Walt Disney had a dream to build a large vacation destination unlike any other. With wisdom gained from the trial and error of Disneyland, Walt Disney designed a collection of theme parks called Disney World. Disney and his team, WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering), chose Orlando, Florida, for the site because this state was a leader in tourism.
Walt and his brother, Roy Disney, publicly announced the building plans of Disney World in 1965. Unfortunately, Walt died in 1966, and Roy took over as president. The grand opening of Disney World occurred in 1971.
The four main theme parks include the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. There are also two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.
The Magic Kingdom covers 107 acres and offers musical theatrical performances, parades, fireworks, food and shopping.
Epcot stands for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It contains science and technology themed entertainment and rides.
The Animal Kingdom is animal and nature themed, providing 250 different species of animals in this amusement park. A 14-story artificial banana "Tree of Life" has hand carved animals and houses 3D shows.
Hollywood Studios is hard to miss with a 122-foot tall Mickey Mouse hat at this theme park. Broadway styled shows and themed restaurants are included here.
Disney's water parks include the tallest free falling water slide and the chance to snorkel with sharks, among a variety of water rides and attraction.
Disney World is large, spanning more than 30,000 acres or 47 square miles. In addition to the four theme parks and two water parks, it also contains 32 resort hotels, six golf courses and two full service spas, a wedding pavilion, a sports complex and a large shopping and dining complex.
Disney employs approximately 51,000 cast members who keep the park open daily, year-round. Disney has its own monorail train as well as ferryboats and motor coach shuttles to cover every transportation need.
Disney offers 32 different accommodation options, from camping in Fort Wilderness to deluxe resorts such as the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Prices vary from frugal lodgings to the lavishly accommodated. Some benefits include extended theme park hours, dining club card (allowing visitors to save 30 percent) and complimentary shuttle service from the airport.
Because Disney World is so large, planning ahead will ensure the maximum enjoyment for visitors. While there are inexpensive choices at Disney, it is a tourist attraction, and bringing enough money to cover expenses would be wise. Disney offers coupons and discounts regularly, so be sure to check for these when planning your trip.
