View source for Walt Disney World

{{Short description|Entertainment resort in Orlando, Florida, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Walt Disney World
| logo = [[File:Walt Disney World Resort wordmark bw.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| image = {{Photomontage
| size = 250
| photo1a = Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 2024 (square crop).jpg
| photo1b = Spaceship Earth (square crop).jpg
| photo2a = Tree of Life (square crop).jpg
| photo2b = Tower of Terror (square crop).jpg
}}
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = Four icons of Walt Disney World, clockwise from top left: [[Cinderella Castle]] at [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth]] at [[Epcot]], [[The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror|Hollywood Tower Hotel]] at [[Disney's Hollywood Studios|Hollywood Studios]], and [[Tree of Life (Disney)|Tree of Life]] at [[Disney's Animal Kingdom|Animal Kingdom]]
| industry = [[Entertainment industry|Entertainment]], [[Hospitality industry|hospitality]]
| founders = {{unbulleted list|[[Walt Disney]]|[[Roy O. Disney]]}}
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list
   | Jeff Vahle (President)
   | Jason Kirk (SVP, Theme Parks)
   | Maribeth Bisienere (SVP, Resorts)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reed |first=Molly |date=July 20, 2021 |title=More Disney World resorts, restaurants reopen after a year of updates |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/07/20/more-disney-world-resorts-restaurants-reopen-after-a-year-of-updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010051810/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/07/20/more-disney-world-resorts-restaurants-reopen-after-a-year-of-updates/ |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=WKMG}}</ref><ref name="key leadership">{{Cite press release |title=New Leadership Team Announced At Disney Parks, Experiences And Products |date=May 18, 2020 |publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]] |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/new-leadership-team-announced-at-disney-parks-experiences-and-products/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526051735/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/new-leadership-team-announced-at-disney-parks-experiences-and-products/ |archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>
   }}
| num_employees = 77,000+<ref name="factsheet220">{{Cite web |date=February 2020 |title=Fact Sheet |url=https://dcpi.disney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fact_sheet_walt_disney_world_resort_2020_Q1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220211400/https://dcpi.disney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/fact_sheet_Walt_Disney_World_Resort_2020_Q1.pdf |archive-date=2020-02-20 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |publisher=[[Disney Parks, Experiences and Products]]}}</ref>
| parent = [[Disney Experiences]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1971|10|01|p=yes}}
| location = [[Team Disney Orlando|1375 East Buena Vista Drive]]
| hq_location_city = [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| homepage = {{URL|disneyworld.com}}
}}
{{Walt Disney World sidebar}}

The '''Walt Disney World Resort''', commonly known as '''Disney World''', is an [[destination resort|entertainment resort]] complex located about {{convert|20|mi}} southwest of [[Orlando, Florida]], United States. Opened on October&nbsp;1, 1971, the resort is operated by [[Disney Experiences]], a division of [[the Walt Disney Company]]. One of the most iconic and pioneering entertainment resort complexes in the world, it is a cornerstone in popular entertainment. The property covers nearly {{convert|25000|acre|sqmi km2|0}}, of which half has been developed.<ref name="Fun Facts">{{Cite news |title=Walt Disney World Fun Facts |url=https://dpep.disney.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/fact_sheet_walt_disney_world_resort_2020_Q4.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203111052/https://dpep.disney.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/fact_sheet_walt_disney_world_resort_2020_Q4.pdf |archive-date=2020-12-03 |access-date=March 8, 2021 |publisher=Walt Disney World News |language=en-us}}</ref> 

Walt Disney World contains numerous recreational facilities designed to attract visitors for an extended stay, including four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses, conference centers, a competitive sports complex and a shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Additionally, there are 31 Disney-owned resort hotels and one camping resort on the property, and many other non-Disney-operated resorts on and near the property.

Designed to supplement [[Disneyland]] in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was developed by [[Walt Disney]] in the 1960s. Walt wanted to build a new park because Disneyland in California was limited from expanding by the establishments that sprung up around it. "The Florida Project", as it was known, was intended to present a distinct vision with its own diverse set of attractions. Walt Disney's original plans called for the inclusion of an "[[EPCOT (concept)|Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow]]" (EPCOT), a [[planned community]] intended to serve as a testbed for new city-living innovations. Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, during the initial planning of the complex. After his death, the company wrestled with the idea of whether to bring the Disney World project to fruition; however, Walt's older brother, [[Roy O. Disney]], came out of retirement to ensure Walt's biggest dream was realized. 

Construction started in 1967, with the company building a resort similar to Disneyland, abandoning the planned community concept. [[Magic Kingdom]] was the first theme park to open in the complex in 1971, followed by [[Epcot|EPCOT]] (known then as EPCOT Center) in 1982, [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] (known then as the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park) in 1989, and [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] in 1998. Roy insisted the name of the entire complex be changed from Disney World to Walt Disney World, to [[memorial]]ize his brother.

In 2018, Walt Disney World was the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of more than 58 million.<ref name="2018 Report" /> The resort is the largest single-site employer in the United States,<ref name="factsheet220" /> the flagship destination of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise<ref>{{Cite news |title=Disney Profile |url=http://profiles.hospitalityonline.com/206943/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043040/http://profiles.hospitalityonline.com/206943/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=July 7, 2007 |work=Hospitality Online}}</ref> and has become a [[Popular culture|staple]] of [[Culture of the United States|American popular culture]].

== History ==
=== Planning and construction ===
==== Conception ====
[[File:Walt Disney with Company at Press Conference.jpg|thumb|Walt Disney (left) with his brother [[Roy O. Disney]] (right) and then Governor of Florida [[W. Haydon Burns]] (center) on November 15, 1965, publicly announcing the creation of Disney World]]
[[File:Epcot-map-1966-modern.svg|thumb|Overlay of Walt Disney's original 1966 plans for Disney World and the proposed EPCOT city (orange) and contemporary situation (blue)]]

In 1959, [[Walt Disney Productions]] began looking for land to house a second resort to supplement [[Disneyland]] in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955. Market surveys at the time revealed that only 5% of Disneyland's visitors came from east of the [[Mississippi River]], where 75% of the population of the United States lived. Additionally, Walt Disney disliked the businesses that had sprung up around Disneyland and wanted more control over a larger area of land in the next project.<ref name="married">{{Cite book |last=Fogleson |first=Richard E. |author-link=Richard Foglesong |title=Married to the Mouse |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-300-09828-0 |location=New Haven, CT |page=274}}</ref>

Walt Disney took a flight over a potential site in [[Orlando, Florida]]—one of many—in November 1963. After witnessing the well-developed network of roads and taking the planned construction of both [[Interstate 4]] and [[Florida's Turnpike]] into account, with [[McCoy Air Force Base]] (later [[Orlando International Airport]]) to the east, Disney selected a centrally located site near [[Bay Lake (Florida)|Bay Lake]].<ref name="Quest">{{Cite book |last=Mannheim |first=Steve |url=https://archive.org/details/waltdisneyquestf00mann |title=Walt Disney and the Quest for Community |publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing]] Limited |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7546-1974-1 |location=Aldershot, Hampshire, England |pages=6, 68{{hyphen}}70 |ref=Mann02 |url-access=limited}}</ref> The development was referred to in-house as "The Florida Project".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=May 20, 2015 |title=Inside Walt Disney's Ambitious, Failed Plan to Build the City of Tomorrow |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a35104/walt-disney-epcot-history-city-of-tomorrow/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305233026/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a35104/walt-disney-epcot-history-city-of-tomorrow/ |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |work=Esquire}}</ref> 

To avoid a burst of land speculation, Walt Disney Productions used various [[dummy corporation]]s to acquire {{convert|27443|acre|sqmi km2|0}} of land.<ref name="Quest" /> In May 1965, some of these major land transactions were recorded a few miles southwest of Orlando in [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]]. In addition, two large tracts totaling $1.5 million were sold, and smaller tracts of flatlands and cattle pastures were purchased by exotically named companies, such as the "Ayefour Corporation", "Latin-American Development and Management Corporation", and the "Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation". Some are now memorialized on a window above [[Main Street, U.S.A.]] in the Magic Kingdom. The smaller parcels of land acquired were called "outs". They were {{convert|5|acre|4=0|adj=on|spell=in}} lots [[plat]]ted in 1912 by the Munger Land Company and sold to investors. Most of the owners in the 1960s were happy to get rid of the land, which was mostly [[swamp]] at the time. 

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. Eventually, Disney's team negotiated a deal with Tufts to buy the mineral rights for $15,000.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Koenig |first=David |url=https://archive.org/details/realityland00/page/25 |title=Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World |publisher=Bonaventure Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9640605-2-4 |location=Irvine, CA |pages=25–26 |ref=Koenig07}}</ref>

Working strictly in secrecy, real estate agents unaware of their client's identity began making offers to landowners in April 1964, in parts of southwest [[Orange County, Florida|Orange]] and northwest Osceola counties. The agents were careful not to reveal the extent of their intentions. They were able to negotiate numerous land contracts with some landowners, including large tracts of land for as little as $100 an acre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mark Andrews |date=May 30, 1993 |title=Disney Assembled Cast Of Buyers To Amass Land Stage For Kingdom |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/05/30/disney-assembled-cast-of-buyers-to-amass-land-stage-for-kingdom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903204555/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-05-30/news/9305280833_1_walt-disney-osceola-land-transactions |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> With the understanding that the recording of the first deeds would trigger intense public scrutiny, Disney delayed the filing of paperwork until a large portion of the land was under contract.<ref name="WDW-Secret">{{Cite web |last=Mark Andrews |date=August 6, 2000 |title=Disney Pulled Strings So Mouse Moved In With Barely A Squeak |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/08/06/disney-pulled-strings-so-mouse-moved-in-with-barely-a-squeak/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910033232/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-08-06/news/0008050172_1_walt-disney-andersen-central-florida/2 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |access-date=September 10, 2015 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>

Early rumors and speculation about the land purchases assumed possible development by [[NASA]] in support of the nearby [[Kennedy Space Center]], as well as references to other famous investors, such as [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], the [[Rockefeller family|Rockefellers]], and [[Howard Hughes]].<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> 

An ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' news article published on May 20, 1965 acknowledged a popular rumor that Disney was building an "East Coast" version of Disneyland. However, the publication denied its accuracy based on an earlier interview with Disney at Kennedy Space Center. In that interview, he claimed a $50 million investment was in the works for Disneyland, and that he had no interest in building a new park.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> 

In October 1965, editor [[Emily Bavar]] from the ''Sentinel'' visited Disneyland during the park's 10th-anniversary celebration. In an interview with Disney, she asked him if he was behind recent land purchases in Central Florida. Bavar later described that Disney "looked like I had thrown a bucket of water in his face", before denying the story.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> His reaction, combined with other research obtained during her Anaheim visit, led Bavar to write a story on October 21, 1965, where she predicted that Disney was building a second theme park in Florida.<ref name="WDW-Secret" /><ref>Bavar, Emily. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/142030221/ "Is Our 'Mystery' Industry Disneyland?"], ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'', October 21, 1965, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24333949/ page 20-A].</ref> Three days later, after gathering more information from various sources, the ''Sentinel'' published another article headlined, "We Say: 'Mystery' Industry Is Disney".<ref name="WDW-Secret" /><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31995299/ "We Say: 'Mystery' Industry Is Disney"], ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'', October 24, 1965, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109296708/ page 20-A].</ref>

Walt Disney had originally planned to publicly reveal Disney World on November 15, 1965, but in light of the ''Sentinel'' story, Disney asked Florida Governor [[Haydon Burns]] to confirm the story on October 25. His announcement called the new theme park "the greatest attraction in the history of Florida".<ref name="WDW-Secret" /> The official reveal was kept on the previously planned November 15 date, and Disney joined Burns in Orlando for the event.<ref name="WDW-Secret" />

==== Roy Disney's oversight of construction ====
[[File:Roy Disney inspecting property in Florida.jpg|thumb|Roy O. Disney inspecting design plans on-site in Florida]]
Walt Disney died from circulatory collapse caused by smoking-related [[lung cancer]] on December 15, 1966, before his vision was realized.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santora |first=Phil |date=December 14, 2014 |title=The day Walt Disney, an American icon who gave us Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, died |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/archives-walt-disney-died-lung-cancer-article-1.2042273 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913051051/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/archives-walt-disney-died-lung-cancer-article-1.2042273 |archive-date=September 13, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |website=New York Daily News}}</ref> According to the [[Walt Disney Archives]], during Disney's lifetime, he personally visited and toured the site only twice: on November 16, 1965, the day after the press conference, and again for a second time, on May 26, 1966.<ref name="AskWDA">{{cite journal |title=Ask the Walt Disney Archives |journal=Disney Twenty-three |date=Spring 2025 |volume=17 |issue=1 |page=60 |issn=2162-5492 |oclc=698366817}}</ref>  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. 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, [[Bay Lake, Florida|Bay Lake]] and Reedy Creek, now [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|Lake Buena Vista]]. In addition to the standard powers of an incorporated city, which include 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 tax]]es and [[elevator]] inspections.<ref name="married" /> The legislation forming the district and the two cities, one of which was the [[Reedy Creek Improvement Act]], was signed into law by Florida Governor [[Claude R. Kirk, Jr.]] on May 12, 1967.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Bob |url=http://kpolsson.com/wdworld/ |title=Walt Disney – An American Original |date=1994 |page=357 |access-date=September 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024034807/http://kpolsson.com/wdworld/ |archive-date=October 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Supreme Court of Florida]] 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.

[[File:Walt Disney World 1971.svg|thumb|The original logo of Walt Disney World from 1971 to the mid-1990s. This logo is still used on retro merchandise.]]
The district soon began construction of drainage canals, and Disney built the first roads and the Magic Kingdom. The [[Disney's Contemporary Resort|Contemporary Resort Hotel]] was completed in time for the park's opening on October 1, 1971, and the [[Disney's Polynesian Village Resort|Polynesian Village Resort]] opened shortly after.<ref name="dwfonfr">{{Cite news |date=September 27, 1971 |title=Disney World Florida opens next Friday |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6996%2C2342976 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508180805/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6996%2C2342976 |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |work=Times-News |location=Hendersonville, North Carolina |page=11 |agency=UPI}}</ref><ref name="opfgteslns">{{Cite news |date=October 2, 1971 |title=Walt Disney World opens Florida gates |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SsEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=izIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7198%2C139625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015014530/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SsEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=izIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7198%2C139625 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=California |page=10 |agency=UPI}}</ref> The Palm and Magnolia golf courses near the Magic Kingdom had opened a few weeks before, while [[Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground|Fort Wilderness]] opened one month later. Twenty-four days after the park opened, 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 Motor Company|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 Disney|Lillian]], what she thought of Walt Disney World. According to biographer Bob Thomas, she responded, "I think Walt would have approved." Roy Disney died at age 78 on December 20, 1971, less than three months after the property opened.<ref name="bbroydsn">{{Cite news |date=December 21, 1971 |title=Backstage brain Roy Disney dies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IkVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yFcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5417%2C1489507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015014528/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IkVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yFcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5417%2C1489507 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |work=St. Petersburg Independent |location=Florida |page=10–A |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Admission prices in 1971 were $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for juniors under age 18, and $1 for children under twelve.<ref name="dwfonfr" /> Rides were charged for individually, using a graduated price ticketing system; tickets could be purchased individually or in books.

Individual ride tickets were discontinued on October 1, 1982, with the opening of EPCOT.

=== 1980s–2020 ===
[[File:MagicKingdomPostcard1982.jpg|thumb|An aerial shot of Walt Disney World in 1982]]
Much of Walt Disney's plans for his [[EPCOT (concept)|Progress City]] concept were abandoned after his death and after the company board decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city. The concept evolved into the resort's second theme park, [[Epcot|EPCOT Center]], which opened in 1982 (renamed EPCOT in 1996). While still emulating Walt Disney's original idea of showcasing new technology, the park is closer to a [[world's fair]] than a "community of tomorrow". One of EPCOT's main attractions is the World Showcase, which highlights 11 countries across the globe. Some of the urban planning concepts from the original idea of EPCOT would instead be integrated into the community of [[Celebration, Florida]], much later. The resort's third theme park, Disney-MGM Studios (renamed [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] in 2008), opened in 1989 and is inspired by show business.

[[File:Walt Disney World Resort logo.svg|thumb|The 1996 version of The Walt Disney World logo]]
In the early 1990s, the resort was seeking permits for expansion. There was considerable environmentalist push-back, and the resort was convinced to engage in [[mitigation banking]]. In an agreement with [[The Nature Conservancy]] and the state of Florida, Disney purchased {{convert|8500|acre|abbr=on}} of land, adjacent to the park for the purpose of rehabilitating wetland ecosystems. The [[Disney Wilderness Preserve]] was established in April 1993, and the land was subsequently transferred to The Nature Conservancy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Wilderness Preserve |url=http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/environmentality/environment/preserve.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030819004243/http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/environmentality/environment/preserve.html |archive-date=August 19, 2003 |website=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref> The Walt Disney Company provided additional funds for landscape restoration and wildlife monitoring.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Tom |date=February 16, 2013 |title=Disney Wilderness Preserve Site Is Internationally Recognized Model for Success |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20130216/news/608072862/LL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719205130/https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20130216/news/608072862/LL |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |access-date=19 July 2020 |work=The Ledger |language=en}}</ref>

The resort's fourth theme park, [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]], opened in 1998.

In October 2009, Disney World announced a competition to find a town to become twinned with. In December 2009, after Rebecca Warren won the competition with a poem, they announced the resort will be twinned with the English town of [[Swindon]].<ref name="swindon">{{Cite web |last=Peter Woodman |date=December 7, 2009 |title=Swindon twinned with Disney World |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/swindon-twinned-with-disney-world-1835889.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211114121/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/swindon-twinned-with-disney-world-1835889.html |archive-date=11 December 2009 |access-date=30 September 2021 |website=The Independent}}</ref>

[[George Kalogridis]] was named president of the resort in December 2012, replacing [[Meg Crofton]], who had overseen the site since 2006.

As of October 27, 2014, Walt Disney World is covered by a permanent [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] [[prohibited airspace]] zone that restricts all airspace activities without approval from the [[federal government of the United States]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=4/3634 NOTAM Details |url=https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_3634.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404233609/https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_3634.html |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |access-date=2021-03-30 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration}}</ref> including usage of [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]].

On January 21, 2016, the resort's management structure was changed, with general managers within a theme park being in charge of an area or land, instead of on a functional basis, as previously configured. Theme parks have already had a vice-president overseeing them. [[Disney Springs]] and [[Disney Parks, Experiences and Products#Disney Sports Enterprises|Disney Sports]] were also affected. Now hotel general managers manage a single hotel instead of some managing multiple hotels.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pedicini |first=Sandra |date=January 22, 2016 |title=Walt Disney World announces management reorganization |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-overhauls-management-20160122-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827045305/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-overhauls-management-20160122-story.html |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |access-date=August 17, 2016}}</ref>

On October 18, 2017, it was announced that resort visitors could bring [[pet dogs]] to [[Disney's Yacht Club Resort]], [[Disney's Port Orleans Resort]] – Riverside, [[Disney's Art of Animation Resort]], and [[Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Trejos |first=Nancy |title=Dogs now welcome at Disney World resorts |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2017/10/18/pets-now-welcome-disney-world-resorts/774803001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021160238/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2017/10/18/pets-now-welcome-disney-world-resorts/774803001/ |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |access-date=October 21, 2017 |work=USA Today |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Walt Disney World Logo 2018.svg|thumb|The 2018 version of The Walt Disney World logo.]]
In 2019, [[Josh D'Amaro]] replaced [[George Kalogridis]] as president of the resort. He had previously held the position of vice president of Animal Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Walt Disney Company News |url=https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/walt-disney-company/news/25sep2019-josh-damaro-to-become-new-vice-president-walt-disney-world.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926023735/https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/walt-disney-company/news/25sep2019-josh-damaro-to-become-new-vice-president-walt-disney-world.htm |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |publisher=WDWMagic}}</ref> D'Amaro was subsequently promoted to chairman of [[Disney Parks, Experiences and Products]] in May 2020, succeeding [[Bob Chapek]], who was promoted to CEO of the Walt Disney Company in February 2020. Jeff Vahle, who served as president of Disney Signature Experiences subsequently took over as president of the resort.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevil |first=Dewayne |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Disney World: Josh D'Amaro promoted; Jeff Vahle takes over as president |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-bz-disney-president-promoted-damaro-vahle-20200518-wnkwciyehzfphoa4to73jfvabe-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801233953/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-bz-disney-president-promoted-damaro-vahle-20200518-wnkwciyehzfphoa4to73jfvabe-story.html |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |website=orlandosentinel.com}}</ref>

