Visiting Orlando

Going farther south, in the middle of the Florida peninsula is the city of Orlando, famous for Walt Disney World, several other amusement parks, and world class entertainment with many convenient hotels such as the Hilton Orlando Convention Center. Disney theme parks can also be found in California and other parts of the world, but Walt Disney World in Florida has grown into the largest Disney resort complex. Florida’s Disney World is split into four enormous theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The photo above shows Cinderella Castle with some famous Disney characters performing nearby.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse were also putting on a brief show near Cinderella Castle. I’ve been to Disney World several times since I was a kid, and there always seems to be some kind of performance taking place around the park.

Magic Kingdom’s entertainment comes in shows, shopping, and of course rides. This was the entrance to Magic Kingdom just after Christmas. The buildings along the main street sell souvenirs, ice cream, candy, and all kinds of food, with restaurants catering to both kids and adults.

This is Tomorrowland, the futuristic section of Magic Kingdom with space and science-fiction themed rides and attractions.

One of the biggest traditions at Magic Kingdom is the elaborate Disney parade. Different characters and stories are represented by enormous floats that move through the park while crowds line the streets.

Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, the Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and countless other Disney characters have appeared in the parades over the years. I’ve been to Disney World many times as a little kid, but as an adult I really started to appreciate how much effort goes into putting on these enormous productions, along with nightly entertainment and fireworks.