Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista in Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. The resort opened on October 1, 1971 and is operated by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The property covers nearly 25,000 acres (39 sq mi; 101 km2), half of which has been developed. The resort consists of four theme parks and two water parks, 31 themed resort hotels, nine non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues, including the Disney Springs outdoor mall.
In 2018, Walt Disney World was the world's most visited holiday resort, with an average annual attendance of over 58 million. The resort is the flagship destination of Disney's global enterprise and has become a popular fixture in American culture.
The Florida resort is not within the Orlando city limits, but is southwest of downtown Orlando. Much of the resort is located in southwestern Orange County, with the remainder in neighboring 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).
Major Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom, opened October 1, 1971
Epcot, opened October 1, 1982
Disney's Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989
Disney's Animal Kingdom, opened April 22, 1998
Major Water Parks
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, opened June 1, 1989
Disney's Blizzard Beach, opened April 1, 1995