Disney Parks Worldwide: The Six Resorts and How to Plan a Visit
As of July 2026, Disney has 12 theme parks across six resorts in the US, France, Japan, and China, plus a seventh planned for Abu Dhabi. How to choose one.
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Disney runs theme parks on three continents, and the most common planning mistake international travelers make is assuming they all work the same way. As of July 2026, there are 12 Disney theme parks spread across six resort destinations in four countries: the United States, France, Japan, and China. Disney's parks division also says a seventh resort is planned for Abu Dhabi, but it is not yet open. This guide is an overview for travelers deciding which resort to visit and how to prepare. It does not cover ride-by-ride details or current ticket prices, which change often and are best checked on each resort's own official site.
Where are all the Disney parks?
There are six Disney resort destinations, and together they contain 12 theme parks. Disney's parks division, Disney Experiences, lists them across the United States, France, Japan, and China. Two of the six resorts sit in the United States, and the other four are in Europe and Asia.
The table below shows where each resort is and which parks it holds.
| Resort | Location | Theme parks |
|---|---|---|
| Disneyland Resort | Anaheim, California, USA | Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure |
| Walt Disney World | Orlando area, Florida, USA | Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom |
| Disneyland Paris | Marne-la-Vallée, France | Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park |
| Tokyo Disney Resort | Urayasu, Japan | Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea |
| Hong Kong Disneyland | Lantau Island, Hong Kong | Hong Kong Disneyland |
| Shanghai Disney Resort | Pudong, Shanghai, China | Shanghai Disneyland |
How the six resorts differ
The resorts vary in size, age, and what sets each one apart, which matters when you only have time for one.
- Walt Disney World in Florida is the largest, with four theme parks plus two water parks. It suits a trip of several days.
- Disneyland Resort in California is the original. Disneyland Park opened on July 17, 1955, and its two parks sit close enough to walk between.
- Disneyland Paris opened on April 12, 1992, and is the easiest option for travelers already in Europe, with train links from central Paris.
- Tokyo Disney Resort holds Tokyo DisneySea, the only DisneySea park anywhere in the world. Tokyo Disneyland opened on April 15, 1983.
- Shanghai Disney Resort opened on June 16, 2016, which makes it the newest resort now operating.
- Hong Kong Disneyland opened on September 12, 2005, and is the most compact, with a single theme park.
If you can pick only one, match it to where you already are. Europe-based travelers usually reach Paris fastest, while a route through Asia can fold in Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Shanghai.
Who actually runs each park?
Disney does not operate all of them the same way, and that affects how you book. Most resorts are owned or operated by The Walt Disney Company or a company it controls. Tokyo is the exception.
The Walt Disney Company states in its annual filings that Tokyo Disney Resort is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company, a Japanese firm in which Disney holds no ownership stake, and that Disney earns royalties on the resort's revenue. In practice, that means you book through Tokyo Disney Resort's own official site and app, with its own ticket system, rather than through a Disney account from another country.
A seventh resort is on the way. The Walt Disney Company and the Abu Dhabi developer Miral announced on May 7, 2025 that they will build a Disney theme park resort on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates. Disney says Miral will build and operate it while Disney's designers lead the creative work. No opening date has been confirmed, so it is not yet somewhere you can plan a trip around.
How tickets and skip-the-line passes work
Systems differ by resort, so confirm the details on each resort's official site before you buy. Tickets are usually tied to specific dates, and some parks ask you to make a separate park reservation in addition to holding a ticket.
The optional paid line-skip service goes by two different names depending on where you are.
| Resort | Paid line-skip service |
|---|---|
| Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World (US) | Lightning Lane (Multi Pass, Single Pass, Premier Pass) |
| Disneyland Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai | Disney Premier Access |
Each resort also has its own mobile app for live wait times, mobile food ordering, and buying these passes. Download the app for the specific resort you are visiting, because the US app and the international apps are separate.
Planning a park visit from abroad
A Disney trip abroad is first an international trip, so handle the border paperwork before you book anything else. Confirm whether your nationality needs a visa for the country you are visiting and that your passport has enough validity left. Our guide on what to confirm about visa requirements before you book walks through those checks, and it is worth reviewing travel insurance coverage and its common gaps for a long-haul trip.
A few practical points once the paperwork is sorted:
- Check the resort's official calendar for seasonal hours and event dates. Opening times shift by season and can differ between parks at the same resort.
- Each resort runs an English-language website, so you can plan in English even for Tokyo, Shanghai, or Paris.
- Time zones affect booking windows. If a resort releases passes or reservations at a set local time, work out what that is where you live so you are ready.
Settle on one resort, read that resort's own site closely, and the rest becomes a normal international journey with a very well-organized destination at the end of it.