If you want a full immersion in the magic of Disney, you might as well set up camp in Bay Lake, one of two towns owned by Walt Disney World. A base here will put you within a mouse’s scamper of not only Walt Disney World but also SeaWorld, Universal Studios Florida, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom.

In addition to the famous parks, Bay Lake also contains plentiful outdoor adventures and family-oriented activities, including two water parks, six golf courses, a sports complex, and an auto racetrack, along with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options galore. It boggles the mind to imagine the place in the 1960s, when Walt Disney bought up 27,400 acres of what was then swamps, fields, and woodlands. Although Disney died a year later, his vision for a veritable city dedicated to happiness was brought to life.

If you’re headed for Disney World, you’re either driving in on I-4 West and taking one of the Walt Disney World exits, or flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO). From the airport, you can take taxis, shuttles, or rideshares into Bay Lake, depending on your price point. You won’t need a rental car unless you’re planning on exploring beaches or other attractions outside of the Disney area.

Within the theme park complex, transportation options for getting around are as plentiful as they are imaginative. Disney offers free shuttle buses, ferries, two monorail systems, and a new form of transport, the Skyliner, a gondola that connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Epcot. Definitely pick up a map (or look at one online) to best understand how to get between everything.

If you’re looking to view the theme parks from the town’s lakes, lagoons, and inlets, you can rent motorized boats (including mini-speedboats and pontoons) at various marinas as well as canoes and kayaks from designated locations.

When to visit is a million-dollar question. Summers are brutally hot and humid and rain is common, all of which tends to result in fewer visitors. Thanks to milder weather, fall and spring are of course more popular and therefore draw the big crowds. The special events season begins here at the end of August, further swelling the number of visitors, particularly at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Temperatures and crowds cool off in wintertime, making it a lovely season to stay in a cottage here, with the exception of the holidays. Any holiday week is going to be slammed, especially Spring Break and Christmas.

Magic Kingdom

The most iconic of Disney’s parks, the Magic Kingdom is best known for its nighttime fireworks and light show over the Cinderella Castle, along with an emphasis on princesses, pirates, and other such lore.

Epcot

The most low-key of the parks with some of the best food and shopping, Epcot is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It’s divided into Future World, which offers rides and interactive exhibits, and World Showcase, a sampling of delicious foods, shops, and shows from 11 countries.

Hollywood Studios

Channeling the heyday of Hollywood, this theme park is all about the adrenalin. There are haunted elevators, rock ’n’ roll themed roller coasters, and lively stunt shows that’ll have you on the edge of your seat.