Our web site is not meant to be a substitute for some of the good Orlando Publications which are available in the book shops e.g. Birnbaum's "Walt Disney World" is excellent. We merely wish to give some additional information which we hope will help you to have a happy family holiday in the Orlando area over a 2 - 3 week period at a reasonable cost. We hope that it is particularly useful to first time British visitors and American veterans who may wish to see Walt Disney World (WDW) through the eyes of a Scottish family.

We have visited the Orlando area of Florida on six occasions, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002 & 2007. All visits were at Easter time which we found to be a pleasant season with warm days and cool nights (so take a woollen jumper with you to the parks and tie it round your waist during the day).

Friends and colleagues have visited Orlando during the summer months and speak of a hotter, wetter season. A fact worth bearing in mind if you are visiting with young children who will certainly tire more easily in the heat.

Our first encounter with a Disney Theme Park was in Paris a few months after "EuroDisney" opened in 1992. We thought that it was wonderful, although other visitors, who had previously visited WDW pointed out several of EuroDisney's failings. However, don't be too dismissive of EuroDisney, or Disneyland - Paris, as it is now called. Some of its attractions are bigger and better than WDW's. eg A larger and more beautiful castle (Sleeping Beauty's Castle) dominates the park and its "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction is terrific.

6 months later we were in Orlando to sample the delights of WDW for the first time. We were overawed at the scale and 110% efficiency of WDW.

An airline magazine once quoted a visitor to WDW who claimed to have, "done it all in a day". We find this impossible to believe. We can easily spend 2-3 days exploring the Magic Kingdom itself and would still not claim to have seen everything. We suggest the following minimum time scale: Disney-MGM - 1 Day; EPCOT - 1-2 days; The Magic Kingdom - 2 days; Animal Kingdom - 1-2 days. Plus at least half a day for each of Disney's Water Parks (Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach). If your main purpose in visiting the Orlando area is WDW we would strongly advise you to spend at least a fortnight in Orlando and purchase either a 5-day or 7-day WDW pass (Disney keep changing the types of passes available so check with a Disney Store or Tour operator for their current offerings). NB Length of stay passes can also be purchased by guests staying in Disney Resorts.

In addition you will need at least 1 day for each of the following: Universal Studios; Islands of Adventure; Sea World, Busch Gardens, Wet 'n Wild & Kennedy Space Centre.

Highway 192

A vast array of hotels convenient for WDW are located along highway 192, East and West of WDW Main Gate (actually the area where 4 of the 5 lane westbound highway 192 veers north and enters Disney property becoming "World Drive". Here also is found "Celebration" - Disney's new purpose built community comprising housing, education and health care. Restaurants and hotels abound. We have stayed in the HOJO Inn (192 East) and the more expensive Sheraton Lakeside (192 West). Both offer clean, comfortable, air conditioned accommodation and heated swimming pool(s).

International Drive

International Drive is convenient for Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Sea World and Wet 'n Wild. At the intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road you will find the largest MacDonald's children's play place in the world. This is free to all children whose parents purchase MacDonald's fare. 

International Drive is definitely the place to stay if you don't want to hire a car during your holiday. However make sure that your accommodation offers transportation to all the Theme Parks which interest you. eg We stayed at the Holiday Inn during our trip in 2007 which provided shuttle buses to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios/Islands/Sea World. Another convenient feature of International Drive is the I-Ride trolley bus system which travels the length of International Drive at frequent intervals ferrying people to I-Drive's various attractions.

Restaurants

For exceptional value and choice try the Denny's chain of restaurants. Children are made especially welcome (as they are at most restaurants in the area) with free crayons and worksheets provided to entertain them while waiting for the meals to arrive. Restaurants often have special deals in place eg 10% discount vouchers or "kids eat free" vouchers. Check out these deals in the free booklets available from metal dispensers located outside many of the shops in the area. If you like pizza, don't miss Cici's Pizza on International Drive. An "All you care to eat" Buffet with the lightest garlic bread I've ever tasted!!

