{{Short description|Entertainment resort in Orlando, Florida, US}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Walt Disney World Resort | logo = Walt Disney World Resort wordmark bw.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | image = {{Photomontage | size = 250 | photo1a = Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 2024 (square crop).jpg | photo1b = Spaceship Earth (square crop).jpg | photo2a = Tree of Life (square crop).jpg | photo2b = Tower of Terror (square crop).jpg }} | image_size = 250px | image_caption = Four icons of Walt Disney World, clockwise from top left: Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Hollywood Tower Hotel at Hollywood Studios, and Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom | industry = Entertainment, hospitality | founders = {{unbulleted list|Walt Disney|Roy O. Disney}} | key_people = {{Unbulleted list | Jeff Vahle (president) | Jason Kirk (SVP, Theme Parks) | Maribeth Bisienere (SVP, Resorts)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reed |first=Molly |date=July 20, 2021 |title=More Disney World resorts, restaurants reopen after a year of updates |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/07/20/more-disney-world-resorts-restaurants-reopen-after-a-year-of-updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010051810/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/07/20/more-disney-world-resorts-restaurants-reopen-after-a-year-of-updates/ |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=WKMG}}</ref><ref name="key leadership">{{Cite press release |title=New Leadership Team Announced At Disney Parks, Experiences And Products |date=May 18, 2020 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/new-leadership-team-announced-at-disney-parks-experiences-and-products/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526051735/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/new-leadership-team-announced-at-disney-parks-experiences-and-products/ |archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref> }} | num_employees = 80,000+<ref name="factsheet220">{{Cite web |last=duBois |first=Megan |date=2025-02-14|title=Inside Disney’s Strategy To Retain Employees For Decades |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/megandubois/2025/02/14/inside-disneys-strategy-to-retain-employees-for-decades/ |publisher=Forbes}}</ref> | parent = Disney Experiences | founded = {{Start date and age|1971|10|01|p=yes}} | location = 1375 East Buena Vista Drive | hq_location_city = Lake Buena Vista, Florida | hq_location_country = U.S. | website = {{URL|disneyworld.com}} }} {{Walt Disney World sidebar}}
'''Walt Disney World Resort''' (commonly known as '''Walt Disney World''' or '''Disney World''') is an entertainment and vacation resort complex located about {{convert|20|mi}} 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.
Covering an approximate {{convert|27000|acre|sqmi km2|0}}, Walt Disney World contains numerous recreational facilities designed to attract visitors for extended stays, including four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, conference centers, a competitive sports complex and a major shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Additionally, there are 31 Disney-owned resort hotels and one camping resort on the property, and many other non-Disney-operated resorts on and near the property.
Designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was planned and conceptualized by Walt Disney in the 1960s. Walt's vision for the complex was to build a new, self-contained destination resort on ample land, as he felt Disneyland had become limited by the third-party establishments that had sprung up around it. "The Florida Project", as it was then known, was intended to present a distinct vision with its own diverse set of attractions. Walt's original plans called for the inclusion of an "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" (EPCOT), a planned community intended to serve as a testbed for new city-living innovations. Walt's original vision would not progress past conceptualization, as he died on December 15, 1966, during the initial planning of the complex before construction had begun. After his death, the company wrestled with the idea of whether to bring the Disney World project to fruition; however, Walt's older brother, Roy O. Disney, came out of retirement to ensure the project was realized.
Construction began in 1967, with the company abandoning the planned community concept, instead choosing to build a theme park resort similar to Disneyland. Magic Kingdom was the first theme park to open in the complex in 1971, followed by EPCOT (then known as EPCOT Center) in 1982, Disney's Hollywood Studios (then known as the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park) in 1989, and Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998. Initially known as Disney World, the name of the entire resort was named Walt Disney World at Roy's insistence, to memorialize his brother.
In 2024, Walt Disney World was the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of more than 49 million. The opening of Walt Disney World helped turn Central Florida into a major global tourism destination and contributed to growth in the region. The resort is the largest single-site employer in the United States, the flagship destination of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise and has become a staple of American popular culture. Walt Disney World also contributes significantly to Florida's economy, generating billions in economic activity and supporting a large number of jobs across the state.
== History == === Planning and construction === ==== Conception ==== thumb|Overlay of Walt Disney's original 1966 plans for Disney World and the proposed EPCOT city (orange) and contemporary situation (blue)
In 1959, Walt Disney Productions began looking for land to house a second resort to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955. Market surveys at the time revealed that only 5% of Disneyland's visitors came from east of the Mississippi River, where 75% of the population of the United States lived. Additionally, Walt Disney disliked the businesses that had sprung up around Disneyland and thus wanted more control over a larger area of land in his next project.<ref name="married">{{Cite book |last=Fogleson |first=Richard E. |author-link=Richard Foglesong |title=Married to the Mouse |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-300-09828-0 |location=New Haven, CT |page=274}}</ref>
After rejecting the idea of an indoor theme park in St. Louis, Missouri,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Derek |title=Theme Park History: Walt Disney and the beginning of his 'World' |url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201312/3819/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Theme Park Insider |language=en}}</ref> Walt Disney took a flight over a potential site in Orlando, Florida—one of many—in November 1963. Taking into account the well-developed network of roads as well as the planned construction of both Interstate 4 and Florida's Turnpike, along with McCoy Air Force Base (later Orlando International Airport) to the east, Disney selected a centrally located site near Bay Lake.<ref name="Quest">{{Cite book |last=Mannheim |first=Steve |url=https://archive.org/details/waltdisneyquestf00mann |title=Walt Disney and the Quest for Community |publisher=Ashgate Publishing Limited |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7546-1974-1 |location=Aldershot, Hampshire, England |pages=6, 68{{hyphen}}70 |ref=Mann02 |url-access=limited}}</ref> This development was referred to internally as "The Florida Project".<ref name="Patches 2015">{{Cite news |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=May 20, 2015 |title=Inside Walt Disney's Ambitious, Failed Plan to Build the City of Tomorrow |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a35104/walt-disney-epcot-history-city-of-tomorrow/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305233026/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a35104/walt-disney-epcot-history-city-of-tomorrow/ |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |work=Esquire}}</ref> Early planning documents also suggest that the project was expected to have a strong economic impact on Florida even before construction began.<ref name="Economics Research Associates 1967">{{Cite journal |last=Economics Research Associates |date=January 20, 1967 |title=Economic Impact of Disney World on Florida |url=https://stars.library.ucf.edu/buzzprice/21 |journal=Harrison "Buzz" Price Papers}}</ref>
To avoid a burst of land speculation, Walt Disney Productions used various dummy corporations to acquire {{convert|27443|acre|sqmi km2|0}} of land, beginning in April 1964.<ref name="Quest" /><ref name="Mark Andrews 1993">{{Cite web |last=Mark Andrews |date=May 30, 1993 |title=Disney Assembled Cast Of Buyers To Amass Land Stage For Kingdom |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/05/30/disney-assembled-cast-of-buyers-to-amass-land-stage-for-kingdom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903204555/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-05-30/news/9305280833_1_walt-disney-osceola-land-transactions |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> These dummy corporations were originally given tongue-in-cheek names such as the "Ayefour Corporation", "Latin-American Development and Management Corporation", and the "Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation," before eventually being merged by Disney into the Compass East Corporation in 1966.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://knowledgenuts.com/2015/07/08/the-cia-spies-behind-disney-worlds-secretive-fake-cities/|title=The CIA Spies Behind Disney World's Secretive, Fake Cities|website=KnowledgeNuts.com|date=July 8, 2015|last=Hanton|first=Alex}}</ref> Some of these original dummy names are now memorialized on windows above Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom.
Working strictly in secrecy, real estate agents (unaware of their client's identity) began making offers to landowners in parts of southwest Orange and northwest Osceola counties, being careful not to reveal the extent of their intentions. They were able to negotiate numerous land contracts with some landowners, including large tracts of land for as little as $100 an acre; at the time, most landowners were happy to get rid of their land, which was mostly swamp.<ref name="Mark Andrews 1993" /> Additionally, Disney's team negotiated a deal with Tufts University to buy the mineral rights to the land for $15,000.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Koenig |first=David |url=https://archive.org/details/realityland00/page/25 |title=Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World |publisher=Bonaventure Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9640605-2-4 |location=Irvine, CA |pages=25–26 |ref=Koenig07}}</ref> With the understanding that the recording of the first deeds would trigger intense public scrutiny, Disney delayed the filing of paperwork until a large portion of the land was under contract.<ref name="WDW-Secret">{{Cite web |last=Mark Andrews |date=August 6, 2000 |title=Disney Pulled Strings So Mouse Moved In With Barely A Squeak |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/08/06/disney-pulled-strings-so-mouse-moved-in-with-barely-a-squeak/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910033232/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-08-06/news/0008050172_1_walt-disney-andersen-central-florida/2 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=September 10, 2015 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>
After the first deeds were recorded, early rumors and speculation about the land purchases assumed possible development by NASA in support of the nearby Kennedy Space Center, as well as references to other famous investors, such as Ford, the Rockefellers, and Howard Hughes.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> Eventually, an ''Orlando Sentinel'' news article published on May 20, 1965 acknowledged a popular rumor that Disney was building an "East Coast" version of Disneyland. However, the publication denied its accuracy based on an earlier interview with Disney at Kennedy Space Center. In that interview, he claimed a $50 million investment was in the works for Disneyland, and that he had no interest in building a new park.<ref name="WDW-Secret" />[[File:Governor Haydon Burns Walt Disney Press Conference - Florida Memory CA181.webm|alt=Walt Disney with Company at Press Conference|thumb|Archival footage of Walt Disney, his brother Roy, and then Governor of Florida W. Haydon Burns publicly announcing the creation of Disney World on November 15, 1965.]]In October 1965, editor Emily Bavar from the ''Sentinel'' visited Disneyland during the park's 10th-anniversary celebration. In an interview with Disney, she asked him if he was behind recent land purchases in Central Florida. Bavar later described that Disney "looked like I had thrown a bucket of water in his face", before denying the story.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> His reaction, combined with other research obtained during her Anaheim visit, led Bavar to write a story on October 21, 1965, where she predicted that Disney was building a second theme park in Florida.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /><ref name="Bavar">Bavar, Emily. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/142030221/ "Is Our 'Mystery' Industry Disneyland?"], ''Orlando Sentinel'', October 21, 1965, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24333949/ page 20-A].</ref> Three days later, after gathering more information from various sources, the ''Sentinel'' published another article headlined, "We Say: 'Mystery' Industry Is Disney".<ref name="WDW-Secret" /><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31995299/ "We Say: 'Mystery' Industry Is Disney"], ''Orlando Sentinel'', October 24, 1965, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109296708/ page 20-A].</ref>
Walt Disney had originally planned to publicly reveal Disney World on November 15, 1965, but in light of the ''Sentinel'' story, Disney asked Florida Governor Haydon Burns to confirm the story on October 25; Burns did so, calling Disney's project "the greatest attraction in the history of Florida".<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> The official reveal was kept on the previously planned November 15 date, which Disney joined Burns in Orlando for.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> At the reveal, Disney announced the project in a matter so as to not reveal any specific information, though he did note that the plan was to "top what we [Disney] have, or at least be equivalent to what we have now, in California."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Disney Downtown: Walt visits Orlando |url=https://www.thehistorycenter.org/walt-visits-orlando/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Orange County Regional History Center |language=en}}</ref>
==== Roy Disney's oversight of construction ==== thumb|Roy O. Disney inspecting design plans on-site in Florida Walt Disney died from circulatory collapse caused by smoking-related lung cancer on December 15, 1966, before his vision was realized.<ref name="Santora 2014">{{Cite web |last=Santora |first=Phil |date=December 14, 2014 |title=The day Walt Disney, an American icon who gave us Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, died |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/archives-walt-disney-died-lung-cancer-article-1.2042273 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913051051/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/archives-walt-disney-died-lung-cancer-article-1.2042273 |archive-date=September 13, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |website=New York Daily News}}</ref> According to the Walt Disney Archives, during Disney's lifetime, he personally visited and toured the site only twice: on November 16, 1965, the day after the press conference, and again for a second time, on May 26, 1966.<ref name="AskWDA">{{cite journal |title=Ask the Walt Disney Archives |journal=Disney Twenty-three |date=Spring 2025 |volume=17 |issue=1 |page=60 |issn=2162-5492 |oclc=698366817}}</ref> His brother and business partner, Roy O. Disney, postponed his retirement to oversee construction of the resort's first phase.