=== March 2020–present ===
On March 12, 2020, a Disney spokesperson announced that Disney World and [[Disneyland Paris]] would temporarily close due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], beginning March 15, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Walt Disney World closes, paralyzing the company's tourism empire |url=https://www.cnn.com/cnn/2020/03/12/disney-world-closed-coronavirus/index.html |work=[[CNN Business]]}}</ref>

In 2020, Disney World laid off 6,500 employees and only operated at 25% capacity after reopening during the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Walt Disney Company|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="layoffs">{{Cite news |date=September 30, 2020 |title=6,700 non-union Disney employees in Central Florida among those being laid off |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-layoffs-florida/34222642 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930180245/https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-layoffs-florida/34222642 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=September 30, 2020 |publisher=WESH}}</ref><ref name="capped">{{Cite news |last=Deerwester |first=Jayme |date=October 13, 2020 |title=Disney World attendance to stay capped; Disneyland reopening 'not much of a negotiation,' CEO says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2020/10/13/disney-world-attendance-remain-capped-new-cdc-covid-19-guidance/5977875002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008034621/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2020/10/13/disney-world-attendance-remain-capped-new-cdc-covid-19-guidance/5977875002/ |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |access-date=October 14, 2020 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

{{As of|2020||alt=In June 2020}}, Walt Disney World was chosen to host the [[2020 NBA Bubble|NBA Bubble]] for play of the [[2019–20 NBA season|2019–20 season]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) to resume at the [[ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sergent |first1=Jim |last2=Medina |first2=Mark |date=July 9, 2020 |title=How the NBA bubble has taken shape in Disney World |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/2020/07/09/nba-bubble-takes-shape-disney-world/5387760002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613183749/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/2020/07/09/nba-bubble-takes-shape-disney-world/5387760002/ |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |access-date=July 25, 2021 |website=USA TODAY}}</ref>  The ESPN Complex, hosts a variety of activities throughout the year, including [[runDisney]] marathon races and dance and cheer competitions in partnership with Varsity Cheer. It was also the site for the [[MLS is Back tournament]].

On July 11, 2020, Disney World officially reopened, beginning operations at 25% capacity at the [[Magic Kingdom]] and [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]], as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Florida]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 2020 |title=Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom reopen for first time since March |url=https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/magic-kingdom-animal-kingdom-reopen-today-for-first-time-since-march/amp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015095736/https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/magic-kingdom-animal-kingdom-reopen-today-for-first-time-since-march/amp/ |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2021 |publisher=[[WFLA-TV]]}}</ref> Four days later, [[Epcot|EPCOT]] and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] for operation at 25% capacity to the public.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tremaine |first=Julie |date=15 July 2020 |title=Disney World Reopens Epcot and Hollywood Studios |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/amp/disney-world-epcot-reopens/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208180303/https://www.cnn.com/travel/amp/disney-world-epcot-reopens/index.html |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2021 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Masks were required at all times (including outdoors, on attractions, and while taking photos), all guests were required to have their temperature taken upon entry, [[plexiglass]] was installed on various attractions and transportation offerings, and shows that drew large crowds, such as parades and nighttime shows including ''[[Fantasmic!]]'' and ''[[Happily Ever After (Magic Kingdom)|Happily Ever After]]'' were not offered.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richwine |first=Lisa |date=July 12, 2020 |title=Mandatory masks, Mickey at a distance as Walt Disney World reopens |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney-idUSKCN24C0Q4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170941/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney-idUSKCN24C0Q4 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |work=REUTERS}}</ref>

In November 2020, the resort increased the guest capacity to 35% at all four theme parks, and on May 13, 2021, CEO Bob Chapek announced a further increase of capacity, effective immediately; however, he did not say to what capacity level it would be raised.<ref name="tw">{{Cite news |last=Biesiada |first=Jamie |date=14 May 2021 |title=Capacity levels are going up at Walt Disney World |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Increase-in-capacity-at-Disney-World |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604211558/https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Increase-in-capacity-at-Disney-World |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |access-date=June 4, 2021 |work=Travel Weekly}}</ref> By mid-June 2021, temperature checks and mask mandates (except while on Disney transportation) had been lifted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyko |first=Kelly |title=Disney World no longer requires masks outdoors, but you'll still need to wear a mask to enter parks and inside |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2021/05/13/disney-mask-requirement-cdc-fully-vaccinated-no-masks-indoors-outdoors/5080931001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725200043/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2021/05/13/disney-mask-requirement-cdc-fully-vaccinated-no-masks-indoors-outdoors/5080931001/ |archive-date=July 25, 2021 |access-date=July 25, 2021 |website=USA TODAY}}</ref> In late July 2021, mask mandates were reinstated for all attractions and indoor areas in light of new guidance issued by the [[Centers for Disease Control]] as the [[delta variant]] drove a significant increase in local cases. These reinstated mandates were lifted in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Disney World And Disneyland Reimpose Mask Mandates Amid Covid-19 Delta Variant Spread |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/07/29/disney-world-and-disneyland-reimpose-mask-mandates-amid-covid-19-delta-variant-spread/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906185927/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/07/29/disney-world-and-disneyland-reimpose-mask-mandates-amid-covid-19-delta-variant-spread/ |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |access-date=September 6, 2021 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In April 2022, following a court decision ending the federal mask mandate for public transportation, the mask mandates on Disney transportation were lifted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Walt Disney World makes masks optional for all areas of resort |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walt-disney-world-makes-face-masks-optional-areas-resort-rcna25146 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429191444/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walt-disney-world-makes-face-masks-optional-areas-resort-rcna25146 |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=NBC News}}</ref>

Starting on October 1, 2021, the resort honored its 50th anniversary with "The World's Most Magical Celebration",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Forrest |date=25 February 2021 |title=Find out what Disney World has in store for its 50th anniversary celebration in October |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-world-50th-anniversary-celebration-october/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409101733/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-world-50th-anniversary-celebration-october/index.html |archive-date=April 9, 2021 |access-date=4 June 2021 |publisher=CNN Travel}}</ref> which lasted for 18 consecutive months ending on March 31, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney World sets end date for 50th anniversary celebration |url=https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2022/08/31/disney-world-sets-end-date-for-50th-anniversary-celebration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101170519/https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2022/08/31/disney-world-sets-end-date-for-50th-anniversary-celebration |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=www.mynews13.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[Disney's Magical Express]], a complimentary transportation and luggage service offered to Walt Disney Resort guests that began in 2005, ended in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bevil |first=Dewayne |title=Disney ending Magical Express bus service and Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-ends-extra-magic-hours-magical-express-bus-20210111-n74artglrffcvkvnrh6nptx4e4-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405141255/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-ends-extra-magic-hours-magical-express-bus-20210111-n74artglrffcvkvnrh6nptx4e4-story.html |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=orlandosentinel.com}}</ref> In August 2021, the Walt Disney Company announced that [[FastPass]]+, which had been free since its introduction in 1999, would be retired and replaced with Genie+, starting at $18 to $35 per day. This new system includes the option of adding "Lightning Lane", which will be used for top-tier attractions, for an additional charge. The pricing range depends on the crowd and day of purchase.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=August 18, 2021 |title=To Skip the Line at Disney, Get Ready to Pay a Genie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/business/disney-fastpass-genie-plus.html |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/business/disney-fastpass-genie-plus.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |work=The New York Times |via=NYTimes.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 22, 2022, the self-governing status which the Walt Disney Company had in the area around Disney World for more than 50 years came to an end after Florida Governor [[Ron DeSantis]] signed into law legislation requiring the area to come under the legal jurisdiction of the state of Florida.<ref name="reedycreekgone">{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Kyle |date=April 22, 2022 |title=DeSantis signs bill ending Disney's self-governing status in Florida |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-signs-bill-stripping-disney-self-governing-status |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422195037/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-signs-bill-stripping-disney-self-governing-status |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |publisher=Fox News}}</ref> The new law also officially abolished The [[Reedy Creek Improvement District]] which the Walt Disney Company has used to run the area since May 1967, when then Florida Governor [[Claude R. Kirk Jr.|Claude Kirk]] signed into law legislation which granted the company special status.<ref name="reedycreekgone" /> The law went into effect in June 2023.<ref name="selfgovernancegone">{{cite news |last1=Izaguirre |first1=Anthony |title=Disney government dissolution bill signed by DeSantis |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-travel-florida-orlando-ron-desantis-5bbb7bd13c5357877f999aab96b33651 |work=AP News |date=22 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-22 |title=DeSantis signs bill eliminating Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek district; Fitch warns of bond downgrade |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-disney-reedy-creek-bill-signed-20220422-3ijuuhs5wra6vcbmy4qhpqp6gy-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422210441/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-disney-reedy-creek-bill-signed-20220422-3ijuuhs5wra6vcbmy4qhpqp6gy-story.html |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en}}</ref> Along with this, as of May 2023, Governor [[Ron DeSantis]] has also been planning to target Disney's monorail system and let Florida's Department of Transportation inspect the privately owned system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida lawmakers OK Disney bills, including one targeting monorail |url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2023/05/04/disney-desantis-agreements-special-district-monorail/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521232800/https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2023/05/04/disney-desantis-agreements-special-district-monorail/ |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>{{Sticky header}}

In August 2025, Walt Disney World officials described the resort as entering “an unprecedented era of growth,” announcing multiple new capital projects across its theme parks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=IAAPA |date=August 22, 2025 |title=Walt Disney World shares new details on capital expansion |url=https://www.iaapa.org/news-funworld/disney-world-capital-expansion |access-date=October 26, 2025 |website=IAAPA News}}</ref>

== Location ==
{{Walt Disney World Map}}
[[File:Portail Disneyworld à l'arrivée à Orlando au-dessus de la voie rapide (janvier 2022).JPG|thumb|One of four arches welcoming guests to the resort]]
The Florida resort is not within [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] city limits but is southwest of Downtown Orlando. Much of the resort is in southwestern [[Orange County, Florida|Orange County]], with the remainder in adjacent [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]]. The property includes the cities of [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|Lake Buena Vista]] and [[Bay Lake, Florida|Bay Lake]] which are governed by the [[Central Florida Tourism Oversight District]] (formerly Reedy Creek Improvement District). The site is accessible from Central Florida's [[Interstate 4]] via Exits 62B (World Drive), 64B ([[U.S. Route 192|US 192]] West), 65B ([[Osceola Parkway]] West), 67B ([[Florida State Road 536|SR 536]] West), and 68 ([[Florida State Road 535|SR 535]] North), Exit 6 on [[Florida State Road 417|SR 417 South]], the Central Florida GreeneWay and Exit 8 on [[Florida State Road 429|SR 429]], the Western Beltway. At its founding, the resort occupied approximately {{convert|27443|acre|sqmi km2|0}}.<ref name="Quest" /> Portions of the property have since been sold or de-annexed, including land now occupied by the Disney-built community of [[Celebration, Florida|Celebration]]. By 2014, the resort occupied nearly {{convert|25000|acre|sqmi km2|0}}<ref name="Fun Facts" /> (larger than Manhattan, New York City, which is 22.7 sq mi).

