essay about going to disney world

Essay on Disney World

Students are often asked to write an essay on Disney World in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Disney World

What is disney world.

Disney World is a big and famous amusement park in Florida, USA. It has four theme parks with lots of fun rides and shows. People from all over the world come to see their favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella.

Disney World has many rides for all ages. There are fast roller coasters for brave people and gentle rides for little kids. Everyone can find something they like to do.

Shows and Parades

Every day, there are special shows and parades with music and dancing. People love watching the colorful floats and characters in fancy costumes.

Meeting Characters

Visitors can meet and take pictures with Disney characters. It’s like the characters from movies come to life and you can say hello to them.

250 Words Essay on Disney World

Disney World is a big and famous amusement park in Florida, USA. It is a place where families go to have fun and see their favorite characters from movies and TV shows. It has four main parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom is the heart of Disney World. It’s where you can find Cinderella’s Castle. This park is like a fairy tale come to life with rides, shows, and parades. Kids can meet Mickey Mouse, ride on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and go on an adventure with pirates.

Learning and Fun at Epcot

Epcot is a place for learning and having fun at the same time. It has two parts: Future World and the World Showcase. Future World has rides that show technology and science. The World Showcase lets you visit 11 countries in one day. You can try different foods and see shows from around the world.

Movies at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about movies and TV. You can see how movies are made and go on rides based on famous movies like Star Wars and Toy Story.

Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a mix of a zoo and a theme park. You can see real animals from Africa and Asia and go on exciting rides. The park teaches about the importance of nature and taking care of our planet.

500 Words Essay on Disney World

Disney World is a famous amusement park in Florida, USA. People often call it “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” It was created by Walt Disney, a man who made cartoons and movies. Disney World opened in 1971 and has been a place where children and adults can enjoy rides, see their favorite characters, and have fun together.

The Parks Inside Disney World

Inside Disney World, there are four main parks. Each park has a different theme and different kinds of fun. The first one is the Magic Kingdom, which is like stepping into a fairy tale. It has a castle, and you can meet many characters from Disney movies. The second park is Epcot, where you can learn about technology and different countries. Hollywood Studios is the third park, and it shows you how movies are made. The last one is Animal Kingdom, where you can see real animals and go on adventures.

Rides and Attractions

Meeting disney characters.

One of the best parts of Disney World is getting to meet the characters from Disney movies. You might see Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, or even Buzz Lightyear. They walk around the parks, and you can take pictures with them or get their autographs. It’s like the characters from the screen are right there with you.

Special Events

Disney World also has special events throughout the year. There are big parties for Halloween and Christmas, and sometimes there are festivals that celebrate art, flowers, or food. These events make the parks even more exciting because there’s always something new to see and do.

Staying at Disney World

Why people love disney world.

People love Disney World because it is a place where they can forget about everyday life and just have fun. It’s not just for kids; adults can find joy there too. It brings families together and lets everyone be a part of the magic. When you leave, you take home memories that last a lifetime.

Disney World is more than just an amusement park. It’s a world of its own where magic is real, adventures are around every corner, and where everyone, no matter their age, can find something to smile about. It’s a place where dreams come true, and that’s why so many people from all over the world visit it year after year.

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17 Reasons Why I Absolutely Love Walt Disney World

Since I first visited Walt Disney World at the age of four, it has been one of my favorite places on planet Earth. Disney World disability access is fantastic and there’s just something magical about rolling right down the middle of Main Street USA toward Cinderella’s castle, while the aroma of Mickey ice cream bars and popcorn fills the air. I honestly never feel more at home than in that moment and I’m incredibly tempted to book the next flight to Orlando, Florida, just from typing that last sentence.

Disney World disability access, and why I keep going back:

1. it brings back childhood memories.

2. There are 4 different theme parks to choose from

The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom

3. The Walt Disney World Resort is Basically an Entire City

4. free transportation.

5. The hotels and resorts make me want to permanently move in

Accessible bathroom at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

6. Many of the rides are wheelchair accessible

You can see elephants on the wheelchair accessible Kilimanjaro Safari

7. The Disney Access Service is tremendously helpful

8. The food is deliciously mouth-watering

Mini kitchen sink at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Ratatouille at Be Our Guest Restaurant

9. Dole Whip. Need I say more?!

10. The Cast Members are some of the friendliest people on planet Earth

With one of the waitresses at Via Napoli at Epcot

11. Companion care restrooms are readily available

12. You can travel around the world (without your passport)

Looking out at Epcot’s World Showcase

13. You can meet your childhood (or adulthood) idols

With Merida from the Disney movie Brave

14. It doesn’t have to be a holiday for you to see a parade

15. The nighttime shows are so good they’ll make you cry (happy tears, of course)

16. The parks are constantly expanding and growing

17. Because why not?!

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After being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, Cory's thirst for adventure never ceased. He went on many trips around the US when he was younger, and then started taking things internationally when he turned fifteen. Since then, Cory has traveled around the world, all while managing to successfully graduate college and start up his travel blog curbfreewithcorylee.com, where he shares his accessible, and sometimes not so accessible, travel adventures with others. Through this, he hopes to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zone and see all of the beauty that the world has to offer.

• Exploring Sonoma Valley, California as a Wheelchair User
• A Wheelchair Accessible Guide to Yosemite National Park (and Tuolumne County)
• 8 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Pensacola, Florida

that’s so awesome. thank you for sharing these photos. I’ve wanted to go back for a long time I know there was so much I missed doing while there. we went to the adult Disney at night too.

Daily (or more often) parades are an amazing reason to visit WDW. Well done.

Awww, Cory, what a cute picture of you! Disney is best visited in one’s childhood for the full magical experience. I visited Disneyland as an adult and it was a bit disappointing because it was not near as big as it was in my mind.

Wow! Thank you for sharing this post! Seems you really had an amazing experience in Walt Disney World! I love all of the photos, also the must do and the must eat. Indeed the happy place on Earth!

Simply majestic! Out and out amazing!

There really are so many reasons to visit Disney World and you captured this so well. I particularly agree with the final one! Because why not? I think that many people think they would not enjoy the parks but if they even visit once they are hooked. Where else can you visit 11 countries in one day and still make it back to Magic Kingdom for a Dole Whip?

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First Trip To Disney World Essay Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Disney , World , Family , Resort , Experience , Kingdom , Florida , Parents

Published: 10/23/2020

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I have been wishing to visit Walt Disney Resort World in Orlando, Florida for as long as I can remember. Finally, I got the chance to explore it last summer. My parents granted my wish because I had really good grades. They said it is their form of reward for performing well in school. I was more than glad to accept it. It has been the coolest summer because of my Walt Disney experience. This magical place comprises of Disney Blizzard Beach, Epcot, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney Quest, and many others. This paper is a descriptive discussion on the different attractions that Walt Disney Resort World located in Orlando, Florida. I just had to visit Magic Kingdom first because I have heard numerous wonderful comments about it from some of my friends. I must admit that I was amazed by the six bewitching lands with several magical fascinations, jam-packed with thrilling explorations and fairy tale standards. To see all the sights would take one whole day. I thought that it was like a combination of every other park around the entire place. The jungle cruise and splash mountain offered the most exciting rides ever. I also liked the roller coaster ride, but Splash Mountain was better because of its dark setting. I was thankful that at that time, the entire Disney world was not that jam-packed with people because I felt free and comfortable for the entire day. And so I had to visit the next on my list of which was Epcot. The wonderful rides that these two parks offer are truly amazing. It’s definitely one of the things that I would like to experience repeatedly. Animal Kingdom presented a lot of interesting animals through wandering in Expedition Everest, Kali River, but the one that made me thrilled most was the Dinosaur and Primeval world. My parents insisted that we should go to Typhoon Lagoon. I was apprehensive at first, but when I saw the place, it gave me a different pleasure. As soon as the family looked at the wave pool, everyone wanted to try it. The storm slides and the falls were all astonishing. As my family roam around to other places, Disney characters would appear and I would readily take it as an opportunity to take pictures with them. There so many things to buy that my parent were kind of upset because I have been demanding for them to but me some souvenir items so that I could give them to some of my friends. Aside from pictures, I would like to have some things that would really prove to my classmates and friends that I have been to the happiest place on Earth. And because of all the walks and wandering around the huge place, it would really make one hungry. However, we discovered that the prices of the food were quite expensive. Luckily my parents brought food with them and so I think it did not affect their budget that much. The transportation scheme of the place provided convenience for customers. It offered comfortable services in terms of taking the customer where anyone would one desires to go next. There are numerous things that any groups of people could do, but I would like to comment that the attractions are so spread out from each other and maybe this place was not really designed for elderlies. If anyone wants to pay a visit and do it for just one day, then one would likely be frustrated. For the reason that an entire day would not be enough for any person to enjoy all or at least most of the main attractions of the Walt Disney Resort World, it means one should be willing to spend a couple of days to be able to lavish or really enjoy the whole experience because that was exactly what my family did. The whole Disney experience motivated me to save more money because I would definitely want to go back at Walt Disney Resort World in Orlando Florida. There were other rides and other attractions that we were not able to explore because we ran out of passes and cash. I have been constantly telling my friend and anyone I know about my experience there and I am really looking forward to the day that I would visit that magical place again.

