Tips about Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Planning and Resorts

EPCOT - Take a look at the beautiful fountain outside the Imagination pavilion, it's slightly out of the ordinary. It's actually a *reverse* waterfall, with the water flowing up! Just watch it!

There are so many excellent guide books on WDW it would be hard to choose from the many available. Head to your public library, check some out, put those not on the shelf on reserve and look them ALL over before you decide to buy one. You might decide a general guide with great maps is for you or one on doing Disney with children or for seniors or for singles or one that rates the rides or gives you a great strategies for missing the crowds. Whatever you decide, you can easily order the book that best meets YOUR needs to take along from your local bookstore or online book dealer. The maps alone could easily make it worth your while and the info on things outside of WDW can be very valuable. I compared the various strategies for doing Disney and planned out some alternatives for avoiding lines that hit the things MY family wanted to see. I also discovered some interesting strolling musicians and odd little shops that I would have missed in the wild rush to do the rides. (Joy Kennedy)

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Flights of Wonder - Do not rush out when the show is over. The bird handlers will bring one or two owls or other birds to the edge of the stage for you to get an up close look at, ask questions and photograph!

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Rafiki's Planet Watch - While aboard the Wildlife Express train, pay close attention as you pass the first animal housing area. Pride Rock (home of Animal Kingdom's lions) can sometimes be seen in the distance.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - - Rafiki's Planet Watch - Regarding the train ride to Conservation Station -- great accessibility for the wheelchair, my son simply rolled right on in his power chair, but if you have a stroller you must park it at the train station (TIP: if you have your own collapsible stroller you are allowed to bring it along... a good idea since the hike in Conservation Station is a long one with a few hills). After the train ride, we looked around and started the hike to Conservation Station, but turned around since we no longer had our strollers (carrying two 40 lb boys in 100 degree heat depleted our energy!). (The Belcher Family)

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Pangani Forest Exploration Trail - Be sure to ask the Guides any questions you might have about the animals you encounter during your trek. Many of the guides are native to Africa. There are plenty of viewing areas for kids and lots of educational opportunities too.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Kilimanjaro Safari - The ride is very bumpy and even though our driver took care to avoid some of the bigger bumps, our son was still jostled around quite a bit in his wheelchair. Smaller children will actually come out of their seats on some of the bumps. (The Belcher Family)

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Kilimanjaro Safari - If you don't want a bumpy ride, ask to sit in the front of the truck. The ride feels bumpiest in the back. Some drivers will hit EVERY pothole in the road, but most will warn you before you leave the dock.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Kilimanjaro Safari - If you get a driver from Africa, ask them questions. Many are very happy to talk about their homeland! If you have questions about the animals, ASK. Though there is an assigned script, every safari really is different depending on where the animals are and who your driver is. So ride as much as you want! You will also find Cast Members representing countries in Africa and Asia around the park who are also wonderful to talk to.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - Festival of the Lion King - Best times to see this are the first or last show of the day. If you show up half an hour before the next show, chances are you will be waiting for the show that follows to be seated!

ANIMAL KINGDOM - When the park opens in the morning, take time to explore the area and watch the animals, especially at the Discovery Island Trails. Everyone else is rushing off to ride the Safari or Expedition Everest....you'll have a wonderful quiet time all to yourself!

ANIMAL KINGDOM - It's Tough to be a Bug - To lessen your child's experience, try sitting them on your lap. By doing so, they will miss a couple of the potential scary effects.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - It's Tough to be a Bug - If you have small children who might be scared, sit in the back of the theater. When the show grows intense, the special effects are less harsh in the back. The most intense seats are forward on the right side. (Sammantha)

ANIMAL KINGDOM - At It's Tough to be a Bug, don't miss the creative movie posters in the waiting area: "A Stinkbug Named Desire," "Web Side Story," "Beauty and the Bee" and "My Fair Lady Bug."

ANIMAL KINGDOM - At Conservation Station, be sure to stop in at the listening booths to hear Grandmother Willow's presentation of the Sounds of the Rainforest. Slip on the earphones and the cool, dark room almost convinces you to take a snooze --until you hear the eerily realistic rain, booming thunder and the buzzing insects.