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Interesting Costa Rica Facts

Here are some interesting Costa Rica Facts for Kids which were choosen and reseached by kids especially for kids.

Costa Rica for Kids

Population: 5.1 million people

Capital: San José with 1.4 million people

Name: Republic of Costa Rica

Official Language: Spanish

Religion: Most Costa Ricans are Christians (87% )

Currency: 1 Colón, the symbol is (₡) the smallest coin is 10 colones

National colours: blue, white and red

National bird: yiguirro, which is a clay coloured robin

History: Indigenous settlements in the region date back to 10,000 BC. Stone tools were found from the early settlements in the Cartago Province of Costa Rica. Farming and agricultural activities in the area were already conducted about 5,000 years ago, however, the country was then only sparsely inhabited. Christopher Columbus reached the Costa Rican shores in 1502. Costa Rica was a Spanish colony until 1821. Costa Rica gained independence from Spain on 15 September 1821. The country has no army since 1948. Since 2018, the president is Carlos Alvarado Quesada

Costa Rica Map
Where is Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a country on the North American continent and is one of the countries in the region called Central America. Central America includes seven countries: Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Costa Rica shares a Pacific Ocean and an Atlantic Ocean coastline.

Costa Rica borders two countries: Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the south of the country. The border to Panama is slightly longer than the border to Nicaragua.

The name Costa Rica originates from the Spanish words for "rich coast". Costa Rica is often considered as the safest country in Central America.

Costa Rica is slightly smaller than West Virginia/USA or slightly larger than Slovakia.

Costa Rica Facts | Costa Rica Geography

The landscape is tropical and the country has an extremely rich wildlife.

There are over 100 volcanos in Costa Rica, some of them active. The highlands of Costa Rica are known for its pristine cloud forests. The lush vegetation in the high mountain range is called cloud forest because the clouds stay within the tree canopies of the forest throughout the day. In the misty jungle setting you can admire the many plants, birds, reptile and insect species.

Costa Rica houses 5 percent of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. Costa Rica is the only megadiverse country in Central America.

Deforestation due to cattle farming and expanding agriculture, as well as marine pollution are some of the big challenges the megadiverse country is facing.

Costa Rica Geo Superlatives

Costa Rica is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries. Although the country is very small, it has a rich biodiversity and houses about 1/20 of the world's animal and plant species.

The highest mountain peak is the Cerro Chirripó at 3,819 m/ 12,529 ft. The name "Chirripó" actually means "land of eternal waters"

The highest volcano of Costa Rica is the Volcán Irazú. It last erupted in 1965.

Costa Rica's longest mountain range is the Cordillera de Talamanca, with 320 km/ 199 miles.

The longest river of Costa Rica is the San Juan River along the border to Nicaragua.

The largest island of Costa Rica is the Isla Calero at the border to Nicaragua.

The largest lake is Lake Arenal which is located at the base of the volcano Arenal.

Costa Rica Facts
Costa Rica Attractions for Kids

Costa Rica is known as an ecotourism paradise. The country has many attractions to entice the whole family. There are plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, zip lining, kayaking, cycling, walking over hanging bridges, watersports and relaxing at the fantastic Costa Rican beaches.

Here are some of our favourite Costa Rica attractions for kids:

San José is Costa Rica's largest city housing about 20% of the country's population. There are fascinating museums in the city such as the Jade Museum and the National Museum. Exploring the country can start right here as four volcanoes are situated near the capital city, one of them is the volcano called Irazú, the highest volcano of the country.

Cartago, formerly the capital city of Costa Rica until 1829, is also known as Ancient Metropolí. Every year at the beginning of August, millions of people visit the city as part of their pilgrimage to the "Our Lady of the Angels" Basilica. The basilica is located in the center of Cartago.

Arenal: In the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park you can have fascinating walks over 16 hanging bridges suspended high up in the tree canopies. Here you can do some serious bird watching and enjoy great jungle views.

