


Archive-name: disney-faq/disneyworld



The Walt Disney World Frequently Asked Questions List
Version 3.6, last revised January 25, 1995

 This document is Copyright (c) 1995, by Tom Tanida, all rights 
reserved.
It is intended for public use, and may be redistributed freely printed 
or
electronically in its complete and unaltered form provided 
distribution is
done at no charge to the receiver. Partial and other distribution 
means
require the permission of the author.

 This is FAQ file for Walt Disney World. It contains some 
information
relevant to both WDW as well as Disneyland, though I would recommend 
getting
the Disneyland FAQ for more specific Disneyland information. Your 
input to
this list is highly appreciated.
 The purpose of this list is to reduce the number of redundant 
questions
Disney
fans worldwide. Personally, however, I would invite discussion of 
questions
included in this list if this list is not complete enough. For 
example, I
couldn't possibly write the "complete guide to taking kids to the 
Disney
Theme Parks" because there is no truly complete guide (not to mention 
the
fact that there are many good guide books out there, as well as a 
couple of
Internet guides- see question 18). So although I have offered some
information and advice in part two of this list (the information which 
is
most commonly suggested), I would still welcome discussion of the 
topic since
everybody has their own opinions about what rides to go on, what to 
see, when
to go, what restaurants to eat at in the area, etc.
 Again, I hope that this list will reduce the amount of redundant
information posted to the net. Even more strongly, I hope this list, 
in
source of
information about Disney related material and provide a valuable 
reference
for all.

 There are two sections:
 I. A list of the questions in this part
 II. Answers to Theme Park Questions
 
 Send comments, corrections, suggestions, and inside information 
to:
tanida@orincon.com. I am sure that no matter how long I work on this 
that it
will never be perfect, but it doesn't hurt to try. :-) If you prefer
Compuserve access, I'm at 76655,344. On Prodigy I'm xgsn74a. On 
America
Online, I'm TomTanida (TomTanida@aol.com from the Internet). The most
reliable way to reach me is via Internet, then Compuserve (especially 
if the
date on this document is many months old).

 If you would like a PostScript version of this document, which 
has much
better formatting, feel free to send me a request; I can easily mail 
it to
you. The standard text version of this FAQ, like all FAQs cross-
posted to
how to
FTP the FAQ from rtfm.mit.edu, send me e-mail; I've written a quick 
tutorial.
This document is maintained in MS Word For Windows 6.0.
 Note: the Disneyland FAQ is available from its maintainer, Walt 
Hoffman
(whoffman@ganymede.jpl.nasa.gov), and via FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in the
'disneyland'.

Section I- Questions

Theme park questions:
1) What are the park hours?
2) What rides are currently shut down for refurbishing? What current
 construction is going on?
3) What are the current prices at {WDW, Disneyland}?
4) How do I beat the crowds?
5) If I've been to the Magic Kingdom in WDW, what parts of Disneyland 
can I
 skip?
6) Where should I stay when visiting {WDW, Disneyland}?
7) What's the best time to go to {WDW, Disneyland}?
8) My child is 3 years old. Is that old enough to enjoy 
Disneyland/WDW?
9) What are good attractions to take younger children to?
10) Other considerations for children (strollers, etc.)
11) Some interesting things to look for at the theme parks
12) Differences between the Magic Kingdom at WDW and Disneyland
13) Who created the music from the Main Street Electrical Parade?
14) What is SpectroMagic at Walt Disney World?
15) What is Fantasmic! at Disneyland? How do I beat the crowds?
16) What is a "Character Breakfast"?
17) What is the Disney Vacation Club?
18) What are some good guide books on travel to {WDW/Disneyland?
19) What are "Hidden Mickeys"? Where can I find some?

Other lists, available upon request:
1) List of Jungle Cruise jokes (from Geoff Allen)
2) Misc trivia quizzes
3) Text of Club 33 brochures
4) Information on Celebration, Disney's Florida community
5) Disney Film Availability List- lists all the animated feature films 
and
their availability status on video

The status of 1 and 5, above: they need to be updated. I hope to do 
this
real soon. 8:-)

Pickett (quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au). This is posted regularly to 
the
group, and is available via FTP at yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au in
/pub/disney/rad/faq.


Section II- Answers to Theme Park Questions

Theme park questions:

1) What are the park hours?

 Here are the current WDW hours. Note that the Main Street 
section of
the Magic Kingdom at WDW will often open 30 minutes to an hour ahead 
of the
official opening time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Theme Park Operating Hours for January - February 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------

*** HOURS AND ENTERTAINMENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE ****

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MAGIC KINGDOM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
January 23 - 27 ................................ 9 am - 6 pm
January 28 ..................................... 9 am - 8 pm
January 29 ..................................... 9 am - 7 pm
January 30 - February 3 ........................ 9 am - 6 pm
February 4 ..................................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 5 ..................................... 9 am - 7 pm
February 6 - 9 ................................. 9 am - 6 pm
February 10 - 11 ............................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 12 - 16 ............................... 9 am - 7 pm
February 18 .................................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 24 - 25 ............................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 26 - 28 ............................... 9 am - 7 pm

