with reservations. Located at 4755 North Kenansville Road, St. Cloud. (866) 854-3837; www. foreverflorida.com.
Florida Audubon Society’s Center for Birds of Prey Located just north of Orlando, the Center for Birds of Prey is noted as the leading raptor reha- bilitation center on the Eastern Seaboard. Thousands of birds—bald eagles and other raptors—have been released since 1979 after rehabilitation at the center. Birds that can’t be released are housed at a lakeside aviary. Requested entry donations are $5 for adults, $4 for children ages 6–15. Located at 1101 Maitland Way, Maitland; (407) 644-0190.
Florida Pack and Paddle Outdoor Adventure Tours This full-service outdoor tour company offers canoeing, camping, and hiking to some of the best natural attractions in the area, including Wekiva River, Ichetucknee Springs, Suwannee River, and Peace River. They provide everything, includ- ing food, camping equipment, and guides. Trips can be as short as half a day or as long as six days; one-day trips start with a continental breakfast and include lunch as well as “farewell toast” at 4 p.m. The best time to go is spring or fall when there’s a nice breeze. Located at 11025 Southeast US 192, Summerfield. Call (800) 297-8811 for rental rates and reservations.
Harry P. Leu Gardens Camellias, palms, roses, and orchids are show- cased in these magnificent gardens surrounding the Leu House Museum, a turn-of-the-century Florida farmhouse that’s open for tours daily, 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. (closed Christmas). Admission is $4, $1 for students. Located at 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando; (407) 246-2620; www.leugardens.org.
Historic Bok Sanctuary This is an incredibly beautiful setting, with a 57-bell carillon tower as its centerpiece, surrounded by 157 acres of gardens
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and nature trails. Bok Tower is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, dedicated to the American people by Edward Bok, a Dutch immi- grant. There are daily bell serenades from the 205-foot “singing tower,” which has been called one of the world’s great carillons. The gardens are located on Iron Mountain, the Florida peninsula’s highest point at 295 feet. Open daily, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $8, $3 for ages 5–12, and free for those younger. Located north of Lake Wales three miles, off CR 17A (Burns Avenue) and Tower Boulevard; (863) 676-1408; www.boksanctuary.org.
Houseboat on the St. John’s Adventurous families can cruise the scenic St. John’s River on a houseboat, for rent from the Hontoon Landing Marina. The boats sleep six to ten and are furnished with gas grills, cooking and eating utensils, linens, and a microwave. Rentals start at $360 a day or $975 for a weekend (Friday–Sunday), and you’re free to cruise as far south as Lake Monroe or as far north as Palatka. If you’re planning a day or two on the boat, we recommend heading to Silver Glen Spring, about a five-and-a- half-hour ride, where you can anchor overnight and swim in the crystal-clear water. There’s plenty of great fishing along the way. It takes no special train- ing to operate a houseboat; most renters have never driven a houseboat, say the folks at Hontoon Landing. Just be sure to bring along mosquito repel- lent, especially in the summertime. Hontoon Landing Resort and Marina is located at 2317 River Ridge Road, DeLand 32720; (904) 734-2474 or (800) 248-2474; www.hontoon.com.
Kelly Park–Rock Springs Run This old park just north of Orlando has been a favorite of Central Floridians for generations. Bring an inner tube or snorkel and while away the day in the icy (72˚ year-round) water. Tubers, by the way, have right of way, but it’s great fun and easy to snorkel along the one-and-a-half-mile-long spring run with a sandy bottom and plenty of fish and turtles for viewing (no fishing allowed). Snorkeling is best in early morning, late afternoon, and on weekdays, when the crowds haven’t scared away the fish. Camping is available, with a two-night minimum (sites are $15, $18 with electricity; Orange County residents get a $5 discount). Admission is $1 per person. Take I-4 to Exit 51, then west on Highway 46 and follow the signs to Kelly Park—Rock Springs Run; (407) 889-4179.
