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Walt Disney World covers 40 Square miles. That is bigger than Manhattan Island in New York and just smaller than San Francisco. And although only a quarter of it has been developed for use as guest areas, it is still a large area that has to be maintained by the Disney maintenance workers and

horticulturists. No matter where you go on Disney Property, the grounds always look nice. From Flowers and Shrubbery to Grass and Trees, the place always looks magnificent. And with all the times I’ve been to Walt Disney World, I don’t think I have ever heard a Lawnmower. It is amazing. Mainly because the grounds of Disney are so well kept, that they are an Unknown Magic.

Different reports say that there are around 5,000 maintenance employees and 750 Horticulturists that take care of the grounds and plants at Disney World. Approximately 3 million bedding plants are used each year at the Walt Disney

World Resort. It is also reported there are well over 4 million trees and shrubs. Along with 13,000 Rose Bushes, 800 hanging baskets and 200 Topiary designs throughout Disney World. There are 200 Acres of turf and 2,000 miles of sprinkler piping underground. It’s no wonder it always looks nice in Disney. They take their yard-work seriously and the thing is, you never see them do it.

Most of the Maintenance and planting that goes on happens after dark, when you are sleeping. This is when the planting and digging and a lot of the mowing is done in the parks. Sometimes the pruning of Rose Bushes and such takes place during the day in the Parks, but for the heavy duty changes that are made to flower beds and pathways, this is all done at night.
Some of the neatest decorations in Walt Disney World are the Topiary designs.

I remember as a kid, going to the Contemporary Resort and passing an elephant and other topiary statues out on the main road as you came down the road to
get to the Resort. They still are used all over Disney World Today. They can be seen in the parks and outside of the Resorts Hotels; you just have to keep an eye out for them. Every year from March until May, Disney presents the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. This is an amazing display of Flowers and topiaries that rivals the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

But even without the Flower and Garden Festival, the grounds and flowerbeds of Walt Disney World are something to behold. If you are down in the spring, there are blooming spring flowers, and then the flowers everyone associates with summer take over. In the fall they change over to fall colors and for the

Christmas Season it is amazing in a whole different way. And this is something that many people see, but don’t pay attention to, this is truly a Magical touch that makes your Experience in Walt Disney World even more pleasant.

So, now that you know, take time to stop and see the roses and all the other wonderful plants throughout Disney World.

For a really great article about this topic, Check out this National Geographic News Article from 2003: Inside Disney World’s Landscaping Army