Birnbaum's 2024 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide

by Birnbaum Guides

Overview

Prepare for your Walt Disney World vacation with the one and only official, up-to-the-minute insider's guide to America's most popular travel destination!


Updated annually with expert advice and reviews, coupons, and more!

Trust Birnbaum as your 2023–2024 guide for:

• insider tips for budgeting, scheduling, and navigating the theme parks and resorts
• detailed descriptions of all the attractions, resorts, and eateries
• money-saving strategies and more than $400 worth of coupons
• colorful maps, photos, Disney character illustrations, and more

Get the scoop on what's new at Walt Disney World:

• Race through the Grid on TRON Lightcycle/Run, the Magic Kingdom’s high-octane newcomer
• Have a blast at EPCOT’s dazzling new nighttime spectacular
• Add these groundbreaking attractions to your "must-do" list: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance; Slinky Dog Dash; Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!, and the Disney Skyliner, the aerial gondola system connecting EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and four resorts

Inside this book, find out how to:

• Catch the Magic Kingdom’s beloved fireworks extravaganza: Happily Ever After
• Make a splash at the Disney water parks
• Have a meal with Mickey Mouse and his Disney pals
• Enjoy Disney Springs, a vibrant dining, shopping, and entertainment district
• Detect Hidden Mickeys throughout the theme parks
• Soar on the back of a mountain banshee at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park attraction Avatar Flight of Passage
• Choose (and book!) a Disney dining experience with our extensive restaurant coverage
• Book a backstage tour or fireworks cruise
• Get great value at Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts
• Fly high in Toy Story Land, a cheery play zone at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park
• Meet favorite Disney characters

Planning a trip to the Walt Disney World with your family?

• Be sure to also pick up Birnbaum's 2024 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368083720
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/19/2023
Series:	Birnbaum Guides
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

When Steve Birnbaum launched this guide in 1981, he made it clear what was expected of anyone who worked on it: The book would be meticulously revised each year, leaving no attraction untested, no snack or meal untasted, no hotel untried. First-hand experiences like these, accumulated over the years, make this book the most authoritative guide to Walt Disney World.
Our expertise, however, is not achieved by being escorted through back doors of attractions (although we would enjoy that). Instead, we wait in lines with everyone else, always hoping to have a Disney experience like that of any other guest. While Walt Disney World has vastly expanded, and so has our knowledge of the most popular vacation destinations on the planet. We believe the best way to gather useful advice for a Disney park guest is to be one. Over and over again!
—Jill Safro, editor

Read an Excerpt

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
 
For many of us, a visit to Walt Disney World is more than a vacation. It’s an escape into fantasy and adventure; a chance to bond with loved ones, make new friends, and experience unabashed optimism and human kindness. It makes us laugh. It inspires us. It encourages us to believe in magic and hope for that “great big beautiful tomorrow.” And while dreaming about WDW helped sustain us during the real-world challenges of the recent past, we are beyond thrilled to be planning actual visits to our collective happy place. We’re honored to help you do that, too. In fact, Birnbaum has been helping folks navigate Walt Disney World since 1982!
 
Never before has there been so much incentive to visit (and revisit) the memory-making capital of the world. Magic Kingdom wows guests with its charming mix of classic and contemporary shows and attractions, from Peter Pan’s Flight to the thrilling new TRON Lightcycle/Run, plus the return of the rousing pyrotechnic/projection production dubbed Happily Ever After. At the revitalized EPCOT, guests of all ages marvel at the new Journey of Water, inspired by Moana, daredevils spin through space on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Soarin’ Around the World continues to send guests to happy heights. Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park can control the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and be shrunk to the size of a toy in the park’s Toy Story Land. And Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway transports giddy guests to a wild and wacky cartoon realm. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to the wildly popular Avatar Flight of Passage, a thriller that lets guests fly on the back of a mountain banshee. The park also boasts the ever-popular Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest. And the always dynamic Disney Springs is bursting with eclectic dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities—including Summer House on the Lake and Drawn to Life, presented by Cirque du Soleil® and Disney.
 
Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as so much of Walt Disney World (not to mention the real world) has grown and evolved since our last edition. We are privileged and proud to provide readers with our extensively researched, insider look at some of the most cherished attractions, resorts, and eateries on Earth.
 
When Steve Birnbaum launched this guide, he made it clear what was expected of anyone who worked on it. The book would be meticulously revised each year, leaving no attraction untested, no snack or meal untasted, no hotel untried. First-hand experiences like these, accumulated over the years, make this book the most authoritative guide to the World. Our expertise, however, is not achieved by being escorted through back doors of attractions (although we would enjoy that). Instead, we wait in lines with everyone else, always hoping to have a Disney experience like that of any other guest. We also take advantage of WDW’s Genie+/Lightning Lane attraction reservation service when budget allows. We’ll continue to keep a close eye on it and other aspects of the Disney vacation-planning universe—homework we’re happy to do for readers like you.
 
After 52 fun-filled years, Walt’s World has vastly expanded—and so has our knowledge of it. On some occasions we’ve encountered sweltering weather and swelling crowds—times when even the happiest of travelers can turn into Grumpy for a moment or two. Had we known then what we know now, we could have spared ourselves some trying experiences. In one case, a staffer waited more than an hour to take a tour at the Studios. Standing in line with a notebook, she was asked by another guest if there was a quiz at the end. When she explained what she was doing, he expressed surprise to learn that she was waiting with the masses. But that’s always been our strategy. We believe the best way to gather useful advice for a Walt Disney World guest is to be one. Over and over again!
 
TAKE OUR ADVICE
 
We have done our best to keep you from making any tactical mistakes. We realize that even the most meticulous vacation planner needs detailed, accurate, and objective information to prepare a successful itinerary. To achieve that goal, we encourage the sharing of insight and information from Walt Disney World staffers—however, the decision of whether or not to include such information is entirely up to the discretion of this book’s editor.
 
To that end, we have packaged handy bits of advice in the form of sample itineraries and “hot tips” throughout the book. This advice comes directly from the copious notes we’ve taken during our thousands of days spent in Walt Disney World. We have also used our “Birnbaum’s Best” stamp of approval wherever we deemed it appropriate, highlighting favorite attractions and restaurants—the crowd-pleasers we believe stand head, shoulders, and ears above the rest.
 
You, the reader, benefit from the combination of our many years of experience that, together with our access to insider information, makes this guide unique. We like to think it’s indispensable, but we’ll let you be the judge of that a few hundred pages from now.
 
THE LAST WORD
 
Finally, it’s important to remember that every worthwhile travel guide is a living enterprise; the book you hold in your hands is our best effort at explaining how to enjoy Walt Disney World at this moment. But its text is in no way etched in stone. Details change often— especially these days! Disney is constantly changing and growing, and in each edition we refine and expand our material to serve your needs even better. For this year’s edition, though, this must be the final word.
 
Have a great visit!
 
—Jill Safro, Editor

Table of Contents

7: GETTING READY TO GO
Here’s all the practical information you need to organize a Walt Disney World visit down to the smallest detail: when to go, how to get there, how to save money and work within a budget, how to secure theme park tickets, how to use Genie+ and access Lightning Lane entrances, and how to customize a Disney MagicBand. Plus sample schedules and hints for parents, international travelers, travelers with disabilities, singles, couples, and older visitors.
 
63: TRANSPORTATION & ACCOMMODATIONS
Two big questions about Walt Disney World are where to stay and how to get around. The accommodations range from concierge suites to modest campsites, with thousands of rooms and villas in between. Our guide describes every Disney resort, with details presented in a handy chart. And we explain the World’s vast transportation system, to boot.
 
119: MAGIC KINGDOM
The enchantment of Walt Disney World is most apparent in the wealth of attractions and amusements that fill this, its original theme park. Our land-by-land guide describes all there is to see and do in this classic play zone, plus plenty of other insider tips and the scoop on new additions to the Kingdom.
 
