Disney World – The Largest Entertainment Resort in the World
There aren't many places in America that compare to Disney World when it comes to the perfect travel and vacation experience for both kids and adults alike. In the resort's four themed parks, Walt Disney created the perfect holiday experience allowing the whole family to dive into the world of fantasy. This is the perfect place to spend time with the kids in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, some of the largest and most famous themed amusement parks in the world. Surrounding them, countless water parks, hotel resorts where you can have breakfast with Mickey Mouse and Pluto, entertainment spots, and restaurants that are part of the experience, and loads of fun and enjoyment in the ultimate American adventure.
How much time should you spend at Disney World?
You should dedicate at least four full days to Disney World. Spend each day visiting a different themed park (Epcot and Magic Kingdom are a must), and in the evenings, enjoy Downtown Disney or Disney's Boardwalk. You could also dedicate an additional day or two to the water parks, which are like the big parks but wetter.
What are the must-see and must-do activities at Disney World
- The giant geodesic dome at Epcot (and all the country pavilions and fireworks!)
- The stunning Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom (and all the park's awesome rides)
- See Africa's largest animals on the safari in Animal Kingdom (and visit the Tree of Life and Everest Mountain)
- Star Wars adventures at Disney's Hollywood Studios (and also hang out with Buzz Lightyear on the park's amazing rides)
- The giant sandy pool of Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- Inner tube rides on the slopes of Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Evening hours with Mickey and Minnie in Downtown Disney (Disney Springs)
- The giant Disney memorabilia stores at the BoardWalk
- Baseball at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
- Traveling through Disney's internal transportation system – via monorail, ferry, or Skyliner gondolas
Click here for all the information on visiting Magic Kingdom…
Click here for the complete guide to visiting Epcot…
Click here for all the information on visiting Animal Kingdom…
Click here for what you need to know about visiting Hollywood Studios…
What is Disney World Theme Park?
Walt Disney World Resort, commonly known as Disney World, is arguably the main attraction in all of Florida and one of the most popular vacation spots in the entire United States.
- The massive complex of theme parks, resorts, water parks, and more under the umbrella of Walt Disney's fantasy world is the largest tourism project in the world, attracting an incredible number of visitors throughout the year
- This is the largest amusement park in the world, both in terms of area and annual visitor numbers
- The gigantic resort opened in 1971 in an area southwest of Orlando and west of the city of Kissimmee. Technically, the immense resort is located in Lake Buena Vista
- The park was built on the grounds of EPCOT, an experimental prototype community of tomorrow, a utopian concept from the sixties imagined by Disney
- Near Epcot, Disney opened the Disney World complex in 1971, importing what was already operating in Anaheim near Los Angeles since 1955 (Disneyland)
- Eventually, Disney withdrew from the original community idea after Walt Disney's death, and in 1982, they converted the community into Epcot Park
Click here to check availability and prices at hotels near Disney World Orlando…
Click here for a combo ticket for three parks at Disney World, including 24/7 travel agency support…
What's at the Disney World Resort?
The Disney World Resort encompasses four themed parks:
Two Water Parks:
- Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- Blizzard Beach Water Park
Three Public Entertainment Areas:
- Downtown Disney – Disney Springs at Lake Buena Vista
- Disney’s Boardwalk
- ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
In addition, there are no fewer than 25 themed resorts at Disney World, combining hotels and recreation facilities filled with Disney memorabilia and experiences. The area also features several large golf courses for parent relaxation.
Map of Disney World Orlando
How to Get to Disney World?
How to Fly to Disney World?
Orlando International Airport (MCO) – The largest airport in Orlando supports the city's almost legendary tourism traffic. Orlando has become one of the busiest and most popular vacation destinations in the USA due to its massive number of theme parks, led by Disneyland and Universal Orlando Resort.
The airport is well connected with all major airports in the USA and several destinations in Europe. You can reach Orlando directly via transfers from some European destinations like London or Frankfurt. The airport is just a twenty-minute drive from Lake Buena Vista and a few more minutes to the parking of each of the theme parks.
How to drive to Disneyland?
You can easily reach Disney World from Miami by driving north on I-95 and taking the Cape Canaveral exit to State Road 528 towards Orlando.
You can also take the Florida Turnpike, the toll road that connects West Palm Beach directly to Orlando. The drive on the Turnpike is a bit shorter but, of course, comes with an extra fee.
