Did you know that there are Disney Parks located all across the world? They each have their own specialties and offer something unique to visitors. So let us take a look at just how many Disney Parks there are. Spoiler there is a total of 14 different Disney Parks across the World.
Florida Disney Parks
Of course, we are going to start with my home state of Florida. We have four theme parks and two water parks here in Central Florida. This is the largest of all the Disney Parks locations around the world.
Magic Kingdom
This is the home spot of where fantasy becomes reality. It’s a classic Disney Park filled with many of their classic attractions like Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountian, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more! Many people think of the Magic Kingdom as Disney World, there is so much more.
Epcot
The experimental prototype community of tomorrow. This is the last park that Walt himself dreamed up before he passed. This park is a unique blend of the present and the world of the future. You can catch some high-speed thrills over at Test Track. Then hop aboard a hang glider and soar over all the major wonders of the world on Soarin’. World Showcase is home to 11 different countries where you can fully surround yourself with their local culture. Each country even hosts cast members from that very country.
Hollywood Studios
As the name suggests here you can step into the movies! You can actually live out all your Star Wars dreams in Galaxy’s Edge complete with joining forces with Rey and the resistance to flying the Millenium Falcon. Shrink down to the size of a toy over in Toy Story Land. If you are looking for thrills be sure to head to Sunset Boulevard to ride Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster.
Animal Kingdom
Get in touch with your wild side at the Animal Kingdom. This park is an interesting meld of wildlife and theme park. One of my favorites is to adventure out on to an African Safari and get up close and personal with real animals. If you want to challenge a Yeti, head over for some high-speed thrills on Expedition Everest. Of course, the main highlight of this park is Pandora the World of Avatar. There you can fly on the back of Banshee with Flight of Passage. Or slow things down and head on Navi River Journey.
California Disney Parks
July 1955 is when everything began with Walt Disney opening his first park here in California called Disneyland. When you walk into this park this is just something so historical and classic about the happiest place on earth.
Disneyland
The one that started it all! Disneyland is the original theme park designed and envisioned by Walt Disney himself. Here you can enjoy original Disney classics like “it’s a small world” the very one Disney first debuted at the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Plus this park has the exclusive Matterhorn Bobsleds, you can’t miss it because the mountain actually towers over Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. We love Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion here most, we find them much better than their Florida counterparts. Disneyland has one more land than the Magic Kingdom – New Orleans Square.
California Adventure
When visiting Disneyland of course one must also head over to California Adventure. It’s a park dedicated to celebrating all things Golden State. You can get a little wet on Grizzy River Rapids. Be sure to head over to my favorite section of the park Cars Land. It’s just like stepping into that classic little Route 66 town shown in the Pixar movie Cars. Like Disneyland, this park shares a Florida ride, The Tower of Terror, which has been rethemed to be Guardians of the Galaxy. They also have Soarin, Toy Story Midway Mania and The Little Mermaid.
At night Pixar Pier is the spot to be. The whole place lights up but the real show stopper is catching the World of Color fountain show. Be sure to grab one of Jack Jack’s Nom Nom Cookies to munch on during the show.
Paris, France Disney Parks
Disneyland Paris
This park actually first opened under the name Euro Disney. Disneyland Paris is packed with lots of favorite Disney attractions like Pirates of the Carribean, Space Mountian, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I love how unique the castle is at this park, it’s straight out of a rocky mountainside. Plus in the wintertime here it can even snow! Imagine a snowcovered Disneyland!
Walt Disney Studios
This park is most closely comparable to Hollywood Studios in Florida. They share similar attractions such as Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. They even both have their own version of Toy Story Land. The highlight of this park, in my opinion, is Crush’s Coaster! Hop into a turtle shell and get ready to rip it, roll it and punch it, duuuuude! This is also the original spot of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure which is also opening in Epcot in 2020.
Toyko, Japan Disney Parks
Toyko Disneyland
Japan actually marks the first out of country Disney Park. No expense was spared on the creation of this park and it shows when you see it. Actually you will notice a major difference in the quality here and interestingly this and Disney Sea are the only two parks that The Walt Disney Company doesn’t own or at least have part ownership in. The park, however, was created hand and hand with Disney Imagineering so it has everything quintessential Disney and then some. It has many of the common core lands that Disneyland in California does. The seven themed areas: the World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country, and Mickey’s Toontown.
Disney Sea
Amongst Disney Diehard fans this park always comes out as everyone’s favorite. It has an overall nautical exploration theme to it which is fitting since the whole park is located right along Japan’s coastline. Instead of various lands spread throughout Disney Sea the park is filled with ports of call. While there are many kid options sprinkled throughout the park its overall theme and offerings are targeted towards adults, something no other Disney Park does.
Some of the highlight attractions in this park include Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Soaring Fantastic Flight, Venetian Gondolas and SO MANY MORE!
Hong Kong, China Disney Parks
Hong Kong Disneyland
This is the first Disney park to open in China, it opened to guests, in 2005. Despite the classic Disneyland name, the lands here are different. You see Disney set out to do their best to fold in as much Chinese culture as possible. The park in Hong Kong consists of seven themed areas: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, and Toy Story Land.
This is the first park to get a Marvel attraction! In 2007, Tomorrowland got the Iron Man experience. Mystic Manor is another fan favorite here. It’s their version of the haunted mansion.
Shanghai, China Disney Parks
Shanghai Disneyland
This is the newest of all the Disneyland parks. It opened in 2016 with the largest of all the Disney castles as its centerpiece. The Enchanted Storybook Castle stands at 197 feet tall. Some other things unique to this park is that it has no train that circles the outer perimeter of the park. Also in front of its grand castle is an 11-acre Chinese Zodiac garden.
If you want to learn more about the story behind all these parks I highly recommend checking out the Imagineering Story on Disney+. It gives you the untold stories behind the people who dream up all the magic these parks hold.
I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!
