for Vacationers
Looking To Do Disney Again ... For The First Time
 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- You've splashed on Splash
Mountain, had your topsy "turvied" on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Starring Aerosmith and sat howling and bug-eyed during "It's Tough to
be a Bug." So you figure you know Walt Disney World Resort -- every
nook, cranny and spinning teacup ... right? Or maybe your vacation
"cup of tea" needs to be sweetened a different way?
Here are a "Disney Dozen" experiences that go beyond
"doing the E Tickets" during a Walt Disney World vacation .
Ride
in the cab of a Walt Disney World monorail -- Groups of up to four
people can be accommodated up front with the operator on each train,
giving guests a "flight deck" view of the ride and a chance to
watch the operator in action on one of the sleek monorails. Guests should
express their interest to a Cast Member at the monorail station. There's
no charge for the experience.
Let the kids play with their food -- Themed
table-service restaurants throughout Epcot offer kid desserts designed to
be a creative exercise for young guests. Youngsters can order delights
such as strawberry shortsnake, a classic shortcake cut into an
"S" with sliced berries for scales, a whole strawberry for the
head, M&Ms for eyes and fruit leather for the tongue. All of the kid
desserts are priced under $3.
Pop THE question -- You want to ask her to marry
you, and you'd like it to be a special moment. Engagement event packages
-- nine different magic-moment options -- can be arranged through the
Magic Kingdom Engagement Office. The "moments" start at $295 and
all include an exclusive private romantic setting, Cinderella glass
slipper, a bouquet of red roses, sparkling cider or champagne and
chocolate truffles. For information, call 407/824-5130.
Get
a bird's-eye view of the Kingdom -- Soar above Bay Lake and see what
the Magic Kingdom looks like from open air by means of a parasailing
adventure. There are no age restrictions, but there's a 115-pound minimum
weight and 300-pound maximum. Single rides are $80 and tandems (a party of
two at the same time) are $ 120. It's among the daring fun offered by
Sammy Duvall's Water Sports Center at the Contemporary Resort marina. The
former world-champion water-skier also offers water-skiing, wakeboarding,
knee-boarding and tubing. Reservations are recommended by calling
407/939-0754.
Let
the kids "play pirate"-- A pirate cruise just for children
ages 3 to 10 sails Seven Seas Lagoon in search of buried treasure Mondays
and Thursdays. Kids don buccaneer bandanas and enjoy special snacks during
the two-hour adventure that departs Disney's Grand Floridian Resort &
Spa at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $15 per child. For reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE
(939-3463).
Sail away for a new view of Disney "night
magic" -- "IllumiNations Cruises" to Epcot World
Showcase Lagoon and "A Moonlight Cruise" on Seven Seas Lagoon
near the Magic Kingdom provide guests with a whole new visual perspective
on two of the premier Walt Disney World nighttime spectacles -- Epcot's
"IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" and Magic Kingdom's
"Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks. Private departures on pontoon
boats accommodate up to 12 guests. Cost is $120 for the private group. The
very-popular cruises can be booked up to 90 days in advance by calling
407/939-7529 (WDW-PLAY).
Go on a scavenger hunt in the Magic Kingdom --
"Family Magic" is the one Disney guided tour designed for the
entire family. Groups set off on a Magic Kingdom scavenger hunt, looking
for clues . . . and at the finish of the two-hour adventure, they are
treated to a special Disney Character meet and greet. "Family
Magic" is offered daily, at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Cost is $25 general,
$15 ages 3-9 ($20 ages 3-9 beginning Oct. 1). Participants must have a
valid Magic Kingdom admission ticket. Information and reservations:
407/939-8687 (WDW-TOUR).
Tour the architectural wonders of Walt Disney World
Resort -- Art and architectural buffs have not one but two
opportunities to feed their passion at the Vacation Kingdom. Hidden
Treasures of World Showcase reveals the "whys" of 11
international ports of call at Epcot -- the art, architecture, history and
cultures. Disney s Architecture reveals how architects and
imagineers create eye-catching and unusual buildings using basic design
concepts, detailed storylines and painstaking attention to detail, and
studies how many architectural concepts are echoed throughout the resort.
Each tour is 3 1/2 hours long. Hidden Treasures is offered Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday at 9 a.m. Disney's Architecture is offered Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m. Each is $49 (Hidden Treasures requires a
valid Epcot ticket as well). Participants must be at least 16 years of
age. Reservations: 407/939-8687 (WDW-TOUR).
Have
your cake and fireworks, too -- The Magic Kingdom by night is part of
the spectacular view from California Grill on the 15th floor of Disney's
Contemporary Resort. On evenings when "Fantasy in the Sky"
fireworks are presented, the show music fills the restaurant and color
fills the nighttime sky outside the wall of windows. But the treat is
hardly just for the eyes: California Grill has a reputation as one of the
finest restaurants in the state of Florida. Priority seating arrangements:
407/939-3463 (WDW-DINE).
Let your lead foot have some legal fun -- What
fun's horsepower at 55 mph? But how about 600 horses and speeds well over
100 mph? Guests 18 years old and up can get behind the wheel of the type
of cars that run in the NASCAR "cup series" at the Richard Petty
Driving Experience. And if you're a little timid about getting behind the
wheel, then how about a highspeed ride that simulates drafting and
passing? The one-mile tri-oval Walt Disney World Speedway is the place for
this high-speed fun. Information: 1-800-BE PETTY.
Draw on the expertise of Disney animators -- Fans
of Disney animation can go Inside Animation during a
2 1/2 hour tour that includes a look at the history of the subject and a
chance to paint a cell. Participants meet an animator and learn about
pencil tests and storyboards. The tour is offered Tuesday through Friday
at 9 a.m. Guests must be at least 16 years of age. Cost is $49.
Reservations are available by calling 407/939-8687 (WDW-TOUR).
Take home some fish stories that are true --
Disney waterways are a haven for largemouth bass -- including trophy-size
fish in the 14-pound range. And the best way to go casting for them
doesn't require packing your gear. In fact, you don't need a fishing
license or even bass fishing experience to catch a
memory. Two-hour bass tours aboard pontoon boats captained by experienced
fishing guides can be arranged for parties of up to five people. When the
boat arrives at the dock, it's fully stocked with fishing equipment and
refreshments -- plus a camera that the guide will use to capture the
memories for the trip home. Cost is $ 160 for the party (one to five
people). Reservations: 407/939-7529 (WDW-PLAY).
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