After emptying your bank account to visit Mickey and his friends, it can feel like your family owns Disney World. Unfortunately, that’s not the path to control this creative empire.
You might not realize that possessing part of the brand is easier than you may think.
Today, we’re looking into who owns Disney World and how you can join the fun.
Let the magic begin!
The History of Disney World
Walt Disney World is a famous and beloved resort in Florida. The man behind it, Walter Elias Disney, moved to California from his hometown of Chicago in 1923 to pursue an entertainment career. While there, he created and developed Mickey Mouse.
His success in animation led him to continue innovating and eventually bringing animated films to life. Mr. Disney dreamed of a place where families could disconnect from reality and experience fantasy. Disneyland was the result of that vision. It opened on July 17, 1955, in Anaheim, California.
However, Walt had bigger plans. He wanted to take his knowledge and experience from California and bring it to the East Coast.
In 1964, mysterious investors began spending millions of dollars on land in and around Central Florida. Giant plots, some as large as 5,000 and 20,000 acres, were quickly gobbled up. As you can imagine, this caused quite a stir, and rumors began brewing about who and what was behind it.
The cat flew out of the bag on November 15, 1965, when Walt Disney revealed plans to build a “bigger and better Disneyland.” Unsurprisingly, property values quickly skyrocketed.
Sadly, Walt passed away in 1966 and didn’t live to see opening day on October 1, 1971. Over the last 50 years, it’s grown tremendously in stature and popularity. Disney World now welcomes more than 50 million guests annually and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
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Who Owns Disney World?
The Walt Disney Company owns many large companies, including Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort. Walt and his brother, Roy, were its sole owners initially. However, they had big dreams and needed help financing them.
On November 12, 1957, the Walt Disney Company officially joined the New York Stock Exchange, which provided capital for future ventures. It also allowed individuals and companies to purchase shares and own a portion of the organization. The two brothers remained majority shareholders for many years.
You can also own a piece of the Walt Disney Company. Shares have fluctuated tremendously in recent years but are within reach for most people.
We’re not investment specialists and aren’t telling you how or where to spend your money. However, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a part of Disney World, now is a great time to do it.
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Does Disney Own the International Disney Parks?
The Walt Disney Company owns 100% of its California and Florida theme parks. Unfortunately, that’s not true for all of their international locations. The only park outside the United States Walt Disney owns outright is the one in France.
In contrast, Tokyo Disneyland is owned and operated by Oriental Land Company, a conglomeration of Japanese corporations. They pay a licensing fee, and Walt Disney Imagineering oversees the design of attractions and helps maintain standards.
Additionally, their Hong Kong and Shanghai sites are also partnerships. The Walt Disney Company owns 43% of these sites, and the respective governments own the remainder. Despite being a minority owner in Hong Kong, Disney oversees its operations. The management handling the Shanghai facility is 70% Disney employees.
How Much of Florida Does Disney World Own?
One of the first things most visitors notice about the most magical place on Earth is its massive size. Currently, Disney World owns just over 30,000 acres. While this may not sound like much, its 47 square miles make it slightly smaller than Bryce Canyon National Park.
Considering Disneyland is approximately 500 acres, Orlando is a gigantic upgrade. A major frustration in California was the inability to expand the park. It’s in the middle of a large city, and any expansion projects require some ingenuity. The goal for Florida was to have enough land to dream big.
Today, Disney World has four theme parks, two water parks, 25 hotels, and three golf courses. Even with all of that, they still have room to grow. Their engineers do an incredible job creating these environments. You could easily spend an entire day and only explore a small section of the resort.
Another popular attraction is Disney Springs. It’s an excellent option if you only want a taste but don’t want to buy an expensive park ticket. This outside shopping center features restaurants, shops, and other entertainment venues. It’s a great spot to stroll and soak in the atmosphere.
Does Disney World Own Disney Cruise Line?
In 1985, Disney joined with Premier Cruise Line. This partnership meant Mickey and his friends were sailing with passengers. It appeared to be a win-win for both brands. However, Premier severed ties in 1993 and partnered with rival Warner Brothers.
On May 3, 1994, The Walt Disney Company made massive waves announcing their plan to hit the open seas. From there, they commissioned their ships Magic and Wonder and purchased Gorda Cay, a private island in the Bahamas. Overall, they spent as much money as they would have if they had started an entirely new park to get operations running.
Today, they operate six ships that offer guests a luxurious vacation. You can join them for adventures to places like the Bahamas, Europe, Alaska, the South Pacific, Hawai’i, and Australia.
The Disney name often has a reputation for being for children or families. But their cruises are for everyone. Since they own the entire operation, it easily accommodates the needs of different traveler preferences. If you’re looking to set sail, this could be a phenomenal vacation opportunity.
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You, Too, Can Own a Bit of the Magic
If you want to be one of the people who own a piece of Disney magic, it’s relatively simple. Invest in the Walt Disney Company. Unfortunately, getting a meaningful share of the company’s roughly $148 billion worth will take some deep pockets. So, start saving your pennies, and you can join others who own a bit of Disney World.
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