Target Disney, full speed forward, Mickey awaits. Whether you are planning a trip to the original Disneyland in California or the Walt Disney World of Orlando, Florida, you are in for a very special vacation at the House of the Mouse.
Walt Disney and his brother Roy Disney founded Disney studios in 1923 . Walt began to realize when traveling with his own children there was a necessity for a fun family oriented park with the positive aspects of carnivals but minus the negative. Family members who visited his studio wrote letters expressing their gratification, and he became committed to creating the dream, eventually buying 160 acres of land in Orange County, California. Needing outside financing Walt created a TV show called Disneyland for the ABC television network, a broadcast which lasted many years and is still in reruns under the various names it held: Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, Walt Disney's Wonderful World, and World of Disney. The broadcast usually opened with a view from Disneyland and the fairy, Tinkerbell, scattering pixie dust.
Opening day in 1955 included Walt's guests; Ronald Regan, Bob Cummings and Art Linkletter, and a massive crowd, with Disneyland quickly becoming the most popular tourist attraction in the world. Disneyworld in Florida opened in 1971 . It includes the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney?s Animal Kingdom, as well as two water parks, six golf courses, a sports complex, an auto race track, approximately 20 hotels and many other sources of entertaining, shopping and dining suited for the entire family. Disneyworld in Florida is the planet's greatest theme park.
Disney initially envisioned his Florida property to be a larger version of Disneyland that could expand without the land restrictions of the California location. He also wanted to introduce EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. A true man of vision, Disney imagined the place to be a dreamland of fun for the whole family. When Walt died in 1966 prior to it's completion, Roy renamed it Walt Disney World in his brother's honor.
When deciding on a family vacation in Florida, try to stay in one of the onsite hotels to preserve time. They cost about the same as other hotels further away, but can save a lot of time for the family and are available for all budgets. These include themed hotels, rental condominiums, cottages and even family friendly camping areas. An advantage to being on Disney property is the availability of transportation to and from all of the theme parks within the complex. The Walt Disney World resort features four theme parks; Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney?s Animal Kingdom. Each park has definite must see attractions.
At the Magic Kingdom guests are welcomed by a bronze statue of the partners, Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. When entering Main Street a visitor will see a barbershop granting free haircuts, an Emporium with a variety of souvenirs, and Cinderella's Castle. This is then followed by Adventureland which includes the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, the Enchanted Tiki Room (a lyrical show which includes characters from Aladdin and The Lion King, the Jungle Cruse, the Magic Carpets of Aladdin), and the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride. Next in line you will find Frontierland which features Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Country Bear Jamboree
Ever popular Fantasyland features It's a Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's Philharmonic Magic, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel, and a Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride. Fantasyland is capped off with tributes to Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, and the Mad Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland. This is followed by Mickey's Toontown Fair, a tribute to the mouse and his friends, and of course Tomorrowland . Tomorrowland includes a simulated racetrack, Space Mountain roller coaster, the Astro Orbiter, the Carousel of Progress which debuted at the 1964 New York World's Fair, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin ride, The Timekeeper, and Stitch's Great Escape.
When deciding upon a Disney vacation, whether in California or Florida, you can be assured the entire family will have a delightful time. And while there, be sure to get some Mickey Mouse ears as the best reminder of all, from the Mouse's house to your house. |