Ocala National Forest This 400,000-acre refuge for wildlife has a quar- tet of untamed springs, winding streams, and natural lakes that brighten one of the oldest national forests east of the Mississippi. There are also numerous hiking and horseback trails; perfect for families is the Juniper Nature Trail, complete with signs describing the fauna and ecology. Some other highlights:
- Alexander Springs is the place for excellent swimming and snorkel- ing—the springs pumps out 76 million gallons of 72˚ water each day. There are also picnicking, canoe rentals, and camping ($17 per site). Take US 441 to the intersection of SR 19 at Eustis; turn right at the overpass and follow SR 19 to SR 445. Turn right and follow the signs to the recreation area; (352) 669-3522.
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Fishing
Deep-sea fishing is a non-option in Central Florida, but the lakes make it a bass-fishing haven. Some of Central Florida’s easiest bass fishing is in the stocked lakes at Walt Disney World, where trophy-sized largemouth bass in the 14-pound range sometimes lurk in lakes and canals. During con- struction of the Magic Kingdom in the late 1960s, more than 70,000 bass fingerlings were released into Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, and organ- ized fishing tours didn’t start until 1977, leaving the bass to grow and breed undisturbed for years. Two-hour tours for up to five are $180–$210; call (407) W - DISNEY. Other top bass guides offering full- and half-day trips on Central Florida lakes include A#1 Bass Guide Service (15712 Bay Lake Trail, Clermont; (352) 394-3660; www.a1bassguideservice.com ); Bass Anglers Guide Service (6526 SR 535, Windermere; (407) 257-2241; www.tyree.net/bas- sanglers.com ); and A Pro Bass Guide Service Inc. (398 Grove Court, Winter Garden; (407) 877-9676; www.probassguideservice.com ).
ORLANDO MAGICARD A free Orlando Magicard, good for up to six people, can mean savings on attrac- tions, rooms, dining, and more. More than 100 area businesses will give you a break on everything from theme park tickets to dinner theaters.You can get it ahead of your trip by calling (800) 551-0181 or at www.orlandoinfo.com. Or if you don’t get one ahead of time, they’re at the Official Visitor Center, 8723 International Drive, Orlando, open 8 a.m.–7 p.m. every day except Christmas.
Bicycling Central Florida
Rail Trails
General James A.Van Fleet Trail in the Green Swamp, Clermont Travel 29 miles from Mabel to Polk City on this rail-trail through the Green Swamp, which is home to many varieties of wildlife and plant life. Trailheads are located at Green Pond and Mabel; (352) 394-2280.
West Orange Trail, Orlando This paved trail traverses 19 miles from the Lake County line into Apopka. You can rent bikes and Rollerblades from West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co. at 17914 SR 438 in Winter Garden, at the very western end of the West Orange Trail; (407) 877-0600.
Withlacoochee State Trail, Clermont With trailheads at Citrus Springs and SR 50, this 46-mile paved trail from Dunellon to Trilby passes through the Withlacoochee State Forest, Fort Cooper State Park, and neighboring rural areas. Forest, sandhill, and wetland climates play host to gopher tor- toises, bobcats, deer, and turkeys; (352) 394-2280.
Mountain Biking
Orlando Wilderness Park This park offers 15–20 miles of easy, scenic riding, with spectacular bird life (especially in winter). The park is open from February 1 to September 30, dawn to dusk; (407) 568-1706.
Outdoor Adventures and Sports 245
Santos Trailhead The Santos Trailhead system, built by the Ocala Mountain Bike Association, is one of the Southeast’s premier mountain bike destinations. The system, located on 80th Street in south Ocala just west of the intersection of US 441, offers over 50 miles of prime single- track with trails color-coded according to level of difficulty. Most of the rid- ing is fast and mellow through some of central Florida’s most scenic pine and live oak forests. Two large rock quarries, however, are integrated into the system, and though avoidable, serve up healthy doses of advanced and expert riding accompanied by not a little blood letting. For more informa- tion, visit www.omba.org.
