What are the six Disney parks in Orlando? You will see this number come up alongside “four Disney parks,” and both answers are actually right, it just depends on whether you count the water parks.
Quick Answer
Walt Disney World in Orlando has six parks total: four theme parks and two water parks. The four theme parks are Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The two water parks are Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
If someone says Disney World has four parks, they mean the theme parks. If they say six, they are counting the water parks too. Both are correct, it is just a matter of what you are including.
Why the Number Changes Depending on Who You Ask
Your standard Disney World ticket only covers the four theme parks. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are separate, and most people do not think about them until they are already deep into planning. That is exactly why the four-park number is the one you see most often in ticket pricing and vacation packages, while the six-park number shows up more when people are asking what there actually is to do at Disney World beyond the theme parks.
We already cover the four theme parks in detail in our guide to what the Disney 4 parks are. This post covers all six, water parks included.
The Four Theme Parks
These are the parks a standard Disney World ticket gets you into, one per day unless you add Park Hopper.
Magic Kingdom is the classic one, home to Cinderella Castle and the most rides of any of the four parks. It is also the most visited theme park in the entire world, so expect the biggest crowds here.
EPCOT is split between big idea rides and World Showcase, 11 countries built around a lake, and it is the park most focused on food and drinks. It also runs festivals throughout the year that change what the park looks and tastes like depending on when you visit.
Hollywood Studios is built around movies and pop culture, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. It is the smallest of the four theme parks, but it packs a lot of high demand rides into that smaller footprint.
Animal Kingdom centers on Kilimanjaro Safaris, the land of Pandora, and Expedition Everest, and it is honestly one of the more surprising parks once you spend a real day there instead of a quick half day visit. We go into much more detail in our guide to what to do in Animal Kingdom.
The Two Water Parks
This is the part people forget about when they hear “Disney World.” Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are full water parks, not just pools at a hotel, and they are usually the missing two parks when someone insists there are only four.
Typhoon Lagoon is built around a storm themed backstory, as if a hurricane washed a fishing village into a lagoon. Its centerpiece is one of the largest wave pools in the country, and it also has Castaway Creek, a lazy river that loops around most of the park, plus a water coaster style slide called Crush ‘n’ Gusher.
Blizzard Beach is themed as a melting ski resort in Florida, complete with chairlifts and ski jump signage. Its signature slide, Summit Plummet, is one of the tallest and fastest water slides at any Disney property. It also has Melt-Away Bay, a wave pool at the base of the mountain, and Ski Patrol Training Camp, a smaller area built for kids and tweens.
Only one of the two water parks is typically open at a time, since Disney rotates one into seasonal closure for refurbishment while the other stays open, so it is worth checking which one is actually open before you plan a day around it.
In a typical year, the park that closes tends to shut down for a multi-month stretch somewhere in the cooler months, roughly winter into spring, while both water parks usually run at the same time during the busiest summer stretch. That pattern can shift from year to year though, so treat it as a general guide rather than something to build your trip dates around. Always check the official Walt Disney World website for the current schedule before you plan a water park day.
How Do You Get to the Water Parks?
Both water parks are reachable by Disney bus from any Disney resort hotel, the same way you would get to a theme park. If you are staying off-site, you will need to drive or arrange your own transportation, since the water parks are not on the Disney Skyliner or monorail routes.
Because a water park day usually means wet clothes, towels, and extra bags, a lot of guests find it easier to go on a day when they do not also need to carry theme park gear.
Do You Need a Separate Ticket for the Water Parks?
Yes. A standard theme park ticket does not include water park admission. You can buy single day water park tickets, or add water park access to certain ticket packages, but it does not come bundled in automatically the way it might feel like it should.
Our guide to Disney World ticket prices covers current pricing in more detail, including where water park add-ons fit into the overall cost.
Best Time of Year for a Water Park Day
Florida weather makes this an easy call most of the year. Spring through early fall gives you warm air and warm water, which makes the whole day feel a lot better than it does in the cooler winter months, even on days when the park is technically open. If you are visiting in winter, check the forecast before committing a full day to a water park, since Florida can have genuinely chilly mornings that time of year.
Should You Actually Add a Water Park Day?
It depends on your trip length and the weather. If you already have enough days to cover all four theme parks comfortably, a water park day is a genuinely nice way to slow down partway through the trip instead of doing five straight days of theme parks back to back.
If your trip is already tight on time, the four theme parks should come first. The water parks are a great add-on, not a replacement for any of the four.
You can check current water park hours and seasonal closures directly on the Walt Disney World website before you plan a day around one.
Quick Answers
What are the six Disney parks in Orlando?
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach. The first four are theme parks, and the last two are water parks.
Is Disney World four parks or six parks?
Both answers are correct. Four refers to the theme parks covered by a standard ticket. Six includes the two water parks as well.
Are both water parks open at the same time?
Not usually. Disney typically closes one water park for seasonal refurbishment while the other stays open, so it is worth checking ahead of time.
Does a regular Disney World ticket include the water parks?
No. Water park admission is separate from standard theme park tickets and needs to be purchased or added on its own.
Which Disney water park is better, Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach?
They are different experiences rather than one being better. Typhoon Lagoon leans into its lazy river and wave pool, while Blizzard Beach has the more intense signature slide in Summit Plummet. Since only one is usually open at a time, you will likely visit whichever one is running during your trip.
Personally, I think Typhoon Lagoon is the better overall water park if you want a more relaxing, tropical Disney day. The huge wave pool, lazy river, and lush theming make it feel more like a vacation inside your vacation. Blizzard Beach is probably the better choice if your group cares more about bigger water slides and thrills. So for me, Typhoon Lagoon wins for the vibes, but Blizzard Beach may win if your main goal is adrenaline.