References:

West Jet Vacations. (n.d.) Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Retrieved from http://www.westjet.com/vacations/en/destinations/destination- overview.shtml?id=DFLOWDW

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The mind-boggling scale of Disney World

The happiest place on earth, explained by the numbers.

by Whizy Kim

Additional reporting by Rachel DuRose | Data Visualization by Andrew Walters for Vox

There’s no place on earth like Disney World. To call it merely “big” is like saying Warren Buffett is “financially comfortable” — such an understatement that it’s almost inaccurate. It’s far and away the largest and most visited theme park on the planet, welcoming tens of millions of visitors every year.

This article was funded in part by gifts from Vox contributors.

You can help us make more work like this and keep it free for everybody by making a gift at Vox.com/givenow .

Walt Disney’s original vision wasn’t to turn Florida swampland into an amusement park so much as to create a shining model of future cities. While that plan was never fulfilled, its influence is evident in the sheer scale. Disney World currently lists more than 280 attractions and more than 380 restaurants, bars, lounges, food trucks, and stands. It has four golf courses and a 9,500-seat baseball stadium. It even has its own movie theater.

Here’s how big Disney World really is.

This empire has welcomed masses of Disney-goers since opening day on October 1, 1971, when the park saw just 10,000 or so visitors . In 2022 — half a century later — over 47 million people made the pilgrimage despite rising admission, lodging, and dining prices. The most fervent fans visit Orlando practically every chance they get, even running marathons and throwing weddings (sometimes several weddings ) there. The introduction of “ Disney adult ” into the internet lexicon has made clear that Disney World isn’t just a vacation but a lifestyle.

Disney World has only gotten more expensive over the years, and it may be especially out of reach now, with so many Americans tightening their wallets amid high inflation. Rather than forgoing a Disney visit altogether, families are booking shorter trips. Sue Pisaturo, founder of the Disney vacation planning firm Small World Vacations , says that her agents are booking more five-night trips, instead of seven-night ones, with families spending an average of $4,000, not including airfare. Midrange and value resorts at Disney are seeing more interest than a luxury, high-end one like the Grand Floridian .

“In order to even go to Disney World, you almost have to be at a certain level of income,” Wolfe says. If Disney continues to increase prices at a higher rate than inflation, “you’re going to continue to see people priced out.”

These hefty price hikes have worked for the company’s bottom line — after a few shaky years, it’s now making more money from its theme parks than it did before 2020.

Disney travel planners and experts tell Vox that the price of food in particular has swelled. “Food gets a price hike about twice a year, with the big price hike coming in October,” says A.J. Wolfe, founder of the Disney Food Blog . During the pandemic , Disney World’s popular dining plan was put on pause, and the company only recently announced that the money-saving option would return in January 2024.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Disney World created Central Florida’s booming hospitality industry. Today, Orlando — also home to Universal Studios and SeaWorld — is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the US. But the industry’s profits haven’t translated to prosperity, or even economic security, for many of the area’s workers and residents.

Tales of Disney World employees experiencing homelessness are disturbingly common, especially as the Orlando region’s housing prices keep rising. Jessica, a former performer at Disney World who asked that we use only her first name to protect her privacy, says that housing insecurity was common among her colleagues — and it was something she experienced, too.

“There was a significant amount of time where I was employed working full-time hours and I was actually homeless, living in my car in the Magic Kingdom parking lot,” she tells Vox. She worked multiple jobs during this period to try to stay afloat, and claimed that, at the time she worked there in the 2010s, Universal and SeaWorld paid more.

The story of Disney World is in many ways the story of Florida. The theme park is built to be a seemingly boundless Garden of Eden — the happiest place on earth, nestled within the Sunshine State — but the reality is a lot stormier.

Sources: Reedy Creek Improvement District , the Bureau of Labor Statistics , Walt Disney World Resort , Walt Disney Company annual reports, AECOM , Disney Food Blog , AllEars.net , TouringPlans.com , Retro WDW , Small World Vacations , Services Trade Council Union , MIT Living Wage Calculator , National Low Income Housing Coalition

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First Time Beginner’s Guide to Disney World (15 minute crash course)

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With so many Rides, Shows, and Attractions, it can be hard to know where to start at Disney World in Orlando Florida (Disneyland is in California, and offers different things!).

This is a comprehensive guide that covers all the basics about Disney World. If you’re familiar with Walt Disney World, this information is probably unnecessary. If your new to Disney, then this is the place to be.

Disney is a vacation packed full of so many options, from great rides at the four Theme Parks, to water fun at the Water Parks and Resorts, to Character Memories, fun Entertainment and Nighttime Fireworks Celebrations.

Refer to the Table of Contents below to jump around to areas you’d like to learn more about.

Does Disney World do anything Special for First Time Visitors?

Yes! Disney World offers a ‘1st Visit’ button that you can wear to celebrate that occasion and let Cast Members (the Disney Employees) know that it’s your first time.

So let’s jump into some quick tips for first time Disney World visitors and then you can pick where you want to get started with all this information! If this is too much, simply save or share this page for later.

This post may contain affiliate links, read my full disclosure here.

Table of Contents for Disney World Guide

• Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered

The Best Times to go to Disney World

• How many days do you need at Disney
• What do you need to bring to your Disney World Vacation?
• Overview of the Parks
• Overview of Entertainment in the Parks
• All about Disney Resorts

Quick FAQs for Disney World

What should you do on your first visit to disney world.

You should make a Bucket List/ Cant Miss list!

Disney World is intense… there’s so much more to do and see (maybe that’s why we have so many websites and vlogs and content creators sharing the Disney fun!)

Creating a list of things you want to do will make planning much easier and make the vacation more fun . Here’s a list of Can’t Miss fun for most families , and a Can’t Miss list for little kids !

How Much does it cost to go to Disney World?

The average vacation in 2024 is going to cost around $5000 dollars for a Family of Four to go for 5 days (this includes tickets, lodging, a food budget and souvenirs but not travel costs to get to the parks) See the full breakdown for the costs (with examples!) on how to do Disney World on a tight (yet realistic!) budget.

Having a dollar sign in mind is a good way to make sure that you stay on track with your Disney World Vacation. This is such an exciting time and you want to make sure that you make the most of it. There are many money saving tips that can help with your magical vacation.

The Best Time to go to Disney World is the time that fits with your schedule!

Disney World is ‘always’ busy now on the weekends and many times throughout the week. There is no ‘slow’ season, though the months of January and September are typically slower months than others.

Walt Disney World is such a popular resort that it can get a little crowded.  

I’ve been on some of the busiest days of the year, and while it is still magical, it’s not very fun waiting in a two hour line ! What you can do is check the best weeks to go and pick the week that works best for your family! 

Some of the Best Months to go for lower crowds are:

• The beginning of May
• The second week in December

Some of the best times to enjoy the Parks for lower crowds are:

• In the Evenings- especially if they park is closing in a few hours or staying open very late
• In the Early Morning- especially if you have early morning hours available to you when you stay on Disney World property
• During the Week Days- it helps to look at the MyDisneyExperience App and check the wait times. While these are often inflated, they are a good predictor of crowd levels during your vacation.
• Magic Kingdom on days that a party is planned, and the regular park closes at 6. Many people skip this day because it doesn’t include fireworks, but it’s a great option if you have a park hopper or want to get up early and spend a good 10 hours at Magic Kingdom.

⭐ What is a Touring Plan, and why is it recommended to know the crowd level when planning a touring plan?

Touring Plans are detailed lists that tell you where to go for rides and attractions at what time. These rely heavily on park hours, expected crowd levels, and what rides/attractions your party wants to do. A common Touring Plan example is to rope drop Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom as the wait time is high during the day (or to make it your last ride of the night).

What do you need to pack for your Disney vacation?

Whether it’s your first time to Disney World or your hundredth, it pays to be prepared.

But what you need for your Disney vacation really depends on each person and family (and reason for the trip!) I do recommend getting a packing list together- at least a month ahead of time, so that way you can get everything you need.

