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Beyond the
Theme Parks
Disney's
Boardwalk
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Inspired by
the Mid-Atlantic wooden seaboard attractions of the 1940s,
Disney's Boardwalk, just a short walk from Epcot, offers dining,
shopping, and entertainment on the shores of Crescent Lake.
Situated in front of the Boardwalk Inn, it's a
perfect destination for an after-Illuminations dinner at Spoodles or the Flying Fish or perhaps a late night excursion to
one of its nightclubs, Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance. The
Boardwalk is at its best in the evening hours when all
restaurants are open and entertainment in the form of arcades,
midway games, musical performers, magicians, fortune tellers,
sword swallowers, and more is in high gear. |
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Don't bother during
the daytime when many of the restaurants are closed and
entertainment is nil. Although Jellyrolls charges a cover,
there is no admission to walk the Boardwalk. For up-to-date
information call 407-939-3492.
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Click
here to read about Disney's Boardwalk Restaurants, Shopping and
Nightclubs
Downtown
Disney
The addition of the West
Side and Pleasure Island to Disney Marketplace created
what is now known as the wildly successful Downtown
Disney, a combination of over 70 scene-setting
restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. During the day it’s
a perfect getaway from the parks, but at night after the
parks close, Downtown Disney truly comes alive.
At Disney
Marketplace you’ll find the largest Disney Store in the world,
plenty of shopping, and the volcano-smoking Rainforest Café.
Pleasure Island is a party lover’s mecca with seven nightclubs
and plenty of action. And then there’s the West Side, loaded
with dining and entertainment venues including
Wolfgang Puck Café, House of Blues, Gloria Esteban’s Bongos,
Cirque du Soleil, and Disney Quest.
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Pleasure Island
Wall-to-wall clubs make this the party lover’s choice for
nighttime entertainment. You’re welcome to stroll through
for free, but a cover charge of $22 is imposed to enter into
the seven clubs. You can also opt to purchase a Single Club
Ticket for $12. There’s no need to purchase a club ticket to
the Raglan Road Irish Pub where admission is complimentary.
Children under eighteen are allowed entry to only the
Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse and must be
accompanied by an adult, but all ages are welcome at Raglan
Road. Clubs are open from 7:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. daily.
NOTE:
Unless you’re in your twenties or love a crowd, avoid
Thursday night, when the place is swamped with young Disney
cast members who make this their night to party. |
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Disney's West Side
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Perhaps the most popular area of
Downtown Disney is the West Side. Here are some big names
including the House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck Café, and Gloria
Esteban’s Bongos together with big entertainment in the form
of Cirque du Soleil, a 24-screen AMC theater, and
DisneyQuest. It’s always hopping, but those preferring a bit
of peace and quiet can opt for a quiet stroll along the
pleasant promenade running beside the Buena Vista Lagoon.
This is the perfect place to allow teens to assert their
independence with an evening out on the town minus the
parents. |
AMC Theaters
Watch newly released flicks in this state-of-the-art, 24-screen
theater. Call 407-827-1308 for movie listings and show times.
Cirque du Soleil
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The tent-shaped building
overpowering the West Side of Downtown Disney is none other
than Cirque du Soleil, the most talked about entertainment
venue in town. Although I’ve heard it described as a type of
circus, it’s actually a mixture of circus, dance, drama, and
street entertainment, more than worth the hefty price of
admission. And because of its immense popularity, think
about booking your seats way in advance. |
It’s difficult to explain this
extraordinary event. The show, entitled La Nouba, has
over 60 mesmerizing performers in outrageous costumes
entertaining in the midst of exciting live music (not one
syllable is uttered throughout the show) and surrealistic
choreography. Witness daring, gravity-defying acts, each one
more outlandish and bizarre than the next. Two showstoppers are
the young Chinese girls who perform a routine with a diabolo, a
Chinese yo-yo (You won’t believe it!) and a trampoline finale
with power men literally running up the sides of a wall. The
sheer physical strength of these performers is absolutely
amazing and quite a sight to see. Tickets can be purchased up
to 180 days in advance by calling 407-939-7719, or
online at
www.cirquedusoleil.com or
www.omniticket.net/wdwcds; two 90-minute performances
Tues–Sat at 6 p.m.
and 9 p.m.; dark on Sun and Mon; three levels of ticket prices
according to seating.
Tip: Although some seats are better than others,
there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. You may want to
avoid the first row of the highest tier; the handicapped
accessible seats in front block your view a bit.
