How Many Disney Parks Are There: Every Park & Resort Reviewed

There are 12 Disney Parks world wide and 9 Disney Resorts. In this article I breakdown each park and resort.



What Difference Between a Disney Park And a Disney Resort?

A Disney Park is an amusement theme park with rides, tours, and other attractions for people to enjoy. Disney Resorts may include Disney Parks and hotels, lodging, and other amenities. Disney Parks may stand on their own or be part of a larger Disney Resort with other theme parks, hotels, and accommodations. Disney Resorts can also stand alone, without any nearby theme parks.

How many Disney Resorts are there?



Disney Parks

1. Disneyland

Disneyland Park is the first of two theme parks at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It opened on July 17, 1955, and was initially called Disneyland. Throughout the years, it has been called Disneyland Park with the motto: “The Happiest Place on Earth”. The Disney Park consists of nine themed areas or lands. The attractions are Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Mickey’s Toontown, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

2. California Adventure

In the Disney California Adventure Park, also known as California Adventure, the theme celebrates the richness and diversity of California with the motto: “To all who believe in the power of dreams”. Located in Anaheim, California, it opened on February 8, 2001, as the second theme park at the Disneyland Resort. The park has seven main attractions. In addition, there is Buena Vista Street, Pixar Pier, Paradise Gardens, Pacific Wharf, Grizzly Peak, Hollywood Land, and Avengers Campus.

3. Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Park is a Disney Park that focuses on Disney characters and fairy tales. Cinderella Castle is the centerpiece of this park, one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida.  Cinderella Castle is modeled after the fairy tale castle seen in the 1950 film, which leads to the park’s motto: “The Most Magical Place on Earth”. Disney Park contains six different attractions. Among these are Main Street, U.S.A., Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Adventureland.

4. EPCOT

EPCOT is a Disney Park created from an unrealized vision of Walt Disney. EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, and it is often referred to as the “Permanent World’s Fair.” The park’s name suggests that the park celebrates technological innovation and international culture. The four main areas of attraction in this park mirror its four main areas. World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase are just a few examples.

5. Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, and its theme is centered around imagined worlds from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Featuring film, television, music, theater, and drawing inspiration from Hollywood, the park was conceptualized by Marty Sklar, Randy Bright, and Michael Eisner. This park’s main attractions include Animation Courtyard, Commissary Lane, Echo Lake, Grand Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard, Pixar Place, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Sunset Boulevard, and Toy Story Land.

6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a zoological theme park, and it is the fourth at Walt Disney World. As a result, the park’s theme revolves around the natural environment and animal conservation. The park opened on April 22, 1998, and includes traditional attractions and hundreds of live animals. It is divided into seven main sections. Among them are Oasis, Discovery Island, Pandora – The World of Avatar, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, and DinoLand U.S.A.

7. Disneyland Paris

Disney Land Paris is the first of two theme parks located in Disneyland Paris Resort with the slogan: “Where Magic Gets Real.” The park opened on April 12, 1992, as a vacation and recreation resort and is one of Europe’s leading tourist attractions. The resort includes a theme park, seven Disney-owned hotels, Disney Nature Resorts, a shopping, dining, entertainment complex, and a golf course.

8. Walt Disney Studios Park

Walt Disney Studios Park is the second theme park at Disneyland Paris. With the theme “Prepare to be inspired and enchanted. Magic is in the air!”, the theme of this Disney Park revolves around Disney’s fascination and love of cinema and television. As a result, the park features show business, movie themes, productions, and behind-the-scenes experiences. There are five main attractions in the park: Current Studio Lots, Front Lot, Worlds of Pixar, Toon Studio, and Production Courtyard.

9. Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is the largest theme park in Hong Kong, and it is located on reclaimed land in Penny’s Bay on Lantau Island. Although it is the largest theme park in Hong Kong, it gets the fewest visitors out of all Disney parks. This park has the motto “The happiest place on earth. Believe in Magic,” It houses seven main attraction areas. They include Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, and Toy Story Land.

