Dubbed the "happiest place on earth," Disney World -just southwest of Orlando, Florida- is one of many Disney theme parks dotting the globe. It all began with the smaller Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1955, when Walt Disney decided to incorporate his cartoons and animation studio into a theme park. Disney's dream was to create a live adventure where people could forget their cares and spend a day feeling like they were inside a cartoon.

When building Disneyland, and then Disney World, Walt made it clear that the outside world should be kept outside. From within the Magic Kingdom, no signs of the real world were to be seen. He even took pains to make sure that the workings of the park and its attractions were hidden from view. Disney World employees wear costumes or Disney garb and they are called "cast members" instead of employees.

The streets are clean, the colors are bright, the sights, sounds, and smells are pleasant ones, and everyone wears a big smile, just as Walt Disney wanted it. Unfortunately, before Disney World opened to the public in 1971, Walt passed away. His brother Roy changed the name to "Walt Disney World" to honor the name of its creator.

Disney World, or technically the Magic Kingdom, contains different "lands" filled with attractions and rides, such as Advertureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, and of course, Mickey's Toontown Fair. There are nearly 50 major attractions to choose from, making it difficult to do the Kingdom justice in just one day. Fortunately, there are vacation packages available that allow visitors to relax at the Walt Disney World Resort and come back refreshed the next day.

Building on the Disney tradition of giving something back to the community, Disney World also offers a Walt Disney World College Program. It was developed to merge work experience with education, and it offers participants the chance to learn and work at the same time, while also enjoying free access to the Magic Kingdom, discounted rates at the Walt Disney World Resort, and discounts when purchasing Disney merchandise.

The man with the vision may have left this world, but his World and his vision live on.