Tosohatchee State Reserve Near Christmas, Florida, in East Orange County, this preserve welcomes bikers on all roads in the park and on the orange-blazed trail (the white-blazed trails are for hikers only). There’s plenty of wildlife, but hunting is allowed in the fall, so call first; (407) 568-5893.
Spectator Sports
Baseball
You can watch four teams get ready for the season in Orlando-area spring- training camps: The Atlanta Braves play at Disney’s Wide World of Sports (710 South Victory Way, Kissimmee; (407) 939-1500); the Cleveland Indi- ans train at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven (Cypress Gardens Boule- vard; (941) 293-3900); the Detroit Tigers practice in Lakeland ( North Lake Avenue; (863) 686-8075); and the Kansas City Royals train in Davenport (300 Stadium Way; (941) 424-2500). The Orlando Rays, the AA Minor League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, also plays each spring at Disney’s Wide World of Sports (phone (407) 939-4263).
Basketball and Football
The NBA’s Orlando Magic ( www.nba.com/magic ) play at the T. D. Waterhouse Centre (600 West Amelia Street, Orlando; (407) 849-2020) in downtown Orlando, along with the Orlando Predators ( www.orlando predators.net ) arena football team.
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World encompasses 43 square miles, an area twice as large as Manhattan Island or roughly the size of Boston. There are four theme parks, three water theme parks, a shopping, dining, and entertainment dis- trict, a competitive sports complex, several golf courses, hotels and camp- grounds, more than 400 places to eat, four large interconnected lakes, and a complete transportation system consisting of four-lane highways, elevated monorails, and a network of canals. If you are selecting among the tourist attractions in Central Florida, the question is not whether to visit Walt Disney World but how you can see the best of the various Disney offerings with some economy of time, effort, and money.
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The 5-, 6-, and 7-Day Park-Hopper Plus Passes provide admission to all four theme parks plus two visits to a choice of Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Pleasure Island, or Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The Annual Premium Passport provides unlimited theme-park admis- sion plus Pleasure Island, water parks, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, and DisneyQuest. Also available are Ultimate Park Hopper tickets, based on the length of stay in a Disney resort (from two to ten days). These are available through the Walt Disney Travel Company exclusively to guests as Disney-owned properties. Unused days on any multiday ticket except the Ultimate Park Hopper never expire and can be used for a future visit.
EXTRA HELP NAVIGATING THE THEME PARKS Disney launched a free service to provide synchronized narration in five languages for popular theme-park attractions. The personal translation devices, available at Guest Relations in each of the theme parks, are in French, German, Japanese, Por- tuguese, and Spanish, and feature lightweight headphones that automatically receive digital-quality audio, triggered by infrared signals throughout the attractions. Another new “park guide” is Pal Mickey, a ten-inch plush Mickey Mouse pro- grammed with hundreds of messages, from show details to Disney trivia to height requirements for all four Walt Disney World theme parks. He even tells jokes and plays games.You can rent the high-tech toy for $8 a day or keep him and take him home for $50.
Should You Book a Room at Disney?
Luxury accommodations can be found both in and out of Walt Disney World. Budget lodging, however, is another story. Room rates start at about $90 in Walt Disney World and range to more than $500. Outside Walt Disney World, rooms go for as low as $45. There are specific privileges and amenities available to guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort:
Convenience Decreased commuting time made possible by proximity to the theme parks and easy access to the Walt Disney World bus, boat, and monorail transportation system is especially advantageous if you stay in one of the hotels connected by the monorail or by boat service.
Baby-sitting and Childcare Alternatives Several of the resort hotels offer themed child-care centers where potty-trained children ages 3–12 can be dropped off during the evening while adults go out. In-room baby- sitting is offered by Kinder-Care, (407) 827-5444.
Guaranteed and Early Admission Regardless of crowds, guests staying at Disney properties are guaranteed admission and are eligible for “Extra Magic Hour,” which allows admission to one of the four theme parks an hour before opening to the general public. On days of unusually heavy attendance, “E-Ride Night” allows resort guests with multiday passes (for
Walt Disney World 251
an extra $12, $10 ages 3–9) to remain in the Magic Kingdom after official closing time and ride all the biggies with little or no waiting.
