To the point
Here is a rundown of the different Disney parks worldwide and our tips for getting there with points!
Disney around the world
Is visiting Disney parks worldwide on your bucket list?
Disney has a total of 12 parks around the world.
- Florida, USA: Walt Disney World (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom Hollywood Studios + Disney Spring)
- California, USA: Disneyland Resort (Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure)
- Paris, France : Disneyland Paris (Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park)
- Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea)
- Hong Kong : Hong Kong Disneyland
- Shanghai, China: Shanghai Disneyland
Disney in the United States
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is probably the most iconic park in Disney World because of Cinderella’s castle and the pyrotechnic masterpiece that takes place every night. This castle is probably the most recognizable of the Disney parks worldwide.
Then there are all the classic attractions as well as the magical fireworks shows and enchanting parades; Magic Kingdom has a unique charm.
Magic Kingdom is divided into six distinct areas (or lands) that converge on Main Street, USA and Cinderella Castle.
- Main Street, U.S.A
- Tomorrowland
- Fantasyland
- Frontierland
- Liberty Square
- Adventureland
Several attractions are rated as “must-see” in Magic Kingdom: Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.
Epcot
Epcot has a lot to offer and is often overlooked by Disney World fans. The park is separated into four different areas:
- World Showcase
- World Celebration
- World Nature
- World Discovery
Several festivals are also celebrated at Epcot, depending on the time of year.
For a long time, Epcot was considered an adult park, but kids shouldn’t miss it! These include the Kidcot Fun Stops where little ones can create a souvenir to take home or the Harmonious, a wonderful show.
Animal Kingdom
At Disney World and for all Disney parks worldwide, Animal Kingdom is often a favourite and is named as the best of the parks. Animal Kingdom is home to thousands of animals of different species and you can even go on a safari!
This park has put a lot of emphasis on the themes and settings of the different sections:
- Oasis Discovery Island
- Pandora – The World of Avatar
- Africa
- Asia
- Dinoland U.S.A
Some of the most popular attractions are Expedition Everest and Flight of Passage.
Hollywood Studios
Over the past few years, there have been many positive changes at Disney Hollywood Studios; the addition of the world of Star Wars and Toy Story has been very beneficial to this park.
Indeed, this park has sometimes been a dilemma for parents with young children, as many of the rides and shows are too scary.
- Animation Courtyard
- Commissary Lane
- Echo Lake
- Grand Avenue
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Sunset Boulevard
- Toy Story Land
- Pixar Place
Disney Springs
Disney Spring is not a park but a collection of several “neighbourhoods,” hundreds of stores, restaurants and entertainment facilities. Each neighbourhood has a distinct atmosphere:
- Town Center
- The Landing
- West Side
- Marketplace
There are plenty of special touches for Disney World’s 50th. All the details are here.
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
Disneyland, the original park in Anaheim, California, was founded by Walt Disney in 1955. It is the only park that was entirely designed and built by Walt Disney.
This park has nine lands in the Disney jargon. Although there are recent additions like the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park, there is a divide between this futuristic area and the charm of the original Magic Kingdom is well preserved.
- Main Street, USA
- Adventureland
- New Orleans Square
- Frontierland
- Critter Country
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Fantasyland
- Mickey’s Toontown
- Tomorrowland
Disney California Adventure
This park is a sort of complement to Disneyland.
The most recent additions are at the Avengers Campus where you can find unique attractions like the Guardians of the Galaxy – MISSION: Breakout and the Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure.
Marvel fans should not miss this park.
Go with Reward Points
Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California are the closest resorts. So they’re also more accessible with credit card rewards points whether it’s for a weekend getaway, spring break or a longer trip in the Vineyard State.
The price of flights can vary greatly depending on the time of year. Therefore, in order to pay for flights to the United States with points, it is suggested to accumulate two kinds of currency: Aeroplan points and travel points.