On February 2, 1967, Roy O. Disney held a press conference at the Park Theatres in Winter Park, Florida. The role of EPCOT was emphasized in the film that was played. After the film, it was explained that for Disney World, including EPCOT, to succeed, a special district would have to be formed: the Reedy Creek Improvement District with two cities inside it, Bay Lake and Reedy Creek, now Lake Buena Vista. In addition to the standard powers of an incorporated city, which include issuance of tax-free bonds, the district would have immunity from any current or future county or state land-use laws. The only areas where the district had to submit to the county and state would be property taxes and elevator inspections.<ref name="married" /> The legislation forming the district and the two cities, one of which was the Reedy Creek Improvement Act, was signed into law by Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. on May 12, 1967.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Bob |url=http://kpolsson.com/wdworld/ |title=Walt Disney – An American Original |date=1994 |page=357 |access-date=September 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024034807/http://kpolsson.com/wdworld/ |archive-date=October 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Supreme Court of Florida then ruled in 1968 that the district was allowed to issue tax-exempt bonds for public projects within the district, despite the sole beneficiary being Walt Disney Productions. The district soon began construction of drainage canals, and Disney built the first roads and the Magic Kingdom.
=== 1971–1982: Opening and early expansion === thumb|The original logo of Walt Disney World from 1971 to the mid-1990s. This logo is still used on retro merchandise. The Magic Kingdom, Polynesian Village Resort, and Contemporary Resort Hotel opened on October 1, 1971 to moderate fanfare, as Disney officials wanted to avoid the overcrowding issues associated with Disneyland's opening.<ref name="dwfonfr">{{Cite news |date=September 27, 1971 |title=Disney World Florida opens next Friday |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6996%2C2342976 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508180805/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6996%2C2342976 |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |work=Times-News |location=Hendersonville, North Carolina |page=11 |agency=UPI}}</ref><ref name="opfgteslns">{{Cite news |date=October 2, 1971 |title=Walt Disney World opens Florida gates |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SsEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=izIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7198%2C139625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015014530/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SsEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=izIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7198%2C139625 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=California |page=10 |agency=UPI}}</ref> The Magic Kingdom largely largely followed the same layout and design as Disneyland with many duplicate attractions, though the Walt Disney Company promised to increase the number of unique attractions and attractions overall. The two hotels were constructed using United States Steel's then newly developed construction processes for A-frame longhouses.<ref name="MP_Hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mg040721mg|title=History of the World, Part VI|date=July 21, 2004|access-date=May 28, 2008|publisher=MousePlanet}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5hkPnmHw9g|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/F5hkPnmHw9g|archive-date=2021-12-12|url-status=live|title=The Contemporary Resort Hotel 1971 (U.S. Steel Commercial)|publisher=YouTube|date=December 27, 2008|access-date=April 6, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
A more elaborate grand opening ceremony was held between October 23 and 25.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 26, 1971 |title=Description of Walt Disney World Grand Opening dedication ceremonies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-description-of-walt/82478376/ |access-date=May 26, 2026 |work=The Orlando Sentinel |pages=1}}</ref> At the ceremony, Roy O. Disney dedicated the property and declared that it would be known as "Walt Disney World", in his brother's honor. In his own words: "Everyone has heard of Ford cars. But have they all heard of Henry Ford, who started it all? Walt Disney World is in memory of the man who started it all, so people will know his name as long as Walt Disney World is here." After the dedication, Roy Disney asked Walt's widow, Lillian, what she thought of Walt Disney World. According to biographer Bob Thomas, she responded, "I think Walt would have approved." The Fort Wilderness Campground opened a month later; it would be the last Disney-owned lodging accommodation to open until 1988. [[File:MagicKingdomPostcard1982.jpg|thumb|An aerial shot of the Magic Kingdom from the Seven Seas Lagoon in 1982|236x236px]]Two smaller parks in addition to the Magic Kingdom—Discovery Island and Disney's River Country—opened in 1974 and 1976, respectively. Discovery Island functioned as a zoological park and Disney's River Country as a water park. Discovery Island closed in 1999<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=What is Discovery Island, the abandoned Disney World attraction where a man was caught camping?|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/05/03/disney-world-what-is-discovery-island-where-man-caught-camping/3074416001/|last=Yasharoff|first=Hannah|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-05|archive-date=May 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505193825/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/05/03/disney-world-what-is-discovery-island-where-man-caught-camping/3074416001/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Disney's River Country in 2002;<ref name=":3">{{cite news|title=As Crowds Dry Up, Disney Closes River Country Park|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/04/11/as-crowds-dry-up-disney-closes-river-country-park/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|language=en|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801161859/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2002-04-11/travel/0204110395_1_river-country-typhoon-lagoon-blizzard-beach|url-status=live}}</ref> though no official reasons were given for either closure, the opening of similar on-property theme parks by Disney (see 1982–2013: Mass expansion) are assumed to have contributed. The Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village also opened in 1975; the area is known today as Disney Springs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffrey |date=2015-03-23 |title=Ten Nostalgic Snapshots of the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village |url=https://d23.com/ten-nostalgic-snapshots-of-the-lake-buena-vista-shopping-village/ |access-date=2026-05-30 |website=D23 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Walt Disney Company's next big project became the construction of the resort's second theme park, EPCOT Center (renamed Epcot in 1996). Though the company had little interest in Walt Disney's original concept of operating a "city of tomorrow," EPCOT Center still incorporated the themes of human achievement, technological advancement, and international culture as part of its themes. Groundbreaking for EPCOT Center happened on October 1, 1979, and the park opened three years later on October 1, 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WDW Chronicles: 1982 Opening of Epcot Center|url=https://allears.net/wdw-chronicles-1982-opening-of-epcot-center/|website=AllEars.Net|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en-US}}</ref> Its construction cost $1.5 billion (equivalent to approximately ${{Inflation|index=US|value=1.5|start_year=1982|r=1}} billion in today's money), with Disney paying around 80% at $1.2 billion while corporate sponsors contributed the rest.<ref>{{Cite book|edition=|title=Hidden History of Walt Disney World|publisher=History Press Limited|date=2024|location=Mount Pleasant|isbn=978-1-5402-5987-5|series=Hidden History Series|first=Foxx|last=Nolte|year=2024|pages=134-136|via=Google Books}}</ref> Though the opening of EPCOT Center did substantially increase the amount of visitors to the resort, the high costs of its construction made some feel it only contributed further to the company's troubling financial state in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayes |first=Thomas C. |date=1983-09-25 |title=THE TROUBLED WORLD OF DISNEY |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/25/business/the-troubled-world-of-disney.html |access-date=2026-05-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
=== 1982–2013: Mass expansion === Under the leadership of CEO Michael Eisner, the Walt Disney Company embarked on the "Disney Decade" through the late 1980s and early 1990s. This involved large-scale investments in the company's theme parks and resorts, as well as in the company's media and film divisions. At Walt Disney World specifically, this meant creating more entertainment such that guests stay on Disney property for longer periods of time.<ref name="smith2013">{{cite web |last=Smith|first=David|title=WDWNT: The Magazine – Downtown Disney, A History|website=WDW News Today|date=July 7, 2013|url=http://wdwnt.com/blog/2013/07/wdwnt-the-magazine-downtown-disney-a-history/|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123032753/http://wdwnt.com/blog/2013/07/wdwnt-the-magazine-downtown-disney-a-history/|archive-date=November 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The resort's third theme park, Disney-MGM Studios (renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2008), opened on May 1, 1989, inspired by show business with the intent of becoming the "Hollywood of the East".<ref name="staff 2019">{{Cite web |last=staff |first=FOX 13 News |date=May 1, 2019 |title=On this day in 1989: Disney's MGM Studios opens with great fanfare, expectations |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/on-this-day-in-1989-disneys-mgm-studios-opens-with-great-fanfare-expectations |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=FOX 13 News |language=en-US}}</ref> The opening of Disney-MGM Studios was not met without controversy—Entertainment company MCA (now known as Universal Pictures) filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company, alleging that Eisner, as former CEO of Paramount Pictures, stole MCA's plans for a theme park centered around a studio backlot tour, a claim that Eisner vehemently denied.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Ellen |date=May 14, 1989 |title=WHOSE IDEA WAS IT ANYWAY? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1989/05/14/whose-idea-was-it-anyway/57f52ce1-de8e-418c-9df1-2550983ca887/ |access-date=May 26, 2026 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> MCA would go on to open their own theme park a month later.