Children Sharing a Room with Their Parents There is no extra charge per night for children under age 18 sharing a room with their parents (but that’s also the case in many non-Disney hotels).
Free Parking Walt Disney World resort guests with cars do not have to pay for parking in the theme park lots ($8 a day).
DISNEY’S FASTPASS At Walt Disney World’s most popular attractions, guests can choose the regular wait line or opt to use FASTPASS.After inserting a valid theme park ticket into the special FASTPASS machines at these attractions, guests receive a ticket denoting a one-hour window of time when they can return and enter the attraction with little or no wait.There is no extra charge to use FASTPASS. Always check the sign near the FASTPASS machines that indicates the return time; if it is hours away, you might want to forgo the option.Try to obtain a FAST- PASS before 11 a.m. for blockbuster attractions. You are able to get as many FASTPASS tickets in a day as you want, but you have to use a current FASTPASS ticket or wait two hours before getting another.
Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom/Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot opens about two hours before the park’s official opening time for the general pub- lic. After paying the parking fee, you board a tram for the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can take either a monorail or a ferry to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Entering Main Street, U.S.A., be sure to pick up a guide map at City Hall; it lists all attractions, shops, and eating places, as well as information about first aid, baby care, and entertainment for the day. Main Street, U.S.A., ends at a central hub, from which branch the entrances to five other sections of the Magic Kingdom: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland, in clockwise order. Mickey’s Toontown Fair is wedged between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland and does not connect to the central hub. Cinderella Castle is the entrance to Fantasyland and the focal landmark and visual center of the Magic Kingdom. It’s a great place to meet if your family decides to split up or if you are accidentally separated. Only five rides in the Magic Kingdom have age or height requirements: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Alien Encounter, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Avoid lines by taking advantage of FASTPASS at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain. To get a FASTPASS, insert your park ticket in the turnstile for a free FASTPASS ticket with your designated ride time.
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Space Mountain (Tomorrowland) Space Mountain has long been the Magic Kingdom’s most popular attraction, a space flight through dark recesses of the galaxy. The effects are superb, and the ride is the fastest and wildest in the park. Children must be 44 inches tall to ride; those younger than age 7 must be accompanied by an adult. FASTPASS available.
Splash Mountain (Frontierland) This water-flume ride combines steep chutes with excellent special effects. The ride covers more than half a mile, splashing through swamps, caves, and backwood bayous before climaxing in a five-story plunge. More than 100 audio-animatronic characters, including Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox, regale riders with songs, including “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” Children must be 40 inches tall to ride; those younger than age 7 must ride with an adult. FASTPASS available.
FANTASY IN THE SKY CRUISE For a different view, you can watch the fireworks from the Seven Seas Lagoon aboard a chartered pontoon boat. The charter costs $120 and accommodates up to 12 persons.Your Disney cast member captain will take you for a little cruise and then position the boat in a perfect place to watch the fireworks. For an additional $80 per four persons, the captain will provide deli sandwiches, snacks, and beverages.A major indirect benefit of the charter is that you can enjoy the fireworks without fighting the mob afterwards. To reserve, call (407) WDW- PLAY at exactly 7 a.m. 90 days before the day you want the charter. Similar charters are available to watch IllumiNations at Epcot.
Epcot
With Epcot, the second theme park to open at Walt Disney World, Disney combined two different areas—Future World and World Showcase—into a one-of-a-kind theme park, with all the attractions oriented toward education. Epcot is more than twice the physical size of the Magic Kingdom or Disney- MGM Studios, and it requires a considerable amount of walking from attrac- tion to attraction. One can’t really see the whole place in a day without skipping an attraction or two and giving other areas a cursory glance. As in the other theme parks, we have identified several attractions in Epcot as “not to be missed.” However, part of the enjoyment of a place like Epcot is that there is something for everyone; let your interests shape your touring. There are height restrictions for Mission: Space and Test Track. Disney FASTPASSes are available to cut time waiting in line at Mission: Space, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Living with the Land, Maelstrom, and Test Track. Note that Future World and World Showcase have separate operating hours. Though schedules change throughout the year, Future World always opens before World Showcase in the morning and usually closes before World Showcase in the evening. Most of the year, World Showcase opens two hours later than Future World. For exact hours during your visit, call (407) 824-4321.
