Walt Disney World is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. After a few days visiting the 4 theme parks you'll have a total understanding and appreciation of this fact.
In addition to the 4 theme parks, Disney World Orlando features water parks that are open in season. This site focuses on the 4 theme parks, including Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.
Magic Kingdom
This is the original theme park, sparkling with the magic and imaginative genius that captures Walt Disney's dream. Regardless of your age, you'll be fascinated by the parades, rides, shows, dining options, and sheer splendor of all this park has to offer.
Some of the highlights of the Magic Kingdom include the opportunity to dine with Disney characters, and Mickey's Toontown Fair, which is sure to bring a sparkle to your youngsters eyes.
For family members who are into roller coasters, Magic Kingdom offers the "3 mountains" - Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Space Mountain, located in Tomorrowland, whirls screaming riders through space, dodging meteors, stars and planets. As you are thrust through this exhilarating coaster, surrounded by darkness, you'll think you have left the planet!
Splash Mountain is a delightful blend of smooth riding through a quiet waterway, mixed with a haunting vertical fall. The animated characters and Brer Rabbit theme are simply fascinating!
Big Thunder delivers riders through a mountainous terrain on an out of control train. As you ascend the mountains be sure to catch the awesome view of the park.
The Walt Disney World classic attraction, It's A Small World After All, will amaze and delight you as you journey through a waterway viewing brightly colored characters from around the world.
Cinderella's Castle, beautiful by day, becomes a dazzling spectacle at night. Be sure to extend your visit into the evening hours to witness the beauty of the castle glowing in soft lighting, and the excitement of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Who knows, you might even see Peter Pan flying across the nighttime skies!
Experience the magic, right now!
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Step into a tropical land, featuring lush vegetation and animals living within their natural habitats. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful of the Walt Disney World parks.
While in the Animal Kingdom, you can take a safari ride, dig for dinosaur bones, attend amazing shows, take the kids to a petting zoo, or catch a spectacular, colorful parade.
Of course, dining, shopping, and rides are also included in the cost of your Disney tickets. (note - Animal Kingdom does have a section in DinoLand that includes carnival style games that will cost you additional money).
Experience a brief visit to Animal Kingdom...enjoy!!
If you visit the Walt Disney World parks from time to time, you'll notice ongoing additions and improvements. During a recent trip to Animal Kingdom my family was thrilled with the addition of a new roller coaster ride; Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain....very exhilarating!!
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Formerly named Disney MGM Studios, the Hollywood Studios park has a movie theme which is emphasized by colorful movie lots and location sets.
As you stroll through this beautifully landscaped wonderland, you'll be delighted by various Walt Disney World characters and entertaining street shows.
Step behind the scenes to catch a special shooting of Indiana Jones, followed by the amazing stunt show in the back lot. Other shows include kids favorites such as the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
The new Toy Story Midway Mania interactive ride is a hot new attraction. Be sure to get your Fast Pass for this ride early, as they often run out later in the day.
If thrill rides are your thing, you'll love the famous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, located in the Walt Disney World Hollywood Hotel.
This popular ride delivers guests to the 13th story of the hotel in a rickety elevator, followed by a sudden vertical drop which is repeated over and over. Definitely not for the weak at heart!
Just beyond the Tower of Terror you'll find the Aerosmith Rock 'n Roller Coaster.
From the initial blast off that takes you from 0 to 60 mph in seconds, to the loops, turns, and twists with Aerosmith classics thundering in the background, every second of this ride is a pure blast!
When the sun goes down, be sure to head over to the Fantasmic show. This is an amazing spectacle including lasers, fireworks, fire, colorful characters, and a variety of festively decorated boats. Preferred seating can be obtained when you book dinner reservations for a Hollywood Studios restaurant and dine just before the show. This is a celebration of life that you don't want to miss!
Check out the action of the Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror here!
Epcot
Where else in the world can you travel from North America to Canada, Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, France, and the United Kingdom - all in one day? Epcot, the most educational of the Walt Disney World parks, offers a a true glimpse into different lands and cultures, delicious international dining, incredible fireworks, and entertainment & rides to keep the kids amused. Who knows, they might have so much fun that they won't realize the educational value!
One of Epcot's most popular attractions is the Test Track ride. If you're into fast, you'll love Test Track! Once you board one of the test vehicles you'll be whizzed around the track at incredible speeds as your car is subjected to an assortment of road and weather hazards. Hang on tight!
Another of Epcot's intense rides is Mission: SPACE. As you prepare for your space mission you'll hear and read numerous warnings about the intensity of this ride and the G force experience it recreates. Just a word of advice; if you're not into spinning, dizzying rides, I would heed the warnings and opt for the much more mellow Green Team mission on this ride. Trust me on this one!
For a slightly more down to earth experience, Epcot's newest attraction, Soarin, will amaze you with its sheer beauty and the thrill of virtual flight. As you fly over spectacular California landscapes, the wind in your face and lifelike movement of the ride will bring the pursuit of flight into your reality.
Once the sun has gone down, prepare for fascinating night spectacles at Epcot. From remarkable parades to stunning fireworks displays, complete with lasers, lights, and water fountain displays, evenings at Epcot are not to be missed.
Spend 4 minutes in Epcot, with this great video!
Planning Your Walt Disney World Vacation
The parks in Disney World Orlando are enormous, and it's easy to become overwhelmed. You could easily spend an entire week and not see all there is. Your best option is to have a plan before you go, make reservations for any restaurants that you wish to visit, and get the most from the time and the money you have to invest in your vacation.
You may find the following pages on this site to be helpful in putting together a plan of attack:
Disney World Tips - some words of advice, from one who's been there, done that.
Walt Disney World is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. After a few days visiting the 4 theme parks you'll have a total understanding and appreciation of this fact.
This is the original theme park, sparkling with the magic and imaginative genius that captures Walt Disney's dream. Regardless of your age, you'll be fascinated by the parades, rides, shows, dining options, and sheer splendor of all this park has to offer.
Step into a tropical land, featuring lush vegetation and animals living within their natural habitats. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful of the Walt Disney World parks.
Formerly named Disney MGM Studios, the Hollywood Studios park has a movie theme which is emphasized by colorful movie lots and location sets.
If thrill rides are your thing, you'll love the famous Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, located in the Walt Disney World Hollywood Hotel.
One of Epcot's most popular attractions is the Test Track ride. If you're into fast, you'll love Test Track! Once you board one of the test vehicles you'll be whizzed around the track at incredible speeds as your car is subjected to an assortment of road and weather hazards. Hang on tight!
