Disney's Parks

Walt Disney, born in Chicago in 1901, created the Disney Brothers Studio in the 1920s. He helped to create Mickey Mouse and a slew of animated movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Bambi, and Sleeping Beauty. After visiting Denmark's Tivoli Gardens, he began designing a huge amusement park to be built near Los Angeles, and Disneyland opened in 1955.

In 1965, work began on an even bigger Disney theme park and resort near Orlando, Florida. The Walt Disney World Resort, which is spread over a massive 39-square mile section of land, opened in 1971 and now has four theme parks, two water parks, and about 3 dozen hotels. Walt Disney died in 1966, so he never got to see the Florida parks in operation. In 1983, Disneyland Tokyo opened in Japan, and in 1992 Disneyland Paris, or "EuroDisney" as it was originally called, opened in France. Disneyland Hong Kong opened its doors in September 2005. The sixth major Disney theme park complex opened as Shanghai Disney in 2016.