This should include the following items:

• Number of Outfits x your vacation days + one opposite weather outfit (so a sweater if you come in the summer, or shorts if you come in the winter)
• Two pairs of Comfortable Walking Shoes
• Sun Protection including Hat, Sunglasses and Sunscreen
• A Park Bag or Park FannyPack, for you to bring into the parks with you
• Comfort Care items like lotion, lip balm, and first aid kits
• Toiletries and Cosmetics
• Disney Items like Mouse Ears, Signature Books, Pin Collections, Penny Collections

⭐ Does Disney World offer personal care items, clothing, or other commonly forgot items? Yes. Lots of these items are found inside the Parks. But for a full selection, head to the resorts. If you are at a Value resort and can’t find what you are looking for (And have talked to a Cast Member to confirm it’s not hiding somewhere), head to one of the Deluxe Resorts to check out there selections.

The top 3 items I recommend to everyone:

1. Portable Phone Charger – you phone WILL go dead using the MyDisney App, and some of the rides will drain your battery as your phone looks for signal. The alternative is good ole pencil and paper- just make sure you can access your plans and reservations for the day! You can also use the swappable batteries, see more about where to find those swappable battery locations at Disney here .

2. Insulated Water Bottle – It gets HOT at Disney. Even in the winter you are dealing with the sun, the wind and way too much walking. Animal Kingdom also doesn’t do straws or lids- so you need a water bottle to prevent spillage. 

3. Body Glide- This stuff is phenomenal. I use it for anywhere my skin might get irritation (like shoes in sneakers or thighs in shorts). Its only a few bucks, so better to have it and not need it- then need it and not have it!

And if your headed to Disney World for a Birthday Celebration , consider what you want to pack, versus what you want to buy when you get there.

How many days should you plan for your Disney World Trip?

Most people will find that a First Time Disney Vacation is exciting and exhausting! There’s so much to see and do, and you cannot possibly get it all done in one trip (or even two!)

Most families will benefit from 3-5 days inside the Parks.

But there’s a lot of ways to do Disney! You could do two days inside Magic Kingdom, and one day at EPCOT. You could just do two days at Magic Kingdom and make it a long weekend. You could hit up all four parks, or two days at Disney and two days at Universal.

Tips for Disney World Tickets

If you are visiting for the first time, a standard ticket would be the most appropriate versus an annual pass- you can pick how many base days you’d like to have.

Recommended time at the resort is 6 days 5 nights . This gives you 4 days in the parks, and then your arrival and departure day. Some families will benefit from a ‘no park’ day in the middle of their week to relax, and take in the amenities at the hotel (and possibly recover from sunburn or dehydration that is so prone to Disney trips!)

There are some pros and cons to only doing Magic Kingdom in one day , but most people will find that with a bucket list, their one day trip is enough!

➡️ You will need a Park Reservation for some tickets and passes. To schedule a park ticket, head over to Disney World here and secure your dates (its better to have a date/park secured and change later than not have one at all!)

What’s not recommended:

-Having a Ticket for Arrival or Departure day (there is plenty to do that doesn’t require a ticket!) Unless you are going for something specific. Most people will benefit from resting on Arrival and Departure day.

-Park Hopper Tickets if you are staying for more than 4 days. If you plan to go to all the parks anyways, there’s no need to add the Park Hopper. I would recommend this if you are doing less than 3 days. Keep in mind that hopping parks can take some time (between 45-90 minutes) that may be better spent in the parks.

-Not getting the Park Hopper if you can only come for 1-3 days. The Park Hopper here will help you take advantage of all the staggered opening and closing times to get the most out of your ticket.

-Purchasing from somewhere like eBay- I would hate for your ticket not to work when you arrived

Overview of the Disney Parks

There’s no Harry Potter, Charizard or Daffy Ducks at Disney World my friends. But we do have 6 Theme Parks (4 Main Ones and 2 Water Parks). Disney World is the size of San Francisco, or double the size of Manhattan. And its also located in Florida, in Orlando. There’s a lot going on here!

Disney also has an amazing amount of themed resorts and restaurants that I also recommend you check out! You can peek around the resorts as a guest and eat at any of the locations on property – most require a reservation but they aren’t hard to get. 

Quick Note about Transportation at Disney World

Or said better, How to get where you need to go on Vacation!

⭐ Is Disney Transportation available to all guests, including those not staying on property? Yes! Respectfully of course, but you can hop on the Skyliner, or take the Monorail, or catch a boat without needing to stay on property. This is a fun option on your ‘no-park-ticket’ day, and here’s everything you can do at Disney World without a Park Ticket.

⭐How long does Disney Transportation take? Maybe the most important question of this entire post! Transportation can be quick, kinda slow, or completely closed. You might miss reservations or get stuck for an hour waiting for a bus. While most of it is free to use, it’s a gamble on the time requirements, so plan to give yourself extra time.

Complimentary Transportation Options:

• The Buses (available at most Disney Resorts, and will pop up if there is severe weather and you can’t take the Skyliner, Boats or Monorail)
• The Monorail. Three lines operate at Disney World. One takes you to and from EPCOT to the Ticket and Transportation Center. One takes you straight from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom and back again. The Last Line makes 5 stops. The Transportation and Ticket Center, The Contemporary Resort, Magic Kingdom, The Grand Floridian Resort, The Polynesian Resort.
• The Ferry Boat takes you from Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center and back.
• The Friendship Boats operate for the Hollywood Studios/EPCOT water front resorts, Between Disney Springs and Port Orleans Resort, and for the Magic Kingdom Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts.
• The Skyliner has three lines. One line goes from the Depot to Hollywood Studios and back (Caribbean Beach is where the depot is located). One line goes from the EPCOT Boardwalk (it’s the second EPCOT entrance called the International Gateway), to Riveria Resort to the Depot. The third line runs from Art of Animation/POP Century Resort to the Skyliner Depot.
• Parking at Disney Springs or the Water Parks and Mini Golf locations.

Paid Transportation Options:

• Parking at Disney World Parks. This is included if you have paid to park at a Disney World resort. There is a tram at several of the parking lots that takes you to the front.
• Minnie Vans, which are a partnership between Lyft Rideshare and Disney World. These are Disney employees who pick you up in a red and black polka dot ‘van’.

The Parks at Disney World

Disney World has four Major Parks, two Water Parks, and then Disney Springs.

Magic Kingdom

The Iconic Cinderella Castle and Main Street U.S.A. are just two of the notable landmarks at Magic Kingdom. This is the Number One Park at Disney World and at full capacity (so really busy with lots of long lines!) it can take a Visitor almost 20 hours to complete the rides and attractions.

Magic Kingdom hosts lots of other amazing attractions like Space Mountain, Fantasy Land and Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Not to mention, Magic Kingdom is also home to lots of character meet and greets and the amazing fireworks display at the end of the night. Seeing the Castle lit up is a magical experience that the whole family can enjoy, and one of the highlights of any Disney trip. 

Hollywood Studios 

Hollywood studios used to be considered among us Disney Goers as the ‘one day park’ because it was something that we could just hit up our favorite attractions and then catch dinner somewhere else on the resort. This is certainly not the case anymore though! 

If you follow Disney news at all, you’ll see that Hollywood Studios has been revamped lately to include Star Wars, Toy Story Land, Beauty and the Beast and the Disney Junior Characters.

This is exciting news because it takes this park and gives it a much needed update. If you’ve never been (or it’s been a reallyyyyy long time) don’t bypass Hollywood Studios because of old reviews. This is definitely a park you want to visit for all your movie and TV needs!

Epcot is the infamous park that houses all the other countries. The park actually has two sections, Worlds Celebration, Nature and Discovery at the Front of the Park and World Showcase around the lake (it’s a giant circle). 

The World Showcase is where you’ll find many scenic views, easy going rides and of course, the eleven countries with authentic gifts and cuisine. I love to go on Date nights to “Britain” or “Japan”-  it’s so amazing that we can step into another country without leaving Disney! 

With few exceptions, the World Showcase doesn’t open up till 11 for shops and drinks, but you can catch the Shops, Attractions and Food at the front of the park when the park opens. Options like the Soarin’ ride, Finding Nemo, Mission: Space and Test Track are great ways to start the day (and Frozen in Norway plus Ratatouille in France open when the park does!)

Epcot is also home to Festivals throughout the year. We have the Festival of the Arts to start the year, followed by the Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring and Early Summer. Then Food and Wine Festival in the Fall and The Festival of the Holidays to round out the year.

Animal Kingdom 

Animal Kingdom is where the animals are, seriously. With more than 500 acres and 1700 animals, it’s considered to be the largest theme park in the world! This makes for quite the adventure when it comes to planning your day as you won’t be able to see everything in one go. 

There’s several sections to Animal Kingdom, the newest of which is the Pandora land based off the movie Avatar. Some of the other sections, which are called ‘lands’ include Asia, Africa, Dinoland, Rafiki’s Planet Watch and Discovery Island.