It is not uncommon to see deals on cash tickets from Montreal to Orlando, especially during the off-season. In this case, travel points such as TD Rewards points can be very useful in reducing the cost of the getaway.
Plus, these TD Rewards points are quickly earned with sign-up bonuses on cards like the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card. Finally, the annual fee for these cards is often waived the first year!
These Aeroplan points can be easily earned in two ways:
- Generous credit card welcome bonuses for new customers
- Daily expenses charged to the correct credit card
American Express, TD and CIBC have a variety of credit cards that earn Aeroplan points or points that transfer to Aeroplan. So even if your regular stores don’t accept American Express, you can still earn Aeroplan points without much effort.
Then, Aeroplan credit cards like the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card offer one free bag per person on the booking (up to 8 people)! This is perfect for bringing back Disney souvenirs!
For Costco fans, you can use your TD and CIBC VISA cards at the warehouse to collect Aeroplan points!
The best strategy for earning lots of Aeroplan points quickly with a single credit card is with the American Express Cobalt® Card. This card grants 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases. These Membership Reward Points are easily transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio.
For example, a family of four that budgets $800 for groceries and $200 for gas each month could easily earn 60,000 Aeroplan points per year. So those grocery expenses translate into four round-trip tickets to Orlando and Walt Disney World annually! Your quest to visit the Disney parks worldwide starts very well just by optimizing your current grocery spending!
Does gas also earn 5 points per dollar? Indirectly yes! You will need to carry gas gift cards purchased at the grocery store to have this expense classified at 5 points per dollar instead of paying directly at the pump.
The other costs in all this? Lodging, park tickets and on-site expenses? Check out our ultimate guide for detailed strategies!
Disney in France
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Park
The design of Disneyland Paris makes it one of the most beautiful Disney parks in the world. Indeed, the attention to detail is particularly noteworthy.
Then, Sleeping Beauty’s castle is the most beautiful in my opinion.
Studios Park
This park is part of the Disneyland Paris complex.
The area dedicated to the movie Ratatouille has the architecture of Paris, and you can find a superb restaurant: the Bistrot chez Rémy.
Several new areas are planned by 2025 including the Avengers Campus, Star Wars and Snow Queen.
Go with Reward Points
When considering using Reward Points to travel to Europe, it is also important to determine the class of service you are targeting and how easy it is to earn points.
In fact, Aeroplan points can get you to Paris for about 60,000 points (round trip) per person in economy class. However, it is not uncommon to see fares under $500 – $600 to get to Europe.
So, once again, we will have to turn to travel points that can be applied to our air ticket purchase. For example, you can purchase any flight on their platform or the one of your choice and use NBC Rewards points.
The advantages associated with the National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard® are not to be overlooked either; travel insurance and the famous travel credits are particularly interesting with this card.
Conversely, to travel to Europe in business class, the amount required in points doubles, which is not the case for the Cash fare. Unless there is a mistake, it is rare to find a business class ticket to the Old World for less than $5,000 – $6,000.
However, Aeroplan points are easier to earn, especially if you’re going after credit card welcome bonuses. So, they remain a good option to save on flights for your conquest of visiting Disney parks worldwide.
Disney in Asia
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disneyland
The Tokyo Disney Land park brings together the classics of Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
However, the Japanese touch makes this park more attractive in my opinion: the shows, parades, seasonal events, etc. are hard to top. Indeed, the Japanese attention to detail makes this park one of the best Disney parks in the world.
Finally, two of the park’s most popular attractions are unique to it: Pooh Honey’s Hunt and Monster Inc Ride & Go Seek.
Tokyo Disney Sea
Undeniably, Tokyo Disney Sea is one of the best (even the best) Disney parks worldwide. This park is unique in its decor, atmosphere and attractions.
There is no castle at Tokyo Disney Sea, but you can see the volcano representing the Mysterious Island in the center of the park. Indeed, this park also makes us explore the universe of Jules Vernes, in particular :
- Mysterious Island
- Journey to the center of the Earth
- 20,000 leagues under the sea
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is structured like other Disneylands, but it is probably the most different of the Disney parks worldwide. This park is fairly new and several iconic attractions have been upgraded.
Unlike other parks and Tokyo Disney, there are far fewer shows. Then, the park is rather small which makes it possible to feel a little less of the magic of Disney.
Several interesting expansions are underway at this park: Snow Queen’s Arendelle and Marvel Land.
Shanghai Disneyland
The newest addition to the franchise, Shanghai Disneyland stands out with its more unique architecture. Indeed, Shanghai Disneyland has taken the example of Tokyo Disney by developing a style that is not very “American” or “Hollywood”. For example, unlike other Disneylands, there is no Main Street, USA but a Mickey Avenue.
It is complete with its wide range of rides, great shows and attractions for a relatively new park.
Finally, the Camp Discovery Challenge Trails attraction is a pretty unique experience for a Disney park. This obstacle course takes you through caves, under waterfalls, over cliffs, etc. This is surprising. Don’t worry; you’re well secured with a harness.
Go with Reward Points
When it comes to Disney parks in Asia, ideally you should combine a park visit with a larger trip. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea are among the most unique as is Japan. Indeed, the Japanese archipelago is often cited as a favorite for family trips to Asia.
So here’s how to get to all three Asian parks on the same trip.
Aeroplan’s program is priced according to zones and distances traveled. Then, it is possible to add a few days off for only 5,000 points.
- Segment # 1: Montreal – Shanghai (stop) – Hong Kong (destination)
- Segment # 2: Hong Kong – Tokyo (stop) – Montreal (destination)
For example, if you want to stop in Tokyo, it is possible to filter the results to see only the routes that pass through there.
Once you have found your flight, you can add the stop for only 5,000 more points. Thus, for this route and a stay in Tokyo on this quest to visit Disney parks worldwide, the cost will be 57,500 Aeroplan points (52,500 + 5,000).
Bottom Line
The castles of the Disney parks worldwide are different from each other! Did you notice the differences in the photos in this article?
How many Disney parks are there around the world?
Disney has a total of 12 parks around the world in various destinations.
What are the Disney parks in Florida, USA?
In Florida, the Disney parks are grouped under the name Walt Disney World, including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
What are the Disney parks in California, USA?
In California, you can visit the Disneyland Resort, which includes Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
What are the Disney parks in Paris, France?
In Paris, you will find Disneyland Paris, composed of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.
What are the Disney parks in Tokyo, Japan?
Tokyo Disney Resort offers two parks: Tokyo Disneyland, which features attractions similar to Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Sea, a unique park with an original atmosphere and attractions.
Is there a Disney park in Hong Kong?
Yes, Hong Kong is home to Hong Kong Disneyland, which offers a Disney experience in this area.
Is there a Disney park in Shanghai, China?
Yes, Shanghai Disneyland is the newest Disney park, offering a mix of unique attractions, shows and a distinct atmosphere.
What are the must-see parks at Walt Disney World in Florida?
Among the Walt Disney World parks, Magic Kingdom is the most iconic with classic attractions, fireworks shows and enchanting parades. Other parks to check out are Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, each offering their own unique charm and attractions.
What are the different areas of Disneyland Paris?
Disneyland Paris includes Disneyland Park, which features nine “countries” or themed areas, and Walt Disney Studios Park, which showcases movies and behind-the-scenes entertainment.
How do I use Reward Points to travel to Disney parks around the world?
Credit card rewards points can be used to reduce the cost of travel to Disney parks. Depending on the destination and airlines, you can earn points with loyalty programs such as Aeroplan and travel points. There are also strategies for maximizing point earning, including using specific credit cards and taking advantage of welcome bonuses. Check out our ultimate guide for detailed strategies on using points for Disney parks around the world.
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