Orlando. Part 1. World Disney. Mar, 2014

Disney World — the largest, most popular, and most visited theme park complex in the world. Located in Orlando, Florida, Disney World is actually a huge resort made up of four separate theme parks and two water parks.

We visited all four theme parks. Of course, it’s impossible to fully describe all the beauty and magic of Disney, but I’ll try to share some of the most memorable moments from our journey into the fairy-tale world called Disney

We had been planning this trip for quite a while. Each park covers an enormous area filled with attractions, restaurants, shops, and magical little corners. We wanted to see the most interesting places and experience the most unforgettable rides.

I don’t think anyone will be surprised to hear that Disney attracts huge crowds every day. Naturally, the most popular attractions come with long lines. But Disney had a FastPass system. Each day, we could choose three attractions in advance and visit them with little or no waiting. That’s exactly what we did. As soon as we entered a park, we quickly booked our three FastPass attractions, and then we could relax and enjoy everything else. Disney is designed for people of all ages. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there weren’t that many high-speed roller coasters in the parks, and that most of the attractions were designed for the whole family.

Before writing this post, I looked through hundreds of photos we had taken in all four parks. Unfortunately, I realized that photographs simply cannot capture the vivid memories each park leaves behind. The parks are enormous, and Disney attractions have a rather unusual concept. Most of them are “hidden” inside buildings. Until the very last moment, right before you walk through that final closed door, you have absolutely no idea what the attraction will be like. And waiting in line is hardly boring, because the queue itself is part of the attraction. Themed decorations, incredible designs... Sometimes it’s impossible to tell where the anticipation of the magic ends and the magic itself begins.

I should say right away that not a single attraction disappointed us. Every time, we were pleasantly and unexpectedly amazed by the imagination and craftsmanship of the people who created these parks. For each park we dedicated one full day.

So, I’ll begin my story with the most famous of all the Disney parks:

• Magic Kingdom

The most visited of the four parks. Just getting into the park was an adventure in itself! First, we had to wait in line to park. Then we took a little train from the parking lot to the entrance. Next came the line for tickets, followed by a line for the Monorail, and then another line for the security check...

And finally — we were in the park!

Naturally, the very first thing we wanted to see was the most magical castle in the world

Then, with our Fastpasses in hand, we set off to explore the magical streets and corners of the park.

The park consists of the main street, Main Street, and four themed lands: Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.

The first attraction we visited was ARIEL'S GROTTO.

We climbed into a seashell and, together with Ariel and her friends, set off to explore a magical underwater world.

As I mentioned earlier, most Disney attractions follow a similar concept. Visitors climb into a vehicle that moves through a dark, enclosed space filled with elaborate themed decorations. As you move along, the scenery and music constantly change, creating a sense of surprise and wonder — exactly the kind of fairy-tale experience you expect to discover behind that mysterious closed door

Then we headed to HAUNTED MANSION. After walking through the corridors of an old mansion, we climbed into a carriage that took us on a tour through the entire house, which, as you might expect, was inhabited by ghosts. And the ghosts were very real! They appeared out of nowhere, dissolved into thin air, and occasionally behaved in the most perfectly civilized manner. For example, they would throw a grand ball complete with a feast and dancing.

After leaving the mansion, we headed to TOM SAWYER ISLAND. Naturally, the only way to get to the island is by steamboat

Or by raft, of course. Once on the island, you can simply wander around — and, naturally, explore the caves.

On our way, we happened to catch one of the park’s parades

We skipped the attractions designed for little kids.

Our next attraction was PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. We climbed into a boat and set off into the world of pirates

We also managed to squeeze in a thrilling roller coaster — BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD. The mine train races through the mountains in search of gold.

As darkness falls, the park transforms into a spectacular light show. All the Disney characters parade through the streets in carriages covered in thousands of twinkling lights. The show was absolutely unforgettable!

• Animal Kingdom 

The second Disney park we visited was Animal Kingdom. This is a world of animals — both the real ones that surround us and the mythical and fantastical creatures from legends and stories.

You can feel the grandeur of nature the moment you enter the park and see the enormous tree standing at its center. This is the Tree of Life, the symbol of the park. It stands 44 meters tall, and its trunk and branches are covered with carvings of 325 different animals.

Animals are everywhere in the park. This is their world.

The park is divided into several lands, and, as you would expect, each one has its own unforgettable design.

We started with DINOLAND U.S.A., the world of dinosaurs. Our first attraction was DINOSAUR. The name says it all. We climbed into a vehicle and set off into the world of dinosaurs.

It’s a little loud for small children, but overall, it’s not too scary — especially if you cover your ears!))

Next, we took a little break in the theater and watched the musical FINDING NEMO. It was a beautiful show, and even the older kids thoroughly enjoyed it.

Our next stop was the 3D movie IT'S TOUGH TO BE A BUG — one of the most memorable Disney experiences.

The show takes place right beneath the Tree of Life and engages all of your senses. Besides the images on the screen, the seats move, water sprays, different scents fill the air, and there are all kinds of other physical effects. It’s an incredibly immersive experience!

We made it to the FESTIVAL OF THE LION KING — a spectacular celebration filled with music, colorful costumes, and larger-than-life characters. It was an absolutely beautiful show.