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Plan to arrive at the turnstiles 30–40 minutes prior to official opening time. Give yourself an extra ten minutes or so to park and make your way to the entrance. If you are a guest at one of the nearby Disney resorts, it will take you about 20–30 minutes to walk from your hotel to the Future World section of Epcot.
DINING AT EPCOT Some of the best Walt Disney World restaurants are in the World Showcase coun- tries, where you can sample queso fundido in Mexico, slow-roasted lamb in Morocco, and bouillabaisse in France. Each pavilion has a restaurant, and priority seating can be made through (407) WDW-DINE. If you haven’t made reservations, sidewalk cafés offer delicious (and less expensive) fare.Another favorite is the Mat- sunoma Lounge, where you can have sushi and drinks with no reservations.
Future World
This is the first area you encounter, and everything, including the bountiful landscaping, is clean and sparkling to the point of asepsis and seemingly bigger than life. Seven pavilions dedicated to man’s past, present, and future technological accomplishments form the perimeter of the Future World area, with Spaceship Earth and its flanking Innoventions East and West standing prominently front and center.
World Showcase
This is the second theme area of Epcot, situated around picturesque World Showcase Lagoon. It is an ongoing World’s Fair, with the cuisine, culture, history, and architecture of almost a dozen countries permanently on display in individual national pavilions. The pavilions are spaced along a promenade a little more than a mile long, which circles the impressive 40-acre lagoon. Countries include Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. Though many guests fail to notice, World Showcase features some of the loveliest gardens in Florida. Located in Germany, France, England, Canada, and to a lesser extent, China, they are sometimes tucked away and out of sight of pedestrian traffic on the World Showcase promenade. While most adults enjoy World Showcase, some children find it boring. Disney has added a craft booth at each country, called Kidcot, with hands- on activities, such as painting with watercolors in Paris or learning Arabic lettering in Morocco. And there’s also live entertainment to keep kids amused, from colorful dancing dragons in China to participatory street theater in Italy. Passport Kits are available for about $10 in most Epcot retail shops. Each kit contains a blank passport and stamps for all the World Showcase coun- tries. As kids accompany their folks to each country, they tear out the appropriate stamp and stick it on the passport. The kit also contains some information on the respective countries, as well as a Mickey Mouse button.
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agricultural technologies. Inspiring and educational, with excellent effects and a good narrative. FASTPASS available.
Mission: Space (Future World) This simulated space adventure com- bines Disney storytelling with NASA technology. A powerful launch liter- ally pushes you back into your seat. After you “slingshot” around the moon, you continue on to Mars where you land at a very high rate of speed. The attraction left one rider feeling “like socks in a dryer.” Skip it if you are prone to motion sickness or are claustrophobic, and head for the post show video game Space Race, where up to 60 visitors can compete against each other in a race to send their rocket from Mars back to Earth. Guests must be 44 inches tall to ride. FASTPASS available.
Test Track (Future World) Visitors test a futuristic car at high speeds through hairpin turns, up and down steep hills, and over rough terrain. The six-guest vehicle is a motion simulator that rocks and pitches. Unlike simu- lators at Star Tours, Body Wars, and Back to the Future (at Universal Stu- dios), however, the Test Track model is affixed to a track and actually travels. Guests must be 40 inches tall to ride. FASTPASS available.
Reflections of China (World Showcase) The new Circle-Vision 360° film in the China pavilion reflects the dramatic changes in that nation dur- ing the past 20 years. A crew of American and Chinese filmmakers worked together to capture fresh views of Hong Kong, Macau, and Shanghai.
