Walt Disney World was originally centered around the Magic Kingdom. Today Cinderella Castle still greets visitors at the end of Main Street, and classic attractions like Space Mountain remain popular. Epcot opened next as a showcase for technology and world cultures. Then came Disney's Hollywood Studios, a working movie studio and theme park honoring Hollywood's heyday. Finally, Animal Kingdom highlights many aspects of the animal world as well as African and Asian cultures.
Two water parks on Disney property offer very different experiences. Typhoon Lagoon is home to a giant wave pool and one of the first "water coasters" in the world. Here, guests can enjoy a lazy river or swim with sharks. At the other end of Disney property is Blizzard Beach. This ski resort-themed park offers some of the tallest water slides in the world, like Summit Plummet, which shoots you down the slide at 60 miles per hour. Water park admissions are included with many multi-day Disney theme park tickets.
Athletes and sports fans alike will enjoy many Disney amenities geared toward them. Disney's Wide World of Sports complex hosts events year round, including Major League Baseball spring training. Guests can enjoy a variety of water sports and boat rentals at hotels like the Contemporary Resort. Race fans will enjoy the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which lets them take to the track in a real stock car. Walt Disney World is also home to five carefully manicured golf courses, and two mini-golf courses if your swing isn't quite up to par!
Walt Disney World has a myriad of dining, shopping and live entertainment opportunities inside and outside the theme parks. Over a hundred sit-down restaurants and dozens of quick-service counters at the parks and hotels serve everything from burgers to exotic African cuisine. Fine dining can be found at the four-diamond Victoria and Albert's. Downtown Disney is home to more restaurants, a marketplace full of Disney-themed merchandise, and an exclusive Cirque du Soleil show.
Some visitors to Disney never step foot in a park, but still live it up in style at one of more than two dozen Disney resort hotels. These resorts fit every budget, from the value-priced Pop Century, featuring a giant "hippy" themed pool shaped like a flower, to the Grand Floridian with its private beach, Victorian-themed guests rooms and on-site spa.
