The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2018

by Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa

Overview

THE trusted source of information for a successful Walt Disney World vacation

Compiled and written by a team of experienced researchers whose work has been cited by such diverse sources as USA Today and Operations Research Forum, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World digs deeper and offers more than any other guide.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2018 explains how Walt Disney World works and how to use that knowledge to make every minute and every dollar of your vacation count. With advice that is direct, prescriptive, and detailed, it takes the guesswork out of travel by unambiguously rating and ranking everything from hotels, restaurants, and attractions to rental car companies.

With an Unofficial Guide in hand, and authors Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa as guides, find out what’s available in every category, from best to worst, and use step-by-step detailed plans to help make the most of your time at Walt Disney World.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781628090680
Publisher:	Unofficial Guides
Publication date:	08/08/2017
Series:	Unofficial Guides Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	40 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of The Unofficial Guide series. He's the author of 27 books and lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

Len Testa, a lifelong Disney theme park fan, is also coauthor of The Color Companion to Walt Disney World, The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, and The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line. Len leads the team at TouringPlans.com, the website and research arm of The Unofficial Guides. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction
Why "Unofficial,"
Walt Disney World: An Overview
What's NEW at Walt Disney World since your last visit?

PART ONE Planning Before You Leave Home
Gathering Information
When to Go to Walt Disney World

PART TWO Making the Most of Your Time and Money
Allocating Money
Allocating Time
Understanding Walt Disney World Attractions
Central Florida Roller Coasters
What you Get and What you Pay at WDW

PART THREE Accommodations
The Basic Considerations
The Disney Resorts
Walt Disney World Hotel Profiles
How to Evaluate a Walt Disney World Travel Package
Disney Lodging for Less
Hotels outside Walt Disney World
Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked
The top 20 deals
How the Hotels Compare
Hotel Information Chart
How the Hotels Compare
Hotel Information Chart

PART FOUR Dining in and around Walt Disney World
Dining outside Walt Disney World
Where to Eat Outside Walt Disney World
Dining in Walt Disney World
Disney Dining 101
Advance Reservations: The Official Line
Advance Reservations: The Unofficial Scoop
Walt Disney World Buffets and Family-Style
Restaurants
Disney Dining Suggestions
Counter-Service Restaurant Mini-Profiles
Full-Service Restaurant Rated and Ranked
Walt Disney World Restaurants by Cuisine

PART FIVE Walt Disney World with Kids
The Ecstasy and the Agony
Lost Children
Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff
Small Child Fright Potential Chart
Attraction and Ride Restrictions
Waiting-Line Strategies for Adults with Young Children
The Disney Characters
Character Dining
Character Meal Hit Parade
Babysitting
Special Programs for Children
Birthdays and Special Occasions
PART SIX Special Tips for Special People
Walt Disney World for Singles
Tips for Going Solo
Walt Disney World for Couples
Walt Disney World "At Large"
Walt Disney World for Expectant Mothers
Walt Disney World for Seniors
Walt Disney World for Guests with Special Needs

PART SEVEN Arriving and Getting Around
Getting There
Getting Oriented
How to Travel around the World (or, The Real Mr. Toad's Wild Ride)
Door-to-Door Commuting Times to and from the Disney Resorts and Parks

PART EIGHT Bare Necessities
Money, Etc.
Problems and Unusual Situations
Services

PART NINE The Magic Kingdom
Arriving
Getting Oriented
Main Street, U.S.A.
Adventureland
Frontierland
Liberty Square
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland
Live Entertainment in the Magic Kingdom
Mickey's Halloween and Christmas Parties and 23-Hour-Events
Parades
Traffic Patterns in the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Touring Plans

PART TEN Epcot
Arriving
Getting Oriented
Future World
World Showcase
Live Entertainment in Epcot
Traffic Patterns in Epcot
Epcot Touring Plans

PART ELEVEN Disney's Animal Kingdom
Arriving
Getting Oriented
The Oasis
Discovery Island
Africa
Asia
DinoLand U.S.A.
Live Entertainment in Disney's Animal Kingdom
Traffic Patterns in Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom Touring Plan

PART TWELVE Disney's Hollywood Studios
DHS: A Brief History
The Studios in Perspective
DHS at a Glance
Disney's Hollywood Studios Attractions
Live Entertainment at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios Touring Plan

PART THIRTEEN Universal Orlando
A Universal Primer
Universal on the Web
Cost
A Word about Crowds
How Much Time to Allocate
Lodging at Universal Orlando
Arriving at Universal Orlando
Universal Express
Singles Lines
UBot
Lockers
Universal, Kids, and Scary Stuff
Blue Man Group
Universal Orlando Dining Plan
New and Upcoming at Universal Orlando

PART FOURTEEN Universal's Islands of Adventure
Getting Oriented at Universal's Islands of Adventure
Universal's Islands of Adventure Attractions
Dining at Universal's Islands of Adventure
Universal's Islands of Adventure Touring Plan

PART FIFTEEN Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida Attractions
Live Entertainment at Universal Studios Florida
Dining at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida Touring Plan

PART SIXTEEN SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld at a Glance
Discovery Cove

PART SEVENTEEN The Water Parks
You're Soaking in It!
Blizzard Beach
Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon versus Blizzard Beach
When to Go
Planning Your Day at Disney Water Parks
Water-Park Touring Plans
Aquatica by SeaWorld

PART EIGHTEEN Behind-the-Scenes and VIP Tours at Walt Disney World
Multi-park Tours
Behind the Scenes at the Magic Kingdom
Behind the Scenes at Epcot
Behind the Scenes at Disney's Animal Kingdom
VIP Tours

PART NINETEEN Disney Springs, Universal City Walk, Shopping, and Nightlife
Disney Springs
Universal CityWalk
Dining
Shopping in the Theme Parks and Orlando
Tips for Avoiding Buyer's Remorse
Walt Disney World Shopping at a Glance
Shopping at Universal Orlando
Shopping Outside the Theme Parks
Entertainment and Nightlife
Nightlife at Walt Disney World Resorts
Nightlife at Disney Springs
Nightlife at Universal Orlando Resorts
Nightlife at Universal CityWalk
Live Music at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
Walt Disney World Dinner Theaters

PART TWENTY Recreation, Sports, and Spas
Walt Disney World Recreation
Run, Disney, Run
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Walt Disney World Golf
Miniature Golf
Serenity Now! A Look at Disney-Area
Spas

Appendix
Readers' Questions to the Author
Readers' Comments

Accommodations Index
Restaurant Index
Subject Index
Touring Plans
Clip-Out Touring Plan Companions

Table of Contents

Introduction
Why “Unofficial”?
Walt Disney World: An Overview
What’s NEW at Walt Disney World since your last visit?

PART ONE Planning Before You Leave Home
Gathering Information
When to Go to Walt Disney World

PART TWO Making the Most of Your Time and Money
Allocating Money
Allocating Time
Understanding Walt Disney World Attractions
Central Florida Roller Coasters
What you Get and What you Pay at WDW

PART THREE Accommodations
The Basic Considerations
The Disney Resorts
Walt Disney World Hotel Profiles
How to Evaluate a Walt Disney World Travel Package
Disney Lodging for Less
Hotels outside Walt Disney World
Hotels and Motels: Rated and Ranked
The top 20 deals
How the Hotels Compare
Hotel Information Chart
How the Hotels Compare
Hotel Information Chart

PART FOUR Dining in and around Walt Disney World
Dining outside Walt Disney World
Where to Eat Outside Walt Disney World
Dining in Walt Disney World
Disney Dining 101
Advance Reservations: The Official Line
Advance Reservations: The Unofficial Scoop
Walt Disney World Buffets and Family-Style
Restaurants
Disney Dining Suggestions
Counter-Service Restaurant Mini-Profiles
Full-Service Restaurant Rated and Ranked
Walt Disney World Restaurants by Cuisine