thumb|The 1996 version of The Walt Disney World logo Though the Disney Decade was never fully realized because of the financial disappointment of Euro Disney,<ref>Stewart, James B. Disney War, p 144</ref> Walt Disney World still experienced massive expansion with the opening of nine new resort hotels, a hotel and entertainment complex at Disney's BoardWalk, and two themed water parks (Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach) that effectively replaced Disney's Water Country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2017 |title=Disney History: What was the Disney Decade? |url=https://worldofwalt.com/disney-history-what-was-the-disney-decade.html |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=World Of Walt |language=en-US}}</ref> The Disney Decade culminated with the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998, the resort's fourth and largest theme park, measuring at {{convert|580|acres}} on opening day.<ref name="Eades 2017">{{Cite web |last=Eades|first=Mark|date=August 30, 2017|title=A former Disney Imagineer's guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/30/a-former-disney-imagineers-guide-to-disneys-animal-kingdom/|access-date=September 4, 2017|website=OC Register}}</ref> However, because of Euro Disney-related financial constraints, the park never was constructed to its full original concept, with the planned Beastly Kingdom section never being constructed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2021|title=The Fantastic Tale Of The Canceled "Beastly Kingdom"|url=https://www.piratesandprincesses.net/the-fantastic-tale-of-the-canceled-beastly-kingdom/}}</ref>
During the resort's mass expansion, there was considerable environmentalist push-back and the resort was convinced to engage in mitigation banking. In an agreement with The Nature Conservancy and the state of Florida, Disney purchased {{convert|8500|acre|abbr=on}} of land, adjacent to the park for the purpose of rehabilitating wetland ecosystems. The Disney Wilderness Preserve was established in April 1993, and the land was subsequently transferred to The Nature Conservancy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Wilderness Preserve |url=http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/environmentality/environment/preserve.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030819004243/http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/environmentality/environment/preserve.html |archive-date=August 19, 2003 |website=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> The Walt Disney Company provided additional funds for landscape restoration and wildlife monitoring.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Tom |date=February 16, 2013 |title=Disney Wilderness Preserve Site Is Internationally Recognized Model for Success |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20130216/news/608072862/LL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719205130/https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20130216/news/608072862/LL |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |access-date=July 19, 2020 |work=The Ledger |language=en}}</ref>
Walt Disney World introduced FastPass, a free virtual queue system, in 1999. Park guests would scan their park ticket at an automated machine outside of a participating theme park attraction, and receive a half-hour one-hour return time window for that attraction.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Donovan|first=Aaron|date=June 23, 2002|title=More Wow, Less Wait|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/23/business/responsible-party-bruce-laval-more-wow-less-wait.html|work=The New York Times|pages=2}}</ref> Additionally, to encourage visitors to stay on Disney property for the entirety of their vacations, the resort introduced Disney's Magical Express in 2005, a free shuttle bus and luggage-handling service between Orlando International Airport and the various resort hotels at Walt Disney World.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bevil |first=Dewayne |title=Disney ending Magical Express bus service and Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-ends-extra-magic-hours-magical-express-bus-20210111-n74artglrffcvkvnrh6nptx4e4-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405141255/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-ends-extra-magic-hours-magical-express-bus-20210111-n74artglrffcvkvnrh6nptx4e4-story.html |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=orlandosentinel.com}}</ref>
Following the September 11 attacks, Walt Disney World was designated as a Temporary Flight Restrictions space, restricting the airspace above the property. Two years later, it was designated as permanent prohibited airspace zone that restricts all airspace activities, including the usage of drones, without approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bickel |first=Mark H. |title=Florida only has one restricted 'no-fly zone,' and it might not be where you expected |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/06/05/florida-no-fly-zone-disney-world-orlando-aviation-national-security/70288410007/ |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=Florida Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== 2013–present: Current advancements === thumb|The 2018 version of The Walt Disney World logo. The Walt Disney World resort introduced MyMagic+, Disney's branding for its consumer suite of technologies, to the general public on January 7, 2013. As part of MyMagic+, FastPass was reintroduced as FastPass+, wherein guests could "book" attractions up to 60 days prior to their arrival at Walt Disney World. Additionally, the resort introduced My Disney Experience and Disney PhotoPass, a streamlined mobile app and professional photography service, respectively. All these services were to be accessed by guests using MagicBands, a wearable RFID technology which prior to 2021 was provided for free to all on-site resort guests before their arrival at the resort. The MyMagic+ initiative cost the Walt Disney World company $1 billion to develop.<ref name="wired-magicalwristband">{{cite magazine|title=Disney's $1 Billion Bet on a Magical Wristband|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/03/disney-magicband/|last1=Kuang|first1=Cliff|date=March 10, 2015|accessdate=August 27, 2015|magazine=Wired}}</ref>
On March 12, 2020, a Disney spokesperson announced that Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris would temporarily close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning March 15, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Walt Disney World closes, paralyzing the company's tourism empire |url=https://www.cnn.com/cnn/2020/03/12/disney-world-closed-coronavirus/index.html |work=CNN Business}}</ref> {{As of|2020||alt=In June 2020}}, Walt Disney World was chosen to host the NBA Bubble for play of the 2019–20 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to resume at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sergent |first1=Jim |last2=Medina |first2=Mark |date=July 9, 2020 |title=How the NBA bubble has taken shape in Disney World |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/2020/07/09/nba-bubble-takes-shape-disney-world/5387760002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613183749/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/2020/07/09/nba-bubble-takes-shape-disney-world/5387760002/ |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |access-date=July 25, 2021 |website=USA TODAY}}</ref> On July 11, 2020, Walt Disney World officially reopened to the general public, beginning operations at 25% capacity at the Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom reopen for first time since March |url=https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/magic-kingdom-animal-kingdom-reopen-today-for-first-time-since-march/amp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015095736/https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/magic-kingdom-animal-kingdom-reopen-today-for-first-time-since-march/amp/ |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2021 |publisher=WFLA-TV}}</ref> Four days later, EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios opened for operation, also at 25% capacity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tremaine |first=Julie |date=July 15, 2020 |title=Disney World Reopens Epcot and Hollywood Studios |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/amp/disney-world-epcot-reopens/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208180303/https://www.cnn.com/travel/amp/disney-world-epcot-reopens/index.html |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2021 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Masks were required at all times (including outdoors, on attractions, and while taking photos), all guests were required to have their temperature taken upon entry, plexiglass was installed on various attractions and transportation offerings, shows that drew large crowds such as parades and nighttime shows (including ''Fantasmic!'' and ''Happily Ever After'') were suspended, and guests services such as FastPass+ and the Disney Dining Plan were not offered.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richwine |first=Lisa |date=July 12, 2020 |title=Mandatory masks, Mickey at a distance as Walt Disney World reopens |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney-idUSKCN24C0Q4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170941/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney-idUSKCN24C0Q4 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |work=REUTERS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Genovese |first=Daniella |date=May 29, 2020 |title=For post-coronavirus reopening, Disney suspends FastPass service, cancels reservations |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/disney-cancels-fast-pass-dining-reservations-as-it-prepares-for-post-coronavirus |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref> As part of the phased reopening process, the resort laid off 6,500 employees.<ref name="layoffs">{{Cite news |date=September 30, 2020 |title=6,700 non-union Disney employees in Central Florida among those being laid off |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-layoffs-florida/34222642 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930180245/https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-layoffs-florida/34222642 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=September 30, 2020 |publisher=WESH}}</ref><ref name="capped">{{Cite news |last=Deerwester |first=Jayme |date=October 13, 2020 |title=Disney World attendance to stay capped; Disneyland reopening 'not much of a negotiation,' CEO says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2020/10/13/disney-world-attendance-remain-capped-new-cdc-covid-19-guidance/5977875002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008034621/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2020/10/13/disney-world-attendance-remain-capped-new-cdc-covid-19-guidance/5977875002/ |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2020 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>
In November 2020, the resort increased the guest capacity to 35% at all four theme parks, and on May 13, 2021, Chapek announced a further increase of capacity, effective immediately; however, he did not say to what capacity level it would be raised.<ref name="tw">{{Cite news |last=Biesiada |first=Jamie |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Capacity levels are going up at Walt Disney World |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Increase-in-capacity-at-Disney-World |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604211558/https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Increase-in-capacity-at-Disney-World |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2021 |work=Travel Weekly}}</ref> By mid-June 2021, temperature checks and mask mandates (except while on Disney transportation) had been lifted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyko |first=Kelly |title=Disney World no longer requires masks outdoors, but you'll still need to wear a mask to enter parks and inside |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2021/05/13/disney-mask-requirement-cdc-fully-vaccinated-no-masks-indoors-outdoors/5080931001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725200043/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2021/05/13/disney-mask-requirement-cdc-fully-vaccinated-no-masks-indoors-outdoors/5080931001/ |archive-date=July 25, 2021 |access-date=July 25, 2021 |website=USA TODAY}}</ref> In late July 2021, mask mandates were reinstated for all attractions and indoor areas in light of new guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control as the delta variant drove a significant increase in local COVID-19 cases; these reinstated mandates were lifted in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Disney World And Disneyland Reimpose Mask Mandates Amid Covid-19 Delta Variant Spread |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/07/29/disney-world-and-disneyland-reimpose-mask-mandates-amid-covid-19-delta-variant-spread/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906185927/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/07/29/disney-world-and-disneyland-reimpose-mask-mandates-amid-covid-19-delta-variant-spread/ |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |access-date=September 6, 2021 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In April 2022, following a court decision ending the federal mask mandate for public transportation, the mask mandates for Disney Transport were lifted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Walt Disney World makes masks optional for all areas of resort |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walt-disney-world-makes-face-masks-optional-areas-resort-rcna25146 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429191444/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walt-disney-world-makes-face-masks-optional-areas-resort-rcna25146 |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=NBC News}}</ref>
Starting on October 1, 2021, the resort honored its 50th anniversary with "The World's Most Magical Celebration",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Forrest |date=February 25, 2021 |title=Find out what Disney World has in store for its 50th anniversary celebration in October |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-world-50th-anniversary-celebration-october/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409101733/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-world-50th-anniversary-celebration-october/index.html |archive-date=April 9, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2021 |publisher=CNN Travel}}</ref> which lasted for 18 consecutive months ending on March 31, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney World sets end date for 50th anniversary celebration |url=https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2022/08/31/disney-world-sets-end-date-for-50th-anniversary-celebration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101170519/https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2022/08/31/disney-world-sets-end-date-for-50th-anniversary-celebration |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=www.mynews13.com |language=en}}</ref> The celebration involved the opening of new attractions across the resort, the temporary replacement of ''Happily Ever After'' with ''Disney Enchantment'', and special limited-time merchandise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Migrate |first=Disney |date=November 16, 2021 |title=50th Anniversary Celebration |url=https://disneyrewards.com/blog/travel-parks/the-worlds-most-magical-celebration/ |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=Disney® Visa® Cards |language=en-US}}</ref>
