The location 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's Hollywood 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's Hollywood 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.
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