Walt Disney World is the world's largest theme park. It covers around 43 square miles, the size of a city. In fact, it is very close to being a city in its own right. It contains the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, the Disney-MGM Studios, the Animal Kingdom, three swimming parks, a botanical park and a zoological park, a night-club complex, a sports complex, golf courses, hotels, restaurants, lakes, shops, a convention centre, a nature reserve, a complex transportation system, and lots of men dressed as cartoon characters, all owned by the Disney corporation.

History

In times gone past, Florida was full of small, charming attractions of roughly equal size, such as alligator farms, monkey sanctuaries and waxworks. Most tourism in Florida was located in the south, where many sun-seekers populated the beaches and nearby attractons. Orlando was a small, quiet town approximately an hour away from the Cypress Gardens park, with absolutely no significance. This was all to change.

Walt Disney's Disneyland in California had been a massive success, so when he came to Florida, asking for improved motorways and tax concessions, his needs were readily met. Then he bought 27 500 acres of land in the Orlando area. The Magic Kingdom opened on 1 October 1971, and immediately sparked a tourism boom. Gradually, the park grew, and as it did, it detracted from other tourist attractions in the vicinity. When Walt Disney World proper opened, many previously successful attractions that couldn't compete with its grand scale and quality went bust. On 1 October 1982, EPCOT opened, and yet more local attractions went down the pan. Then, in 1989, came the Disney-MGM Studios, and finally, in 1998, the Animal Kingdom. Each time a new part of Walt Disney World opened, more of the older attractions either shut down or faded into obscurity. Some attractions, like Sea World and Busch Gardens have expanded and improved. Universal Studios and the Kennedy Space Centre have also become very successful.

So, to conclude; Walt Disney World could be said to have greatly improved the Florida tourist industry. It has set new, high standards meaning that in order to compete, other attractions must become bigger and better. On the other hand, it almost obliterated the 'old' Florida, making a large proportion of the state overly commercial, and taking away a lot of the state's 'heart'. Whichever you choose to believe, one thing is certain: Walt Disney World, was, is, and continues to be an entirely revolutionary park that changed a part of tourism forever.

Accomodation

There are many hotels in and around Orlando that you can stay in. However, for the true Disney experience, you might want to consider staying in one of the more expensive but much more attractive resorts within the World itself. The various Disney resorts have a variety of restaurants, pools, gyms and entertainment, and almost all have a specific theme. Here is a list of Walt Disney World resorts¹, and their themes:

• Grand Floridian-the most expensive resort, and arguably the most impressive. Themed to look like a turn-of-the century Victorian hotel.
• Boardwalk Inn Resort-Modelled after an early 1900s US east coast boardwalk hotel.
• Yacht Club Resort-Based on an 1880s New England seashore hotel.
• Dolphin Resort-A modern hotel without any particular theme.
• Beach Club Resort-An 1870s New England beach club.
• Polynesian Resort-Based on Hawaii and the South Sea Islands.
• Swan Resort-Like the Dolphin, a themeless modern hotel.
• Contemporary Resort-A resort based on various perceptions of the future.
• Old Key West Resort-Based on the Florida Keys.
• Wilderness Lodge-An early 1900s northwest national park lodge.
• Port Orleans Resort-Based on turn-of-the-century New Orleans².
• Carribean Beach Resort-Based on the Carribean Islands.
• Dixie Landings Resort-Based on areas along the Mississippi in the south of the USA.
• All Star Resorts-Based on sports and music; novelty giant pianos and such all around.

The Parks

Each of the Disney World parks is packed with rides, cafés, theme restaurants, and, yes, you guessed it, queues³. What follows is a profile of each of the parks, and a list of the must-see attractions in each.

Magic Kingdom

When most people think of Walt Disney World, their first thoughts are of the Magic Kingdom. It can be accessed by monorail or by ferry, and soon by foot. Disney are building a walkway to the Magic Kingdom, which customers are paying for, stone-by-stone. The customers who do decide to pay money towards a stone get to have their family name ingraved on it. The Magic Kingdom is the most popular park with children of all ages, and is divided into seperate areas. These are:

Main Street USA-The first area you come to in the Magic Kingdom. It's based on a turn-of-the-century main street, with horse-drawn carriages, shops, restaurants and a cinema showing old Mickey Mouse cartoons. However, there are no 'rides' as such.

The 'Central Hub'-This cirular area branches off into most of the Magic Kingdom's other areas. Shows are held there, and it contains the park's centrepiece: Cinderella's castle. Still no rides, though, until you walk under Cinderella's castle into:

Fantasyland-Similar in style to an alpine village, Fantasyland is the heart of the Magic Kingdom. There is nothing intense or roller-coaster like here, as it is all aimed mainly at kids. The best attractions here are:

• It's a Small WorldInfamous for the constant tune played in the background, in It's a Small World you sit in a boat that takes you around to watch a syrupy collection of singing and dancing dolls.
• Peter Pan's FlightA charming ride that takes you around on a Peter Pan adventure suspended above the ground.

Coming Soon-Adventureland

Last updated: 1/9/00-Added History, Accomodation and some of Magic Kingdom

This Entry will be completed soon. Watch this space.