Disney World's New Attractions
June 3 -- If you haven't been to Disney World lately, you haven't been to Disney World. The enormous Florida playground is constantly adding attractions and resorts, so that every time you visit, there's something new to see.
The numbers alone are staggering: Walt Disney World now has more than 24,000 hotel rooms, 100 major attractions, and hosts as many as 120,000 guests per day.
What began in 1971 as the Magic Kingdom now includes the high-tech, educational Epcot, movie-mad Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom.
Each time the park expands, so do your options — and your odds of feeling overwhelmed. With so many things to do, how does a family best spend its precious days of vacation?
How to Choose?
It's a tough question, but one I'm prepared to answer. As the author of a family guide to Disney World, I've been to the park more than 25 times with my kids. In the name of research, I've made 13 consecutive trips down the Tower of Terror, raced a group of nuns to Space Mountain and surveyed more than 150 families to get their best tips on seeing the park.
And I've developed a strategy to make a trip over four days — the most common length of visit — manageable and fun.
There's no way that even the most fleet-footed family could see everything in four days — or even 40. If you follow the plan we've provided, however, I promise you'll see the best of the best. Read on for a four-day Walt Disney World itinerary.
Day One
Get ready for a fun-filled day at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Morning: Magic Kingdom
The earlier you start, the better, so grab a muffin and hightail it to the Magic Kingdom (disneyworld.disney.go.com/waltdisneyworld/parksandmore/parkindex?id=TPMagicKingdomPrk) 30 minutes before the stated opening time. Disney novices tend to sleep late, arrive at the park mid-morning and then flee it by early evening, exhausted by the heat and the crowds. Your goal should be to zig when everyone else zags: Go early, break for lunch and a nap or a swim and re-enter the parks around 6 p.m., when many families with young kids are on their way out.
First off, head for the big rides. If your kids are brave and over 44 inches tall: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. If your kids are younger: Goofy's Barnstormer (a great first coaster for preschoolers), Dumbo and Pirates of the Caribbean.
When the park begins to fill up around 11 a.m., have an early lunch — we like Tony's Town Square on Main Street — then move on to attractions that allow you to sit, such as The Legend of the Lion King (the stage version of the movie), the very scary Alien Encounter (if your kids are over age 10) or Country Bear Jamboree (if they're younger).
Next, stake out your curb space for the 3 p.m. parade. Try to sit along the Main Street hub. That way, the parade will pass by your family first, and you can beat a hasty exit before everyone else.
Afternoon: Take a Break
Head back to your hotel for a short nap and a dip in the pool.
Evening: Epcot
Epcot (disneyworld.disney.go.com/waltdisneyworld/parksandmore/parkindex?id=TPEpcotPrk) is more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom, and some might say double the fun. The park has two sections: Future World (which contains nine pavilions grouped around the silver geosphere Spaceship Earth) and the World Showcase, where 11 international pavilions sit around a lagoon. Begin by touring the World Showcase.
