Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [66]
Once the fireworks begin, the restaurant dims its lights and pipes in the theme music from the fireworks show. You have a fabulous view of the pyrotechnic display and a bona fide magical moment.
And while the vantage point isn’t quite as perfect, you can also see the fireworks from Narcoossee’s and Citricos, two restaurants in the Grand Floridian.
Tips for Leaving the Magic Kingdom
Upon exiting, visitors staying off-site should pause and survey their options. If a ferry is in dock at your far left, that’s your fastest route back to the TTC. Otherwise, queue for the express monorail back to the TTC.
Guests of the Contemporary Resort should either take the monorail or, if stamina permits, the footpath. Guests of Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness should take the water-taxi launch. Guests of the Polynesian or Grand Floridian resorts should glance down at the launch dock. If a water taxi is in sight, take it back to your hotel. Otherwise, head for the resort monorail. Guests of other Disney hotels should return to the shuttle-bus station.
List of Maps
Getting to Epcot
Many off-site hotels and all on-site hotels offer shuttle buses to Epcot and it is also easy to reach by car. If you arrive early in the morning, you can park close to the entrance gate and forgo the tram. If you arrive a bit later, however, the trams do run quickly and efficiently. Just be sure to write down the number of the row where you parked your car.
If you’re staying at the Contemporary or Grand Floridian resorts, your fastest route is to take the monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and then transfer to the Epcot monorail. If you’re staying at the Polynesian, it’s probably fastest to walk to the TTC and take the Epcot monorail from there.
The Yacht and Beach Clubs, and the BoardWalk, Swan, and Dolphin resorts are connected by bridge to a special “back-door” entrance into Epcot’s World Showcase. You can get there either by water taxi or by walking.
Getting Around Epcot
Epcot is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow—although some Disney insiders insist that Epcot really stands for “Every Person Comes Out Tired.”
Epcot is indeed sprawling—more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom. It’s composed of two circular sections, Future World and the World Showcase, which form a basic figure-eight shape. The only in-park mode of transportation is the two FriendShips that cross the World Showcase Lagoon; most of the time, you’ll walk.
Tips for Your First Hour at Epcot
If you’re an on-site guest and visiting Epcot on an Extra Magic Hour morning, only a few attractions will be open, but those will have a significantly reduced wait time.
On regular mornings, you’re usually allowed into the entrance plaza around Spaceship Earth before the rest of the park officially opens. You’ll have time to get a map and entertainment schedule, and rent a stroller before the ropes drop.
If you’re staying at the Yacht and Beach Club, BoardWalk, Swan, or Dolphin and thus entering through Epcot’s back-door entrance, walk through the United Kingdom and Canada until you get to the rope. It’s a bit of a hike to start the day, but the payoff is that you’re in a good position to beat the main crowd to Soarin’ once the ropes drop.
Once you’re allowed into the main body of the park, ride Soarin’ first. This attraction, popular with literally all age groups, can draw such long lines that Fastpasses frequently run out by midday. If you think you might want to ride again later in the day, go ahead and get a Fastpass. Next, assuming your kids are up for it, cross Future World and head for Mission: SPACE and Test Track. If you didn’t get a Fastpass at Soarin’, get one for Test Track and ride Mission: SPACE first. If you did use your Fastpass option back at Soarin