1. Alex Maroccia’s “Happiest Place on Earth”

2. Disney World’s Four Fantastic Parks in One Magic Kingdom- “The Original” Epcot- Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow Animal Kingdom- The world largest zoo with themed areas from around the world Hollywood Studios- A taste of the movie sets and rides geared towards them

3. Most visited theme park in the world (17,172,000 visitors last year) (Jeffers, G. (2012). TeaConnect.org. AECOM 2011 Theme Index. Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/2011Report.p df) Includes over 41 attractions for children and adults of all ages While many rides are meant for the younger crowd (10yrs or younger), exciting larger attractions include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad runaway train roller coaster, Splash Mountain log flume, and Space Mountain dark roller coaster Cinderella’s castle is the centerpiece of the park and the most notable feature of the complex (Mttbme. Space Mountain. [Digital Image] Sep. 4, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fi le:Space_Mountain_January_2 012_Magic_Kingdom_Nighttim e.JPG) (SolarSurfer. Thunder Mountain. [Digital Image] Spe. 4, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil e:Big_Thunder_Mountain_Railr oad.JPG )

4. Contains two separate sections: World Showcase- eleven different countries which provide a taste of their cultures Future World- the front of the park which features multiple rides and attractions to bolster environmental and technological awareness Each night is accompanied with the fantastic IllumiNations fireworks show, which features twelve minutes of flames, lasers, fireworks, and music Epcot was the sixth most visited theme park in the world with 10,825,000 visitors last year(Jeffers, G. (2012). TeaConnect.org. AECOM 2011 Theme Index. Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/2011Report.pdf ) The geodesic dome is the centerpiece of the park (Duensing, T. Test Track. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tfduesing/4558852808/) (UpstateNYer. MissionSpaceEpcot. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File: MissionSpaceEpcot.JPG) (Lightspeed_Suzuka. Fireworks. [Digital Image] Sep.6, 2012. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Lig htspeed_Suzuka/disney_epcot_fireworks.jpg )

5. (Penninston, Joe. Tree of Life. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/expressm onorail/4320396947/) Largest Disney theme park in the world by size which contains hundreds of different animal species Also contains many outdoor and jungle themed attractions for all ages Expedition Everest Roller Coaster Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition Kali River Rapids Includes African, Asian, and dinosaur regions all spread throughout the park Seventh most visited theme park in the world with 9,783,000 visitors in 2011 (Jeffers, G. (2012). TeaConnect.org. AECOM 2011 Theme Index. Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/2011Report.pdf) The Tree of Life from The Lion King is the centerpiece of the park Esham, B. Expedition Everest. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Expedition_Everest.jpg

6. (Pasant, M. Mickey’s Hat. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ pasant/3219772338/) (Childzy. Tower of Terror. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/File:Tower_of_Te rror_CU.JPG) Was the seventh most visited amusement park in the world with 9,699,000 visitors in 2011 (Jeffers, G. (2012). TeaConnect.org. AECOM 2011 Theme Index. Sep. 6, 2012. http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/2011Report.pdf) Contains many sections, all of which include themes from Disney movies created in Hollywood and attractions which brings these movies to life. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith is the second fastest Disney ride behind Test Track in Epcot The nighttime show, Fantasmic!, features water effects, fireworks, and even live actors Mickey’s hat from Fantasia 2000 is the centerpiece of the park

7. Disney Deluxe Resorts NameLocation Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Magic Kingdom Area Disney’s Yacht Club ResortEpcot Area Disney’s Beach Club ResortEpcot Area Disney’s Polynesian ResortMagic Kingdom Area Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Animal Kingdom Area Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort Epcot Area Disney’s Contemporary Resort Magic Kingdom Area Disney’s Wilderness LodgeMagic Kingdom Area (Scdis32. Disney Grand Floridian. [Digital Image] Sep. 6, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disneygr andfloridian.jpg) Disney Moderate Resorts NameLocation Disney’s The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Magic Kingdom Area Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Downtown Disney Area Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Epcot Area Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Animal Kingdom Area Disney Value Resorts NameLocation Disney’s All- Star Music Resort Animal Kingdom Area Disney’s All- Star Movies Resort Animal Kingdom Area Disney’s All- Star Sports Resort Animal Kingdom Area Disney’s Art of Animation Resort ESPN World Wide of Sports Area Disney’s Pop Century Resort ESPN World Wide of Sports Area

8. Disney’s Worldwide Theme Park Domination Disney Parks control almost half of the worldwide attendance for the top 5 theme park companies Worldwide attendance for all Disney parks combined last year was 121,400,000 visitors Information acquired from AECOMAECOM

9. My Method to Visiting the Parks at Disney World in Four Days Arrive at airport Go straight to Epcot from airport Hit the rides up front first; Mission Space or Test Track depending on wait, then FastPass the other ride If Soarin’ has a short wait, which is rare, ride it. Otherwise, take a walk around the World Showcase Make special stops in favorite countries for lunch or souvenirs Enjoy dinner at a country, watch IllumiNations, and head back to hotel! DAY 1 Eat breakfast at hotel, then head over to Animal Kingdom in the morning (trees provide shade!) Quickly grab FastPass for Expedition Everest, then ride Kali River Rapids If FastPass time has yet to be reached, take the Kilimanjaro Safari. If reached, ride Expedition Everest, then Safari Eat lunch in Asia Ride Primeval Whirl, then leave park and take the bus to Hollywood Studios (less people later in day) DAY 2 Eat breakfast in hotel again, then go to Magic Kingdom as early as possible (busiest park) Rush to Frontierland and grab a FastPass for Thunder Mountain Railroad, and ride Splash Mountain, then Thunder Mountain Head over to Tomorrowland and grab a FastPass for Space Mountain. In the interim, either eat lunch or ride Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Ride Space Mountain, then travel to back to Frontierland to check out the Swiss Family Treehouse Go to Adventureland and ride Pirates of the Caribbean. Travel to Liberty Square to visit the Haunted Mansion Grab some dinner, catch the phenomenal fireworks show, and head back to the hotel DAY 3 Go to Animal Kingdom for breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe Ride Dinosaur and any other attractions you want to ride again Eat lunch in Animal Kingdom, then take bus to Epcot Ride Spaceship Earth in the Epcot Ball Walk to the World Showcase and ride Maelstrom in Norway, then hit any other attractions you may have wanted to see Eat dinner in the World Showcase before departing for airport DAY 4