Walt Disney World Resort is one of the world’s most popular family resorts. It is located on almost 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares) in Lake Buena Vista, Florida , southwest of Orlando . The park opened in 1971 and attracts millions of visitors annually from throughout the world. The park is open every day of the year.
The Disney Resort consists primarily of four theme parks—the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is dedicated to fairy tales and characters who have appeared in Disney motion pictures. The Magic Kingdom is divided into Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. The most familiar landmark in the park is a giant copy of Cinderella’s Castle, based on the Disney movie Cinderella (1950).
Epcot celebrates technological innovation and international culture. The word Epcot is made up of the first letter of each word from the park’s official name, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The park is divided into two areas, Future World and World Showcase. Epcot is represented by Spaceship Earth, a 183-foot (55.8-meter) high geodesic sphere. This sphere is based on the concept of the geodesic dome—a large, lightweight building designed by the American engineer and inventor Buckminster Fuller .
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is dedicated to show business, particularly Hollywood motion pictures. The park’s areas include Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Toy Story Land, Animation Courtyard, Sunset Boulevard, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The park features a haunted hotel attraction called the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom combines animal exhibits with shows and rides. It is divided into six areas—Oasis, Discovery Island, Africa, Asia, DinoLand U.S.A., and Pandora: The World of Avatar. The park is represented by the Tree of Life, a sculpture 145 feet (44.2 meters) high and 50 feet (15.2 meters) wide.
Walt Disney World Resort also has two water parks, several golf courses, and several lakes for fishing and boating. In addition, the resort operates numerous hotels and hundreds of restaurants and shops within the resort boundaries.
