Dubbed the "happiest place on earth," Disney World — just southwest of Orlando, Florida — is one of several Disney theme parks dotting the globe. It all began with the smaller Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in 1955, when Walt Disney decided to incorporate his cartoons and animation studio into a theme park. Disney's dream was to create a live adventure where people could forget their cares and spend a day feeling like they were inside a cartoon.
When building his parks, Disney made it clear that the outside world should be kept outside. From within the Magic Kingdom, no signs of the real world were to be seen. He even took pains to make sure that the workings of the park and its attractions were hidden from view. Employees wear costumes or Disney garb, and they are called "cast members" instead of employees.
The streets are clean, the colors are bright, the sights, sounds, and smells are pleasant ones, and everyone wears a big smile, just as Walt Disney wanted it. Unfortunately, before the Florida park opened to the public in 1971, he passed away. His brother, Roy, changed the name to "Walt Disney World" to honor the name of its creator.
Disney World, or technically the Magic Kingdom, contains different "lands" filled with attractions and rides, such as Advertureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, and Mickey's Toontown Fair. There are nearly 50 major attractions to choose from, making it difficult to experience the entire Kingdom in just one day. Fortunately, there are vacation packages available that allow visitors to relax at the nearby resort and come back refreshed the next day.
Building on the Disney tradition of giving something back to the community, this park also offers a Walt Disney World College Program. It was developed to merge work experience with education, and it offers participants the chance to learn and work at the same time, while also enjoying free access to the Magic Kingdom, discounted rates at the resort, and discounts when purchasing Disney merchandise.
