Walt Disney World for School-Age Kids

If you want to feel like a kid again, the Walt Disney World® Resort is your playground. Children and their parents are swept away by the magical, fairy-tale feel that permeates each and every one of the Disney theme parks. Around every corner is another awe-inspiring surprise that's bigger and more eye-popping than the last. Each of the major theme parks — Disney's Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park, Disney's Hollywood Studios®, Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon — will keep your fun-loving, fast-paced family mesmerized and bring you closer together with memories so fond they'll last a lifetime.

Orlando is the top family Spring Break destination, with travel at its peak from February to April. Also popular are Thanksgiving and the December holidays. A lull in the travel season occurs from September to early November, which is a great time to score low rates and two-for-one deals, and avoid long lines at attractions. Log on to the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau website for more details.

February, March, and April are the most popular times to travel to Orlando, with northerners coming to soak up the 78-degree weather. But bear in mind that cold snaps happen even in Florida. Pack a light fleece in addition to your bathing suit and summer clothes. Even the busy November or December holiday season has seen cold fronts (the oranges have frozen in years past). Afternoon rains are typical most summer days. Bring a light raincoat or poncho, and plan indoor activities in the afternoon if possible. The hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak months in August and September. Get more weather info.

Flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a breeze for passengers, as more than 30 airlines serve the airport. Natives joke that the airport code stands for "Mickey and Co." or "Mickey's Corporate Office" since the Walt Disney World Resort is the leading attraction of the Orlando area. Disney's Magical Express is a free shuttle service from the airport to the resort's hotels. You can also check your bags at the hotel for your return trip, which makes for a virtually effortless airport check-in. There's also the Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) 18 miles northeast of the city, and Amtrak passenger and auto trains, which transport you and your car.

Free shuttle service to each of the parks is available from all Disney hotels and resorts, making it easy to park-hop and unnecessary to rent a car. Those not staying at the resort can use the pay-per-day lots or take the public bus system, Lynx.

With a rich calendar of special events, Disney's magic never ends.

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (Jan.)
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (March – May)
• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Sept – Nov)
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (Nov.-Dec.)
• Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional (Nov.-Dec.)
• Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom (Nov.-Jan.)
• The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios (Nov.-Dec.)

Walt Disney World's official Website is a vital tool for planning your upcoming vacation. Stroller rentals are available at the parks, including double strollers for larger families. To "Share the Memories" with your family, check out our Walt Disney World Photo Gallery. For more great ways for your families to play at Disney Parks and Resorts, visit our Disney Parks page.

The Magic Your Way base ticket lets families add on options to create a special experience where the longer you stay, the less you pay.

• Talk about vast: At 47 square miles, Disney is twice as big as Manhattan.
• Walt Disney World was created by filmmaker Walt Elias Disney (who died several years before the 1971 opening) and his co-founder and brother, Roy.
• Enough Mickey Mouse ears are sold each year at the Walt Disney World Resort to outfit every resident of Pittsburgh.