You can also arrive from Tampa by driving on I-4, which takes about an hour and a half.
Click here for all the information on car rental in the USA, helpful tips, and discounts…
Internal Transportation in the Disney World Complex
Disney World's transportation system is very developed and connects the theme parks to each other and to the park's hotels and entertainment centers through a variety of transport modes. Traveling with these internal transportation options is mostly for the experience; they are unique, well-polished, and an inseparable part of the excitement of the parks.
You can also easily reach any place by car and there's no problem with parking (at most, you'll walk a bit within the huge parking lots).
What are the attractions of Disney World's transportation system?
- The Monorail – Single rail train line
- The Skyliner – Elevated cable car
- Ferries – Routes on water pathways
- Buses – Shuttles that reach all the points previous transportation does not cover
Click here for the Disney World transportation map…
Click here for all the information about Disney World's transportation system…
When to Visit Disney World? – The Seasons
- Thanks to Florida's wonderful weather, you can visit the theme parks all year round
- If you need to be a bit more precise, spring is the most comfortable time, where the weather is still perfect, but the days are longer
- The weather in Orlando, like all of Florida, definitely impacts your trip
- The winter in Florida is likely the most perfect weather in the Western world. Winter temperatures are simply pleasant, around 20 to 25 degrees, with little rain
- Unlike the pleasant winter, the summer in Florida is quite tough. Summer temperatures are high and the humidity is downright awful
- As you get closer to August, humidity rises and the afternoons are often rainy for an hour or two
- In the summer and fall, significant tropical storms can also occur, occasionally including hurricanes that noticeably affect the Atlantic coastline
- Nevertheless, it's definitely worth visiting Disney World even at the height of summer, just be aware of weather conditions, and if a major storm is expected, simply skip it
Click here for a combo ticket for three parks at Disney World, including 24/7 travel agency support…
How to plan a Disney World itinerary?
- The Disney World Resort with its four themed amusement parks and tons of nearby attractions, despite being a private enterprise, can be considered a travel destination worth visiting on its own, especially to Florida
- The power of Disney World is simply immense and includes full days of relaxation and fun in a huge variety of attractions and different places within the complex
- It's advisable to combine your visit to Disney World with other Orlando attractions like the Universal Studios
- In the Orlando area, there are also quite a few attractions such as Cape Canaveral and the Space Coast to the east, the NASCAR racing city, Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast, and Tampa and St. Petersburg to the west on the Gulf of Mexico coast.
It's a great idea to plan your days at Disney World in advance based on the time allocated for the trip. While it's best to visit all four theme parks, if you have to skip one or two, let it be Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
- A visit to Magic Kingdom and Epcot is a must!! Even if you're without kids (you still have to go to Magic Kingdom) or traveling as a family (and Epcot is still very appealing for children).
- It's very much worth spending your evening hours at Downtown Disney, now called Disney Springs, and at Disney's Boardwalk.
- If you have more days, it's definitely worth visiting the resort's water parks as well. They are huge facilities with plenty of attractions that are quite reminiscent of theme parks, just with swimsuits.
Everything You Need to Know About Accommodation in Disney World
The topic of accommodation at Disney World Resort is extremely important for planning the trip. Since Disney, in his vision, saw the complex as a leisure entity filling the entire stay, there are no fewer than 25 hotel resorts throughout Disney World that are an integral part of the Disney experience.
At the resorts, you can meet Mickey and Minnie at breakfast and enjoy Disney characters right up until you close your eyes. Both within the complex and in the surrounding cities, there's a huge abundance of hotels and motels soaking up the tens of millions of visitors to the park each year. You can stay outside the Disney resort and ease the burden on your wallet a bit.
What should you know about hotels and lodging at Disney World?
Accommodation and hotels are an important part of the holiday experience and relaxation in Disney World's parks. Since there's no way to cover the parks in one day and as Walt Disney planned for the evening and lodging experience at the resort to be part of the fantasy, there's no choice but to find a hotel near the thematic parks.
