'Count' on Having a Waterful Time at Walt Disney World Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The dateline suggests a place of water. And Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista does not disappoint:
There are more than 850 acres of lake featuring nearly 130,000 feet of shoreline. And that’s just on “the surface”: Beneath the surface of the seven largest lakes are a combined 3.122 billion gallons of water.
There are 66 miles of canals. Water parks. The world’s largest enclosed marine environment. Theme park attractions featuring water. Recreation in, on and above the water.
It’s a waterful world, after all. And here are some of the highlights by the numbers …
2.385 billion gallons – that’s the volume of water in Bay Lake and adjoining Seven Seas Lagoon, at a combined 596 acres the two largest lakes at Walt Disney World Resort.
9 – that’s the number of theme park attractions for which guests board boats for a floating adventure: Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Liberty Square Riverboat, It’s a Small World, Norway’s Maelstrom, Living With the Land, El Rio del Tiempo (River of Time), and Kali River Rapids. Also notable: a raft ride across the Rivers of America to Tom Sawyer Island, and the flying pirate ships of Peter Pan’s Flight.
14 (at least!) – that’s the number of other theme park attractions, shows and interactive entertainment during which water plays – or sprays – a memorable role. Here’s the lineup:
Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour (flash flood in Catastrophe Canyon),
“Fantasmic!” (dancing fountains, water screens and shiploads of character drama),
“Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D” (surprise special effects),
“Voyage of the Little Mermaid” (the whole story theme is “Under the Sea”),
“Fountain of Nations” (dramatic, computer-choreographed water ballet in Innoventions Plaza at Epcot),
The Living Seas (with 5.7 million gallons of water, the largest man-made ocean environment in the world),
“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” (there are fireworks, for sure, but also fountains … and it all takes place on 36.9-acre World Showcase Lagoon),
Imagination! fountains (quirky fountains in the plaza entertain guests with spurts and streams),
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (beware the spitting camel),
Journey Into Imagination with Figment (imagine bathroom fixtures installed on the ceiling),
The Great Movie Ride (Gene Kelly is still “Singin’ in the Rain”),
The Enchanted Tiki Room–Under New Management (the Audio-Animatronics® cast sings up a tropical storm),
Ice Station Cool (the flurries are welcome during a Florida summer), and
Ariel’s Grotto (meet “The Little Mermaid” character and then cool off in an interactive leap-frog fountain spouting between sea sponges).
Hang 10 – that’s what folks who’ve never been on a “board” can do if they participate in Craig Carroll’s Surf School at Typhoon Lagoon water park – which just happens to feature one of the largest wave pools in the world at 2.75 million gallons. About 75 percent of Carroll’s students are new to the recreation. And he estimates about nine of every 10 will be successful sometime during their early-morning session.
120 feet high and 60 miles per hour – those are the critical numbers for Blizzard Beach water park’s Summit Plummet, one of the world’s tallest and fastest water park speed slides.
500-plus – that’s the number of watercraft in the largest rental fleet in the world – of WaterMouse outboards, canopy boats, float boats, jet boats, sailboats, rowing boats, pedal boats and canoes.
45 – that’s the number of feet of luxurious yacht in Grand 1, available for charter cruises on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The captain and first mate welcome aboard private parties of up to 12 people at the Grand Floridian Marina.
600 – that’s the number of guests who can ride aboard the largest of the water launches that are part of the Walt Disney World transportation system: Three 600-passenger ferry boats ply the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Also operating as part of the Walt Disney World guest transportation system:
Six 39-passenger motor launches and three 120-passenger motor cruisers on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake (transporting guests among five resorts and the Magic Kingdom),
Eight 100-passenger Friendship boats on World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot and on waterways connecting Epcot Resort Area with the Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot,
Six 40-passenger Sassagoula River Cruise boats touring a 3-mile canal between Disney’s Port Orleans Resort and Downtown Disney (every 15 minutes beginning at 4 p.m. and continuing until 11 p.m.), and
One 24-passenger West Side Shuttle boat on Village Lake between the Marketplace dock and West Side dock (operating on Friday and Saturday evening).
50 – that’s the number of sparkling pools to enjoy among the 18 themed Disney resorts. There also are 12 beach areas.
14.25 pounds – that’s the weight of the largest large-mouth bass landed out of Bay Lake. Two-hour private fishing excursions with a bass guide are offered for parties of up to five guests – and the fishing is great: The waters were stocked in the 1970s and the fishing is all catch-and-release.
54 – that’s the number of holes on Disney’s five championship golf courses where water hazards are a factor. That’s fully 60 percent of the holes on these challenging courses designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Joe Lee. Also notable, mini-golf water hazards so testy that Fantasia Garden’s cast members have been known to stand by to rescue mis-stroked balls from the wet stuff.
And more – that’s the additional water fun in store at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, during nighttime performances of the floating light show “Electrical Water Pageant,” while exploring the geyser field at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, in the lush gardens of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, during a mealtime at Rainforest Café, during a session of parasailing, water skiing or wakeboarding at Sammy Duvall’s Water Sports Centre, or while experiencing Virtual Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold at DisneyQuest.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The dateline suggests a place of water. And Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista does not disappoint:
There are more than 850 acres of lake featuring nearly 130,000 feet of shoreline. And that’s just on “the surface”: Beneath the surface of the seven largest lakes are a combined 3.122 billion gallons of water.
There are 66 miles of canals. Water parks. The world’s largest enclosed marine environment. Theme park attractions featuring water. Recreation in, on and above the water.
It’s a waterful world, after all. And here are some of the highlights by the numbers …
2.385 billion gallons – that’s the volume of water in Bay Lake and adjoining Seven Seas Lagoon, at a combined 596 acres the two largest lakes at Walt Disney World Resort.
9 – that’s the number of theme park attractions for which guests board boats for a floating adventure: Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Liberty Square Riverboat, It’s a Small World, Norway’s Maelstrom, Living With the Land, El Rio del Tiempo (River of Time), and Kali River Rapids. Also notable: a raft ride across the Rivers of America to Tom Sawyer Island, and the flying pirate ships of Peter Pan’s Flight.
14 (at least!) – that’s the number of other theme park attractions, shows and interactive entertainment during which water plays – or sprays – a memorable role. Here’s the lineup:
Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour (flash flood in Catastrophe Canyon),
“Fantasmic!” (dancing fountains, water screens and shiploads of character drama),
“Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D” (surprise special effects),
“Voyage of the Little Mermaid” (the whole story theme is “Under the Sea”),
“Fountain of Nations” (dramatic, computer-choreographed water ballet in Innoventions Plaza at Epcot),
The Living Seas (with 5.7 million gallons of water, the largest man-made ocean environment in the world),
“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” (there are fireworks, for sure, but also fountains … and it all takes place on 36.9-acre World Showcase Lagoon),
Imagination! fountains (quirky fountains in the plaza entertain guests with spurts and streams),
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (beware the spitting camel),
Journey Into Imagination with Figment (imagine bathroom fixtures installed on the ceiling),
The Great Movie Ride (Gene Kelly is still “Singin’ in the Rain”),
The Enchanted Tiki Room–Under New Management (the Audio-Animatronics® cast sings up a tropical storm),
Ice Station Cool (the flurries are welcome during a Florida summer), and
Ariel’s Grotto (meet “The Little Mermaid” character and then cool off in an interactive leap-frog fountain spouting between sea sponges).
Hang 10 – that’s what folks who’ve never been on a “board” can do if they participate in Craig Carroll’s Surf School at Typhoon Lagoon water park – which just happens to feature one of the largest wave pools in the world at 2.75 million gallons. About 75 percent of Carroll’s students are new to the recreation. And he estimates about nine of every 10 will be successful sometime during their early-morning session.
120 feet high and 60 miles per hour – those are the critical numbers for Blizzard Beach water park’s Summit Plummet, one of the world’s tallest and fastest water park speed slides.
500-plus – that’s the number of watercraft in the largest rental fleet in the world – of WaterMouse outboards, canopy boats, float boats, jet boats, sailboats, rowing boats, pedal boats and canoes.
45 – that’s the number of feet of luxurious yacht in Grand 1, available for charter cruises on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The captain and first mate welcome aboard private parties of up to 12 people at the Grand Floridian Marina.
600 – that’s the number of guests who can ride aboard the largest of the water launches that are part of the Walt Disney World transportation system: Three 600-passenger ferry boats ply the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Also operating as part of the Walt Disney World guest transportation system:
Six 39-passenger motor launches and three 120-passenger motor cruisers on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake (transporting guests among five resorts and the Magic Kingdom),
Eight 100-passenger Friendship boats on World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot and on waterways connecting Epcot Resort Area with the Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot,
Six 40-passenger Sassagoula River Cruise boats touring a 3-mile canal between Disney’s Port Orleans Resort and Downtown Disney (every 15 minutes beginning at 4 p.m. and continuing until 11 p.m.), and
One 24-passenger West Side Shuttle boat on Village Lake between the Marketplace dock and West Side dock (operating on Friday and Saturday evening).
50 – that’s the number of sparkling pools to enjoy among the 18 themed Disney resorts. There also are 12 beach areas.
14.25 pounds – that’s the weight of the largest large-mouth bass landed out of Bay Lake. Two-hour private fishing excursions with a bass guide are offered for parties of up to five guests – and the fishing is great: The waters were stocked in the 1970s and the fishing is all catch-and-release.
54 – that’s the number of holes on Disney’s five championship golf courses where water hazards are a factor. That’s fully 60 percent of the holes on these challenging courses designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Joe Lee. Also notable, mini-golf water hazards so testy that Fantasia Garden’s cast members have been known to stand by to rescue mis-stroked balls from the wet stuff.
And more – that’s the additional water fun in store at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, during nighttime performances of the floating light show “Electrical Water Pageant,” while exploring the geyser field at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, in the lush gardens of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, during a mealtime at Rainforest Café, during a session of parasailing, water skiing or wakeboarding at Sammy Duvall’s Water Sports Centre, or while experiencing Virtual Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold at DisneyQuest.