Ballena National Marine Park: The national park along the Pacific Ocean coastline is popular for watching humpback whales and dolphin swim by when they visit the area for breeding. Ballena is the Spanish word for "whale". Whales usually can be seen here from July to October.

Corcovado: The national park has one of the most unique ecosystems. Here one can experience Costa Rica's rich fauna and flora. There are about 500 tree species and over 360 species of birds as well as over 250 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Costa Rica is home to four monkey species, all can be found here and even big cats and tapirs can be seen in this biodiversity hotspot.

Tamarindo: Costa Rica has some of the most stunning beaches. The Pacific Ocean beaches of Tamarindo are known for amazing surfing conditions. There are plenty of stunning beaches to choose for all kinds of watersports. Nearby Conchal beach is a popular beach for snorkelling and diving. And Playa Grande just north of Tamarindo is home to huge leatherback sea turtles that can be encountered between October and March.

Chirripó National Park: For all who love hiking, this national park is a must. The scenic mountainside includes the country's highest peak. The mountain face is one of the most prominent landmarks of Costa Rica.

Cocos Island: The island called 'Isla de Cocos' in Spanish is located in the Pacific Ocean, about 550 km/ 342 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. One of the larger islands of Costa Rica, Cocos Island is a national park and not inhabited. This island is considered the Southernmost point of the North American continent.

Costa Rica Facts for Kids | People
Costa Ricans

More than half of the Costa Ricans live in urban areas.

Most people live in and around the capital city San Jose. Costa Ricans, also referred to as " Ticos", are known as very happy and welcoming people.

The motto of the Ticos is " Pura Vida" in English means "pure life" and refers to the relaxed feeling of enjoying life. Often people also greet and wish each other " Pura Vida" when meeting in the street.

Independence Day in September is celebrated with traditional dances and community parades.

Soccer and basketball are the most popular sports in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Facts for Kids
Costa Rica Economy

The main agricultural products in Costa Rica are sugar cane, coffee, pineapples, bananas and other fruits.

The main trading partners are the USA, China, Mexico, Belgium and Panama.

The main ports of Costa Rica are Puerto Limon and Caldera.

Food in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are sold at the markets.

Costa Rican cuisine is varied and the traditional dishes are usually not too spicy. Most dishes contain rice or black beans which are staple foods in the country.

Corn products such as tamales, which are filled wraps made of cornmeal, are served mainly at festive events.

Typical Costa Rican dishes:

: popular street food or snack, containing a bowl of beans, rice and pork cubes, often served with tortilla chips and avocado dip. Chi refers to pieces of fried pork (chicharrón) while frijo refers to the Spanish term frijoles which means beans.

: The popular dish includes fried plantains, salad and tortillas as well as meat such as chicken, pork or beef and sometimes fish

Gallo Pinto: traditional breakfast of Costa Rica made of rice and black beans, served with sour cream, tortilla and fried plantain

Patacones: deep fried flattened plantain rounds, often served with spicy bean sauce or avocado dip

: fried cassava (often referred to as yuka)

Arroz con leche: sticky milky rice dessert made with sugar, cinnamon and lemon

Tres Leches Cake: soft sponge cake made with three types of cream and milk. Leche is the Spanish term for milk.

Costa Rica Facts | Animals in Costa Rica

The manatee is considered the national animal of Costa Rica, as it is represents Costa Rica's precious marine wildlife.

The marine animals are also referred to as sea cows and live in marshy coastal waters. Manatees grow up to 3 m/ 9 ft long and weigh around 500 kg/ 1100 lb. Did you know that baby manatees weigh up to 30 kg/ 66 lb.? This is as big as a nine-year-old child!

There are over 500,000 animal species in Costa Rica. There are almost 900 species of birds. Costa Rica houses thus more bird species than the USA and Canada combined! One of the endemic species are the colourful toucans that live in Costa Rica and neighbouring Panama only.

Costa Rica also is home to the world's first sanctuary for sloths. Two of the world's six sloth species are home in Costa Rica.

