The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2023

by Bob Sehlinger, Liliane J. Opsomer, Len Testa

Overview

Save time and money with in-depth reviews, ratings, and details from the trusted source for a successful Walt Disney World family vacation.

How do some guests get on the big, new attraction in less than 20 minutes while others wait for longer than 2 hours—on the same day? Why do some families pay full price for their visit when others can save hundreds of dollars? In a theme park, every minute and every dollar count. Your vacation is too important to be left to chance, so put the best-selling independent guide to Walt Disney World in your hands and take control of your trip.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2023 explains how Walt Disney World works and how to use that knowledge to stay ahead of the crowd. Authors Bob Sehlinger, Liliane J. Opsomer, and Len Testa know that you want your vacation to be anything but average, so they employ an expert team of researchers to find the secrets, the shortcuts, and the bargains that are sure to make your vacation exceptional! Find out what’s available in every category, ranked from best to worst, and get detailed plans to make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. Stay at a top-rated hotel, eat at the best restaurants, and experience all the most popular attractions.

Keep in the know on the latest updates and changes at Walt Disney World. Here’s what’s NEW in the 2023 book:

• Learn when to visit Walt Disney World to get lower crowds and bigger hotel discounts
• Find insider coverage of EPCOT’s new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster—the longest indoor roller coaster in the world
• Read reviews or each attraction—including TRON Lightcycle Coaster—rated by age group based on a survey of almost 72,000 families
• Take in the latest on new Disney programs such as Early Theme Park Entry
• Utilize Disney’s new Genie+ ride reservation system to cut down on waits in line
• Get fright-potential warnings for rides that are scary, rough, and/or will get you wet
• Save more with information on discounted stroller rentals, car rentals, and vacation homes
• Seek out the best places in each park to see Disney’s nighttime spectaculars Enchantment and Harmonious
• Discover field-tested Touring Plans, developed especially for families, that can save 4 hours of standing in line a day

Make the right choices to give your family a vacation they’ll never forget. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2023 is your key to planning a perfect stay. Whether you’re putting together your annual trip or preparing for your first visit, this book gives you the insider scoop on hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781628091311
Publisher:	Unofficial Guides
Publication date:	12/06/2022
Series:	Unofficial Guides Series
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	358,038
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Bob Sehlinger, a Lowell Thomas Award-winning journalist, is best known as the creator and producer of The Unofficial Guide series.

Liliane J. Opsomer is a freelance writer and was one of the photographers for The Color Companion to Walt Disney World. Liliane covers theme park news for AAA Northeast, JohnnyJet.com, The Mouse for Less, and Small World Vacations. She is also a contributor to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.

Len Testa leads the team at TouringPlans.com, a research arm of The Unofficial Guides. Len is also coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line.

Read an Excerpt

Part 3: Where to Stay

How to Childproof a Hotel Room

Small children up to 3 years old (and sometimes older) can wreak mayhem—if not outright disaster—in a hotel room. Chances are that you’re pretty experienced when it comes to spotting potential dangers, but just in case you need a refresher course, here’s what to look for.

Begin by checking for hazards that you can’t fix yourself: balconies, chipping paint, cracked walls, sharp surfaces, shag carpeting, and windows that can’t be secured shut. If you encounter anything that you don’t like or is too much of a hassle to fix, ask for another room.

If you use a crib supplied by the hotel, make sure that the mattress is firm and covers the entire bottom of the crib. The mattress cover, if there is one, should fit tightly. Slats should be 2-1/2 inches (about the width of a soda can) or less apart. Make sure the drop sides work properly. Check for sharp edges and potentially toxic substances. Wipe down surfaces with disinfectant. Finally, position the crib away from drapery cords, heaters, wall sockets, and air conditioners.

A Monteno, Illinois, mom offers this suggestion: You can request bed rails at the Disney resorts. Our 2-1/2-year-old was too big for the pack-and-play; the bed rails worked perfectly for us.

If your infant can turn over, we recommend changing him or her on a pad on the floor. Likewise, if you have a child seat of any sort, place it where it cannot be knocked over, and always strap your child in. If your child can roll, crawl, or walk, you should bring about eight electrical outlet covers and some cord to tie cabinets shut and to bind drape cords and the like out of reach. Check for appliances, lamps, ice buckets, and anything else that your child might pull down on him or herself. Have the hotel remove coffee tables with sharp edges and both real and artificial plants that are within your child’s reach. Round up items from tables and countertops, such as courtesy toiletries and drinking glasses, and store them out of reach.

