Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
200
A (Baker's) Dozen Suggestions for Fewer
Headaches
Tips
1.
Be a Leader, Not a Follower:
Try going against the grain and head left
toward Adventureland to begin your day (most visitors sprint for Tomorrow-
land). If you have the time and aren't a slave to the compressed itinerary of a
1-day visit, make your way to one (maybe two) major attractions early on;
then save the others for early on your second day when crowds are lightest.
Pick up a FASTPASS when and wherever you can. And try and make mealtimes
a bit earlier or later than usual—11am or 2pm for lunch and 4 or 7pm for din-
ner. Even a few minutes can make all the difference in the restaurant lines.
2.
Note Your Car's Location:
That bright yellow Hummer in the next space may
not be there when you get out. Write your lot and row number on something
with ink that won't run if it gets wet.
3.
Avoid the Rush:
I-4 can get horribly crowded at times, so be ready for bum-
per-to-bumper traffic from 7 to 9am, 4 to 7pm, and often in between. Check
your map for secondary roads and alternate routes, and try to leave the parks
a half-hour before closing, to avoid the crowds disbursing in droves.
4.
Be Realistic:
You aren't going to be able to do everything in every park
(believe me, I've tried). As a group, list three or four “must-do” things each day.
If you can, consider splitting up, with each adult taking one or more kids—
one heading for the thrill rides, the other for the tamer, tot-friendly attrac-
tions. If time allows, you can always backtrack later, and this way no one really
misses out on the fun.
6
5.
Timing Is Everything:
I often laugh when I see people racing to make a tram,
and then gunning for the turnstiles. Relax—the park isn't going anywhere.
And rushing just to wait in line seems rather silly, doesn't it? Once inside the
park, mix it up a bit; stagger the attraction lines with indoor shows or even
breaks on a shady bench.
6.
Call Ahead:
If a sit-down dinner in a special restaurant is important to you,
make sure to make Advance Reservations (
&
407/939-3463
) before your
visit.
7.
Set a Spending Limit:
Kids should know they have a set amount to spend on
take-home trinkets (if they do, they generally spend more wisely). You should,
Pirates of the Caribbean
Frommer's Rating:
A
Recommended Ages:
6-adult
The release of
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
and its recent sequels,
Dead Man's Chest
and
At World's End,
have revitalized the popularity of this oldie but
goodie. They also inspired the recent renovations that now have Jack Sparrow and Bar-
bossa joining the original set of swashbucklers. A tweak in the storyline to better mirror
the movie and a mix of new and updated special effects have been added, too. Still, the