SpectroMagic:
 February 4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 at 8 pm
Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks:
 February 4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 at 9:00pm
Mickey Mania Parade:
 January 1 - February 28 at 3 pm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EPCOT CENTER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Future World:
January 1 - 31 ................................. 9 am - 7 pm
February 1 - 28 ................................ 9 am - 7 pm

World Showcase:
January 1 - 31 ................................. 11 am - 9 pm
February 1 - 28 ................................ 11 am - 9 pm

Illuminations:
 January 1 - February 28 at 9 pm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
January 23 - 31 ................................ 9 am - 6 pm
February 1 - 10 ................................ 9 am - 6 pm
February 11 .................................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 12 .................................... 9 am - 9 pm
February 13 - 17 ............................... 9 am - 6 pm
February 18 .................................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 19 - 24 ............................... 9 am - 7 pm
February 25 .................................... 9 am - 10 pm
February 26 .................................... 9 am - 9 pm
February 27 - 28 ............................... 9 am - 6 pm

Aladdin's Royal Caravan:
 January 1 - 31 at 1 pm
 February 1 - 28 at 1 pm

Sorcery in the Sky Fireworks:
 February 11, 18, 25 at 8:50 pm

 For Disneyland hours, consult the Disneyland FAQ.
 There is a WESTCOT preview center open at the Disneyland Hotel 
complex.
Its hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 pm - 8 pm.

2) What rides are currently shut down for refurbishing? What current
 construction is going on?

 If there's someone out there who regularly goes to WDW and is 
willing to
keep the group updated, here's a big chance to help out.

 Here's some information for Florida:
Refurbishment:
 - Space Mountain: reopens January 25, 1995
 - World of Motion: will close June 1995 for two years in order to 
be
 converted to a new automotive race track attraction
 - Alien Encounter: closed January 12, will reopen at Easter
 - Circlevision 360 (MK): being replaced with 'Metropolis Science 
Center'
 (target Feb 1995)
 - American Journeys: closed until February 1995, reopening as the
 "Metropolis Theater" with the attraction "Transportarium", 
similar
 to EuroDisneyland's "Visionarium".
 - Expo Robotics (Communicore): closed permanently
 - Backstage Magic (Communicore): closed permanently
 - Horizons: closed indefinitely
 - Le Cellier restaurant at Canada: closed indefinitely
 - Odyssey Restaurant, Future World: closed indefinitely
 - Communicore: closed for redevelopment
 - Simbiosis: due to be revamped into Lion King movie sometime 
this year
 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (MK): Closed for rehab
 
Under Construction:
 - A new Theater of the Stars and a Sunset Marketplace Cafe are 
being
 added to Sunset Blvd. at Disney-MGM
 - Disney Vision (Disney-MGM): 1998. This is a VR type ride being
 developed in conjunction with SGI set in the world of 
Agrabah
 (Aladdin).
 - Discoveryland (MK)
 - Journey Into Imagination: New 3-D film ("Honey, I Shrunk the
 Audience") with in-theater special effects (Fall 1994)
 - Planet Hollywod (Pleasure Island)- Winter 1994
 - Celebration, in Osceola County, Florida; Phase 1 will open in 
1995
 - Hotels: Florida Beaches- Summer 1995; Mexican Hotel- October 
1994;
 Mediterranean Hotel- June 1996; West Gate Hotel- Summer 
1998;
 Wilderness Junction- November 1995
 - Lake Buena Vista Club: reopens Oct '95 as part of the new 
"Disney
 Institute

Long Term Future Plans:
 - A Nestle supported show, at the Universe of Energy detailing 
the
 formation of the Earth will open in 1996
 - Blizzard Beach, a northern cousin to Typhoon Lagoon and River 
Country
 and Disney's largest themed water park: early 1995
 - Fantasmic! Hollywood was originally scheduled to open summer 
1994 (and
 was mentioned in the 1993 Annual Report), but has been 
placed on
 hold
 

Disneyland:
 - The Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye 
attraction is
 now well under construction. It is scheduled to open in 
March
 1995.

 Otherwise, you can contact the respective theme parks directly. 
The
number for Disneyland is (714)-999-4565. WDW: (407)-824-4321

3) What are the current prices at {WDW, Disneyland}?

 The following table lists prices for Passports to WDW. If 
staying at a
Disney resort, you may benefit if you can find a package deal that 
includes
lodging and a passport.

