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Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment resort complex located about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Walt Disney Company. It is one of the most famous and important entertainment places in the world, covering a huge area of land—more than 27,000 acres!
Walt Disney World has many fun places to explore, including four exciting theme parks, two water parks, golf courses, conference centers, and lots of hotels where visitors can stay. It also has shops, restaurants, and places to watch shows. There are 31 hotels owned by Disney and many other hotels nearby.
Walt Disney created this amazing place in the 1960s to give people new and different things to see and do. He wanted to build something special because the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California couldn’t grow bigger. Sadly, Walt passed away before it was finished, but his brother, Roy O. Disney, made sure his dream came true. The first theme park, Magic Kingdom, opened in 1971, and more parks came later, like EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Today, Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation spot in the world, with millions of people coming every year. It’s also the biggest employer in the United States and a very important part of American popular culture.
History
In 1959, Walt Disney Productions began searching for land to build a second resort to go along with Disneyland in Anaheim, California. They wanted a place where more visitors from the eastern United States could go, since most people lived east of the Mississippi River. Walt Disney flew over Orlando, Florida, in 1963 and liked what he saw. He picked a spot near Bay Lake for his new project, which was called "The Florida Project."
Walt Disney used different companies to buy 27,443 acres of land near Orlando without drawing attention. By 1965, rumors were spreading that Disney was building a new park. After a newspaper article hinted at this, Disney decided to announce the plans officially. Walt Disney died in 1966 before the park could open, but his brother Roy took over and helped finish the work. The first part of the resort, known as the Magic Kingdom, opened on October 1, 1971, and was named "Walt Disney World" in honor of Walt.
Over the years, more theme parks were added, including EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. The resort grew to include hotels, golf courses, and other attractions. In 2020, like many places, Disney World had to close temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it reopened later that year with safety measures in place. The resort continues to grow and add new experiences for guests.
Location
The Walt Disney World Resort is located southwest of Orlando, Florida. Most of it is in Orange County, with some parts in nearby Osceola County. The resort includes the areas of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, which are managed by a special district.
When it first opened, the resort covered around 27,443 acres. Over time, some land was sold or no longer part of the resort. By 2014, it covered nearly 25,000 acres. The resort also bought extra land between 2018 and 2020. Today, about 12% of the area has hotels and resorts, and 5% is water.
Attractions
Further information: List of Walt Disney World Resort attractions
The Walt Disney World Resort has many fun places to explore! There are four amazing theme parks to enjoy. The Magic Kingdom Park opened on October 1, 1971. EPCOT came next on October 1, 1982, followed by Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 1, 1989, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park on April 22, 1998.
You can also splash around at two exciting water parks: Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, which opened June 1, 1989, and Disney's Blizzard Beach, opening April 1, 1995. There are mini-golf courses like Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland, plus shopping, dining, and entertainment spots such as Disney Springs and Disney's BoardWalk. The resort also has sports facilities at ESPN Wide World of Sports and a beautiful ranch called Tri-Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness.
Resorts
See also: Category:Hotels in Walt Disney World Resort
As of 2024[update], there are 31 Disney-owned and operated resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club villas at the Walt Disney World Resort. These include one camping resort called Fort Wilderness, which has traditional campgrounds and wood cabins. Together, they offer around 23,000 rooms, 3,600 DVC villas, and plenty of space for meetings. The resorts are split into three types—Deluxe, Moderate, and Value—and are located in five areas: the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Wide World of Sports, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs. Staying at these resorts is often called the “Disney Bubble” because it feels like being inside a fun, magical world.
There are also 12 hotels not owned by Disney but located on Disney property, adding about 7,300 more rooms. Plus, there is a special hotel for pets run by Best Friends Pet Care for guests who travel with animals.