The company additionally acquired nearly {{convert|3000|acre|sqmi km2|0}}, in separate transactions, between December 2018 and April 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney World buys 235 acres. Here's what we know |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2019/12/27/disney-world-buys-235-acres-heres-what-we-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930162726/https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2019/12/27/disney-world-buys-235-acres-heres-what-we-know/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-25 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Ken |title=Disney has been on a land-buying spree. Here's why it probably isn't a new theme park |url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/12/30/disney-has-been-on-a-land-buying-spree-heres-why-it-probably-isnt-a-new-theme-park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729110518/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/12/30/disney-has-been-on-a-land-buying-spree-heres-why-it-probably-isnt-a-new-theme-park |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-25 |website=Orlando Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-31 |title=Disney Bought Nearly 3K Acres of Land Since 2018 – But Not for a New Park |url=https://insidethemagic.net/2019/12/disney-buys-land-in-florida-ba1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015032249/https://insidethemagic.net/2019/12/disney-buys-land-in-florida-ba1/ |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |access-date=2020-05-25 |website=Inside the Magic |language=en-US}}</ref>

12% of the site area is occupied by hotels and resorts, and 5% of the area is water.<ref>Edwards, C., [https://floridasunadventures.com/how-big-is-disney-world/ How Big Is Disney World?], ''Florida Sun Adventures'', updated 11 January 2024, accessed 27 April 2024</ref>

== Attractions ==
{{further|List of Walt Disney World Resort attractions}}

=== Theme parks ===
* [[Magic Kingdom|Magic Kingdom Park]] – opened October 1, 1971
* [[Epcot|EPCOT]] – opened October 1, 1982
* [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] – opened May 1, 1989
* [[Disney's Animal Kingdom|Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park]] – opened April 22, 1998

=== Water parks ===
* [[Disney's Typhoon Lagoon]] – opened June 1, 1989
* [[Disney's Blizzard Beach]] – opened April 1, 1995

=== Mini-golf courses ===
* [[Fantasia Gardens]] – opened May 20, 1996
* [[Winter Summerland]] – opened March 12, 1999
[[File:Downtown Disney - Characters in Flight panorama - retouched.jpg|thumb|View of Disney Springs]]

=== Shopping, dining, and entertainment areas ===
* [[Disney Springs]] – opened March 22, 1975<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Arthur |date=June 1, 2016 |title=Disney Springs: The story behind Disney World's former Downtown Disney |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/2016/06/01/disney-springs-downtown-disney-walt-disney-world/85208362/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601133550/http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/2016/06/01/disney-springs-downtown-disney-walt-disney-world/85208362/ |archive-date=June 1, 2016 |access-date=June 1, 2016 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>
* [[Disney's BoardWalk Resort|Disney's BoardWalk]] – opened July 1, 1996
* [[Flamingo Crossings]] – opened 2021 (located off property but developed by Disney)

=== Golf courses ===
Disney's property includes four golf courses open to the general public. The 18-hole golf courses are Disney's Palm (4.5 stars), Disney's Magnolia (4 stars), and Disney's Lake Buena Vista (4 stars). There is also a nine-hole walking course called Disney's Oak Trail, that features junior tees for younger golfers and a [[Footgolf]] course. Palm, Magnolia, and Oak Trail are connected and share one entrance near Shades of Green in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area, while the Lake Buena Vista course is located in the Disney Springs Resort Area. Although owned by the company, the Walt Disney World golf courses are operated by a third-party, Arnold Palmer Golf Management.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jason Garcia |date=August 24, 2011 |title=Disney golf: Disney World to turn its golf courses over to Arnold Palmer |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-24/the-daily-disney/os-disney-golf-arnold-palmer-20110824_1_walt-disney-world-golf-courses-golf-datatech |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201184739/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-24/the-daily-disney/os-disney-golf-arnold-palmer-20110824_1_walt-disney-world-golf-courses-golf-datatech |archive-date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref> The Magnolia and Palm courses played home to the PGA Tour's [[Walt Disney World Golf Classic]] from 1971 to 2012.

Additionally there is a fifth course, the Tranquilo Golf Course, located at the Four Seasons Resort on Disney property. The course is open only to guests staying at Four Seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Golf – Four Seasons Resort Orlando |url=https://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/club/golf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004202512/https://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/club/golf |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2014 |title=The Enchantment Begins: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort Debuts |url=https://www.hksinc.com/our-news/articles/the-enchantment-begins-four-seasons-resort-orlando-at-walt-disney-world-resort-debuts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010051809/https://www.hksinc.com/our-news/articles/the-enchantment-begins-four-seasons-resort-orlando-at-walt-disney-world-resort-debuts/ |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |access-date=October 4, 2023 |website=HKS Architects}}</ref>

=== Other attractions and areas ===
* [[ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex|ESPN Wide World of Sports]] – sports complex, opened March 28, 1997
* [[Drawn to Life (Cirque du Soleil)|''Drawn to Life'']] –  resident [[Cirque du Soleil]] show, venue opened in Disney Springs on December 23, 1998
* Tri-Circle D Ranch – a working [[ranch]] and [[stable]], located at Fort Wilderness

=== Former attractions and areas ===
* [[Discovery Island (Bay Lake)|Discovery Island]] – an island and former ticketed attraction in Bay Lake that was home to many species of animals and birds. Guests would access the island via boat from Fort Wilderness. It opened on April 8, 1974, and closed on April 8, 1999.
* [[Disney's River Country]] – the first water park at the Walt Disney World Resort. It opened on June 20, 1976, and closed on November 2, 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2019 |title=River Country: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know About Disney's Abandoned Water Park |url=https://themouselets.com/river-country-5-fast-facts-about-river-country |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028182738/https://themouselets.com/river-country-5-fast-facts-about-river-country |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |access-date=October 28, 2019 |website=The Mouselets |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Walt Disney World Speedway]] – a racetrack at Walt Disney World that included the [[Richard Petty]] Driving Experience, the track also held [[NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series]] and the [[IndyCar Series]] until the 2000s. It opened November 28, 1995, and closed on August 9, 2015.
* [[Pleasure Island (Walt Disney World)|Pleasure Island]] – a former gated section of Downtown Disney, centered on late-night entertainment. Most of the area was demolished upon the transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs. It opened 1989 and closed in 2008.
* [[Walt Disney World Airport]] – a small [[STOLport]] landing strip built for private aircraft. The airway stopped being used in the 1980s. It is located off Vista Blvd and World Drive and used as a storage area.
* [[DisneyQuest]] – an indoor theme park that featured arcade games and virtual attractions, intended to be the first location in a chain of similar theme parks, which was unsuccessful. It opened June 19, 1998 and closed on July 2, 2017.<ref name="DQ-Close">{{Cite web |last=Sandra Pedicini |date=June 30, 2015 |title=DisneyQuest closing at Downtown Disney |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disneyquest-closing-20150630-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701110331/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disneyquest-closing-20150630-story.html |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>
* Crossroads Shopping Center – originally developed by Disney in the 1980s and located near Disney Springs, the shopping and dining center was popular for guests and cast-members, built at a time when there were few dining options in the area. Disney later sold the land, and in 2021 the entire center was demolished using [[eminent domain]] for the [[Interstate 4]] reconstruction project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Attractions Magazine |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Crossroads shopping center near Disney World to be closed by August |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/crossroads-shopping-center-near-disney-world-closed-august/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150210/https://attractionsmagazine.com/crossroads-shopping-center-near-disney-world-closed-august/ |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Attractions Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=End of Crossroads: Longtime Plaza Near Disney to Become I-4 Interchange |url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/traffic/2021/02/17/end-of-crossroads--longtime-plaza-near-disney-to-become-i-4-interchange |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150209/https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/traffic/2021/02/17/end-of-crossroads--longtime-plaza-near-disney-to-become-i-4-interchange |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=mynews13.com}}</ref>

==Resorts==
{{See also|Category:Hotels in Walt Disney World Resort}}
{{As of|2024}}, there are 31 Disney owned and operated resort hotels and [[Disney Vacation Club]] (DVC) villas at the Walt Disney World Resort, along with one camping resort, Fort Wilderness, which includes traditional campgrounds and wood cabins. Together, they have approximately 23,000 rooms, 3,600 DVC villas and {{Convert|500000|sqft}} of conference meeting space. They are organized into three categories—Deluxe, Moderate, and Value—and five resort areas: the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Wide World of Sports, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs. Informally known as the "Disney Bubble", staying on property is considered an immersive experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What It's Like Inside the NBA "Bubble" at Disney World |url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/on-the-town/2020/07/25/quarantining-with-nba-players-at-disney-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150210/https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/on-the-town/2020/07/25/quarantining-with-nba-players-at-disney-world |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=mynews13.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2014 |title=What is The Disney Bubble? |url=https://livingadisneylife.com/disney-bubble/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004151713/https://livingadisneylife.com/disney-bubble/ |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref>