 Passport type General General MKC MKC
 Public, Public, Member, Member,
 adult child adult child
 Six Day Super Duper $192.36 $152.50 $182.69 $144.86
 Pass (resort
 guests only)
 Five Day Super Duper $170 $135 
 Pass (resort
 guests only)
 Five Day World Hopper $179 $143 $170.51 $136.26
 Pass (off-resort
 guests)
 Four Day Super Pass $125 $98 
 (resort guests
 only)
 Four Day Park Hopper $134 $107 $129 $102
 Pass (off-resort
 guests)
 Four Day Value Pass $124 $97 $119 $92
 Annual Passport, new $199 $174 $184 $164
 Annual Passport, $179 $154 $164 $144
 renew
 Annual Passport, $31 $31 $28.50 $28.50
 River Country &
 Discovery Island
 add-on
 Annual Passport $63 $63 $56.75 $56.75
 Typhoon Lagoon add-
 on
 Annual Passport $26 $26 $20 $20
 Pleasure Island
 add-on
 "Length of Stay" $77 $61 $73.15 $57.95
 passport (1n/2d)
 "Length of Stay" $112 $89 $106.40 $84.55
 passport (2n/3d)
 "Length of Stay" $146 $115 $138.70 $109.25
 passport (3n/4d)
 "Length of Stay" $170 $135 $161.50 $128.25
 passport (4n/5d)
 "Length of Stay" $193 $153 $183.33 $145.36
 passport (5n/6d)
 One-day, one park $36 $29 $33.92 $26.92
 ticket
 Pleasure Island, one $13.95 N/A $11.85 N/A
 day
 Pleasure Island, $36.95 N/A $33.45 N/A
 annual pass
 Pleasure Island, $31.95 N/A $28.45 N/A
 annual pass renew
 Typhoon Lagoon, one $20.50 $16.50 $18.50 $14.75
 day
 Typhoon Lagoon, $78.75 $78.75 $70.50 $70.50
 annual pass
 River Country, one $13.25 $10.50 $12.00 $9.25
 day
 River Country, annual $52.50 $52.50 $47.25 $47.25
 pass
 Discovery Island, one $8.50 $4.75 $7.75 $4.25
 day
 River $16.75 $12.25 $15.25 $11
 Country/Discovery
 Island combo
 

Notes: The above prices are subject to the Florida state sales tax of 
6%. A
child is of the ages 3-9. The above list is current as of March 4, 
1994.

 Disney has (again) changed their unlimited pass policy. The 4 
and 5
day, multi-park passes (i.e. passes that let a holder go between the 
parks on
the same day) are again available to all WDW guests, whether you stay 
on
resort or off. Off-resort guests pay a $9 premium for the "Park 
Hopper" and
"World Hopper" passes, listed above, whereas resort guests can 
purchase the
"Super" passes. Incidentally, you can get the 4 Day Value Pass, the 4 
Day
Hopper Pass, and the 5 day World Hopper Passes at the Disney Stores. 
You can
also call (407)-WDISNEY for more info.
 The Six Day Super Duper Pass is only available only to guests 
staying at
the WDW Swan, WDW Dolphin and WDW Village Hotel Plaza resorts, and 
includes
admission to Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Pleasure Island and 
Discovery
Island.
 For the "Length of Stay" passports above, the numbers represent 
the
nights and days (e.g. (4n/5d) = 4 nights and 5 days). These 
passports are
for Disney Resort Hotel guests only, and include unlimited access to 
the
three theme parks, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, 
Discovery
Island. There are longer durations available, but after a certain 
price
point it might be more economical to purchase an annual pass with 
separate
admissions to the individual minor parks.
 Magic Years Member prices are the same as the MKC prices.

 The Five Day Super Duper Pass and the Five Day World Hopper Pass 
include
unlimited admission to the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Magic 
Kingdom Park
and EPCOT Center any five days with no expiration date. Plus 
unlimited
admission for seven days to Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Discovery 
Island
and Pleasure Island (valid for seven days after first visit to Magic 
Kingdom
Park, EPCOT Center or the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park). It also 
includes
unlimited use of the transportation system linking the parks.
 The Four Day passes are the same as the Five Day but do not 
include
admission to the minor parks.
 An Annual Passport includes twelve months of unlimited admission 
to the
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, the Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT Center 
during
regular operating hours. It also includes special advance reservation
privileges for Walt Disney World restaurants, free parking and 
unlimited use
of the transportation system linking the Parks. Annual Passport 
holders can
purchase separate admissions to the minor parks to supplement their 
passport.
These expire at the same time the passport does.
 A One-Day One Park Ticket includes one day's admission to either 
the
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Magic Kingdom Park or EPCOT Center and 
bus
transportation between the Transportation and Ticket Center, and Magic
Kingdom Park, EPCOT Center or the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park.
 There are also six, seven and eight day Super Duper Passes, which 
can
only be purchased at the resorts themselves.
 Parking is $5 per car.

For Disneyland, here is a current price guide (as of April 2, 1994):

 Passport type General MKC Club Members
 Public
 Adult, 1 day/2 $31/55/75 $29/51/69
 day/3 day
 Child (3-11), 1 $25/44/60 $23/40/54
 day/2 day/3 day
 Seasonal Passport, $105 $95
 adult
 Seasonal Passport, $85 $75
 child (3-11)
 Basic Annual $99 $89
 Passport,
 adult/child
 Premium Annual $199 $189
 Passport,
 adult/child

Disneyland has restructured their annual pass. There are two types 
now


 

(Continued from last message)
available (and still available, as of May 23, 1994):
 1. Annual: year round, with Saturdays during March-June excluded, 
as
 well as peak holiday periods. Parking is not included. This 
is
 $99. Unlimited parking can be added for $25.
 2. Premium: no restrictions, and includes free "Preferred 
Parking" (the
 privilege of parking closer). This pass also includes a 10%
 discount on merchandise at Disneyland and the Disneyland 
Hotel, a
 10% discount at selected restaurants at the park, a 10% 
discount on
 rooms and restaurants at the hotel, and a free subscription 
to the
 Disney News. This is $199.
MKC members receive a $10 discount on either of these passes.

