Walt Disney World

Mission: SPACE

A centrifugal flight simulator lets you feel what it would be like to train for a journey to Mars, but it's not just a passive ride—you and the others in your capsule have tasks to do during the flight. The spinning of the centrifuge is effective at generating g-forces, but it can induce motion sickness (bags are available). It helps if you keep your head back against the headrest and focus on the images on the screen, which show straight-line acceleration; looking away removes the visual cues and makes it feel more like rotation. If you really want to avoid the spinning and the g-forces, look for the "Green Team" queue, which will put you in a capsule that doesn't spin; it's still a fun ride but not as thrilling. Gary Sinise appears as your mission controller..

Wheelchair accessible

Soarin' Around the World

A simulated aerial flight over beautiful landscapes and majestic landmarks from throughout the world. This is more than just a movie, though—your feet will be dangling with apparently open sky below, and you'll feel the wind in your face and smell the ocean as you fly overhead. Likely the most popular ride in the park, so you'll probably want a FastPass (although the standby queue does have some interactive shadow-games to while away the time).

Wheelchair accessible

Fantasia Gardens

Just southwest of the Walt Disney World Swan hotel is a whimsical pair of 18-hole miniature golf courses. True to the name, the area is themed around the 1940 animated feature Fantasia. The "Fantasia Gardens" course is the more traditional of the two, with big, colorful courses and obstacles and a few special surprises to boot. The "Fantasia Fairways" course is like a real golf course in miniature—rolling fairways, sand traps, and no rails to keep your ball from going off into the rough. It's much harder, too; young kids should stick to the Gardens course or head to Winter Summerland at Blizzard Beach.

10AM-11PM·Adults $12, children $10 per 18 holes (second round, same day, is half price). Before 4PM, a Water Park Fun & More option can be used for one round of golf

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

The title attraction is a slow-moving but cute ride; the finale uses state-of-the-art display technology to show characters from Finding Nemo swimming with real fish. After the ride, you'll head into the Sea Base.

Wheelchair accessible

Turtle Talk with Crush

Part of Disney's Living Character Initiative, this is an interactive show featuring the sea turtle character. Kids get to ask Crush questions, and he responds in real time. Great fun, especially for young kids, but very popular.

Wheelchair accessible

Winter Summerland

Just outside the Blizzard Beach gates is this inventive pair of miniature golf courses. Winter Summerland makes good use of the snow and ice theme; as the story goes, Santa Claus and his elves have created a vacation resort-away-from-home here in Florida. Half of the elves wanted something resembling home, so they borrowed winter-themed elements from Blizzard Beach to create the "Snow" course; the other half wanted to feel like they were actually in Florida and created the "Sand" course. There are sight gags galore, and the courses are great for kids and adults alike. Be warned: you can take the Blizzard Beach bus during that park's operating hours, and bus service to the All-Star Resorts and Epcot continues until 9PM, but after that you'll need to have a car handy.

10AM-11PM·Adults $14, children $12 per 18 holes (second round, same day, is half price). Before 4PM, a Water Park Fun & More option can be used for one round of golf · Entry 19 usd

Living with the Land

A slow-moving educational boat ride through Disney's hydroponic and aeroponic greenhouses, with a lesson on how we can live in peace with the land.

Wheelchair accessible

Wild Africa Trek

Wild Africa tour

Take a three-hour guided expedition into the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, including areas not normally seen from the Safari or the Trail. Guests will trek through vines on a bushwalk, cross a rope bridge over a river, peer over cliffs at hippos and crocodiles, and enjoy a private elevated safari camp right in the middle of the animals' habitats. You must be at least 9 years old and tall, and you must weigh between 45 and 310 pounds.

Multiple expeditions daily, until mid-afternoon·$200 (price varies by season); park admission required

Champion Stadium

A 9,500-seat baseball stadium. The Atlanta Braves play their spring training games here, and the Rookie-league GCL Braves play here all summer. Other events occur throughout the year.

$0–32

AMC Disney Springs 24

Okay, so you're on vacation in Florida, with four theme parks, two water parks, and a host of recreational activities to choose from; why would you spend ten bucks to sit inside and watch a movie you could see just as easily back home? Good question. Maybe you just need a break from Disney. And the air conditioning can be attractive. Admittedly, this is a very nice multiplex; all 24 theaters have "rocker-style" stadium seating, surround sound, and digital projection, and one screen is a "Dolby Cinema" (providing enhanced audio, a bigger screen, and other improvements). 6 of the auditoriums are Dine-In Theaters, where you can order food and drinks (including beer, wine, and cocktails) right from your seat while you watch a film.

Sun-Thu 10:30AM-11PM, Fri Sat 9:45AM-midnight·$8-11, Dine-In $3 more, Dolby $4 more

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Resort (commonly known as Walt Disney World or Disney World) is an entertainment and vacation resort complex located about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Walt Disney Company. Covering an approximate 27,000 acres (42 sq mi; 109 km2), Walt Disney World contains numerous recreational facilities designed to attract visitors for extended stays, including four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, conference centers, a competitive sports complex and a major shopping, dining and entertainment complex.

Open now · open 24 hours·Wi-Fi · Live music · Wheelchair accessible

Humunga Kowabunga

Three 214 foot (65 m) long slides send you plummeting straight down, at a terrifying five stories per second!

Wilderness Explorers

Stop by the main station on the bridge to Discovery Island to pick up your handbook and take the Wilderness Explorers pledge, inspired by the Disney/Pixar film Up. Then wander the park and keep an eye out for the activity stations and interpretive exhibits scattered throughout. There are thirty "merit badge" stickers to acquire, and getting them all would be a true accomplishment. The cast members at each station are friendly and have tons of information to share; even adults will be engaged and interested in the discussions they lead.