Additionally, 12 independently operated hotels are located on property leased from Disney, offering approximately 7,300 additional rooms. There is also an on-site pet hotel operated by Best Friends Pet Care for guests traveling with animals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Friends Pet Hotel – Best Friends Pet Care – Lake Buena Vista, FL |url=https://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/location/waltdisneyworldresort/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150209/https://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/location/waltdisneyworldresort/ |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=www.bestfriendspetcare.com}}</ref>

===Disney-owned resorts===
{{Sticky header}}
{|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"
|-
! Name
! Image
! Opening date
! Theme
! Number of rooms
! Resort area
|-
! colspan="6"| Deluxe resorts
|-
| [[Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge]]||[[File:Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby.jpg|80px]]||April 16, 2001||African Wildlife preserve||1,307<br />708 villas
| [[Animal Kingdom Resort Area|Animal Kingdom]]
|-
|[[Disney's Old Key West Resort]]
|[[File:Old key west panoramic.jpg|80px]]
|December 20, 1991
|Early-20th-century Key West
|761 villas
| rowspan="2" |[[Disney Springs Resort Area|Disney Springs]]
|-
|[[Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa]]
|[[File:Saratoga Springs Resort.jpg|80px]]
|May 17, 2004
|1880s Upstate New York resort
|1,320 villas
|-
| [[Disney's Beach Club Resort]]||[[File:DisneyBeachClub1.jpg|80px]]||November 19, 1990||Newport Beach cottage||576<br />282 villas
| rowspan="4" |[[Epcot Resort Area|EPCOT]]
|-
| [[Disney's Yacht Club Resort]]||[[File:DisneyYacht1.jpg|80px]]||November 5, 1990||Martha's Vineyard Resort||621
|-
| [[Disney's BoardWalk Inn]]||[[File:BoardwalkInn.JPG|80px]]||July 1, 1996||Early-20th-century Atlantic and Ocean City||378<br />530 villas
|-
|[[Disney's Riviera Resort]]
|[[File:Riviera at Night (49560224208) (cropped).jpg|80px]]
|December 16, 2019
|European Riviera
|300 villas
|-
| [[Disney's Contemporary Resort]]||[[File:Contemporary tower monorail.jpg|80px]]||October 1, 1971||Modern||655<br />428 villas
| rowspan="4" |[[Magic Kingdom Resort Area|Magic Kingdom]]
|-
| [[Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa]]||[[File:Disney Resort courtyard pool.jpg|80px]]||June 28, 1988||Early-20th-century Florida||867<br />147 villas
|-
| [[Disney's Polynesian Village Resort]]||[[File:POLY Tahiti-beach.jpg|80px]]||October 1, 1971||South Pacific||492<br />380 villas
|-
| [[Disney's Wilderness Lodge]]||[[File:Disney World - Wilderness Lodge with rocks.jpg|80px]]||May 28, 1994||Pacific Northwest, National Park Service rustic||729<br />365 villas
|-
! colspan="6"| Moderate resorts
|-
| [[Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort]]||[[File:Disney's Caribbean Beach Martinique.jpg|80px]]||October 1, 1988||Caribbean Islands||1,536||EPCOT
|-
| [[Disney's Coronado Springs Resort]]||[[File:Coronado Springs pool view - panoramio.jpg|80px]]||August 1, 1997||Mexico, American Southwest||1,915||Animal Kingdom
|-
| [[Disney's Port Orleans Resort|Disney's Port Orleans Resort (French Quarter & Riverside)]]||[[File:Orlando - Disney World - Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - Guest Room Building (17033142029).jpg|80px]]||May 17, 1991||New Orleans French Quarter, Deep South||3,056||Disney Springs
|-
! colspan="6"| Value resorts
|-
| [[Disney's All-Star Movies Resort]]||[[File:Disney's All-Star Movie Resort 09.jpg|80px]]||January 15, 1999||Disney films||1,920||rowspan=3|Animal Kingdom
|-
| [[Disney's All-Star Music Resort]]||[[File:Disney´s All Star Music Resort - panoramio.jpg|80px]]||November 22, 1994||Music||1,604
|-
| [[Disney's All-Star Sports Resort]]||[[File:Disney's All-Star Sports Resort 09.jpg|80px]]||April 24, 1994||Sports||1,920
|-
| [[Disney's Art of Animation Resort]]||[[File:Art of Animation Resort (42346698895).jpg|80px]]||May 31, 2012||Disney and Pixar animated films||1,984||rowspan=2|[[ESPN Wide World of Sports Resort Area|Wide World of Sports]]
|-
| [[Disney's Pop Century Resort]]||[[File:Disney Resort 50s pool.jpg|80px]]||December 14, 2003||20th Century American pop culture||2,880
|-
! colspan="6"| Cabins and campgrounds
|-
| [[Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground]]||[[File:Fort Wilderness cabin.jpg|80px]]||November 19, 1971||Rustic Woods Camping||800 campsites<br />409 cabins||Magic Kingdom
|}

===Former Disney-owned resorts===
{|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"
|-
! Hotel name
! Image
! Opening date
! Close date
! Theme
! Number of rooms
! Area
|-
|[[Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser|''Star Wars'': Galactic Starcruiser]] 
|[[File:Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Sign (52915178387).jpg|80px]]
|March 1, 2022
|September 30, 2023
|''Star Wars'', Immersive entertainment
|100
|EPCOT
|}

===On-site non-Disney resorts===
{{Sticky header}}
{|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"
|-
! Hotel name
! Image
! Opening date
! Number of rooms
! Owner
! Area
|-
|[[Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa]]
|
|October 1, 1972
|394
|B Hotels & Resorts
| rowspan="7" |Disney Springs
|-
|[[Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area|Drury Plaza]]
|
|November 21, 1972
|325
|[[Drury Hotels]]
|-
|DoubleTree
|
|March 15, 1987
|229
| rowspan="3" |[[Hilton Worldwide]]
|-
|[[Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace|Hilton Buena Vista Palace]]
|[[File:BuenaVistaPalace.PNG|80x80px]]
|March 10, 1983
|1,014
|-
|[[Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista|Hilton Lake Buena Vista]]
|[[File:Day Pool Ext 300dpi.jpg|80x80px]]
|November 23, 1983
|787
|-
|[[Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs Area|Holiday Inn]]
|
|February 8, 1973
|323
|[[IHG Hotels & Resorts]]
|-
|[[Wyndham Lake Buena Vista|Wyndham]]
|
|October 15, 1972
|626
|[[Wyndham Hotels & Resorts]]
|-
| [[Walt Disney World Dolphin]]||[[File:Walt-Disney-World-Dolphin.jpg|80px]]||June 1, 1990||1,509
| rowspan="3" |[[Marriott International]]
| rowspan="3" |EPCOT
|-
| [[Walt Disney World Swan]]||[[File:At Disney's Boardwalk 04.JPG|80px]]||January 13, 1990||758
|-
| Walt Disney World Swan Reserve||||November 4, 2021||349
|-
| Four Seasons || ||August 3, 2014||450
|[[Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts|Four Seasons]]
| rowspan="2" |Magic Kingdom
|-
| [[Shades of Green (resort)|Shades of Green]]||[[File:DisneyShadesOfGreen.jpg|80px]]||December 1973||586
|[[United States Department of Defense]]
|}

== Annual events ==
*[[Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party]] (1995–present) – held at Magic Kingdom throughout the fall season
*[[Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party]] (1983–present) – held at Magic Kingdom throughout the holiday season
*[[Epcot International Food & Wine Festival|EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival]] (1995–present) – held at EPCOT throughout the fall season – includes the Eat To The Beat! concert series)
*[[Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival|EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival]] (1994–present) – held at EPCOT during the spring and summer – includes the Garden Rocks! concert series
*EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (2018–present) – held at EPCOT each February and March – includes the Disney on Broadway concert series
*EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (1996–present) – held at EPCOT throughout the holiday season
*[[Candlelight Processional (Disney Parks)|Candlelight Processional]] (1971–present) – held at EPCOT throughout the holiday season
*[[runDisney]] – marathon races are conducted each year, including the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon, the Wine N Dine Half-Marathon, and the Disney Princess-Half Marathon
*H2O Glow Nights – a special ticket event held on select nights each summer at Typhoon Lagoon – night-time glow party<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/typhoon-lagoon/h2o-glow-after-hours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015132306/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/typhoon-lagoon/h2o-glow-after-hours/ |archive-date=October 15, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref>
*Disney After Hours – a special ticket event held at select parks on select nights<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/after-hours/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025010509/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/after-hours/ |archive-date=October 25, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref>
*Moonlight Magic – [[Disney Vacation Club]]-only nights at select parks on select days throughout the year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-events/moonlight-magic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026000443/https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-events/moonlight-magic |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |access-date=December 31, 2023}}</ref>
*[[Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade]] (1983–present) – filmed each year at Disney World and broadcast nationally on Christmas Day

== Business segments ==
[[File:WEdding Pavelion from Mono Rail - panoramio (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Wedding Pavilion at the [[Seven Seas Lagoon]]]]Walt Disney World has several departments that handle various activities and events that are offered throughout the year. These departments include:
*Disney Imagination Campus – operates [[Magic Music Days]], Disney Performing Arts, Festival Disney, The Dreamers Academy, and other youth programs providing opportunities for youth to learn and perform inside Walt Disney World.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Imagination Campus – Not Your Average Field Trip |url=https://www.disneycampus.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003071311/https://www.disneycampus.com/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=www.disneycampus.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Dreamers Academy |url=https://www.disneydreamersacademy.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019225219/https://www.disneydreamersacademy.com/ |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |access-date=October 21, 2023 |website=www.disneydreamersacademy.com}}</ref>
*Disney Meetings and Events – schedules large meetings, events, and conferences at Walt Disney World.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Events, Meeting Space & Conventions &#124; Disney Meetings |url=https://www.disneymeetingsandevents.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022023658/https://www.disneymeetingsandevents.com/ |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=www.disneymeetingsandevents.com}}</ref>
*[[Disney Institute|The Disney Institute]] – offers professional development, team-building and networking opportunities using Disney models and principles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Institute |url=https://www.disneyinstitute.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020072616/https://www.disneyinstitute.com/ |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=www.disneyinstitute.com}}</ref>
*[[Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons]] – schedules and plans weddings at various locations inside Walt Disney World, including locations inside the parks or at the wedding pavilion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons |url=https://www.disneyweddings.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011235821/https://www.disneyweddings.com/ |archive-date=October 11, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023}}</ref>
*Disney Internships and Programs – operates various internships geared toward college-age students, including the [[Disney College Program]] (DCP), [[Disney International Programs]] (ICP), Disney Hospitality Leadership Program (DHLP), Cultural Representative Program (CRP), Brazilian Summer Super Greeters, Disney Culinary Program, and Professional Internships (PI).<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2015 |title=Disney Super Greeters Bring In Smiles And Dollars |url=https://worldofwalt.com/disney-super-greeters-brazil-tourists.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172337/https://worldofwalt.com/disney-super-greeters-brazil-tourists.html |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=World Of Walt}}</ref>

== Campus ==
The campus of Walt Disney World includes numerous buildings and spaces used solely for corporate management, castmember only services, and castmember recreation. The Walt Disney Company also owns and operates a corporate office complex in Celebration, Florida, home to [[Disney Cruise Line]] and [[Adventures by Disney]] offices.