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We hope you enjoyed reading our Costa Rica Facts for Kids. Make sure to bookmark this page, as we plan to add on more information. Feel free to contact us if your school would like to work on a school project about Costa Rica (animals, food, people, traditions, games, sport etc.) with us.

Popular pages

Costa Rica Facts for Kids | Resources

Central Intelligence Agency. "Costa Rica." WorldFactBook. Last updated 25 February 2021. Last accessed 19 March 2021.

Essential Costa Rica. "About Costa Rica." VisitCostaRica. Last accessed 19 March 2021

Costa Rica Tourism. "Ballena National Marine Park." VisitCostaRica. Last accessed 19 March 2021

Sarah Mayo. "The Complete Guide to Sloths in Costa Rica." CostaRicaExperts. 22 September 2017. Last accessed 19 March 2021

Picture credits on Costa Rica Facts for Kids: Shutterstock.com; Dancing children by Wollertz/shutterstock.com
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Costa Rica Facts for Kids | Costa Rica for Kids | Geography | Animals

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Our Costa Rica Facts for Kids provide lots of fun facts about the megadiverse Central American country: geography, people, animals, attractions and much more

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The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is owned and operated by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The property covers nearly 25,000 acres (39 sq mi; 101 km ²), of which half has been used. The resort comprises four theme parks ( Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom), two water parks ( Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon), 31 themed resort hotels, nine non-Disney hotels, several golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues, including the outdoor shopping center Disney Springs.

Designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was developed by Walt Disney in the 1960s. "The Florida Project", as it was known, was intended to present a distinct vision with its own diverse set of attractions. Walt Disney's original plans also called for the inclusion of an "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" (EPCOT), a planned community intended to serve as a testbed for new city-living innovations. Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, during the initial planning of the complex. After his death, the company wrestled with the idea of whether to bring the Disney World project to fruition; however, Walt's older brother, Roy O. Disney, came out of retirement to make sure Walt's biggest dream was realized. Construction started in 1967, with the company instead building a resort similar to Disneyland, abandoning the experimental concepts for a planned community. The Magic Kingdom was the first theme park to open in the complex, in 1971, followed by Epcot (1982), Disney's Hollywood Studios (1989), and Disney's Animal Kingdom (1998). It was Roy who insisted the name of the entire complex be changed from Disney World to Walt Disney World, ensuring that people would remember that the project was Walt's dream.

In 2018, Walt Disney World was the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of more than 58 million. The resort is the flagship destination of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise and has become a popular staple in American culture. In 2020, Walt Disney World was chosen to host the NBA Bubble for play of the 2019-20 season of the National Basketball Association to resume at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Walt Disney World (as well as Disneyland) is also covered by an FAA prohibited airspace zone that restricts all airspace activities without approval from the Federal government of the United States, including usage of drones; this level of protection is otherwise only offered to American critical infrastructure (like the Pantex nuclear weapons plant), military bases, the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, official presidential travels, and Camp David.

In 2020, Disney World laid off 6,500 employees and only operated at 25% capacity after reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 22, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law which officially stripped the Walt Disney Company of its longtime self-governing status in the area around Walt Disney World by June 2023.

Planning and construction

Conception

In 1959, Walt Disney Productions began looking for land to house a second resort to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955. Market surveys at the time revealed that only 5% of Disneyland's visitors came from east of the Mississippi River, where 75% of the population of the United States lived. Additionally, Walt Disney disliked the businesses that had sprung up around Disneyland and wanted more control over a larger area of land in the next project.

