by Kenneth Black

Created on: July 17, 2008   Last Updated: September 30, 2008

The slogan for Walt Disney World used to be: Four Parks, One World. Anyone who has ever been there knows what they mean. Disney is so much more than a theme park; it's actually four theme parks! And while it is sometimes called the most magical place on Earth, what it offers is no illusion. More people travel to Disney World than any other single place.

Why? There are many reasons. It has great weather year round. There is plenty of great hotel space and one of the most convenient major airports known to man. But of course, that isn't the main reason.

While there are good reasons to go to Orlando, the one pivotal event that made it a vacation must was one man. Walt Disney reinvented the family entertainment industry and reinvented, on a large scale, Central Florida tourism. When Walt decided to build a theme park at the intersection of two major highways, Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike, he started a chain reaction and created what today is the largest collection of entertainment choices, per square mile, than any other place in the world.

So, are you excited yet? You should be.

Planning a trip to Disney World is no easy matter. In fact, if you didn't need a vacation before you started your planning, you certainly will afteward. With all the choices, there are plenty of things to consider and plenty of options. Do you want a deluxe or value resort? Do you want to stay on property or off? On what days do the various theme parks provide extra hours for on-property guests only? Should you choose the dining option or not? Only through careful research and planning can you get the most out of your time at Disney.

Disney World is more than just a theme park. It is not Disneyland (which has since added The California Adventure). It is four parks combined into one property that surpasses the size of Manhattan Island. In addition to its four parks, there are two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. The property's original waterpark, River Country, was a casualty of these newer water parks and is no longer in operation.

The four theme parks cater to families, but each fills a different niche. Magic Kingdom, (which most people think of as "Disney World") includes various rides and attractions from some of the most popular movies. From Disney's first feature-length masterpiece, Snow White, to more recent inventions such as Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. It is, as expected, probably the most suited toward younger children. Epcot, which is divided into Future World

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