 Parking in the Disneyland parking lot is an additional $6 per 
car, $7
for vans, RV's, and campers, $12 for preferred parking. See the 
Disneyland
FAQ for further information, available from myself or its maintainer, 
Walt
Hoffman at whoffman@ganymede.jpl.nasa.gov.

4) How do I beat the crowds?

 One of the best strategies is to arrive early, before the park 
opens.
An hour after opening is too late, by then, the lines have built up to 
a full
frenzy. Another strategy, generally for those without kids, is to 
take on
the more popular rides late in the evening (after 9 pm, through 
midnight, if
you're there at the time of year when the park is open late). Also, 
the
lines do shorten a little during major shows (the Main Street 
Electrical
Parade, SpectroMagic at WDW, or Fantasmic! at Disneyland) and during 
dinner
time.

For Disneyland (from the Disneyland FAQ):
 Start by selecting a good day to go (see question #7, below).
 Fantasmic! has made nighttime on the west side of the park very
unpredictable. Tremendous numbers of people show up. During the 
shows, lines
for attractions are quite short (especially when the Electrical Parade 
is
also running). When the show is over, many people avoid the herding 
affect
by jumping into one of the nearest lines: Splash Mountain, Haunted 
Mansion,
Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Big Thunder Mountain 
Railroad.
 Space Mountain is long most of the day and into the night, so 
first
thing early morning is usually your best bet. Ditto Rocket Jets. 
Star Tours
will shorten significantly in the late evening (when the line is 
completely
inside, you're in good shape). Splash Mountain is good when it's 
raining or
right before the park closes (avoid it when it backs up beyond the 
Briar
Patch shop). An early-morning dash might also be a good idea (since 
it's at
the back of the park). After dinner, the "kiddie" rides in 
Fantasyland
shorten a bit, but not much. Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, 
and Mr.
Toad will remain popular, but there will be almost no line for Snow 
White's
Scary Adventures or Pinocchio's Daring Journey. Skyway line is almost 
always
shorter from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland than the other way around. 
Small
World should usually be a walk-on; if it's not, come back later. 
Country
Bear Jamboree almost never takes long.
 Crossing the parade route is possible but time consuming. Plan 
which
side of the park you want to be on during the parade and get there 
early. If
you must cross, consider using the Disneyland RR or the Skyway. 
Parade
crossing zones north of the Matterhorn are usually less congested than 
the
one at the Hub. Main Street is tough (though not impossible) to 
negotiate
during popular parades.

5) If I've been to the Magic Kingdom in WDW, what parts of Disneyland 
can I
 skip?

 The answer here is taken from the Disneyland FAQ:
 There are subtle differences in almost every corner of the park. 
If
you're a Disney aficionado, you'll want to check out everything. If 
you're
pressed for time, you can skip the following:
 - Haunted Mansion (I hate to admit it, but WDW's is better)
 - People Mover (more primitive)
 - Monorail (unless you want to go to the Disneyland Hotel)
 - Submarine Voyage (nearly identical to WDW's except for order of
 presentation and absence of little Jules Verne nuances)
 - Skyway (useful for getting around, especially during parades)
 - Captain EO
 - Circle Vision 360 (same as at WDW)
 - Autopias
 - Small World (biggest difference is the exterior facade)
 - Country Bear Jamboree (virtually identical but DL has 2 
theaters)
 - Golden Horseshoe Revue (same show, different finale)
Tough calls: (similar, yet different and worth experiencing)
 - Space Mountain
 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
 - Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (a trimmed down version of the 
Hall of
 Presidents)
 - Splash Mountain
Whatever you do, don't miss out on:
 - Fantasmic!
 - Star Tours (unless you've been on the one in Disney-MGM 
Studios)
 - Matterhorn Bobsleds
 - Jungle Cruise (my DL experiences have far surpassed the one at 
WDW)
 - Pirates of the Caribbean (parts are identical, but DL is 
better)
 - Disney Art Gallery (above Pirates)
 - Disneyland RR between Tomorrowland & Main Street for Grand 
Canyon and
 Primeval World dioramas (not quite as impressive as EPCOT's 
World
 of Energy dinosaurs)

The parade route is different. North of Main Street, Disneyland 
parades
proceed north along the east side of the Castle up to It's a Small 
World.
WDW MK parades turn at the Hub, heading through Liberty Square and
Frontierland.

6) Where should I stay when visiting {WDW, Disneyland}?

 For first time guests, especially those with kids, I recommend an
on-site resort in order to make the transition easier. At Disneyland, 
the
Disneyland hotel features the monorail; it is *very* convenient to 
flash your
passport and hop on to go to the park, then hop back on in 
Tomorrowland to
return to the hotel when you need a break. Likewise, the Contemporary
Resort, among others, also feature easy Monorail-to-park access.
 For those without kids, or experienced travelers, off-site hotels 
can be
cheaper. Although they won't feature the amenities of the more 
expensive
hotels, this may be better if you're looking to save money and aren't
interested in spending much time in your room (aside from sleeping). 
Be sure
to check out vacation packages, however, before giving up on the 
Disney
hotels.
 Birnbaum's Official Guide books give decent listings of the 
resort
hotels, including phone numbers and addresses.
 For information regarding lodging in the Anaheim area, you may 
contact
the Anaheim Area Visitor and Convention Bureau at 800 W. Katella Ave.,
Anaheim, CA 92802. Phone: (714)-999-8999.

