The sheer enormity of the property -- 30,000 acres near Kissimmee, Florida -- suggests that WDW is more than a single theme park with a fabulous castle in the center. The property's acreage translates to 47 square mi -- twice the size of Manhattan or Bermuda, and about the same size as San Francisco. On a tract that size, 107 acres is a mere speck, yet that's the size of the Magic Kingdom. When most people imagine Walt Disney World, they think only of those 107 acres, but there's much, much more.

More than 2,800 acres of the property are occupied by hotels and villa complexes, each with its own theme and swimming pools and other recreational facilities. Epcot, a little more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom, is the second major theme park. A combination of a science exploratorium and a world's fair sprinkled with thrills throughout, Epcot looks at the future and celebrates the world's cultural diversity. Disney-MGM Studios, devoted to the film business and also known familiarly as the "Studios," is nearby.

In the past several years, Disney has introduced and expanded a way to experience the most popular attractions with little or no wait. FASTPASS allows you to schedule appointments and avoid the long lines that are so commonplace. Going by a Disney survey, FASTPASS may save as much as two hours of line-standing time. Just step up to the front of the line and book your reservation time by feeding your theme-park admission ticket into a machine.

When you're ready to put some distance between you and Mickey, you'll find that Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida area offer much more than theme parks. Nature buffs like to escape to the Ocala National Forest. Art devotees head for the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art and other museums in Winter Park. Attraction lovers seek out the additional rides and shows that are located along International Drive, halfway between WDW and Orlando. Indeed, you'll discover an abundance of sights -- natural, unnatural, and supernatural -- that are equally enjoyable and often less crowded and less expensive than those at the theme parks.

Although just 50 mi separate the Space Coast and Orlando, they're a world apart. In the small oceanfront towns of Cocoa Beach, Titusville, New Smyrna Beach, and Cape Canaveral, you won't find a lot of glitz, glamour, or giddy attractions. Mainly, it's sun, sand, and surf.

Besides the beach, there's one major attraction in the area: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The other sights tend to be rather low-key, funky, and offbeat. Still, there's plenty to see and do -- or not do. Probably the nicest thing about Cocoa Beach and its neighbors is their laid-back style, which is very easy to get used to.