Since Animal Kingdom is so large, it’s good to plan for exactly one day here and still pick your ‘must see’ items! The Thrill rides here tend to fill up quickly, just like at the other parks (namely Avatar Flight of Passage and Everest, plus sometimes slower Family Fun rides like Navi River Journey and the Animal Safari)

Animal Kingdom generally opens earlier than most of the parks, and it’s a great park to ‘Rope Drop’ (or show up before it opens!). Then you can leave around Dinner time to another park, Disney Springs or eat at the Resort.

The Water Parks

Disney has two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Both of these have lots of fun water activities with their own unique themes. 

Typhoon Lagoon is a tropical getaway filled with water rides the whole family can enjoy! It also features a kiddy play area and thrill rides for the older kids! 

Blizzard Beach takes a different spin on theming, think ski resort that has melted into summer water fun! Blizzard beach also has several options for everyone in the family, from kid sized water slides to one of the world’s tallest and fastest water rides!

Disney Springs 

Disney Springs was previously called Downtown Disney and if you look at old reviews or message boards it’s easy to get confused about where Downtown Disney went! 

It did get a major facelift and a new name. Most notably, it received lots of new parking, a slew of new stores (many of which are designer names) and several new restaurants.

Disney Springs is:

• Free to Park at
• Free to Enter
• Normally low crowd, but crowded on Weekends, Holidays and High Crowd Park Days

Notable Entertainment Offerings at Disney World

I get this question from Disney Vacationers all the time- “What is there to do at Disney?”

There is SO MUCH to do at Disney World that you simply can’t do it all! What I wanted to do was break down the basics for you!

There’s lots of Characters at Disney

You can meet the characters a few different ways. 

• 1.By going to the Character Meet and Greets inside the Parks, these are marked on the Map
• 2.By Scheduling a Character Dining Experience.
• 3. By purchasing a Special Event Ticket
• 4. By stumbling upon an unmarked Character Meet and Greet
• 5. By meeting Characters at the Resorts as they tour around to different locations daily

Some of the Characters you can meet in the parks are:

• Mickey Mouse
• Joy (Inside Out)
• Donald Duck
• Winnie the Pooh and Tiger
• Tinker Bell
• And SOOOO many more!

Character Dining is a great way to meet your favorite Pals! If you’re interested in how to meet characters without a ticket check out this helpful guide! 

Disney LOVES parades. They have a parade for everything it seems like! They even have one when it RAINS!

Don’t forget that Disney World also has seasonal parades for Halloween and Christmas. They go all out with these, as typically they are only shown for a separate ticketed event (like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas)

Here’s some of the memorable ones you can expect at Magic Kingdom:

Main Street Trolley Show

This happens in the mornings at Magic Kingdom, kind of like their welcoming act to bring you into the park! It’s a very “Mary Poppins” themed show, and oh so cute! 

Disney Festival Of Fantasy Parade

Featured so many Favorites, catch this show on Main Street USA during the day. Typically you’ll find this show at 12 pm and 3 pm, but check the app for updated times during your trip.

FireWork and Nighttime Shows

You can find FireWorks Displays at three Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT!

At Magic Kingdom, you’ll get to see Happily Ever After, typically at 9pm. You can best see this is you can see the Castle, but I also enjoy the Fireworks without the Castle Display by hanging out in FantasyLand.

At Hollywood Studios, line up for Fantasmic, with shows typically starting at 9pm nightly. This is in a Theater, so you’ll need to head down Sunset Blvd and join the crowd to see this performance. There’s minor Fireworks during the Visual Display broadcasted on the Chinese Theater.

At EPCOT, gather around World Showcase for a fun Visual and Auditory Show that you can see all around the lake. It’s an easy watch, and generally low crowd.

Nightlife and Nighttime Activities at Disney

Some would say that I saved the best for last- and that is probably the case! If we were going to cover ALL of the options for entertainment after dark at Disney we would be here awhile. Let’s look at some of the favorites! 

Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs)

Disney is not just for kids! Especially Downtown Disney, which was built more with the adult in mind. You can shop and enjoy Dinner, then grab drinks on the water. 

You’ve got several options to choose from. One of the newest additions is The Edison, which has flapper style dancers, a DJ and music floor. The Hangar Bar has lots of games to play over drinks, and Paradiso 37 will have you dancing to Latin Music all night long! Bar hopping is another favorite, with almost 10 places to choose from it can be a fun weekend night! 

The BoardWalk

If you want to stay near the resorts, definitely check out the Disney BoardWalk. Not only is it absolutely picturesque in the evenings with live musicians and plenty of restaurants, but it also hosts some 21 and up venues. 

Jellyrolls is famous for their dueling piano competitions- truly a must see experience. Then you have a Dance Venue featuring hits from the 80s and 90s. 

Disney World Resorts

Now, let’s talk about the resorts. Disney World has 36 resort hotels on the grounds, 26 of which are owned and operated by Disney.

The Resorts are set up in a tier system. What this means is that each resort falls under one of three categories. The categories for the Walt Disney World Resorts are Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, and Deluxe. These tiers are based on the resorts sizes, amenities, transportation options and price. 

Value Resorts 

We’ll start with the Value Resorts. These are the least expensive of the Walt Disney Resorts but they don’t lack in magical experience!

They all have a dining area, stocked with various goodies (and yes, they accommodate allergies!) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the gift area sections they have the standard souvenirs like coffee cups and towels while they also have snacks and drinks. 

All of the Disney Value resorts have the usual conveniences you would expect at a Disney hotel. Mail, laundry, dry-cleaning, complimentary wi-fi, airline check-in, designated smoking areas, and ATMs. 

The Value Resorts also have some other amenities like the pools and a jogging trail. While the pools don’t have slides, they do have poolside activities that happen throughout the day. Other cool options for the value resorts are the indoor arcades and the playgrounds.

The two best perks of the Walt Disney World Resorts are the free transportation and the Extra Magic Hours. 

The transportation and extra magic hours are the main reason we stay at Disney so often even though we live right up the road! Because you really can’t go wrong with the list of amenities, the adorable themes and the perks of transportation and extra magic hours that you get by staying on-site at  the Disney World Value Resort hotels.

Moderate Resorts 

The next tier up is the Moderate Resorts and these are some of my favorites! The moderate resorts at Walt Disney World Resort provide some of the best options for the price. Plus the blend of affordability and amenities make Moderate Resorts a great options for most families.

While the Value Resorts focus more on cartoonish theming- The Moderate Resorts focus more on cultural themes. They offer all the amenities of the Value resorts with some nice additions! 

Disney’s Port Orleans offers horse-drawn carriage rides, bike rentals and catch-and-release fishing. Disney’s Caribbean Beach offers a pirates adventure cruise, bike rentals, sand volleyball and catch-and-release fishing. Disney’s Coronado Springs offers bike rentals and sand volleyball. They also have nicer themed room with queen sized beds (value resorts have the full sized beds). 

Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas

Staying at a Deluxe Resort is similar to the name, its where Disney goes above and beyond! These rooms tend to be a little bigger than most other rooms on the grounds, and they have more amenities. 

So you get all of the perks of the other tiers, with some nice additions like valet parking, higher quality dining on site and more recreation choices at the resort. This takes your Disney vacation from regular to extraordinary! 

My favorite part about staying at the Deluxe resorts is how much closer they are to the parks, and transportation also seems to move a lot faster from these resorts (maybe its in my head… but I do feel that way!). We tend to save the Deluxe Resorts for special occasions, like honeymoons, but we’ve taken the kids before and their were lots of other kids there too! 

The Deluxe Villas are similar to the resorts, but they sleep way more people! Most of these are also at a different location than the other Deluxe properties, but still full of the same amenities. 

Disney Resort Features 

So now that you have a general understanding of the what and where, let’s compare some of the basic features of all the resorts. 

The value resorts have double beds that sleep four, whereas the Moderate and Deluxe resorts have queen beds. King Sized beds can be found sprinkled throughout the resorts, you just have to hunt to find them! 

Food Options

The value and moderate resorts have food court style options- which is great for a large family of picky eaters, but the Deluxe resorts only have one quick service option that can be limiting on food choices. Both the Moderate and Deluxe have Table Dining options that help to add to the ambience of finer vacationing. Deluxe resorts also offer Signature and Character dining as part of their 5 star service.

Transportation 

For the most part, the value and moderate resorts only options are the buses. There are three moderate resorts that have the Water Taxi boat service and those are Ports Orleans Riverside, French Quarter and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. The Deluxe Resorts have several more transportation options, like the monorail, boat taxis and walking. You can also call a ‘Minnie Van’ from any of the resorts (and they come with two car seats!) You’ve got options! 

Every resort on Disney property has a pool (thank goodness, because Florida is hot!) but the types of pools differ across the tiers. 

The value pools are, well, value based (but your kids won’t mind, I promise!). They don’t have anything fancy besides some theming and poolside activities that Disney Cast members run. 

