So, what can I do at the Walt Disney World Resort? I have never been and am not sure what is there to do. Have you ever heard this from a friend, or perhaps you have said it yourself? Fear not, there is a wealth of fun to find at the Walt Disney World Resort for your next vacation holiday.
Introduction
Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation center featuring four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom); two water adventure parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon); 33 resort hotels (23 owned and operated by Walt Disney World, includes six Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 81 holes of golf on five courses; two full-service spas; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex; and Downtown Disney, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex encompassing the Marketplace, Pleasure Island and West Side. Walt Disney World Resort is also included in vacation packages of Disney Cruise Line.
Located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort opened Oct. 1, 1971. Open daily, year-round.
The Magic Kingdom
Opened Oct. 1, 1971, the first theme park at Walt Disney World Resort sits on 142 acres with the 189-feet-tall Cinderella Castle at its center. Similar to Disneyland in California, Magic Kingdom is divided into seven themed lands — Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; Fantasyland; Mickey’s Toontown Fair; and Tomorrowland. Popular attractions include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, “Mickey’s PhilharMagic,” Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, The Hall of Presidents, Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Country Bear Jamboree, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Stitch’s Great Escape.
Epcot
An ever-changing international and discovery showplace covering 305 acres. Opened Oct. 1, 1982.
- Future World – Theme areas focusing on discovery and scientific achievements. Major attractions: Innoventions, Spaceship Earth (Siemens), Universe of Energy, Imagination! (Kodak), The Land (Nestlé USA), The Seas with Nemo & Friends, The Wonders of Life, Test Track (General Motors), Mission: SPACE (HP).
- World Showcase – Eleven nations surrounding World Showcase Lagoon: Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Mexico, Morocco, Norway.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A working film, TV and radio studio, as well as a theme park on 135 acres. Production facilities opened summer 1988. Entertainment facilities opened May 1989. Attractions include: “The American Idol Experience,” Toy Story Mania!, “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” (Brawny), Star Tours, The Great Movie Ride, “Muppet Vision 3-D” (Kodak), “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!“, Catastrophe Canyon, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour, The Magic of Disney Animation, “Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey” at ABC Sound Studio (Sony), “Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage,” “Voyage of the Little Mermaid,” The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, “Fantasmic!“, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Hanesbrands Inc.), “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage,” Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
High adventures with real exotic animals, close encounters with prehistoric giants and warm, fuzzy moments with beloved Disney characters create unsurpassed fun. The Oasis entry garden welcomes guests into Disney’s fourth major theme park, which sprawls across 403 acres. Jungles, forests and a vast savannah are divided into five themed lands: Africa, Camp Minnie-Mickey, DinoLand U.S.A., Discovery Island and Asia. Major attractions include: Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Primeval Whirl, “Festival of the Lion King,” “Finding Nemo-The Musical,” “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” and The Tree of Life. Opened April 22, 1998.
Downtown Disney
- Pleasure Island – Adjacent to Downtown Disney Marketplace, featuring shopping and dining including Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant and Fulton’s Crab House.
- Marketplace – Disney’s waterside shopping village with more than two dozen shops including the World of Disney store, the largest Disney character merchandise showplace in the world, plus dining options such as Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure.
- West Side – A lively dining and entertainment district including Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, DisneyQuest, House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Cafe and the 550-seat Planet Hollywood restaurant.
Disney’s Wide World of Sports
A 220-acre complex designed to accommodate professional-caliber training and competition, festival and tournament events and vacation-fitness activities in more than 30 individual and team sports. The complex includes a 7,500-seat baseball stadium and 5,500-seat fieldhouse. Annual events include Atlanta Braves spring training. First event: March 28, 1997.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Wonder and Disney Magic sail from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Nassau and Disney’s private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay, as part of cruise vacations that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort. For Disney Cruise Line reservations or information contact a local travel agent, phone 888/DCL-2500 or visit www.disneycruise.com.
33 Themed Resorts
33 resorts (including six Disney Vacation Club properties) in a variety of price points featuring more than 32,000 accommodations (accommodations include rooms and campsites).
- Disney’s Campsites (from $43/night)
- Disney’s Wilderness Cabins (from $265/night)
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (799 campsites/409 cabins).
- Disney’s Value Resorts (from $82/night)
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort (1,920 rooms), Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (1,704 rooms/215 family suites), Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (1,920 rooms), Disney’s Pop Century Resort (2,880 rooms).
- Disney’s Moderate Resorts (from $149/night)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside (2,048 rooms), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter (1,008 rooms), Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (2,112 rooms), Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (1,917 rooms).
- Disney’s Deluxe Resorts (from $240/night)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (762 rooms), Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (727 rooms), Disney’s Contemporary Resort (655 rooms), Disney’s Polynesian Resort (847 rooms), Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (621 rooms), Disney’s Beach Club Resort (576 rooms), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (867 rooms) and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (372 rooms).
- Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts (from $269/night)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort (531 units/761 rooms), Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (383 units/532 rooms), The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (136 units/181 rooms), Disney’s Beach Club Villas (208 units/282 rooms), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (828 units/1,260 rooms), The Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (134 units/216 rooms).
- Official Hotels of Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Swan (756 rooms), Walt Disney World Dolphin (1,509 rooms), Buena Vista Palace (1,013 rooms), Regal Sun Resort (626 rooms), Doubletree Guest Suites Resort (229 rooms), The Hilton (814 rooms), Holiday Inn (323 rooms), Hotel Royal Plaza (394 rooms) and Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel (325 rooms). Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort (586 rooms) is a U.S. Armed Forces Recreation Center for vacationing servicemen and women from all branches of the armed forces.
Recreation
Four 18-hole championship golf courses and a nine-hole family-play course; Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water adventure parks; Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland mini-golf; tennis courts; pools; lakes for swimming, boating, parasailing, water skiing and fishing; jogging paths; horseback riding; biking.
Transportation
Monorail trains, ferryboats, launches and motorcoach shuttle service between all areas.
Hotel Reservations
For rooms in all hotels and villas within Walt Disney World Resort, call 407/W-DISNEY between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time or a local travel agent.
Guest Information
Walt Disney World Guest Information, P.O. Box 10040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040. Phone: 407/824-4321 or visit our home page at www.disneyworld.com.
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