Disney's Magical Express service ended in January 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krause |first=Amanda |title=Disney World will no longer offer its Magical Express bus service to airport travelers starting in 2022 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-world-announces-park-changes-airport-bus-service-2021-1 |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> though free luggage-handling service for departing guests to Orlando International Airport was reintroduced in 2024 as Airport Luggage Transfer for guests of select hotels using American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bricker |first=Tom |date=May 18, 2026 |title=Disney World's Free Airport Luggage Transfer Expands to New Airlines in Summer 2026! |url=https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-worlds-free-airport-luggage-transfer-expands-to-new-airlines-in-summer-2026/ |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=Disney Tourist Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> Also, in August 2021, the free FastPass+ virtual queue service was replaced with Genie+, starting at $15 per day. Among other things, Genie+ allowed you to select attractions to use a "Lightning Lane" for, similar to FastPass+; the pricing range depended on the crowd and day of purchase.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=August 18, 2021 |title=To Skip the Line at Disney, Get Ready to Pay a Genie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/business/disney-fastpass-genie-plus.html |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/business/disney-fastpass-genie-plus.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |work=The New York Times |via=NYTimes.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Genie+ was replaced Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass in July 2024.<ref name="Rachel 2024">{{Cite web |last=Rachel |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Plan Ahead with Lightning Lane Entry at Walt Disney World Starting July 24 |url=https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/plan-ahead-with-lightning-lane-entry-at-walt-disney-world-starting-july-24/ |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>
The self-governing status which the Walt Disney Company had in the area around Disney World for more than 50 years came to an end on April 22, 2022, after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law legislation requiring the area to come under the legal jurisdiction of the state of Florida.<ref name="reedycreekgone">{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Kyle |date=April 22, 2022 |title=DeSantis signs bill ending Disney's self-governing status in Florida |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-signs-bill-stripping-disney-self-governing-status |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422195037/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-signs-bill-stripping-disney-self-governing-status |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |publisher=Fox News}}</ref> The new law also officially abolished the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which the Walt Disney Company has used to effectively govern the resort since May 1967, when then-Florida Governor Claude Kirk signed into law legislation which granted the company special status.<ref name="reedycreekgone" /> The new law went into effect in June 2023, with the formation of the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.<ref name="selfgovernancegone">{{cite news |last1=Izaguirre |first1=Anthony |title=Disney government dissolution bill signed by DeSantis |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-travel-florida-orlando-ron-desantis-5bbb7bd13c5357877f999aab96b33651 |work=AP News |date=April 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 22, 2022 |title=DeSantis signs bill eliminating Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek district; Fitch warns of bond downgrade |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-disney-reedy-creek-bill-signed-20220422-3ijuuhs5wra6vcbmy4qhpqp6gy-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422210441/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-disney-reedy-creek-bill-signed-20220422-3ijuuhs5wra6vcbmy4qhpqp6gy-story.html |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida lawmakers OK Disney bills, including one targeting monorail |url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2023/05/04/disney-desantis-agreements-special-district-monorail/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521232800/https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2023/05/04/disney-desantis-agreements-special-district-monorail/ |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> To avoid unwanted regulation from the Florida state government, the Walt Disney Company signed an agreement with the Reedy Creek Improvement District just before state takeover that grants the Walt Disney Company full control over construction and development within the Walt Disney World Resort ''de facto'' indefinitely, by using a royal lives clause in the written contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=March 30, 2023 |title=Disney blocks Ron DeSantis' Florida power play with a royal family clause |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/30/disney-ron-desantis-royal-lives-clause.html |access-date=May 26, 2026 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>{{Sticky header}}
== Location == {{Walt Disney World Map}} thumb|One of four arches welcoming guests to the resort The resort is not within Orlando city limits but is southwest of Downtown Orlando. Most of the resort is in southwestern Orange County, with the remainder in adjacent Osceola County. The property includes the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, which are governed by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly Reedy Creek Improvement District). The site is accessible from Central Florida's Interstate 4 via Exits 62B (World Drive), 64B (US 192 West), 65B (Osceola Parkway West), 67B (SR 536 West), and 68 (SR 535 North), Exit 6 on SR 417 South, the Central Florida GreeneWay and Exit 8 on SR 429, the Western Beltway. At its founding, the resort occupied approximately {{convert|27443|acre|sqmi km2|0}}.<ref name="Quest" /> Portions of the property have since been sold or de-annexed, including land now occupied by the Disney-built community of Celebration. By 2014, the resort occupied nearly {{convert|25000|acre|sqmi km2|0}}<ref name="Fun Facts">{{Cite news |title=The Disney World experience: 50 years on, visiting theme park remains a rite of passage |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/opinion/2023/01/03/disney-world-visit-with-child-reminds-why-theme-park-is-magical-place/69765038007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114311v114311d--43--b--43--&gca-ft=233&gca-ds=sophi |access-date=March 8, 2026 |publisher=Savannah Morning News |last=Murphy|first=Mark|date=January 3, 2023}}</ref> (larger than Manhattan, New York City, which is 22.7 sq mi). Major theme parks like Walt Disney World are closely connected to air travel, which helps drive both domestic and international tourism to the region.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Florido-Benítez |first1=Lázaro |title=Air transport: a complex perspective for US Disney and Universal theme parks |journal=Journal of the Air Transport Research Society |date=June 2025 |volume=4 |article-number=100051 |doi=10.1016/j.jatrs.2024.100051 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
The company additionally acquired nearly {{convert|3000|acre|sqmi km2|0}}, in separate transactions, between December 2018 and April 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney World buys 235 acres. Here's what we know |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2019/12/27/disney-world-buys-235-acres-heres-what-we-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930162726/https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2019/12/27/disney-world-buys-235-acres-heres-what-we-know/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=May 25, 2020 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Ken |title=Disney has been on a land-buying spree. Here's why it probably isn't a new theme park |url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/12/30/disney-has-been-on-a-land-buying-spree-heres-why-it-probably-isnt-a-new-theme-park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729110518/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/12/30/disney-has-been-on-a-land-buying-spree-heres-why-it-probably-isnt-a-new-theme-park |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |access-date=May 25, 2020 |website=Orlando Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2019 |title=Disney Bought Nearly 3K Acres of Land Since 2018 – But Not for a New Park |url=https://insidethemagic.net/2019/12/disney-buys-land-in-florida-ba1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015032249/https://insidethemagic.net/2019/12/disney-buys-land-in-florida-ba1/ |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=May 25, 2020 |website=Inside the Magic |language=en-US}}</ref>
12% of the site area is occupied by hotels and resorts, and 5% of the area is water.<ref>Edwards, C., [https://floridasunadventures.com/how-big-is-disney-world/ How Big Is Disney World?], ''Florida Sun Adventures'', updated January 11, 2024, accessed April 27, 2024</ref>
== Attractions == {{further|List of Walt Disney World Resort attractions}}
=== Theme parks === * Magic Kingdom Park – opened October 1, 1971<ref name="opfgteslns" /> * EPCOT – opened October 1, 1982<ref name="newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu 1982">{{Cite web |date=October 1, 1982 |title=EPCOT: Disney's Last Dream Opens |url=https://newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00090088/00907/zoom/1 |access-date=May 27, 2026 |website=newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu}}</ref> * Disney's Hollywood Studios – opened May 1, 1989<ref name="staff 2019" /> * Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park – opened April 22, 1998<ref name="Eades 2017" />
=== Water parks === * Disney's Typhoon Lagoon – opened June 1, 1989<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 1989 |title=DISNEY WATER PARK SCORES WITH TOURISTS |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/06/05/disney-water-park-scores-with-tourists/ |access-date=May 27, 2026 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> * Disney's Blizzard Beach – opened April 1, 1995<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=FOX 35 News |date=December 22, 2020 |title=Disney's Blizzard Beach water park to reopen March 7 |url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/disneys-blizzard-beach-water-park-to-reopen-march-7 |access-date=May 27, 2026 |website=FOX 35 Orlando |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Mini-golf courses === * Fantasia Gardens – opened May 20, 1996{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} * Winter Summerland – opened March 12, 1999{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} thumb|View of Disney Springs
=== Shopping, dining, and entertainment areas === * Disney Springs – opened March 22, 1975<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Arthur |date=June 1, 2016 |title=Disney Springs: The story behind Disney World's former Downtown Disney |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/2016/06/01/disney-springs-downtown-disney-walt-disney-world/85208362/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601133550/http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/2016/06/01/disney-springs-downtown-disney-walt-disney-world/85208362/ |archive-date=June 1, 2016 |access-date=June 1, 2016 |work=USA Today}}</ref> * Disney's BoardWalk – opened July 1, 1996<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=1996-06-10 |title=DISNEY’S BOARDWALK A BLEND OF 1900’S AND 1990’S |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1996/06/10/disneys-boardwalk-a-blend-of-1900s-and-1990s/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> * Flamingo Crossings – opened 2021 (located off property but developed by Disney)<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Disney Programs |url=https://sites.disney.com/disneyprogramsexperience/history/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Disney Programs Experience |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Golf courses === Disney's property includes four golf courses open to the general public. The 18-hole golf courses are Disney's Palm (4.5 stars), Disney's Magnolia (4 stars), and Disney's Lake Buena Vista (4 stars). There is also a nine-hole walking course called Disney's Oak Trail, that features junior tees for younger golfers and a Footgolf course. Palm, Magnolia, and Oak Trail are connected and share one entrance near Shades of Green in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area, while the Lake Buena Vista course is located in the Disney Springs Resort Area. Although owned by the company, the Walt Disney World golf courses are operated by a third-party, Arnold Palmer Golf Management.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jason Garcia |date=August 24, 2011 |title=Disney golf: Disney World to turn its golf courses over to Arnold Palmer |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-24/the-daily-disney/os-disney-golf-arnold-palmer-20110824_1_walt-disney-world-golf-courses-golf-datatech |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201184739/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-24/the-daily-disney/os-disney-golf-arnold-palmer-20110824_1_walt-disney-world-golf-courses-golf-datatech |archive-date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> The Magnolia and Palm courses played home to the PGA Tour's Walt Disney World Golf Classic from 1971 to 2012.
Additionally there is a fifth course, the Tranquilo Golf Course, located at the Four Seasons Resort on Disney property. The course is open only to guests staying at Four Seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Golf – Four Seasons Resort Orlando |url=https://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/club/golf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004202512/https://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/club/golf |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2014 |title=The Enchantment Begins: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort Debuts |url=https://www.hksinc.com/our-news/articles/the-enchantment-begins-four-seasons-resort-orlando-at-walt-disney-world-resort-debuts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010051809/https://www.hksinc.com/our-news/articles/the-enchantment-begins-four-seasons-resort-orlando-at-walt-disney-world-resort-debuts/ |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |access-date=October 4, 2023 |website=HKS Architects}}</ref>
=== Other attractions and areas === * ESPN Wide World of Sports – sports complex, opened March 28, 1997<ref name="os">{{cite news |last1=Carroll|first1=Frank|title=Braves To Toss 1st Pitch At Disney|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1997/01/17/braves-to-toss-1st-pitch-at-disney/|access-date=July 9, 2018|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=January 17, 1997|language=en}}</ref> * ''Drawn to Life'' – resident Cirque du Soleil show, venue opened in Disney Springs on December 23, 1998<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-17 |title=Cirque du Soleil’s ‘La Nouba’ celebrates 15 years at Disney World |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2013/12/17/cirque-du-soleils-la-nouba-celebrates-15-years-at-disney-world-2/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> * Tri-Circle D Ranch – a working ranch and stable, located at Fort Wilderness<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tri-Circle-D Ranch {{!}} Walt Disney World Resort |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/tri-circle-d-ranch/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=disneyworld.disney.go.com}}</ref>
