Since a certain animator chose the farmland in this area as the Florida home for his theme parks, Orlando has become almost synonymous with Walt Disney World, and the sunny Disney vibe pumps relentlessly through the veins of this sprawling place. There's just no way to avoid its impact - not that you'd necessarily want to. After all, while Orlando may display all the trappings of an important metropolis, with festivals, galleries and the best nightlife in central Florida, they serve as a mere counterpoint: you're either here to throw yourself into the fantasies that Disney, Universal and other theme parks are serving up, or you're on the wrong holiday.

Orlando & Walt Disney World DIRECTIONS has all you need to get the most out of your stay: the best hotels, for all budgets, the rides not to miss and ones that aren't worth queuing for, the coolest shows and entertainments … in short, the best the whole area has to offer.

Browse the full-colour ideas section and you'll know exactly what you want to do, 24 hours a day if you like. Then flip to the places section and you can explore the area park by park, with every ride, resort, restaurant and shop located on our easy-to-use maps.

It's like having a local friend plan your trip.