Are you ready for a magical adventure like no other? Look no further than Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the ultimate vacation destination. Known as the “vacation capital of the world” and the “theme park capital of the world,” this sprawling complex is home to four Disney World parks, each offering its own unique experiences. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the Parks in Walt Disney World, from their history and location to the resort hotels, restaurants, and shopping available.
Location and Parks
Walt Disney World Resort is located in Orlando, Florida, spanning over 25,000 acres or 39 square miles (101 sq km) in Orange and Osceola Counties. The resort includes the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, Florida.
More on the Disney World Parks
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- The DIsney World Water Parks
- What to Bring to the Disney World Parks
- Which Parks Should You Visit First?
There are four theme parks in Walt Disney World Resort:
Magic Kingdom:
The original and most iconic park, featuring Fantasyland, princesses, and classic Disney rides. Magic Kingdom, the most popular of the four parks, is a world of fairytales and adventure. Home to the iconic Cinderella’s Castle, the Magic Kingdom offers a plethora of attractions, rides, and entertainment options that are sure to delight visitors.
From the classic It’s a Small World ride to the adrenaline-pumping Space Mountain, the Magic Kingdom has something for everyone. The park also features numerous dining options and refreshment stands to keep visitors energized throughout the day.
My favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom are the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain.
Discover the Best Rides and Shows at Magic Kingdom
EPCOT:
Epcot, the second-oldest park in Disney World, is a celebration of technology, innovation, and global culture. With attractions like Mission: SPACE and Soarin’ Around the World, visitors can experience simulated space travel and a breathtaking aerial tour of the world’s most beautiful locations.
Epcot’s World Showcase offers a unique opportunity to experience the culture, food, and architecture of various countries from around the world. Visitors can also indulge in the park’s numerous dining options, ranging from quick bites to fine dining experiences.
I always enjoy a leisurely stroll around World Showcase trying different foods, beers and cocktails from the different countries.
Discover the Best Rides and Shows at Epcot
Hollywood Studios:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a park that takes visitors into the world of Hollywood and movies. From the high-speed roller coaster, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, to the immersive Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, visitors can experience the magic of their favorite franchises.
The park also features numerous dining options and entertainment shows, including the nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!
Being a big Star Wars fan I absolutely love Galaxy’s Edge and all of the Star Wars rides in the park.
Discover the Best Rides and Shows at Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom:
themed to the environment and animal conservation, with a focus on education and exploration. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a park that combines the thrill of adventure with the beauty of nature. Visitors can experience thrilling rides like Expedition Everest and Avatar Flight of Passage or take a leisurely stroll through the park’s numerous animal exhibits.
The park also features numerous dining options and entertainment shows, including one of my favorite shows, The Festival of the Lion King. Expedition Everest is one of my all time favorite roller coasters.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park in the world, covering 580 acres (230 ha), while Disney’s Magic Kingdom is the smallest, spanning an area of only 107 acres (43 ha).
In addition to the four theme parks, there are also two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
Discover the Best Rides and Shows at Animal Kingdom
Which Park to Visit First
Choosing which park to visit first is subjective and depends on various factors, such as your hotel location, sentimental reasons, day of the week, and special events. If you’re a first-time visitor, we recommend starting with Magic Kingdom, the original park, and the most nostalgic. Consider visiting the parks closest to your resort first to save time.
Disney World Resort Hotels
There are 35 on-site resorts and hotels at Walt Disney World Resort, classified into four categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Disney Vacation Club Villas. Each category offers a unique experience and price range.
Shopping and Dining at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort offers multiple shopping experiences throughout the resort, with Disney Springs being the largest and best place to go for shopping, dining, and entertainment. The shopping center is divided into four areas: The Landing, Marketplace, Town Center, and West Side. Popular stores include World of Disney, Marketplace Co-Op, and Lego Store. For dining, Disney Springs offers dozens of first-class dining experiences, such as The Boathouse, Morimoto Asia, and Homecomin’.
Things To Do At Disney Springs
Walt Disney World: Attendance and Cost
Walt Disney World is a world-renowned vacation destination that attracts millions of visitors every year. The resort complex opened its gates to visitors in 1971 and has been breaking attendance records ever since. Let’s take a look at the attendance figures, costs to consider, and the history of the most magical place on earth.
Attendance:
Disney’s Magic Kingdom has been the most visited theme park in the U.S. and worldwide for years, with over 12.69 million visitors in 2021. All four Walt Disney World theme parks have consistently ranked in the top ten for worldwide theme park attendance between 2019-2021.
Cost:
The cost of a Walt Disney World vacation varies depending on multiple factors, with hotel accommodations and park tickets being the most significant expenses. Dining, transportation, special events/experiences, and shopping are other costs to consider.
The price for one-day park tickets starts at $109 and goes up to $189, depending on the season and date. The Park Hopper option is an additional cost ranging from $65 to $85 per ticket, allowing visitors to hop between multiple parks per day. The cost of dining can be $50 to $100+ per person, per day, depending on where you choose to eat.
How much does it Cost to Go to All the Parks in Disney World?
The cost of a four-day park ticket starts at $106 per day and goes up to $141 per day. A park hopper option adds $65 to $85 per ticket, allowing visitors to hop between parks. For families staying for longer periods Disney offer 7 day and 14 day park tickets too.
Who Gets in Free to Disney World?
Children under three years old get free admission, and members of the media and Disney/ESPN employees may also receive free tickets. Disney Mom’s Panelists may qualify for a free Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation, and they don’t have to be moms to apply.
What is Coming to Disney World in 2023?
