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