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This is a 4 1/2 hour tour that offers an on-site orientation to the history and workings of Walt Disney World's original theme park, the Magic Kingdom. Guests visit an attraction (waiting in the regular attraction line) and take a peek at the Production Center and the Utilidors (the legendary tunnels underneath the park). Cost is $58, plus theme park admission.
Housed in a full-scale reproduction of historic Mann's Chinese Theatre, this 22-minute attraction captivates guests' imaginations from the get-go. The queue area winds through a lobby and into the heart of filmmaking, where movie scenes are shown on a large screen. TIP: If the queue extends outside the building, you're in for a long wait. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the ride vehicles once you've entered the theater. Try experiencing this attraction during the parade or late in the evening when the lines are usually about 5-10 minutes long.
 Who better to host a party at Cinderella Castle than the princess herself? In this musical presentation, the hostess steps onto the forecourt stage and welcomes guests with true royal flair. With a little help from her Fairy Godmother and the audience, Cinderella invites many of her friends, such as Mickey and Minnie, Peter Pan, and Mulan, to join her on the stage to sing songs, exchange presents, and interact with Magic Kingdom guests. Be sure to have you camera ready, as many of the characters mix and mingle with guests after they take their bows.
 This thrilling attraction is dramatic with a capital D. The dizzying adventure begins with guests being strapped into vehicles and catapulted back in time to complete a dangerous albeit noble, mission: to rescue the last iguanodon--a 16-foot plant-eating dinosaur that you may recognize from the Disney film Dinosaur-- and bring him back to the present. Throughout the quest to located the elusive dinosaur, you cling to an out-of-control vehicle while dodging blazing meteors and a mix of friendly and ferocious dinosaurs.
 On the day this attraction made its official 1992 Walt Disney World debut, everyone got soaked--thanks in part to a particularly potent Florida rain cloud. But the rain wasn't entirely responsible for the sea of soggy Magic Kingdom guests. The five-story drop into an aqueous briar patch was. And a steady stream of thrill seekers have been taking the plunge ever since. In this guaranteed smile inducer, guests enjoy a waterborne journey through brightly colored swamps and bayous, and down waterfalls, and are finally hurtled from the peak of the mountain to a briar-laced pond five stories below. If you'd like to get soaked on Splash Mountain, request a seat up front.
 Don't bother knocking--the door is always open. Guests are welcome to peer inside each of the cottage's rooms: bedroom, living room, kitchen, and gameroom. The kitchen is being remodeled, but it's worth a peek. As the gameroom shows, the Mouse is quite an accomplished sportsman, dabbling in everything from ping-pong to football. Despite all there is to see, one thing is conspicuously missing from Mickey Mouse's house...Mickey himself! Don't despair. The head judge of the county fair is in the Judge's Tent, where he greets guests all day long. This is the best place to meet Mickey in all of Walt Disney World.
This nighttime spectacular presents the entire history of our planet in 13 minutes--from its creation to the present and a look toward the future. A dazzling mix of lasers, fireworks, fountains, and music, this show is a highlight of any EPCOT visit. The show takes place nightly at closing time. There are excellent viewing locations all around the World Showcase lagoon. Note that additional viewing areas have been added to the stretch between the Germany and China pavilions.
This attraction gives guests an insider look at the creative process behind Disney's many animated blockbusters. The majority of the action takes place in a theater. Here, you will be greeted by a knowledgeable host and treated to a whimsical explanation of how Disney animators bring characters to life. This segment of the tour is cohosted by Mushu, the wise-cracking little dragon from the film Mulan.
Located along the World Showcase Promenade, just outside the entrance to Mexico's pyramid, this quick-service stand serves beef-filled soft tortillas, flour tortillas filled with grilled chicken, breast strips, onions, and peppers, served with refried beans and salsa; and churros, a sort of fried dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar. The Cantina is a nice choice for a tasty rest stop as you enter the World Showcase, and even more so for its outdoor lagoonside seating. Beer and margaritas are available for those over 21 years of age.
The small round tables at this old-fashioned red-and-white stop on the west side of Main Street spill out onto the sidewalk. Except when the weather is hot, this baseball-themed spot is great for ballpark favorites--hot dogs in jumbo sizes, fries, brownies, soft drinks, and coffee. During daytime hours a pianist plinks away on the restaurant's white upright. There's also a back room with bleacher seating.
One of the ideas that led to the development of Disney-MGM Studios originated with Walt Disney more than 40 years ago! Although he liked the idea of "Backlot Tours", he didn't like the fact that they were limited to a privileged few. He wanted the masses to see and appreciate the magic behind the movies--and that's just what The Studios offers.
