Disney World Florida Among Nation's Top Destinations
About 6 million vacationers visit Walt Disney World Florida each year.
Disney World Florida is the dream destination of many children. Who wouldn't want to visit this warm and sunny home of Mickey Mouse and friends, where you can enjoy the ultimate in theme park offerings, stay in cool hotels, splash in some of the country's best waterparks, and enjoy lots of other fun activities?
Walt Disney World isn't just a favorite vacation locale for children. Plenty of adults travel to the Magic Kingdom sans kids and have a wonderful time enjoying all there is to see and do there.
But regardless of your age, Disney World Florida is indeed an all-inclusive vacation resort, where you can enjoy weeks of fun without ever leaving the premises.
The Theme Parks
When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, there was just one park – The Magic Kingdom – similar in content and style to California's Disneyland Park. Still the backbone of Disney World, the Magic Kingdom is where Disney characters truly come to life.
Divided into themed regions, you'll find yourself flying over old London on Peter Pan's Flight in the morning and whizzing through Space Mountain on a wild coaster ride in the afternoon. You can enjoy a cruise through the jungle on one side of the park and experience the Old West on the other.
All the while, Disney characters stroll around you, parade down the street, or come to life via Disney's amazing audio-animatronic figures.
The second park to be added was Epcot Center, meant to be a real community where international residents could live together in unity. Instead, it's a place where visitors can experience tomorrow in Future World and enjoy learning about different countries and their traditions at the World Showcase. This is the most educational of the parks but enjoyable nonetheless.
Disney-MGM Studios arrived on the scene next. With fewer rides than the other parks, MGM greets visitors with a more leisurely day but, nevertheless, the rides here are among some of the best in Disney World Florida.
Be sure to Ride the Movies and enjoy scenes from decades of America's best flicks, or take a heart-stopping plunge on the Hollywood Tower of Terror.
Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998, boasts 1,500 animals representing more than 250 species. This park is a haven for nature lovers. While the handful of rides here are excellent, the animals and the re-creation of Africa's Serengeti Plain are the real attraction.
Other Activities
You could just skip the theme parks and still have plenty of activities to fill up your vacation…but who'd want to do that. Well, as a matter of fact, some adults do come just for the other fine activities, like watersports and world-class golf.
Resort guests can rent all sorts of watercraft and cruise along man-made Seven Seas Lagoon, play tennis on the many courts provided, or swim in the luxurious pools.
A few of the hotels boast excellent spas for a bit of extra pampering while on vacation.
Two waterparks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, are among the top-rated waterparks in the country and have features that cater to all ages, like special tot areas for the little ones and plenty of lounge chairs for tired adults who just want to relax.
Downtown Disney provides three distinct locations where guests can spend some down time. Marketplace boasts unique shops and restaurants. Disney's West Side is home to the Cirque du Soleil show, the DisneyQuest interactive indoor theme park, and a number of excellent eateries. Pleasure Island is a world of nightclubs where visitors can celebrate New Year's Eve every night.
Lodging
Disney World Florida boasts a fine selection of hotels onsite and they're designed for a variety of budgets.
Value priced hotels are lovely but include a minimum number of amenities. Moderate hotels provide a little extra such as onsite full service restaurants and convenience to the theme parks.
Disney's deluxe resorts are magnificent and a few of them are recognized as being among the top hotels in the country. At these resorts, you'll enjoy waterfront accommodations, multiple pools, spas, five-star restaurants, and above all else, impeccable service.
When to Go
Crowds are almost always present in Disney World Florida, but experts note that the two best months to visit are September and January. It's best to avoid the Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day holidays and the second week of June through the second week of August, when most families visit.