Walt Disney World is probably the most famous theme park in the world. It has certainly changed the economy of Central Florida quite dramatically. To its credit Disney has not rested on it laurels. When it opened in October 1971, Disney World (as it is more commonly known) only had one attraction, the Magic Kingdom. Since then it has grown to be one of the largest, if not the largest, theme parks in the world. Named after its founder, Walt E Disney, the resort is made up of four main theme parks, the Magic Kingdom, the EPCOT Center, the Disney MGM Studios and the newest addition, the Animal Kingdom.
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There are also several other attractions nearby that were developed under Disney World’s wing. The park receives an average of 100,000 visitors a day and has a staff of more than 34,000.
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More Visitor Information About Disney World
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The busiest times are at the beginning of the year, during the summer holidays and on public holidays such as Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas. During peak season the resort opens at 09:00 and closes at 24:00. For the rest of the year, it opens at 09:00 and closes at 22:00. In order to fit the most into your day it is best to arrive before the gates open. During mid-afternoon the resort is at its busiest, with the most popular areas being the rides. Visitors can buy a one-day ticket, a four-day pass, or a five-day pass. There are discounts available for children between the ages of 3 and 9, while children under 3 go in free of charge. (see our discount ticket information page for more details)
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The Magic Kingdom
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The Magic Kingdom is the oldest of Disney World’s theme parks and is made up of six sections, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Mickey’s Starland. Walking down Main Street, you will reach the Town Square. Here you can watch classic comey cartoons at the Main Street Cinema, or buy a book at the Main Street Book Store, which has possibly the largest collection of books on the cinema. From the central Plaza, pathways reach out to all the sections.
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Adventureland
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Attractions here include the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, perhaps the biggest treehouse ever built. Visitors climb a winding stairway to the view the family’s home, nestled amongst the massive branches of a (synthetic) banyan. The Jungle Cruise and the Pirates of the Caribbean both take you sailing, albeit to vastly different worlds. The former takes you on a riverboat trip through very realistic Amazon and African landscapes complete with native animals, vegetation and people. The well-known Pirates of the Caribbean also takes you sailing, through raging battles and past pirate castles in a simulated raid on an island fort.
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Tomorrowland
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This section of the park has a large number of rides for all ages, with the best known probably being Space Mountain. On this roller coaster ride the speed does not exceed 45km/h (28mph), but the G-forces produced by the tight bends and the disorientation caused by the total darkness makes for a thrilling ride. The beautiful lighting effects add to the sensation of speed. Another feature of the park is Dreamflight which examines the history of aviation through aircraft models and wide-screen footage of travel and flight. Tomorrowland Theater stages musicals, while Dream of a New World offers visitors the opportunity to see the world of electronics in action.
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Fantasyland
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In true Disney tradition, Cinderella Castle is enchanting and very large. The castle is over 55m (180ft) tall, and features fine fairytale mosaics. Magic Journeys is a 3-D film which is viewed through polarised glasses. It is so realistic that most people spend half their time ducking. In Peter Pan’s Flight you can sail through Neverland in tiny galleons. At the Fantasyland Lagoon you can join Captain Nemo in his submarine on a trip 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride is very popular with children. Mr Toad’s Wild Ride and the Mad Tea Party are the last two rides in this section of the park.
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Frontierland
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This authentic-looking Wild West attraction has a live cast and several exhilarating rides. Go sharpshooting at the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade (with infra red guns), or visit the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree where a terrific cast delivers half an hour of song, dance and humour. At Splash Mountain your boat slowly climbs the slopes past scenes from earlier Disney movies and then plunges down a 45 degree incline into the pool below. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad offers a fast and furious ride on a runaway mine train.
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Liberty Square
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The Hall of Presidents is an elegant Colonial building in which all the American presidents, past and present, have been brought to life. The relaxing Rivers of America ride takes you past animals and forest scenery on the boat of your choice.
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Mickey’s Starland
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In the little town of Ducksburg you can visit Mickey’s House, which is set up as a museum to the career of the mouse himself. A live music and comedy show, the Starland Show, is presented close to the house. It features characters such as Chip and Dale and Scrooge McDuck. Mickey’s Hollywood Theatre gives you the opportunity to meet Mickey in his dressing room. Grandma Duck’s farm features live animals including Minnie Moo, the cow with the Mickey Mouse shape marking on her side.
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OTHERS As a result of the original decision of Disney to create a massive theme park and its subsequent sunaway success, many other organisations also established theme parks and various attractions here too. Most are geared purely towards the entertainment market, but there are also a number of major attractions, for example, Sea World and Gatorland, that combine entertainment with an educational and conservationist content. The Universal Studios theme park and the Disney-MGM Studios attract many millions of movie buffs each year. Universal Studios opened in 1990 at a cost of USD600 million and has become the third most popular theme park in America. It is a working studio with attractions and rides that rival those of Disney World, and in certain cases even surpass them. Every night a Dynamite Nights Stuntacular with pyrotechnic displays is held in the park’s central lagoon. Sights include Back to the Future, a spectacular flight simulator time trip, Ghost Busters, which involves audience participation, and Earthquake The Big One, which simulates an 8.3 Richter scale earthquake, a Twister - if you want to experience the power of a hurricane, in strictly controlled conditions of course! Universal has just invested an additional estimated $1.5 billion to extend its operation in Orlando, so now there is even more to see and do!
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Other theme parks in the Orlando area include Splendid China, which commemorates 5,000 years of Chinese history and architecture, with 60 scale models of famous Chinese buildings. Terror on Church Street scares you half to death with its special effects and live actors. Wet’n’Wild specialises in different types of water games and attractions, and is very popular in the summer.
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