151: EPCOT
A gleaming silver geosphere introduces Disney’s newly revitalized wonderland of discovery—an ambitious exploration of the world of the future as well as the present. The park’s four neighborhoods offer every visitor the opportunity to be a global and cerebral voyager, without setting foot outside Florida. Here’s how to make the most of this uniquely fascinating destination.
 
183: DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Now’s your chance to be part of Disney’s Hollywood adventure! Everything from controlling the Millennium Falcon to a Frozen sing-along to a trip to The Twilight Zone™ and the excitement of daring stunts and special effects is waiting to be enjoyed. There are also opportunities to bond with Disney characters and experience a thrill ride or two. We have developed strategies for seeing this Tinseltown, ensuring the most fun possible.
 
205: DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
The most sprawling member of WDW’s theme park lineup celebrates the circle of life and the wonders of Earth’s animal kingdom. Amid nature’s majesty, guests experience a stirring safari, dodge dastardly dinosaurs, and ride raging rapids. Our coverage, which includes the beloved land, Pandora—The World of Avatar, guarantees a fun-filled trip to a place where humans are humbly reminded of their role in the natural world.
 
225: EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD
Beyond the theme park boundaries lie countless acres full of just the sort of wonders for which Disney is famous: state-of-the-art water parks and the dynamic Disney Springs entertainment, shopping, and dining district among them. So if you want to ride down watery slides, dance the night away, shop at elegant boutiques, pamper yourself at a spa, or experience behind-the-scenes tours, this chapter will help you find your way.
 
253: SPORTS & RECREATION
Walt Disney World has more tennis courts and golf greens than most posh resorts, plus plenty of places for boating, biking, horseback riding, swimming, and fishing. Here’s how to combine these options with the rest of the WDW fun.
 
261: GOOD MEALS, GREAT TIMES
Restaurants around Disney World property run the gamut from simple snack shops to bastions of haute cuisine. Choices are nearly endless, so we’ve organized them in an area-by-area directory that lets you know where each restaurant is located and what specialties it offers. We also tell you about the Disney Dining Plan, WDW’s reservations system, dinner shows, where to dine with Disney characters, and where to enjoy an after-dinner drink.
 
337: DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Many guests choose to make a Walt Disney World visit even more magical by pairing it with a cruise to the Caribbean or the Bahamas—the ultimate Land and Sea vacation, Disney style. This “bonus” chapter tells you how to plan it.
 
365: COUPONS
We’ve stuffed the final pages of this book with valuable coupons to help you save hundreds of dollars on Walt Disney World food, merchandise, recreational experiences, and more!
 
WHAT’S NEW?
To spotlight attractions, shows, restaurants, and events that are making (or have recently made) their debut, listings are marked with the icon shown below. Look for it throughout the book. Here are some of the highlights:
296: BoardWalk Deli
297: The Cake Bake Shop
297: Carousel Coffee
164: DuckTales World Showcase Adventure
155: Dreamers Point
159: Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
306: Rosa Mexicano
276: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya
294: Summer House on the Lake
129: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
140: TRON Lightcycle/Run

Editorial Reviews

"The Official Guide is also the best." ―The New York Times

One of "10 Gift Ideas Theme Park Fans Will Love . . . While giving a Disney vacation is a gift out of most people's price ranges, you still can help loved ones plan for their next theme park vacation. The best Disney guidebooks are from Birnbaum's, and [release] ahead of the New Year. . . . The guidebooks offer everything from tips on how to maximize your park experiences to restaurant reviews." ―International Business Times

One of "10 things I learned from our Disney vacation: If you plan to go, plan ahead. The average American wedding takes 8-12 months to prepare. That's a reasonable baseline for researching, booking, and preparing for a Disney trip, in my limited experience. And take advantage of the information that's available. . . . Birnbaum's Walt Disney World guidebook filled in a lot of other gaps." ―NPR

One of "19 great coffee table books for Disney fans" ―Business Insider

From the Publisher