=== Former attractions and areas === * Discovery Island – an island and former ticketed attraction in Bay Lake that was home to many species of animals and birds. Guests would access the island via boat from Fort Wilderness. It opened on April 8, 1974, and closed on April 8, 1999.<ref name=":02" /> * Disney's River Country – the first water park at the Walt Disney World Resort. It opened on June 20, 1976, and closed on November 2, 2001.<ref name=":3" /> * Walt Disney World Speedway – a racetrack at Walt Disney World that included the Richard Petty Driving Experience, the track also held NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the IndyCar Series until the 2000s. It opened November 28, 1995, and closed on August 9, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autoweek.com/article/indycar/walt-disney-world-speedway-shutting-down-good|title=Walt Disney World Speedway shutting down for good|work=Autoweek|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> * Pleasure Island – a former gated section of Downtown Disney, centered on late-night entertainment. Most of the area was demolished upon the transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs. It opened 1989 and closed in 2008.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=November 8, 2017|title=Did Poor Layout Help Close Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World?|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaHd8SRxMwE|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/DaHd8SRxMwE|archive-date=2021-12-12|url-status=live|access-date=October 8, 2018|format=YouTube|publisher=Rob Plays}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * Walt Disney World Airport – a small STOLport landing strip built for private aircraft. The airway stopped being used in the 1980s. It is located off Vista Blvd and World Drive and used as a storage area.<ref name="Airport">{{Cite web |title=Florida: Southwestern Orlando area|url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_OrlandoSW.htm#disney|access-date=November 23, 2015|website=Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields}}</ref> * DisneyQuest – an indoor theme park that featured arcade games and virtual attractions, intended to be the first location in a chain of similar theme parks, which was unsuccessful. It opened June 19, 1998 and closed on July 2, 2017.<ref name="DQ-Close">{{Cite web |last=Sandra Pedicini |date=June 30, 2015 |title=DisneyQuest closing at Downtown Disney |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disneyquest-closing-20150630-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701110331/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disneyquest-closing-20150630-story.html |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> * Crossroads Shopping Center – originally developed by Disney in the 1980s and located near Disney Springs, the shopping and dining center was popular for guests and cast-members, built at a time when there were few dining options in the area. Disney later sold the land, and in 2021 the entire center was demolished using eminent domain for the Interstate 4 reconstruction project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Attractions Magazine |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Crossroads shopping center near Disney World to be closed by August |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/crossroads-shopping-center-near-disney-world-closed-august/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150210/https://attractionsmagazine.com/crossroads-shopping-center-near-disney-world-closed-august/ |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Attractions Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=End of Crossroads: Longtime Plaza Near Disney to Become I-4 Interchange |url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/traffic/2021/02/17/end-of-crossroads--longtime-plaza-near-disney-to-become-i-4-interchange |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150209/https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/traffic/2021/02/17/end-of-crossroads--longtime-plaza-near-disney-to-become-i-4-interchange |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=mynews13.com}}</ref>
== Resorts == {{See also|Category:Hotels in Walt Disney World Resort}} {{As of|2024}}, there are 31 Disney owned and operated resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas at the Walt Disney World Resort, along with one camping resort, Fort Wilderness, which includes traditional campgrounds and wood cabins. Together, they have approximately 23,000 rooms, 3,600 DVC villas and {{Convert|500000|sqft}} of conference meeting space. They are organized into three categories—Deluxe, Moderate, and Value—and five resort areas: the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Wide World of Sports, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs. Informally known as the "Disney Bubble", staying on property is considered an immersive experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What It's Like Inside the NBA "Bubble" at Disney World |url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/on-the-town/2020/07/25/quarantining-with-nba-players-at-disney-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150210/https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/on-the-town/2020/07/25/quarantining-with-nba-players-at-disney-world |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=mynews13.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2014 |title=What is The Disney Bubble? |url=https://livingadisneylife.com/disney-bubble/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004151713/https://livingadisneylife.com/disney-bubble/ |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref>
Additionally, 12 independently operated hotels are located on property leased from Disney, offering approximately 7,300 additional rooms. There is also an on-site pet hotel operated by Best Friends Pet Care for guests traveling with animals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Friends Pet Hotel – Best Friends Pet Care – Lake Buena Vista, FL |url=https://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/location/waltdisneyworldresort/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150209/https://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/location/waltdisneyworldresort/ |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=www.bestfriendspetcare.com}}</ref>
=== Disney-owned resorts === {{Sticky header}} {|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" |- ! Name ! Image ! Opening date ! Theme ! Number of rooms ! Resort area |- ! colspan="6"| Deluxe resorts |- | Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge||80px||April 16, 2001<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=FOX 35 News |date=2021-09-01 |title=Timeline: Major events in Walt Disney World’s history |url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/timeline-major-events-in-walt-disney-worlds-history |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=FOX 35 Orlando |language=en-US}}</ref>||African Wildlife preserve||1,307<br />708 villas | Animal Kingdom |- |Disney's Old Key West Resort |80px |December 20, 1991<ref name=":5" /> |Early-20th-century Key West |761 villas | rowspan="2" |Disney Springs |- |Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa |80px |May 17, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-05-17 |title=Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort Spa Opens at Walt Disney World |url=https://d23.com/this-day/disneys-saratoga-springs-resort-spa-opens-at-walt-disney-world/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=D23 |language=en-US}}</ref> |1880s Upstate New York resort |1,320 villas |- | Disney's Beach Club Resort||80px||November 19, 1990<ref name=":5" />||Newport Beach cottage||576<br />282 villas | rowspan="4" |EPCOT |- | Disney's Yacht Club Resort||80px||November 5, 1990<ref name=":5" />||Martha's Vineyard Resort||621 |- | Disney's BoardWalk Inn||80px||July 1, 1996<ref name=":4" />||Early-20th-century Atlantic and Ocean City||378<br />530 villas |- |Disney's Riviera Resort |80px |December 16, 2019<ref name=":5" /> |European Riviera |300 villas |- | Disney's Contemporary Resort||80px||October 1, 1971<ref name=":5" />||Modern||655<br />428 villas | rowspan="4" |Magic Kingdom |- | Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa||80px||June 28, 1988<ref name=":5" />||Early-20th-century Florida||867<br />147 villas |- | Disney's Polynesian Village Resort||80px||October 1, 1971<ref name=":5" />||South Pacific||492<br />380 villas |- | Disney's Wilderness Lodge||80px||May 28, 1994<ref name=":5" />||Pacific Northwest, National Park Service rustic||729<br />365 villas |- ! colspan="6"| Moderate resorts |- | Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort||80px||October 1, 1988<ref name=":5" />||Caribbean Islands||1,536||EPCOT |- | Disney's Coronado Springs Resort||80px||August 1, 1997<ref name=":5" />||Mexico, American Southwest||1,915||Animal Kingdom |- | Disney's Port Orleans Resort (French Quarter & Riverside)||80px||May 17, 1991<ref name="PortOrleansTrivia">{{cite web|title=Port Orleans Fun Facts & Trivia|url=http://www.portorleans.org/trivia.php|website=portorleans.org|access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref>||New Orleans French Quarter, Deep South||3,056||Disney Springs |- ! colspan="6"| Value resorts |- | Disney's All-Star Movies Resort||80px||January 15, 1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's All-Star Movies resort opens 768 units |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Destinations2001-2007/Disney-s-All-Star-Movies-resort-opens-768-units |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=www.travelweekly.com |language=en}}</ref>||Disney films||1,920||rowspan=3|Animal Kingdom |- | Disney's All-Star Music Resort||80px||November 22, 1994<ref name=":5" />||Music||1,604 |- | Disney's All-Star Sports Resort||80px||April 24, 1994<ref name=":5" />||Sports||1,920 |- | Disney's Art of Animation Resort||80px||May 31, 2012<ref name=":5" />||Disney and Pixar animated films||1,984||rowspan=2|Wide World of Sports |- | Disney's Pop Century Resort||80px||December 14, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-12-14 |title=GIANT RESORT JOINS DISNEY HOTEL EMPIRE |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/12/14/giant-resort-joins-disney-hotel-empire-2/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref>||20th Century American pop culture||2,880 |- ! colspan="6"| Cabins and campgrounds |- | Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground||80px||November 19, 1971<ref name=":5" />||Rustic Woods Camping||800 campsites<br />409 cabins||Magic Kingdom |}
=== Former Disney-owned resorts === {|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" |- ! Hotel name ! Image ! Opening date ! Close date ! Theme ! Number of rooms ! Area |- |''Star Wars'': Galactic Starcruiser |80px |March 1, 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoolfield|first=Jeremy|date=May 4, 2021|title=Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Launches in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort|url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/05/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser-launches-in-2022-at-walt-disney-world-resort/|access-date=October 1, 2021|website=Disney Parks Blog|archive-date=May 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527111923/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/05/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser-launches-in-2022-at-walt-disney-world-resort/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |September 30, 2023<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sampson|first=Hannah|date=2023-05-21|title=Disney to close $5,000 Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/05/18/star-wars-hotel-closing/|access-date=2024-05-28|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519064024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/05/18/star-wars-hotel-closing/|url-status=live}}</ref> |''Star Wars'', Immersive entertainment |100 |EPCOT |}
=== On-site non-Disney resorts === {{Sticky header}} {|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" |- ! Hotel name ! Image ! Opening date ! Number of rooms ! Owner ! Area |- |Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa | |October 1, 1972 |394 |Marriott International | rowspan="7" |Disney Springs |- |Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando | |November 21, 1972 |325 |Drury Hotels |- |DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando | |March 15, 1987 |229 | rowspan="3" |Hilton Worldwide |- |Hilton Buena Vista Palace |80x80px |March 10, 1983 |1,014 |- |Hilton Lake Buena Vista |80x80px |November 23, 1983 |787 |- |Holiday Inn Orlando | |February 8, 1973 |323 |IHG Hotels & Resorts |- |Wyndham Lake Buena Vista | |October 15, 1972 |626 |Wyndham Hotels & Resorts |- | Walt Disney World Dolphin||80px||June 1, 1990<ref name=":5" />||1,509 | rowspan="3" |Marriott International | rowspan="3" |EPCOT |- | Walt Disney World Swan||80px||January 13, 1990<ref name=":5" />||758 |- | Walt Disney World Swan Reserve||||November 4, 2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Opens {{!}} Northstar Meetings Group|url=https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/News/Hotels-and-Resorts/Walt-Disney-World-Swan-Reserve-Fairmont-Orlando|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207052136/https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/News/Hotels-and-Resorts/Walt-Disney-World-Swan-Reserve-Fairmont-Orlando|access-date=2025-08-17|archive-date=2021-12-07}}</ref>||349 |- | Four Seasons Orlando || ||August 3, 2014<ref>{{Cite web |last=Becker |first=Kayla |date=2014-05-15 |title=Four Seasons Resort opening at Disney on August 3 |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/four-seasons-resort-orlando-opening-at-walt-disney-world-august-3/4433649 |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=WESH |language=en}}</ref>||450 |Four Seasons | rowspan="2" |Magic Kingdom |- | Shades of Green||80px||December 15, 1973<ref name=":5" />||586 |United States Department of Defense |}
== Annual events == The resort hosts various annual events throughout the year: * Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (1995–present) – held at Magic Kingdom throughout the fall season * Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (1983–present) – held at Magic Kingdom throughout the holiday season * Jollywood Nights (2023–present) – held at Disney's Hollywood Studios throughout the holiday season * EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival (1995–present) – held at EPCOT throughout the fall season – includes the Eat To The Beat! concert series) * EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (1994–present) – held at EPCOT during the spring and summer – includes the Garden Rocks! concert series * EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (2018–present) – held at EPCOT each February and March – includes the Disney on Broadway concert series * EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (1996–present) – held at EPCOT throughout the holiday season * Candlelight Processional (1971–present) – held at EPCOT throughout the holiday season * runDisney – marathon races are conducted each year, including the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon, the Wine N Dine Half-Marathon, and the Disney Princess-Half Marathon * H2O Glow Nights – a special ticket event held on select nights each summer at Typhoon Lagoon – night-time glow party<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney H2O Glow After Hours Special Event Tickets | Walt Disney World Resort |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/typhoon-lagoon/h2o-glow-after-hours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015132306/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/typhoon-lagoon/h2o-glow-after-hours/ |archive-date=October 15, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref> * Disney After Hours – a special ticket event held at select parks on select nights<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney After Hours – Exclusive Nighttime Magic | Walt Disney World Resort |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/after-hours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025010509/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/after-hours/ |archive-date=October 25, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref> * Moonlight Magic – Disney Vacation Club-only nights at select parks on select days throughout the year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-events/moonlight-magic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026000443/https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-events/moonlight-magic |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |access-date=December 31, 2023}}</ref> * Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade (1983–present) – filmed each year at Disney World and broadcast nationally on Christmas Day