*[[Team Disney Orlando]] – the central location of corporate offices at Walt Disney World.
*[[Disney University]] – the central location of training for Cast Members.
*[[Walt Disney World Casting Center]] – the central location for human resources and employee recruitment and retention.
*[[Partners Federal Credit Union]] – an internal bank system only for Disney employees, with several locations throughout Walt Disney World.
*Disney Event Group – office complex for various business segments.
*Maingate Office Complex – houses offices for various business segments.
*[[Amateur Athletic Union]] – corporate office building located inside the historic preview center building on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
*[[Central Florida Tourism Oversight District]] – headquarters building, located near Disney Springs on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
*Mickey's Retreat – a Disney-employee only recreational complex located on Little Lake Bryan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mickey's Retreat: A Cast Member-Only Area at Walt Disney World |url=https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2010/04/hidden-disney-mickeys-retreat.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172337/https://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2010/04/hidden-disney-mickeys-retreat.html |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref>
*[[AdventHealth]] – operates two [[Emergency department#Freestanding|freestanding emergency rooms]], located on the east and west of property near Disney Springs and in Flamingo Crossings. Guests with critical conditions and injuries are transported to the larger [[AdventHealth Celebration]].
*[[YMCA]] of Central Florida – operates two locations on property that provide daycare and educational programs for children of Walt Disney World employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Learning Center at Lake Buena Vista |url=https://ymcacf.org/locations/lakebuenavista/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172336/https://ymcacf.org/locations/lakebuenavista/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=YMCA of Central Florida}}</ref>
*The Center for Living Well – operates a [[clinic]] providing health services for Disney employees, operated by Premise Health.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Center for Living Well &#124; Epcot &#124; Lake Buena Vista, FL |url=https://myclw.com/epcot/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005025840/https://myclw.com/epcot/ |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Disney Center for Living Well}}</ref>
*[[Flamingo Crossings]] Village – home of Disney Programs and Internship participants.

== Employment ==
When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the site employed about 5,500 "Cast Members".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney World's Grand Opening |url=http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/DisneyWorldGrandOpening.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213193607/http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/DisneyWorldGrandOpening.html |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |website=www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com}}</ref> In 2020, Walt Disney World employed more than 77,000 Cast Members.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Rich |date=March 18, 2015 |title=How Walt Disney's Love of Trains Changed the World |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rich-grant/how-walt-disneys-love-of-trains-changed-the-world_b_6894946.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318033725/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rich-grant/how-walt-disneys-love-of-trains-changed-the-world_b_6894946.html |archive-date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=April 3, 2017 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref> Walt Disney World has more than 3,000 job classifications with a total 2019 payroll of over $3 billion.<ref name="factsheet220" />

=== Union representation ===
Almost all hourly guest-facing Cast Members work under [[trade union|union contracts]]. The most recent contract was negotiated and put in effect in 2023 and is valid through 2027, setting the starting hourly rate for part-time and full-time Cast at 17 dollars per hour, with additional premiums available for select roles. Union membership is offered to all Cast eligible at the start of employment. Each staff location on property has an official designated as [[shop steward]], who bargains with Disney leadership when needed to defend the rights designated within the contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Walt Disney World Workers Ratify Historic New Agreement |url=https://iatse.net/walt-disney-world-workers-ratify-historic-new-agreement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172336/https://iatse.net/walt-disney-world-workers-ratify-historic-new-agreement/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref>

* [[UNITE HERE]] Local 362 – Represents roles in Attractions, Custodial, and Vacation Planning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNITE HERE Local 362 |url=https://www.uniteherelocal362.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172338/https://www.uniteherelocal362.org/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=www.uniteherelocal362.org}}</ref>
* [[Transportation Communications International Union]] 
** Local 737 – Represents housekeeping and food and beverage cast.
** Local 1908 – Represents numerous roles including concierge, lifeguards, bell services, and monorail and watercraft cast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TCU 1908 – Local 1908 of the Transportation & Communications Union |url=https://tcu1908.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172339/https://tcu1908.org/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref>
* [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] Local 1625 – Represents merchandise cast.
* [[International Brotherhood of Teamsters]] Local 385 – Represents entertainment, bus drivers, laundry cast and parking cast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teamsters Local Union 385 |url=http://www.local385.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172336/http://www.local385.org/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=www.local385.org}}</ref>
* [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees]] Local 361 – Represents costuming, cosmetologists, and entertainment technicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IATSE Local 631 |url=https://www.iatselocal631.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030071246/https://www.iatselocal631.com/ |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=www.iatselocal631.com}}</ref>
* [[Actors' Equity Association]] Orlando Area Theatre – Represents members performing under contract at Walt Disney World, including casts of Festival of The Lion King, Voices of Liberty, The Dapper Dans, Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire, Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Hoop-Dee-Do Review,  and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orlando Area Theatre (OAT) · Actors' Equity Association |url=https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/contracts/OAT/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031172337/https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/contracts/OAT/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref>

== Attendance ==
In the first year of opening, the park attracted 10,712,991 visitors.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 11, 1972 |title=Walt Disney World Tops Projection Of 10,000,000 Visitors In Its 1st Yr |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |page=1}}</ref> In 2018, the resort's four theme parks all ranked in the top 9 on the list of the 25 most visited theme parks in the world: (1st) Magic Kingdom—20,859,000 visitors; (6th) Disney's Animal Kingdom—13,750,000 visitors; (7th) EPCOT—12,444,000 visitors; and (9th) Disney's Hollywood Studios—11,258,000 visitors.<ref name="2018 Report" /> By October 2020, maximum Disney World attendance was still allowed to only remain at 25% capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="capped" /> A recent study found that reducing Magic Kingdom park capacity to 25% would result in a 54.1% reduction in annual attendance. This capacity limit causes less annual revenue, and may lower the number of visitors to the Orlando region.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gabe |first=Todd |date=2020-08-09 |title=Impacts of COVID-related capacity constraints on theme park attendance: evidence from Magic Kingdom wait times |journal=Applied Economics Letters |volume=28 |issue=14 |pages=1222–1225 |doi=10.1080/13504851.2020.1804047 |issn=1350-4851 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
{{Sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Magic Kingdom !! EPCOT !! Hollywood Studios !! Animal Kingdom !! Overall !! class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2008 || 17,063,000 || 10,935,000 || 9,608,000 || 9,540,000 || 47,146,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2008 attendance">{{Cite web |year=2008 |title=TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.org.id.tue.nl/ifip-tc14/documents/TEAreportThemeparks-2008.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302183514/http://www.org.id.tue.nl/ifip-tc14/documents/TEAreportThemeparks-2008.pdf |archive-date=March 2, 2013 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2009 || 17,233,000 || 10,990,000 || 9,700,000 || 9,590,000 || 47,513,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2009 attendance">{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602032710/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2010 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2010 || 16,972,000 || 10,825,000 || 9,603,000 || 9,686,000 || 47,086,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2010 attendance">{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719072840/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2011 || 17,142,000 || 10,826,000 || 9,699,000 || 9,783,000 || 47,450,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2011 Report">{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018203544/http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2015 |access-date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2012 || 17,536,000 || 11,063,000 || 9,912,000 || 9,998,000 || 48,509,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2012 Report">{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224020854/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2013 || 18,588,000 || 11,229,000 || 10,110,000 || 10,198,000 || 50,125,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2013 Report">{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2013_Theme_Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115095034/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2013_Theme_Index.pdf |archive-date=2015-11-15 |access-date=May 27, 2016 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2014 || 19,332,000 || 11,454,000 || 10,312,000 || 10,402,000 || 51,500,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2014 Report">{{Cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Judith |last2=Au |first2=Tsz Yin (Gigi) |last3=Chang |first3=Beth |last4=Cheu |first4=Linda |last5=Elsea |first5=Daniel |last6=LaClair |first6=Kathleen |last7=Lock |first7=Jodie |last8=Linford |first8=Sarah |last9=Miller |first9=Erik |title=TEA/AECOM 2014 Theme Index & Museum Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2014_Theme_Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115095028/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2014_Theme_Index.pdf |archive-date=2015-11-15 |access-date=June 4, 2015 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) |last10=Nevin |first10=Jennie |last11=Papamichael |first11=Margreet |last12=Pincus |first12=Jeff |last13=Robinett |first13=John |last14=Sands |first14=Brian |last15=Selby |first15=Will |last16=Timmins |first16=Matt |last17=Ventura |first17=Feliz |last18=Yoshii |first18=Chris}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2015 || 20,492,000 || 11,798,000 || 10,828,000 || 10,922,000 || 54,040,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2015 Report">{{Cite web |year=2015 |title=TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2015_Theme_Index__Museum_Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703150307/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2015_Theme_Index__Museum_Index.pdf |archive-date=July 3, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2016 || 20,395,000 || 11,712,000 || 10,776,000 || 10,844,000 || 53,727,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2016 Report">{{Cite web |last1=Au |first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi) |last2=Chang |first2=Bet |last3=Chen |first3=Bryan |last4=Cheu |first4=Linda |last5=Fischer |first5=Lucia |last6=Hoffman |first6=Marina |last7=Kondaurova |first7=Olga |last8=LaClair |first8=Kathleen |last9=Li |first9=Shaojin |date=June 1, 2017 |title=TEA/AECOM 2016 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016-ThemeMuseum-Index.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624184513/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016-ThemeMuseum-Index.pdf |archive-date=2017-06-24 |access-date=July 26, 2017 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |first10=Sarah |last10=Linford |first11=George |last11=Marling |first12=Erik |last12=Miller |first13=Jennie |last13=Nevin |first14=Margreet |last14=Papamichael |first15=John |last15=Robinett |first16=Judith |last16=Rubin |first17=Brian |last17=Sands |first18=William |last18=Selby |first19=Matt |last19=Timmins |first20=Feliz |last20=Ventura |first21=Chris |last21=Yoshii}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2017 || 20,450,000 || 12,200,000 || 10,722,000 || 12,500,000 || 55,872,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2017 Report">{{Cite web |year=2017 |title=TEA/AECOM 2017 Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602201150/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |access-date=May 27, 2018 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2018 || 20,859,000 || 12,444,000 || 11,258,000 || 13,750,000 || 58,311,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="2018 Report">{{Cite web |last1=Au |first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi) |last2=Chang |first2=Bet |last3=Chen |first3=Bryan |last4=Cheu |first4=Linda |last5=Fischer |first5=Lucia |last6=Hoffman |first6=Marina |last7=Kondaurova |first7=Olga |last8=LaClair |first8=Kathleen |last9=Li |first9=Shaojin |date=May 28, 2019 |title=TEA/AECOM 2018 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_328_381804_190528.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111194113/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_328_381804_190528.pdf |archive-date=2019-11-11 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |first10=Sarah |last10=Linford |first11=George |last11=Marling |first12=Erik |last12=Miller |first13=Jennie |last13=Nevin |first14=Margreet |last14=Papamichael |first15=John |last15=Robinett |first16=Judith |last16=Rubin |first17=Brian |last17=Sands |first18=William |last18=Selby |first19=Matt |last19=Timmins |first20=Feliz |last20=Ventura |first21=Chris |last21=Yoshii}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2019 || 20,963,000 || 12,444,000 || 11,483,000 || 13,888,000 || 58,778,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2019 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2019.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105082032/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2019.pdf |archive-date=2020-11-05 |access-date=March 14, 2022 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2020 || 6,941,000 || 4,044,000 || 3,675,000 || 4,166,000 || 18,826,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2020 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923120013/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2020.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-23 |access-date=March 14, 2022 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2021 || 12,691,000 || 7,752,000 || 8,589,000 || 7,194,000 || 36,226,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="Report 2022">{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2022 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628171310/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2022|| 17,133,000 || 10,000,000 || 10,900,000 ||9,027,000 || 47,060,000 || style="text-align:center"|<ref name="Report 2022" />
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2023 || 17,720,000 || 11,980,000 || 10,300,000 || 8,770,000 || 48,770,000 || style="text-align:center" |<ref name="Report 2023">{{Cite web |title=TEA/AECOM 2023 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report |url=https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2023.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911074210/https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2023.pdf |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association}}</ref>
|-
|}