7) What's the best time to go to {WDW, Disneyland}?

 For WDW, here's a quick and dirty table, from best to worst:
 1) October, through a week before Christmas, except Thanksgiving
 2) Post New Years through a couple weeks before Easter
 3) Post Easter through Memorial Day
 4) President's Day weekend
 5) Spring Break week (the week up to and including Easter)
 6) Memorial Day through the end of Summer
 7) Thanksgiving weekend
 8) Christmas through the New Year

(For those who live outside the US, Thanksgiving is the fourth 
Thursday in
November, and the impact of the holiday weekend typically lasts from 
that
date until the immediate Sunday.)

8) My child is 3 years old. Is that old enough to enjoy 
Disneyland/WDW?

 As always, it depends on the kids and the patience of the parent. 
Two
or three is about a minimum age (otherwise, the child is pretty much 
just
along for the ride), but even children this young can get quite a bit 
of
enjoyment from the visit. Children of this age might enjoy meeting 
the
characters (in the park, or at a Character Breakfast (see #16 below)), 
and
some of the milder rides. Detracting from the enjoyment would be the
patience of the kids waiting in line for the rides; you probably know 
how to
judge/handle your own child's patience levels better than I do. :-)
 To fully appreciate Disneyland/WDW, seven or so is probably a 
better
age.

Some info from the Disneyland FAQ:
 Kids age 2 and under are free. Strollers may be rented, but many 
people
prefer to bring their own. Some rides have height and age 
requirements.

 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 40+ inches/42+ inches at WDW
 Space Mountain 40+ inches/44+ inches at WDW
 Autopia (alone) 52+ inches
 Autopia (w/ adult) 1+ years
 Splash Mountain 3+ years and 40+ inches/44+
 inches at WDW
 Star Tours (alone) 7+ years
 Star Tours (w/ adult) 3+ years
 Matterhorn Bobsleds (alone) 7+ years
 Matterhorn Bobsleds (w/ adult) 3+ years

Children under 7 are supposed to be accompanied on other attractions 
as well
(Snow White's Scary Adventures, The Haunted Mansion, etc.)

9) What are good attractions to take younger children to?

 (I'll take "younger" to mean below 5 years of age here.)
 Almost always OK:
 Jungle Cruise
 Swiss Family Treehouse (though some find this too dull and 
crowded)
 Dumbo
 It's A Small World
 Peter Pan's Flight
 PeopleMover
 Walt Disney World/Disneyland Railroad
 Mickey's Starland Show (WDW)
 Country Bear Jamboree
 Tom Sawyer's Island (WDW)
 Cinderella's Carousel
 Journey Into Imagination (EPCOT)
 Kitchen Cabaret (EPCOT)
 Universe of Energy (EPCOT)
 Disney Animation Tour (Disney-MGM)
 Anything in the EPCOT World Showcase, with the possible exception 
of the
 Norway Maelstrom ride.
 
 Possible fright factor:
 Haunted Mansion
 Tea Cups (motion sickness)
 Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (not as wild as the name suggests, but still 
rough)
 Space Mountain
 Star Tours
 Enchanted Tiki Room
 Captain EO (I'd be wary of the volume)
 Pirates of the Caribbean (can be threatening to the unaware, 
includes a
 couple of plunges)
 Body Wars (EPCOT; can be generally nauseating to people of any 
age)
 The Great Movie Ride (Disney-MGM- potential surprises)
 Snow White Ride (featuring the rather scary queen popping out of 
the
 dark)

 As always with kids, your mileage may vary; a good strategy would 
be to
start with the milder rides and work your kid up to more "aggressive" 
rides
if you think they're up to it. Certain aspects of a ride may frighten
children, such as immersion in darkness (e.g. Pirates of the 
Caribbean).
 Also note that meeting Disney characters themselves is not a 
given, as
some kids can be terrified of a gigantic Mickey or Goofy. Start from 
a
distance and work forward.
 There is a "fright factor" chart in the 1992 edition of the 
Unofficial
Guide to Walt Disney World, by Bob Sehlinger (see question #18 for a 
list of
guide books).

10) Other considerations for children (strollers, etc.)

