I couldn't believe it either when I first found out I was going to Disney World. ME, a DisneyLAND fanatic, going to the World? Thousands of possibilities ran through my head at once. What if I didn't like it after growing up going to Disneyland? What if I liked it so much that Disneyland lost all of its appeal for me? What if, what if, what if?! After spending a week at the World, I can safely say that all the time I spent worrying about the what ifs could have been much better spent getting excited for my trip.

While Disneyland may be the place where Walt walked, Disney World is the place that Walt imagined coming to life, what he probably would have done in California if he'd had more space. So to all those World nay-sayers (of which I used to be one), I have just one thing to say: Go. See it for yourself before you judge. There are so many amazing things to see and do at Disney World that Disneyland just doesn't have. If you still don't believe me, here's a list (by park) of some of the many amazing things I found when I spent a week at Walt Disney World.

Magic Kingdom:

• PhilharMagic-This 3-D show in Fantasyland is the most amazing 3-D anything I've ever seen in my life. It has Donald, Mickey, Ariel, Beauty…tons of our beloved Disney characters and wonderful smells (apple pie, yum!), sights, sounds, and feelings.
• Haunted Mansion-Yes, ok, so Disneyland does have a Haunted Mansion. But from the elaborate indoor and outdoor set to the thrilling story line, this is one DL/WDW comparison that I have to give to the World. If you look hard enough you can even see the broken glass where the bride leapt to her death out of a window.
• Cinderella Castle-It's big, it's beautiful, it will take your breath away.
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority- Even though I was only in 5th grade when the Disneyland People Mover went away, I still had fond memories of this scenic ride. After going on the Disney World version, I realized that it was even better than I remembered! Not only do you get great views of Tomorrowland and the Castle, but it's a great place to sit and relax after a long day of walking. What could be better than a short siesta in a slowly moving car?

Epcot:

• World Showcase-This alone was worth the trip in my eyes. A huge lake surrounded by different countries with architecture, crafts, and best of all, FOOD, from all the countries represented. I am not ashamed to admit that I did my best at eating my way around the world, with two desserts from France, a gelato from Italy, a funnel cake from America, and a sit-down meal in Mexico. I am slightly ashamed to admit that I did my best impersonation of each different country's accent, causing my boyfriend to cry, "Stop being British!" Cheerio!
• Mission: SPACE- Even if you've never been to Disney World, you've probably heard about this ride which has made so many people sick. At first these reviews scared me so much that I was adamant against riding it, even the "tamer" version. Luckily I got up the courage (ok, just for the tame version), because this ride is a ton of fun. Not only are you in a "Space Shuttle" but each rider has a job and gets to push buttons on command. Pretty exciting for the hands-on learner!
• Coke Corner- This tucked away shop lets you sample as many Coca-Cola drinks from several different countries as you want. When else in your life are you going to get to sample cokes from around the world for free?! (Especially in a Disney theme park where everything costs top dollar).

Disney-MGM Studios:

• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular- Both of these live shows get a lot of press, but I feel they're worth mentioning for the mere fact that they are pure Disney magic. Or rather, a clever look at behind the scenes of Disney magic.
• Sounds Dangerous exit- While the show itself, featuring Drew Carey, is basically a bunch of guests sitting in the dark with headphones on, the real treasure of this attraction is in the exit. Not only are there unique videos that you can put your voice into, but there are private sound-booths were you are privy to a meeting with the boss of Disney…Mickey Mouse himself! As opposed to the actual attraction, this sound booth makes you feel like Mickey is standing next to you. Several times I had to take my headphones off to see how they were creating this magical experience.
• The Great Movie Ride- At first glance this ride, which is housed in a replica of Hollywood's famous Mann's Chinese Theatre, looks like just a ride through various movie scenes. But when your tour is taken over by a 20's robber and your tour guide gets kicked out, things start to get interesting! One of the best human interaction rides at either of the Disney parks. Now if only they would give us live pirate guides on certain other rides!

Animal Kingdom:

• EXPEDITION EVEREST!!!!!!- By far, THE best roller coaster I have ever been on. I am a roller coaster wimp (it took me nearly two years to ride Screamin' at DCA), but even I couldn't pass this ride up. It's similar to the Matterhorn…if the Matterhorn's Yeti was larger than life, went uphill and back down the same hill backwards, and you screamed yourself hoarse while riding it.
• Festival of the Lion King- If you've ever seen a Disney show in a huge theater with a large ensemble cast you can imagine the scope of this show. There are trapeze Monkeys, flying birds, and amazing singing animals.

Hotels:

• BOMA at Animal Kingdom Lodge- This expensive buffet was one of our more costly splurges, but the dessert (cake-y, sugary, chocolate mousse-y goodness known as Zebra Domes) alone was well worth the price. My boyfriend made me stop after three and a half, which is probably good because I have a feeling I could have eaten dozens of them if left unchecked.
• Port Orleans French Quarter- This is the hotel we stayed at, and I don't think we could have made a better choice for our first visit. Not only was it scenic, but it was amazingly quiet for having a room overlooking the pool. It also had a water taxi that took us to Downtown Disney, and delicious powered sugar covered fried delicacies known as beignets.

These are just a few of the hundreds of treasures I found while visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. And if all of these descriptions of Disney World's fantastic attractions aren't enough to convince you that Disney World can stand up to Walt's original park, I guess you'll just have to go and see for yourself what I mean!