Lake Buena Vista

Lake Buena Vista is a municipality in Orange County, in Greater Orlando. It is home to Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, the headquarters of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Reedy Creek Improvement District, and most notably the headquarters of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Understand
It is one of two Florida municipalities, founded on July 3, 1969, controlled by the Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake.

Lake Buena Vista is sited southwest of Orlando, between Orlando and Kissimmee, along the Interstate 4 corridor. Walt Disney's original plan for Lake Buena Vista included at least one futuristic living area, but was never built. This futuristic idea was later used at Epcot.

By plane

 * Orlando International Airport . The entry point for most international and domestic flights, is the closest airport (about 20 mi/30 km) to Lake Buena Vista.  Airport security lines can become extremely long (1 hr), especially during the summer tourist season and near holidays.  Combined with long check-in lines, it is advisable to arrive 2-3 hours before your scheduled departure. The airport offers transportation, shuttles, taxis, and car rentals while Disney offers its free Magical Express transportation from the airport to Disney World for visitors staying at the Disney World Resorts.

By car
Most visitors will arrive by taking Interstate 4 and then traveling west on exit 68 from I-4.

By public transit
LYNX, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, offers limited bus service to Lake Buena Vista and Disney World, catering mainly to the workers in the Disney complex. Bus Link 50 connects the Magic Kingdom with Disney Springs. Bus Link 111 connects Disney with the Orlando International Airport.

By private bus
Many hotels on offer complimentary scheduled bus service to and from the Disney theme parks. Check with the hotel for details.

By car
Most convenient for getting around the sprawling theme parks complex. However, parking may be an issue if you do not go early.

Do

 * Walt Disney World - the most well renowned theme park in the known universe. If you are in Lake Buena Vista, you are at Walt Disney World... sort of. The mailing address for the resort is Lake Buena Vista, but all of the theme parks are physically within the city of Bay Lake.
 * Walt Disney World Resort includes, , :, , , , ,

Buy

 * Disney Springs has a large variety of specialty shops, including World of Disney (the largest Disney character store in the world) the Lego Imagination Center and an Harley-Davidson Motorcycles store. Access to Disney Springs does not require park entry fees.

Sleep
''Lodging in Lake Buena Vista is mainly for travelers visiting the Walt Disney World. Other cities and towns nearby offering lodging are: Celebration, Davenport, Kissimmee, and Orlando.''

Go next

 * Tampa and Busch Gardens are one hour southwest on I-4.
 * Miami is to the south, or about a 4-hr car ride.  Accessing the Everglades National Park is common from Miami.