Walt Disney World, a privately owned company based in the US, was founded in 1971 and employs approximately 25,600 people. It operates as a subsidiary of Disney Experiences, with Disney Sports/ESPN Wide World of Sports listed among its subsidiaries. The company functions as an entertainment resort featuring four theme parks including the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Its facilities also encompass more than 20 hotels, two water parks, and recreational amenities such as championship golf courses and a 200-acre sports complex.
On May 1, 2026, Walt Disney World confirmed the permanent closure of Disney Springs, which was reintroduced in 2015 after undergoing multiple transformations since its original opening in 1975 as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. Also on May 1, the resort announced an expansion of its ferry fleet for the first time since 1976, coinciding with the Magic Kingdom's largest expansion ever. Earlier that day, Walt Disney World revealed plans to enact a major operational change in 11 days, an event only seen once before in park history, which includes cutting park access with the noted closure of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Previously, on April 29, Walt Disney Imagineers offered a sneak peek of the updated finale scene for Magic Kingdom Park's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a Frontierland roller coaster set to reopen on May 3, 2026, after an extended refurbishment that began in January 2025. The same day, the resort announced that its Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will debut a Muppets-themed transformation featuring Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem on May 26, with select guests receiving early access on May 6.
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