 Physical health: In the summer months especially at WDW, it is 
easy for
kids (and adults) to get sunburned and dehydrated. Bring along plenty 
of
bottled water (much better than sugary sodas) and sunscreen; with the 
crowds
you'll otherwise have to stand in line at the refreshment stands or 
drinking
fountains, and if it's a hot day, you might have to stop often. Also 
guard
against blisters (use broken-in shoes and consider two pairs of thin 
socks
over one pair of thick socks). Make note of the First Aid centers 
(there is
one in each of the three theme parks).
 Temperament: It's up to you, the parent to keep your temper. It 
might
not be easy, given the crowds and the long waits for certain rides, 
the heat,
etc. The best thing to do is to make sure you enjoy yourself. 
Maximizing
your vacation is not a matter of cramming yourself on as many rides as
possible: it's a good idea, especially with kids, to take time out for 
a
breather periodically (not just standing in line). Find a place to 
sit down
with some ice cream, or even return to the hotel room after lunch for 
a short
nap.
 Strollers: Strollers are available for rent at each of the theme 
parks.
The stroller centers are near the entrances, and the process of 
getting a
stroller is fairly quick and easy. Rule number one is to keep your 
receipt.
Rule number two is to keep your receipt (and don't keep it in the 
stroller
itself). It's easy for your stroller to get swiped- not because there 
are
roving packs of stroller thieves, but because people might mistake 
your
stroller for theirs. If this should happen, you can go to the 
stroller
center, show your receipt, and get a new one (they won't charge you to
replace it). A good idea is to attach something to the stroller that 
will
uniquely identify it as yours (nothing of great value, of course), 
such as a
piece of paper with your name on it or a bright scarf. The stroller 
staff at
WDW currently do take your name and put it on a card which is attached 
to the
stroller itself.
 Baby-sitting services: There aren't any services inside the 
parks
themselves, but there are child care services at the resorts. In 
general,
you must have a reservation. They can be expensive (e.g. $6 per hour, 
with
an $18 minimum), but include free video games, Disney movies, games 
and
activities, and visits by a Disney character each night. They accept 
kids
from 3-12 years of age. There is also a "Fairy Godmother" service 
available
(also not cheap), who will come to your room at any hour of the day, 
24 hours
a day, and can even take care of your pet.
 Infants/Toddlers: All of the theme parks have Baby Care 
services, which
have everything you need for changing diapers, making formula, etc. 
Supplies
for purchase can be found at these places as well.
 Lost children: You may or may not be surprised at how easy it is 
to get
your child lost. When you exit rides and shows, you should take your 
child
by the hand to make sure they don't get lost in the bustle of people 
exiting.
Also keep in mind there may be more than one exit to a bathroom; 
should your
child wander out of the one you don't expect, he or she may find 
themselves
to be lost. Also keep track of your kids during parades- they might
otherwise wander off while trying to get a better viewpoint.

11) Some interesting things to look for at the theme parks

 WDW:
 Hidden Mickeys: list available separately- see question #19, 
below.
 
 Disneyland:
 - The Park Entrance, designed to look like a red carpet
 - Apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station; apartment in the 
fourth
 floor of the Castle; offices above Main Street
 - The names on the windows on the second story of the buildings 
on Main
 Street. These are named for notable people who were 
involved in
 the creation of Disneyland.
 - The Disney Gallery, above Pirates of the Caribbean in New 
Orleans
 Square, of interest to those into animation
 - Telegraph operator at Frontierland/New Orleans Square station, 
which
 types out a Morse code version of Walt's opening day speech
 - The Club 33 entrance, at New Orleans Square, near the Blue 
Bayou
 restaurant
 - The Haunted Mansion knight, which used to be a real person
 - Snow White's Grotto, to the right of the Castle before you 
enter
 Fantasyland. Note the song in the Wishing Well. Also note 
the
 dwarves are the same size as Snow White.
 - Platform where Tinkerbell lands as the Fantasy in the Sky 
fireworks
 begin; a fort tower located behind the Frontierland 
buildings
 hidden by trees, where she slams into some mattresses at the 
end
 - Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman) as the voice of the pilot of Star 
Tours
 - Thurl Ravenscroft as the voice of one of the singing heads in 
the
 Haunted Mansion (deepest voice)

12) Differences between the Magic Kingdom at WDW and Disneyland

The following are found only at the Magic Kingdom at WDW:
 The Hall of Presidents (Liberty Square)
 Dreamflight (Tomorrowland)
 Carousel of Progress (Tomorrowland)
 Mickey's Starland
 SpectroMagic (Main Street)
The following are found only at Disneyland:
 Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln (Main Street)
 Sailing Ship Columbia (Frontierland)
 Big Thunder Ranch (Frontierland)
 The Story of Sleeping Beauty (Fantasyland)
 Pinocchio's Daring Journey (Fantasyland)
 Casey Jr. Circus Train (Fantasyland)
 Storybook Land Canal Boats (Fantasyland)
 Alice In Wonderland (Fantasyland)
 Matterhorn Bobsleds (Fantasyland)
 Motor Boat Cruise (Fantasyland)
 Star Tours (Tomorrowland; these are at the Disney-MGM studios in
Florida)
 Main Street Electrical Parade (Main Street)

 At WDW, Space Mountain, the Castles in Fantasyland (which are 
bigger)
are considered better than their counterparts at Disneyland. The 
Disneyland
Railroad features the Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World, not 
found at
the Magic Kingdom in WDW, and Pirates of the Caribbean is much longer 
at
Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom at WDW also has the advantage of having 
much
larger pathways, having been built with large crowds in mind. 
Disneyland has
more of the details (see also Question #11) and personality that Walt 
added.
See also the Disneyland FAQ.

13) Who created the music from the Main Street Electrical Parade?

