Walt Disney World - A Summary

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is most often associated with the Magic Kingdom. That theme park was the first, but now there are several others and the number of hotels has expanded many times over. Walt Disney World has other entertainment options and activities that make it a popular destination even for people who really like theme parks or rides.

Size

Walt Disney World covers approximately 40 square miles of property in Florida's Orange and Osceola counties. When visiting plan on spending at least 4 full days in order to explore the whole park. According to Disney, less than 35 percent of the land has been developed so far, and 25 percent of it will always remain in a natural state.

Theme Parks

There are four theme parks at Walt Disney World. The first is the Magic Kingdom, home to the iconic Cinderella Castle. It has five lands, known as Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square. The second is Epcot, which was originally an acronym meaning “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” Now it is simply a name, and the park is made up of two main sections, Future World and World Showcase. Future World blends learning with entertainment, while World Showcase brings a small taste of 11 countries to Florida. Disney's Hollywood Studios has rides and shows based on movies, such as Star Tours, Indiana Jones and the Little Mermaid, and television shows like American Idol. Disney's Animal Kingdom blends live animals like lions, tigers, elephants and rhinos with traditional rides and shows. New for 2020 is the increased Star Wars attractions.

Water Parks

Walt Disney World has four water parks that are open all year long, other than brief shut-downs for refurbishment. Typhoon Lagoon has attractions like a large wave pool, water roller coaster, and snorkeling tank where guests can swim with sea creatures, including live sharks. Blizzard Beach focuses on thrill rides, with many body and tube slides. It also has an adjacent miniature golf course known as Winter Summerland that requires a separate fee.

Recreation

A variety of extra-cost recreational opportunities are available at Walt Disney World. They include boating, biking, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, Segway tours, parasailing, and driving or riding along in a NASCAR-style vehicle. Boats can be rented at many Disney-owned hotels and Downtown Disney, and bikes are available at many of the hotels. Other activities take place in certain areas of the resort, like Fort Wilderness or the car racing track near the Magic Kingdom.

Hotels

Walt Disney World owns and operates a number of hotels on its property and also leases space to hotel chains and independent operators in the Downtown Disney area. Guests at Disney-owned hotels have special advantages, like being able to enter one theme park before the general public each day and to stay later. Disney's hotels also offer free continuous bus transportation from the airport and to the theme parks via buses, boats, or monorail.

Restaurants 

Many eateries are located throughout the Walt Disney World resort at the hotels, in the theme parks, and at the Downtown Disney shopping area. Some host character meals that feature Mickey Mouse and his friends, Disney princesses, Lilo and Stitch, or other popular characters. There is also a AAA Five Diamond restaurant called Victoria and Albert's, which is limited to guests age 10 and above. We recommend purchasing a dining plan to help keep costs known upfront.

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