The Wall Street Journal - 22.02.2020 - 23.02.2020

D8| Saturday/Sunday, February 22 - 23, 2020 **** THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

THE IMAGINEER

Tony Baxter

Lead designer of

Disney’s Splash Mountain

and Indiana Jones

Adventure rides

THE SUPERFAN
Brook Lopez
Center for NBA’s
Milwaukee Bucks, 2013
All-Star, Disney
World homeowner

THE PRINCESS

Amanda Lund

Actress, writer, podcaster

former Disneyland

Cinderella

Disney World

How to tackle Florida’s most diverting domain

sensibly? We asked four regulars to map out priorities

THE PODCASTER

Jason Sheridan

Host of ‘Podcast:

The Ride’

BIG SQUEEZE/Star Wars: Galaxy’s
Edge[4]The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers
Run is a phenomenal ride. Whenever I see
Chewbacca, we catch each other’s eye be-
cause we’re the same height. We walk up to
each other and embrace.Hollywood Studios

SOAK IT UP/Splash Mountain[3]“I’m a
big fan of water rides. On this one, I love the
music and the detailing inside and the drop
is always a thrill.Magic Kingdom Park

BEAR TESTIMONY/The Country Bear
JamboreeIt’s a classic. The show is really
funny and entertaining. If you’re lucky
enough to get a good crowd that’s really into
it, it makes the experience that much better.
Magic Kingdom Park

NEW NIBBLES/Restaurant Marrakesh
[5]When I first went here, I had no experi-
ence with Moroccan food so they brought
out everything—appetizers, entrees, desserts.
Oh my goodness!Epcot

FRIGHT STUFF/The Twilight Zone Tower

of TerrorThe one in Orlando has a ride

mechanism that’s far more amazing than the

ones in California or Paris: The doors open

and you start rolling through the top floor of

this haunted hotel.Hollywood Studios

MONUMENTAL MEAL/Cinderella’s Royal

TableIt has stained glass, this exquisite Eu-

ropean interior and an incredible menu. Noth-

ing in the park compares to the elegance of

that room.Magic Kingdom Park

THE MILD WILD/The Cabins at Disney’s

Fort Wilderness ResortIt’s like having your

own cabin in the mountains. It’s such a nice,

relaxing contrast to the high density of peo-

ple at the resorts.From about $360 a night.

EASY TIGER/Maharajah Jungle TrekYou’re

on foot and you go through this Indian tem-

ple that has live tigers moving in this beauti-

ful habitat. It reminds me of the Temple of

Doom.Animal Kingdom Theme Park

CARPOOL/Disney SkylinerIt’s kind of a

ride—you pick up a lot of speed going into

and out of the stations. And it’s probably the

most efficient way to go from park to park

or to move between a handful of hotels.

BACK TO THE FUTURE/Tomorrowland[1]

The “phone booth of the future” didn’t mean

a lot to children anymore, so Disney is redo-

ing Tomorrowland with a kind of “Buck Rog-

ers and the Future That Never Was” theme.

Magic Kingdom Park

OTHERWORLDLY HOOCH/Oga’s Cantina

at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It’s the closest

thing to feeling like you’re on a living planet in

the Star Wars universe. Plus, there’s blue

wine.Hollywood Studios

RETRO RESORT/Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

It’s like a 1920s seaside resort. It has a cool

magic-themed bar called AbracadaBar and

it’s also centrally located between Hollywood

Studios and Epcot.From about $480 a night.

GREAT NECK/Disney’s Animal Kingdom

LodgeYou can get a room that overlooks the

Safari. Last time I stayed there, I was having

coffee out on the balcony and giraffes walked

right up to me.From about $380 a night.

MORNING DO/Les Halles Boulangerie-

PatisserieI usually get breakfast at this pa-

tisserie in the French pavilion, which has re-

ally authentic pastries. I’m always impressed

by Epcot. It’s fun and a feels a little nostalgic

and throwbacky.Epcot

MOUSE HUNT/Disney World AppIt tells

you up-to-the-minute information on where

the characters are so you can get autographs

and pictures.

PUB HUB/Rose&CrownPub

I really love Epcot’s little U.K. area and the

Rose & Crown Pub. One of the great things

about Epcot is that it’s more adult-feeling.

They’re adapting to the grown-ups who spent

so much time in the parks as kids.Epcot

2

WALT-ERED REALITYClockwise from top: the Magic Kingdom, one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World; Disney’s Palm Golf Course; Splash Mountain, also in the Magic Kingdom; Star
Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the Disney Hollywood Studios; grilled beef tenderloin shish kebab at Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot’s Moroccan Pavilion; the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

3

4

5

6

CROSSING THE THRESHOLDinto Walt Disney World’s nearly 40 square miles of parks and

rides, resorts, restaurants and golf courses, all connected by a hurtling Monorail, it’s easy to

see the roots of the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow”—or Epcot for short.

Indeed, it might seem as if you landed in a futuristic utopia, albeit one with man-sized rodents

doling out hugs. Opened in 1982, Epcot was the second of the now four conjoined theme parks

the Walt Disney Company built in Orlando. The first, the Magic Kingdom, soon overshadowed

its predecessor, Disneyland, in California. With far more land and expansive ambitions, Walt’s

“Florida Project” grew into a seemingly inexhaustible way for families to ditch reality (and oc-

casionally each other). As Disney gobbles up competitors, it continues to expand and reboot its

parks. This year, Epcot is being reimagined to celebrate whatever “tomorrow” brings next.

Never want to leave? Homes are now available on the compound, starting around $2 million.

Here, four Disney die-hards share their don’t-miss attractions.—Matthew Kitchen

PLUS, DON'T MISS...

FastPass+The app lets you lock in times for up to three attractions 30 days before your trip (60 days if you stay at a Disney resort), and add more once you tick the toppriori-

ties off your list.free via the My Disney Experience app/Disney’s Palm Golf Course[2]A championship track with greens, tees and bunkers wholly redesigned by Arnold

Palmer Design Company in 2013, it’s one of four courses at Disney World.golfwdw.com/Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian Resort[6]After a few days hiking across the Magic

Kingdom, you’ll appreciate the Leg & Foot Intensive Massage.disneyworld.disney.go.com/spas/senses/Seven Seas LagoonRather than sparring for space on Main Street ahead

of the nightly “Happily Ever After” fireworks finale, book a private cruise across Seven Seas Lagoon: a prime spot for kids to catch the show.From $299 for eight guests

JOURNAL CONCIERGE/ AN INSIDER'S GUIDE DISNEY

ADVENTURE & TRAVEL

TOMORROW

NEVER DIES

Space Mountain, an

enduring favorite,

opened in the Magic

Kingdom in

1975.

1