 The music, which is titled "Baroque Hoedown," was written by Jean-
Jacques Perry and Gershon Kingsley. The electronically synthesized 
version
which you hear during the parade was arranged and performed by Don 
Dorsey,
noted synthesizer performer.
 The introduction, as the music starts:
 "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls
 Disneyland proudly presents
 Our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and 
imagination
 In thousands of sparkling lights and electro-syntho-magnetic
 musical sounds
 The Main Street Electrical Parade!"
 Incidentally, you can request a summary of the parade with a 
description
of each of the floats from Disneyland Guest Relations via mail.
(Unfortunately, I lost my summary, but it was probably out of date 
anyway, as
the parade changes slightly on an annual basis.)
 The soundtrack to the Main Street Electrical Parade is available 
on at
least three different albums: the Fantasmic! soundtrack (Disneyland 
Records
and Tapes, DIDX 013173); the "Music of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, 
and
EPCOT Center" soundtrack (Disneyland Records and Tapes, CD-007); and 
"The
Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song," which is the 3 CD boxed set. The
Fantasmic! soundtrack's version is the most complete by far, and is 
(again)
available from Disneyland Merchandise at (800)-362-4533 or at the 
theme park.

14) What is SpectroMagic at Walt Disney World?

 SpectroMagic at WDW is the successor to the Main Street 
Electrical
Parade. It use fiber optics and live costumed actors and, like the 
Main
Street Electrical Parade, features floats of varying themes. Opinions 
on
SpectroMagic being better than the Electrical Parade vary.

15) What is Fantasmic! at Disneyland? How do I beat the crowds?

 Fantasmic! is somewhat like a stage show, but with dazzling
pyrotechnics. It is performed nightly at the south end of Tom 
Sawyer's
Island (you can't miss it- just look for the thousands of people 
standing
around at show time). There are individual sequences with various 
themes
from Disney's history, with particular emphasis on the animated films. 
These
sequences are tied together by the main plot of Mickey's imagination 
being
overrun by the evil forces of Queen Maleficent (from Sleeping Beauty), 
Ursula
(The Little Mermaid), the Queen from Snow White, among others. To 
date, it
has been extremely popular.
 Incidentally, there is a Fantasmic! soundtrack available, which 
also
includes the full soundtrack to the Main Street Electrical Parade 
(it's more
up to date than the version included on the "Music of Disneyland, Walt 
Disney


 

(Continued from last message)
World, and EPCOT Center" album released in 1990). The manufacture of 
this
soundtrack was halted due to legal and copyright implications, but 
once
resolved may go on sale again. You can contact Disneyland Merchandise
Services, at (800)-362-4533, for more information.

16) What is a "Character Breakfast"?

 A "Character Breakfast" is a breakfast held at specific locations 
early
in the day where you (and your kids, of course) have the opportunity 
to eat
breakfast while meeting popular Disney characters. They are held at
different locations (listed below). Some locations need a reservation 
in
advance. They do cost a little extra (around $10 for adults), but kids 
under
3 eat free, and kids 3-11 eat at reduced children's rates (around $6-
7). All
of the characters come and visit every table, so there is no pushing 
and
shoving to meet them. There are also Character Brunches and Dinners, 
also
included below. Young kids generally love these.

 Location Time Notes
 Contemporary 8-11 am No reservations
 Resort:
 Contemporary
 Cafe (WDW)
 Disney Beach Club: 7:30-11 am No reservations
 Cape May
 Restaurant (WDW)
 Dolphin Hotel: Th, Su 8:30a- Reservations: (407)-934-4085
 Ristorante 12:30p
 Carnevale (WDW)
 Grand Floridian: 7:30-noon Reservations: (407)-824-2383
 1900 Park Fare
 (Breakfast)
 Grand Floridian: 5-9 pm Reservations: (407)-824-2383.
 1900 Park Fare $18 adults, $9 children.
 (Dinner)
 Pleasure Island: 8:30 am Reservations: (407)-934-7639
 Empress Lilly seating,
 Riverboat (WDW) 10:30 am
 seating
 Polynesian Resort: 7:30-10:30 Reservations: (407)-824-1391
 Tangaroa Terrace am
 (WDW)
 Stargate Restaurant until 11 am Counter-eatery; no
 (EPCOT) reservations; not
 necessary to purchase
 anything
 Swan Hotel: Garden W, Sa 8-11 No reservations. Info:
 Grove (WDW) am (407)-934-1281
 Tomorrowland 7:30-10 am Exclusive to those who get
 Terrace, in WDW this as part of a package;
 early admission to park
 with voucher
 WDW Village: Chef 5:30-10 pm Better than average food, but
 Mickey's Village you only get to meet
 Restaurant Mickey.
 Cafe Villa Verde, Both breakfast and dinner;
 Disneyland Hotel traditional menu
 Goofy's Kitchen, Both breakfast and dinner;
 Disneyland Hotel all you can eat buffet
 Plaza Inn, 7:30-10 am No reservations
 Disneyland

 This information is probably incomplete, as I suspect 
WDW/Disneyland
change their schedules and add and delete locations. It might be a 
good idea
to check with your hotel (if it's a Disney resort) or the Guest 
Relations of
the park you will be visiting (see question #99 in part 1 of the FAQ 
for
phone numbers).

17) What is the Disney Vacation Club?

