Walt Disney World in Brief
STATISTICS
Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous, nearly 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); 36 resort hotels (26 owned and operated by Walt Disney World, includes eight Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 63 holes of golf on four courses; two full-service spas; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; and Downtown Disney, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex. 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.
EMPLOYMENT
There are nearly 70,000 Cast Members in Central Florida.
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 six themed lands — Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; New Fantasyland; 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, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and Princess Fairytale Hall.
EPCOT
An ever-changing international and discovery showplace covering 305 acres.
Opened Oct. l, 1982.
Future World — Theme areas focusing on discovery and scientific achievements: Innoventions, Spaceship Earth (Siemens), Universe of Energy, The Land, Soarin’, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Test Track Presented by Chevrolet, 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 Midway Mania!, “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” (Brawny), Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, The Great Movie Ride, “Muppet*Vision 3-D”, “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!”, The Magic of Disney Animation, Studio Backlot Tour, “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.), “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!,” Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
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 Walt Disney World’s fourth major theme park, which sprawls across 403 acres. Jungles, forests and a vast savanna are divided into four themed lands: Africa, 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 signature dining options including Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub & 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 Café and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure.
West Side–A lively dining and entertainment district including Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, DisneyQuest, the 24-screen AMC Downtown Disney 24 movie theater featuring Fork & Screen, House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Planet Hollywood restaurant and Splitsville Luxury Lanes.
ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS COMPLEX
A 230-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 Cruise Line ships sailing from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Nassau, Bahamas, the Caribbean and Disney’s private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay, offer cruise vacations that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort. For Disney Cruise Line reservations or information on these and other itineraries, contact a local travel agent, phone 888/DCL-2500 or visit www.disneycruise.com.
THEMED RESORTS
36 resorts (including eight Disney Vacation Club properties) in a variety of price points featuring more than 30,000 hotel rooms; 3,293 DVC units; 799 campsites. (View updated Resort pricing information here)
Camping
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (409 Wilderness Cabins/799 Campsites).
Disney’s Value Resorts
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (864 rooms /1,120 family suites), 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
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
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (972 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
Disney’s Old Key West Resort (558 units), Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (282 units), The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (114 units), Disney’s Beach Club Villas (177 units), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (924 units), The Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (449 units), The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (106 units), Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (295 units).
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.
CONVENTION FACILITIES
More than 600,000 square feet of modern meeting space located throughout the areas. Major function space is available at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan, Buena Vista Palace, The Hilton, Hotel Royal Plaza and Regal Sun Resort.
RECREATION
Three 18-hole championship golf courses and a nine-hole family-play course; Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water parks; Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland mini-golf courses; tennis courts; basketball courts; pools; lakes for swimming, boating, parasailing, water skiing and fishing; jogging paths; horseback riding; biking.
TRANSPORTATION
Monorail trains, ferryboats, launches and motor coach 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 10,040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040. Phone: 407/824-4321 or visit www.disneyworld.com.
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