== Operations == === Self-government and security === {{See also|Central Florida Tourism Oversight District}}thumb|left|Disney security vehicle, picture taken July 2, 2009 in front of Epcot Disney's security personnel are generally dressed in typical security guard uniforms, though some of the personnel are dressed as tourists in plain clothes. Since September 11, 2001, uniformed security has been stationed outside each Disney park in Florida to search guests' bags as they enter the parks. In late 2015, Disney confirmed the addition of randomized secondary screenings and dogs trained to detect body-worn explosives within parks, in addition to metal detectors at entrances. It has also increased the number of uniformed security personnel at Walt Disney World and Disneyland properties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louissant |first=Moise |title=The Walt Disney Company: A Case Study in Private Security Trends |url=https://fastguardservice.com/a-case-study-in-private-security-trends/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203164522/https://fastguardservice.com/a-case-study-in-private-security-trends/ |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=January 29, 2016 |publisher=Fast Guard Service}}</ref> Furthermore, on April 3, 2017, bag checkpoints were added to at Magic Kingdom's resort monorail entryways and the Transportation and Ticket Center's ferry entry points prior to embarkation, as well as along the walkway from Disney's Contemporary Resort. Guests arriving at the Transportation and Ticket Center by tram or tour bus are screened at the former tram boarding areas. Guests arriving by Disney Resort hotel bus or Minnie Van have their own bag check just outside the bus stops. Guests arriving via Magic Kingdom Resort boat launch are bag checked on the arrival dock outside Magic Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New bag check areas greatly enhance Magic Kingdom arrival experience |url=https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news/03apr2017-photos---new-bag-check-areas-greatly-enhance-magic-kingdom-arrival-experience.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714113241/https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news/03apr2017-photos---new-bag-check-areas-greatly-enhance-magic-kingdom-arrival-experience.htm |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |access-date=July 12, 2019 |publisher=Walt Disney World}}</ref>
The land where Walt Disney World resides is part of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), known until 2023 as the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), a governing jurisdiction created in May 1967 by the State of Florida at the request of Disney.<ref>{{Cite news |title=RCID Created |url=https://www.rcid.org/history/the-reedy-creek-improvement-district/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423114534/https://www.rcid.org/history/the-reedy-creek-improvement-district/ |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Reedy Creek Improvement}}</ref><ref name="reedycreekgone" /> CFTOD provides 911 services, fire, environmental protection, building code enforcement, utilities and road maintenance, but does not provide law enforcement services. The approximately 800 security staff are instead considered employees of the Walt Disney Company. Arrests and citations are issued by the Florida Highway Patrol along with the Orange County and Osceola County sheriffs deputies who patrol the roads. Disney security does maintain a fleet of security vans equipped with flares, traffic cones, and chalk commonly used by police officers. These security personnel are charged with traffic control by the CFTOD and may only issue personnel violation notices to Disney and CFTOD employees, not the general public.<ref name="married 2">{{Cite book |last=Foglesong |first=Richard E. |title=Married to the Mouse |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-300-09828-0 |pages=69,139}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Florida Supreme Court |title=Southern Reporter. Second Series |publisher=West Pub. Co. |others=Alabama. Supreme Court, Alabama. Court of Appeals, Florida. Supreme Court, Louisiana. Courts of Appeal, Louisiana. Supreme Court, Florida. District Court of Appeals, Mississippi. Supreme Court}}</ref>
Despite the appearance of the uniformed security personnel, they are not considered a legal law enforcement agency. Disney and the Reedy Creek Improvement District were sued for access to Disney Security records by Bob and Kathy Sipkema following the death of their son at the resort in 1994. The court characterized Disney security as a "night watchman" service, not a law enforcement agency, meaning it is not subject to Florida's open records laws. An appeals court later upheld the lower court's ruling.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pastor |first=James F. |title=Security Law and Methods |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7506-7994-7 |pages=505–512}}</ref> The Orange County Sheriff's Office, the law enforcement agency responsible for most of Walt Disney World property, maintains an office on Disney property, but this is primarily to process guests accused of shoplifting by Disney security personnel.<ref name="Betrayed">{{Cite book |last1=Schweizer |first1=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/65 |title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed: Greed, Corruption, and Children at Risk |last2=Rochelle Schweizer |publisher=Regnery Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-89526-387-2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/65 65–68]}}</ref>
Although the scattering of ashes on Disney property is illegal, ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported in October 2018 that Walt Disney World parks were becoming a popular spot for families to scatter the ashes of loved ones, with The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom being the favorite location. The practice is unlawful and prohibited on Disney property, and anyone spreading cremated remains is escorted from the park.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwartzel |first=Eric |date=October 24, 2018 |title=Disney World's Big Secret: It's a Favorite Spot to Scatter Family Ashes |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-worlds-big-secret-its-a-favorite-spot-to-scatter-family-ashes-1540390229 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025193022/https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-worlds-big-secret-its-a-favorite-spot-to-scatter-family-ashes-1540390229 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
=== Utilidors === {{Main|Disney utilidor system}}
At the Magic Kingdom and in the World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature sections of Epcot are an elaborate system of utility tunnels known as utilidors. These tunnels are used exclusively by Disney employees (except for guests on a "Keys to the Kingdom" tour),<ref name="wdwforgrownups">[http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/below-it-all-utilidors-magic-kingdom Below It All: Utilidors Of The Magic Kingdom], Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups, published 2014-02-01.</ref> to keep park support operations hidden from guest view. Specifically, the utilidors are used for waste removal, electrical operations, deliveries, food srvice, costuming, cast member services, and emergency services.<ref name="Sim 20142">{{cite web |last=Sim|first=Nick|title=15 Things That are Hidden Underground at Disney's Magic Kingdom|website=Theme Park Tourist|date=2014-04-14|url=http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140414/17536/15-things-are-hidden-underground-disneys-magic-kingdom|access-date=2015-09-10}}</ref> They are accessed through unmarked doors located throughout the parks and connect to certain shops, restaurants, and attractions.<ref name="Sim 2014">{{cite web |last=Sim|first=Nick|title=15 Things That are Hidden Underground at Disney's Magic Kingdom|website=Theme Park Tourist|date=2014-04-14|url=http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140414/17536/15-things-are-hidden-underground-disneys-magic-kingdom|access-date=2015-09-10}}</ref>
At the Magic Kingdom, the utilidor system was built almost entirely at ground level, with the park itself above them, because of an elevated water table.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenhut|first=Stacy|date=September 29, 2021|title=Water Wonders of the World: Seven Seas Lagoon & Bay Lake|url=https://www.clickorlando.com/theme-parks/2021/09/09/water-wonders-of-the-world-seven-seas-lagoon-bay-lake/|work=WKMG-TV|access-date=August 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205083551/https://www.clickorlando.com/theme-parks/2021/09/09/water-wonders-of-the-world-seven-seas-lagoon-bay-lake/|archive-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref> The southern half of Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom were not constructed with utilidors, likely because of high construction costs.
=== Energy use === Walt Disney World requires an estimated {{Convert|1|e9kWh|e9MJ|abbr=off}} of electricity annually, costing the company nearly $100 million in annual energy consumption.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conca |first=James |date=February 21, 2019 |title=Disney World Could Have Gone Nuclear |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2019/02/21/disney-world-could-have-gone-nuclear/#3bed2e3c5393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222114723/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2019/02/21/disney-world-could-have-gone-nuclear/#3bed2e3c5393 |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2019 |work=Forbes}}</ref> In addition to relying primarily on fossil fuels and nuclear energy from the state's power grid, Walt Disney World has two solar energy facilities on property; a {{Convert|22|acre|sqmi km2|adj=on}} Mickey Mouse-shaped solar panel farm near EPCOT, and a {{Convert|270|acre|sqmi km2|adj=on}} facility near Disney's Animal Kingdom.<ref name="Forbes Clean Energy">{{Cite news |last=Hiller |first=Jake |date=January 28, 2019 |title=Why Disney World Is Betting On Clean Energy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2019/01/28/why-disney-world-is-betting-on-clean-energy/#41dcfc7c6722 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308081412/https://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2019/01/28/why-disney-world-is-betting-on-clean-energy/#41dcfc7c6722 |archive-date=March 8, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2019 |work=Forbes}}</ref> The larger facility produces enough solar energy to provide electricity to two of the resort's theme parks. The sites are operated by Duke Energy and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, respectively.<ref name="Forbes Clean Energy" />
The entire Disney Transport bus fleet uses R50 renewable diesel fuel, obtained from used cooking oil and non-consumable food waste from the resort.<ref name="Forbes Clean Energy" />
=== Closures === Walt Disney World has had 13 unscheduled closures, 11 of which have been due to hurricanes:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooks |first=Danielle |date=September 8, 2017 |title=Disney World to close for fifth time in history in preparation for Hurricane Irma |url=https://wtkr.com/2017/09/08/disney-world-to-close-for-fifth-time-in-history-in-preparation-for-hurricane-irma/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061243/https://wtkr.com/2017/09/08/disney-world-to-close-for-fifth-time-in-history-in-preparation-for-hurricane-irma/ |archive-date=January 26, 2019 |access-date=January 25, 2019 |publisher=WTKR-TV}}</ref>
* September 15, 1999, due to Hurricane Floyd * September 11, 2001, after the September 11 attacks * August 13, 2004, due to Hurricane Charley * September 4–5, 2004, due to Hurricane Frances * September 26, 2004, due to Hurricane Jeanne * October 25, 2005, in the morning, due to Hurricane Wilma * October 7, 2016, due to Hurricane Matthew * September 10–11, 2017, due to Hurricane Irma * September 3, 2019, for about half the day (with the exception of Epcot and Disney Springs), due to Hurricane Dorian * March 15<ref name="WESH">{{Cite news |date=March 13, 2020 |title=Walt Disney World to close over coronavirus concerns |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-world-closing/31453741 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314071328/http://www.wesh.com/article/disney-world-closing/31453741 |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |access-date=March 16, 2020 |work=WESH}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |date=March 12, 2020 |title=Walt Disney World closes, paralyzing the company's tourism empire |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313034906/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2020 |website=CNN Business}}</ref>–July 11, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughing Place Staff |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Live Blog: Walt Disney World Presents Reopening Plans to Orange County Economic Recovery Taskforce |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/05/27/live-blog-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-presentation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711003633/https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/05/27/live-blog-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-presentation/ |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |access-date=May 27, 2020 |website=Laughing Place}}</ref> (excluding Disney Springs, which reopened on May 19, 2020<ref name="Disney Springs D23 COVID-19 reopening">{{Cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Jeffery |last2=March |first2=Ryan |date=May 19, 2020 |title=Welcome Back to Disney Springs |url=https://d23.com/welcome-back-to-disney-springs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609112221/https://d23.com/welcome-back-to-disney-springs/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |access-date=May 21, 2020 |website=D23 |publisher=The Walt Disney Company }}</ref>) * September 28–29, 2022, due to Hurricane Ian * November 9–10, 2022, phased closure from the evening of November 9 until noon of the next day, due to Hurricane Nicole * October 9–10, 2024, phased closure from afternoon of October 9, due to Hurricane Milton
Like Disneyland Resort, parks at the resort may close early to accommodate various special events, such as special press events, tour groups, VIP groups, and private parties. It is common for a corporation to rent entire parks for the evening. In such cases, special passes are issued which are valid for admission to all rides and attractions. At the ticket booths and on published schedules, the guests are notified of the early closures. Then, cast members announce that the parks are closing, sometime before the private event starts, and clear the parks of guests who do not have the special passes.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
== Guest services == === Transportation === {{Disney Transport|collapse=yes}} {{Main|Disney Transport}}
[[File:WDW Monorail.jpg|thumb|left|The Walt Disney World Monorail System provides free transport across the resort.|alt=]] The Walt Disney World Resort is serviced by Disney Transport, a complimentary public transportation system allowing guest access across the property. The fare-free system utilizes buses, monorails, gondola lifts, watercraft, and parking lot trams.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System provides free transportation at Walt Disney World; guests can board the monorail and travel between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, as well as at the Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian and, Contemporary Resorts. The system operates on three routes that interconnect at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), adjacent to the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. Disney Transport owns a fleet of Disney-operated buses on the property, that is also complimentary for guests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Disney Days {{!}} Discover Disney In A New Way! |url=https://mydisneydays.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126154114/https://mydisneydays.com/ |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=My Disney Days |language=en-US}}</ref>
A gondola lift system, dubbed Disney Skyliner, opened in 2019. The system's three lines connect Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT with four resort hotels.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russon |first=Gabrielle |title=Disney's gondola system picks up $3.8 million worth of electrical work |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-gondola-cost-20180124-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612152409/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-gondola-cost-20180124-story.html |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |work=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> alt=A water taxi is pictured docked at the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Behind the dock sits the exterior of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror thrill ride. Due to its close proximity to EPCOT's Morocco pavilion, the back of the building, as pictured here, is specifically designed to hide the ride's horror theming and blend in with a Moroccan landscape.|thumb|260x260px|The resort's Friendship Boats can be found providing transportation between Disney's Hollywood Studios (pictured), EPCOT, and the EPCOT Resort Area. Disney Transport also operates a fleet of watercraft, ranging in size from water taxis to the ferries that connect the Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Disney Transport is also responsible for maintaining the fleet of parking lot trams that are used for shuttling visitors between the various theme park parking lots and their respective main entrances.