If the bathroom door can be accidentally locked, cover the locking mechanism with duct tape or a doorknob cover. Use the security chain or upper latch on the room’s entrance door to ensure that your child doesn’t open it without your knowledge.

Inspect the floor and remove pins, coins, and other foreign objects that your child might find. Don’t forget to check under beds and furniture. Tip: Crawl around the room on your hands and knees to see possible hazards from your child’s perspective.

If you rent a suite or a condo, you’ll have more territory to childproof and will have to deal with things such as cleaning supplies, a stove, a refrigerator, cooking utensils, and low cabinet doors, among other things. Sometimes the best option is to seal off the kitchen with a safety gate.

Part 5: Know Before You Go

Preparing Your Children to Meet the Characters

Almost all Disney characters are quite large; several, like Baloo, are huge! Young children don’t expect this and can be intimidated if not terrified. Discuss the characters with your children before you go. If there is a high school or college with a costumed mascot nearby, arrange to let your kids check it out. If not, then Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny will do.

On the first encounter at Walt Disney World, don’t thrust your child at the character. Allow the little one to deal with this big thing from whatever distance feels safe to him or her. If two adults are present, one should stay near the youngster while the other approaches the character and demonstrates that it’s safe and friendly. Some kids warm to the characters immediately; some never do. Most take a little time and several encounters.

There are two kinds of characters: “furs,” or those whose costumes include face covering headpieces (including animal characters and such humanlike characters as Captain Hook), and “face characters,” those for whom no mask or headpiece is necessary. These include Tiana, Anna, Elsa, Mary Poppins, Ariel, Jasmine, Aladdin, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Merida, and Prince Charming, among others.

Only face characters speak. Headpiece characters don’t make noises of any kind. Because cast members couldn’t possibly imitate the distinctive cinema voice of the character, Disney has determined that it’s more effective to keep them silent. Lack of speech notwithstanding, headpiece characters are very warm and responsive and communicate very effectively with gestures. Disney is currently testing new technology that will allow headpiece characters to speak. It is assumed that the technology is a portable version of that used in Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot, where an animated turtle converses in real time with audience members. A less advanced option is a menu-driven selection of recorded phrases such as, “Hi, I’m Mickey,” or “What’s your name?”

Some character costumes are cumbersome and limit cast members’ ability to see and maneuver. (Eye holes frequently are in the mouth of the costume or even on the neck or chest.) Children who approach the character from the back or side may not be noticed, even if the child touches the character. It’s possible in this situation for the character to accidentally step on the child or knock him or her down. It’s best for a child to approach a character from the front, but occasionally not even this works. Duck characters (such as Donald, Daisy, and Uncle Scrooge), for example, have to peer around their bills.

It’s OK for your child to touch, pat, or hug the character. Understanding the unpredictability of children, the character will keep his feet very still, particularly refraining from moving backward or sideways. Most characters will sign autographs or pose for pictures.

Another great way to show young children how the characters appear in the parks is to rent or buy a Disney Sing-Along Songs DVD. These programs show Disney characters interacting with real kids. At a minimum, the videos will give your kids a sense of how big the characters are. The best two are Flik’s Musical Adventure Sing-Along Songs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Campout Sing-Along Songs at Walt Disney World. It’s a Small World Sing-Along Songs—Disneyland Fun is a third offering... but then there’s that song. No sense turning your brain to mush before even leaving home.