The moderate pools are absolutely a step up. Here the theming is top quality and you’ve got water slides!! 

So how can the Deluxe pools beat water slides? With even bigger water slides, of course! They also have more pool options to choose from, which limits the amount of loud rowdy teenagers you might run into on your afternoon swim. 

How far in advance should you book a Disney World trip?

As soon as possible! Disney Rooms can normally be book over a year in advance, and park reservations can be book 365 days in advance!

Is it cheaper to stay on Disney Property?

Honestly, most of the time, not really–though you can get some good deals with the value resorts, what you’re really paying for is convenience and the experience. There are definite perks, the biggest of which is being so close to the parks. You’ll have to decide what’s right for you and your family!

How much money should I bring to Disney World?

It kinda depends on your budget and how much you plan on eating at the Parks. A single person can easily spend 100 dollars on food and drink for one day at Disney World. Budgeting 150+ per person, per day for food, drinks plus a souvenir budget (like 100 per person for the trip) is reasonable.

So there you have it, folks, just about everything a beginner needs to know (and then some!) about planning their first trip to Disney World!

If you’re a first time Disney World visitor, I know it can be a little overwhelming, but remember that priority number one is to have fun! You’re not going to be able to do and see everything, so make a plan and let the good times roll!

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A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World this year

Editor's Note

If you want to know how to plan a trip to Disney World, you've come to the right place. This guide includes tips for choosing the right Disney World hotel for your budget, deciding which ticket type is right for you, determining which extras are worth splurging on and planning a trip that's fun and memorable without too much stress along the way.

Disney World offers four theme parks; two water parks; more than 25 on-site hotels; over 200 dining locations; and more attractions, experiences, shows and shops than we can list here. So, the best way to build a magical Disney World vacation is with planning, preparation and realistic expectations.

Planning a trip to Disney World should be fun and build excitement for your upcoming trip, and this guide can help.

How to start planning your trip to Disney World

There are a few questions you will want to answer early in the process of planning your Disney World vacation:

• What is your budget? Your budget will determine most other factors of your vacation, including where you stay and how many days you visit. How much it will cost you to go to Disney World can vary widely based on the choices you make.
• When will you go? You may be at the mercy of work or school schedules, but if you have the flexibility, you can plan your trip when crowds are smaller or the weather is better. The summer can be very hot and rainy. The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of the busiest, and weekdays when most kids are in school are often the least busy days.
• Where will you stay? You will typically pay more to stay in one of Disney's on-site hotels, especially at the moderate and deluxe tiers, but you'll also get perks like early theme park entry. Before you choose, you'll want to consider your budget, whether you want a themed room like the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and if you want to be near a certain Disney park. Pro tip: Renting Disney Vacation Club points can help you stay at a deluxe hotel for a moderate price.
• Which parks will you visit on which days? Depending on the length of your vacation, you may need to prioritize which parks you plan to visit. This will also influence whether you purchase one-park-per-day or Park Hopper tickets that allow you to visit multiple parks daily. If you have little kids, be sure your family will have the stamina for multiple parks per day before shelling out the extra cash to hop.
• Where will you dine? Popular Disney dining reservations get snatched up almost as soon as they become available. You'll want to plan ahead for any character dining or other table service restaurants, so you don't miss out.

It is important to book your hotel, dining and theme park tickets as early as possible for the best rates and availability. Disney also periodically releases special offers on hotels and vacation packages that you can often apply even if you have already made your reservations.

Related: Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?

We will dig deeper into each of these topics in this guide. Once you have a rough outline of your vacation based on the questions above, here are important dates to keep in mind so you can make your Disney dream a reality.

How soon can you book a Disney World hotel?

Disney releases hotel availability periodically, so there is no exact date that Disney hotel reservations become available. You can currently book Disney World hotel stays through Oct. 31, 2025.

Disney typically opens reservations for the following year around May or June, so you can expect to see 2026 availability around that time next year. If your plans change, you can cancel your room-only reservation up to five days before arrival for a full refund. Ticket and hotel vacation packages must be canceled 30 days before arrival to receive a full refund.

When can you purchase Disney World tickets?

Disney World tickets follow the same availability calendar as Disney hotel reservations. You can purchase tickets (or vacation packages including a hotel and tickets) through Oct. 31, 2025. Disney typically releases tickets for the following year around May or June, so you can expect to see 2026 availability around that time next year.

All tickets are date-based, and the price of one-day tickets also varies by park. You can purchase your tickets any time before you visit; the price won't change regardless of how long you wait. Theme park tickets are nonrefundable, but you may be able to change your ticket date if your plans change.

When do Disney World dining reservations become available?

You can begin making dining reservations 60 days prior to your visit. If you are staying in a Disney World hotel, you can make dining reservations 60 days before your check-in day for your entire stay (up to 14 days).

Reservations open on Disney's website or the My Disney Experience app between 5:45 a.m. and 6 a.m. EST, or you can call 407-939-DINE beginning at 7 a.m. EST; however, coveted reservations may already be snatched up by that time. You can cancel most Disney World dining reservations up to two hours before your reservation. Exceptions will be noted in the confirmation email you receive at the time of booking.

If you're not yet sure where to eat, here are our favorite restaurants at Disney World .

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

What are the 4 parks at Disney World?

Each of Disney World's four theme parks is uniquely themed and packed with fun. You can learn more about each park — including attractions, shows, parade times and interactive maps to help you find your way around — in the My Disney Experience app.

Here's a bit more information about each and some tips for choosing the right ticket type to visit them all.

Magic Kingdom

Open since 1971, Magic Kingdom is Disney World's original theme park. This park is a world of fairy tales and fantasy, where you'll find five themed lands: Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square.

Magic Kingdom is home to some of Disney's most iconic attractions, including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan's Flight and the Haunted Mansion. It also has exciting new rides like Tron Lightcycle / Run and the park's newest ride, Tiana's Bayou Adventure .

Epcot opened in 1982 and has changed drastically in the four decades since. Epcot's core purpose, however, hasn't changed: sparking visitors' imaginations through science, technology, nature and the human experience. The park is sectioned into "neighborhoods" — World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery and World Showcase. You can visit pavilions that celebrate the arts, culture and customs of 11 countries around the world.

There are many new things to see at Epcot, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and the all-new fireworks spectacular, Luminous: The Symphony of Us .

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios is a movie-themed park that has lands and attractions inspired by blockbuster films and beloved Disney characters. In Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge , you can pilot the Millennium Falcon and meet familiar (and sometimes furry) faces like Kylo Ren, Chewbacca and Rey.

In Toy Story Land, visitors shrink to the size of Woody, Buzz, Jessie (who you can meet here, by the way) and Andy's other toys. The land's Slinky Dog Dash coaster is a family-friendly ride that's perfect for a kid's first roller coaster.

Outside of the lands themed to specific films, much of the park evokes an old Hollywood glamour that makes you feel like a bona fide movie star. In these areas, you'll find some of the park's most iconic shows and attractions are also some of its longest-running; these include The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drop ride, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular .

Disney's Animal Kingdom

More than 2,000 animals — from about 300 species — call Disney's Animal Kingdom "home," but this is not a zoo. However, you can visit many of these animals via walking trails, the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride and even a petting zoo.

In addition to the creatures and landscapes found on Earth, you can visit another planet at Pandora — The World of Avatar or go back in time at DinoLand U.S.A. The animals aren't the only things that are "wild" at Animal Kingdom. Expedition Everest is a thrilling coaster; Avatar Flight of Passage puts you on the back of a banshee as you fly over Pandora; and Dinosaur sends you careening through the Cretaceous period in an off-road vehicle.

What type of Disney tickets should I buy?

Disney world base tickets.

You can purchase one-day or multiday Disney World tickets. All tickets are date-based, and the price varies depending on the date of your visit. If you purchase a one-day ticket, the price will also vary based on which park you plan to visit, with Magic Kingdom being the most expensive.

Disney World Park Hopper tickets

A base ticket only gets you into one park per day. If you want to visit multiple parks on the same day, you will need to purchase the Park Hopper option with your ticket. (You can also add it on in person after you arrive.) You can save money by only visiting one park per day, but it does limit how much you can see and do during your vacation.

A Park Hopper Plus ticket includes two visits to either Disney's golf courses, miniature golf courses or water parks. However, this is only worth it if you know you will use it all.

Disney World special event tickets

Some of Disney's after-hours events , like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party , require a separate ticket. The park is only open to guests with special event tickets during these events. If you plan on visiting for one of these parties, you may be able to forgo a general admission ticket that day and utilize your special event ticket, as you can usually get into the park a few hours before the party starts.

Disney World ticket add-ons

There are two major ticket add-ons that you should consider. Both can be worth it, but they will increase the cost of your vacation.