DisneyQuest
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With
five floors of virtual games and interactive adventures
diverse enough to entertain the entire family, this indoor
theme park offers a multitude of attractions (including more
than 180 video games) that can be played over and over for
the single cost of admission. Become a swashbuckling pirate
in a fierce battle for treasure at the virtual, 3-D
adventure Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer
Gold; watch a large projection screen while paddling with
motion-sensor oars on a prehistoric, white-water adventure
with the Virtual Jungle Cruise; fly through the ancient city
of Agrabah on your magic carpet in search of precious jewels
in a virtual reality setting on Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride;
design your own thrilling roller-coaster ride with
Cyberspace Mountain (perhaps the most popular attraction);
play space-age bumper cars with Buzz Lightyear’s
AstroBlaster; or wield a light saber to fight supervillains
sword-to-sword in virtual reality with Ride the Comix.
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Upstairs are
two stories of food choices including a food court of sorts run
by the Cheesecake Factory. Open Sunday through Thursday from
11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m.
to midnight. Admission prices are $37 for adults and $31 for
children ages three through nine; same-day reentry allowed with
ticket and hand stamp; Annual Pass holders and Disney Vacation
Club members receive a discount. Guests age nine or younger must
be accompanied by someone age sixteen or older, all of whom must
pay admission.
Tip: Come
during the daytime on weekdays and avoid rainy days. Although
DisneyQuest is mainly geared to kids and adolescents, it’s a
great place for quality family time. Adults traveling alone may
want to pass unless they really enjoy this type of
entertainment.
Click
Here to read more about Disney's West Side Shopping and Dining.
Water
Parks
Choose from two different Disney
water parks, both with their own brand of entertainment. At
Blizzard Beach
you’ll find the exhilarating 120-foot Summit Plummet slide, and
at the tropical Typhoon
Lagoon is a whopper of a surf pool. Both parks are
beautifully themed and landscaped, and each offers something for
just about everyone. And because pools are heated in the cooler
months, it’s a year round playground.
During the sizzling summer months
it’s important to arrive early in the morning to avoid the long
lines that start forming at almost every attraction by midday;
in fact, parks are sometimes filled to capacity by mid-morning
and new guests are kept from entering until late in the
afternoon. Weekends are the worst when the locals add to the
swell. Don’t forget to bring water footwear to protect tender
feet from the scorching hot pavements.
Locker and towel rentals are
available at both parks with life jackets complimentary. Ice
chests are allowed as long as they don’t contain alcoholic
beverages or glass containers (alcoholic drinks may be purchased
at the parks). An adult must accompany children under age 10 and
all swim attire must be free of rivets, buckles, or exposed
metal. Parking is free. Both parks are on a rotating schedule
of refurbishment in the winter months so check ahead.
Tip: In the busy summer months when the water
parks are open until 8
p.m., think about arriving mid to late afternoon when the
morning guests are beginning to depart. It's the best time to
enjoy the attractions minus the crowds.
Click
Here to read about Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Water Parks
Richard
Petty Driving Experience
Open daily 9
a.m.-5 p.m. Riders 16 or 17 years of age must be accompanied by
a parent or legal guardian. Participants must wear closed toe
shoes and socks. Call 800-BE-PETTY for advance
reservations.
For those who
dream of sitting behind the wheel of a race car, here's your
chance. Lying next to the Magic Kingdom is this sometimes very
loud speedway where white-knuckle rides in a NASCAR Winston
Cup-style race car are offered. Each experience begins with a
one-hour training session. All driving participants must have a
valid driver's license and must know how to drive a stick shift.
Spectators are welcome for no charge. Since the track sometimes
closes due to inclement weather, it's always best to call ahead.
Ride-Along
Program
For $99, ride shotgun at speeds of up to 150 mph for 3 laps
around the track with an experienced driving instructor. You
must be at least 16 years or older to participate. This is the
only program not requiring reservations.
Rookie Experience
Those ages 18 or older can drive the car themselves for 8 laps
around the course. That is, of course, after an introductory
class out on the speedway. The 3-hour program is $399.
King's Experience
You'll feel like a king after driving 18 laps
around the speedway-for the princely sum of $749. Only those 18
years or older may participate.
Experience of a Lifetime
For $1,249 you drive 30 laps (3 sessions of 10 laps), improve
your skills, and maybe change careers. Only for those age 18 or
older. Lasts 4-5 hours.
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