Walt Disney World parks
Walt Disney World has six parks: four theme parks and two water parks, spread across a site many times the size of Disneyland Paris. Magic Kingdom is the classic castle park most families start with, and the other three each have their own character. This page is a short orientation to all six, with a link through to the full guide for each.
On this page
The four theme parks
What each park is built around, and which suits a family with young children first.
The four theme parks each need a separate ticket day, and most families with young children spread them across a trip rather than trying to rush all four. Magic Kingdom holds the most rides with no height limit, so it's the one that gives the youngest children the most to do. EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom each mix a few big thrill rides with plenty for little ones, so how you order them depends on your children's ages and what they're into. The full guide for each park lays out the height limits, the quieter corners and the baby-care facilities.
Magic Kingdom
The park most people picture: Cinderella Castle at the centre, six themed lands and Main Street up from the gates. It holds the most rides with no height limit, so it's the one to start with.
EPCOT
A big open park in two halves, the science pavilions around Spaceship Earth at the front and the World Showcase countries around the lagoon behind.
Hollywood Studios
The smallest park, built around Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land, with the headline thrill rides and the most character meets.
Animal Kingdom
The largest park, built around live animals: a real safari across an African savanna, walking trails and the Pandora land.
The two water parks
Both need their own ticket or a Park Hopper Plus add-on, and both have a shallow area for little ones.
The two water parks aren't covered by a standard theme-park ticket. You reach them with their own ticket or by adding Park Hopper Plus to a multi-day ticket. Each has a large wave pool at its heart, a lazy river and a children's area with shallow water and small slides, so a family can spend a full day at either without anyone needing to be tall enough for the big slides.
Blizzard Beach
A water park themed as a ski resort caught in a thaw, a snow-capped mountain with slides down its slopes and a chairlift to the top.
Typhoon Lagoon
A water park themed as a storm-struck tropical beach, built around one of the largest wave pools of its kind.
Last updated 9 July 2026.