Walt Disney flew over a potential site in Orlando, Florida - one of many - in November 1963. After witnessing the well-developed network of roads and taking the planned construction of both Interstate 4 and Florida's Turnpike into account, with McCoy Air Force Base (later Orlando International Airport) to the east, Disney selected a centrally-located site near Bay Lake. To avoid a burst of land speculation, Walt Disney World Company used various dummy corporations to acquire 30,500 acres (48 sq mi; 123 km ²) of land. In May 1965, some of these major land transactions were recorded a few miles southwest of Orlando in Osceola County. In addition, two large tracts totaling $1.5 million were sold, and smaller tracts of flatlands and cattle pastures were purchased by exotically-named companies such as the " Ayefour Corporation", "Latin-American Development and Management Corporation" and the "Reedy Creek Ranch Corporation". Some are now memorialized on a window above Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. The smaller parcels of land acquired were called "outs". They were 5-acre (2 ha) lots platted in 1912 by the Munger Land Company and sold to investors. Most of the owners in the 1960s were happy to get rid of the land, which was mostly swamp at the time. Another issue was the mineral rights to the land, which were owned by Tufts University. Without the transfer of these rights, Tufts could come in at any time and demand the removal of buildings to obtain minerals. Eventually, Disney's team negotiated a deal with Tufts to buy the mineral rights for $15,000.

Working strictly in secrecy, real estate agents unaware of their client's identity began making offers to landowners in April 1964 in parts of southwest Orange and northwest Osceola counties. The agents were careful not to reveal the extent of their intentions, and they were able to negotiate numerous land contracts with some including large tracts of land for as little as $100 an acre. With the understanding that the recording of the first deeds would trigger intense public scrutiny, Disney delayed the filing of paperwork until a large portion of the land was under contract.

Early rumors and speculation about the land purchases assumed possible development by NASA in support of the nearby Kennedy Space Center, as well as references to other famous investors such as Ford, the Rockefellers, and Howard Hughes. An Orlando Sentinel news article published weeks later on May 20, 1965, acknowledged a popular rumor that Disney was building an "East Coast" version of Disneyland. However, the publication denied its accuracy based on an earlier interview with Disney at Kennedy Space Center, in which he claimed a $50 million investment was in the works for Disneyland, and that he had no interest in building a new park. In October 1965, editor Emily Bavar from the Sentinel visited Disneyland during the park's 10th-anniversary celebration. In an interview with Disney, she asked him if he was behind recent land purchases in Central Florida; Bavar later described that Disney "looked like I had thrown a bucket of water in his face" before denying the story. His reaction, combined with other research obtained during her Anaheim visit, led Bavar to author a story on October 21, 1965, where she predicted that Disney was building a second theme park in Florida. Three days later after gathering more information from various sources, the Sentinel published another article headlined, "We Say: 'Mystery Industry' Is Disney".

Walt Disney had originally planned to publicly reveal Disney World on November 15, 1965, but in light of the Sentinel story, Disney asked Florida Governor Haydon Burns to confirm the story on October 25. His announcement called the new theme park "the greatest attraction in the history of Florida". The official reveal was kept on the previously-planned November 15 date, and Disney joined Burns in Orlando for the event.

Roy Disney's oversight of construction

Walt Disney died from lung cancer on December 15, 1966, before his vision was realized. His brother and business partner, Roy O. Disney, postponed his retirement to oversee construction of the resort's first phase.

On February 2, 1967, Roy O. Disney held a press conference at the Park Theatres in Winter Park, Florida. The role of EPCOT was emphasized in the film that was played. After the film, it was explained that for Disney World, including EPCOT, to succeed, a special district would have to be formed: the Reedy Creek Improvement District with two cities inside it, Bay Lake and Reedy Creek, now Lake Buena Vista. In addition to the standard powers of an incorporated city, which include the issuance of tax-free bonds, the district would have immunity from any current or future county or state land-use laws. The only areas where the district had to submit to the county and state would be property taxes and elevator inspections. The legislation forming the district and the two cities was signed into law by Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. on May 12, 1967. The Supreme Court of Florida then ruled in 1968 that the district was allowed to issue tax-exempt bonds for public projects within the district, despite the sole beneficiary being Walt Disney Productions.