- Within the Disney World resort, there are nearly 40 hotel resorts and vacation hotels where you can sleep and have breakfast with Mickey Mouse
- These resorts are connected to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and are part of the park experience
- Around, there's a wide selection of lodging options – standard American hotels and motels in Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, and Orlando
Click here to check availability and prices at hotels near Disney World Orlando…
The best areas to stay in Disney World
Here are the 5 areas we think are the best to stay in Disney World:
- Disney Resort Hotels Orlando – Breakfast with Mickey and a monorail directly to the Magic Kingdom
- Four Corners – The best resorts (not Disney's)
- SeaWorld Orlando area – Great vacation hotels not far from the park
- Lake Buena Vista South – Nice motels at affordable prices
- Old Town Amusement Park Area – The closest to Disney World at motel prices
Click here for a combo ticket for three parks at Disney World, including 24/7 travel agency support…
Map of Accommodation Areas in Disney World
The 4 Themed Parks of Walt Disney World: The Magic Kingdom
The ancient kingdom or the Magic Kingdom is what we know as the Disney theme park brand. The park is bustling with families and visitors all year round, eager to experience the perfect fantasy crafted by Walt Disney. The park is based on the original Disneyland, but Disney World’s park is larger and more developed than the facility in Anaheim, California.
This is the perfect place for a trip with kids, where you can meet all of Disney's beloved characters and enjoy all the iconic amusement rides. The heart of Magic Kingdom is Cinderella's castle, one of Disney's most famous landmarks.
How much time should you dedicate to the Magic Kingdom?
It's highly recommended to dedicate a whole day trip to the Magic Kingdom with the kids. The day trip includes, of course, a mix of attractions, relaxation, meals, and especially fun experiences until the evening fireworks.
22 things you must see and do in the Magic Kingdom (for both adults and kids)
– We know it's a lot, but what can we do, that's how it is in the Magic Kingdom
- The parades and fireworks in the evening at Main Street USA against the backdrop of the iconic Cinderella Castle
- The Hall of Presidents at Liberty Square
- A covered boat ride in Pirates of the Caribbean
- A spin with Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger
- Ride the Space Mountain
- The Spinning Astro Orbiter
- Tron Roller Coaster
- Sailing to Tom Sawyer's Island on the Liberty Belle
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Mad Tea Party
- Enjoy many adventures with Winnie the Pooh
- A Disney classic ride – “It's a Small World”
- Prince Charming Carousel
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Thunder Mountain Fast Roller Coaster
- Log ride in Tiana's Bayou Adventure
- Enjoy the Frontierland Shooting Arcade
- Jungle Cruise Boat Ride
- Aladdin's Magic Carpets Carousel
- The Swiss Family Treehouse
- Music at Mickey's PhilharMagic Fantasyland Theater
- Dress up like a princess at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Map of The Magic Kingdom
What is the Magic Kingdom Theme Park?
Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971 near Disney's futuristic community project, what we know as EPCOT. Until the community's conversion in 1982 to EPCOT Park, Magic Kingdom operated alone as a theme park as part of the Disney resort complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
- Magic Kingdom was based on the park in Disneyland, Anaheim, California, but it was larger than Disney's original park opened in 1955.
- Magic Kingdom is the most popular park among the four parks currently operating in the vast resort.
- Just like EPCOT has the golf ball, the icon of the Magic Kingdom is Cinderella Castle, located at the park's central plaza – Castle Hub, at the end of Main Street USA.
- The castle stands as the backdrop for all the major organized events in the park, where parades and fireworks take place in the evening.
The Magic Kingdom is divided into four themed sections of attractions located at each of the four corners of its “town center,” which includes Main Street USA, Cinderella Castle, and Liberty Square:
- Tomorrowland
- Fantasyland
- Frontierland
- Adventureland
Click here for all the information on visiting Magic Kingdom Park…
Epcot Center
Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Epcot is the second most popular theme park in the Disney park complex in Florida. While the Magic Kingdom is aimed at young children, Epcot Center targets a more mature audience, from teenagers to adults (they even have local alcohol at each of the country's pavilions).
This is a park full of activities and attractions that (in typical Disney fashion) reveal the big world surrounding America and the world we live in.
How much time should you dedicate to Epcot Park?
Like all Disney World theme parks, it is recommended to dedicate a full day to Epcot. Don't rush too much and try jumping to another park.
