www.DisneyWorld.com

The Walt Disney World Resort, comprised of 20,000-plus acres, was opened on October 1, 1971 just outside the city limits of Orlando, Florida. www disneyworld.com is the official homepage of Disneyworld. Construction on the world-famous park began less than a year after Walt's death and he would have been extremely proud of its grandeur. Walt Disney dreamed of a place that could not be encroached upon by neighboring businesses, unlike his other property Disneyland in Anaheim, California, that he felt unworthy of the Disney ideals. He found the perfect spot in Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, Florida; the future spot for Disney World Resort. Unfortunately, he died before construction began and wasn't able to see his newest endeavor.

The Magic Kingdom was established first; it was followed by Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. These four parks create a Disney mecca unlike any other. The fun doesn't stop with these four theme parks. Also included in Disney's wonderland: two waterparks, six golf courses, an auto race track, a sports complex, as well as numerous hotels, restaurants, shopping stores, and entertainment possibilities. To date, it is the largest theme park in the world.

See below for my review of www Disney World com and for tickets available through eBay. Disney bought www.go.com during the Internet boom and now redirects their pages to www.go.disneworld.com, but you can still reach their pages by typing in www.disneyworld com.

If you're interested in other theme parks: Sea World, Six Flags or Disneyland, I wrote a few articles about them too; or check out Disney Parks, Disneyland Hotel, Disney on Ice, Disney Cruises, and Playhouse Disney. Thanks for reading!

In Walt Disney's words, ""EPCOT...will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise."

www epcot.com is the homepage of Epcot. The EPCOT Center was the second theme park built at Disney world, after The Magic Kingdom, to represent culture and technological innovation. EPCOT Center, opened on Oct 1, 1982 and was an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. In 1994 it lost its acronym because it no longer represented the futuristic city Disney had visioned; it has since been simply called, Epcot.

Walt Disney dreamed of creating a real Utopian city where all homes would be rented at modest rates; there would be no slums; everyone would be employed; cars would travel underground so pedestrians could safely walk the streets; and a monorail and peoplemover would provide transportation. This dream never came to fruition because Walt Disney died before EPCOT could be built, and the Disney organization didn't want the job of governing a "city".

Epcot is separated into two sections: Future World and World Showcase.

www.epcot.com will get you to the disneyworld.com page on Epcot.

World Showcase is comprised of eleven pavilions. Each country is staffed by citizens of their country, mostly college students. The countries sponsor and pay for their pavilion; they provide travel brochures, restaurants and stores that represent their respective country. The eleven pavilions are as follows:

• Mexico
• Norway
• China
• Japan
• Morocco
• United Kingdom
• Canada
• Germany
• Italy
• United States of America
• France

Disney-MGM Studios, the third of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, opened on May 1, 1989. Disney shares its title with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer only because of a few contracts with the company. Disney is allowed to use the MGM name and lion logo in marketing and one of its rides uses MGM content.

Disney-MGM Studios is inspired by hollywood classics and popular television and movies.

"The World you have entered was created by The Walt Disney Company and is dedicated to Hollywood—not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was—and always will be."—Michael Eisner, May 1, 1989

• Hollywood Boulevard: a street lined with Disney merchandise shops and restaurants. The Great Movie Ride is its only ride showcasing classic Hollywood films.
• Echo Lake: Rides include: Star Tours, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and a movie staring Drew Carey called "Sounds Dangerous".
• Streets of America: Rides include: Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3D, Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show; Meet the Power Rangers from Five Generations; and Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure.
• Mickey Avenue: A back-lot tour, a Walt Disney museum walking experience, and a ride on the creation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
• Animation Courtyard: A live performance of The Little Mermaid, a look into Disney animation, and a live performance of Playhouse Disney.
• Sunset Boulevard: Live performance of Beauty and the Beast, Rock-n-Roll Coaster, Fantasmic! a fireworks and character show at night, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Disney's Animal Kingdom, opened on April 22, 1998, was the last theme park to be opened in the Magic Kingdom in Florida. To date, it is the largest theme park in the world with over 500 acres of space. Its themes include animal conservation, dinosaurs and exploration.

Welcome to a kingdom of animals... real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn.

—Michael Eisner, April 22, 1998

• Discovery Island: the main theme land, featuring The Tree of Life, is a hub to reach all of the other lands. It is best to begin your adventure here. It features "It's Tough to be a Bug" a film about Flik the character from "A Bug's Life".
• Oasis: the first land when entering the park. Eat at the Rainforest Cafe here.
• Camp Minnie-Mickey: two live shows can be found here: Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends and Festival of the Lion King.
• Africa: explore this land by vehicle or walk and see many African animals including gorillas, hippos, lions, elephants, giraffes, and rhinos.
• Rafiki's Planet Watch: a conservation focused land with a petting zoo and veterinarian hospital.
• Asia: ride a river raft through an Asian rainforest; walk in a southeast Asia forest and see tigers, tapirs and komodo dragons; watch a bird handler and see many different birds up close; and ride a roller coaster through the Himalayas.
• DinoLand USA: explore excavations, fossils and dinosaur times in this final Animal Kingdom Land.

Daily Passes

• Ages 10 and up: $30 per day

• Ages 3-9: from $24 per day

Theme Park Premium Annual Pass (includes all parks every day of the year plus water parks and Pleasure Island)

• Ages 10 and up: $559

• Ages 3-9: $493

Theme Park Annual Pass (includes all four theme parks 365 days a year)

• Ages 10 and up: $434

• Ages 3-9: $382

*Prices were obtained from the Disney World Website.