The Ultimate Guide To Disney World Landscaping

There’s no doubt that entering a Disney park feels like you’re stepping into another world.

Walt, the Imagineers, and plenty of other hardworking individuals all made certain that Disney World was not only a place to go and have fun, but also where you could escape the real world and enter a realm of fantasy.

Believe it or not, a huge part of that atmosphere comes from the landscaping! Each park has its own unique look and the decorations reflect that. Even within an individual park you’ll see a huge variety of trees, shrubs, and more that create a difference ambience.

Magic Kingdom

As soon as you step into Magic Kingdom you’re greeted by a prime example of classic Disney innovation. On the bank leading up to the Walt Disney World Railroad station you will find some sort of intricate flower display, and often it’s a massive Mickey Mouse!

You may also see other designs inspired by the season or a specific celebration, like this 50th Anniversary cake topiary!

Once inside, probably the most famous piece of greenery in Magic Kingdom is an area lovingly referred to as “The Hub.” Here you’ll often find guests relaxing on the grass, and plenty others taking advantage of the PhotoPass photographers nearby.

Having The Hub at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. continues the impression that you are taking a walk down any Main Street in turn of the century America, with the shops terminating in a town park where you might imagine the locals like to spend their time. It also serves as almost a castle grounds, and is a wonderful transition between the pedestrian nature of Main Street to the royal glamor of Cinderella Castle. Plus, sometimes there’s ducks!

Each area of Magic Kingdom has landscaping that evokes the mood of its respective land: in Fantasyland, you’ll see perfectly-groomed topiaries; over in Adventureland, overgrown vines and tropical plants makes you feel as if you’re on a trek through the jungle. Perhaps one of the most unique pieces you’ll see in this park is this topiary near Tomorrowland. Is it a dragon? A sea monster? Whatever he is, he brings just another layer of charm to the flagship park of Disney World.

Click  HERE to Read More About the History of Magic Kingdom Landscaping

EPCOT

While some might have a view of the far-off future that is completely void of anything green, Walt’s vision incorporated nature into our technological advances. Besides advancements in agriculture, which you can learn about through attractions like Living With the Land, EPCOT also celebrates the beauty that plants can give us. As soon as you step in, you’ll see this display in front of Spaceship Earth that makes for an excellent picture location!

Perhaps the most extensive display of Disney gardening prowess is the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival. During this festival the park is completely covered in massive flower beds in stunningly bright colors, and everywhere you look there’s another topiary.

Each one is designed to look like a different character or image, and the intricacy and detail is truly impressive.

Flower and Garden Festival 2021

That’s not all! Another place to visit in EPCOT during the Flower and Garden Festival is the Tea Garden in the UK Pavilion. This unique attraction is filled with plants that give us the delicious flavors in our favorite teas. As you walk through you can read about the different ingredients that comprise the very same teas they sell in the shop next door! EPCOT continues its reputation for education, even when it comes to landscaping.

Click  HERE to Read More About the History of EPCOT Landscaping

Hollywood Studios

When you enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you may think you were suddenly transported to California. Hollywood Boulevard is lined not only with Old Hollywood-era shops and building facades, but also with sky-high palm trees to evoke a Southern California vibe.

In other areas of the park the landscaping is less groomed, but that’s on purpose! You may have completely overlooked this detail next to the Tower of Terror. The looming attraction tends to overpower your view, but you may be surprised to learn a lot of thought and planning went into the surrounding land.

Here, Disney’s penchant for storytelling through any medium truly shows. The Hollywood Tower Hotel was the sight of a horrific (and supernatural!) event in 1939. Now, abandoned and no longer is use, the hotel is dilapidated not only on the inside but outside as well. Overgrown trees and shrubs surround Tower of Terror from the front and all around the grounds. We wonder how gorgeous it was in its heyday! From Hollywood starlet to haunted hotel, you can really understand the spectrum of what Disney is capable of.

Click HERE to Read More About the History of Hollywood Studios Landscaping

Animal Kingdom

Where there is fauna, there is flora! Animal Kingdom is filled with, well, animals, so this park is equally filled with an incredible array of plants. The biggest example is The Oasis, inspired by a tropical jungle. The Imagineers intended for these paths to transition guests from the busy world outside of the parks into the nature-filled world of Animal Kingdom.

You will also see trees, bushes, and other varieties of plants used not just for atmosphere but for creature habitats. With such a wide variety of animals, Animal Kingdom is home to over 3,000 species and 4 million individual plants. Talk about a full house!

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Disney managed to create an authentic experience on an entirely different planet! Pandora, inspired by the Avatar films, features massive floating rocks and unique plants that truly look out of this world. So what was Disney’s secret for recreating an alien planet?

They actually took inspiration from a variety of real locations across the globe, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China and shoreline forests in Hawaii. The best way to experience Pandora is at night, when the bioluminescent flowers start to glow. Imagineers managed to make this look as real as possible by strategically placing the artificial flowers amongst real plants. Animal Kingdom is truly a feat of gardening AND engineering!

Click HERE to Read More About the History of Animal Kingdom Landscaping

Resorts

It doesn’t stop at the parks! Each and every Disney hotel has its own landscaping vibe, whether that’s classic groomed lawns at a Deluxe Resort like the Grand Floridian to a massive football field at All-Star Sports.

Perhaps one of the most scenic is the Savannah at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney managed to replicate the African savannah right in Orlando, with the entirety of the enclosure reaching 110 acres. You can enjoy a safari in the park, but if you are a huge animal fan you may want to stay at the Lodge to wake up to a view of the Savannah in the morning.

Animal Kingdom Lodge has three Savannah areas measuring around 11 acres each. Each one is home to a different variety of wildlife that are accustomed to specific plants. Not only are these trees, shrubs, and grasses meant to make them feel comfortable, many of the herbivores require specific plants for their diet. You just might wake up one morning to a giraffe snacking outside of your window!

Another resort with landscaping you won’t see at any normal hotel is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Inspired by Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, this resort is completely covered in vibrant plants that make you feel as if you’ve been whisked away on a tropical vacation. The entrance features a beautiful little oasis surrounded by lush greenery that sets the mood for your vacation.

The landscaping doesn’t stop once you head inside; the open lobby is dotted with planters that lend to its airiness. Whether you’re relaxing in the main atrium or looking down from the balcony, you’re surrounded by beautiful flowers (and probably wearing some in the form of a lei!). This attention to detail isn’t unique to the Deluxe Resorts! You’ll see well thought out landscaping at any Disney resort, with the design perfectly fitting in with the hotel’s theme.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs serves as a open air shopping and dining district for Disney World. Previously known as Downtown Disney, it was rebranded, and the new name evokes an image of clear spring of water. The area does, in fact, include a few water features (including Lake Buena Vista). And where there’s water, there are plants! The strategically placed trees, shrubs, and other greenery around the district further advanced the refreshing atmosphere.

Like other areas in Orlando, you will see plenty of palm trees. The large amount of concrete due to all of the shops, restaurants, and wide walking paths are broken up by planters and bushes that bring in some welcome green amongst the beige.

There’s also a welcome use of varying heights, making the landscaping appear more authentic. Some areas are more manicured, while others come off as organic, like this area along the lake. You may not immediately notice the landscaping in Disney Springs, but without it, the area certainly would not be as lively or relaxing.

Disney has even more impressive engineering to show off with the new Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana attraction opening in late 2023. Next time you’re at Disney World, take a closer look at the landscaping — you may discover something new!

Which Disney park has your favorite atmosphere? Comment your pick below!

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