Disney World Resort Overview
Walt Disney World Resort is a globally renowned entertainment complex located in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Spanning an expansive area, 25,000 acres (39 sq mi; 101 km2), To put this into perspective, it is approximately twice the size of Manhattan or nearly the same size as the city of San Francisco.
Let’s take a look at Disney World by the numbers, because Disney World statistics numbers can be pretty impressive as the largest private employer in Florida.
Opened the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.
Historical Significance: The resort was conceptualized by Walt Disney himself and opened its doors to the public on October 1, 1971. Since then, it has become one of the most iconic and beloved entertainment destinations in the world, captivating visitors of all ages with its timeless magic and innovation.
Size: The Walt Disney World Resort is an astonishingly large property, spanning over 25,000 acres (39 square miles) of land. To put this into perspective, it is approximately twice the size of Manhattan or nearly the same size as the city of San Francisco.
Disney World Parks Opening Dates
- Magic Kingdom:
- Opening Date: October 1, 1971
- Estimated Maximum Attendance Capacity: Approximately 90,000 guests
- Epcot:
- Opening Date: October 1, 1982
- Estimated Maximum Attendance Capacity: Approximately 110,000 guests
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Opening Date: May 1, 1989 (originally opened as Disney-MGM Studios)
- Estimated Maximum Attendance Capacity: Approximately 100,000 guests
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
- Opening Date: April 22, 1998
- Estimated Maximum Attendance Capacity: Approximately 105,000 guests
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon:
- Opening Date: June 1, 1989
- Estimated Maximum Attendance Level: Approximately 6,000 to 8,000 guests
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach:
- Opening Date: April 1, 1995
- Estimated Maximum Attendance Level: Approximately 6,000 to 8,000 guests
Disney World Attendance Numbers (2022 park attendance)
Theme park attendance in North America in 2022 was up 32%.
Magic Kingdom 17.13 million visitors in 2022, an increase of 35%
Animal Kingdom 9.02 million visitors in 2022, an increase of 25%
EPCOT 10 million visitors in 2022, an increase of 29%
Disney Hollywood Studios 10.9 million visitors in 2022, and increase of 27%
Disney World Castmembers (Employees Statistics)
Disney World Number of Castmembers:
When the Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971, approximately 5,500 cast members worked at Walt Disney World Resort. In 2023, the company employs 75,000 cast members making Disney the largest single-site employer in the United States and in the state of Florida
Disney World Hourly Castmember Pay:
As of July 1, 2023 the minimum starting hourly wage for Disney World workers is $17, significantly higher than Florida’s state minimum wage of $11, which will rise to $12 in September 2023.
Walt Disney World Works will receive $18 an hour by the end of 2023. Then, over the next three years, workers will see additional bumps of $2.50 to $5.60 per hour.
Disney Park Statistics
2019 Disney annual attendance report:
Walt Disney World had 58.77 million visitors.
Magic Kingdom Statistics
Average Daily Attendance 57,000
Park Size: 107 Acres
Epcot Statistics
Average Daily Attendance 34,000
Park Size: 300 Acres
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Statistics
Average Daily Attendance 31,500
Park Size: 154 Acres
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Statistics
Average Daily Attendance 38,000
Park Size: 580 Acres
On Property Disney World Resort Hotels
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 1,920
- Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Larger-than-life Disney movie-themed icons, Fantasia-themed pool area.
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 1,604
- Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Immersive music-themed decor, guitar-shaped Calypso pool.
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 1,920
- Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Sports-themed accommodations, themed pools inspired by different sports.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge:
- Number of Rooms: 972
- Location: Animal Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: African savannah views, extensive African art collection, wildlife spotting, themed pools.
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 1,984
- Location: Wide World of Sports Resort Area
- Notable Features: Immersive theming celebrating beloved Disney animated films, family suites, themed pools.
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 576
- Location: Epcot Resort Area
- Notable Features: Beachside New England charm, shared amenities with Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, water park-like pool.
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort:
Number of Rooms: 621
Location: Epcot Resort Area, within walking distance of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. - Disney’s BoardWalk Inn:
- Number of Rooms: 378
- Location: Epcot Resort Area
- Notable Features: Early 20th-century Atlantic City boardwalk theme, lively entertainment district, carnival games.
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 1,536
- Location: Disney Springs Resort Area
- Notable Features: Tropical island-themed resort, Fuentes del Morro pool area, scenic lakeside setting.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 655
- Location: Magic Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Iconic A-frame structure, monorail access, rooftop dining at California Grill.
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 1,915
- Location: Disney Springs Resort Area
- Notable Features: Spanish-colonial-themed resort, lakeside setting, Gran Destino Tower, a variety of dining options.
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground:
- Number of Rooms: 799 campsites and 409 cabins
- Location: Magic Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Rustic wilderness-themed resort, outdoor activities, horseback riding, campground experience.
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
- Number of Rooms: 867
- Location: Magic Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Victorian elegance, luxury spa, character dining at 1900 Park Fare, direct monorail access.
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 761
- Location: Disney Springs Resort Area
- Notable Features: Key West-inspired architecture, spacious villas, Olivia’s Cafe, golf course.
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 847
- Location: Magic Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: South Pacific-themed resort, tropical gardens, water pageants, popular dining options.
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 2,880
- Location: Wide World of Sports Resort Area
- Notable Features: Nostalgic pop culture-themed decor spanning the 1950s to the 1990s, Hippy Dippy pool.
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter:
- Number of Rooms: 1,008
- Location: Disney Springs Resort Area
- Notable Features: New Orleans French Quarter ambiance, Mardi Gras-themed pool, Sassagoula Floatworks food court.
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside:
- Number of Rooms: 2,048
- Location: Disney Springs Resort Area
- Notable Features: Southern charm and rural Louisiana theming, Ol’ Man Island pool, fishing excursions.
- Disney’s Riviera Resort:
- Number of Rooms: 300
- Location: Epcot Resort Area
- Notable Features: European-inspired resort, rooftop dining at Topolino’s Terrace, Disney Skyliner access.
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
- Number of Rooms: 1,260
- Location: Disney Springs Resort Area
- Notable Features: Equestrian-themed resort, treehouse villas, The Spa at Saratoga Springs, High Rock Spring pool.
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge:
- Number of Rooms: 729
- Location: Magic Kingdom Resort Area
- Notable Features: Rustic Pacific Northwest lodge-style theme, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, Silver Creek Springs pool.
Disney World Media Resources:
Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar
(Estimated Crowd levels for each Disney World Theme Park for the next 12 months)
Disney World LIVE Ride Wait Times
(Click on the Disney aPark for todays date to see each rides live wait times and park hours)
Disney World Resort and Park Maps
(PDF Disney Parks and Resort Maps)
How to become a Disney Travel Agent
Sources:
Forbes