Castaway Creek

A 2,000-foot (610 m) tubing river that winds through the whole park.

Crush 'n Gusher Water 'Rollercoaster'

What do you get when you cross a water slide with a roller coaster? This!

Candlelight Processional

Every night between Thanksgiving and New Year's, a celebrity narrator reads the Christmas story accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a choir. Narrators have included Geena Davis, Edward James Olmos, Neil Patrick Harris, and Marlee Matlin, and dozens of others. Disney's theatrical flair is applied well to this celebratory but sedate event.

Nightly, late Nov - late Dec: 5PM, 6:45PM, 8PM

Senses - A Disney Spa and Salon

The Grand Floridian's spa has an enormous array of indulgent ways to relax, from kid-friendly facials to multi-hour full-body experiences, including just about any type of massage or manicure you can imagine. Of special note are the Grand Romantic Couple's Massage and the Couple's Instructional Massage. Treatments last 25, 50, or 80 minutes. Ages 12 and up for full treatments; ages 4-12 for kids' treatments; ages 14+ for fitness center. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Treatments: daily 8AM-8PM; fitness center: daily 6AM-9PM·$25-500

Senses – A Disney Spa

Saratoga Springs, New York, was once known for its healing and relaxing mineral waters, a tradition carried forward at this full-service spa and health club. The expected wide array of massages, facial and full-body treatments, and manicures and pedicures are all available here, and they're not restricted to guests staying at the resort.

8AM-8PM·Expect to pay about $140 for a 50-minute treatment, or $200 for an 80-minute treatment, with plenty of more expensive packages available

Splitsville

bowling

This growing chain of bowling centers seems like a perfect fit for the nightlife-and-entertainment atmosphere of the West Side—and with 30 lanes spread over two floors, this is the largest Splitsville ever built. Far more than just a bowling alley, Splitsville features bowling concierges who bring your shoes, balls, and food right to your lane; an extensive restaurant menu with both casual and innovative cuisine; a full bar; and live music every night. With so much to do, even people who don't bowl can have a great time.

Sun 10AM-1AM, Mon-Thu 10:30AM-1AM, Fri 10:30AM-2AM, Sat 10AM-2AM·$20/bowler ($15 M-F before 4PM) for 60-105 min of bowling (varies based on party size); shoe rental incl

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

With millions of flowers on display—rotated three times during the festival to account for different blooming times—Epcot is a sight to see in the spring. Check out the butterfly garden, attend horticultural demonstrations and instructional programs, or just wander around—nearly every pavilion has a special event or feature during the festival. Weekend nights, the Garden Rocks Concert Series at the America Gardens Theater features classic and modern rock and pop musicians, with a focus on those from the 60s and 70s. Dozens of other special events are on the schedule, too many to list here.

Daily, early Mar - late May

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The centerpiece of this festival is the international marketplace and promenade, with more than 25 kiosks serving dishes and drinks from six continents. Seminars, demonstrations, wine tastings, and all sorts of shopping are also available throughout the festival. The evening "Eat to the Beat!" concert series at the America Gardens Theater focuses on jazz, funk, and R&B.

Daily, mid-Sep – mid-Nov

Royal Sommerhus

Meet Anna and Elsa in their royal summer house. The house's design is based on traditional Norwegian log cabins.

SeaBase

This is a representation of an underwater base and serves as the primary viewing location for the main aquarium. Turtle Talk with Crush is located here, along with a number of exhibits and displays typical of what you might see in other aquarium buildings. One of the best sights into the aquarium is from a circular platform that sticks out into the tank, so you're surrounded by fish on almost all sides. Aquarium staff give presentations periodically, including dolphin training sessions.

Kidcot Fun Stops

Designed for preschoolers, there are 13 of these craft stations throughout the park; there's one at each World Showcase pavilion, plus one at The Land and one at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Kids can meet cast members from around the world and decorate paper-puppets of Duffy the Disney Bear (or Agent P) with elements specific to each location. Great fun for the littlest visitors, and it allows them to connect with the message of Epcot in a way more suited to their level of understanding.

Melt-Away Bay

The park's largest pool. Has some gentle waves, but nothing remotely like Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

A five-hour party with two special Halloween parades, the Happy HalloWishes fireworks show, costumed characters wearing costumes of their own, and trick-or-treating throughout the park. Feel free to wear your own costumes, too!

late Aug to Nov 1: 7PM-midnight·Adults $74-115, ages 3-9 $69-110

Chairlift

What's a ski resort without a chairlift? You can use this to get from the park entrance to Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher, Teamboat Springs, Toboggan Racers, and Snow Stormers.

Aerophile

formerly Characters in Flight

The only literal "ride" in Disney Springs, but it's the tallest one on the entire property. This tethered hot-air balloon lifts you 400 feet in the air for a breathtaking bird's-eye view of Walt Disney World.

8:30AM-midnight, weather permitting·Ages 10+ $20, ages 3-9 $15; $10 before 10:30AM

Bayside Marina

Just around the bend from the BoardWalk is the Yacht Club's Bayside Marina, where a huge array of boats are available for rent or charter. Rental options range from single-person Sea Raycers ($24/half-hour) to 10-passenger pontoon boats ($42/half-hour). Chartered options run the gamut, from fishing and dining cruises, to a cruise down the way to Epcot to watch Epcot Forever from the World Showcase Lagoon. Send the kids on a treasure-hunting pirate cruise, or customize your own excursion. (Advance reservations strongly suggested for any chartered excursion; call +1 407-WDW-PLAY to make them.).

10AM-5PM·$24 and up

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is a zoological theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division, it was the largest theme park in the world upon opening, covering 580 acres (230 ha). The park is themed around the natural world through both real-life and imagined representations of animals and locations.