Disney World's Welcome Center Located in Ocala Florida

Closed in the summer of 2006 Disney World's Welcome Center in Ocala, FL is now just a memory for those who used to enjoy stopping there.

Once an integral part of Disney World's Florida outdoor advertising campaign geared towards motorists traveling down the Interstate 75 and the Florida Turnpike corridors towards Orlando. The AAA sponsored Welcome Center has been replaced by a Holiday Inn. Visitors traveling by car to Disney World once got their first taste of the famous Disney Magic on their journey towards Orlando here.

As you were driving south on Interstate 75 nearing Ocala you'd been seeing Disney World billboards for the preceding half-hour and the kids had been asking When are we getting to Disney for about twenty-nine minutes. The Welcome Center presented a great opportunity to stop stretch your legs and use some of the cleanest bathrooms on the interstate as well as shop for Disney souvenirs, get Disney info, and make Disney dining or hotel reservations.

Click on the images for larger versions.

The sign at the entrance to the Welcome center

The front entrance view of the Welcome Center from the parking lot.

The view towards the AAA counter where you could obtain Disney World information and park maps or schedules as well as make Disney dining or hotel reservations

Another view of the AAA counter

They had lots of souvenirs from the theme parks

They carried various items from all four parks

There was even a short film showing all the latest things going on at Disney World

Here's my blog post on Disney World's outdoor advertising including the Ocala Welcome Center