The first add-on you might want to strongly consider is Lightning Lane passes . By purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can skip the standby line and enjoy shorter wait times for most Disney World rides. However, a handful of attractions at each park require a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass purchase to skip the line. (Read more about Lightning Lane passes in the section on saving time in line further along in this guide.)

Another popular add-on is Disney's Memory Maker . Memory Maker gives you unlimited downloads of pictures taken by PhotoPass photographers during your vacation and on-ride photos. You can purchase a one-day Memory Maker for short visits or a multiday Memory Maker that covers your entire vacation. You can save $25 on a multiday Memory Maker when you purchase it at least three days prior to your visit, so it's best to purchase it when you buy your tickets.

How to get discounted Disney World tickets

Aside from Disney's own discounts, you can sometimes save money on Disney tickets by purchasing them from an authorized third-party reseller. There are a few reputable sources out there for Disney World tickets, but our go-to is Undercover Tourist .

Depending on your ticket type, you can usually save between $5 and $100. One of the best ways to save money with Undercover Tourist is when Disney World raises ticket prices , which usually happens at least once per year. Undercover Tourist typically has a limited amount of existing ticket stock available at the old prices while supplies last.

Related: Disney World discounts: Get a free Park Hopper ticket upgrade, hotel savings and more

If you are a Florida resident or an active or retired U.S. military member , there are generously discounted Disney World tickets available directly through Disney's website.

You can also use points or miles to pay for your Disney tickets , and that's a strategy we strongly recommend to keep costs down. For example, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , you can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of having the card, plus a $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year. You can use those 75,000 miles as the same as $750 toward travel .

While ticket-only packages from Disney World typically don't code as a travel charge, buying them from Undercover Tourist — or as part of a larger hotel and ticket package directly from Disney — typically does code as a travel charge. So, you could save $750 just like that.

Is booking a Disney vacation package a good idea?

If you are staying in one of Disney World's on-site hotels or a certified " Disney World Good Neighbor " hotel, you have the option to bundle your hotel stay and theme park tickets into a Disney vacation package. Normally, these packages are not discounted, but they can be a great value if Disney runs any special vacation package promotions .

Aside from discounts (and the fact that it all likely codes as a travel charge for point-redemption purposes), there's one major reason to book a vacation package: When you purchase your tickets and hotel together, you only have to pay a $200 deposit at the time of booking. Payment in full is due 30 days prior to arrival. If you purchase your tickets separately from your hotel stay, you will have to pay the full amount at the time of purchase.

This is another great example of why you should book through an authorized Disney travel planner who can compare prices for you and keep an eye out for discounts.

When is the best time to visit Disney World?

Do you want the lowest crowds or the best weather? Do you want to attend a Halloween party or see Magic Kingdom's 65-foot-tall Christmas tree ?

The best time to visit Disney World depends on your reason for visiting.

If you want moderate temperatures and less chance of rain, you may want to plan your visit between October and December. If you want shorter waits, your best bets are late January, early May or just after Thanksgiving before the crowds descend upon the parks for winter break. Of course, regular weekdays typically see lower crowds than weekends and school breaks.

If you are planning a Disney World vacation on a budget, opt for midweek dates in August and September 2024, when prices start at $109 for a one-day ticket.

Read our full guide on the best times to visit Walt Disney World .

What's the best way to get to Disney World?

Getting to Orlando and getting to Disney World after arriving are two different topics, so let's look at each.

What is the closest airport?

The closest airport to Walt Disney World is Orlando International Airport (MCO). Most major airlines fly into MCO, and you can reach Disney World in about 25 to 30 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic. If you are flying Allegiant or Sun Country Airlines, you'll fly into Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). SFB is smaller than MCO and farther from Disney World. From SFB, it is about a 45-minute drive to Disney World.

What is the best way to get to Disney World from the airport?

Because of its size and proximity to Disney World, MCO has more and better options to help you get between the airport and Disney World.

From MCO or SFB, you can rent a car or use a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft. If you do rent a car from MCO, you can forgo paying tolls through the car rental company (which often comes with an additional fee) and pick up a Visitor Toll Pass to save on tolls during your trip.

Disney does not charge a parking fee for overnight hotel guests, so if you rent a car, you can park at your hotel and drive to Disney's theme parks without additional fees.

Keep in mind that you may not need a car if you don't plan on leaving Disney property after you arrive. Disney has a robust internal transportation system that operates between its on-site hotels and theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs.

You can also use Disney's official airport shuttle, Mears Connect , to travel from MCO.

Mears Connect is a shuttle service that picks you up from MCO and will drop you off at official Disney World hotels and a handful of nearby hotels. Pricing starts at $16 one-way for adults and $13 one-way for children. Mears Connect offers shared shuttles, where you will stop at multiple Disney hotels on the way to your own. You can pay an additional fee for an "express shuttle" that takes you directly to your resort. The easiest way to reserve your ride is online through the Mears Connect website.

What is the best way to get around Disney World?

If you are staying on Walt Disney World property, you can utilize Disney's complimentary transportation for travel between your resort and Disney's theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. Disney offers transportation by bus, boat, monorail and Disney Skyliner gondola system. The transportation options you can access depend on your hotel.

All Disney hotels offer regularly scheduled bus transportation around the resort. Transportation begins 45 minutes prior to the theme park opening and up to one hour after the theme park closing.

Guests of Disney's Magic Kingdom-area resorts — Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — can use boat or monorail transportation to travel to the Magic Kingdom. There is also a monorail line that will take you to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can transfer to a separate monorail line that goes to Epcot. These hotels also offer a walking path to Magic Kingdom.

Guests of Disney's Riviera Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century Resort can use the Disney Skyliner gondolas to travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. All Disney World visitors can also use Disney Skyliner to travel between these two parks, regardless of where they're staying. It's a fun and scenic way to get around the resort.

Many Disney World hotels also offer ferry boat transportation to nearby parks. The BoardWalk-area hotels, for example, offer boat transportation to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Fort Wilderness, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and others offer boat service to the Magic Kingdom. You can view a full list on Disney's website . You can also walk to Epcot or Hollywood Studios from any BoardWalk-area hotel.

Whichever transportation option you choose, you can view the schedule, routes and stop locations in the My Disney Experience app or on video monitors at each stop location.

You can also utilize Disney's Minnie Van service for door-to-door (or door-to-front gate, as it were) service between your hotel and Disney's theme parks. You can book these private rides in red-and-white polka-dot vans directly through the Lyft app. Accessible rides and child safety seats are available.

Though not "official" Disney World hotels, Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotel guests have access to Disney's complimentary ferry boat service to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. A walking path is also available. These resorts also operate their own shuttles to Disney's theme parks, which pick up approximately every 20 to 25 minutes throughout the day.

Disney Springs hotels operate their own shuttle services, independent of Disney's transportation. If you are staying at one of these hotels, you can inquire about scheduling and pickup times at the front desk.

What's the best place to stay on a Disney vacation?

There are more than two dozen Disney World hotels to choose from, so your main considerations will be your budget and what type of hotel experience you are after. Whether you want over-the-top Disney theming, an upscale cabin in the woods or a luxury villa with access to a club lounge, you can find it at Disney World.

Disney offers three hotel tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe.

Value Disney resorts are the most affordable, with prices ranging between $125 and $300 per night. Value resorts offer quick-service, cafeteria-style dining outlets and large pools but don't have full-service restaurants or pool amenities like waterslides and hot tubs.

On average, Moderate Disney resorts cost between $250 and $400 and offer amenities you won't find at Value Disney resorts. Some have full-service restaurants, and the pools are better-themed and equipped with waterslides. Many of them are also in central locations near Disney's theme parks.

Deluxe Disney resorts are the most expensive, ranging between $400 and $700 per night for a standard room. They also have the best locations, amenities and dining. You can expect large, well-furnished guest rooms, pool complexes with hot tubs, waterslides and beach areas, multiple full-service restaurants, spas and more.

Regardless of which hotel you choose, Disney's on-site hotels offer perks to enhance your stay:

• A 30-minute jumpstart on your day with Disney's Early Theme Park Entry benefit
• The ability to purchase individual Lightning Lanes for eligible rides begins at 7 a.m. on the day of your visit (nonresort guests can't do this until the park opens)
• Complimentary hotel and theme park parking
• Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels on select nights (also available to guests of Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels, as well as Shades of Green)

Best hotels at Disney World

The best Disney World hotel for you depends on what you are looking for in a hotel stay. If you don't plan on spending much time in your room, you can save a lot of money by staying in a Value resort.

If you plan on spending part of your vacation enjoying hotel amenities like the pool and restaurants, you may want to choose a Moderate or Deluxe resort.

Or, if you have a large family that won't be comfortable in a standard room, one of Disney's family suites might be your best bet.