The Land pavilion measures 253,780 square feet and covers six acres. Its main building holds up to 3,600 people and currently includes two attractions, along with a guided behind-the-scenes tour, a great little food court, and a wonderful character-meal restaurant. Also here is the brand-new attraction: Soarin'. As you enter The Land, you will pass the largest flower bed on Disney property. It measures 20,000 square feet and contains about 20,000 plants. Working greenhouses and laboratories are also housed in this pavilion.
Though Disney technically regards every guest as a VIP, you can knock your status up a notch by booking a special VIP Tour. In addition to a knowledgeable guide who will help you navigate Walt Disney World, you'll have access to preferred VIP seating for many of the live stage shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars. The VIP Tours, which can be customized, may even include such servicse as private transportation to and from the airport among various destinations throughout Walt Disney World property.
In addition to rustling up grubs in Camp Minnie-Mickey, the talented cast of The Lion King performs a 30-minute stage show in the Lion King Theater (which is now completely enclosed and thoroughly air-conditioned). Presented in the round, this lavish revue is as bright and boisterous as they come. The dramatic opening features a parade of performers in colorful animal costumes. What follows is an intriguing, energetic interpretation of the film, including songs, dances, and acrobatics.
Most people don't immediately think of Walt Disney World when they contemplate a golf vacation. Yet there are six superb courses here: the Magnolia, the Palm, and the Oak Trail are situated across from the Polynesian resort and extend nearly to the borders of the Magic Kingdom. Just a short drive away is the Lake Buena Vista course, whose fairways are framed by Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Old Key West resort. Osprey Ridge and Eagle Pines play from the Bonnet Creek Golf Club near Fort Wilderness. The Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World resort is one of the biggest spectator events on Disney's sports calendar. It features most of the PGA Tour's top players and takes place in October. Guests who plan to golf during their WDW vacation are advised not to visit during tournament week.
The thrilling ride begins 120 feet in the air on a platform 30 feet above the top of Mount Gushmore. Brave souls travel about 55 miles per hour down a 350-foot slide. Near the top, guests pass through a ski chalet. To those watching from below, riders seem to disappear into an explosion of mist. You must be at least 4 feet tall to take the plunge.
One of the most entertaining attractions at the Studios, this 3-D movie is quite remarkable. As with so many other Disney theme park attractions, much of the appeal is in the details. A funny 12-minute pre-show gives clues about what's to come. Once inside the theater, many will notice that it looks just like the one from the classic television series The Muppet Show. Even the two curmudgeonly fellows, Staler and Waldorf, are sitting in the balcony, bantering with each other and offering their typically critical commentary on the show.
Boarded near Astro Orbiter, these trains (formerly known as the WEDway PeopleMover) move at a speed of about seven miles per hour along almost a mile of track, beside or through most of the attractions in Tomorrowland. They are operated by a linear induction motor that has no moving parts, uses little power, and emits no pollution. The peaceful, breezy excursion through Tomorrowland takes about ten minutes. There is almost never a wait to board.
Not everything in the Magic Kingdom is a Disney version of the real thing. This carousel, discovered at the now-defunct Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey, was built back in 1917. That was the end of the golden era of carousel building, which began around 1825. During the Disney refurbishing, many of the original horses were replaced with horses made of fiberglass.
Convention centers at Walt Disney World range in size from 20,000 to 200,000 square feet. The Dolphin's center, featuring an exhibit hall and an executive boardroom, is the largest; the Swan provides additional space. The Contemporary has three ballrooms and a spacious pre-function area with lots of natural light. The convention center at the Yacht and Beach Club is reminiscent of a grand turn-of-the-century New England town-meeting hall. The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa has a lavish center with silk brocade walls. The BoardWalk offers a smaller conference area with a lakeside gazebo for outdoor events. And Coronado Springs, the first moderately priced Disney resort to offer convention facilities, boasts the largest hotel ballroom in the U.S.
Sprinkled across 120 waterfront acres are the shops, nightclubs, retaurants, and entertainment sites that collectively make up Downtown Disney. Like the downtown area of any thriving metropolis, Disney's Downtown consists of several distinct neighborhoods. In this case, they are known as the Marketplace, Pleasure Island, and the West Side. Unlike a typical downtown, however, the Disney depiction dispenses with the downside. You won't see litter on the streets, unsightly storefronts, or weary workers rushing home at 5 o'clock. You will see a series of spirited spots designed solely for your dining, shopping, and partying pleasure.
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