Frommer’s Walt Disney World & Orlando with Kids

Jim Tunstall0-7645-4499-3

No other city on the planet caters to kids like Orlando does; it’s the number one family vacation destination in the country. This brand new title helps you navigate through the maze of theme parks, family activities and other attractions in the Land that Mickey Built, so you can spend more time having fun and less time standing in line.
Whether you’re toting along toddlers or restless teenagers, you’ll find candid ratings and opinions–including several from a child’s point of view–as well as detailed itineraries for all age groups, and suggestions to make your Walt Disney Vacation a success. Walt Disney World & Orlando with Kids is full of incredibly detailed tips–right down to which hotels offer cribs and rollaway beds and which restaurants offer high chairs, kids’ menus, and the opportunity to dine with Disney and other cartoon characters.
You’ll also get complete and up-to-date details on all the Universal Parks and Sea World, in addition to our comprehensive coverage of all the Disney attractions. The authors also provide a wealth of information about where to find hands-on, interactive museums and attractions (with suggested age ranges for each activity); child-appropriate entertainment; kid-oriented shopping; places to play outside the theme parks–all perfect for families with kids of any age (and any budget).

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Table of contents :
Team DDU……Page 1
Contents……Page 6
List of Maps……Page 9
1 How to Feel Like an Orlando Family……Page 12
1 Frommer’s Favorite Orlando Family Experiences……Page 15
Chills & Thrills……Page 16
2 The Best Hotel Bets……Page 17
3 The Best Dining Bets……Page 19
Orlando’s Best Online Sites……Page 20
1 Visitor Information……Page 22
Walt Disney World & Orlando-Red Alert Checklist……Page 23
2 Money……Page 24
What Things Cost in Orlando……Page 26
3 When to Go……Page 27
Kids’ Favorite Orlando Events……Page 29
4 What to Pack……Page 33
5 Insurance, Health & Safety……Page 34
6 Words of Wisdom & Helpful Resources……Page 36
Kid-Friendly Tours……Page 37
7 Planning Your Trip Online……Page 44
Frommers com: The Complete Travel Resource……Page 45
Online Traveler’s Toolbox……Page 46
8 Getting There……Page 47
9 Tips on Flying with Children……Page 50
In-Flight Fun for Kids……Page 52
10 Package Deals for Families……Page 55
11 Disney Cruise Packages……Page 56
12 Show & Tell: Getting the Kids Interested In Orlando……Page 58
1 Orientation……Page 59
Orlando Neighborhoods in Brief……Page 62
2 Getting Around……Page 64
Fast Facts: Walt Disney World & Orlando……Page 69
1 Choosing Your Orlando Hotel……Page 72
Staying for Less……Page 74
2 Places to Stay in Walt Disney World……Page 78
3 “Official” Hotels in Lake Buena Vista……Page 94
4 Other Lake Buena Vista Area Hotels……Page 98
5 Places to Stay in the Kissimmee Area……Page 103
Homes Away from Home……Page 107
6 Places to Stay in the International Drive Area……Page 108
So You Didn’t Book a Room……Page 112
5 Family-Friendly Dining……Page 116
1 Restaurants by Cuisine……Page 118
2 Places to Dine in Walt Disney World……Page 120
More Kid Cuisine……Page 134
3 Places to Dine in Lake Buena Vista……Page 138
4 Places to Dine in Universal Orlando……Page 142
More Kid Cuisine II……Page 144
5 Places to Dine in the International Drive Area……Page 146
6 Places to Dine Elsewhere in Orlando……Page 149
7 Only in Orlando: Dining with Disney Characters……Page 155
1 Essentials……Page 158
2 Making Your Visit More Enjoyable……Page 162
Suggested Itineraries……Page 164
Hidden Treasure……Page 169
3 The Magic Kingdom……Page 170
Frommer’s Rates the Rides……Page 173
A (Baker’s) Dozen Suggestions for Fewer Headaches……Page 175
4 Epcot……Page 187
Top 10 Orlando Family Attractions……Page 191
Behind the Scenes: Special Tours in Walt Disney World……Page 193
Great Things to Buy at Epcot……Page 201
5 Disney–MGM Studios……Page 205
Find the Hidden Mickeys……Page 211
6 Animal Kingdom……Page 215
Animal Kingdom Tip Sheet……Page 218
7 Disney Water Parks……Page 224
Water Park Dos & Don’ts……Page 227
Did You Know?……Page 228
8 Other WDW Attractions……Page 229
7 What Kids Like to See & Do Beyond Disney……Page 231
1 Universal Studios Florida……Page 233
Suggested Itineraries……Page 238
Frommer’s Rates the Rides……Page 240
Universal Cuisine……Page 245
2 Islands of Adventure……Page 246
Some Practical Advice for Island Adventurers……Page 247
Suggested Itineraries……Page 250
3 SeaWorld……Page 259
New Dining Programs……Page 263
More Active Fun……Page 267
4 Other Area Attractions……Page 269
5 Attractions Outside Orlando……Page 274
1 Sports……Page 276
Hitting the Links……Page 277
2 Spectator Sports……Page 280
3 Playing on the Green: Orlando’s Parks & Playgrounds……Page 281
4 Kids’ Camps & Classes……Page 282
1 The Shopping Scene……Page 283
Setting Limits……Page 285
2 Shopping A to Z……Page 289
1 Dinner Shows……Page 294
2 Arcades & Fun Centers……Page 297
3 Movies……Page 298
7 Night Out for Mom & Dad……Page 299
On the Boardwalk……Page 300
Not Your Ordinary Circus……Page 303
1 Tampa……Page 308
Special Meals & Tours at Busch Gardens……Page 313
2 Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral & Kennedy Space Center……Page 318
1 Preparing for Your Trip……Page 325
Visitor Information Abroad……Page 326
Walt Disney World Services for International Visitors……Page 331
2 Getting to the U S……Page 332
3 Getting Around the U S……Page 333
Fast Facts: For the International Traveler……Page 334
Appendix B: Useful Toll-Free Numbers & Websites……Page 339
General Index……Page 342
Accommodations Index……Page 349
Restaurant Index……Page 350