 The Disney Vacation Club is a like a time-sharing resort. 
Essentially,
you purchase a certain amount of points, then use those points to stay 
at
Disney Vacation Homes on the Walt Disney World property. The minimum 
buy-in
is currently 190 points at $59 per point as of November, 1993 (and has
historically increased $1.50 per point every six months), with annual 
dues of
$2.70 per point. Where you stay and what time of year you go 
determines how
many points you use- you can choose a studio (sleeps 4), a one (sleeps 
4) or
two (sleeps 8) bedroom houses, or a Grand Villas.(sleeps 12). It is 
up to
you to choose where and when to go (reservations are required, of 
course).
You may also stay at selected Walt Disney World hotels as well.
You can get more information by calling (800)-800-9100, or (407)-WDW-
3100
(the latter if you in Florida) between 7 am and 5 pm ET, seven days a 
week.
You can also write to:
 Disney Vacation Club at
 The Walt Disney World Resort
 6751 Forum Drive Suite 220
 Orlando, FL 32821-9900
If you call or write, you can request to receive brochures, which 
include
floor plans, complete tables with the point allocations.

18) What are some good guide books on travel to Walt Disney 
World/Disneyland?

 There are a couple of useful guides written by some members of 
the
Internet (and r.a.d, of course) community. They include "The Very 
Unofficial
Guide to Walt Disney World" by Todd McCartney (see below), and some
suggestions for planning a trip to WDW by Bill Ellett, at 
bill@sdg.dra.com.
 Guide books can be found in the Travel section of your favorite
bookstore. They are generally grouped under the California (for 
Disneyland)
or Florida (for WDW) sections, which is under "domestic travel."
 The best all around guide for planning your trip and finding good 
advice
is probably one of the The Unofficial Guide books by Bob Sehlinger. 
(In
fact, a lot of the information in this part of the FAQ was derived 
from these
books.) The Fodor's travel guide is not very useful, except perhaps 
for
restaurants in the area. The "Official" guide books are OK as 
references to
the various services at the parks and have some trivia about the rides 
that
might be interesting reading while standing in line.

Birnbaum, Steven, Guide to Disneyland
 Avon Books, updated yearly
Birnbaum, Stephen. Birnbaum's Walt Disney World
 Hyperion and Hearst Business Publishing, updated annually
 ISBN: 1-56282-946-7 (1993 ed.)
Labeled as the "official" Disney sanctioned guide.

Ritz, Stacy, Disney World and Beyond
 Ulysses Press
 ISBN 0-915233-37-1

Sehlinger, Bob, The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland
 Prentice Hall Travel, updated yearly
Sehlinger, Bob, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and EPCOT
 Prentice Hall Travel, updated yearly
 ISBN 0-13-953944-1
Thorough, including sections on preparations for kids, evaluations of 
every
ride, and clever strategies for waiting in line. A must get.

Wiley, Kim Wright, Walt Disney World With Kids
 Prima Publishing
 ISBN 1-55958-140-9
Another good one for those going to WDW with children. Written by an
experienced mom.

And, from the Disney Lists of Lists, maintained by Tim Pickett
(quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au), I would also recommend the online 
(Internet)
guides:

Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World, created and maintained by: Bill 
Ellett
 <bill@sdg.dra.com>
 FTP availability: yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.9.1] :
 e-mail availability: available from maintainer
 
 Tips on planning a trip to WDW. Includes sections on timing of 
trip,
 Disney's budget hotels, touring the parks, miscellaneous tips. 
Also
 includes critiques of selected attractions, and a comparison of
 Disney-MGM with Universal Studios.

The Very Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, created and maintained 
by:
 Todd McCartney <tmccartn@pilot.njin.net>
 FTP availability: ftp.netcom.com, in pub/kazrak
 e-mail availability: e-mail the author for book ordering 
information
 
 A large guide to Walt Disney World in Florida. Included are a 
map of
 WDW, and a comprehensive guide that explains just about 
everything you
 need to know to plan a trip to WDW.

19) What are "Hidden Mickeys"? Where can I find some?

 Hidden Mickeys, found at the theme parks, are simply Mickey Mouse
images, either the "mouse ear" pattern or a full figure, that exist in 
places
you normally wouldn't notice them unless you were looking. They were 
brought
to wide-scale attention in the Winter 1991 Disney News, which featured 
"the
Secrets of Walt Disney World." Some examples given in this article 
include:
Mickey ears on the manhole covers; a Mickey constellation in the 
geosphere of
Starship Earth; a Mickey in the mural of Body Wars; Mouse ears on one 
of the
Vikings in Norway's Maelstrom attraction in the World Showcase; and a 
Mickey
Mouse cookie cutter in one of the baskets in front of one of the 
worker
droids in Star Tours.
 Stan Sroka, at sroka@evax.gdc.com, has been keeping lists of 
Hidden
Mickeys for both theme parks. Send him e-mail for the latest list, 
and be
sure to send him your contributions/discoveries as well.

 This document is Copyright (c) 1995, by Tom Tanida, all rights 
reserved.
It is intended for public use, and may be redistributed freely printed 
or
electronically in its complete and unaltered form provided 
distribution is
done at no charge to the receiver. Partial and other distribution 
means
require the permission of the author.



 
