Disney World

From World travel guide

The Walt Disney World Resort is a complex of four separate theme parks, water parks, resorts and other facilities near Orlando, Florida.

[edit]

Understand

Disneyworld is split into four separate parks:

[edit]

Magic Kingdom

It is the best-known park, organized around the central landmark, or as Walt Disney would say a weenie, of Cinderella's Castle. It has various 'lands' within it and is more oriented toward children, although some adults love the escapism as well.

[edit]

Epcot

Epcot is an "educational park." It is very much oriented toward adult visitors, and is structured to showcase various international locations, especially in terms of food and/or trade goods. The older part of the park is comprised of various 'futuristic' attractions, many sponsored by various industrial concerns.

[edit]

Disney MGM Studios

Disney MGM Studios is a park with a 20th Century movie theme. This park has lots of shows and some Thrill (capital T you see) rides, the main one being a 13 story drop in the Tower of Terror.

[edit]

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is a mix between a zoo and a theme park. Naturalistic animal exhibitions are interspersed, and sometimes integrated, with typical Disney movie-themed rides.

[edit]

Get in

Fly in to Orlando International Airport (MCO). From there, you can rent a car, order a limo or towncar, or take Disney's Magical Express: a free bus service from the airport to the WDW hotels (prior reservations required).

[edit]

Get around

Disney has an extensive bus and monorail service, so there is really no need to rent a car unless you are travelling outside of WDW. The buses can be slow and inconvenient if, for example, you are traveling with young children or strollers.

[edit]

See and Do

[edit]

Magic Kingdom Park

Address: World Dr. & West Buena Vista Dr., Orlando, FL 32830

Swiss Family Treehouse (walk through)
Aladdin (flying young childrens ride)
Pirates of the Caribbean (classic indoor ride)
Splash Mountain (gentle ride turning into big water drop)
Big Thunder Road Mountain (medium fast rollercoaster)
Haunted Mansion (indoor ride)
Snow White (indoor ride)
Winnie the Pooh (indoor ride)
It's a Smallworld (classic indoor ride)
Carousel (classic horse carousel ride)
Mickey's Philharmagic (fantastic 3D show)
Space Mountain (dark indoor rollercoaster)
Buzz Lightyear (indoor ride with laser gun game)
Carousel of Progress (original ride)

Additionally, there are numerous shows and characters to see during the day. At park closing there is a fireworks show, currently the amazing "Wishes - A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams," to send everyone home with a great memory.

[edit]

Epcot Park

Future Showcase has a lot of hands-on exhibits and a few rides, including Mission:Space (a simulated journey to Mars), Soarin' (a simulated aerial flight over California), and Spaceship Earth (a dark ride travel through the history of communication).
World Showcase has a walk around the lake visiting numerous countries, all themed with architecture, food, drink and culture to match. The countries included are: United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Germany, Japan, China, Mexico, Norway, Italy, USA, Canada

[edit]

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park

It is a mix between a zoo (although they are remarketing it as NAH-TAY-ZU) and Disney. It is fairly well done and a nice park to wander around to relax in. Plenty of animals to look at, but also includes rides, such as Dinosaur (dark, scary ride), Kali River Rapids (water-tire ride where you may get soaked), and opening in April 2006, Expedition Everest (high-speed rollercoaster with a visit to a 25-foot Yeti).

[edit]

Disney/MGM Studios

Theme park based on the magic of the movies. Some of WDW's best rides, including Tower of Terror (13-flight free fall), and Rock and Rollercoaster (featuring WDW's only rollercoaster with loops).

[edit]

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

Summit Plummet, the longest water slide in America? 120 feet long causing those who dare to plummet at 55 mph almost straight down
Downhill Double Dipper
Slush Gusher
Teamboat Springs
Cross Country Creek
Tike's Peak

[edit]

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Featuring Surf Pool, one of the world's largest wave pools with some of the largest artificially created waves
Humunga Kowabunga
Mayday Falls
Castaway Creek
Ketchakiddee Creek

[edit]

Buy

There's a store at the exit to practically every ride.

[edit]

Eat

Food is surprisingly good, considering WDW isn't known for it. In particular, try an exotic restaurant in Epcot's World Showcase, or many of the hotels have good places to eat, some sophisticated, some complete with screaming children.

[edit]

Drink

Some try "Drinking Around the World," getting alcohol in every country of Epcot's World Showcase.

[edit]

Sleep

[edit]

Disney Resorts

Divided into three price levels: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.

[edit]

Off-resort Lodging

Holiday Villas Walt Disney Area, 2928 Vineland Rd., Kissimmee, (407) 397-0700, Toll-free: (800) 344-3959, [1]. Condo style accomomdations that have one, two and three bedroom suites. Plenty of room for a family of 8. Heated Pool, Sauna, Tennis, Jacuzzi, Movies, Gameroom, Exercise Facility, Poolside Snacks.

[edit]