Sometimes it feels like the only Disney attraction I talk about are the parks, especially Walt Disney World in Orlando. It’s one of the most popular locations and a lot of interesting promotions and events are happening there right now, so I do want to share them with everyone here at families.com.
But for those who might tire of the hectic crowds, noise, and cement pathways of an amusement park, Disney has an entirely different option: the Disney Wilderness Preserve.
The Walt Disney Company created the Wilderness Preserve in 1992, purchasing the 8500-acre Walker Ranch in Poinciana, Florida. In partnership with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and The Nature Conservancy, Disney turned the ranch into a nature preserve along Lake Russell, one of the last undeveloped lakes in Central Florida.
According to The Nature Conservancy, the now 12,000-acre Disney Wilderness Preserve is “an innovative model of ecological restoration and one of the largest off-site wetlands mitigation projects ever undertaken in the United States.”
The preserve is located only about an hour’s drive from the Disney Resort in Orlando, making it a feasible day trip option for families who’d like a quieter, greener experience in the midst of their Disney vacation.
One of the Disney Wilderness Preserve’s main goals is to protect the upper tributaries of the Everglades. Because of this, the preserve is an ideal spot to observe many rare species.
Some of those, as listed on the Disney Wilderness Preserve website, include bald eagles, Florida scrub-jays, sandhill cranes, and gopher tortoises. The endangered Red-cocked Woodpecker can also be found at the preserve, having been relocated there after its numbers were reduced from logging.
I don’t mean to promote this particular park above others just because it’s Disney (despite the fact that this is a Disney blog). My parents took me to more nature parks than amusement parks as a child, and it’s those that I enjoyed more both when I was younger and now as an adult.
Whenever you’re planning a family vacation I’d encourage you to research local parks at your destination, be they government-sponsored or privately owned. A day spent hiking around or observing nature at a conservancy can be an educational, relaxing, and fun day for the family.
I’d like to give Disney kudos for creating and maintaining their wilderness preserve, and that’s why I wanted to feature it in an article. That it could make a fun and different experience during a Disney Florida vacation is just icing on the cake.
The preserve is open from 9 to 5 daily, though The Nature Conservancy recommends calling ahead (407-935-0002) before visiting in case there’s limited access due to flooding or restoration work. The hikes available at the Wilderness Preserve are a 1-mile trip from the Conservation Learning Center to Lake Russell, and a 2.5-mile circuit going beyond the lake.
Tours are also offered to further the learning experience at the park. Admission is $2 for adults or $1 for Nature Conservancy members.
Related Articles:
Get Into Disney World for Free
Disney Innovation in Times Square
Creating an Early Spring Nature Table