14 Must-See and Do Things in Epcot?
- The enormous golf ball of Epcot
- The fireworks at 9 PM above the lagoon
- The Nemo and Friends Aquarium
- Soar over California on the Soarin' ride
- The vintage 3D film experience at the Imagination Pavilion
- Fish and chips at the British Pavilion
- The Eiffel Tower in Paris at the French Pavilion
- The stylish Japanese castle and garden in the Japan Pavilion
- St. Mark's Square in the Italian Pavilion
- Greasy currywurst and dark beer at the Germany Pavilion
- The Chinese Temple in Reflections of China
- Anna and Elsa in the Norway Pavilion
- Sailing the river in the Mexico Pavilion
- Flying to Mars on a Space Mission
Map of Epcot Park
What is Epcot Park?
Epcot Park is based on the imaginative mind of Walt Disney and his vision for what he called the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, abbreviated as EPCOT. This utopian concept was conceived in the 1960s by Disney and aimed to be implemented where the park is located today.
- Adjacent to Epcot, Disney opened the Walt Disney World complex in 1971, bringing to Florida what had already been operating in Anaheim near Los Angeles since 1955
- The Magic Kingdom and the whole hotel and resort concept featuring Disney characters originated in Los Angeles, but Epcot is a local idea, including the advanced monorail transportation system that was intended for the experimental community
- Ultimately, Disney withdrew from the original idea and in 1982 transformed the community into Epcot Park
- Upon opening it was called Epcot Center, but in 1994 its name was officially changed to Epcot
In the past, the park was divided into two areas – Future World and World Showcase, but now, after a long renovation that is currently being completed, it is divided into four themed areas:
- World Celebration
- World Nature
- World Showcase
- World Discovery
Click here for all the information about Epcot and the amusement park attractions…
The Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is the place for kids to meet the animal world under the almost fantastical filters of Disney. In the lush, jungle-rich space, there's a host of attractions all tied to the tropical animal world, from both Africa and Asia.
In the park, you can go on safaris where you see large animals from Africa, pet farm animals at the petting zoo, or walk among the great apes and wildlife of Southeast Asia. Besides the animals, you can also take a trip through the forests of Pandora, the fantastical world from the movie Avatar.
How much time should you dedicate to Animal Kingdom?
It's recommended to dedicate at least half a day to Animal Kingdom. This park is less attractive than EPCOT and Magic Kingdom, so it's a good idea to plan another Disney attraction for the rest of the day.
8 Must-See and Do Things at Animal Kingdom?
- The giant baobab tree at Discovery Island
- Watch hippos and elephants on an African safari ride
- Exciting tubing on the Kali River Rapids in Asia
- The Avatar Flight of Passage flight simulator
- Sail the Na’vi River in the forest of Pandora
- Pet alpacas at Rafiki's Planet Watch
- Expedition Everest roller coaster
- Dinosaurs at Dino Land USA
Map of Disney World's Animal Kingdom
What is the Animal Kingdom Theme Park?
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is one of the four theme parks at the Disney World Resort.
- The park is located in the western part of the resort and has a large parking lot to the south, near the official entrance
- The park opened in 1998
- In terms of size, this is the largest of Disney World’s four theme parks
- It's also technically the largest theme park in the world in terms of area
- The park's goal is to raise awareness for sustainable conservation of nature and saving animal species
- The park combines a safari experience with Disney-standard entertainment and attractions (of course, at a high standard)
The Animal Kingdom is divided into seven themed sections of attractions surrounding the park's central island – Discovery Island:
- The Oasis
- Discovery Island
- Pandora – The World of Avatar
- Africa
- Rafiki's Planet Watch
- Asia
- DinoLand U.S.A
Click here for all the information on visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park…
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios Theme Park is the third theme park of the Disney World Resort. Here, you can enjoy all the fun and creativity from movies produced by Disney and its subsidiary Pixar. The park offers numerous attractions related to Disney characters, both historical ones like Mickey Mouse and contemporary ones like from Toy Story.
The dominant franchise in the park is, of course, the blockbuster hit Star Wars. George Lucas's iconic film series boasts a large number of popular attractions in the park.
How much time should you dedicate to Hollywood Studios?
It's highly recommended to dedicate a whole day trip to the Magic Kingdom with the kids. The day trip includes, of course, a mix of attractions, relaxation, meals, and especially fun experiences until the evening fireworks.
10 things you must see and do at Hollywood Studios?
