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Walt Disney World in Florida is preparing for its 50th Golden Anniversary, with new attractions, rides, restaurants, stage shows, fireworks extravaganzas, parades, and many more exciting surprises awaiting Disney World fans. Walt Disney World, which opened to the public on October 1, 1971, is already the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of more than 52 million. It comprises 4 theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), 2 water parks, 27 themed resort hotels, 9 non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues including an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, Disney Springs. Of the 4 theme parks, Magic Kingdom is the most visited and most popular. Here are some reasons why this is so.
1. Main Street, USA
When you pass through the tunnels leading to Main Street, USA, you are immediately immersed in the nostalgia and atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century small town America. The outside world melts away as you are now standing in Town Square complete with vintage replicas of 1800’s architecture, including a City Hall building, Fire Station, Town Square Theater, and above the tunnels the beautifully designed turn-of-the-century Main Street Train Station, where you can board an old-fashioned steam locomotive for a round trip circle around the Magic Kingdom.
As you walk down Main Street, you will pass several Disney-themed shops and restaurants. The Main Street Emporium is the largest gift and souvenir shop in the Magic Kingdom, where you can shop for everything Disney including apparel, toys, hundreds of plush Disney characters, Mickey ears, ball caps, unique character headbands, jewelry, and Disney collectibles galore. There are also other specialty shops and several fine dining or quick dining venues. If you want to skip walking down Main Street for now, climb into a horse drawn trolley, antique fire engine, omnibus, or a horseless carriage for a ride to the end of Main Street, where you will find yourself at the entrance to Cinderella’s Castle, a gorgeous replica of the “Neuschwanstein Castle” in Bavaria. It is the most popular photo spot for that extra special pose with families and groups.