In addition to its free transportation methods, in conjunction with Lyft, Walt Disney World also offers a vehicle for hire service for a fee. The Minnie Van Service are Chevy Traverses dressed in a Minnie Mouse red-and-white polka dot design that can accommodate up to six people and have two child car seats available to anyone that is within the Walt Disney World Resort limits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnie Van™ Service |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/minnie-van-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210237/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/minnie-van-service/ |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=Walt Disney World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lyft-Powered Minnie Van™ Service Launches at Walt Disney World |work=Lyft Blog |url=https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-powered-minnie-van-disney |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801002423/https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-powered-minnie-van-disney |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |publisher=Lyft}}</ref> Some of the unique advantages that the Minnie Van Service offers over a normal ride share is the ability to be dropped off in the Magic Kingdom bus loop (instead of at the TTC like the other ride shares) and being able to ride to any point within Fort Wilderness.
=== Lightning Lane === {{See also|Virtual queue systems at Disney Parks}} For an additional fee, guests can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and/or Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which admits guests to a separate line for select attractions at the four theme parks. Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes up to seven days before their arrival at the resort. Purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows a guest to "pre-book" three attractions before their arrival (with the ability to "book" more attractions once they physically ride a "pre-booked" attraction), whereas Lightning Lane Single Pass allows a guest to "pre-book" one high-demand attraction à-la-carte.<ref name="Rachel 2024" />
=== Disney Dining Plan === {{Main|Disney Dining Plan}}
The Disney Dining Plan is a prepaid meal package offered for guests of on-site hotels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vieregge |first=Sierra |date=May 8, 2023 |title=DISNEY DINING PLAN WILL RETURN in 2024! |url=https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2023/05/08/disney-dining-plan-will-return-in-2024/ |access-date=May 27, 2026 |website=the disney food blog |language=en-US}}</ref> The plan is particularly cost-effective for families who intend to eat many meals at sit-down restaurants or character dining restaurants. However, to get the most value (or to break even) when using the plan, families must be mindful when using their Dining Plan Credits; otherwise, they may risk spending more than if they ordered the same food but paid out of pocket.
=== Additional services === [[File:WEdding Pavelion from Mono Rail - panoramio (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Wedding Pavilion at the Seven Seas Lagoon]]Walt Disney World has several departments that handle various activities and events that are offered throughout the year. These departments include: * Disney Imagination Campus – operates Magic Music Days, Disney Performing Arts, Festival Disney, The Dreamers Academy, and other youth programs providing opportunities for youth to learn and perform inside Walt Disney World.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Imagination Campus – Not Your Average Field Trip |url=https://www.disneycampus.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003071311/https://www.disneycampus.com/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=www.disneycampus.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Dreamers Academy |url=https://www.disneydreamersacademy.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019225219/https://www.disneydreamersacademy.com/ |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=www.disneydreamersacademy.com}}</ref> * Disney Meetings and Events – schedules large meetings, events, and conferences at Walt Disney World.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Events, Meeting Space & Conventions | Disney Meetings |url=https://www.disneymeetingsandevents.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022023658/https://www.disneymeetingsandevents.com/ |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=www.disneymeetingsandevents.com}}</ref> * The Disney Institute – offers professional development, team-building and networking opportunities using Disney models and principles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Institute |url=https://www.disneyinstitute.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020072616/https://www.disneyinstitute.com/ |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=www.disneyinstitute.com}}</ref> * Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons – schedules and plans weddings at various locations inside Walt Disney World, including locations inside the parks or at the wedding pavilion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons |url=https://www.disneyweddings.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011235821/https://www.disneyweddings.com/ |archive-date=October 11, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023}}</ref> * Disney Internships and Programs – operates various internships geared toward college-age students, including the Disney College Program (DCP), Disney International Programs (ICP), Disney Hospitality Leadership Program (DHLP), Cultural Representative Program (CRP), Brazilian Summer Super Greeters, Disney Culinary Program, and Professional Internships (PI).<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2015 |title=Disney Super Greeters Bring In Smiles And Dollars |url=https://worldofwalt.com/disney-super-greeters-brazil-tourists.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172337/https://worldofwalt.com/disney-super-greeters-brazil-tourists.html |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=World Of Walt}}</ref>
== Corporate presence == === Corporate jargon === Walt Disney World's corporate culture uses jargon based on theatrical terminology.<ref name="Sehlinger">{{cite book|title=The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014|date=2014|publisher=Keen Communications|location=Birmingham, AL|isbn=9781628090000|pages=[https://archive.org/details/unofficialguidet0000sehl/page/14 14–15]|first1=Bob|last1=Sehlinger|first2=Len|last2=Testa|url=https://archive.org/details/unofficialguidet0000sehl/page/14}}</ref><ref name="Mohney">{{cite book|last=Mohney|first=Chris|title=Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Walt Disney World|url=https://archive.org/details/frommersirrevere0000mohn|url-access=registration|date=2006|publisher=Wiley Publishing, Inc.|location=Hoboken, NJ|isbn=9780470089880|page=[https://archive.org/details/frommersirrevere0000mohn/page/115 115]}}</ref> For example, park visitors are always "guests", employees are called "Cast Members", rides are "attractions" or "experiences", cast members costumed as famous Disney characters in a way that does not cover their faces are known as "face characters", jobs are "roles", and public and nonpublic areas are respectively labeled "onstage" and "backstage".<ref name="Sehlinger" /><ref name="Mohney" />
=== Corporate offices === alt=A water taxi is pictured docked at the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Behind the dock sits the exterior of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror thrill ride. Due to its close proximity to EPCOT's Morocco pavilion, the back of the building, as pictured here, is specifically designed to hide the ride's horror theming and blend in with a Moroccan landscape.|thumb|269x269px|Aerial view of the Team Disney Orlando building Walt Disney World includes numerous buildings and spaces used solely for corporate management, Cast Member-only services, and Cast Member-recreation. The Walt Disney Company also owns and operates a corporate office complex in Celebration, Florida, home to Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney offices. Offices located on Walt Disney World property include: * Team Disney Orlando – the central location of corporate offices at Walt Disney World. * Disney University – the central location of training for Cast Members. * Walt Disney World Casting Center – the central location for human resources and employee recruitment and retention. * Partners Federal Credit Union – an internal bank system only for Disney employees, with several locations throughout Walt Disney World. * Disney Event Group – office complex for various business segments. * Maingate Office Complex – houses offices for various business segments. * Amateur Athletic Union – corporate office building located inside the historic preview center building on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. * Central Florida Tourism Oversight District – headquarters building, located near Disney Springs on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. * Mickey's Retreat – a Disney-employee only recreational complex located on Little Lake Bryan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mickey's Retreat: A Cast Member-Only Area at Walt Disney World |url=https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2010/04/hidden-disney-mickeys-retreat.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172337/https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2010/04/hidden-disney-mickeys-retreat.html |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref> * AdventHealth – operates two freestanding emergency rooms, located on the east and west of property near Disney Springs and in Flamingo Crossings. Guests with critical conditions and injuries are transported to the larger AdventHealth Celebration. * YMCA of Central Florida – operates two locations on property that provide daycare and educational programs for children of Walt Disney World employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Learning Center at Lake Buena Vista |url=https://ymcacf.org/locations/lakebuenavista/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172336/https://ymcacf.org/locations/lakebuenavista/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=YMCA of Central Florida}}</ref> * The Center for Living Well – operates a clinic providing health services for Disney employees, operated by Premise Health.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Center for Living Well | Epcot | Lake Buena Vista, FL |url=https://myclw.com/epcot/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005025840/https://myclw.com/epcot/ |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Disney Center for Living Well}}</ref> * Flamingo Crossings Village – home of Disney Programs and Internship participants.
=== Employment === When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the site employed about 5,500 employees, referred to by Disney as "Cast Members".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney World's Grand Opening |url=http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/DisneyWorldGrandOpening.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213193607/http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/DisneyWorldGrandOpening.html |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |website=www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com}}</ref> As of 2025, Walt Disney World employs over 80,000 people.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=duBois |first=Megan |title=Inside Disney’s Strategy To Retain Employees For Decades |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/megandubois/2025/02/14/inside-disneys-strategy-to-retain-employees-for-decades/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Walt Disney World has more than 3,000 job classifications with a total 2019 payroll of over $3 billion.<ref name="factsheet220" />
Almost all hourly guest-facing Cast Members work under union contracts. The most recent contract was negotiated and put in effect in 2023 and is valid through 2027, setting the starting hourly rate for part-time and full-time Cast at 17 dollars per hour, with additional premiums available for select roles. Union membership is offered to all Cast eligible at the start of employment. Each staff location on property has an official designated as shop steward, who bargains with Disney leadership when needed to defend the rights designated within the contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Walt Disney World Workers Ratify Historic New Agreement |url=https://iatse.net/walt-disney-world-workers-ratify-historic-new-agreement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172336/https://iatse.net/walt-disney-world-workers-ratify-historic-new-agreement/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref> Unions that represent Walt Disney World Cast Members include:
* UNITE HERE Local 362 – Represents roles in Attractions, Custodial, and Vacation Planning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNITE HERE Local 362 |url=https://www.uniteherelocal362.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172338/https://www.uniteherelocal362.org/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=www.uniteherelocal362.org}}</ref> * Transportation Communications International Union ** Local 737 – Represents housekeeping and food and beverage cast. ** Local 1908 – Represents numerous roles including concierge, lifeguards, bell services, and monorail and watercraft cast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TCU 1908 – Local 1908 of the Transportation & Communications Union |url=https://tcu1908.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172339/https://tcu1908.org/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref> * United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1625 – Represents merchandise cast. * International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 385 – Represents entertainment, bus drivers, laundry cast and parking cast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teamsters Local Union 385 |url=http://www.local385.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172336/http://www.local385.org/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=www.local385.org}}</ref> * International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 361 – Represents costuming, cosmetologists, and entertainment technicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IATSE Local 631 |url=https://www.iatselocal631.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030071246/https://www.iatselocal631.com/ |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=www.iatselocal631.com}}</ref> * Actors' Equity Association Orlando Area Theatre – Represents members performing under contract at Walt Disney World, including casts of Festival of The Lion King, Voices of Liberty, The Dapper Dans, Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire, Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Hoop-Dee-Do Review, and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orlando Area Theatre (OAT) · Actors' Equity Association |url=https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/contracts/OAT/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172337/https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/contracts/OAT/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref>
== Impact ==
=== Economic impact === The opening of Walt Disney World transformed Central Florida from an from a more simple agrarian-based economy into an international tourist destination, contributing to major growth in the region—the Orlando metropolitan area grew from just over 500,000 people in 1970 to over 2.3 million people in 2014.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Revels |first=Tracy J |title=Dreams and Nightmares: Central Florida and the Opening of Walt Disney World |url=https://www.journaloffloridastudies.org/files/vol0108/Revels-Dreams-Nightmares-WDW.pdf? |journal=Journal of Florida Studies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-21 |title=World of Change: Development of Orlando, Florida - NASA Science |url=https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/world-of-change/orlando/ |access-date=2026-05-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> Today, the resort is the largest single-site employer in the United States,<ref name="factsheet220" /> employing over 80,000 people as of 2025.<ref name=":2" /> Additionally, The Walt Disney Company generated $40.3 billion in total economic impact for Florida and 263,000 total jobs in the state (including 1 out of every 8 jobs in Central Florida), contracting services with over 2,500 local businesses. In 2022, Disney also generated $6.6 billion in taxes, including $3.1 billion in state and local taxes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Disney’s Effect on Fueling Florida Economy, Jobs and Tourism |url=https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/disneys-effect-on-fueling-florida-economy-jobs-and-tourism/ |website=Oxford Economics}}</ref>
Walt Disney World's presence has also encouraged several other theme parks and entertainment complexes to develop in Central Florida, including competitors Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.<ref name=":1" /> The concentration of tourist destinations has only further developed the tourist economy of Central Florida.