Disney World has several exciting attractions coming in 2023, including:
- TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom
- Moana: Journey of Water at EPCOT.
- Happily Ever After fireworks show
- A new EPCOT nighttime spectacular.
- In recent years, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and MagicBand+ have all opened at Walt Disney World.
History of the Disney World Parks
Walt Disney World, also known as “The Florida Project,” was designed to be a supplement to Disneyland in California. The development of Walt Disney World began in the 1960s and was headed by Walt Disney himself. The search for land began in 1959, and in 1963, Walt Disney settled on a vast area of land near Orlando, Florida.
The complex’s first theme park, the Magic Kingdom, opened in 1971, and three more theme parks followed: EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Today, Walt Disney World has four theme parks, two water parks, 34 on-site resorts and hotels, a shopping complex, four golf courses, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.
FAQs:
What are the best times to visit Disney World?
The best time to visit Disney World largely depends on the visitor’s preferences. Generally, the parks are less crowded during the weekdays in the off-season, which is typically from mid-August to early December, with the exception of holidays. Another great time to visit is during the cooler months of January and February, when the parks are less crowded and the weather is mild. However, if visitors want to experience special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, they should plan their visit accordingly.
What are the different ticket options for Disney World?
Disney World offers a variety of ticket options, ranging from one-day tickets to annual passes. Visitors can also choose between base tickets, which allow entry to one park per day, or Park Hopper tickets, which allow entry to multiple parks on the same day. Additionally, visitors can purchase tickets that include access to the Disney water parks, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.
How do I plan my visit to Disney World?
Planning a visit to Disney World can be overwhelming, but it’s important to plan ahead to make the most of your trip. Visitors should consider factors such as travel dates, park hours, ticket options, and accommodations when planning their visit. It’s also recommended to make dining reservations and lightning lane selections in advance to ensure availability.
What are the most popular attractions at the Parks in Walt Disney World?
The most popular attractions at Disney World vary depending on the park, but some of the most popular include Space Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, Soarin’ Around the World and Test Track at Epcot, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Avatar Flight of Passage and Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
How do I get around the parks?
Disney World provides complimentary transportation to and from the parks and resorts via buses, monorails, and boats. Visitors can also use the Disney Skyliner, a gondola system that connects some resorts to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Visitors with disabilities can use the Disability Access Service, which provides alternate access to attractions.
What are the dining options at the Parks in Disney World?
Disney World offers a wide variety of dining options, from quick service restaurants to fine dining experiences. Visitors can choose from a range of cuisines and themes, from classic American fare to international cuisine. It’s recommended to make dining reservations in advance, especially for popular restaurants.
What are the best strategies for maximizing my time in the parks?
To maximize time in the parks, visitors should arrive early and make use of the Disney Genie Plus Service, which allows visitors to skip the regular line at select attractions. It’s also recommended to prioritize the most popular attractions and use single rider lines when available. Visitors should also take advantage of mobile ordering for food and drinks.
Can I bring outside food and drinks into the parks?
Disney World allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks into the parks, with some restrictions. Outside food and drinks must be non-alcoholic and cannot be brought into certain areas of the parks, such as restaurants and dining areas. Visitors can also use coolers to store food and drinks, but they must be smaller than 24″ x 15″ x 18″.
What are the best places to stay near Disney World?
Disney World offers a variety of on-site accommodations, ranging from budget-friendly to luxury resorts. Visitors can also choose to stay at nearby off-site hotels and vacation rentals. Some popular options include the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney Parks Facts & Trivia
Here are some little-known facts about The Walt Disney World Parks and Resort:
- The Walt Disney World Resort employs over 70,000 people. That’s more than all the other Disney Parks in the world…combined!
- There are secret underground tunnels in the Magic Kingdom. The “Utilidors” as they are called is a huge network of tunnels under the park that allow its cast members to move freely from place to place without having to walk among the public. It also holds the massive AVAC vacuum system used to collect the trash.
- There are over 1,000 audio-animatronic figures at the Magic Kingdom throughout the attractions.
- Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park is bigger than the entire Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.
- Cinderella Castle is more than twice as tall as Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland and stands 189 feet tall compared to just 77 feet.
- Spaceship Earth is made of 11,520 total isosceles triangles and weighs 15,520,000 pounds.
- There were plans to build a version of EPCOT at the Disneyland Resort called WestCot. Those plans fell through when the company ran into financial trouble in the 1990s. The land is the current home of Disney California Adventure.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios used to be a real, working TV and film studio and was where classic Disney animated films like “Lilo and Stitch,” “Mulan,” and “Brother Bear” were made.
- The original symbol of Disney-MGM Studios was The Earful Tower, a giant water tower in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears. It was not a working water tower, however, and only there for the look.
- The Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom was built over a 14-story oil rig. It holds over 100,000 fake leaves, each over a foot long.
- No structure in Walt Disney World is higher than 200 feet. Aviation rules require anything 200 feet or higher to have flashing aviation lights, which would obviously ruin the theming in the parks.
- There are over 30,000 guest rooms in the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. To stay overnight in each one you would need 68 years!
- Over 75 million Coca-Cola beverages are purchased each year at Disney World.
- You can’t buy gum at Walt Disney World. Disney stopped selling it years ago to stop guests from putting the sticky stuff all over the parks.
The Magic of the Parks in Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World‘s four parks offer a unique blend of attractions, themes, and experiences that are sure to delight visitors of all ages. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney fan, there is always something new to discover and explore.
With numerous dining options, entertainment shows, a trip to Disney World is sure to be a magical and unforgettable experience. So pack your bags, gather your loved ones, and get ready to explore the magical worlds of fun and adventure at Disney World.
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