Disney TIMES PNA Real

EPCOT is a celebration of Earth, showcasing countries and attractions that honour cultures and customs

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British Airways operates 14 flights a week in summer (and seven in winter) from London to Orlando, Florida. All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, come with 23kg baggage allowance per person and deposits of as little as £75 per person.^ There is also a dedicated 24-hour holiday helpline for any support you may need while you’re away. For the ultimate trip, upgrade to Club World for premium levels of comfort and service. Visit ba.com/disney to discover more

ith more than 30 visits under my belt, I can confirm that the dream family holiday does exist – it’s alive, well and waiting for you at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. I’ve visited with my two children every year since

A trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is always a blast, says travel writer Helen Wright. Here’s how to tap into the Disney magic…

Dreaming

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I always recommend booking with someone totally dependable, such as British Airways Holidays, to make sure that the process is stress-free from start to finish. Also, my advice is to stay at a Disney Resort hotel. You’ll be right in the middle of the magic and you will have free transportation to the parks and access to perks such as Early Theme Park Entry. With this, Disney hotel guests can enjoy time in the theme parks before, and sometimes after, the general admission. Book now with British Airways Holidays and you’ll get real savings. With the fantastic Early Booker Package*, on selected two-week stays, you’ll receive up to $2,100 Disney Dining & Merchandise Credit per room and the Disney 14-Day Magic Ticket for the price of seven days, for summer 2024 arrivals. Plus, you’ll get 23kg baggage allowance pp, ATOL protection, low deposits and the chance to pay in affordable instalments.^ There are hotels to suit everyone. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa has magical luxuries a family will love, including a beautiful lagoon pool and movies under the stars. But there’s great value all round. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is affordable and bursting with character. Walls are decorated with beautiful Disney murals and you can relax in movie-themed rooms.

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Walt Disney World Resort in Florida now has four incredible theme parks, water parks, themed restaurants and world-class shows. At Magic Kingdom Park, the iconic Happily Ever After night-time spectacular has returned, dazzling guests with a stunning projection and firework show above Cinderella Castle. It doesn’t matter how many times I watch it, I always cry happy tears. Even if you’re not the emotional type, the skill involved in projections of this magnitude, bouncing off of the castle turrets, is awe-inspiring. Before night falls there is plenty to do, starting with the newest attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, TRON Lightcycle / Run, presented by Enterprise. This motorbike-style ride, which is based on the classic TRON movies, races into the grid of a computer at speeds of more than 60mph. Disney’s classic attractions, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world”, where the whole family can ride together, are the most special to me. Seeing my children so happy sitting in the same spot as I did at their age is beautiful.

How to be Happily Ever After

Disney?

How to do it like a pro

Make a splash Kids will have a swell time at Typhoon Lagoon water park

my eldest was born, but my love affair with Disney started long before that. I have wandered along Main Street, USA with every generation of my family, friends, my partner and by myself. Each visit is different, but the joyful feeling as you reach Cinderella Castle is always the same. Whether you want to feel the spectacular 60mph acceleration of the brand-new TRON Lightcyle / Run ride, relax on a lazy river or simply get a big hug from Mickey Mouse, it’s all in a day at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. For me, it’s the chance to forget about real life and throw myself into a happy world, where my cares are left behind and my favourite films are brought to life. Plus, hopping on a breathtaking thrill ride or two is certainly one way to unwind. The adrenaline rush is the quickest dopamine boost in town. Old or young, I highly recommend it.

Family fun ‘There really is something for every age’

Thrills and chills Light up the night, enjoy the rides or simply take it easy

It might be designed with an eye to the future, but EPCOT is having a moment right now with new attractions and a slick revamp. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened last year, but is already one of my favourite rides. You’ll visit the planet Xandar – along with a few familiar faces from the films, of course – all with a surprise song to accompany you on the ride. The beautiful EPCOT is also a celebration of Earth, with a showcase of countries from around the world, attractions that honour cultures and customs and a calendar of festivals, including the fragrant EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, all included with your ticket price. Opening this year is the highly anticipated Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, an immersive attraction that explores a beautiful Polynesian paradise with tropical plants, rock formations and dancing water. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park extend the family fun, with immersive lands based on Toy Story, Star Wars™ and AVATAR. If you enjoyed watching the movies as a family, imagine riding side by side on the back of a banshee, flying the Millennium Falcon or getting a high five from Woody in Andy’s backyard. There is nowhere else in the world quite like it. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida brings to life the magic of Disney films, but it’s the stories you make here that you’ll be telling for years to come.

Travel to the future

Pooch power Meet your favourite Disney stars like Pluto, then get some adrenaline

be a kid again

“Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is at the heart of my fondest childhood memories – being able to relive and share those memories with my partner is like being a kid again,” says Mem Huseyin, 32, from Earlswood, Surrey. As a child, you have no idea about the incredible attention to detail and immersive storytelling involved – that’s why Disney memories are so vivid. But Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is not just for kids. There really is something for every age. I’ve visited almost 20 times now and it gets better every time. I have nostalgic favourites such as Haunted Mansion, but every time we go, there’s an exciting new attraction. I can’t keep up!

there’s so much to do – My advice is to concentrate on your favourites and just soak up all the magic on offer

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The restaurants are incredible, too. Do make reservations in advance to avoid disappointment and if you can, book an Early Booker Package* with British Airways Holidays as this really helps with budgeting, meaning you can enjoy amazing snacks and restaurant experiences stress-free. There’s so much to experience, you won’t be able to do everything in one trip. My advice is to concentrate on your favourites and just soak up all the magic on offer. If you’re anything like me, you’ll leave with a return visit in mind.

Book with British Airways Holidays to stay in a Disney Resort hotel and receive up to $2,100 merchandise and dining credit for August to September 2024, or $1,200 for other selected dates in 2024. Plus you’ll receive a Disney 14-day Magic Ticket for the price of 7 days. Valid during most school holidays.

DISCOVER tHE EARLY BOOKER PACKAGE*

*T&Cs apply. See ba.com/disney ^Based on two sharing. Deposit balance due 7 weeks in advance. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.