An entertainment empire began with the dreams of one Walter Elias Disney, an animator and motion picture director and producer who sought to build a clean and wholesome family-oriented park. The first of Disney's theme parks opened on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney disliked the fact that tourist attractions had sprung up around Disneyland, so he bought parcels of land near Orlando, Florida and started work on the Walt Disney World Resort, the first part of which opened on October 1, 1971. Its first theme park was the Magic Kingdom, followed by the EPCOT Center in 1982 and Disney-MGM Studios in 1989. (Its name was later changed to Disney's Hollywood Studios). A fourth park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998. On February 8, 2001, Disney's California Adventure Park opened as part of the Disneyland Resort.
There are Disney parks outside of the United States as well. The very first was Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983. Tokyo DisneySea opened its doors on the same property in 2001, but before that the Euro Disney Resort close to Paris began welcoming visitors in 1992. Its first theme park was Euro Disneyland. Due to numerous issues and controversies attached to the title "Euro Disney," management switched the names over to "Disneyland Resort Paris" and "Disneyland Paris." The Walt Disney Studios Park followed in 2002 as the second Disney theme park in France. In 2005, the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort opened for business, with Hong Kong Disneyland being the first park on the grounds.
Many options are available for travelers who want to take a Disney vacation. It is not necessary to begin with the theme parks, but these serve as an appropriate introduction to the Disney experience. There are also more than just rides at the resorts where the theme parks are located. For instance, at the Walt Disney World Resort, water park lovers can spend time at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Outdoor enthusiasts can even rent boats and go on a guided catch-and-release fishing expedition.
For those who would like to try something other than a theme park vacation, Disney has alternatives.
The Disney Cruise Line offers Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, with European itineraries added in 2010. Voyages are anywhere in between 3 to 7 nights in the U.S., and up to 14 nights for the European trips.
Adventures by Disney is another option provided by the company. Travelers can pick from destinations all over the world and are accompanied by a Disney travel---n this case, "adventure"---guide for the duration of the trip. In the U.S., you can journey to locales such as Boston and New York City, Hollywood and the Disneyland Resort, and Alaska. Outside the country, some of the itineraries you may choose from include England and France, Italy, Germany, Africa, and Australia.
For many, a Disney vacation is synonymous with quality. The staff has a reputation for being friendly and helpful. Hotel and cruise ship rooms are clean regardless of whether you are booked into value or deluxe accommodations. As a special treat, both the young and young-at-heart fans of characters in Disney's animated films can have their pictures taken with live versions of Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Chip and Dale to name only a few. You can even time your Disney trip to a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary and find surprises in store for you by simply mentioning to a cast member that you are celebrating an event.
Frequent travelers might be able to get more value for the price paid on vacations by becoming members of the Disney Vacation Club. Such an option buys you decades of deep discounts on future Disney trips (see Resources). However, if purchasing a timeshare is not an acceptable part of your expenses, you can still save on Disney vacations by signing up on the website for special offers that are sent to your inbox. Plan your trip for the low season---which is generally after the holidays and when school is in session---for smaller crowds and to further cut back on expenses.
There is an abundance of activities for each age group on a Disney vacation. There are rides and attractions at the theme parks for children, teenagers and adults. The accommodations at the Disney resorts are themed and are classified as value, moderate and deluxe to fit all budgets. Staying at a Disney hotel guarantees perks, such as an extra hour at the parks. The theme park experience may even be purchased as part of a package deal. The prices and special offers change yearly, so check with your travel agent when you are ready to book your trip. As for the cruises, sailing on one offers entertainment options that include kid and teen-safe choices. Parents and grandparents can dine at an adults-only restaurant, swim at the pool where kids are not allowed or get a spa treatment while the tots and teens engage in activities facilitated by staff.
