Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [96]
Cirque du Soleil has a multitiered pricing structure. General tickets range from $57–$124 for adults and $57–$99 for kids ages 3 to 9. The 90-minute show normally runs Tuesday through Saturday twice daily at 6 and 9 PM. For reservations, details, and specific pricing for the dates you’ll be visiting, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com or call 407/939–7600.
Helpful Hint
It can take quite a long bus ride to get to Downtown Disney West Side (where Cirque du Soleil is located), even from an on-site hotel. Since the resorts often share buses to Downtown Disney, and since the West Side stop is last once you get there, you’ll have to sit through several stops before you arrive. The moral? Drive if you can, but if you’re taking a bus to Cirque du Soleil leave your hotel an hour and a half before showtime.
BoardWalk and the ESPN Club
Not up for the sprawl of Downtown Disney? At night, the shops, restaurants, and nightclubs in front of the BoardWalk Resort take on a whole new glitter. You can find plenty of low-key entertainment—face painting, hair braiding, midway games, and sometimes comics and magic acts—along the waterfront. Eat dinner at the Flying Fish Café if you’re feeling fancy, then rent a surrey bike ($20 to $28 for 30 minutes, depending upon bike size) for a lap around the lagoon.
The ESPN Club contains a broadcast and production facility (meaning celebrity athletes are sometimes on hand) and serves up—and I quote—“the best ballpark cuisine from around the country.” This bold claim translates into sandwiches, salads, and burgers, all sized for hearty appetites.
Two BoardWalk clubs are open strictly to adults 21 and older. The Atlantic Dance Club changes format frequently but is presently offering DJ-spun Top 40 dance music without a cover charge. Jellyrolls is a sing-along piano bar with lots of audience participation.
The fact that the BoardWalk isn’t as vast and crowded as Downtown Disney appeals to many visitors; you can have a good meal and some entertainment without getting back into the mouse race. And at night, with the glowing Yacht and Beach Clubs visible across the water and the fireworks of Epcot in the distance, the BoardWalk ranks as one of the most beautiful spots in Disney World. Pull up a rocker and let the world go by.
On-site guests can take monorails or buses to any theme park and then transfer to the BoardWalk bus. If you’re staying at the Yacht and Beach Clubs, the Swan, or the Dolphin, just walk. Off-site guests can either park in the BoardWalk lot or pay for the $12 valet parking, which is worth it on weekend evenings when the regular lot is crowded.
Disney Extras
Dinner Shows and Character Breakfasts
Book any dinner shows you would like to attend before you leave home by calling 407/939–3463 (407/WDW–DINE). Reservations are accepted up to 180 days in advance. The on-site dinner shows include the following:
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue plays three times nightly (at 5, 7:15, and 9:30 PM) at Pioneer Hall in Fort Wilderness campground. You can dine on ribs, fried chicken, and strawberry shortcake while watching a lovably hokey show that includes lots of audience participation. The cost is $52–$62 for adults, $27–$32 for children 3 to 9.
The Spirit of Aloha is presented seasonally at 5:15 and 8 PM in the open-air theater in Luau Cove at the Polynesian Resort. The luau features hula dancing, music, and a “Polynesian feast,” which translates as fruit, chicken, pork ribs, and pineapple bread. The cost is $55–$68 for adults and $28–$33 for children 3 to 9. “The Polynesian is a beautiful setting,” wrote one family from Connecticut, “but we expected more of a traditional luau. Just be aware that this show has a modern story line.”
Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue is presented seasonally (usually March–December)