Enjoy the magic of Disney with shopping, dining, theme parks, water parks, golf, and hotels in Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida. The Walt Disney World Resorts cover 25,000 acres of land (about the area of Manhattan). At Walt Disney World you will find over 30 themed hotels, 4 major theme parks, 2 entertainment complexes, 2 water parks, over 200 places to eat, 4 golf courses, 2 mini-golf courses, endless recreation opportunities, annual events, and thousands of ways to have fun in Florida.
Theme Parks
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park, the most famous and iconic Disney Park, opened in 1971 and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021. Featuring Cinderella’s Castle at the center of the theme park, Magic Kingdom is shaped like a wheel with six lands or areas to enjoy. The lands at Magic Kingdom include Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Main Street, U.S.A., and Tomorrowland. Magic Kingdom is home to parades, entertainment, Disney character meet and greets, rides and attractions. Popular rides include Space Mountain, It’s A Small World, Mad Tea Party spinning teacups, Haunted Mansion, and the Jungle Cruise. The Magic Kingdom’s icon is Cinderella’s Castle.
EPCOT (short for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) opened in 1982 and showcases innovation and excitement. The theme park celebrates advances in technology and exploration with four different worlds, World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery, and the World Showcase. Annually EPCOT hosts the International Food and Wine Festival and Flower and Garden Festival featuring the different global cultures, foods, desserts, and drinks from other countries. Popular rides include Test Track, Soarin’, Spaceship Earth and the attractions within the World Showcase. EPCOT’s icon is the large circular building home to Spaceship Earth.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 1989 and is inspired by the film industry highlighting popular Disney animated and live movies. The lands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios include Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Grand Avenue, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Animation Courtyard and Sunset Boulevard. Popular rides include Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash, StarTours, Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster Featuring Aerosmith, and Toy Story Midway Mania.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park opened in 1998 is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoological theme park. The lands at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park include the Oasis, Discovery Island, Pandora – The World of Avatar, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, and DinoLand U.S.A. Popular rides include Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safari, and Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s iconic tree of life is central to the park and displays hundreds of intricately carved animals.
Water Parks
Blizzard Beach Water Park opened in 1995 and is themed after a “freak snowstorm” created a snow ski hill which is now melting. This ski-resort themed water park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach’s popular water slides include Summit Plummet, the third tallest and fastest free-fall slide in the world.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park opened in 1989 and is themed after a giant typhoon came and destroyed the tropical paradise leaving the iconic shrimp boat on top of a mountain in the park. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is home to one of the world’s largest outdoor wave pools.
Recreation
Find nightly entertainment and recreation throughout the hotels, resorts and entertainment districts on Disney property. Perfect for a staycation or vacation without even going into the theme parks. Daily entertainment includes activities such as pool entertainment, games, contests and more. Some resorts offer nightly outdoor movies and s’mores making. At various resorts such as Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, see the Cinderella’s horses and participate in horseback riding tours, archery, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. Other resorts offer boat rentals and fishing. Get pampered and relax at Disney. The deluxe resorts offer spa services including massages, manicures, pedicures, and salon treatments.
Play miniature golf at two courses at Disney. Fantasia Gardens, the easiest of the two courses, is themed off popular Disney film Fantasia and located in the EPCOT resorts area. Winter Summerland is themed off Santa’s elves vacation destination with one course themed for winter and one themed for summer near Blizzard Beach Waterpark.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 220-acre multipurpose sports complex that hosts many professional and amateur sporting events. You can see baseball, soccer, volleyball, or basketball games, tennis matches, Special Olympics games, track and field events, or cheerleading and gymnastics competitions.
Disney offers four golf courses to enjoy a day on the greens. Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course has hosted PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and USGA events. Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course which is the longest of the Walt Disney World Resort golf courses. Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course 9-hole walking course is great for beginners, families, or those on a time constraint. You can also book FootGolf at Disney’s Oak Trail. Disney’s Palm Golf Course is an 18 hole championship course with 9 holes with water hazards and 59 bunkers.