== Operations ==
=== Transportation ===
{{Disney Transport|collapse=yes}}
[[File:WDW Monorail.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Walt Disney World Monorail System]] provides free transport across the resort.|alt=]]
The Walt Disney World Resort is serviced by [[Disney Transport]], a complimentary [[Public transport|mass transportation system]] allowing guest access across the property. The fare-free system utilizes buses, monorails, gondola lifts, watercraft, and parking lot trams.

The [[Walt Disney World Monorail System]] provides free transportation at Walt Disney World; guests can board the monorail and travel between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, including select on-property resorts such as the [[Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa|Grand Floridian]] and the [[Disney's Polynesian Village Resort|Polynesian Village]]. The system operates on three routes that interconnect at the [[Transportation and Ticket Center]] (TTC), adjacent to the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. Disney Transport owns a fleet of Disney-operated [[bus]]es on the property, that is also complimentary for guests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Disney Days {{!}} Discover Disney In A New Way! |url=https://mydisneydays.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126154114/https://mydisneydays.com/ |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=My Disney Days |language=en-US}}</ref>

A [[gondola lift]] system, dubbed [[Disney Skyliner]], opened in 2019. The system's three lines connect [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] and EPCOT with four resort hotels.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russon |first=Gabrielle |title=Disney's gondola system picks up $3.8 million worth of electrical work |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-gondola-cost-20180124-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612152409/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-gondola-cost-20180124-story.html |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |work=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref>

Disney Transport also operates a fleet of watercraft, ranging in size from [[water taxi]]s, up to the [[Ferry|ferries]] that connect the [[Magic Kingdom]] to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Disney Transport is also responsible for maintaining the fleet of [[Trackless train|parking lot trams]] that are used for shuttling visitors between the various theme park parking lots and their respective main entrances.

In addition to its free transportation methods, in conjunction with [[Lyft]], Walt Disney World also offers a [[vehicle for hire]] service for a fee. The Minnie Van Service are [[Chevy Traverse]]s dressed in a [[Minnie Mouse]] red-and-white polka dot design that can accommodate up to six people and have two carseats available to anyone that is within the Walt Disney World Resort limits. Cast members can install the car seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnie Van™ Service |url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/minnie-van-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210237/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/minnie-van-service/ |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |website=Walt Disney World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lyft-Powered Minnie Van™ Service Launches at Walt Disney World |work=Lyft Blog |url=https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-powered-minnie-van-disney |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801002423/https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-powered-minnie-van-disney |archive-date=1 August 2017 |publisher=Lyft}}</ref> Some of the unique advantages that the Minnie Van Service offers over a normal ride share is the ability to be dropped off in the Magic Kingdom bus loop (instead of at the TTC like the other ride shares) and being able to ride to any point in [[Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground|Fort Wilderness.]]

=== Energy use ===
Walt Disney World requires an estimated {{Convert|1|e9kWh|e9MJ|abbr=off}} of electricity annually, costing the company nearly $100 million in annual energy consumption.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conca |first=James |date=February 21, 2019 |title=Disney World Could Have Gone Nuclear |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2019/02/21/disney-world-could-have-gone-nuclear/#3bed2e3c5393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222114723/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2019/02/21/disney-world-could-have-gone-nuclear/#3bed2e3c5393 |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2019 |work=Forbes}}</ref> In addition to relying primarily on fossil fuels and nuclear energy from the state's power grid, Walt Disney World has two [[Photovoltaic power station|solar energy facilities]] on property; a {{Convert|22|acre|sqmi km2|adj=on}} [[Mickey Mouse]]-shaped [[solar panel]] farm near EPCOT, and a {{Convert|270|acre|sqmi km2|adj=on}} facility near Disney's Animal Kingdom.<ref name="Forbes Clean Energy">{{Cite news |last=Hiller |first=Jake |date=January 28, 2019 |title=Why Disney World Is Betting On Clean Energy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2019/01/28/why-disney-world-is-betting-on-clean-energy/#41dcfc7c6722 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308081412/https://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2019/01/28/why-disney-world-is-betting-on-clean-energy/#41dcfc7c6722 |archive-date=March 8, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2019 |work=Forbes}}</ref> The larger facility produces enough [[solar energy]] to provide electricity to two of the resort's theme parks. The sites are operated by [[Duke Energy]] and the [[Central Florida Tourism Oversight District]], respectively.<ref name="Forbes Clean Energy" />

The entire [[Disney Transport]] bus fleet uses R50 renewable [[diesel fuel]], obtained from used cooking oil and non-consumable [[food waste]] from the resort.<ref name="Forbes Clean Energy" />

=== Self-Government and security ===
[[File:Walt Disney World Security Vehicle.jpg|thumb|left|Disney security vehicle, picture taken July 2, 2009 in front of Epcot]]
Disney's security personnel are generally dressed in typical security guard uniforms, though some of the personnel are dressed as tourists in plain clothes. Since [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]], uniformed security has been stationed outside each Disney park in Florida to search guests' bags as they enter the parks. Starting April 3, 2017, bag checkpoints have been placed at Magic Kingdom's resort monorail entryways and the Transportation and Ticket Center's ferry entry points prior to embarkation as well as the walkway from Disney's Contemporary Resort. Guests arriving at the Transportation and Ticket Center by tram or tour bus will be screened at the former tram boarding areas. Guests arriving by Disney Resort hotel bus or [[Disney Transport#Minnie Van|Minnie Van]] have their own bag check just outside the bus stops. Guests arriving via Magic Kingdom Resort boat launch are bag checked on the arrival dock outside Magic Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New bag check areas greatly enhance Magic Kingdom arrival experience |url=https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news/03apr2017-photos---new-bag-check-areas-greatly-enhance-magic-kingdom-arrival-experience.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714113241/https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news/03apr2017-photos---new-bag-check-areas-greatly-enhance-magic-kingdom-arrival-experience.htm |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |access-date=July 12, 2019 |publisher=Walt Disney World}}</ref>

The land where Walt Disney World resides is part of the [[Central Florida Tourism Oversight District]] (CFTOD), known until 2023 as the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), a governing jurisdiction created in May 1967 by the State of Florida at the request of Disney.<ref>{{Cite news |title=RCID Created |url=https://www.rcid.org/history/the-reedy-creek-improvement-district/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423114534/https://www.rcid.org/history/the-reedy-creek-improvement-district/ |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Reedy Creek Improvement}}</ref><ref name="reedycreekgone" /> CFTOD provides 911 services, fire, environmental protection, building code enforcement, utilities and road maintenance, but does not provide law enforcement services. The approximately 800 security staff are instead considered employees of the Walt Disney Company. Arrests and citations are issued by the [[Florida Highway Patrol]] along with the [[Orange County Sheriff's Office (Florida)|Orange County]] and Osceola County sheriffs deputies who patrol the roads. Disney security does maintain a fleet of security vans equipped with flares, traffic cones, and chalk commonly used by police officers. These security personnel are charged with traffic control by the CFTOD and may only issue personnel violation notices to Disney and CFTOD employees, not the general public.<ref name="married 2">{{Cite book |last=Foglesong |first=Richard E. |title=Married to the Mouse |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-300-09828-0 |pages=69,139}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Florida Supreme Court |title=Southern Reporter. Second Series |publisher=West Pub. Co. |others=Alabama. Supreme Court, Alabama. Court of Appeals, Florida. Supreme Court, Louisiana. Courts of Appeal, Louisiana. Supreme Court, Florida. District Court of Appeals, Mississippi. Supreme Court}}</ref>