Shopping

Great savings can be made in Orlando on items such as designer clothes, shoes and computer software.

At the northern end of International Drive is the Prime (formerly Beltz) factory outlet . This is a large shopping mall offering excellent value for money on such things as designer label sports shoes.

For computer software try "Computer City" for software costing the same in Dollars as you would pay at home in UK Pounds! Computer City is located near to the Florida Mall off Sand Lake Road.

7/11's - convenience stores usually open 24 hours a day offering the essentials of life. Petrol, drinks, sandwiches (don't forget to pick up the free sachets of mayonnaise and ketchup), crisps, donuts, fruit etc. Again, great value for money if you want to picnic during the day.

Car Hire

The greatest difficulty we experienced on our first visit to Florida was becoming used to the scale of the place. In a country where pavement means 4 lane highway and sidewalks (where they exist) are for pedestrians - the car most definitely rules - OK! That is not to say that you must hire a car (see International Drive above). It makes good financial sense to do without but if $500 (1996 prices) for 3 weeks comprehensive insurance seems a fair price to pay for the convenience of having a car at your disposal - so be it. A car is certainly useful for exploring the shops and restaurants of Highway 192. The sidewalks there only stretch the length of each shopping complex - anywhere between 1 & 5 shops in a row. To go to the next row of shops usually means trekking across 50 - 100 metres of scrubland. Crossing to the other side of the 2x4 lane highway on foot shouldn't really be seriously contemplated although we have seen it done. Even now the memory of watching four foolhardy tourists dicing with death among the juggernauts of the 192 fills my heart with fear and foreboding. Be warned, these highways are wide and spacious.

On our first trip in 1993, we turned into a Gas Station late one evening and filled the car with petrol (very cheap by the way). The exit forced us to make a left hand turn onto a four lane highway. In a momentary lapse of concentration I started to head for the far right hand lane but at the last moment noticed a gap in a large hedge bordering this side of the road. Wisdom returned in a flash and I steered the car through the gap to discover another four lane highway beyond. It was a dual carriageway of course - a standard highway in Florida but wider than the M1!

Attraction Tickets

Apart from buying the tickets at the attractions themselves, there are various other ways to buy tickets for the major Orlando attractions.

1. Internet ticket agents before leaving the UK. These can save you considerable amounts of money.

2. UK Disney stores also sell WDW passes

3. All-inclusive Disney passes (valid for the entire duration of your stay in WDW) can now be obtained from most UK tour operators but these are only available to visitors staying within WDW accommodation.

4. UK tour operators also advertise ticket packages which may result in savings over purchasing the same tickets individually.

5. Discount ticket sales outlets are located in some Orlando restaurants such as "Denny's". These may save you a few Dollars over the gate prices.

6.. Tickets for Orlando Attractions such as Sea World, Wet 'n Wild, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure can also be bundled with tickets for Busch Gardens in Tampa in a deal called Orlando Flexticket. These tickets are valid for 14 consecutive days and can be purchsed to allow entry into 4 or 5 of the above theme parks. If you don't want to drive to Tampa or don't have access to a hire car you can still enjoy Busch Gardens because as of 2000 the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express bus is available to transport you from various pick-up points in Orlando to Tampa. Just telephone the day before to book your seat on the Busch Gardens Shuttle bus. For the current telephone number please enquire at any tourist information office in the Orlando area during your holiday.

Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista

This is an area built by the Disney company and offering various gift shops and a Goodings Supermarket. A medical centre is also close by. The beautiful "Pirates Cove" miniature golf course is worth seeing, especially when illuminated at night.

Disney Market Village

This area of WDW has changed enormously since we first visted in 1993. The Disney Market Village now boasts an East and West side. (With the nightclubs of Disney's Pleasure Island in between.) A variety of shops and restaurants are located in both areas so you should explore both locations if you have time. A small boat shuttles visitors between the two areas. Toy shops, the Christmas Chalet and The Rainforest Cafe are among the attractions found at the East end. Planet Hollywood, a cinema muliplex, Disney Quest (interactive game zone), Virgin Megastore and Cirque du Soleil are found along with many other shops and restaurants at the west end.