Table of Contents

List of Maps vii

Acknowledgments viii

Introduction 1

Why "Unofficial"? 1

About This Guide 5

A Quick Tour of a Big World 6

Part 1 Basic Considerations 18

Is Walt Disney World for Everyone? 18

The Age Thing 19

About Inviting Your Children's Friends 24

Considerations for Single Parents 25

"He Who Hesitates Is Launched!": Tips and Warnings for Grandparents 26

Order and Discipline on the Road 28

Part 2 Getting Your Act Together 34

Gathering Information 34

Allocating Time 41

Planning Your Wait Disney World Vacation Budget 55

WDW Theme Park Admission Options 62

Babysitting 70

Special Programs for Children 70

Part 3 Where to Stay 74

Lodging Considerations 75

Walt Disney World Lodging 84

The Disney Resorts 88

Walt Disney World Hotels: Strengths and Weaknesses for Families 93

Hotel Information Table 114

How to Get Discounts on Lodging at Walt Disney World 118

How to Evaluate a Walt Disney World Travel Package 123

Lodging Outside Walt Disney World 130

How to Childproof a Hotel Room 154

Part 4 Dining 155

Dining in Walt Disney World 155

Counter-Service Restaurant Mini-Profiles 178

Disney's Full-Service Restaurants 188

WDW Restaurants by Cuisine 194

Dinner Theaters 200

Dining Outside Walt Disney World 201

Part 5 Know Before You Go 207

The Brutal Truth About Family Vacations 207

Mental and Emotional Preparation 208

Small-Child Fright-Potential Table 213

Physical Preparation 218

Developing a Good Plan 221

Logistical Preparation 221

Trial Run 232

Walt Disney World for Guests with Special Needs 233

Remembering Your Trip 240

Part 6 Ready, Set, Tour! 242

Touring Recommendations 242

Touring Plans 247

Height Requirements 259

Waiting-Line Strategies 260

Character Analysis 262

WDW Character-Greeting Venues 264

Character-Meal Hit Parade 270

When Kids Get Lost 272

Strollers 275

Part 7 The Magic Kingdom 280

Main Street, U.S.A. 288

Adventureland 289

Frantierland 292

Liberty Square 294

Fantasyland 295

Tomorrowland 303

Live Entertainment and Parades in the Magic Kingdom 308

Magic Kingdom Touring Plans 316

Magic Kingdom Trivia Quiz 318

Part 8 Epcot 319

Future World 325

World Showcase 332

Live Entertainment at EPCOT 341

EPCOT Touring Plans 345

EPCOT Trivia Quiz 346

Part 9 Disney's Animal Kingdom 347

The Oasis 353

Discovery Island 353

Pandora: The World of Avatar 355

Africa 359

Rafiki's Planet Watch 361

Asia 362

DinoLand U.S.A. 364

Live Entertainment at Animal Kingdom 366

Animal Kingdom Touring Plans 368

Disney's Animal Kingdom Trivia Quiz 369

Part 10 Disney's Hollywood Studios 371

Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards 376

Echo Lake 380

Grand Avenue 382

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge 383

Toy Story Land 387

Animation Courtyard 389

Live Entertainment at Disney's Hollywood Studios 391

Disney's Hollywood Studios Touring Plans 393

Disney's Hollywood Studios Trivia Quiz 395

Part 11 Universal Orlando 397

Universal Orlando 397

Small-Child Fright-Potential Table 403

Universal's Islands of Adventure 406

Islands of Adventure Attractions 410

Live Entertainment at Islands of Adventure 412

Islands of Adventure Touring Plans 413

Universal Studios Florida 414

Universal Studios Florida Attractions 428

Live Entertainment at Universal Studios 420

Universal Studios Florida Touring Plans 423

Part 12 The Best of the Rest 424

The Water Parks (Disney and Universal Orlando) 424

Disney's Water Parks 425

Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando 428

Aquatica by SeaWorld 432

SeaWorld 435

Disney Springs 439

Universal Orlando CityWalk 445

Legoland Florida Theme Park and Water Park 448

Peppa Pig Theme Park 454

Beyond the Theme Parks 456

Theme Park Trivia Quiz Answers 458

Index 459

Clip-Out Touring Plans 487

List of Maps

South Orlando 8-9

Walt Disney World 10-11

Hotel Concentrations Around Walt Disney World 131

International Drive & Universal Hotels 133

Lake Buena Vista, 1-4 Corridor, and US 192 Hotels 141

The Magic Kingdom 282-283

EPCOT 320-321

Disney's Animal Kingdom 348-349

Disney's Hallywood Studios 372-373

Universal Orlando 398-399

Universal's Islands of Adventure 408-407

Universal Studios Florida 412-417

Disney Springs 442-443

Universal Orlando CityWalk 446-447

Editorial Reviews

If you’re looking for a reliable guidebook, the leader is the Unofficial series.”
—The Mail (London)

“A Tourist’s Best Friend!”
—Chicago Sun-Times

“Indispensable”
—The New York Times

From the Publisher