Walt Disney World: an overview

So, you’ve got to Orlando and Walt Disney World is awaiting. Well, be prepared to be wowed by its scale. Families who holiday there every year still find something new and undiscovered on each visit. Just where do you begin?

Images © Disney

With over 40 magical attractions, the Magic Kingdom Park is a pretty good place to start. Opened in 1971, it’s the original Disney Theme Park with seven enchanted lands where fairy tale classics come alive. Kids (and adults) re-live their favourite stories by flying through Never Land, admiring the Cinderella Castle and seeing the Disney cast in the 3D Mickey’s PhilharMagic. There’s also the ever-popular Space Mountain rollercoaster attraction.

New attractions include the Once Upon a Dream Parade and Woody’s Cowboy Camp, inspired by Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 2. If you fancy a giggle, head to the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, inspired by the hit movie, or check out the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (which gave birth to the Hollywood blockbuster) and now features a new twist with the addition of Captain Jack Sparrow, his nemesis Barbossa and Davy Jones.

See the world
Epcot is where Disney meets technology in the two dimensions of Future World and World Showcase.

In Future World, guests can time-travel into the past inside Spaceship Earth or ride the ‘clamobile’ in the underwater adventure of The Seas with Nemo & Friends and enjoy Turtle Talk with Crush, both inspired by Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo. It’s packed with creative, discovery experiences. Soarin’™ takes visitors on a journey over breathtaking wonders and scenery while Mission: SPACE recreates astronautical life.

Epcot’s other dimension is World Showcase. You might be in Florida, but here it’s all about the culture, music and food of eleven different countries. You’ll come face-to-face with Vikings in Norway and enjoy a fiesta in Mexico. Foodies will particularly love World Showcase thanks to its global gastronomy and the new addition of Teppan Edo, where Japanese Teppan chefs turn cooking into a performance art.

Awesome animals
If you’re more into wildlife than world life, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is offers the chance to go on safari, Florida-style. See the animals on Kilimanjaro Safaris or brave it on Expedition Everest™ – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, where a high-speed train trek travels through the Himalayas, home of the formidable Yeti. The Maharajah Jungle Trek showcases tigers, giant fruit bats and komodo dragons, while younger kids will love Finding Nemo – The Musical, which combines puppetry and live performance to create a magical show. Other enduring hits are Festival of the Lion King and Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade.