Understanding how big WDW is

[nan1217]

Before your first trip, did you have ANY idea it would be so big? It was my biggest mistake by far because I didn't allow enough time for transportation.

From http://wdwprepschool.com/lets-talk-about-how-big-disney-world-is/

You can do all of the reading and planning you want, but you can’t fully appreciate the size of Disney World until you’ve been.

Let me attempt to put it in some perspective.

Disney World is over 40 square miles, about the size of San Francisco and twice the size of Manhattan

When people say “I’m going to check into my Disney hotel and then walk over to [insert any park]…” it can often sound just as crazy as saying you’re checking into your hotel in the Sunset District part of San Francisco and then walking to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Allow for an hour each way for transportation (you may not always need that much, but it’s a good rule) and don’t count on walking between places much at all.

Compared to Disneyland

If you’ve been to Disneyland, you should know that the whole Disneyland resort area (which includes the 2 parks, 3 hotels and Downtown Disney) is about 500 acres.

Disney World (which includes 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Disney Quest, Downtown Disney and 21 hotels) is over 25,000 acres.

Also, the entrance to the 2 Disneyland theme parks is just a few hundred feet apart. The entrances to the Disney World theme parks are miles apart and require a 10-30 minute commute.

You can’t walk to any theme parks from any Disney hotel (with a few exceptions)

To reach any theme park, you will need to use Disney transportation or drive.

The only time you can walk to a theme park is if:
- you’re staying at the Contemporary and can walk to Magic Kingdom
- you’re staying a Boardwalk-area hotel and can walk to the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT and to Hollywood Studios (though many will prefer to take the ferry to HS due to the distance)

Side note: you can’t walk to much of anything within Disney World if you’re staying off-site. The only exception would be Downtown Disney, if you happen to be staying in a hotel near there.

There are over 30,000 hotel rooms on-site

If you ever hear me (and many others) preaching about avoiding Extra Magic Hours, it’s because there are so many people on-site that will be using them. With over 30,000 on-site hotel rooms, that’s the opportunity to have over 100,000 people focused mostly on the same EMH park.

Other random stats:

- There are over 62,000 cast members working at Disney World
- Over 250 buses are used for Disney transportation
- There is over 70 miles of roads within Disney World

As you’re making your plans, be sure to pare it down to what’s possible given the amount of time it will take you to get from place to place.

 

[kaligal]

People who do no planning probably don't know, but I think most DISers do.

That "twice the size of Manhattan" thing has been in the UG for many, many years and has been repeated by many people.

The size of Disney is frequently mentioned on the boards.

Anyone you talk to who has been to WDW will tell you.

You really have to like NO planning in order to have not known.

 

[t_catt11]

People who do no planning probably don't know, but I think most DISers do.

That "twice the size of Manhattan" thing has been in the UG for many, many years and has been repeated by many people.

The size of Disney is frequently mentioned on the boards.

Anyone you talk to who has been to WDW will tell you.

You really have to like NO planning in order to have not known.

Yeah, but it's one thing to read somewhere that WDW is huge - it's another to live it.

I have been four times for a total of 40+ days... and I had never come across the Manhattan line (to my admittedly unreliable memory).

 

[disnut8]

The size gets mentioned often for those of us who are on here a lot but it's still something most guests just don't "get". I will refer to my daughter-in-law. My son told her so many times about the four parks, the two water parks, the dozens of resorts, etc. She didn't "get" it. She knew but it wasn't until we were in the car driving from Fort Wilderness Cabins to Animal Kingdom Lodge, that she realized we were in Disney World the entire time. Then she "got" it. When we returned home, I researched a bit and then I "got" why she was confused. Disney World is actually larger than her hometown. Now, if she had known that before we left, she might have "gotten" it.

 

[miprender]

The size gets mentioned often for those of us who are on here a lot but it's still something most guests just don't "get". I will refer to my daughter-in-law. My son told her so many times about the four parks, the two water parks, the dozens of resorts, etc. She didn't "get" it. She knew but it wasn't until we were in the car driving from Fort Wilderness Cabins to Animal Kingdom Lodge, that she realized we were in Disney World the entire time. Then she "got" it. When we returned home, I researched a bit and then I "got" why she was confused. Disney World is actually larger than her hometown. Now, if she had known that before we left, she might have "gotten" it.

Exactly... I don't think you can really grasp it until you are there.

 

[andyman8]

I actually think MOST (not all) people go to WDW understanding how big it is, for that's how Disney advertises it. I think most people are just shocked how "spread out" it is like the WDWPrepSchool article said. Most people know its massive but don't realize that most of it is trees.

 

[Starclassic]

I had been reading and researching everything WDW for nearly 7 years before I finally got the opportunity to go for the first time, so I had a pretty good idea about the general size and how much time to allow for transportation, etc.

 

[blessedby3]

I think most people have no clue how big and spread out WDW really is. When I am talking to people who are planning their first trip, they just cant wrap their head around what I try and tell them. I think you have to actually go there and take it in firsthand. I have been going to WDW since the early 70's and have seen it grow a little at a time. I cant imagine going for the first time and having a grasp on its size and the logistics of getting around the World.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Just for the fun of it, I plotted by road from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Saratoga Springs Resort on Google Earth and it came to 9.11 miles.

 

[skatalite]

I think I've been purposefully psyching myself out on the size of the place.

I'll be at WDW for the first time ever beginning June 13, but I won't be going into the parks until June 16.

I've been reading about how massive the place is, all about the transportation and so on. So, looking at a map of Epcot's World Showcase, I'm picturing that lake to be huge, like 5-miles-around huge. Then I read it was only about 1.5 miles and I'm like, "Oh, well that makes me and my feet feel a lot better about things!"

(Though I know I'll be walking more than that at World Showcase, with popping in and out of pavilions and stores.)

 

[andyman8]

When we went to DLR in '09, we were taken aback by how small it really was. I sort of liked the cozy feeling and the fact that everything was within easy walking distance. Although, we started historically laughing at the small castle as we were used to the "giant" Cinderella Castle.

Again, I find most people understand the size of WDW but they expect to be able to walk everywhere.

 

[dancer_mom]

Ummm yeah- my favorite comparison is when DH and I went to DL for the first time after having been CM's at WDW for 8 months. We stayed at an offsite hotel and because of this we decided we would leave to walk to DL an hour and 15 minutes before opening.

When we walked up to the gates a mere 12 or 13 minutes later we literally started laughing out loud at how hard wired we were to the size of WDW. Needless to say we were the very first people in line at the turnstiles that day.

 

[Sammie]

I do think many don't realize the size of the parks, especially Epcot at 300 acres and AK at 500, though that does include the Savannah.

 

[Robo]

 

[thegib95]

I actually think MOST (not all) people go to WDW understanding how big it is, for that's how Disney advertises it. I think most people are just shocked how "spread out" it is like the WDWPrepSchool article said. Most people know its massive but don't realize that most of it is trees.

DW understood it was big for her first trip in 2009, she knew about the 4 parks, and the amount of attractions in each, we watched TV specials, she knew about the numerous resorts, she even understood that we would be immersed in "Disney World" from the gate, but....

.... none of that prepared her for the grand scale, and even knowing what she knew she didnt understand that from at any given point you couldnt see each hotel, a Castle, a Big Blue Hat, a Giant Sphere and Huge Tree..... But all she had to go on was a Six Flags and Worlds of Fun in KC....

I think for most it has to be a first hand experience to really "Get It"

 

[Bullseye]

Thats why I love having my own vehicle!! There's lots to do/see between parks, resorts, DD, and other. Well marked, easy to navigate!

 

[deegack]

Add my inlaws to those who don't understand the size of wdw. Mil has mobility issues and I've been telling her to rent an ECv. She refuses saying fil can push her wheelchair. Fil has copd and asbestosis. He thinks he knows all about wdw because he went to dl once 20 years ago. I told his the entirety of dl fits in the parking lot for mk at wdw. He doesnt believe me.

 

[m86]

While I think Disney World is great, and more than great, I actually think it is bigger than necessary. Most of it is trees and wasteland. I would actually love to be able to reach more by foot.

If I was going to design a new Disney World today, I would make a compact but diverse Downtown Disney in the centre, with a couple hotels, surrounded by the Theme Parks, all with the entrance facing the downtown, and a subway/monorail system to the Resort Hotels, the Deluxe being in walking distance to the park and the Downtown - further away the Moderate and Value resorts. The transportation system should work so great that parking is only going to be permitted far from the "core". And of course direct fast rail transportation to the airport - that is something that the current Disney World also need!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We understood the scope of the property but wasn't aware of the area that encompassed the Contemporary, Polynesian and MK back then.....yes, there was only the one parks and we were blown away by it.....Our family devoted alot of time to amusement parks (my Dad loved them and taking us as children) with Cedar Point, Euclid Beach Park, Kennywood Park, Conneaut Lake Park right in our back yard so going to see what Disney was all about with the acreage was something new......

I must say, we were taken aback after that first trip and had to go back that October (first trip was in June)....to see all we missed and to stay longer too....just the sights and sounds around the CR (our resort of many trips) was enough of a lure to return.....now thru the years and all the trips (we just did trip 46 in January and are headed back in July for 47) we appreciate all the space between the parks and resorts....makes each jaunt to the different parks like a new adventure......we enjoy the spread outness Disney employed in the layout of the resorts and parks......even after all the trips we've taken, we have never used our car or rented on while at WDW...its one of the draws for us to forget driving and to sit back and let Disney haul us around and drop us at all the parks front doors.....we especially enjoying not seeing and using the parking lots.....

Yes, it's big, and can catch alot of people unprepared but thru the years we realized it is not so much in the planning of a trip than it's actual length of stay....how long you stay makes for a better understanding and enjoyment of seeing alot at a relaxed, carefree vacation instead of the short commando marathon trip of 4 days to get your moneys worth....we would never even consider a trip of less than 9 nights......but, everyone has their way of doing WDW and whatever works for you is your own way......we prefer ours and have been doing it about the same since 1977....

 

[carrie1626]

Very good information.
AND

Everyone who doesn't regularily WALK as exercise should take it up a few months before a WDW trip to build up stamina. The mind might understand the vastness, the feet won't