- Ride with the kids on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway in Hollywood Boulevard
- Travel through the galaxy on the Star Tours ride – The Adventures Continue
- The thrilling simulations at the edge of the galaxy – Star Wars attractions: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Enjoy Toy Story at Toy Story Mania
- Fall from the Tower of Terror in The Twilight Zone
- Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash family roller coaster
- Evening fireworks at Hollywood Hills Amphitheater in the Fantasmic show
- The inspired mind of Jim Henson in The Muppet Vision 3D show
- Original props and items from the Star Wars movies at Star Wars Launch Bay
Map of Disney's Hollywood Studios at Disney World
What is Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park?
Hollywood Studios is Disney's third theme park opened at the resort in Florida, after Magic Kingdom and Epcot nearby.
- When the park opened in 1989 it was called Disney-MGM Studios Park
- It was known by this name until it officially changed its name in 2007 to its current name
- Although MGM was a separate company from Disney, Disney held the rights to the name for the theme park and the characters from the movies
- The park is based on the world of Hollywood movies and features attractions inspired by Pixar and Disney films.
Hollywood Studios is divided into six themed sections of attractions located in a relatively small but very intense area in terms of attractions and action. The sections are accessible via the park's main avenue, Hollywood Boulevard, the counterpart of Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
The sections in Hollywood Studios are:
- Echo Lake
- Grand Avenue
- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Toy Story Land
- Animation Courtyard
- Sunset Boulevard
Click here for all the information on visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios…
Disney World Water Parks
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
The largest and main water park at the Disney World Resort is near Downtown Disney or Disney Springs. It resembles Disney's theme parks, with its centerpiece being the giant pool – Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool.
- A lagoon with a white sandy beach
- A wave pool with 2-meter high waves that activate every 90 seconds
- The pool has segments of various levels, including small waves and waves that allow surfing
Just north is Shark Reef – snorkeling in saltwater and watching a variety of marine life. Around the pool is the area of Mayday Mountain – an artificial mountain with water attractions and slides.
The wet attractions of the water park around the lagoon:
- Mayday Falls – a tubing route with varying speeds
- Forgotten Grotto – a walking path through Mayday Mountain
- Humunga Kowabunga – extreme water slides
- Gang Plank Falls – a slow tubing ride for the whole family
- Ketchakiddee Creek – A splash area for the little ones, complete with a tiny sandy beach
- Storm Slides – High-speed water slides
- Keelhaul Falls – A scenic tube ride with occasional algae
- Hideaway Bay – A section of the park east of the big lagoon pool
- Crush ‘n' Gusher – An extreme water slide raft ride for a pair
- Sandy White Beach – A raft adventure on a smaller lagoon pool with sand
- Castaway Creek – A lazy river winding through the park
Blizzard Beach
The second water park at the Disney World Resort is located near Disney's Hollywood Studios, heading towards the Animal Kingdom. The park is built around the large pool Melt-Away Bay. Surrounding the pool is what's known as Mount Gushmore, with slopes descending to the pool.
Three sections with slopes surround the pool, offering plenty of water slides at various speeds:
- The Green Slope
- The Purple Slope
- The Red Slope
Additional attractions around the pool below the slide slopes:
- Cross Country Creek or the lazy river – slow tubing on the park's surrounding channel
- Ski Patrol Training Camp – a kids' play area with adapted pools and water slides, playfulness and more
- Tike's Peak – a gentle slide
- The Chairlift – a family ride on a kind of raft
Evening entertainment in the Disney World complex
Downtown Disney – Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista
Disney Springs is the branded and up-to-date name of what is known as Downtown Disney. The complex is adjacent to the I-4 highway and offers the best evening entertainment the resort has to offer. Downtown is connected with Disney World resorts via ferry lines and is bustling with people and visitors, especially in the evening.
Instead of Disney brand restaurants, shops, and a plethora of Disney brand entertainment venues. The complex also features a hot air balloon as an additional attraction.
Disney's Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is another downtown complex built in 1996 as a complement to the downtown. It mainly caters to guests of the internal resorts (many people also stay in Kissimmee or towards Orlando in non-Disney hotels and prefer the downtown). The Boardwalk is also connected by Disney's internal ferry system, linking parks and hotels.
The place is located on the southern edge of Crescent Lake, adjacent to the western part of Epcot Park. The Boardwalk boasts a variety of Disney brand restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, including character meet-and-greets and more.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Disney's massive sports complex is now branded under ESPN's sports channel. The complex features dozens of baseball, soccer, tennis, and other fields, including a large baseball stadium that has hosted MLB games. The complex is located south of Hollywood Studios Park.
