<P> The Walt Disney World Resort opened October 1 , 1971 , in Lake Buena Vista , Florida , with the Magic Kingdom theme park and three resort hotels . It expanded with the opening of Epcot in 1982 , Disney - MGM Studios ( now Disney 's Hollywood Studios ) and Disney 's Typhoon Lagoon in 1989 , Disney 's Blizzard Beach in 1995 , Disney 's Animal Kingdom in 1998 , Disney Springs retail , dining , and entertainment complex , eight golf courses , and 18 new resort hotels . The resort is the largest ( by area ) and most - visited vacation resort in the world , with four theme parks , two water parks , a shopping , dining , and entertainment complex , 21 resort hotels , eight golf courses , and several additional recreational activities , and covers 27,258 acres of land . </P>
where are the four disney theme parks located
in Lake Buena Vista , Florida