Family Vacationing at Walt Disney World

Rachael Severino is an 11th grade student at Sachem North High School in Sachem School District. This aspiring writer has a knack for the written word. She has penned short stories, poetry and is 
developing an impressive body of work. 

Tammy Severino is the President of RPC Development, a boutique consulting firm specializing in assisting small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She has more than 20 years of experience as a  writer, as well as in event planning for corporations, nonprofit organizations and private clients.  In her spare time, this fashionista follows and writes about fashion, travel, and other lifestyle topics.

Walt Disney World (WDW) has been an idyllic fantasy world on Earth since it first opened in 1965. Children and adults alike dream about Mickey Mouse’s kingdom spanning 25 ‘on-property’ hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping mecca, and its own transportation system.
    From the moment you arrive in Florida, your WDW adventure begins. The Magic Express picks you up at the airport and whisks you off to your hotel. Your luggage will be secured and brought to you in your hotel room. Grab your carry-on bag and head for your ride.  
    When people think Disney, they do not necessarily imagine the expanse of resort hotels that accommodate a significant body of visitors annually; each with its own stunning theme. Resorts are categorized as value, moderate or deluxe.  By offering three levels, WDW makes it possible to stay immersed in the Disney experience no matter the budget.
    The top deluxe hotels include the flagship, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. These are among the eight deluxe hotels in the area. Each one entrenches guests with a unique theme, captivating them with an all-consuming sense of Disney magic at its finest. 
    The Grand Floridian offers an elegant Victorian-era theme, boasting spectacular dining experiences like an authentic afternoon tea and world-class spa. The Polynesian takes guests to Hawaii with towering palm trees, lush flora native to the islands, and a volcano pool. You may even see Stitch wandering about. The Contemporary and original WDW resort, is a mid-century modern space that features a lake (great for jet skiing and other water sports). It has a Monorail stop inside and the best view of Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks from its California Grill restaurant. All three of these resorts offer transportation via the Monorail, a quick, whisper-quiet railway high above traffic and trees. Breeze from Epcot and Magic Kingdom to these three hotels, experiencing features that make each resort special. 
    WDW offers four great theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Each offers rides, shows, fireworks, parades, food, characters, shopping, and adventures where every detail to make your experience remarkable has been thought of.

    Magic Kingdom is the park of your dreams. As you walk through the entrance to the park, feel the magic take over and transform you into a child once again. See your favorite characters walking through the park as you head along Main Street. Window shop along the way to Cinderella’s Castle, then choose one of the five lands to begin your journey. Visit Tomorrowland (home of Space Mountain), Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square and Fantasyland. Each will immerse you – from sights and sounds to rides and food, you will feel as though you have entered a new land. If you want to eat while at the park you can choose from a sit-down feast, a quick service delight or a yummy snack. 
    Disney houses a chunk of the world inside Epcot park. The iconic glowing ball encompassing Spaceship Earth has symbolized the park since 1982. Every night, this park hosts what can easily be called the most stunning firework show, Illuminations, which can be seen from all around the World Showcase (we think the best view is in front of China). The World Showcase allows guests to experience a magical Morocco, a fantastic France, an innovative Italy, a jovial Japan, a captivating Canada, a unique UK, a majestic Mexico, a glorious Germany, a cardinal China, a noble Norway, and an amazing America. Each nation has restaurants and shopping, often including street art. For an even more immersive experience, stop by France to see artists painting the landscape or Japan to watch dancers or traditional drummers.
    The World Showcase isn’t all Epcot has to offer. This park hosts an array of attractions including Soarin’, which takes guests to various stunning locations, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, a darling ride through one of the largest aquariums in the world, and Mission: Space, a realistic stimulation to Mars. Epcot flaunts a realistic spin on classic Disney magic. 
    Every October, Epcot hosts the Food and Wine Festival, a top attraction for the park. As a treat for adults, many will visit for the weekend and spoil themselves as they try food and beverages from the eleven mainstay nations. This coveted event is a veritable playground for food critics who always rave about their experience. 
    Hollywood Studios has been undergoing major changes. On the day the park opened, Michael Eisner called the park, "Welcome to the Hollywood that never was and always will be.” On June 30th, the park unveiled the long-awaited Toy Story Land featuring rides, attractions and details from the Pixar Blockbuster trilogy (the 4th installment will be released in 2019). Star Wars fans are chomping at the bit for the 2019 grand opening of Star Wars Land, an immersive land featuring details from the franchise. Muppet Vision 3-D, Rock-n-Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror are just a few of the attractions that keep people coming back for more.
    Spanning 500 acres, Animal Kingdom is both a theme park and animal encounter. At the center of the park you’ll find the Tree of Life, a stunning centerpiece that now comes to life for a nighttime show each evening. Walk the lands of Africa, ride Expedition Everest (and try to avoid a Yeti), visit Dino-land USA, and be sure to visit Pandora in the new Avatar Land.
    There are apps to show you wait times for each ride, a fabulous website for planning, and an array of activities for adults, teens, children and the youngest visitors. Planning is key for a WDW vacation. Make reservations for meals and choose your fast passes to bump you toward the head of the line before you arrive. Select a hotel with a theme that makes you smile and plan out your days to make the most of the visit. Allow for breaks and downtime, as well as shopping and simply enjoy the experience of it all.
    Remember, no one can see all there is at WDW in one visit. We cannot write all there is to know on two pages. However, we hope we’ve given you some ideas to get your planning started (but remember that WDW will send you a planning CD). 
    We love Disney…we hope you will too!