Below are a few of our favorites.

Best Disney World resort if you are on a budget: Disney's Pop Century Resort may not be the most glamorous hotel at Disney, but the kitschy 1950s through 1990s theming and the starting price of around $200 per night will surely put a smile on your face. This resort has three pools, a playground and an arcade. Guest rooms are furnished with either one king bed or a queen bed and a space-saving table that folds out into a bed. It is also one of two Value resorts with Skyliner gondola access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Best Disney World resort for large families : Disney's Art of Animation Resort is in Disney's more affordable Value category and has family suites themed to popular Disney films like "Cars," "The Lion King" and "Finding Nemo" that sleep up to six guests. The pool here is the largest at any Disney World resort, and you can take the Disney Skyliner gondolas to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Standard rooms are also available.

Best Disney World resort for swimming : Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts are sister properties near Epcot. The two resorts have rooms that average around $600 per night and share access to Stormalong Bay, the best pool at Disney World . Stormalong Bay is really more than a pool. It is a water park with sand-bottomed pools, a lazy river, an activities pool with a volleyball net and daily pool games and a shipwreck-themed waterslide.

Best Disney World resort for a luxury stay : If the sky is the limit for your Walt Disney World vacation budget, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge are some of the finest accommodations you can choose. With two bedrooms, a fireplace, a screened-in porch, a hot tub and lakeside views, these cabins are anything but rustic. The privacy offers you a chance to wind down after a long Disney day. Still, you are close enough to take a boat ride to Magic Kingdom and enjoy the amenities and dining in the resort's main lobby.

If you are leaning toward a luxury Disney stay, you may be able to save money by renting Disney Vacation Club points. DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare program. DVC members can rent out their points to nonmembers through sites like David's Vacation Club Rentals , helping you save hundreds of dollars versus booking directly through Disney. The trade-offs are that availability is limited and the cancellation policies are much less flexible than if you make the reservation directly through Disney.

Read our full guide on the best hotels at Walt Disney World .

Best hotels near Disney World

Disney World also partners with a handful of off-site hotels where you can still take advantage of certain benefits like Early Theme Park Entry and complimentary transportation while paying less than you would for an official Disney World hotel. These hotels also participate in major hotel points programs, so you can earn or redeem points for your stay.

The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels all participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program. While not technically Disney hotels, they are on Disney property between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy elite member , these hotels offer benefits like complimentary upgrades, a welcome amenity and more.

Related: This affordable new Disney Springs hotel includes free hot food and 6 nightly drinks

Disney Springs has seven hotels from brands like Wyndham, Hilton, Holiday Inn and others. All of these are adjacent to the Disney Springs shopping and dining district, and some have room rates that start at close to $100 per night. These can be a great option if you want to save money and don't mind leaving the "Disney bubble" at the end of the day.

Read our full guide to Disney Springs hotels here .

What are the best restaurants at Disney World?

With more than 200 restaurants to choose from, you will have to decide which Disney World restaurants you most want to visit. Dining options run the gamut from the predictable burger and fries spot to an out-of-this-world restaurant in space.

Read our full guide to the best restaurants at Disney World .

Hardest Disney reservations to get (and how to get them)

Many of these restaurants are quick-service or snack stands that don't require advance reservations. However, there are a few popular restaurants that book up almost as soon as reservations become available.

If you want to dine with Disney royalty at Cinderella's Royal Table, for example, you'll want to make your reservation as soon as you can. Those staying at a Disney World hotel can make reservations for the entire vacation 60 days prior to check-in day.

Related: 'Be our guest' at these 5 best character dining meals at Walt Disney World

Other reservations that book up quickly include Storybook Dining at Artist Point , Space 220 at Epcot, California Grill, 'Ohana, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios and Topolino's Terrace, especially for the character breakfast. All of these have great food and atmosphere, making them popular for new and returning guests.

Best quick-service restaurants at Disney that don't require a reservation

Luckily, there are plenty of Disney restaurants with delicious food you can get your hands on without a reservation. Satu'li Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom is consistently ranked as one of the best quick-service restaurants anywhere at Disney. The food is fresh, flavorful and surprisingly inexpensive. You can get a build-your-own bowl with beef, chicken or fish for less than $20.

Other must-try quick-service restaurants include Ronto Roasters at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (the Ronto Breakfast Wrap is the best handheld meal at Disney), Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom for New England-inspired fare and Regal Eagle Smokehouse at Epcot for all things barbecue.

Using the Disney app to improve your dining experience

The My Disney Experience app is a must for your Disney World vacation for checking wait times, finding your way around and more. When it comes to dining, you can use it to find walk-up dining availability, score last-minute reservations, see what restaurants are nearby and place mobile orders at select quick-service restaurants.

When you place a mobile order via the app, you choose what time you would like to pick up your order (with the option to modify if plans change). When you arrive at the restaurant, you can click "I'm here. Prepare my order." Then, you'll receive a notification on your phone when your food is ready.

Should you buy a Disney Dining Plan?

The cost of dining at Disney can add up quickly, and Disney offers two dining plan options that may help you save money. The Disney Dining Plan lets you prepay for a specified number of meals and snacks for your Disney World vacation. You receive a certain number of meal and snack credits for each night of your stay.

The Disney Dining Plan is both convenient and flexible. By prepaying for your meals and snacks, you won't have to pull out your wallet for every meal and snack, and you aren't required to use a set number of credits each day. You can redeem them anytime during your stay in the way that best works for you.

There are two options: the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. The first is a bit less expensive and allows for more flexibility. The second is best if you plan on more sit-down dining and character meals during your vacation.

Whether or not you can save money with a Disney Dining Plan depends on how you utilize the credits. It is possible to break even or come out ahead if you maximize the value of your credits and actually eat all of the food available on the plan. If you don't use all of your credits, you are essentially leaving money on the table. Our guide can help you out with the math.

Read our full guide to the Disney Dining Plan .

How to save time in line at Disney World

Most Walt Disney World attractions offer a standby line. The only exceptions are new attractions, which will often offer a virtual queue for a limited time after opening. When Disney World is busy, though, standby lines for popular attractions can climb as high as two hours. Luckily, Disney has Lightning Lane passes that help you skip the standby line and get on more attractions with shorter waits.

With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can skip the standby line and utilize a much shorter Lightning Lane for most attractions. You can only purchase this add-on service on the day of your visit, beginning at midnight (though you will likely be safe waiting until you wake up in the morning, except on Disney's busiest days).

The cost of Lightning Lane Multi Pass varies per park and per day. The service starts at $15 per person, per day. It occasionally reaches a per-person price of $35 per day during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season or in April during spring break.

If you are staying in a Walt Disney World hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve hotels or Shades of Green, you can purchase your Lightning Lane passes at 7 a.m. EST seven days before your vacation for the length of your trip. If you aren't staying in one of these hotels, you can purchase three days before your visit, one day at a time. When you purchase, you can also select your first three Lightning Lane Multi Pass rides and arrival windows as well as any Lightning Lane Single Pass rides and arrival windows.

Even if you plan to "park hop" to multiple parks in one day, you will purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and make your first three selections for the first park where you plan to use it. After you use your first selection, you can make subsequent selections for any other park you wish to visit.

Most attractions are included in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass service, but one or two attractions at each park require a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass purchase to skip the line. The Lightning Lane Single Pass pricing varies by day and attraction. It typically falls between $7 and $25 per person per attraction for Disney's most popular rides, such as Tron: Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

You don't need to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass to buy individual Lightning Lane Single Passes and vice versa.

If you are staying in one of Disney's on-site hotels or in select "Good Neighbor" hotels, as mentioned in the section above, you can also save time in line by utilizing Early Theme Park Entry and/or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. You can get into the parks 30 minutes early with the early entry benefit, but you actually want to arrive at the front gates 30 to 45 minutes before that. This will give you time to get through security and to the roped-off area where they hold guests, making you one of the first in line to rush to your favorite ride when early entry starts.

Related: Your guide to visiting Disney World with a child on the autism spectrum

If you or someone in your party has a disability that makes it difficult for you to wait in a traditional standby queue, you can also save time by registering for Disney's Disability Access Service. You need to start the registration process before your visit, and full instructions are available on Disney's website .

How to plan a Disney World trip on a budget

While sensational stories about $2,500 meals at Disney make for good headlines, it is totally possible to visit Disney World on a budget .

