When asking which countries have Disney theme parks, it is important to note that Disney owns numerous types of theme parks. The most well-known theme parks may be in the United States, in Florida and California, but the other parks located around the world are just as awe-inspiring to visit.
Which Countries Have Disney Theme Parks Around the World?
For those who love the thrill of seeing their favorite characters while riding exciting themed attractions, Disney definitely has something to offer at a number of parks in multiple countries. There are Disney theme parks in five countries around the world. While there are no official plans to open a new Disney theme park anytime soon, there are recent and ongoing expansions at each of the resorts worldwide.
United States
Walt Disney founded the Disney Company in the 1920s. From there, several theme parks developed throughout the country.
- Disneyland Resort in California: Disneyland Park opened in 1955. This incredible park has several themed regions, including Main Street U.S.A., Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country, and more. It is part of the overall Disneyland Resort, which is also home to a second theme park: Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland Resort is also home to Downtown Disney, Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
- Walt Disney World Resort in Florida: Walt Disney’s dream was to create a park in Kissimmee, Florida that offered numerous theme parks, hotels, and shopping areas. Walt Disney World Resort opened its doors in 1971 with the Magic Kingdom theme park. The resort later opened Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom parks. Disney’s Blizzard Beach and ESPN Wide World of Sports are among the other attractions at this resort, along with numerous Disney hotels and the Disney Springs shopping area.
Tokyo, Japan
In April 1983, Disney opened the Tokyo Disney Resort, which is the home of Tokyo Disneyland. The resort is located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. In 2001, the resort expanded with the addition of Tokyo DisneySea. There are several hotels on the property, and also a shopping center called Ikspiari. The resort is under the ownership of and is operated by the Oriental Land Company, but the Walt Disney Company Disney holds the license to its name and retains some controlling rights in the park.
Paris, France
Disneyland Paris opened its doors in April 1992. It originally opened as the Euro Disney Resort. It is located in the Marne-la-Vallee suburb of Paris, France. The resort features numerous resorts and a Disney Village shopping area. There are two theme parks here, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. The final component of the park is Golf Disney, a large golf course. The Walt Disney Company did not always have full ownership of this park, but acquired almost all remaining shares of the park in mid-2017. Disney now holds just over 97% of shares, making it the majority owner of the Disneyland Paris Resort.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort became Disney’s second location in Asia in September 2005. The resort is located in Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island. Although the park has been open for over a decade, there is still a sizable amount of land available for future development. The resort consists of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, the Inspiration Lake Recreation Center, and three resort hotels (Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, and Disney Explorers Lodge). This park is owned and operated by Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited, which is a joint venture of the Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Company.
Shanghai, China
The newest Disney theme park to open was Shanghai Disneyland in mid-2016. It is operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Shanghai Shendi Group, with Disney holding majority ownership. It is 963 acres, dwarfing even Tokyo’s Disney park. It is home to the largest castle and longest parade route of all the Disney theme parks. Shanghai Disneyland has six themed lands, a shopping area, and two hotels. Expansion began almost immediately, leading to Toy Story Land being opened in 2018.
Other Disney Adventures to Explore
Aside from Disney Theme Parks, Disney also owns and/or manages other facilities and adventures that revolve around Disney characters. These include:
- Disney Cruise Line: The Disney Cruise Line has four ships, Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. Popular itineraries are three-, four- and seven-night Caribbean cruises. When taking the cruise, you will stop at Castaway Cay, a private island owned by Disney, located in the Bahamas. Other itineraries include Europe, Alaska, Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and even the Panama Canal.
- Aulani Resort & Spa: Head to Hawaii and check out Aulani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina. It’s a beachside hotel and resort offering luxury and Disney magic on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
- Adventures by Disney: For even more travel adventures, turn to Adventures by Disney. They offer are guided family vacations to a variety of destinations worldwide, including packages for North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Disney Expansion Plans
Disney continues to expand its parks, which keeps the adventure fresh and exciting. For example, both of the US resorts recently opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experiences. Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier area was updated and rebranded to Pixar Pier, making it an incredible place where the magic of Pixar Studios comes to life. Disneyland Hong Kong has introduced Marvel-themed thrill rides and is slated to open the World of Frozen in 2022. Tokyo is expected to undergo a huge expansion as well, growing the park’s area by about 30% by 2023. It is expected that Marvel attractions will play a role in Disneyland Paris’ expansion plans as well. To keep the magic alive and Disney fans happy, you can pretty much be assured that there will always be some type of refurbishment or expansion taking place at each of the Disney theme parks worldwide.