The district soon began construction of drainage canals, and Disney built the first roads and the Magic Kingdom. The Contemporary Resort Hotel and Polynesian Village were also completed in time for the park's opening on October 1, 1971. The Palm and Magnolia golf courses near Magic Kingdom had opened a few weeks before, while Fort Wilderness opened a month later. At the park's opening, Roy O. Disney dedicated the property and declared that it would be known as "Walt Disney World" in his brother's honor. In his own words: "Everyone has heard of Ford cars. But have they all heard of Henry Ford, who started it all? Walt Disney World is in memory of the man who started it all, so people will know his name as long as Walt Disney World is here." After the dedication, Roy Disney asked Walt's widow, Lillian, what she thought of Walt Disney World. According to biographer Bob Thomas, she responded, "I think Walt would have approved." Roy Disney died at age 78 on December 20, 1971, less than three months after the property opened.

Admission prices 52 years ago in 1971 were $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for juniors under age 18, and one dollar for children under twelve.

Recent history

Much of Walt Disney's plans for his Progress City were abandoned after his death after the company board decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city. The concept evolved into the resort's second theme park, EPCOT Center (renamed Epcot in 1996), which opened in 1982. While still emulating Walt Disney's original idea of showcasing new technology, it is closer to a world's fair than a "community of tomorrow". Some of the urban planning concepts from the original idea of EPCOT would instead be integrated into the community of Celebration much later. The resort's third theme park, Disney-MGM Studios (renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2008), opened in 1989 and is inspired by show business. The resort's fourth theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, opened in 1998.

George Kalogridis was named president of the resort in December 2012, replacing Meg Crofton, who had overseen the site since 2006.

On January 21, 2016, the resort's management structure was changed, with general managers within a theme park being in charge of an area or land, instead of on a functional basis as previously. Theme parks have already had a vice-president overseeing them. Disney Springs and Disney Sports were also affected. Now hotel general managers manage a single hotel instead of some managing multiple hotels.

The Florida resort is not within Orlando city limits but is southwest of Downtown Orlando. Much of the resort is in southwestern Orange County, with the remainder in adjacent Osceola County. The property includes the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake which are governed by the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The site is accessible from Central Florida's Interstate 4 via Exits 62B (World Drive), 64B (US 192 West), 65B (Osceola Parkway West), 67B (SR 536 West), and 68 (SR 535 North), and Exit 8 on SR 429, the Western Expressway. At its founding, the park occupied approximately 30,500 acres (48 sq mi; 123 km ²). Portions of the property have since been sold or de-annexed, including land now occupied by the Disney-built community of Celebration. Now the park occupies 27,258 acres (43 sq mi; 110 km ²), about the size of San Francisco, or twice the size of Manhattan.

Attractions

Theme parks

Water parks

Other attractions

Disney Springs, opened March 22, 1975 (Previously known as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, Disney Village Marketplace, and Downtown Disney)

DisneyQuest, opened June 19, 1998, and is to close after July 3, 2017. Being replaced by NBA Experience.

La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, opened December 23, 1998

Disney's Wedding Pavilion, opened July 15, 1995

ESPN Wide World of Sports, opened March 28, 1997

Golf and recreation

Disney's property includes four golf courses. The three 18-hole golf courses are Disney's Palm (4.5 stars), Disney's Magnolia (4 stars), and Disney's Lake Buena Vista (4 stars). There is also a nine-hole walking course (no electric carts allowed) called Oak Trail, designed for young golfers. The Magnolia and Palm courses played home to the PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Arnold Palmer Golf Management manages the Disney golf courses.

Additionally, there are two themed miniature golf complexes, each with two courses, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. The two course at Fantasia Gardens are Fantasia Garden and Fantasia Fairways. The Garden course is a traditional miniature-style course based on the "Fantasia" movies with musical holes, water fountains and characters. Fantasia Fairways is a traditional golf course on miniature scale having water hazards and sand traps.

The two courses at Winter Summerland are Summer and Winter both theme around Santa. Summer is the more challenging of the two 18-hole courses.

