Walt Disney World Resort |
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Theme parks |
Magic Kingdom |
Other attractions |
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon |
Walt Disney World resorts |
Walt Disney World Resort (also known colloquially as Disney World), is the world's most-visited entertainment resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, approximately 21 miles (34 km) southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of 30,080-acre (47.00 sq mi; 121.7 km2) and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels (excluding eight more that are on-site, but not owned by the Walt Disney Company), including a campground, two health spas and physical fitness centers, five golf courses, and other recreational venues and entertainment. It opened on October 1, 1971 with only the Magic Kingdom theme park and has since added Epcot (October 1, 1982), Disney's Hollywood Studios (May 1, 1989) and Disney's Animal Kingdom (April 22, 1998).
The resort was inspired by the dreams of Walt Disney, who wanted a theme park on the East Coast to supplement Disneyland in California (Disney World's Magic Kingdom was designed similarly to Disneyland). However, Walt envisioned Disney World to be much different from Disneyland's one day visit. This included entertainment, uniquely-themed resort hotels, and a much wider variety of sports and recreational opportunities. In fact, Walt's original plans for the Florida property were far more ambitious: he also wanted to construct a real planned city of approximately 20,000 residents, the "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow", which would serve as a test bed for city planning and organization. Walt died in 1966 before his vision was fully realized, and his plans for Disney World eventually evolved to what it is today.
In 1959, Walt Disney Productions began looking for land for a second park to supplement Disneyland, which opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955. Market surveys revealed that only 5% of Disneyland's visitors came from east of the Mississippi River, where 75 percent of the population of the United States lived. Additionally, Walt Disney disliked the businesses that had sprung up around Disneyland and wanted control of a much larger area of land for the new project.[1] A more romanticized anecdote was that Walt Disney himself once encountered a family who left Disneyland early because they saw congestion building on the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) from the Skyway ride, an incident that committed him to producing a greater buffer from reality at future parks.
Walt Disney flew over the Orlando site (one of many) in November 1963. Seeing the well-developed network of roads, including the planned Interstate 4 and Florida's Turnpike, with McCoy Air Force Base (later Orlando International Airport) to the east, Disney selected a centrally-located site near Bay Lake.[2]
To avoid a burst of land speculation, Disney used various dummy corporations to acquire 27,443 acres (11,106 ha) of land.[2] . In May 1965, some of these major land transactions were recorded a few miles southwest of Orlando in Osceola County. Also, two large tracts totaling $1.5 million were sold, and smaller tracts of flatlands and cattle pastures were purchased by exotic-sounding companies such as the Latin-American Development and Management Corporation and the Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation (Some of these names are now memorialized on a window above Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom). In addition to three huge parcels of land were many smaller parcels, referred to as "outs."
Much of the land acquired had been platted into 5-acre (2.0 ha) lots in 1912 by the Munger Land Company and sold to investors. In most cases, the owners were happy to get rid of the land, which was mostly swamp. Another issue was the mineral rights to the land, which were owned by Tufts University. Without the transfer of these rights, Tufts could come in at any time and demand the removal of buildings to obtain minerals. Disney's team eventually negotiated a deal with Tufts to buy the mineral rights for $15,000.[3]
After most of the land had been bought, the truth of the property's owner was leaked to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper on October 20, 1965. A press conference soon was organized for November 15. At the presentation, Walt Disney explained the plans for the site, including EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, which was to be a futuristic planned city (and which was also known as Progress City). He envisioned a real working city with both commercial and residential areas, but one that also continued to showcase and test new ideas and concepts for urban living.
Walt Disney died from lung cancer on December 15, 1966, before his vision was realized. 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, the last one recorded by Walt Disney before his death. 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, the City of Bay Lake and the City of Reedy Creek (now the City of Lake Buena Vista). In addition to the standard powers of an incorporated city, which include the 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.[1]
The legislation forming the district and the two cities was signed into law by Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. on May 12, 1967. The Florida Supreme Court 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. Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground were also completed in time for the park's opening on October 1, 1971. The Palm and Magnolia golf courses near the Magic Kingdom had opened a few weeks before. At the park's opening, 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." Roy O. Disney died on December 20, 1971, less than three months after the property opened.
However, much of Walt Disney's plans for his Progress City were abandoned after his death. The Disney Company board decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city. The EPCOT concept evolved into EPCOT Center, the resort's second theme park, which opened in 1982. While still emulating Walt Disney's original idea of showcasing new technology, it is closer to a world's fair than a "community of tomorrow". The park would later permanently adopt the name Epcot in 1996. Some of the urban planning concepts from the original idea of EPCOT would instead be integrated into the community of Celebration much later.
In 1989, the resort added Disney-MGM Studios, a theme park inspired by show business, whose name was changed to Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2008. The resort's fourth theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998.
Meg Crofton was named president of the resort in August 2006, replacing Al Weiss, who had overseen the site since 1994.