| Name | Image | Opening date | Theme | Number of rooms | Resort area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe resorts | |||||
| Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge |  | April 16, 2001 | African Wildlife preserve | 1,307 708 villas | Animal Kingdom |
| Disney's Old Key West Resort |  | December 20, 1991 | Early-20th-century Key West | 761 villas | Disney Springs |
| Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa |  | May 17, 2004 | 1880s Upstate New York resort | 1,320 villas | |
| Disney's Beach Club Resort |  | November 19, 1990 | Newport Beach cottage | 576 282 villas | EPCOT |
| Disney's Yacht Club Resort |  | November 5, 1990 | Martha's Vineyard Resort | 621 | |
| Disney's BoardWalk Inn |  | July 1, 1996 | Early-20th-century Atlantic and Ocean City | 378 530 villas | |
| Disney's Riviera Resort |  | December 16, 2019 | European Riviera | 300 villas | |
| Disney's Contemporary Resort |  | October 1, 1971 | Modern | 655 428 villas | Magic Kingdom |
| Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa |  | June 28, 1988 | Early-20th-century Florida | 867 147 villas | |
| Disney's Polynesian Village Resort |  | October 1, 1971 | South Pacific | 492 380 villas | |
| Disney's Wilderness Lodge |  | May 28, 1994 | Pacific Northwest, National Park Service rustic | 729 365 villas | |
| Moderate resorts | |||||
| Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort |  | October 1, 1988 | Caribbean Islands | 1,536 | EPCOT |
| Disney's Coronado Springs Resort |  | August 1, 1997 | Mexico, American Southwest | 1,915 | Animal Kingdom |
| Disney's Port Orleans Resort (French Quarter & Riverside) |  | May 17, 1991 | New Orleans French Quarter, Deep South | 3,056 | Disney Springs |
| Value resorts | |||||
| Disney's All-Star Movies Resort |  | January 15, 1999 | Disney films | 1,920 | Animal Kingdom |
| Disney's All-Star Music Resort |  | November 22, 1994 | Music | 1,604 | |
| Disney's All-Star Sports Resort |  | April 24, 1994 | Sports | 1,920 | |
| Disney's Art of Animation Resort |  | May 31, 2012 | Disney and Pixar animated films | 1,984 | Wide World of Sports |
| Disney's Pop Century Resort |  | December 14, 2003 | 20th Century American pop culture | 2,880 | |
| Cabins and campgrounds | |||||
| Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground |  | November 19, 1971 | Rustic Woods Camping | 800 campsites 409 cabins | Magic Kingdom |
| Hotel name | Image | Opening date | Close date | Theme | Number of rooms | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser |  | March 1, 2022 | September 30, 2023 | Star Wars, Immersive entertainment | 100 | EPCOT |
| Hotel name | Image | Opening date | Number of rooms | Owner | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa | October 1, 1972 | 394 | Marriott International | Disney Springs | |
| Drury Plaza | November 21, 1972 | 325 | Drury Hotels | ||
| DoubleTree | March 15, 1987 | 229 | Hilton Worldwide | ||
| Hilton Buena Vista Palace |  | March 10, 1983 | 1,014 | ||
| Hilton Lake Buena Vista |  | November 23, 1983 | 787 | ||
| Holiday Inn | February 8, 1973 | 323 | IHG Hotels & Resorts | ||
| Wyndham | October 15, 1972 | 626 | Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | ||
| Walt Disney World Dolphin |  | June 1, 1990 | 1,509 | Marriott International | EPCOT |
| Walt Disney World Swan |  | January 13, 1990 | 758 | ||
| Walt Disney World Swan Reserve | November 4, 2021 | 349 | |||
| Four Seasons | August 3, 2014 | 450 | Four Seasons | Magic Kingdom | |
| Shades of Green |  | December 1973 | 586 | United States Department of Defense |
Annual events
The Walt Disney World Resort hosts many fun events throughout the year. Some of the popular events include Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which happens every fall at Magic Kingdom, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, held during the holiday season. There are also special events like Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios and several festivals at EPCOT, such as the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, and the Candlelight Processional during the holidays. Additionally, runDisney offers exciting races like the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon, and there are special after-hours events like H2O Glow Nights at Typhoon Lagoon and Disney After Hours at select parks. The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade is filmed each year at Disney World and broadcast nationally on Christmas Day.
Business segments
Walt Disney World has different departments that help organize many fun activities and events. These include the Disney Imagination Campus, which offers programs like Magic Music Days and Disney Performing Arts for young people to learn and perform. There is also Disney Meetings and Events, which plans big gatherings and conferences. The Disney Institute provides learning chances for adults, while Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons helps couples plan their special days. Additionally, there are internships and special programs for students and professionals through Disney Internships and Programs, such as the Disney College Program, Disney International Programs, and others.