Next, we headed to Africa for the park’s most popular attraction — KILIMANJARO SAFARIS.

This is a real safari experience. We climbed into a safari vehicle and set off across the African savanna

There, we admired the animals in their natural-looking habitats.

Then we moved on to Asia, where we climbed aboard a train and headed up Mount Everest on EXPEDITION EVEREST — and, as you might expect, came flying back down at an incredible speed!

Throughout Asia — as in all of the Disney parks — you’ll find countless themed decorations, as well as restaurants and snack stands that are fully integrated into the surroundings.

And just as we were leaving the park, we came across ADVENTURES OUTPOST — a little themed building where you can meet and take photos with Disney characters

• EPCOT

The next day, we headed to EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). It was a beautiful and unusual park, originally envisioned as a showcase of technological progress. The park is divided into two completely different sections: Future World and World Showcase.

Future World feels like a huge science museum, while World Showcase is a giant semicircle featuring pavilions representing 11 different countries.

Not far from the entrance stands the park’s main symbol — the huge golf-ball-shaped sphere known as SPACESHIP EARTH.

There was also a plant festival taking place throughout the park. Disney characters had been created from living shrubs, and the entire park was decorated with flowers.

Our first attraction was located inside the sphere itself — SPACESHIP EARTH. We climbed into a small vehicle and traveled through the evolution of humanity and technological development. Screens inside the vehicle allowed us to choose our preferences, and at the end of the ride, we got to see what our future might look like!

Then we headed to LIVING WITH THE LAND. We boarded a boat and learned about the importance of protecting our environment. We traveled through greenhouse pavilions where we could see how many of the foods we eat are grown. The kids really enjoyed it.

Our next attraction was THE SEAS WITH NEMO AND FRIENDS. We climbed into seashells and set off on a journey through a huge tropical aquarium with Nemo and his friends

Then we went to the theater for TURTLE TALK WITH CRUSH. At first, it seemed like nothing special — just a theater, with a turtle named Crush swimming around on the screen and cracking jokes. Just an ordinary cartoon.

And then, suddenly, Crush started talking to the audience through the screen! Just like a real turtle. He was animated on the screen, but he could actually interact with people in the theater, responding to what they said and did. It was incredibly impressive — for both adults and kids!

Our next attraction was JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION WITH FIGMENT. It was a fun, upbeat ride accompanied by music and our little dragon friend, Figment. Along the way, we traveled through laboratories dedicated to our senses. We heard different sounds, smelled various scents, felt movement and speed, and saw all kinds of things designed to stimulate our imagination

After having a little fun with the fountains, we headed to the second part of the park, where the pavilions of 11 different countries were represented.

It really felt as though we had visited all of these countries. Each country, much like an ethnographic exhibit, gave visitors a glimpse of its most famous buildings, everyday life, shops, entertainment, and, of course, food. This part of the park had the largest selection of restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world. Each country also had small street shows that, just like everything else, captured the unique character and atmosphere of its culture. Let me show you a few of the countries.

We passed through Canada pretty quickly (we see enough of it every day!) and headed into good old England. And then we arrived in France

Italy and Germany

China, Norway, and Mexico.

Oh, and I almost forgot! Here is the “reason” behind our trip — Sean. He turned 13 on March 25. Our little boy officially became a teenager! This trip was, in a way, his birthday present

That evening, there was a spectacular light show and fireworks in the park, but we were exhausted and decided to skip them...

• Hollywood Studios

This was the last of the four Disney parks we visited.

Looking back on this park, I have to mention the weather we had during our trip to Orlando. It was the end of March and beginning of April, and we were lucky. We had some cooler days and some hot ones, but the average temperature was around +25°C (77°F). If it had been much hotter, we simply wouldn’t have been able to walk around and see as much as we did.

The park was originally designed as a working movie studio, but eventually it became a theme park instead. The symbol of the park was the Sorcerer's Hat. Unlike the other Disney parks, Hollywood Studios doesn’t have clearly separated themed lands. Cities, streets, and buildings blend together, much like they would on a real movie studio backlot.

I mentioned the weather for a reason. As soon as we entered the park and, as usual, picked up our Fastpasses, it started to rain. And not just rain — a full-blown downpour that lasted practically the entire day! It was the only rainy day of our vacation, so instead of leisurely exploring the park, we ended up running from one attraction to another through the rain. Naturally, our overall impression wasn’t quite as magical as it had been at the other three parks.

But let me show you a little of what we managed to see.

STAR TOURS — THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE — a Star Wars attraction. A 3D interplanetary journey aboard a spaceship, with beautiful theming and impressive special effects

Our next attraction was THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE — a beautiful journey through scenes from various famous Hollywood movies.

And here comes the rain, with us standing in front of a painted San Francisco backdrop. Until I walked up and actually touched it, I simply couldn’t believe that, from just a few meters away, those weren’t real houses and a road running uphill!

And that’s where our journey through the Disney parks came to an end. But this was only one part of our vacation.

There was still plenty more to see — including other theme parks that, in our opinion, were even more interesting than Disney!

But that’s a story for another time...

You can the the 2nd part of our trip, about Universal Studios, here

You can see the 3td part of our trip. about Sea World and Surroundings, here