Despite marketing claims and popular misconceptions, the Florida resort is not located within Orlando city limits and is actually located about 21 miles (34 km) southwest of downtown Orlando within 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 Reedy Creek Improvement District. The 25,000 acres (101 km2; 39 sq mi)[4] 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), and Exit 8 on State Road 429 (Florida), the Western Expressway. At its peak, the resort occupied approximately 30,000 acres (120 km2) or 47 square miles (120 km2), about the size of San Francisco, or twice the size of Manhattan. Portions of the property since have been sold or de-annexed, including land now occupied by the Disney-built community of Celebration.
Walt Disney World Resort features four theme parks. Each park is represented by an iconic structure.
Disney's property includes five golf courses. The four 18-hole golf courses are the Palm (4½ Stars), the Magnolia (4 Stars), Lake Buena Vista (4 Stars) and Osprey Ridge (4½ Stars). There is also a nine-hole walking course called Oak Trail, designed for young golfers. The Magnolia and Palm courses play home to the PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic. Additionally, there are two themed miniature golf complexes, each with two courses, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland.
Catch-and-release fishing excursions are offered daily on the resort's lakes. A Florida fishing license is not required because it occurs on private property. Cane-pole fishing is offered from the docks at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney's Port Orleans Resort.
Additional recreational activities include watercraft rentals, surrey bike rentals, and firework cruises that launch from several resort marinas.
There are 33 resorts and hotels located on the Walt Disney World property. Of those, 24 are owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company. The Disney resorts are classified into five categories: Deluxe, Moderate, Value, Disney Vacation Club Villas, and Campground. Additionally, they are located in four resort areas: Magic Kingdom Resort Area, Epcot Resort Area, Downtown Disney Resort Area and Animal Kingdom Resort Area. A new concept, the Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort luxury residential community, was announced in June 2010 and will feature homes designed by the Walt Disney Company. The campground, Fort Wilderness also provides guests with the opportunity to stay in cabins as well as camping in tents or campers.
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Resort Area |
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge | April 16, 2001 | African Wildlife Preserve | 1,307 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Disney's Beach Club Resort | November 19, 1990 | Newport Beach Cottage | 583 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Epcot |
Disney's BoardWalk Inn | July 1, 1996 | Early 20th Century Ocean City, NJ | 378 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Epcot |
Disney's Contemporary Resort | October 1, 1971 | Modern | 655 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Magic Kingdom |
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa | July 1, 1988 | Victorian Seaside Resort | 867 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Magic Kingdom |
Disney's Polynesian Resort | October 1, 1971 | South Seas | 847 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Magic Kingdom |
Disney's Wilderness Lodge | May 28, 1994 | Pacific Northwest | 729 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Magic Kingdom |
Disney's Yacht Club Resort | November 5, 1990 | Martha's Vineyard Resort | 630 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Epcot |
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Resort Area: |
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort | October 1, 1988 | Tropical Islands | 2,112 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Epcot |
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort | August 1, 1997 | American Southwest | 1,915 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter | May 17, 1991 | New Orleans French Quarter | 1,008 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Downtown Disney |
Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside | February 2, 1992 | Antebellum South | 2,048 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Downtown Disney |
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Resort Area: |
Disney's Pop Century Resort | December 14, 2003 | American Pop Culture | 2,880 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort | January 15, 1999 | Disney Movies | 1,920 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Disney's All-Star Music Resort | November 22, 1994 | Music | 1,604 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort | April 24, 1994 | Sports | 1,920 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Campsites: | Number of Cabins: | Owner: | Resort Area: |
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground | November 19, 1971 | Rustic Woods Camping | 800 | 409 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Magic Kingdom |
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Resort Area: |
Disney's Old Key West Resort | December 20, 1991 | Early 20th Century Key West | 761 | Disney Vacation Club | Downtown Disney |
Disney's BoardWalk Villas | July 1, 1996 | Early 20th Century Atlantic City, NJ | 583 | Disney Vacation Club | Epcot Resort Area |
The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge | November 15, 2000 | Pacific Northwest | 136 | Disney Vacation Club | Magic Kingdom |
Disney's Beach Club Villas | July 1, 2002 | Newport Beach Resort | 282 | Disney Vacation Club | Epcot |
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa | May 17, 2004 | 1880s Upstate New York Resort | 1,260 | Disney Vacation Club | Downtown Disney |
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas | August 15, 2007 | African Safari Lodge | 458 | Disney Vacation Club | Animal Kingdom |
Bay Lake Tower | August 4, 2009 | Modern | 428 | Disney Vacation Club | Magic Kingdom |
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Resort Area: |
Disney's Art of Animation Resort | May 31, 2012 | Walt Disney Characters | 864 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Animal Kingdom |
Community Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Homes: | Owner: | Resort Area: |
Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort | Fall 2011 | Spanish Revival | 450 | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Magic Kingdom |
Hotel Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Resort Area |
Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel | November 21, 1972 | None | 325 | Best Western | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Doubletree Guest Suite Resort | March 15, 1987 | None | 229 | Hilton Hotels Corporation | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista | October 15, 1972 | None | 626 | Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Hilton Walt Disney World | November 23, 1983 | None | 787 | Hilton Hotels Corporation | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Holiday Inn in the Walt Disney World Resort | February 8, 1973 | None | 323 | InterContinental Hotels Group | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Royal Plaza | October 1, 1972 | None | 394 | N/A | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Shades of Green | February 1, 1994 | Upscale Country Club | 586 | United States Department of Defense | Magic Kingdom Resort Area |
Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa | March 10, 1983 | None | 1,014 | Blackstone Group | Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels |
Walt Disney World Dolphin | June 1, 1990 | Underwater | 1,509 | Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide | Epcot |
Walt Disney World Swan | January 13, 1990 | Underwater | 756 | Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide | Epcot |
Disney often advertises its two off-site beach resorts as destinations to complement a Disney World vacation.
