Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. – 40 square miles of fantastic entertainment – is turning 40 years old this fall. Sunny, warm weather all year long made central Florida a natural choice for this Disney attraction, which opened Oct. 1, 1971. Today, the resort includes four theme parks, two water adventure parks, 32 hotels, five golf courses, two full-service spas, a wedding pavilion, the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex and an entertainment-shopping-dining complex called Downtown Disney.Disney recently introduced a number of exciting new features at Walt Disney World, making this 40th anniversary year a perfect time to visit for first-timers and repeat visitors alike.Most recently, the Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios re-opened after a complete refurbishment. It’s now one of the most popular rides at Disney World, and for good reason. With assistance from 3D glasses, you’ll rocket through famous scenes from both “Star Wars” movie trilogies, encountering characters such as Princess Leia, R2D2, Yoda and the feared Darth Vader. Star Tours features more than 50 possible combinations of scenes and characters, making each ride unique.Disney’s Hollywood Studios also has a new parade, “Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun,” featuring favorite characters from Pixar movies such as “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters Inc.” and “Toy Story.” The parade is led by Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and their crime-fighting friend, Frozone, from “The Incredibles.”At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, lovely Rapunzel and roguish Flynn Rider from the animated feature “Tangled” greet guests in a new, interactive experience at the Fairytale Garden. They join plenty of “old favorite” attractions, such as Space Mountain and It’s a Small World.Epcot Center’s World Showcase has new options for a memorable lunch or leisurely dinner. Via Napoli offers authentic Neapolitan pizza and other southern Italian specialties. The popular San Angel Inn has expanded and can now serve traditional Mexican cuisine to more guests in open-air seating with a great view of the nightly fireworks.To experience everything that Disney World has to offer during its 40th anniversary year, talk with one of our travel specialists. With a wide variety of accommodations and discounted admission for multiple-day tickets that allow you to experience each park, a travel professional can help you plan a Disney World vacation that works with your schedule and budget.
