Disney World in Orlando has long been named as the happiest place on Earth. It is truly an enjoyable place for families with children to visit. I firmly believe that even families without children would thoroughly enjoy everything that Disney World has to offer. The sights, sounds and feel of Disney World is unlike no other. The restaurants provide tastes and aromas that will truly have you leaving with a feel good attitude towards the world we live in.

Audience

Families with children will have the best time at Disney World as it has everything anyone could ask for. Kids enjoy the rides for younger people as well as meeting all of the Disney characters. Parents can enjoy the bigger rides as well as returning to their childhood. Taking pictures with and meeting all of the characters are fun for everyone involved.

Personal Experience

One of the greatest experiences I personally had at Disney World was the 4^th of July in 2018. It started as a great day with high hopes visiting Magic Kingdom. Magic was truly in the air as the coordination of tens of thousands of people gaining access to the park began. It is truly a daunting task but was of no significance to the well-trained staff at Disney World.

As the day went on, riding rides and enjoying the scenery, grumpiness and attitudes began to mount. When my then 13 year old daughter did not get to ride the final ride she wanted to ride, everyone in our group felt the tension. We had to cut the ride out of our plans because we wanted to get a good seat for what was ahead. The main reason we wanted to do Magic Kingdom on the 4^th of July was for the fireworks show at the end of the day. As we settled in to our front row seat, we had no idea what we were in for.

When the rains began to move in, as they typically do on a daily basis at Disney World, an estimated one hundred thousand people gathered in front of the castle for the end of day fireworks display. There was a DJ playing music and leading the crowded masses in a mass dance party. The crowd all moved in sync unlike anything I have ever seen.  At this point we were all wearing ponchos to keep the rain off. The rain also delayed the fireworks to allow a longer dance party. My daughter is an introvert that likes to keep to herself, except when we are at home. She likes to dance and sing. When she saw so many people doing the dance to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ as one group, she could not help but join the masses. Suddenly, a previously disgruntled 13 year old was dancing like she was in her bedroom alone and having the time of her life. It was one of the greatest moments I have experienced in my lifetime.

Soon the rain cleared off and the fireworks extravaganza we had all been waiting for was set to begin. The display at the castle was a setting like no other with the castle lit up like the American flag. The music and narration was all set to patriotic sounds as the fireworks lit up the night sky. By the end of the show, there were fireworks all around us, 360 degrees. It was truly amazing. What started as a great day, turned into a potentially bad day, and quickly transformed into one of the greatest days we have experienced as a family.

Preservation

I believe, with the enjoyment my family and I had at Disney World, it is extremely important to preserve this jewel for the enjoyment of future generations. The tradition of riding the Tea Cups is a simple thing but creates memories that families can look back on for a lifetime. Visiting Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is an experience unlike any other.

Another enjoyable part of Disney World is the night life. There are many night clubs and restaurants featuring music acts from all genres of music. Disney Springs offers dining, shopping and night clubs fit for any appetite. If one enjoys shopping, he or she could spend all day and night at Disney Springs. Preserving these destinations are of utmost importance to create a lasting experience for families across the world.

Lodging

There are a number of excellent options when looking for places to stay in Orlando, Florida. Many people stay within the Disney World Resort, while others may stay at an offsite hotel.  While there are a few advantages to staying at the Disney World Resort, my recommendation is to rent a vacation home at Orlando Vacations. When traveling with multiple families, the savings can be considerably significant. Vacation homes have their own personal swimming pool, as well as full kitchens and game rooms.

Below is a comparison of a few lodging options in and around Walt Disney World Resort:

Dining

As far as good eating goes, Disney World and the surrounding areas provide a great selection with great food.  However, the one place that was highly recommended to me is actually in Titusville, Florida. The restaurant is the World Famous Dixie Crossroads and has excellent seafood and steaks. It was my first experience with rock shrimp as this was what was recommended to me. Rock shrimp is in a shell, similar to lobster. The rock shrimp at Dixie Crossroads is quite possibly the best thing I have ever eaten. I also had to have the prime rib and large shrimp, which certainly did not disappoint. When planning a trip to Dixie Crossroads, save a little time to feed the fish in the pond outside of the restaurant. Free fish food is provided by the restaurant. This is a good time for adults and kids alike.

The trip to Dixie Crossroads is about an hour from Orlando but is definitely worth the extra mile to experience.

Below are a few dining options around Orlando, FL:

Planning Your Trip

Planning Instructions for Disney World

The following instructions are to help you plan for your trip to Disney World. These instructions are to help optimize your family’s trip to Disney World and serve as reminders leading up to your trip.  The instructions start twelve months prior to your departure. A family with children is the targeted audience, but the instructions herein are useful for anyone wanting to plan the best trip ever! A computer with internet is preferred to accomplish many things on the list. Without this list, your trip could be a lot more stressful, thus being much less awesome.

