Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Walt Disney World welcomes more than 50 million visitors annually. Walt Disney World is the newer, larger, and better counterpart of Disneyland in Anaheim.
It boasts four theme parks, two waterparks, and a dining and entertainment village, all within the boundaries of Disney World.
With all of that Disney magic jam-packed inside, you may be wondering just how big Disney World is exactly. Well, we’re here to answer that question!
How Big Is Disney World?
If you’ve never visited Disney World before, you may be stunned at first at the sheer size of the resort. This is a theme park resort like no other, which is probably why it’s called world rather than land.
Disney World spans about 40 square miles. The Magic Kingdom expands across about 107 acres, whereas the Hollywood Studios is slightly larger at about 150 acres.
Bigger again is Epcot, at about 305 acres, and of course, you have the water parks such as Blizzard Beach, at around 66 acres, and Typhoon Lagoon, at 61 acres. Of course, you have the land in between Disney Springs (see also, ‘What to do in Disney Springs‘), along with hotel complexes and restaurants.
In total, Walt Disney World is around 27,000 acres, making it the largest theme park resort in the entire world!
The four theme parks that make up Disney World span around 950 acres, with Animal Kingdom making up 405 acres alone.
In comparison, Disneyland on the West Coast in California only covers about 500 acres, which is why Disney World is the superior of the two! You can fit 51 Disneylands inside of Walt Disney World. To learn more, read our articles, What is Better, Disney World or Disneyland?‘ and ‘Can You Bring Food into Disneyland?‘
What Is Disney World The Same Size As?
Walt Disney World is actually around 40 square miles, which is the same size as San Francisco. Yes, Walt Disney World is the same size as the Golden City itself! So, you could say that Disney World is its own city; it’s that big and expansive!
Surprisingly enough, Walt Disney World is also larger than some of the actual world’s smallest independent nations. For instance, it is bigger than Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, Nauru, and Tuvalu. Walt Disney World is also twice the size of Manhattan!
What’s In Disney World?
There’s no doubt Disney World is expansive, but what is packed into the Disney World resort that makes it so spectacular and needs all of that space?
Well, Disney World has four theme parks in total, which we’ll outline below. However, there are also around 25 hotels on Disney property.
These include the Grand Floridian – Disney’s flagship hotel on its own island off Magic Kingdom, the Wilderness Lodge, All-Star Movies Resort, Polynesian Village, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort.
Be warned, there is much to do and see in Disney World, so planning ahead for your trip is essential. We recommend this Disney World Planner to ensure you fit everything in!
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is the most famous and popular of the Disney World theme parks. This is the park where you can stroll down Main Street, USA, and enjoy the nostalgia of turn-of-the-century shops, cafes, and architecture.
You’ll also find Fantasyland, where everything is magical – you can ride Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo, and It’s A Small World, meet and greet your favorite princesses or go on dark rides that tell the stories of all the classic Disney movies.
Within Magic Kingdom, you’ll find Adventureland, where you can meet swashbuckling pirates on Pirates Of The Caribbean or take the Jungle Cruise through the amazon. You can enjoy the Enchanted Tiki Room or climb the Swiss Family Treehouse!
In Frontierland, you can take the wildest ride in the wilderness – Big Thunder Mountain, visit Tom Sawyer Island or buy yourself a cowboy hat in one of the stores.
You’ll also find Liberty Square, where you can find ghosts and ghoulies in the Haunted Mansion or learn about American History in the Hall Of Presidents. You can also ride an old riverboat around the rivers!
Finally, there’s Tomorrowland, which is all things futuristic. You’ll find Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Spin, TRON Lightcycle, and the Carousel Of Progress which is a firm favorite.
Hollywood Studios
Over in Hollywood Studios, you can be transported back to the golden age of cinema. Here you can watch an Indiana Jones stunt show, meet the stars, head to a galaxy far, far away in Galaxy’s Edge, become a toy in Toy Story Land, or see the magic behind the movies.
A must-see is the nighttime spectacular show Fantasmic, where all the characters come to life with water special effects, fireworks, and stunts. Learn more about Disney fireworks here.
EPCOT
Epcot is its own concept. It’s a vision of the future and a utopian world. You can visit the world showcase, which hosts 11 cultures from all over the world, including China, France, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Norway, and more!
There are a few rides, but lots of eateries to get a taste of the cuisine. The other side of Epcot celebrates human achievement with futuristic and technologically advanced attractions such as Test Track and Mission SPACE.
Disney Parks get very popular, with an average annual attendance of over 58 million visitors. This means there can be long lines for popular attractions. Get these Printable Disney Games to entertain your children while you travel to Disney World or while waiting in line at the Disney Parks.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is the largest of the Disney World theme parks. It is split into 5 expansive areas; Asia, Africa, Pandora, Discovery Island, and Dinoland, USA (which will soon be replaced with a Moana and Zootopia-themed land).
In Discovery Island, you can head on trails, see the Tree Of Life and learn about the real animals that live in Animal Kingdom.
In Pandora, you can be transported to the world of Avatar and see the mystical floating mountains and colorful creatures from the popular movie.
In Africa, you must see the Festival Of The Lion King show and go on the Kilimanjaro Safaris to see elephants, lions, giraffes, and more! In Asia, Expedition Everest is a must to find the mythical Yeti, or head down Kali River Rapids – warning you will get wet!
Over in Dinoland, you can get a funfair-type experience, with spinning attractions, a boneyard to find fossils, and the bumpy, swerving DINOSAUR attraction that all enjoy.
Read this article to learn more about Which Disney Park is Best?
Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach
Disney World also has two waterparks for a lazy day on the river or the man-made beach, packed with water slides and attractions for the whole family.
Summary
As outlined above, you can see why Disney World expands over so much land and is so immensely large. There are hundreds of attractions to enjoy within the four parks and two water parks of Disney World.
Disney World spans over 27,000 acres in total, making it a must-see and definitely worth a visit on your next vacation to Orlando!
For more about family travel, check out these posts:
Which Disney World Park Is Best?
Disney World Itinerary Planning: What You Need to Know
Tips and Tricks for Disney World
Walt Disney World Vacation Planner
Games To Play In Line At Disney
How Many Days For Disney World?
Disney Genie Plus Review
What Time Are Disney Fireworks?
Which Is Better, Disney World Or Disneyland?
What To Do In Disney Springs
15 Best Family Activities In Orlando To Do On Your Travels
