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WDW Parks

Please remember that I am a local, so the information contained here will not have hotel information.

The Parks - General information to keep in mind: Disney allows you to carry in backpacks, so pack those wisely.  Bottled water, rain ponchos, and some kind of snack (cereal bars, fruit, nuts) should make your visit much more enjoyable (and affordable).
  • Epcot - Geared toward adults, Epcot offers the most diversified entertainment experience.  World Showcase is home to restaurants and shops from around the world, but for some of the nicer restaurants, you may want to make reservations ahead of time.  Electric Umbrella is our favorite fastfood spot due to the reasonable prices for burgers and fries and the option to refill your soda before leaving.  For a healthier quick eat, the cafeteria-style options in The Land are great.

    If you plan to go on Soarin', head to The Land as soon as you get into the park.  You may be able to hop right on, but if you can't, grab a fast pass for later.  It's worth it, trust me!  Epcot also offers a SCUBA diving experience, so book that early to reserve your spot!
  • Magic Kingdom - MK always seems to have construction going on lately.  They are making wonderful improvements to the park, and this shouldn't get in your way while you are there.
  • Animal Kingdom - It seems that the best time to experience Kilimanjaro Safaris is in the morning because the animals are more active.  One thing we really like about AK (especially when visiting with young children) is the continuous availability of characters in Camp Minnie-Mickey.  There are four different areas, and typically there are 2-3 characters available at any given time - Minnie, Mickey, Goofie, the Chipmunks, etc.  The lines aren't normally all that long relative to some of the other character spots so this area is worth a visit.
  • Hollywood Studios - The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was recently revamped with new graphics and new ride alternatives.  Love this one.  As a roller coaster fan (being from Ohio), I do like Aerosmith's Rock N Roller Coaster, BUT I cannot go on that ride any longer.  If you have experienced neck or back problems, this ride is especially rough so take a pass.  If you are good to go, get there early or use the fast pass option here.  There are a lot of other great things to see at HS, but be sure not to miss the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show.
Downtown Disney
  • Ghiradelli - Home of free samples and amazing ice cream concoctions!
  • Cirque du Soleil - If you are a Florida resident, please call the ticket window directly to see if they have special FL rates for that time.  We went for my husband's birthday in mid-September, and the FL Resident rate was only $50 per ticket up to 6 people.
  • The Christmas Store - If you are planning to have an ornament personalized, allow at least 24 hours during the busy season.
Events
  • Epcot's Annual Food & Wine - Normally running from end of September to mid-November, this wildly popular event is included with your park admission tickets.  Before you enter World Showcase, you may want to purchase a pre-paid, re-loadable debit card to be used on your food and drink purchases.  Plan to put down between $20-25 per person when you purchase the card...you can always add more money to it later.  We like the re-loadable card because there's no need to worry about cash or constantly swiping your credit card at each location.
  • Holidays at Disney - Each park has a beautiful display for Christmas, which they begin setting up around Thanksgiving - over-the-top fantastic in some areas!  Don't forget about the Osborne Family Light Show in the Streets of America (Hollywood Studios), because it really is a sight to behold.  If you want to experience the holidays without having to pay park admission, either park at a hotel or downtown Disney and tram- and bus- hop your way around to the different resorts.  The Grand Floridian's life-size gingerbread house is beautiful, and I've heard wonderful things about the Animal Kingdom Lodge's displays.  I call it hotel-hopping:)  Along the way you can stop for snacks or meals - it's a frugal way to spend a Disney day!
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Location: Orlando, FL, USA

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