Former attractions

Discovery Island - an island in Bay Lake that was home to many species of animals and birds. It opened on April 8, 1974, and closed on April 8, 1999.

Disney's River Country - the first water park at the Walt Disney World Resort. It opened on June 20, 1976, and closed on November 2, 2001.

Walt Disney World Speedway - a racetrack at Walt Disney World and included the Richard Petty Driving Experience. It opened November 28, 1995, and closed on August 9, 2015.

Of the thirty-four resorts and hotels on the Walt Disney World property, twenty-eight are owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. These are classified into four categories - Deluxe, Moderate, Value, and Disney Vacation Club Villas - and are located in one of five resort areas: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Wide World of Sports, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs resort areas.

While all of the Deluxe resort hotels have achieved an AAA Four Diamond rating, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is considered the highest tier flagship luxury resort on the Walt Disney World Resort complex.

On-site Disney resorts

On-site non-Disney hotels

Former resorts

The Golf Resort - Became The Disney Inn, and later became Shades of Green.

Disney's Village Resort - Became the Villas at Disney Institute and then Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. The "Tree House" Villas were decommissioned for a time because they were not accessible to disabled guests. Until early 2008, they were used for International Program Cast Member housing. In February 2008, Disney submitted plans to the South Florida Water Management District to replace the 60 existing villas with 60 new villas. The Treehouse Villas opened during the summer of 2009.

Celebration (A town designed and built by Disney, now managed by a resident-run association.)

Lake Buena Vista (Disney originally intended this area to become a complete community with multiple residences, shopping, and offices, but transformed the original homes into hotel lodging in the 1970s, which were demolished in the early 2000s to build Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa)

Proposed resorts

Disney's Asian Resort

Disney's Persian Resort

Disney's Venetian Resort

Disney's Mediterranean Resort

Fort Wilderness Junction

Disney's Magical Express

Guests with a Disney Resort reservation (excluding the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin) that arrive at Orlando International Airport can be transported to their resort from the airport using the complimentary Disney Magical Express service, which is operated by Mears Destination Services, as Disney Transport is not allowed to transport guests off resort property. Guests can also have their bags picked up and transported to their resort for them through a contract with BAGS Incorporated on participating airlines.

Attendance

In 2014, the resort's four theme parks all ranked in the top 8 on the list of the 25 most visited theme parks in the world; (1st) Magic Kingdom - 19,332,000 visitors, (6th) Epcot - 11,454,000 visitors, (7th) Disney's Animal Kingdom - 10,402,000 visitors, and (8th) Disney's Hollywood Studios - 10,312,000 visitors.

Operations

Employment

When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the site employed about 5,500 "cast members". Today, Walt Disney World employs more than 74,000 cast members, spending more than $1.2 billion on payroll and $474 million on benefits each year. The largest single-site employer in the United States, Walt Disney World has more than 3,700 job classifications. The resort also sponsors and operates the Walt Disney World College Program, an internship program that offers American college students (CP's) the opportunity to live about 15 miles (24 km) off-site in four Disney-owned apartment complexes and work at the resort, and thereby provides much of the theme park and resort "front line" cast members. There is also the Walt Disney World International College Program, an internship program that offers international college students (ICP's) from all over the world the same opportunity.

Transportation

The Walt Disney World Resort is serviced by Disney Transport, a complimentary mass transportation system allowing guest access across the property. The Walt Disney World Monorail System provides free transportation at Walt Disney World. The system operates on three routes that interconnect at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), adjacent to the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. A fleet of Disney-operated buses on property, branded Disney Transport, is also complimentary for guests.

Disney Transport also operates a fleet of watercraft, ranging in size from water taxis, up to the ferries that connect the Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Disney Transport is also responsible for maintaining the fleet of parking lot trams that are used for shuttling visitors between the various theme park parking lots and their respective main entrances.

