Guide to Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation​

When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in 1955, he launched a magical place the place mother and father and kids might have enjoyable collectively. His imaginative and prescient revolutionized the American trip. However regardless of Disneyland’s success, Disney rapidly realized that his 160-acre flagship theme park wasn’t sufficiently big to include all of his desires. What Disney really wished was to create a completely immersive, theatrical expertise. As a result of he didn’t personal the land surrounding the park, nonetheless, cheesy lodges and fast-food eating places started popping up exterior the park gates, tarnishing Walt’s glittering fantasyland.

In 1964, the Walt Disney Firm started scouting areas for “Disneyland East.” Below the guise of shell firms with tongue-in-cheek names like M.T. Lott Actual Property Investments, Disney secretly scooped up enormous tracts of Florida swampland for about $180 an acre. The situation assured that Disney’s new trip vacation spot could be protected against business sprawl. “In Florida, we have now one thing particular we by no means loved at Disneyland — the blessing of measurement,” Disney stated in a 1965 tv program asserting the corporate’s Florida undertaking. “There may be sufficient land right here to carry all of the concepts and plans we might probably think about.”

Sadly, Walt Disney by no means realized these concepts and plans — the pioneering animator died simply six weeks later. However the Florida undertaking lived on via Walt’s older brother Roy, who postponed retirement to take the helm. In October 1971, Roy Disney stood beside Mickey Mouse and formally named the park Walt Disney World as a tribute to his brother.

Final October marked the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, which encompasses 43 sq. miles and contains 4 theme parks, two water parks, 25 lodges, greater than 200 eating places and a 120-acre purchasing and eating complicated. Whether or not this will probably be your first journey or your fiftieth, put together to be wowed — the resort has already rolled out loads of golden anniversary magic, together with brand-new attractions, dazzling park decor and unparalleled nighttime spectaculars. And since the festivities are because of proceed via March 2023, there’s much more in retailer within the coming months.  

Right here’s our information to getting essentially the most out of your journey to the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Getting There

Most guests to Disney World will fly into Orlando Worldwide Airport, which is about 20 miles from the resort’s entrance. As of January 2022, Disney eradicated the Magical Categorical, its complimentary airport switch service. Vacationers on a finances will need to reserve a shuttle like Sunshine Flyer or Mears Join, which prices about $32 spherical journey. Trip-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft are one other good choice. Costs begin round $45 one-way and rely on demand and automobile measurement. ​

On-site transportation all through Walt Disney World, which consists of every thing from buses and boats to monorails and the brand new Disney Skyliner, is free and environment friendly, making renting a automobile pointless in the event you choose to remain at one of many on-site Disney lodges. Lastly, be ready to do plenty of strolling. The typical Disney visitor walks 7 to 10 miles per day throughout his or her trip. Of us with mobility points can lease wheelchairs and electrical conveyance autos (ECVs) at every of the 4 Disney theme parks, in addition to on the water parks and Disney Springs. Moreover, a number of off-site firms provide multiday wheelchair and ECV leases at decrease costs than you’ll discover on Disney property.