Campus
The Walt Disney World campus includes special buildings and spaces just for Disney’s business and employees. These include offices, training centers, and places where Disney employees can relax and get help.
Some important places on the campus are Team Disney Orlando for corporate offices, Disney University for training, and Walt Disney World Casting Center for hiring staff. There are also places like YMCA of Central Florida that offer childcare for employees and health clinics to keep everyone well.
Employment
When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, it employed about 5,500 people. By 2020, Walt Disney World employed more than 77,000 people, known as "Cast Members". The resort has over 3,000 different job types.
Almost all hourly workers who meet guests have contracts that protect their rights. The latest contract started in 2023 and will last until 2027. It sets the starting pay at 17 dollars per hour for both part-time and full-time workers, with extra pay possible for some jobs. Each work area has a special representative who helps workers with any problems.
Attendance
When it first opened, the park welcomed over 10 million visitors in its first year. By 2018, all four of its theme parks were among the most visited in the world. The Magic Kingdom was the most popular, with almost 21 million visitors that year. The other parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, also had millions of visitors.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2020, the resort could only allow 25% of its usual number of visitors. This smaller crowd size meant fewer people could visit each year and affected how much money the park could make.
| Year | Magic Kingdom | EPCOT | Hollywood Studios | Animal Kingdom | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17,063,000 | 10,935,000 | 9,608,000 | 9,540,000 | 47,146,000 |
| 2009 | 17,233,000 | 10,990,000 | 9,700,000 | 9,590,000 | 47,513,000 |
| 2010 | 16,972,000 | 10,825,000 | 9,603,000 | 9,686,000 | 47,086,000 |
| 2011 | 17,142,000 | 10,826,000 | 9,699,000 | 9,783,000 | 47,450,000 |
| 2012 | 17,536,000 | 11,063,000 | 9,912,000 | 9,998,000 | 48,509,000 |
| 2013 | 18,588,000 | 11,229,000 | 10,110,000 | 10,198,000 | 50,125,000 |
| 2014 | 19,332,000 | 11,454,000 | 10,312,000 | 10,402,000 | 51,500,000 |
| 2015 | 20,492,000 | 11,798,000 | 10,828,000 | 10,922,000 | 54,040,000 |
| 2016 | 20,395,000 | 11,712,000 | 10,776,000 | 10,844,000 | 53,727,000 |
| 2017 | 20,450,000 | 12,200,000 | 10,722,000 | 12,500,000 | 55,872,000 |
| 2018 | 20,859,000 | 12,444,000 | 11,258,000 | 13,750,000 | 58,311,000 |
| 2019 | 20,963,000 | 12,444,000 | 11,483,000 | 13,888,000 | 58,778,000 |
| 2020 | 6,941,000 | 4,044,000 | 3,675,000 | 4,166,000 | 18,826,000 |
| 2021 | 12,691,000 | 7,752,000 | 8,589,000 | 7,194,000 | 36,226,000 |
| 2022 | 17,133,000 | 10,000,000 | 10,900,000 | 9,027,000 | 47,060,000 |
| 2023 | 17,720,000 | 11,980,000 | 10,300,000 | 8,770,000 | 48,770,000 |
Operations
The Walt Disney World Resort has a special transportation system called Disney Transport. It includes buses, monorails, gondola lifts, watercraft, and parking lot trams, all offered for free to guests. The monorail connects the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, including some resort hotels. A gondola lift system called Disney Skyliner links Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT with four resort hotels. Watercraft also help guests travel between the Magic Kingdom and other areas.
Walt Disney World uses a mix of solar energy and other power sources. It has two large solar farms, one shaped like Mickey Mouse, to help provide clean energy. The resort also uses special renewable diesel fuel made from used cooking oil for its buses. The resort operates under its own rules and has security teams to keep guests safe. These teams check bags at park entrances and help with traffic and safety. The resort’s land is managed by a special district that handles many services, although local police also help with any serious matters.
Climate
The Walt Disney World Resort has a warm and sunny climate, perfect for outdoor fun all year long. With mild winters and hot, humid summers, visitors can enjoy the parks and attractions in comfortable weather for most of the year. The area occasionally experiences rain, but it usually comes in short bursts, allowing plenty of time for adventures.
Images
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