Resort Name | Opening Date: | Theme: | Number of Rooms: | Owner: | Location: |
Disney's Vero Beach Resort | October 1, 1995 | Old Florida | 211 | Disney Vacation Club | Vero Beach, Florida |
Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort | March 1, 1996 | South Carolina Lowcountry | 123 | Disney Vacation Club | Hilton Head, South Carolina |
Guests with a Disney Resort reservation arriving at Orlando International Airport can be transported to their Disney resort from the airport using the complimentary Disney Magical Express service, and have their bags picked up and transported for them through a contract with BAGS Incorporate. Guests board custom motor coaches, watch a video about the Walt Disney World Resort, and their luggage is later delivered directly to their rooms.
The June 2011 AECOM Theme Park Attendance report for the year of 2010, included the following information:
When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the site employed about 5,500 "cast members". Today it employs more than 66,000, spending more than $1.2 billion on payroll and $474 million on benefits each year. The largest single-site employer in the United States,[6] Walt Disney World Resort has more than 3,700 job classifications. The resort also sponsors and operates the Walt Disney World College Program, an internship program that offers American and International college students (ICP's) the opportunity to live about 15 miles (24 km) off site in 4 Disney-owned apartment complexes and work at the resort, providing much of the theme park and resort "front line" cast members. There is also the Walt Disney World International College Program, an internship program that has college students from all over the world.
In a March 30, 2004 article in The Orlando Sentinel, then-Walt Disney World president Al Weiss gave some insight into how the parks are maintained:
A fleet of Disney-operated buses on property, branded Disney Transport, is available for guests at no charge. In 2007, Disney Transport started a guest services upgrade to the buses. SatellGPS systems controlling new public address systems on the buses give safety information, park tips and other general announcements, with music. They are not to be confused with the Disney Cruise Line and Disney's Magical Express buses, which are operated by Mears Transportation. Taxi boats link some locations. The Walt Disney World Monorail System also provides transportation at Walt Disney World.
Previously there were 12 operational monorails, although a crash occurring in July 2009 meant that the Pink and Purple monorails were taken out of service. Parts of the Pink and Purple monorails were used to create a new monorail with the colour Teal, which was put into operation in November 2009, taking the total number of monorails to 11. They operate on three routes that interconnect at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), adjacent to the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. One line provides an express non-stop link from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom, while a second line provides a link from the TTC to Epcot. The third line links the TTC and the Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian resorts.
The major roads within the resort, World Drive, Osceola Parkway and Epcot Center Drive, have segments that are built as freeways with full grade-separated interchanges. World Drive enters Walt Disney World from U.S. Route 192 and heads north to the Magic Kingdom Resort Area. Osceola Parkway heads east from the Animal Kingdom Resort Area to Interstate 4. Epcot Center Drive is a freeway for most of its route, running east from World Drive, past the Epcot parking lot to Interstate 4. Buena Vista Drive is a major surface street, running east from the Animal Kingdom Resort Area to Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Epcot Resort Area, and Downtown Disney.
During the resort's early planning stages, Walt Disney referred to the project as Project X, The Florida Project, Disney World, and The Disney World. Early visual references used the same medieval font as Disneyland. Walt Disney was very involved in the site selection and project planning in the years before his death. The secretive names were chosen because of the high confidentiality of the project during the initial planning. After Walt Disney's death, Roy O. Disney added the name Walt to Disney World as a permanent tribute to his brother.
The resort's original logo had an oversized "D" with a Mickey Mouse-shaped globe containing latitude and longitude lines, with the property's name presented in a modern, sans-serif font. Walt Disney World Resort retired its original font and symbol during its 25th anniversary celebration in 1996–97. The old "D" symbol still can be found in many places, however, including the SpectroMagic title float, the front car of each monorail, manhole covers, survey markers, select merchandise items and flags flown at several sites across the property.
As part of a competition run by Disney for 2010, Walt Disney World Resort has an unofficial twinning (sister city) with Swindon, England, since 2009.[7][8]
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