10. Shanghai Disneyland

Disneyland Shanghai is a Disney Park built based on the hub-and-spoke design pioneered by the original Disneyland in California. However, it comes with major differences to avoid conflict with Chinese traditions. Therefore, the park prides itself on being both authentically Disney and uniquely Chinese. The park offers seven major attractions, including Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, and Toy Story Land.

11. Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland, which opened on April 15, 1983, is the first Disney park outside the United States. It is also notable for its spacious grounds. In fact, it can easily accommodate large crowds. Aside from Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland, there are four traditional Disneyland areas at Tokyo Disneyland. Additionally, two mini lands are included, namely Critter Country and Toontown.

12. Tokyo Disney Sea

Tokyo Disney Sea is the fourth most visited theme park in the world, and it is the most expensive one ever built. Having opened its doors on September 4, 2001, this Disney park carries the motto: “Where Imagination and Adventure Set Sail.” Tokyo Disney Sea includes seven main attractions: Mediterranean Harbor, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, American Waterfront, and Fantasy Springs (Future).

Disney Resorts

1. Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort is a Disney resort that houses two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Aside from the theme parks, the resort includes three hotels and shopping, dining, and entertainment areas. With a parking lot of 100 acres, the resort can accommodate 15,167 vehicles. The resort began with Disneyland Park and expanded into the Disneyland Resort, including the entire complex.

2. Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World Resort is a Disney resort known by either Walt Disney World or Disney World. The resort first opened on October 1, 1971, with four theme parks, two water parks, and more than twenty-three resort hotels. There are four theme parks, including Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

3. Disneyland Paris Resort

The Disneyland Paris Resort is a vacation and recreation complex that houses Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. It’s the second Disney resort outside the US and was first opened as Euro Disney Resort on April 12, 1992. A year later, the resort became Disneyland Paris. In addition to the two theme parks, the resort includes entertainment venues, golf courses, hotels, and transportation hubs.

4. Tokyo Disney Resort

The Tokyo Disney Resort is the only Disney resort where Disney holds no ownership stake. The Oriental Land Company owns the resort, which opened on April 15, 1983, but it licenses the Disney name, characters, and attractions from the Walt Disney Company. In addition to the two Disney theme parks, it is home to hotels and shopping centers.

5. Shanghai Disney Resort

Shanghai Disney Resort is the first Disney park and resort in mainland China. It opened on June 16, 2016, housing Shanghai Disneyland Park, two themed hotels, recreational facilities, a lake, an entertainment district, and parking and transportation hubs. Disneytown is the entertainment district, and it’s an area that features many dining, shopping, and entertainment options.

6. Hong Kong Disney Resort

The Hong Kong Disney Resort is a Disney Resort built and owned by Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited. The resort features a remodeled version of Disneyland, housing seven themed areas and a lake recreation center. In addition to Hong Kong Disneyland, the resort includes Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge, and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. The lake is artificial and serves as an irrigation and recreation resource.

7. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: no parks

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is Disney’s first resort outside its Walt Disney World Resort area. It opened on October 1, 1999, with a theme centered on the taste of Old Florida along the Atlantic’s picturesque Treasure Coast. There are 211 rooms and four restaurants at the resort, namely Wind and Waves Grill, Wind and Waves Market, Wind and Waves Bar, and The Green Cabin Room.

8. Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort: no parks

Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort features a rustic theme of South Carolina Lowcountry on a mid-island resort. Cooper, Robertson & Partners designed the resort, which opened on March 1, 1996, as a part of the Disney brand of timeshare resorts. There are activities for children at this Disney Vacation Club and Resort, making it a family-friendly resort.

9. Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii: no parks

The Aulani Resort at Disney World is a beachside resort hotel and the third Disney “stand-alone” hotel in a region without neighboring theme parks. Aulani is a Hawaiian term that means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “with deep messages.” There is a strong focus on the history and traditions of Hawaii at this resort. However, there is also a Disney theme scattered through the area. This resort consists of 359 hotel rooms and 460 time-share villas, spread over 21 acres. Additionally, it has three restaurants: Makahiki, Ulu Cafe, and ‘AMA’AMA.