Disney’s BoardWalk offers a quarter mile promenade with outstanding dining, shopping, recreation, televised sporting events and classic arcade games. After hours at Disney, adults can have drinks and enjoy the Jellyrolls dueling piano bar or Atlantic Dance Hall nightclub.
Characters
Throughout the hotels and theme parks, there are many places to see your favorite Disney, Marvel and StarWars Characters, Princes, and Princesses. Dine with the characters at themed restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at both parks and hotels. Meet and greet at character spots throughout the parks, or wave as they pass by in a parade. Dance with your favorite characters at entertainment locations throughout the parks.
Entertainment
Enjoy the magic of nightly fireworks spectacles from Magic Kingdom and EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). Not only can you see fireworks in the theme parks but also from some nearby Disney resorts. Singing, dancing, and Broadway caliber stage shows are performed daily at all the theme-parks and three dinner shows. Daily musicians, variety acts, and stunt performers entertain guests throughout the BoardWalk, Disney Springs, some hotels, and all four theme parks. Feel the magic as you watch the energetic performers dance and sing their way by between colorful floats in theme-park parades.
Resorts
On Disney property there are over 30 hotels ranging from affordable campgrounds to AAA accredited four diamond resorts. Each hotel is themed uniquely with details from architecture to artwork. Entertainment, restaurants, recreation, pools, shops, and fitness centers are at many of the hotels. Convenient transportation to all the attractions can be taken by boat, bus, or monorail on Disney Property. The categories of resorts include Campgrounds, Value (budget friendly), Moderate (mid-priced), Deluxe (upscale), and Disney Vacation Club Villas (condominium style hotels).
Dining
There are just under 400 dining locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resorts. From coffee shops to luxury fine dining, Disney offers unparalleled foodie experiences. Within each of the theme parks are quick service restaurants, table service, upscale restaurants, and snack carts. At Disney Springs you will find a variety of flavors and dining experiences including popular bakeries, dessert shops, food trucks, bars, affordable restaurants, and upscale restaurants. You will be able to enjoy a variety of flavors from around the world. All of the hotels and resorts offer a variety of dining options ranging from poolside bars to food courts to moderate or luxury dining experiences. Popular characters will meet and greet you at some of the restaurants throughout the theme parks and deluxe hotels. All you care to eat, and family style options are also available at select restaurants offering a filling meal for the whole family. Disney is known for its accommodations for those with dietary restrictions, dietary needs, allergies, or diet.
Shopping
Disney Springs especially offers a wide variety of shopping options. There are almost 300 shopping locations throughout the theme parks, resorts, and entertainment centers where you will find everything from souvenirs to sundries to designer handbags, jewelry, art and more. Find all the best Disney toys, games, and plushes. Purchase craft, handmade items, and artisan products. Find name brand shoes, clothing, bags, and more. Get the latest technology gadgets, sports apparel, and gear for soccer, running, and all your favorite sports. Try new beauty products from the Art of Shaving, Basin, or any of the cosmetics stores.
Transportation
Complimentary bus transportation is available between resorts, parks, Disney Springs, and water parks. Monorail transportation is available from Magic Kingdom resorts to Magic Kingdom Theme Park and from Magic Kingdom Themepark to EPCOT. Boat transportation is available from the EPCOT resorts area to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, from the parking lot at Magic Kingdom to the main entrance of Magic Kingdom, from Disney Springs resorts to Disney Springs. Take the Disney Skyliner gondolas connecting Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT to various resorts. Complimentary transportation may take various connections to reach your destination so be sure to plan your time accordingly.
Please contact Walt Disney World Resorts directly for current hours and pricing. Check out our See & Do Page for other fun things to do in Florida and our Deals Page for offers and coupons for Florida attractions, restaurants, shops and more.
