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A Week With Walt (Disney, That Is!)

A May 2006 trip to Orlando by befferk

It was a journey and a destination as we traveled with our truck and travel trailer to the Happiest Celebration on Earth at Disney World.

  • 8 reviews

A Week With Walt (Disney, That Is!)Best of IgoUgo

Overview

While we knew our trip to Disney would be magical, we were still pleasantly surprised by the helpfulness of the Disney staff. The best memories are of watching the electric water pageant on the beach at Fort Wilderness and the Illuminations and Wishes fireworks shows. Everything at Disney is magical.

Quick Tips:

Purchase theme-park tickets as soon as you know you are going to avoid end-of-the-year price hikes. Purchase the non-expiring tickets for the longest length you can if you know you are going to go again. It will save you money. Also, make reservations as soon as you know you are going, as everything at Disney fills up fast. You can make dining reservations 6 MONTHS in advance.

Best Way To Get Around:

Disney World transportation is provided free to on-site guests. If traveling off-site, you will want to rent a car (if you have not brought your own).

Crystal PalaceBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Crystal Palace at The Magic Kingdom"

If you want an early morning interaction with the Winnie the Pooh characters, this is the place to go. They also have an excellent buffet. They have almost every breakfast food you could want, and it was all hot and delicious. The characters made their way around to every table for pictures and autographs. You do not get rushed out of here, either, as you can take your time eating. If you leave here hungry, it's your own fault.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Crystal Palace
Magic Kingdom Orlando, Florida 32830
(407) 939-3463

Trail's End BuffetBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

A fantastic buffet for little money. They have a wide range of casual American cuisine available in a very relaxed and casual setting. You won't go away hungry. The service here was great as well.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Trail's End Buffet
Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Orlando, Florida

Walt Disney World's Animal KingdomBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Animal Kingdom"

This is one of the more laid-back Disney parks. You senses aren't overloaded here. You can relax and take in everything. It is a beautiful walk through nature. There are lots of animals to see, with a chance for interaction with the kids. There are fun shows to see, such as It's Tough To Be A Bug and Festival of The Lion King. Our 4-year-old had a blast.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom
Orlando, Florida 32830
(407) 824-4321

Illuminations FireworksBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is a truly magical fireworks show. From start to finish, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" tells a story. It is the story of mankind and our planet. It is a very moving display of fireworks and special effects. A must-see!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Walt Disney World's Magic KingdomBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Magic Kingdom"

This is the "main" park of Disney World. You really need to plan 2 full days, minimum, to be able to tour the whole park. This park had the most to see and the most rides, especially for our 4-year-old. The best rides were Buzz Lightyear, Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Goofy's Barnstormer, and the Haunted Mansion. Be sure to check the daily maps to see the character-interaction sites.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Interstate 4 at U.S. Highway 192 Orlando, Florida
(407) 824-4321

Walt Disney World's Hollywood StudiosBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Disney's MGM Studios"

This was probably one of my 4-year-old's favorite parks because of all the character interactions available. He loves the Power Rangers (they put on quite a display!) and the Toy Story movie characters. Pizza Planet for lunch was a must for our son. We enjoyed the Playhouse Disney and Beauty and the Beast shows. We also saw the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show, although I wasn't overly impressed with that.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios
Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida 32830
(407) 824-4321

Walt Disney World's EpcotBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Epcot"

This wasn't so much my family's favorite park, maybe because it was the last one we visited on our trip. Maybe because we aren't "into" the culture of other countries. We went through the different countries rather quickly, stopping to take a picture or two at each. If you are into trying different foods, you can eat your way around the world. There were some good character-interaction sites here, though, and my son enjoyed Turtle Talk with Crush.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by befferk on August 10, 2006

Walt Disney World's Epcot
Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

About the Writer

befferk
befferk
Dorchester, Wisconsin
  • "We take a "big" family every year and go camping several times a year more locally."
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  • 7 reviews

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