Lake Buena Vista, Fla. » Never has a place been more aptly named than Disney World.

This well-planned, 47-square mile complex is indeed a world unto itself. In fact, tourists can visit a continent such as Africa or countries that include Mexico, France, Morocco, Great Britain, Italy and Norway without leaving the premises.

How big is it?

Disney World includes four theme parks, two water parks, 32 hotels (23 of them owned by Disney), six golf courses, a wedding pavilion, a campground, a sports complex that includes a NASCAR quality auto track, a monorail system, water taxis, a Downtown Disney shopping area, miniature golf courses, and its own highway system.

So, how can you see and do as much as possible without becoming so exhausted that each day becomes a death march instead of a vacation?

The answer is advance planning.

There are many good guides to Disney World. Park officials recommend Birnbaum Guides' 2009 Walt Disney World . The Unofficial Guide to Disney World is another good choice.

When I told Disney Destinations print and online media director Rick Sylvain that my wife and I were going to try to see the four major parks in three days, he shook his head and asked if we really knew what we were attempting. We didn't, and quickly discovered that three days is much too short to see four Disney World theme parks, much less try to enjoy staying at the Boardwalk Hotel, golfing, relaxing by a pool or going to a water park.

And we didn't even think about seeing such nearby attractions such as Universal Studios Orlando or Sea World, which friends have told us are equally fun.

Some tips:

» If you can afford it, stay inside the Disney complex (see sidebar). That will save transportation costs and give you a place to crash in the middle of the day or after a long day of trekking the pavement and waiting in lines.

» Be picky. Decide which attractions and parks are priorities and get to them first. If you have any energy after that, then see the others.

If at all possible, go in the off-season. You can eat up a lot of time and energy waiting in lines. Use the fast-pass option which allows you to come to a big attraction such as Epcot's Soarin' within a certain time period and cut to the front of the line.

» Take plenty of money. This will not be an inexpensive family vacation. From lodging to food to theme park admissions, nothing is cheap. For example, one adult ticket purchased online for three consecutive days at the four theme parks costs $212. Add a "park hopper" option to that which allows you to visit multiple parks on the same day and it's even pricier. Add to that admission to water parks and golf courses, the lure of shopping and side trips to other Orlando-area theme parks and the cost of a family vacation just continues to escalate.

» Check for on-line specials on the Disney World web site or consult with a Utah travel agent specializing in Disney trips.

» Make reservations for dinner. Many of the most popular fine dining places are booked early in the day.

So, is Disney World worth the effort and expense?

Judging from the happy looks on thousands of faces, the answer would be yes. This is a place where adults can wear absolutely ridiculous hats without a second thought; where attractions and hotels are well planned with impressive attention to detail; where tourists trade and collect pins; where there are no traditional amusement park rides but "attractions" in every sense of the word; and where people watching is almost as much fun as the parks.

If you can't stand Mickey Mouse or being inundated with everything Disney, this is definitely not the place for you. But if you can buy into the Disney magic, Disney World is a place you'll want to visit at least once in your lifetime.

wharton@sltrib.com