Despite the appearance of the uniformed security personnel, they are not considered a legal law enforcement agency. Disney and the Reedy Creek Improvement District were sued for access to Disney Security records by Bob and Kathy Sipkema following the death of their son at the resort in 1994. The court characterized Disney security as a "night watchman" service, not a law enforcement agency, meaning it is not subject to Florida's open records laws. An appeals court later upheld the lower court's ruling.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pastor |first=James F. |title=Security Law and Methods |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7506-7994-7 |pages=505–512}}</ref>

In late 2015, Disney confirmed the addition of randomized secondary screenings and dogs trained to detect body-worn explosives within parks, in addition to metal detectors at entrances. It has also increased the number of uniformed security personnel at Walt Disney World and Disneyland properties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louissant |first=Moise |title=The Walt Disney Company: A Case Study in Private Security Trends |url=https://fastguardservice.com/a-case-study-in-private-security-trends/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203164522/https://fastguardservice.com/a-case-study-in-private-security-trends/ |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=January 29, 2016 |publisher=Fast Guard Service}}</ref>

Disney Security personnel in Florida have investigated traffic accidents and issued accident reports. The forms used by Disney Security may be confused with official, government forms by some.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}

The [[Orange County Sheriff's Office (Florida)|Orange County Sheriff]] maintains an office on Disney property, but this is primarily to process guests accused of [[shoplifting]] by Disney security personnel.<ref name="Betrayed">{{Cite book |last1=Schweizer |first1=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/65 |title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed: Greed, Corruption, and Children at Risk |last2=Rochelle Schweizer |publisher=Regnery Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-89526-387-2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/65 65–68]}}</ref>

Although the scattering of ashes on Disney property is illegal, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported in October 2018 that Walt Disney World parks were becoming a popular spot for families to scatter the ashes of loved ones, with [[The Haunted Mansion]] at Magic Kingdom being the favorite location. The practice is unlawful and prohibited on Disney property, and anyone spreading [[Cremation|cremated remains]] is escorted from the park.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwartzel |first=Eric |date=October 24, 2018 |title=Disney World's Big Secret: It's a Favorite Spot to Scatter Family Ashes |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-worlds-big-secret-its-a-favorite-spot-to-scatter-family-ashes-1540390229 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025193022/https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-worlds-big-secret-its-a-favorite-spot-to-scatter-family-ashes-1540390229 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

On April 22, 2022, the Walt Disney Company's self-governing authority of all the area surrounding Walt Disney World came to an end after Florida Governor [[Ron DeSantis]] signed into law legislation requiring Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District to come under the legal jurisdiction of the state of Florida on June 1, 2023.<ref name="reedycreekgone" /><ref name="selfgovernancegone" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=DeForest |first=Mike |date=July 11, 2022 |title=Future of Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District remains uncertain |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/11/future-of-disneys-reedy-creek-improvement-district-remains-uncertain/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126231802/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/07/11/future-of-disneys-reedy-creek-improvement-district-remains-uncertain/ |archive-date=November 26, 2022 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |publisher=[[WKMG-TV|ClickOrlando]]}}</ref>

===Corporate culture===
Walt Disney World's corporate culture uses [[jargon]] based on [[Stagecraft|theatrical terminology]].<ref name="Sehlinger">{{cite book|title=The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014|date=2014|publisher=Keen Communications|location=Birmingham, AL|isbn=9781628090000|pages=[https://archive.org/details/unofficialguidet0000sehl/page/14 14–15]|first1=Bob|last1=Sehlinger|first2=Len|last2=Testa|url=https://archive.org/details/unofficialguidet0000sehl/page/14}}</ref><ref name="Mohney">{{cite book|last=Mohney|first=Chris|title=Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Walt Disney World|url=https://archive.org/details/frommersirrevere0000mohn|url-access=registration|date=2006|publisher=Wiley Publishing, Inc.|location=Hoboken, NJ|isbn=9780470089880|page=[https://archive.org/details/frommersirrevere0000mohn/page/115 115]}}</ref> For example, park visitors are always "guests", employees are called "Cast Members", rides are "attractions" or "experiences", cast members costumed as famous Disney characters in a way that does not cover their faces are known as "face characters", jobs are "roles", and public and nonpublic areas are respectively labeled "onstage" and "backstage".<ref name="Sehlinger" /><ref name="Mohney" />

=== Closures ===
Walt Disney World has had 13 unscheduled closures, 11 of which have been due to hurricanes:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooks |first=Danielle |date=September 8, 2017 |title=Disney World to close for fifth time in history in preparation for Hurricane Irma |url=https://wtkr.com/2017/09/08/disney-world-to-close-for-fifth-time-in-history-in-preparation-for-hurricane-irma/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126061243/https://wtkr.com/2017/09/08/disney-world-to-close-for-fifth-time-in-history-in-preparation-for-hurricane-irma/ |archive-date=January 26, 2019 |access-date=January 25, 2019 |publisher=WTKR-TV}}</ref>

* September 15, 1999, due to [[Hurricane Floyd]]
* September 11, 2001, after the [[September 11 attacks]] in New York City, Shanksville, and Washington, D.C.
* August 13, 2004, due to [[Hurricane Charley]]
* September 4–5, 2004, due to [[Hurricane Frances]]
* September 26, 2004, due to [[Hurricane Jeanne]]
* October 25, 2005, in the morning, due to [[Hurricane Wilma]]
* October 7, 2016, due to [[Hurricane Matthew]]
* September 10–11, 2017, due to [[Hurricane Irma]]
* September 3, 2019, for about half the day (with the exception of Epcot and Disney Springs), due to [[Hurricane Dorian]]
* March 15<ref name="WESH">{{Cite news |date=March 13, 2020 |title=Walt Disney World to close over coronavirus concerns |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/disney-world-closing/31453741 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314071328/http://www.wesh.com/article/disney-world-closing/31453741 |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |access-date=March 16, 2020 |work=[[WESH]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |date=March 12, 2020 |title=Walt Disney World closes, paralyzing the company's tourism empire |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313034906/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2020 |website=CNN Business}}</ref> – July 11, 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughing Place Staff |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Live Blog: Walt Disney World Presents Reopening Plans to Orange County Economic Recovery Taskforce |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/05/27/live-blog-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-presentation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711003633/https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/05/27/live-blog-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-presentation/ |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |access-date=May 27, 2020 |website=Laughing Place}}</ref> (excluding Disney Springs, which reopened on May 19, 2020<ref name="Disney Springs D23 COVID-19 reopening">{{Cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Jeffery |last2=March |first2=Ryan |date=2020-05-19 |title=Welcome Back to Disney Springs |url=https://d23.com/welcome-back-to-disney-springs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609112221/https://d23.com/welcome-back-to-disney-springs/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-21 |website=[[D23 (Disney)|D23]] |publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>)
* September 28–29, 2022, due to [[Hurricane Ian]]
* November 9–10, 2022, phased closure from the evening of November 9 until noon of the next day, due to [[Hurricane Nicole (2022)|Hurricane Nicole]]
* October 9–10, 2024, phased closure from afternoon of October 9, due to [[Hurricane Milton]]

Like [[Disneyland Resort|its sister resort]], parks at the resort may close early to accommodate various special events, such as special press events, tour groups, VIP groups, and private parties. It is common for a corporation to rent entire parks for the evening. In such cases, special passes are issued which are valid for admission to all rides and attractions. At the ticket booths and on published schedules, the guests are notified of the early closures. Then, cast members announce that the parks are closing, sometime before the private event starts, and clear the parks of guests who do not have the special passes.

In October 2020, it was revealed that full capacity attendance was still not permitted, following the COVID-19 closure which occurred earlier in the year.<ref name="capped" /> In July 2021, Disney World announced that all its staff workers in the United States would have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to return to work. It also announced that those who are unvaccinated would have a period of time to get their shots and aimed to return to full capacity for people who are immunized.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Ryan |date=31 July 2021 |title=Disney to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations for All U.S. Staffers |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-requiring-all-employees-be-vaccinated-1234990995/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731140635/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-requiring-all-employees-be-vaccinated-1234990995/ |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021 |work=[[Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

== Climate ==
{|
|-
|{{climate chart
| Walt Disney World Airport
| 10| 19| 41
| 12| 22| 52
| 15| 25| 70
| 17| 28| 91
| 20| 30| 140
| 21| 29| 314
| 22| 30| 226
| 21| 29| 219
| 22| 27| 254
| 19| 27| 58
| 14| 24| 66
| 11| 20| 41
|float=left
|clear=left
|source = <ref name="nasa">{{Cite web |title=NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index |url=http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806035941/http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=30 January 2016 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>
}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Florida tourism industry]]
* [[Minimum-gauge railway#Large amusement railways|Large amusement railways]]
* [[List of Disney attractions that were never built]]
* [[List of Disney theme park attractions]]
* [[List of incidents at Walt Disney World]]
* [[Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]]
* [[Walt Disney Travel Company]]
* ''[[The Walt Disney World Explorer]]''
* [[Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{official website}}

{{Walt Disney World}}
{{WDW Resorts}}
{{Theme Parks of Florida}}
{{Disney Experiences}}
{{Disney}}
{{Subject bar |book=Walt Disney World Resort| commons= Category:Walt Disney World Resort|d=Q206859|d-search=Q206859 |voy=Walt Disney World|n=Walt Disney World|portal1=Disney |portal3=Florida |portal4=Trains |portal5=Transport |portal6=Animals |portal7=United States}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Walt Disney World| ]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Amusement parks in Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Amusement parks opened in 1971]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lake Buena Vista, Florida]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Osceola County, Florida]]
[[Category:Resorts in Florida]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Orange County, Florida]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Osceola County, Florida]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]]
[[Category:Walt Disney]]