Walt Disney was a well-known filmmaker who envisioned a new kind of amusement park in which families could spend time together. His dream became a reality when the first Disney theme park, Disneyland, opened in the summer of 1955 in California. Visitors now can select from 10 other Disney theme parks that have been built in five Disney resort locations around the world.
The original park, in Anaheim, Calif., and known as Disneyland Park, includes the same layout as many of the other Disney theme parks around the world. The familiar Cinderella Castle in the center of the park is surrounded by various "lands" that bring the Disney characters and tales to life. Visitors enter magical places with names such as Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland or Main Street, U.S.A., that feature rides, shows, shops, eateries and characters from famous Disney stories.
Disneyland Park
Disneyland Resort
1313 S. Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92802
714-781-7290
disneyland.disney.go.com
Epcot, located in Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., stands for "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow." Epcot was one Walt Disney's final dream theme parks, but he did not live to see the opening in 1982. Plan to spend at least two days exploring Epcot, which covers 300 acres and includes two distinct areas. The front half of the Disney theme park, known as Future World, takes visitors through amazing journeys and interactive exhibits in pavilions with names such as Spaceship Earth, Imagination, The Land, Test Track, Mission Space and Universe of Energy. The back section, World Showcase, features a large lagoon surrounded by 11 pavilions from different countries. Each section resembles the home country in sight, sound and smells, since each features foods, entertainment and wares as well as rides and attractions.
Epcot
Walt Disney World Resort
1200 Epcot Resort Blvd.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
disneyworld.disney.go.com
407-939-6244
Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, located within the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, opened to the public in 1998. Animal Kingdom features a massive "Tree of Life" in the center, encompasses 500 acres and is home to more than 1,700 live animals. Visitors to this Disney theme park can explore seven diverse areas of the park with names like Africa, Asia, Oasis, Discovery Island, Dinoland U.S.A. and Rafiki's Planet Watch. Guests can get up close and personal with real and imaginary animals, enjoy rides and take in shows while "visiting" places far away.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
Walt Disney World Resort
Osceola Parkway
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
disneyworld.disney.go.com
407-939-6244
The Walt Disney Company created the two theme parks in California (Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park) and the four in Florida (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios), but visitors can go to Disney parks outside the United States also. Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan includes Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea theme parks. Disneyland Resort Paris in France features Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort features a smaller version of the original Disneyland theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland.
Disney Family Vacations: Disney Parks
disneyparks.disney.go.com
