Walt Disney World Resort

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Walt Disney World Resort

resort complex, Florida, United States

Also known as: Disney World

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 • Article History

News •

Gary Neville questions Marcus Rashford and Casemiro’s professionalism after US holidays • Nov. 20, 2024, 10:06 PM ET (The Telegraph)

Disney Q4 bolstered by strong results from streaming, 'Inside Out 2' and 'Deadpool & Wolverine' • Nov. 14, 2024, 9:33 AM ET (AP)

Ex-Disney worker accused of hacking computer menus to add profanities, errors • Oct. 31, 2024, 1:28 PM ET (AP)

Walt Disney World Resort, resort complex near Orlando, Florida, envisioned by Walt Disney and featuring attractions based on stories and characters created by the Disney Company.

Following the success of Disneyland, near Anaheim, California, Disney began searching for a location for his second theme park. In 1965 he purchased 43 acres (17 hectares) of barren land in central Florida. Disney died late the following year, and his brother Roy Disney assumed supervision of the project. The Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971 to great success. By the early 21st century it had grown to encompass 47 square miles (122 square km) and include four theme parks—the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom—as well as two water parks and numerous hotels, restaurants, and shopping centres. The Disney World theme parks are some of the major tourist destinations in the world, particularly for families with young children. By the turn of the 21st century, the Magic Kingdom—the resort’s most popular park—attracted 17 million visitors annually.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica