To the point
Here's an overview of the different Disney Parks worldwide and our tips for getting there with points!
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Disney Parks around the globe. From California’s iconic Disneyland Anaheim to China’s exotic Hong Kong Disneyland and the charming Disneyland Paris, each park offers a unique experience. Discover the surprising number of theme parks and get ready to explore these dreamy worlds.
Number of Disney Parks Worldwide
Is visiting Disney parks worldwide on your bucket list?
Disney, the entertainment industry’s most iconic brand, has a total of 12 theme parks around the world. Each park offers a unique experience, combining the magic of Disney with local culture. This diversity makes Disney parks a destination of choice for millions of visitors every year.
Here are the locations of the various parks:
- 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
Some of the innovations and curiosities at the various Disney theme parks
Cutting-edge technology
In an ever-changing world, Disney parks are no exception. They incorporate the latest technological advances to make your experience not only magical, but practical too. From smart bracelets to sophisticated mobile apps, Disney uses technology to enhance your visit.
- MagicBands in Walt Disney World: These bracelets serve as admission tickets, hotel room keys, and can even be used to make purchases in the park.
- Disney Genie: This application allows you to optimize your day in the Disney parks, by suggesting personalized itineraries.
- Ride SystemsAdvanced attraction systems such as the trackless ride system used in “Ratatouille: The Adventure” at Disneyland Paris, “Pooh’s Hunny Hunt” at Tokyo Disneyland, and the new “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance” at Disneyland and Disney World are considered among the most technologically advanced rides ever created; using a combination of multiple ride systems to develop a coherent narrative experience.
Immersive Experiences
If Disney stands for anything, it’s magic and immersion. Disney parks around the world offer experiences that go far beyond simple rides. Enter fantastic worlds, distant galaxies and exotic jungles, and discover how Disney creates such captivating environments that you forget you’re in the real world.
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: This zone immerses us in the Star Wars universe, with attractions such as “Smugglers Run” and “Rise of the Resistance”.
- Avatar: Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom: A virtual reality experience that lets you fly on a banshee in the world of Avatar using a combination of simulated motion, 3D projections and other sensory effects to create an incredibly immersive experience.
- Toy Story Land: You’re reduced to the size of a toy and explore Andy’s garden, with attractions like “Slinky Dog Dash”.
Sustainability
Disney doesn’t just create imaginary worlds; the company also strives to protect the real world. With initiatives ranging from sustainable agriculture to species conservation, find out how Disney is taking steps to be as green as possible.
- Epcot’s Living with the Land: This educational attraction showcases sustainable farming methods and innovative food production technologies.
- Animal Kingdom: This park is certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is committed to species conservation and sustainability.
Local Culture
One of the most fascinating aspects of Disney Parks worldwide is their ability to integrate local culture while retaining the essence of the Disney brand. Whether in Paris, Tokyo or Shanghai, each park offers a unique local touch that enriches your experience.
- Tokyo DisneySea: One of a kind, this park is inspired by maritime myths and legends and incorporates Japanese culture.
- Shanghai Disneyland: The park was designed with a strong Chinese cultural influence, including a unique version of Sleeping Beauty’s castle and attractions such as “Journey to the Crystal Planet.”
Seasonal Events
Disney Parks are places where the magic never ends, and this is especially true during seasonal events. From sumptuous festivals to vacation celebrations, Disney transforms its parks for every season, offering new reasons to come back all year round.
- Epcot Festivals: The park hosts various festivals throughout the year, including the International Food and Wine Festival and the International Flower and Garden Festival.
- Halloween and Christmas Celebrations: The parks transform themselves for vacations with parades, shows and exclusive products.
Inclusivity
To reflect diversity and inclusion in its parks, Disney has undertaken several initiatives to ensure that every visitor feels represented and welcomed. From new parades to reinventions of classic attractions, Disney adapts to the changing needs of its worldwide audience.
- Reimagining Splash Mountain: The attraction will soon be transformed to showcase the story of “The Princess and the Frog,” featuring Disney’s first African-American princess, Tiana.
- New “Magic Happens” parade at Disneyland celebrates diversity and inclusion with floats and characters representing various cultures.
All these technologies are at the heart of every Disney attraction’s memorable experience, combining the latest technology with masterful storytelling to create genuinely immersive worlds and a unique experience for every visitor.
Disney in the United States
Disney Parks in Orlando
Located in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World is Disney’s largest theme park in the United States. It includes four main parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Each park offers a unique experience. From classic attractions like “It’s a Small World” to modern thrills like “Space Mountain.”
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is probably the most iconic park in Disney World thanks to 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, plus magical fireworks shows and enchanting parades; Magic Kingdom has a special charm all of its own.
Magic Kingdom is divided into six distinct areas (or lands) that converge on Main Street, USA and Cinderella’s 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 out on 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 throughout all the Disney Theme Parks worldwide, Animal Kingdom is often considered a favourite, considered the best of the parks. Animal Kingdom is home to thousands of different species of animals, 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 have been very favourable to this park.
In fact, this park had sometimes been a dilemma for parents with young children, as many of the rides and shows can be frightening.
- 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 theme park but a collection of several “neighbourhoods,” a hundred or more stores, restaurants and entertainment experiences. 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 can be found here.
Disneyland Resort in California
California’s Disneyland Resort was the first Disney park ever built, opening in 1955. It comprises two parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. The original Disneyland Park is where you can find classic attractions like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Haunted Mansion.” Disney California Adventure is the newest park, offering attractions such as “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!” and “Cars Land”.
Disneyland Park
Disneyland, the Walt Disney Company’s original theme park, is located in Anaheim, California, USA. This iconic park opened on July 17, 1955, and was the first of its kind to be built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. It’s easily accessible from Los Angeles and Santa Ana airports and offers a variety of attractions, shows and experiences for visitors of all ages.
This park is made up of nine Disney lands. Although there are recent modern additions like the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park, there is a divide between this futuristic area and the origional Magic Kingdom, preserving its nostalgic charm.
- 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 in ways complementary 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.
This park is not to be missed by Marvel fans.
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. 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 can be transferred to Aeroplan. So even if your regular stores don’t accept American Express, you can still earn Aeroplan points without much effort.
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 in store to collect Aeroplan points!
The best strategy for quickly collecting lots of Aeroplan points with just one 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 effortlessly just by optimizing your current grocery spending!
Does gas also earn 5 points per dollar? Indirectly yes! If you purchase gas gift cards at the grocery store, instead of paying directly at the pump; this expense will be classified at 5 points per dollar.
The other costs to be considered in all of this? Lodging, park tickets and on-site expenses? Check out our ultimate guide for detailed strategies!
Disney in France
Disneyland: How many parks make up Disneyland Paris?
Disneyland Paris is a leisure complex comprising two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.
Disneyland Park
The first of the two parks, it opened it’s doors in 1992. It is divided into five “lands” or theme zones: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland and Discoveryland.
The design of Disneyland Paris makes it one of the most beautiful Disney Parks in the world. The attention to detail is particularly noteworthy.
In my opinion, Sleeping Beauty’s castle is the most beautiful.
Walt Disney Studios Park
This park opened in 2002 and focuses on the world of cinema and entertainment. It is divided into four lots: Front Lot, Toon Studio, Production Courtyard, and Backlot. Attractions include Ratatouille: A Recipe for Adventure and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
The area dedicated to the movie Ratatouille has the iconic architecture of Paris, and in it you can find a superb restaurant; Bistrot Chez Rémy: Typical French Dining with a Rat’s Eye View.
Several new areas are planned by 2025 including the Avengers Campus, Star Wars, and Frozen.
Where is Disneyland Paris?
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town 32 kilometres east of Paris, the capital of France. The complex is easily accessible by various means of transportation, including the RER A train, which takes you directly to the Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy station, just a few minutes’ walk from the park entrance. The park has a large parking lot for those who prefer to drive. Airport shuttles are also available for international visitors arriving via Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
Disneyland Paris’ strategic location makes it a popular destination for French residents as well as tourists from all over Europe. In addition to the two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. There are several hotels, shops, dining, entertainment areas, and much more called Disney Village.
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.
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 towards our airline ticket purchase. For example, you can purchase any flight on their platform or the one you choose and use NBC Rewards points.
The advantages associated with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard® are not to be overlooked either; travel insurance and the famous travel credits are particularly attractive with this card.
Conversely, the amount required in points doubles to travel to Europe in business class, which is not the case for the Cash fare. Unless there is a mistake, finding a business class ticket to the Old World for less than $5,000 – $6,000 is rare.
However, Aeroplan points are easier to earn, especially if you’re going after credit card welcome bonuses. So, they remain an excellent option to save on flights for your conquest of visiting Disney Parks Worldwide.
Disney in Asia
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disneyland
Located in Urayasu, near Tokyo, Tokyo Disney Land combines the classics of Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
However, in my opinion, the Japanese touch makes this park more attractive: 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.
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 (arguably 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 lets 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
Located on the island of Lantau, Hong Kong Disneyland is set-up like other Disneylands but is probably the most different of the Disney Parks worldwide. This park is relatively new, and several iconic attractions have been upgraded.
Unlike other parks and Tokyo Disney, there are far fewer shows. The park is smaller so it’s possible that the magic here may feel a little dimmer than your typical Disney experience.
Several interesting expansions are currently underway at this park: Frozen’s Adventure in Arendelle and Marvel Land.
Shanghai Disneyland
Located in Pudong, Shanghai, the franchise’s latest addition, Shanghai Disneyland, stands out for its unique architecture. 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 or USA, but instead a Mickey Avenue.
For a relatively new park, it is complete with a wide range of rides, great shows, and attractions.
Challenge Trails at Camp Discovery is a unique Disney park experience. This obstacle course takes you through caves, under waterfalls, over cliffs, etc. It is surprising. Don’t worry; you’re well-secured with a harness.
Go with Reward Points
Regarding Disney parks in Asia, ideally, you should combine a park visit with a more extensive trip. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea are among the most unique, as is Japan. In fact, the Japanese archipelago is often cited as a favourite 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. It is also 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).
Future Disney Theme Parks Around the World
Disney has ongoing projects to expand and improve its existing parks. Although the company has not yet confirmed any new parks, rumours of new parks opening in India and Brazil are circulating. Stay tuned for official announcements and opening dates.
Bottom Line
In short, visiting Disney parks worldwide is a magical experience every family should have at least once. Whether you want to marvel at Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom with your children or explore the fantastic worlds of the Tokyo Disney Sea, there’s a Disney park for everyone. The castles of the Disney Parks Worldwide are all different from each other! Did you notice the differences in the photos of this article?
With numerous ticket options and tips on how to use your reward points, your Disney adventure is just a few clicks away.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 4 Walt Disney World 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.
Which is the most beautiful or the best Disney park in the world?
Many consider Disneyland Paris to be the most beautiful Disney park, in large due to its exceptional celebration of detail in the Enchanted Kingdom, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. The attractions are not outdone, as the park remains in the top 3 best parks.
What are the different areas of Disneyland Paris?
Disneyland Paris includes Disneyland Park, which features nine “lands” 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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