The Best of Walt Disney World
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’re headed to Walt Disney World ... but where to
start? Disney offers such a wealth of fantastic resorts,
restaurants, and top-drawer entertainment experiences it
can be difficult to choose which fantasy you wish to
indulge. How best can you plan a visit in which each day
comes with the finest Disney has to offer? Here are a few
tips that can make the difference between a mediocre trip
and a fantastic one:
BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR A DISNEY VACATION
If at all possible plan a trip to Disney during the slower
seasons of the year when you’ll find half-filled parks, little
waiting in line, and lower resort rates. If you can stand the
guilt and your children are good students, take them out of
school, whatever, to avoid the busiest times of the year. If
not, the summer months or holidays are certainly better
than nothing and, with a bit of planning and a lot of energy,
can be more than enjoyable. These are the least busy
times of the year: the second week of January through the
first week of February (avoiding the Martin Luther King
holiday weekend in January); the third week of August until
the beginning of October; the month of November
excluding Thanksgiving weekend; the week after
Thanksgiving until the week of Christmas, a special time
when the parks and resorts are festively decorated for the
holidays.
Best Deluxe Resort
Disney’s flagship resort, The Grand Floridian, with its red-
gabled roofs and Victorian elegance, draws inspiration
from the grand Florida seaside “palace hotels” of 19th-
century America’s Gilded Age. Just a short monorail ride to
the Magic Kingdom, it spreads along the shore of the
Seven Seas Lagoon, offering spectacular views of
Cinderella’s Castle and the Wishes fireworks display.
Best Home Away From Home Property
Disney’s Home Away From Home Resorts are a great
choice for those who want a vacation with all the amenities
including a full kitchen, living room, and a bath for each
bedroom. For outstanding atmosphere choose the Villas at
Wilderness Lodge with its Bay Lake location and national
park character or the new Beach Club Villas conveniently
located next door to Epcot’s International Gateway.
Best Resort For Access to the Parks
Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian
Resorts offer monorail access to the Magic Kingdom,
Epcot, and the Ticket & Transportation Center.
Best Resort For Nature Lovers
Wilderness Lodge is Disney’s dramatic depiction of an
early 1900s national park resort. In its awesome eight-story
lobby are walls of ponderosa pine logs, a massive 82-foot
tall fireplace, and two authentic 55-foot Pacific Northwest
totem poles. Outside is a breathtaking scene of sparkling
waterfalls, rushing creeks, towering pines, and Disney’s
very own geyser. And it’s all only a boat ride away from the
Magic Kingdom.
Best Resort Pool
Stormalong Bay, the eye-popping free form, mini-water
park complex at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, is simply
divine. Three acres of winding, watery delight, it offers
sandy bottom pools, a giant “shipwreck” water slide, a tidal
whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide
next to the beach, and enough waterway to float lazily in
inner tubes to your heart’s content.
Best Resort Lounge
California Grill Lounge on the 15th floor at Disney’s
Contemporary Resort offers unrivaled views of the Magic
Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon along with cocktails,
sushi, and a view of the Wishes fireworks display.
Best Disney Attractions For Thrill Seekers
For a shot of adrenaline head to Disney-MGM Studios,
where thrill junkies beeline it to the Tower of Terror for a
13-story bungee-style plummet. Next-door is the Rock ’n’
Roller Coaster that rockets from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3
seconds then loops and corkscrews in the dark through a
Hollywood night. It’s a scream come true!
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
If you’re a registered guest of a Disney resort, drop off the
kids at one of their child care centers for around $10 an
hour per child where they are given dinner along with
classic Disney movies, arts and crafts, and video games. If
your child is under 4 or not potty trained, call Kid’s Nite Out
at 407-827-5444 for in-room childcare. Then head to one
of Disney’s world-class restaurants. For fine dining in a
stunning setting combined with virtually flawless service
choose Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian
Resort. Here you’ll dine on white linen covered tables set
with Royal Doulton china and crystal wine glasses to the
strains of enchanting harp music.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Away From the Parks
The addition of the West Side and Pleasure Island to
Disney Marketplace created what is now known as the
wildly successful Downtown Disney, a combination of over
70 scene-setting restaurants, shops, and nightclubs.
During the day it’s a perfect getaway from the parks, but at
night after the parks close, Downtown Disney comes alive.
At Disney Marketplace you’ll find A-plus shopping, the
largest Disney Store in the world, and the volcano-smoking
Rainforest Cafe. Pleasure Island is a nighttime mecca with
8 clubs and a nightly New Year’s Eve celebration. And then
there’s the West Side, loaded with dining and
entertainment venues including Wolfgang Puck Cafe,
House of Blues, Gloria Estefan’s Bongos, Cirque du Soleil,
and Disney Quest.
Best Restaurant For Kids
Dine among crashing waterfalls, lush tropical foliage, and
dripping vines while being bombarded with thunderstorms
and noisy Audio-Animatronic wildlife at the Rainforest Cafe.
