Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida opened its gates in 1971 and consisted of just one theme park! Now there are six parks (four theme parks and two water parks) and it covers 47 sq miles! If you're lucky enough to go there make sure you make the most of it and check out as many Disney parks as possible! There are also combination offers to save you money and you can even park-hop thanks to monorails running between the parks.
Here's a little introduction to each of the four theme parks
Magic Kingdom (opened 1971)
Magic Kingdom is separated into 6 lands: Main Street U.S.A. which is lined with shops selling food and merchandise. It resembles early 20th-century small-town America. In the distance is Cinderella Castle, the symbol of the park. Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring foreign lands. It's home to the famous 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride. Frontierland is decorated in American Old West style and Liberty Square is based on an American Revolutionary colonial town and is where you'll find the 'Haunted Mansion' ride.
Fantasyland is medieval/carnival style and is apparently for those who 'wish upon a star and hope their dreams come true'. Tomorrowland shows how people in the 1950s thought the future would look. You can whizz around on the monorail and see UFOs and robots!
Epcot (opened 1982)
The park's symbol is a geodesic sphere which houses the 13 minute-long 'Spaceship Earth' ride. This park is twice the size of Magic Kingdom and invites guests to learn about different countries and their traditions. The World Showcase is a pavillion containing 11 countries and their cuisines and cultures. Future World is an area where guests can explore technology and innovations and go on several rides. The park also has many green areas where guests can relax and admire the beauty of nature.
Disney's Hollywood Studios - originally Disney-MGM Studios (opened 1989)
The park's symbol is the Sorcerer's Hat which featured in the film 'Fantasia'. There are 6 sections to the park: Hollywood Boulevard is at the main entrance and is full of merchandise and live entertainment. Echo Lake is a small oval-shaped lagoon surrounded by many attractions and services. Streets of America is home to the Backlot Studio Tour and over-sized plants and toys for the kids.
Animation Courtyard is where guests learn about animation and how the characters come to life! Pixar Place is the newest section and has an interactive 3D attraction hosted by 'Toy Story' characters. Sunset Boulevard has the 'Twilight Zone Tower of Terror' and 'Rock 'n' Roller Coaster' starring Aerosmith as well as two outdoor amphitheatres.
Animal Kingdom (opened in 1998)
This park is divided into 7 parts: The Oasis is the park's main entrance and houses many animals. Discovery Island is in the middle of the park and connects the other sections. You'll find the symbol of the park – the 'Tree of Life' here. Camp Minnie-Mickey is where all the characters hang out and sign autographs. Africa is set in the fictional east African village of Harambe and offers the chance to see many animals from this continent.
Rafiki's Planet Watch is where guests can find out how Disney contributes to conservation efforts and what they can do themselves in their community. Asia is also based on a fictional place – the 'Kingdom of Anandapur' where guests can ride the river rapids. DinoLand U.S.A. Is full of dinosaur-related rides and facts about these creatures.
So there you have it – a small insight into the wonderful world of Disney.
Bio:This has been a guest post by Sophie Hamilton from British Trends and hungryhouse, the UK's leading online takeaway platform that features restaurants across the country including Glasgow, Brighton and Nottingham. Just visit the website and order delicious cuisines such as Thai, Chinese and Italian.