We had read many of the reports in the Disney Newsgroups concerning these hotels. Some correspondents complained that these hotels were very basic. Some complained that parts of the resort were great distances from the Disney transport bus stops. In our opinion such criticism is totally unjustified.

We have now spent a total of five weeks at the All Star Resorts in suitably sized, scrupulously clean rooms containing two queen sized beds, a free wall safe, bath, shower & WC + colour television, telephone and lots of Disney character.

The food courts were very well organised and reasonably priced and we immediately took advantage of the "bottomless" Disney Mugs. These mugs can be refilled without additional charge from early morning until late at night with various soft drinks (from the Coca Cola empire) or tea, coffee or hot chocolate for the entire duration of you stay.

These attractively priced hotels are worth considering as your holiday accommodation because, although they may be marginally dearer than comparable accommodation on International Drive or Highway 192, they offer the considerable benefits derived from being a "Resort Guest". (Free Disney transportation, Free Disney Parking, early entry to the major Theme Parks and complete access to Walt Disney World). Believe me, if Disney is your main reason for visiting Orlando it really makes all the difference to stay in a Disney Hotel. Also, by opting not to take the "Free Car Hire" thereby saving the considerable cost of fully comprehensive ($1,000,000) insurance, a Disney Hotel may even be a cheaper alternative to a hotel outwith WDW. Remember Resort Guests have access to free and plentiful Disney transportation to all corners of WDW and taxis will happily take you on excursions to the other attractions in Orlando and beyond.

We were able to enjoy 3 or 4 days in our busy 3 week schedule lazing beside Goofy's Pool. Often we would engage in conversation with the many American visitors whom we have always found to be genuinely warm and friendly. More often than not they are amazed at anyone wishing to spend 2 - 3 weeks in WDW at a time but when they are gently reminded of the cost and distances involved in traveling to Orlando from the UK they appreciated the necessity of making the most of it. (Indeed, for many people in Britain, a visit to Orlando can still be considered a once in a lifetime trip - if affordable at all.)

Being a Resort Guest brings the opportunity of visiting any or all of the hotels in WDW. Those surrounding the 7 Seas Lagoon at the Magic Kingdom are easy. Take a bus to the Magic Kingdom then transfer to the Resort Monorail and travel to the Contemporary Hotel. After exploring the vast concourse with its shops and restaurants re-board the Resort Monorail. Stay on board at the Transportation & Ticket Centre then alight at the Polynesian Hotel. Walk to the Grand Floridian Hotel along the beach and pause half way to explore the Wedding Pavilion and Frank's Studio. If there are no weddings scheduled take a walk into the Pavilion and witness the perfect alignment of the centre aisle with Cinderella's Castle visible through the window behind the podium. Cross the remaining stretch of beach to the most expensive of Disney's Hotels, the Grand Floridian and marvel at the expensive (if slightly plastic) opulence. The monorail will return you to The Magic Kingdom at the end of your circular tour.

Visiting the Parks from early morning until closing certainly gets the most from your admission costs but there is no doubt that it is tiring, especially for younger members of the family. We have always tried to spend a day in the Parks followed by a more restful day i.e. at a water park or beside the hotel pool. The following half day itineraries may be of interest to Resort Guests.

A. From Disney-MGM take the watercraft to the EPCOT Resort Hotels and witness the splendour of the Dolphin and Swan Hotels plus the Beach and Yacht Clubs and, across the bay, Disney's Board Walk Hotel.

B. From the Disney Village Market Place, take the watercraft to Port Orleans or Dixie Landings and revel in the delights of the Deep South.

Please remember than Disney Resort ID is really required for all such transportation. An evening visit to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is a delight to watch the sun go down delicately affecting the bright colours of the villas around the central lake. Access to the hotel pools, anywhere in Orlando, is possible until late in the evening. There is nothing to beat a late night swim in a heated pool under a clear starlit sky - go on try it - the memory will remain with you forever.