Related: Yes, you can visit Disney World on a budget: Here's how I did it

Here are some of the most important things you can do to make your Disney vacation budget manageable:

• Stay at a Disney Value resort like Disney's All-Star Movies Resort or use Marriott points to stay at the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve. These are the best cards to get those points.
• Use Disney's complimentary parking and transportation for on-site guests instead of renting a car.
• Purchase groceries for some meals and snacks, and only buy one or two meals in the parks each day.
• Don't visit the parks every day you are at Disney. Stick to one park per day, avoiding park hopping. You can save on tickets by spending a day swimming or visiting Disney Springs.
• Don't forget to periodically check Disney's website for discounts. Even after you book, you may be able to apply a hotel or vacation package discount that can save you even more money.
• Be on the lookout for discounted Disney gift cards to help cover the cost of your trip and/or use points for the tickets.
• Visit during less busy times of the year. Ticket prices are cheapest in August and September, with one-day tickets starting at $109.

Disney World pretrip checklist

Now that you've determined your budget, purchased your tickets, booked your hotel and made a few dining reservations, your trip is nearly planned. There are some other details you'll need to consider to make your trip as magical as it should be. Here's our ultimate Disney World pretrip checklist:

• Pack accordingly : Depending on when you visit, you could be dealing with heat, humidity, afternoon showers, chilly temperatures or a mix of all of the above. It's important to pack comfortable shoes and clothing no matter when you visit, but you may also want rain gear, sun protection or a warm jacket, depending on the weather. You can read our full Disney World packing guide here .
• Download the My Disney Experience app : This app is an invaluable tool that you will use daily during your visit. You can use it to check everything from wait times to walk-up dining availability. You can also use it to navigate the parks with turn-by-turn walking directions, purchase Lightning Lane passes and even open your hotel room door.
• Check the park hours before your visit : You can view the park hours on the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. Each park has separate opening and closing times, and parks occasionally close early for special events like Halloween and Christmas parties. When you view the park hours, you'll also be able to see times for any parades or fireworks shows happening each day of your visit and plan for early entry or extended theme park hours for eligible on-site hotel guests.
• Check the height requirements for attractions: If you are traveling to Disney World with young children, you can check the height requirements for attractions on Disney World's website or in the My Disney Experience app. There are also measuring stations at all attractions that have a minimum height requirement. Still, it's better to know ahead of time to avoid tears if your child isn't quite tall enough.
• Know where to find your favorite characters : Most Disney characters have designated meeting times and locations, which you can find in the My Disney Experience app. Booking a character meal can be a great way to meet multiple characters at once, but you can also meet many characters in the parks.
• Decide if you want to purchase PhotoPass photos : You can save money on Disney Memory Maker by purchasing it before you visit. It's the easiest way to capture your vacation memories and an add-on we highly recommend. You can view and download your photos in the My Disney Experience app.
• Study up on Lightning Lane passes: As helpful as Lightning Lane passes can be, there is a bit of a learning curve. Study up using our guide and Disney's own overview before your visit. It's good to know which attractions participate in the service, how to reserve Lightning Lane access and how to make the most of the service.
• Plan for downtime: One of the biggest mistakes people make at Disney World is overscheduling their trip and leaving no time for rest and relaxation. If you are visiting for more than a few days, try to schedule a day away from the parks where you swim, explore the other resorts or just lounge around the hotel. It'll help rejuvenate you for the rest of your trip. For shorter trips, you may want to schedule a slow morning or return to your hotel early one day instead of being at the parks from opening to closing every day of your trip.

Read all of our best Disney World tips here .

Bottom line

There you have it — the ultimate guide to visiting Walt Disney World.

In addition to the planning and preparation you've now mastered, there are two very important things you must do during your Disney World vacation: Don't overplan, and have fun. It's much better to have a short list of "must-do" rides, restaurants and activities than to have a minute-by-minute itinerary that almost certainly will not play out exactly how you planned.

Keeping a loose itinerary leaves room for magical moments like stumbling upon a favorite character, noticing a supershort line for a ride or deciding last-minute to watch a parade you happened upon. You can't do everything in one trip anyway, so do the things you can and save the rest for next time when you are a certified Disney pro.

FOR NO-COST-TO-YOU ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Related reading:

• The best Disney World hotels for your stay
• The 21 most underrated things at Disney World: What to see, do and eat that many guests miss
• Forgetting to do this 1 thing could ruin your Disney trip
• Disney's take on timeshares: Guide to Disney Vacation Club
• 8 Walt Disney World experiences that don't require a park ticket

Can You Do Disney In A Day? What You Need To Keep In Mind

From how many parks you plan to tackle to who’s traveling with you, there are plenty of factors to consider.

In full transparency, I am a Disney adult . A Disnerd. Whatever you want to call a grown-ass woman who doesn’t need any excuse to squander my vacation days at Disney World . As annual passholders, our family has done Disney a lot , so friends, family, and co-workers often ask us for planning tips before their first trip . And one question that comes up over and over again is whether or not you can really do Disney World in a day.

Often, the context for this is pretty simple: A family only has a few days to spare, and they’re splitting their time elsewhere, whether that’s Universal Studios or the beach. Some people simply pass through the Orlando area and wonder if it’s worth stopping over for just a day to pop into the parks. Other people, like me, look at an open space on the calendar and think, “Looks like a good day for Disney.”

So, can you do Disney in a day? Short answer: Yes. But if we’re talking about whether you should , that’s a bit more involved. Here’s what you need to know before booking a single day at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

The Scope of Disney World

If you were to ask me if you could do Disneyland in a day, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. Sure, there is a lot to do — but where there’s a will, there’s a way. But to put Disneyland vs. Disney World in context when it comes to the ground you have to cover, consider this: Disneyland is 500 acres, while Disney World is almost 30,000 acres. That’s roughly 47 square miles.

While not all that land is dedicated park space, Disney World still requires a lot of hoofing. On average, Disney World guests walk 7 to 10 miles per day. You know how much you and/or your family can handle comfortably, so keep these numbers in mind relative to the rest of your trip.

One Park, Two Parks, Three Parks, or The Whole Shebang

Arguably, the biggest question is how many parks you plan to visit. You could easily do Disney World in a day if you just want to immerse yourself in Hollywood Studios (Galaxy’s Edge! Toy Story Land!) or leisurely visit every animal enclosure at Animal Kingdom. Our family routinely does both of those parks as half-day excursions, meaning you could even do both in a day without too much stress or strain with a Park Hopper .

Thanks to the addition of popular new rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Epcot takes a little more time than it used to. Plus, if you’re planning on doing both rides and the full World Showcase at Epcot, you definitely need to carve out a good chunk of time. I could spend an entire day eating and drinking my way through the 11 different pavilions that showcase different food and cultures from around the world!

As far as Magic Kingdom goes, I think it’s safe to call it a full-day park. With 24 rides (and counting), it’s a park where you’d be hard-pressed to hit everything even in an entire day — other than through an impressive (read: costly) combination of Lightning Lanes and luck.

You could theoretically do all four parks in one day (it’s even an unofficial Disney World challenge ), but trust me when I say you’ll be trucking it at each park and to and from each park. If you dare brave that feat, I highly recommend doing it during one of Florida’s cooler months, like January or February.

The Company You Keep

Whether you’re flying solo to Disney, with other adults, or with kids in tow significantly affects how you should approach Disney World in a day.

If you’re traveling with a small-ish group and have disposable income burning a hole in your pocket, you could book a private VIP tour . Good for groups of up to 10 guests, Disney’s VIP tour services let you skip the regular entrance lines and bypass the standard queue for rides. But be forewarned: It’ll cost you. Pricing ranges from $450 to $900 per hour, depending on the season, and that doesn’t include park admission for each person.

Lightning Lanes also help cut down the time you spend waiting at any given park, but they add up — even when traveling as a family of four.

Anytime you visit Disney World with kids, wait times should be at the top of your mind , particularly if you’re traveling around holidays or otherwise busy times of the year. If your kids are anything like mine, they have a limited tolerance for spending too much time in lines, and they usually need to take park breaks to get out of the heat and refuel their little bodies. That time, though necessary, does eat into how much you can realistically fit into a Disney World day.

The Itinerary vs. The Experience

Here’s the thing: If you were to walk up to me and ask me if it’s worth attempting Disney World in one day, my answer would always be yes. If you have the opportunity and means to make it happen, absolutely go. I firmly believe you won’t regret it as long as you go into it with *reasonable* expectations.

If you have it in your head that a successful Disney day is trying every snack on your wish list and hitting all your bucket list rides , you’ll probably end up disappointed. But if you go with the goal of doing what you can and enjoying it to the max, that’s when the real magic of Disney World kicks in.

I recommend starting with Magic Kingdom — which is quintessential Disney — and going from there. Grab a Dole Whip from Aloha Isle or some iconic Cheeseburger Spring Rolls in Adventureland and see where the day takes you. Oh, and stick around for the Happily Ever After fireworks show ... it’s the perfect end to any Disney day.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Childhood Memories — A Personal Narrative About Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth

A Personal Narrative About Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth

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Published: Nov 20, 2018

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“The Happiest Place on Earth”

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