Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World opened on October 1st, 1971 and is now the largest and most visited recreational resort in the world. It is comprised of four theme parks, two water parks, 22 Disney operated hotels and plenty of dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation facilities. Several of the theme parks are represented by a structure that stands as a symbol of that park. The Magic Kingdom has Cinderella’s Castle, Epcot has Spaceship Earth, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the Sorcerer’s Hat and Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the Tree of Life. Some of Disney’s other attractions include Disney’s Boardwalk, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Speedway/Richard Petty Driving Experience and Downtown Disney. Contrary to popular belief, Walt Disney World is not actually located in Orlando. The entire park is located outside of Orlando’s city limits and actually located in the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake. Other facts you may find interesting are the streets of Disney World are steam cleaned every night, the antique carousal horses are painted with genuine gold leaf and there is a tree farm on site so that any tree that needs replacing can be done so immediately with a similar mature tree. They really do think of everything here.

What better way to start your Disney vacation than at The Magic Kingdom which hosts close to 17 million visitors a year, making it the most visited theme park in the world. This is the place where enchanting fairytales and favourite childhood movies come to life with a chance to meet Snow White or Prince Charming. Classic rides such as It’s a Small World, Mad Tea Party, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain are all here. As with all Disney theme parks, Walt Disney World is divided into areas or lands. The Magic Kingdom is divided into seven lands including Main St. USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Epcot is the second most popular theme park at Walt Disney World with an estimated annual visitor count around 11 million. Epcot opened in 1982 and is dedicated to discovering and learning about international cultures and new innovations. It is divided into Future World and World Showcase which has pavilions representing 11 countries from around the world. Some of Epcot’s most popular attractions are Mission Space, Maelstrom, Test Track, Soarin’ and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. There are a number of live entertainment performances and shows in the park from countries represented in the pavilions including Mariachi Cobre, a wandering band playing Mexico’s traditional music and Dragon Legend Acrobats from China.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly MGM Studios, is probably best known for two things; the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, one of the best rides ever, and the Studio Back Lot Tour where the action really happens. Disney’s newest theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is dedicated to educating and appreciating the beauty of nature and all it’s creatures from around the world. Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest are among the favorites here. Of course, we can’t forget the water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Typhoon Lagoon has huge slides, rivers and waves and even an artificial reef where you can snorkel with sharks and tropical fish. You definitely have to try the Humunga Kowabunga, a 214 ft. waterslide, and the Crush n’ Guster, a water roller coaster. These are not for the faint of heart. Blizzard Beach has all the great pools, lazy rivers and slides too but Summit Plummet is just crazy - a 2 story vertical drop that you just have to go for. Whatever you decide to do, this promises to be a thrilling and memorable vacation. Lucky for you, temperatures at Walt Disney World are almost always comfortable. The summer months are generally quite nice with average temperatures around 22˚C. However, high humidity can sometimes make that feel closer to 30˚C. The winter months are mild for the most part but early morning and evenings can get quite chilly so make sure you bring pants and a light coat or sweater. The average daily temperature during the winter is a comfortable 18˚C.