Or head to the Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s
Wilderness Lodge for an all-you-care-to-eat blow-out of rib-
stickin’ barbecue served piping hot in iron skillets
accompanied by plenty of hootin’ and hollerin’. Kids love
the crazy show put on by the hobby horse-racing waiters
outfitted in western attire who can’t resist making a huge
production out of serving food, birthday celebrations, and
those unfortunate enough to leave for the restroom.
Best Disney Resort Restaurant
The California Grill on the 15th floor of Disney’s
Contemporary Resort is a definite highlight for any
connoisseur of cutting-edge cuisine. The immense
windows present an unbeatable panorama of the Magic
Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon and on many nights
picture-perfect views of the Wishes fireworks show. From
pristinely fresh sushi to the exceptional New American
Cuisine to sensational desserts and the outstanding
California wine list, this place has it all.
Best Theme Park Restaurant
In Epcot’s France Pavilion is Bistro de Paris, a charming
Belle Époque dining room with an air of exclusivity. Filled
with gilded mirrors and crimson banquettes, its billowy
white drapes frame windows that overlook the World
Showcase Lagoon. Servers with delicious French accents
roll out sensational dishes prepared with only the freshest
ingredients. Afterward order a dessert of crepes prepared
and flamed at your table while lingering over cordials and
coffee in anticipation of the nightly Illuminations spectacle.
Best Way to View the Epcot Fireworks Presentation
Each evening boatloads of visitors depart from the docks
of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht Club headed
for Epcot where, from a prime position under the bridge
between the United Kingdom and France, is a view of the
Illuminations fireworks spectacular that can’t be beat.
Cruises are offered nightly with your choice of either a
pontoon boat seating 10 or a beautiful reproduction of a
1930s Chris Craft accommodating 6-7 people. Although
reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance, they
sometimes sell out on the first day. Call 407-WDW-PLAY.
Best Way to Spend a Lazy Afternoon
When your muscles are aching and your body is
screaming for rest after days at the parks, sooth your
jangled nerves at Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa. Immerse
yourself in luxury with one or two feel-good treatments
guaranteed to rejuvenate and swiftly get you back on your
feet and ready for another long day of walking. For the
ultimate in romance consider the Grand Romantic Evening
where, in a candle-lit couple’s room, each person receives
an aromatherapy massage.
Most importantly slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist
the urge to see everything at breakneck speed. You can’t
possibly cover it all, so think of this as your first trip to
Disney, not your last. There will be time to pick up all the
things you missed on the next go-round. Be spontaneous.
If something catches your eye, even if it’s not on your daily
list of things to do, stop and explore or else you may miss
something wonderful.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt
Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney
Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.
luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local
bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.
info@luxurydisneyguide.com
by: Cara Goldsbury
So you’re headed to Walt Disney World ... but where to
start? Disney offers such a wealth of fantastic resorts,
restaurants, and top-drawer entertainment experiences it
can be difficult to choose which fantasy you wish to
indulge. How best can you plan a visit in which each day
comes with the finest Disney has to offer? Here are a few
tips that can make the difference between a mediocre trip
and a fantastic one:
BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR A DISNEY VACATION
If at all possible plan a trip to Disney during the slower
seasons of the year when you’ll find half-filled parks, little
waiting in line, and lower resort rates. If you can stand the
guilt and your children are good students, take them out of
school, whatever, to avoid the busiest times of the year. If
not, the summer months or holidays are certainly better
than nothing and, with a bit of planning and a lot of energy,
can be more than enjoyable. These are the least busy
times of the year: the second week of January through the
first week of February (avoiding the Martin Luther King
holiday weekend in January); the third week of August until
the beginning of October; the month of November
excluding Thanksgiving weekend; the week after
Thanksgiving until the week of Christmas, a special time
when the parks and resorts are festively decorated for the
holidays.
Best Deluxe Resort
Disney’s flagship resort, The Grand Floridian, with its red-
gabled roofs and Victorian elegance, draws inspiration
from the grand Florida seaside “palace hotels” of 19th-
century America’s Gilded Age. Just a short monorail ride to
the Magic Kingdom, it spreads along the shore of the
Seven Seas Lagoon, offering spectacular views of
Cinderella’s Castle and the Wishes fireworks display.
Best Home Away From Home Property
Disney’s Home Away From Home Resorts are a great
choice for those who want a vacation with all the amenities
including a full kitchen, living room, and a bath for each
bedroom. For outstanding atmosphere choose the Villas at
Wilderness Lodge with its Bay Lake location and national
park character or the new Beach Club Villas conveniently
located next door to Epcot’s International Gateway.
Best Resort For Access to the Parks
Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian
Resorts offer monorail access to the Magic Kingdom,
Epcot, and the Ticket & Transportation Center.
Best Resort For Nature Lovers
Wilderness Lodge is Disney’s dramatic depiction of an
early 1900s national park resort. In its awesome eight-story
lobby are walls of ponderosa pine logs, a massive 82-foot
tall fireplace, and two authentic 55-foot Pacific Northwest
totem poles. Outside is a breathtaking scene of sparkling
waterfalls, rushing creeks, towering pines, and Disney’s
very own geyser. And it’s all only a boat ride away from the
Magic Kingdom.
Best Resort Pool
Stormalong Bay, the eye-popping free form, mini-water
park complex at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, is simply
divine. Three acres of winding, watery delight, it offers
sandy bottom pools, a giant “shipwreck” water slide, a tidal
whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide
next to the beach, and enough waterway to float lazily in
inner tubes to your heart’s content.
Best Resort Lounge
California Grill Lounge on the 15th floor at Disney’s
Contemporary Resort offers unrivaled views of the Magic
Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon along with cocktails,
sushi, and a view of the Wishes fireworks display.
Best Disney Attractions For Thrill Seekers
For a shot of adrenaline head to Disney-MGM Studios,
where thrill junkies beeline it to the Tower of Terror for a
13-story bungee-style plummet. Next-door is the Rock ’n’
Roller Coaster that rockets from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3
seconds then loops and corkscrews in the dark through a
Hollywood night. It’s a scream come true!
Best Way to Spend an Evening Without the Kids
If you’re a registered guest of a Disney resort, drop off the
kids at one of their child care centers for around $10 an
hour per child where they are given dinner along with
classic Disney movies, arts and crafts, and video games. If
your child is under 4 or not potty trained, call Kid’s Nite Out
at 407-827-5444 for in-room childcare. Then head to one
of Disney’s world-class restaurants. For fine dining in a
stunning setting combined with virtually flawless service
choose Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian
Resort. Here you’ll dine on white linen covered tables set
with Royal Doulton china and crystal wine glasses to the
strains of enchanting harp music.
Best Way to Spend an Evening Away From the Parks
The addition of the West Side and Pleasure Island to
Disney Marketplace created what is now known as the
wildly successful Downtown Disney, a combination of over
70 scene-setting restaurants, shops, and nightclubs.
During the day it’s a perfect getaway from the parks, but at
night after the parks close, Downtown Disney comes alive.
At Disney Marketplace you’ll find A-plus shopping, the
largest Disney Store in the world, and the volcano-smoking
Rainforest Cafe. Pleasure Island is a nighttime mecca with
8 clubs and a nightly New Year’s Eve celebration. And then
there’s the West Side, loaded with dining and
entertainment venues including Wolfgang Puck Cafe,
House of Blues, Gloria Estefan’s Bongos, Cirque du Soleil,
and Disney Quest.
Best Restaurant For Kids
Dine among crashing waterfalls, lush tropical foliage, and
dripping vines while being bombarded with thunderstorms
and noisy Audio-Animatronic wildlife at the Rainforest Cafe.
Or head to the Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s
Wilderness Lodge for an all-you-care-to-eat blow-out of rib-
stickin’ barbecue served piping hot in iron skillets
accompanied by plenty of hootin’ and hollerin’. Kids love
the crazy show put on by the hobby horse-racing waiters
outfitted in western attire who can’t resist making a huge
production out of serving food, birthday celebrations, and
those unfortunate enough to leave for the restroom.
Best Disney Resort Restaurant
The California Grill on the 15th floor of Disney’s
Contemporary Resort is a definite highlight for any
connoisseur of cutting-edge cuisine. The immense
windows present an unbeatable panorama of the Magic
Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon and on many nights
picture-perfect views of the Wishes fireworks show. From
pristinely fresh sushi to the exceptional New American
Cuisine to sensational desserts and the outstanding
California wine list, this place has it all.
Best Theme Park Restaurant
In Epcot’s France Pavilion is Bistro de Paris, a charming
Belle Époque dining room with an air of exclusivity. Filled
with gilded mirrors and crimson banquettes, its billowy
white drapes frame windows that overlook the World
Showcase Lagoon. Servers with delicious French accents
roll out sensational dishes prepared with only the freshest
ingredients. Afterward order a dessert of crepes prepared
and flamed at your table while lingering over cordials and
coffee in anticipation of the nightly Illuminations spectacle.
Best Way to View the Epcot Fireworks Presentation
Each evening boatloads of visitors depart from the docks
of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht Club headed
for Epcot where, from a prime position under the bridge
between the United Kingdom and France, is a view of the
Illuminations fireworks spectacular that can’t be beat.
Cruises are offered nightly with your choice of either a
pontoon boat seating 10 or a beautiful reproduction of a
1930s Chris Craft accommodating 6-7 people. Although
reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance, they
sometimes sell out on the first day. Call 407-WDW-PLAY.
Best Way to Spend a Lazy Afternoon
When your muscles are aching and your body is
screaming for rest after days at the parks, sooth your
jangled nerves at Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa. Immerse
yourself in luxury with one or two feel-good treatments
guaranteed to rejuvenate and swiftly get you back on your
feet and ready for another long day of walking. For the
ultimate in romance consider the Grand Romantic Evening
where, in a candle-lit couple’s room, each person receives
an aromatherapy massage.
Most importantly slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist
the urge to see everything at breakneck speed. You can’t
possibly cover it all, so think of this as your first trip to
Disney, not your last. There will be time to pick up all the
things you missed on the next go-round. Be spontaneous.
If something catches your eye, even if it’s not on your daily
list of things to do, stop and explore or else you may miss
something wonderful.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt
Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney
Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.
luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local
bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.
info@luxurydisneyguide.com
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