Walt Disney World, a family entertainment resort in Florida, offers rides, recreation facilities and hotels, all themed around the characters of the Disney brand. Since Disney World has an almost exhausting number of attractions -- from shows to shopping facilities and a choice of places to stay during your visit -- it can be a bewildering experience unless you prepare beforehand.
Since Walt Disney World can be heaving with crowds at certain times of year, if possible time your visit for when the resort isn't full to bursting. January and February are recommended by the All Ears website. If you don't mind the crowds, time your visit to coincide with one of Walt Disney World's special events, such as the Star Wars Weekends in May and June or the wine festival in November.
Consider the length of your stay when deciding what kind of ticket to buy. Staying for more than a week could mean discounted tickets. If you expect your family to visit the resort on multiple occasions over the course of a year, an annual passport might be the best choice. Before purchasing any type of ticket, read the small print; some tickets are restricted to certain parts of the resort or have expiration dates.
Walt Disney World hires dozens of actors to take on the roles of the beloved characters featured in Disney films. These costumed characters appear at different parts of the resort, but it's worth bearing in mind that each character's position isn't fixed; a specific character may be appearing at a certain zone, restaurant or party location, depending on the time of day or year. If you've got kids with you who want to greet a particular character, for example Peter Pan, Snow White or Ariel, check the Walt Disney World website before your visit to find out where these characters regularly appear.
Visitors to Walt Disney World are faced with the choice of whether to stay in the accommodation on-site or else find somewhere to sleep outside of the resort. While non-Disney accommodation may be cheaper, staying in one of the Disney hotels within the resort offers a few privileges for guests. Disney hotel guests are able to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, in which certain parts of the resort are open earlier or up to three hours later on particular days of the week. In addition, Disney hotel guests can use the resort's transportation as much as they please and can have purchases they make in the resort delivered directly to their rooms.