PART FIVE Walt Disney World with Kids
The Ecstasy and the Agony
Lost Children
Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff
Small Child Fright Potential Chart
Attraction and Ride Restrictions
Waiting-Line Strategies for Adults with Young Children
The Disney Characters
Character Dining
Character Meal Hit Parade
Babysitting
Special Programs for Children
Birthdays and Special Occasions
PART SIX Special Tips for Special People
Walt Disney World for Singles
Tips for Going Solo
Walt Disney World for Couples
Walt Disney World "At Large"
Walt Disney World for Expectant Mothers
Walt Disney World for Seniors
Walt Disney World for Guests with Special Needs

PART SEVEN Arriving and Getting Around
Getting There
Getting Oriented
How to Travel around the World (or, The Real Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride)
Door-to-Door Commuting Times to and from the Disney Resorts and Parks

PART EIGHT Bare Necessities
Money, Etc.
Problems and Unusual Situations
Services

PART NINE The Magic Kingdom
Arriving
Getting Oriented
Main Street, U.S.A.
Adventureland
Frontierland
Liberty Square
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland
Live Entertainment in the Magic Kingdom
Mickey's Halloween and Christmas Parties and 23-Hour-Events
Parades
Traffic Patterns in the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Touring Plans

PART TEN Epcot
Arriving
Getting Oriented
Future World
World Showcase
Live Entertainment in Epcot
Traffic Patterns in Epcot
Epcot Touring Plans

PART ELEVEN Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Arriving
Getting Oriented
The Oasis
Discovery Island
Africa
Asia
DinoLand U.S.A.
Live Entertainment in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Traffic Patterns in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Touring Plan

PART TWELVE Disney’s Hollywood Studios
DHS: A Brief History
The Studios in Perspective
DHS at a Glance
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Attractions
Live Entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Touring Plan

PART THIRTEEN Universal Orlando
A Universal Primer
Universal on the Web
Cost
A Word about Crowds
How Much Time to Allocate
Lodging at Universal Orlando
Arriving at Universal Orlando
Universal Express
Singles Lines
UBot
Lockers
Universal, Kids, and Scary Stuff
Blue Man Group
Universal Orlando Dining Plan
New and Upcoming at Universal Orlando

PART FOURTEEN Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Getting Oriented at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Universal’s Islands of Adventure Attractions
Dining at Universal's Islands of Adventure
Universal’s Islands of Adventure Touring Plan

PART FIFTEEN Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida Attractions
Live Entertainment at Universal Studios Florida
Dining at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida Touring Plan

PART SIXTEEN SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld at a Glance
Discovery Cove

PART SEVENTEEN The Water Parks
You’re Soaking in It!
Blizzard Beach
Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon versus Blizzard Beach
When to Go
Planning Your Day at Disney Water Parks
Water-Park Touring Plans
Aquatica by SeaWorld

PART EIGHTEEN Behind-the-Scenes and VIP Tours at Walt Disney World
Multi-park Tours
Behind the Scenes at the Magic Kingdom
Behind the Scenes at Epcot
Behind the Scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
VIP Tours

PART NINETEEN Disney Springs, Universal City Walk, Shopping, and Nightlife
Disney Springs
Universal CityWalk
Dining
Shopping in the Theme Parks and Orlando
Tips for Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse
Walt Disney World Shopping at a Glance
Shopping at Universal Orlando
Shopping Outside the Theme Parks
Entertainment and Nightlife
Nightlife at Walt Disney World Resorts
Nightlife at Disney Springs
Nightlife at Universal Orlando Resorts
Nightlife at Universal CityWalk
Live Music at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
Walt Disney World Dinner Theaters

PART TWENTY Recreation, Sports, and Spas
Walt Disney World Recreation
Run, Disney, Run
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Walt Disney World Golf
Miniature Golf
Serenity Now! A Look at Disney-Area
Spas

Appendix
Readers’ Questions to the Author
Readers’ Comments

Accommodations Index
Restaurant Index
Subject Index
Touring Plans
Clip-Out Touring Plan Companions

Editorial Reviews

"In the Disney world, there is one source of information revered and trusted above all others. (The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World)."
—Paul Gauder, WDW Family Style.

"If you're looking for a reliable guidebook, the leader is the Unofficial series."
—The Mail (London)

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

"The Unofficial Guide is, without question, one of the best Disney travel guides available."
—MouseChat.net

From the Publisher