f you are planning a vacation in the Orlando area, Disney World is surely one of the places that you are going to visit, but in order to make the best use of your time it is good to have a general overview of what is available there before you set off on your vacation.

First thing to know is that Disney World is not a theme park, rather it is four theme parks, two water parks, other attractions and several themed resorts all covering an area the size of Boston. In this article we'll look at what is on offer at the four theme parks.

The Magic Kingdom:

This is the classic image that everyone has about Disney-Cinderella's Castle, Snow White, Bambi and all the other animated characters associated with Walt Disney. The Magic Kingdom is pattered after the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California and has the same components: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Mickey's Toontown Fair, Adventureland, Fronteirland, Liberty Square and Main Street, U.S.A.

One of the most popular attractions of the Magic Kingdom and of all the Disney parks around the world is Pirates of the Caribbean. It is a dark ride in a tunnel that offers state-of-the-art special effects to weave a magic story. Pirates of the Caribbean has remained a perennial favorite since its Disney debut in 1967 . Another must-see ride is the Haunted Mansion, a dark ride through a scary old colonial mansion.

Epcot Center:

This has been called "a permanent world's fair" and is divided into two parts. There is Future World with technology-centered exhibit and World Showcase which has 11 pavilions spread around a 40 acre lagoon. Each pavilion is dedicated to a particular country. This park is huge so be sure to use the boats to go across the lagoon to the different pavilions, unless you really like walking. One of the chief attractions in Epcot is the Mission Space ride, but you have to be able to handle the G-force of this space travel simulation.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

This is Disney's counterpart to Universal Studios and has rides and attractions based on popular Disney films. The must-see attractions here include the Star Tours simulator ride, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drop ride and the Rock'n'Roller Coaster.

The park also offers live shows including Indiana Jones and the Beauty and the Beast musical. If you are a film buff then be sure to visit the working studios or get in the Great Movie Ride.

The Animal Kingdom

This is a huge park, 500 acres and five times the size of the Magic Kingdom. It combines theme park rides with animals in large, natural habitats and themed settings that capture the flavor of Asia and Africa. Some of the outstanding attractions here are the Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest coaster and the Kali River Rapids ride. Live musicals have included "Festival of the Lion King" and "Finding Nemo".

The animals enjoy beautiful, natural settings. The gorillas have several acres of space to roam about and the tigers have their very own moat to play in.

These four parks form the basic structure of Disney World, and as you can see they provide a great variety of attractions that are sure to satisfy every member of your family.