1. Twelve months before you want to travel, create a savings account dedicated to save for the trip. It is not a cheap trip, and going with the idea of saving money is not always the most enjoyable way to enjoy Disney World. Save your money and just have fun!
2. Determine what time of the year is best for you and your preferences, and set a date that works for everyone in the party. Undercover Tourist has a lot of information for Disney World and many other destinations, including the Best Time to Visit Disney World.
3. As early as allowed, request time off from work. It’s easy to let this step slip and not get your preferred dates, especially if you have to work around others for time off.
4. No later than six months from your date, decide where to stay. Determine if you want to stay at a vacation home, in a hotel, or stay at the Disney World Resort. Book your stay now as these fill up quickly as well.
5. Six months before departure, decide travel arrangements. Weigh the cost of driving versus flying. Driving can be an added stress to the family but can save a considerable amount of money if feasible.
6. Purchase airline tickets if flying and schedule car rental if preferred.
7. Three months prior to your trip, explore theme park ticket options for the amount of time you will be there, and purchase tickets. Undercover Tourist is one of many websites that offers discount tickets.
8. Order matching Disney World t-shirts for the entire family.
9. Research what to pack. There are many blogs available for this specific topic, including “The Complete, Essential Disney World Packing List”, by Sherry Boswell.
10. Two months before leaving, purchase items needed to fulfill packing list.
11. Thirty days before your trip, follow up on lodging. Confirm procedures for checking in to your house, hotel, or resort.
12. Two weeks before leaving, plan travel to determine departure time and route to take.
13. Two weeks before leaving, if driving, have vehicle serviced to have in best running order. Have the oil changed, tires rotated, and brakes checked. Any breakdown can ruin the best vacation ever!
14. One week before leaving, begin packing your items that are Disney World specific.
15. Two days prior to leaving is laundry day! Also begin packing all items with the exception of clothes you will need between now and the day you leave.
16. The night before you leave, pack the vehicle with everything needed, so as to not forget anything and keep the stress to a minimum when loading up for the trip ahead.
17. Enjoy the trip!

 

I hope you have as much fun as we did!  Below are some pictures of our adventure to Disney World:

*Personally taken by Adam Doty

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For Dr. Tara Hembrough, English 3903: Professional and Technical Writing

 

Works Cited

Dixie Crossroads, www.dixiecrossroads.com, Accessed 14 September 2018

Google Maps (Dixie Crossroads), https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dixie+Crossroads/@28.615017,-80.820329,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x3afe23f9ce6cf32d!8m2!3d28.6150171!4d-80.820329?hl=en-US, Accessed 14 September 2018

Disney Springs, https://www.disneysprings.com/, Accessed 14 September 2018

Magic Kingdom, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/magic-kingdom/, Accessed 14 September 2018

Epcot, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/, Accessed 14 September 2018

Animal Kingdom, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/animal-kingdom/, Accessed 14 September 2018

Disney’s Hollywood Studios, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios/, Accessed 14 September 2018

Orlando Vacations, https://www.orlandovacation.com/lodging/, Accessed 14 September 2018

Disney’s Contemporary Resort, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/contemporary-resort/, Accessed 19 September 2018

Holiday Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando, https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/orlando/mcous/hoteldetail?qDest=Orlando,%20FL,%20United%20States&qCiD=19&qCoD=20&qCiMy=82018&qCoMy=82018&qAdlt=1&qChld=0&qRms=1&qWch=0&qSmP=1&qIta=99504425&glat=SEAR&setPMCookies=true&qRtP=6CBARC&qAkamaiCC=US&srb_u=1&qRad=30&presentationViewType=null&qSrt=sBR&qBrs=ic.in.vn.cp.hi.ex.rs.cv.sb.cw.ul.ki.va, Accessed 19 September 2018

Orlando Vacation.com, https://www.orlandovacation.com/shop/hotel_detail.php?hotelid=30&arrival_date=05/01/2019&nights=6&rooms=2&adult_tickets=4&child_tickets=0, Accessed 19 September 2018

Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, https://www.christinis.com/, Accessed 19 September 2018

Trip Advisor “Restaurants in Orlando”, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g34515-Orlando_Florida.html, Accessed 19 September 2018

Lafayette’s, http://lafayettes.com/orlando/, Accessed 19 September 2018

Undercover Tourist, “Best Time to Visit Disney World in 2018 and 2019”, https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-disney-world/, Accessed 17 September 2018

Undercover Tourist, https://www.undercovertourist.com/, Accessed 17 September 2018

Traveling Mom, “The Complete, Essential Disney World Packing List”, https://www.travelingmom.com/top-destinations-disney/disney-packing-list/, Accessed 17 September 2018