DIVE QUEST The soggiest behind-the-scenes experience available anywhere is Epcot’s Dive Quest, where open-water scuba-certified divers can swim around with the fish at The Living Seas. Offered twice daily, each tour lasts three-and-a-half hours, including a 30–40-minute dive.The cost is about $140 per diver and includes all gear, a sou- venir T-shirt, a dive log stamp, and refreshments.A video of your dive is $30. Reser- vations are required and can be made with a credit card by calling (407) WDW- TOUR. For recorded information, call (407) 560-5590. The experience is for adults only: no junior certifications are accepted and divers must be 15 or older.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
With its lush flora, winding streams, meandering paths, and re-created exotic villages, the Animal Kingdom is a stunningly beautiful theme park. The landscaping alone conjures images of rain forest, veldt, and even for- mal gardens. Add to this loveliness a population of more than 1,000 ani- mals, replicas of Africa’s and Asia’s most intriguing architecture, and a diverse array of singularly original attractions, and you have the most unique of all Disney theme parks. And though you will encounter the typ- ical long lines, pricey food, and shops full of Disney merchandise, you will also (with a little effort) experience a day of stimulating private discoveries. At 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is five times the size of the Magic Kingdom and more than twice the size of Epcot. But like Disney- MGM Studios, most of the Animal Kingdom’s vast geography is only
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accessible on guided tours or as part of attractions. The Animal Kingdom features six sections, or “lands”: The Oasis, Discovery Island, DinoLand U.S.A., Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, and Asia. Its size notwithstanding, the Animal Kingdom features a limited number of attractions. However, two of the attractions—Dinosaur and Kilimanjaro Safaris—are among the best in the Disney repertoire. You must park your car and board a tram to reach the entrance. Be sure to pick up a guide map and entertainment schedule upon entering; this is also the place for package pick-up, Guest Services, lockers, rest rooms, and kennels. There is an ATM, and wheelchairs and strollers can be rented in Garden Gate Gifts shop. Immediately past The Oasis is Safari Village, the park’s “hub” to the other lands. The buildings are covered in brilliantly colored animal designs. But most visitors are more amazed by the giant Tree of Life, more than 14 stories high, with nearly 350 animal forms hand-carved into its massive trunk. Live animals, too, live at the base, like otters, ring-tailed lemurs, and red kangaroos. From Safari Village, you can choose from six “lands”: Africa; Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, a new mini-land; DinoLand, USA; Asia; Conserva- tion Station; or Camp Minnie-Mickey if your kids need a dose of Disney characters. You may use FASTPASS on Dinosaur, It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Primeval Whirl. Height restric- tions apply to Kali River Rapids, Primeval Whirl, and Dinosaur.
Top 10 Attractions
Dinosaur (Dinoland, U.S.A.) Dinosaur serves up nonstop action from beginning to end with brilliant visual effects, a combination track ride and motion simulator. The plot has you traveling back in time on a mission of rescue and conservation. Your objective is to haul back a living dinosaur before the species becomes extinct. However, you arrive on the prehistoric scene just as a giant asteroid is hurling toward Earth. Mayhem ensues. May be too intense for young children. FASTPASS available.
Festival of the Lion King (Camp Minnie-Mickey) This energetic produc- tion, inspired by Disney’s Lion King film, is part stage show, part parade, and part circus. Guests are seated in four sets of bleachers surrounding the stage and organized into separate cheering sections, which are called on to make elephant, warthog, giraffe, and lion noises. There is a great deal of parading around, some acrobatics, and a lot of singing and dancing. By our count, every tune from The Lion King (plus a couple of others) is belted out and reprised several times.
Flights of Wonder (Asia) Both interesting and fun, Flights of Wonder is well paced and showcases a surprising number of different bird species. The focus is on the natural talents and characteristics of the various species, so don’t expect any bicycle-riding parrots.
258 Part Five Orlando: Walt Disney World and Beyond
