Walt Disney World Resort

The Theme Park Capital of the World

With four major parks treating guests to entertainment adventures in fantasy, show business, discovery and exploration, Walt Disney World Resort is the undisputed theme park capital of the world.

Add to that nightlife and dining, sports and recreation and a choice of more than a dozen themed resorts, and the 40-square-mile Vacation Kingdom is also a world-class total destination resort.

For millions of vacationers, the lure is those Disney parks -- Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom -- created and constantly updated and expanded since the opening of Walt Disney World Resort in 1971. Here's a glance into the funthat's in store.

Magic Kingdom

"Fantasy" is a monorail ride -- or ferry boat cruise -- away as guests leave the ordinary behind and enter seven lands of enchantment: Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Liberty Square, Mickey's Toontown Fair and Main Street, U.S.A.

Inspired by the original Disneyland Park in California, Magic Kingdom features more than 40 adventures including the famous "mountain range" of fun -- Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. ... Entertainment includes the interactive "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor," and "Dream Along With Mickey" performed on the Cinderella Castle forecourt stage.

Magic Kingdom opened concurrently with Walt Disney World Resort on Oct. 1, 1971.

Epcot

Discovery" is the buzzword at Epcot, an ever-changing showplace of international culture and technological wizardry. Future World features theme areas focusing on discovery and scientific achievements in areas as far-reaching as communication, agriculture, energy, transportation and space. The newest attraction is "The Seas With Nemo & Friends," featuring the stars of the Disney-Pixar animated hit "Finding Nemo." World Showcase is a community of 11 nations that transport guests on a four-continent globe-hopping tour through architecture, entertainment, dining and shopping presented by a worldwide cast.

Every year is a festival year, with the International Flower & Garden Festival in the spring, International Food & Wine Festival in the fall, and Holidays Around the World.

Hollywood Studios

"Show business" has a grand stage -- as both a Disney park theme and for the serious work of production on live-action films, television shows and radio programs. And the production work is there to be enjoyed by theme park guests, who are also treated to the thrills of attractions and shows steeped in show business.

The golden age of Tinseltown inspired the architecture of Disney-Hollywood Studios, which opened for production work in 1988 and to theme park guests in May 1989.

Disney-Hollywood Studios is host for the most elaborate live entertainment spectacle ever created for a Disney park: "Fantasmic!" presented nightly at a 6,900-seat outdoor amphitheater.

Newest attraction is "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show," spotlighting the high-octane best of the movie industry's stunt masters. The interactive "High School Musical" Pep Rally features a multi-talented team of entertainers presenting an immersive show for the whole family.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

"Exploration" on a grand scale -- some 400 acres, to be precise -- is in store at this Disney park. Opened in spring 1998, Disney's Animal Kingdom is an adventure into realms of animal life -- past, present and imaginary.

Approximately 4 million live plants were used to create deep green jungles, forests and a vast savannah to look amazingly like animal reserves of Africa or Asia and dinosaur dig sites.

The newest attraction, Expedition Everest, invites guests on a high-speed train ride through the terrain of the legendary yeti. "Finding Nemo-The Musical" is a live stage show featuring original music, puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops.

Visual centerpiece of the park is a remarkable man-made Tree of Life, a majestic 145-foot icon with a gnarled trunk and limbs sculpted by Disney artists to include more than 325 animal images.

All four Walt Disney World theme parks strive to be the industry leader in entertainment innovation and guest service. To those goals, the parks are constantly changing in small and large ways. And to make the whole experience more fun, a program to mitigate long lines was launched in summer 1999. Called Disney's FASTPASS, the program is offered at the most popular attractions among the four theme parks. At Disney's FASTPASS attractions, guests can choose the standby line or obtain -- at no additional charge -- a special ticket that designates a time when they can return and skip the line.

Beyond the theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort offers an astounding array of additional vacation fun -- recreation, entertainment, dining and shopping. Here's a glimpse of "the rest of the World."

Sports and Recreation

Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is 220 acres of facilities able to accommodate more than 30 different sports. It is the spring training home of the National League Atlanta Braves and the pre-season training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The complex hosts dozens of amateur tournaments and championship events each year, including many Amateur Athletic Union "nationals."

Water-lovers have a choice of two themed water-recreation parks -- Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

Four championship golf courses -- Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia, Osprey Ridge and Palm -- designed by top-notch course architects Tom Fazio and Joe Lee make Walt Disney World Resort one of the country's premier golf resort destinations.

The resort also offers tennis, surfing, parasailing, wake boarding, water skiing, trail riding on horseback, bass fishing, and more.

Entertainment and Dining

Downtown Disney is an entire district of Walt Disney World Resort devoted to nightlife and shopping. It is home to La Nouba, a production of world-famous Cirque du Soleil. House of Blues is next door for music lovers. And for fun seekers who'd like a taste of an eclectic mix of entertainment, there's Pleasure Island with clubs offering urban/hip-hop, jazz, rock and roll, alternative and comedy. Dining options at Downtown Disney include Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Bongos Cuban Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Café, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, Earl of Sandwich and House of Blues. More Downtown Disney fun: DisneyQuest, 100,000 square feet of virtual theme park with air-conditioned high-tech fun; and AMC 24-screen theater complex.

Disney's BoardWalk is another nightlife district, anchored by ESPN Club for sports-lovers and Atlantic Dance for folks who like to dance to a variety of music.

Throughout the resort are dining options -- quick and tasty to fancy and fine -- to satisfy every appetite.

Themed Resorts

Compass points far away and times long ago are among the adventures awaiting guests at the themed Disney resorts. Accommodations range from campsites among the lush Florida landscape of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground to value accommodations at Disney's All-Star Resorts and Disney's Pop Century Resort to luxurious rooms and suites at deluxe resorts such as Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.