Corporate culture

Walt Disney World's corporate culture uses jargon based on theatrical terminology. For example, park visitors are always "guests", employees are "cast members," rides are "attractions" or "adventures", cast members costumed as famous Disney characters in a way that does not cover their faces are known as "face characters", jobs are "roles", and public and nonpublic areas are respectively labeled "onstage" and "backstage".

As part of a competition run by Disney for 2010, Walt Disney World has an unofficial twinning (sister city) with Swindon, England, since 2009. Rebecca Warren's submission to the competition granted Swindon to be the twin town of Walt Disney World, which is famous for its intersection with six roundabouts. Warren and the mayor of Swindon were invited to a "twinning" ceremony, where a plaque revealing the connection will be placed.

Images for kids

In Spanish: Walt Disney World Resort para niños

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Versailles is a city in France. It is about 14 miles (22 kilometers) southwest of Paris. Versailles is famous for a palace built in the 1600s under the guidance of King Louis XIV. The Palace of Versailles was one of the most costly and extravagant buildings in the world. French kings lived there for more than 100 years.

Versailles was not even a town when King Louis XIII built a hunting lodge there in the 1630s. The expansion of the lodge into the palace began in the 1660s. Construction went on through the next century. When the building was completed, about 5,000 people lived there. Other buildings on the palace grounds include the Grand Trianon and the Petit (Small) Trianon. They were built as private residences for the royal family and special guests.

The town of Versailles grew around the palace. It was founded in 1671. Many of the first residents were people who had come to work on the palace. When Louis XIV died in 1715, after 72 years as king, the town of Versailles had a population of 30,000.

The Palace of Versailles was used as the royal residence until the French Revolution started in 1789. After the revolution, the palace was nearly destroyed. In 1837 King Louis-Philippe restored it and turned it into a museum.

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Versailles is a city in France. It is about 14 miles (22 kilometers) southwest of Paris. Versailles is famous for a palace built in the 1600s under the guidance of King Louis...

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A basketball team has five players: two forwards, two guards, and a center. The players are named for the different positions, or roles, that they play on the court. In general, the players at each position have special abilities and duties. For example, guards usually excel at moving the ball down the court and passing it to teammates.

Basketball players play both offense and defense. When a team has the ball, it is on offense and tries to score points. The other team plays defense-it defends the basket at its end of the court. The defensive team tries to keep the other team from scoring. It also tries to gain control of the ball.

Play begins with a jump ball. A referee tosses up the ball between two opposing players in the middle of the court, inside a circle called the center circle. The two players jump for the ball and try to tap it to a teammate. The other players stand outside the center circle, ready to catch the ball. The team that gets control of the ball plays offense first.

The offensive team tries to advance the ball toward the defensive team's basket. Offensive players can pass the ball to teammates. They can also move the ball down the court by themselves. However, players cannot run freely with the ball. They must dribble, or bounce, the ball on the court as they run with it.

Any player with the ball may take a shot at the basket. Most successful shots score two points. Very long shots, from behind a line called the three-point line, score three points.

The defensive team tries to keep the offense from getting a good shot at the basket. When a shot is missed, both teams try to recover the ball. This is called rebounding. If the offense gets the ball on the rebound, it can try to take another shot. If the defense gets the rebound, then it becomes the offense. It tries to move the ball down the court to the opponent's basket. The defense can also get the ball by taking it away, or stealing it, from the offense. Defenders can make a steal when the offense is passing or dribbling the ball.

A group of officials makes sure that the players follow the rules. The officials penalize a team when one of its players breaks a rule. For example, if an offensive player runs without dribbling the ball, the officials give the ball to the defense. Some penalties are called fouls. Most fouls happen when one player makes physical contact with another player. For example, officials call fouls for bumping, pushing, and tripping. The player who is fouled often gets to take shots without having to worry about the defense. These shots are called free throws. They score one point.

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Basketball is a fast-paced and exciting sport. It is very popular in the United States, where it began in the 1890s. It has also become popular in many other countries. In a...