=== In popular culture === Walt Disney World has had a major influence on American popular culture since its opening, appearing in many forms of media, especially television and film. Since its opening, the resort has been used as the setting of episodes of many American sitcoms (known as "Disney episodes"), including Boy Meets World, Full House, and Modern Family; many of these sitcoms originally aired on ABC, which has been owned by The Walt Disney Company since 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=April 17 |first=Myles McNutt {{!}} |last2=2018 {{!}} 3:00pm |title=A spoonful of sitcom synergy: 25 years of the "Disney episode" |url=https://www.avclub.com/a-spoonful-of-sitcom-synergy-25-years-of-the-disney-e-1824238867 |access-date=2026-05-30 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}</ref>
The phrase "I'm going to Disney World!" was popularized by a series of television commercials that began to air in 1987, typically following the Super Bowl and featuring an NFL player (usually the Super Bowl MVP) shouting the phrase while celebrating the team's victory immediately after the championship game.<ref>{{cite news|last=FitzGerald|first=Tom|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/02/03/MNN8UQCNF.DTL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207090532/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/02/03/MNN8UQCNF.DTL|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2008|title=Super Bowl cameraman juggles to catch jingle|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=February 3, 2008}}</ref> The commercial still airs in some form to this day.<ref>{{cite web |last=Neumann|first=Sam|date=February 11, 2026|title=ESPN launches "Year of the Super Bowl" with new storytelling initiatives building toward 2027|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/year-of-super-bowl-storytelling-initiatives-2027.html|access-date=February 11, 2026|website=Awful Announcing}}</ref>
== Attendance == In the first year of opening, the Magic Kingdom attracted 10,712,991 visitors.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 11, 1972 |title=Walt Disney World Tops Projection Of 10,000,000 Visitors In Its 1st Yr |magazine=Variety |page=1}}</ref> In 2024, the resort's four theme parks all ranked in the top 15 on the list of the 25 most visited theme parks in the world: The Magic Kingdom at first, EPCOT at eighth, Disney's Hollywood Studios at ninth, and Disney's Animal Kingdom at fifteenth.<ref name="Themed Entertainment Association 2024">{{Cite web |year=2024|title=TEA/AECOM 2024 Theme Index and Museum Index|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/form/2024-tea-global-experience-index|access-date=October 24, 2025|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> Visitor satisfaction and overall park experience are important factors in whether tourists choose to return to Walt Disney World.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Demonteverde |first1=Carolene |last2=Navarro |first2=Earnsdale |last3=Rebote |first3=Karl Marco |last4=Esplanada |first4=Deogracias Evangelista |date=August 28, 2023 |title=Tourists Return Intention to Magic Kingdom Theme Park, Walt Disney World: A Content Analysis |url=https://www.qjssh.com/index.php/qjssh/article/view/258 |journal=Quantum Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities |language=en |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=104–118 |doi=10.55197/qjssh.v4i4.258 |issn=2716-6481|doi-access=free }}</ref>
{{Sticky header}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="text-align:right" |- ! Year !! Magic Kingdom !! EPCOT !! Hollywood Studios !! Animal Kingdom !! Overall !! class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | style="text-align:center" | 2008 || 17,063,000 || 10,935,000 || 9,608,000 || 9,540,000 || 47,146,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2008 attendance">{{Cite web |year=2008 |title=TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.org.id.tue.nl/ifip-tc14/documents/TEAreportThemeparks-2008.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302183514/http://www.org.id.tue.nl/ifip-tc14/documents/TEAreportThemeparks-2008.pdf |archive-date=March 2, 2013 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2009 || 17,233,000 || 10,990,000 || 9,700,000 || 9,590,000 || 47,513,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2009 attendance">{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602032710/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2010 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2010 || 16,972,000 || 10,825,000 || 9,603,000 || 9,686,000 || 47,086,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2010 attendance">{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719072840/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2011 || 17,142,000 || 10,826,000 || 9,699,000 || 9,783,000 || 47,450,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2011 Report">{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018203544/http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2015 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2012 || 17,536,000 || 11,063,000 || 9,912,000 || 9,998,000 || 48,509,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2012 Report">{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224020854/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2013 || 18,588,000 || 11,229,000 || 10,110,000 || 10,198,000 || 50,125,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2013 Report">{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2013_Theme_Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115095034/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2013_Theme_Index.pdf |archive-date=November 15, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2016 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2014 || 19,332,000 || 11,454,000 || 10,312,000 || 10,402,000 || 51,500,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2014 Report">{{Cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Judith |last2=Au |first2=Tsz Yin (Gigi) |last3=Chang |first3=Beth |last4=Cheu |first4=Linda |last5=Elsea |first5=Daniel |last6=LaClair |first6=Kathleen |last7=Lock |first7=Jodie |last8=Linford |first8=Sarah |last9=Miller |first9=Erik |title=TEA/AECOM 2014 Theme Index & Museum Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2014_Theme_Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115095028/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2014_Theme_Index.pdf |archive-date=November 15, 2015 |access-date=June 4, 2015 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) |last10=Nevin |first10=Jennie |last11=Papamichael |first11=Margreet |last12=Pincus |first12=Jeff |last13=Robinett |first13=John |last14=Sands |first14=Brian |last15=Selby |first15=Will |last16=Timmins |first16=Matt |last17=Ventura |first17=Feliz |last18=Yoshii |first18=Chris}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2015 || 20,492,000 || 11,798,000 || 10,828,000 || 10,922,000 || 54,040,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2015 Report">{{Cite web |year=2015 |title=TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2015_Theme_Index__Museum_Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703150307/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2015_Theme_Index__Museum_Index.pdf |archive-date=July 3, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2016 || 20,395,000 || 11,712,000 || 10,776,000 || 10,844,000 || 53,727,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2016 Report">{{Cite web |last1=Au |first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi) |last2=Chang |first2=Bet |last3=Chen |first3=Bryan |last4=Cheu |first4=Linda |last5=Fischer |first5=Lucia |last6=Hoffman |first6=Marina |last7=Kondaurova |first7=Olga |last8=LaClair |first8=Kathleen |last9=Li |first9=Shaojin |date=June 1, 2017 |title=TEA/AECOM 2016 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016-ThemeMuseum-Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624184513/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016-ThemeMuseum-Index.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2017 |access-date=July 26, 2017 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |first10=Sarah |last10=Linford |first11=George |last11=Marling |first12=Erik |last12=Miller |first13=Jennie |last13=Nevin |first14=Margreet |last14=Papamichael |first15=John |last15=Robinett |first16=Judith |last16=Rubin |first17=Brian |last17=Sands |first18=William |last18=Selby |first19=Matt |last19=Timmins |first20=Feliz |last20=Ventura |first21=Chris |last21=Yoshii}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2017 || 20,450,000 || 12,200,000 || 10,722,000 || 12,500,000 || 55,872,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2017 Report">{{Cite web |year=2017 |title=TEA/AECOM 2017 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602201150/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |access-date=May 27, 2018 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2018 || 20,859,000 || 12,444,000 || 11,258,000 || 13,750,000 || 58,311,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2018 Report">{{Cite web |last1=Au |first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi) |last2=Chang |first2=Bet |last3=Chen |first3=Bryan |last4=Cheu |first4=Linda |last5=Fischer |first5=Lucia |last6=Hoffman |first6=Marina |last7=Kondaurova |first7=Olga |last8=LaClair |first8=Kathleen |last9=Li |first9=Shaojin |date=May 28, 2019 |title=TEA/AECOM 2018 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_328_381804_190528.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111194113/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_328_381804_190528.pdf |archive-date=November 11, 2019 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |first10=Sarah |last10=Linford |first11=George |last11=Marling |first12=Erik |last12=Miller |first13=Jennie |last13=Nevin |first14=Margreet |last14=Papamichael |first15=John |last15=Robinett |first16=Judith |last16=Rubin |first17=Brian |last17=Sands |first18=William |last18=Selby |first19=Matt |last19=Timmins |first20=Feliz |last20=Ventura |first21=Chris |last21=Yoshii}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2019 || 20,963,000 || 12,444,000 || 11,483,000 || 13,888,000 || 58,778,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2019 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2019.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105082032/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2019.pdf |archive-date=November 5, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2022 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2020 || 6,941,000 || 4,044,000 || 3,675,000 || 4,166,000 || 18,826,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2020 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923120013/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2020.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2021 |access-date=March 14, 2022 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2021 || 12,691,000 || 7,752,000 || 8,589,000 || 7,194,000 || 36,226,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="Report 2022">{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2022 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628171310/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2022|| 17,133,000 || 10,000,000 || 10,900,000 ||9,027,000 || 47,060,000 || style="text-align:center"|<ref name="Report 2022" /> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2023 || 17,720,000 || 11,980,000 || 10,300,000 || 8,770,000 || 48,770,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="Report 2023">{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2023 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2023.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911074210/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2023.pdf |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center" | 2024 |17,836,000 |12,133,000 |10,333,000 |8,800,000 |49,102,000 |<ref name="Themed Entertainment Association 2024" /> |}
== See also == * Florida tourism industry * Large amusement railways * List of Disney attractions that were never built * List of Disney theme park attractions * List of incidents at Walt Disney World * Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts * Walt Disney Travel Company * ''The Walt Disney World Explorer'' * Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{official website}}
{{Walt Disney World}} {{WDW Resorts}} {{Theme Parks of Florida}} {{Disney Experiences}} {{Disney}} {{Subject bar | book = Walt Disney World Resort | commons = Category:Walt Disney World Resort | d = Q206859 | d-search = Q206859 | voy = Walt Disney World | n = Walt Disney World | portal1 = Disney | portal3 = Florida | portal4 = Trains | portal5 = Transport | portal6 = Animals | portal7 = United States }} {{Authority control}}
Category:Walt Disney World Category:1971 establishments in Florida Category:Amusement parks in Greater Orlando Category:Amusement parks opened in 1971 Category:Buildings and structures in Lake Buena Vista, Florida Category:Buildings and structures in Osceola County, Florida Category:Resorts in Florida Category:Tourist attractions in Orange County, Florida Category:Tourist attractions in Osceola County, Florida Category:Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Category:Walt Disney