Disney’s Wilderness Preserve – Approximately 20 miles south of Walt Disney World as the Great Blue Heron flies is a piece of Disney property near the headwaters of the Everglades that most people do not know exist, Disney’s 11,500-acre nature preserve Disney Wilderness Preserve.

First established through land purchases in 1993 and opened to the public in 1999 the Disney Wilderness Preserve has a 540 acre lake (Lake Russell), a 1.5 mile drive, and almost 10 miles of hiking trails and is home over 1,000 species of plants and animals including alligators and bald eagles and if you are really lucky you may even spot a rare and elusive Florida Panther and we do not mean somebody who plays for the hockey team based in Miami.

If you are visiting Disney World and you have access to a vehicle and you want a Disney experience that is a little different and does involve paying admission, go to this link and plan a visit to this little piece of the natural world.