Planning a trip to Disney World is overwhelming for even the most seasoned Disney vet. If you’ve never been before, understanding it all can seem downright impossible. There is even a Disney language: Lightening Lane, Genie+, Early Entry, Park Hopper, Table Service, Quick Service, and more.
I’ve been to Walt Disney World more times than I can count and in all stages of life. I have several tips to share, but today, I’m going to focus on one important one: Don’t forget to check out the other theme parks!
Disney World is not just one area. It contains four theme parks (and two water parks, but more about those later): Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
When you picture Walt Disney World, you most likely picture Main Street USA, Cinderella Castle, or “It’s a small world.” These are all in Magic Kingdom. It is the quintessential Disney theme park. If you just have one day to spend at Walt Disney World as a first-timer, I recommend Magic Kingdom, especially if you have little kids.
However, if you have the time and resources to visit the other theme parks, please don’t count them out! Some of my favorite Disney World experiences are at the other theme parks.
EPCOT
If you have Frozen-loving kids, you should prioritize EPCOT because it is the only theme park where you can meet Anna and Elsa. This park also has the fun Frozen Ever After ride. If meeting this dynamic duo is at the top of your kids’ Disney wish list, make sure you don’t just hit Magic Kingdom. Anna and Elsa are in the Festival of Fantasy parade at Magic Kingdom, so you can wave to them, but you cannot meet them there.
-If you or your kids love space, there are several adventures at EPCOT for you as well. The Mission: SPACE ride simulates a trip to space, but it was also the only ride in all of Walt Disney World that made me feel queasy. If you’re looking for a trip to space without losing your lunch, you can dine at Space 220. The theming of this table service restaurant was so on point that my kids actually thought we went to eat in space. EPCOT also has the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride.
EPCOT is my personal favorite Disney World theme park. A big reason for that is because of the World Showcase. Where else in the world can you have a Nutella crepe under the Eiffel Tower in France for breakfast, pot stickers and Mongolian beef in China for lunch, and then finish the day with a margarita, chips, and guacamole in Mexico? You can also visit Norway, Canada, Italy, Germany, Morocco, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. My favorite part of the World Showcase is that all the cast members working in each country are from that country. I have learned so much over the years by speaking with these cast members about their culture and hometowns. This Cultural Representative Program also gives such authenticity to the World Showcase.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If anyone in your family is a Star Wars fan, then you must visit Hollywood Studios for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It is a whole Star Wars-themed area with two rides, restaurants, and more that cannot be missed. You can get terrified by a Stormtrooper like I was (he demanded that I put away my datapad (phone)!) or build your own droid or lightsaber.
Toy Story Land is also at Hollywood Studios! If your kids love Toy Story, they’ll love the theming in this land, which contains three rides and a brand new table service restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ. My favorite part was seeing the Green Army Drum Corps march past!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
When this theme park first opened in 1998, I wholeheartedly agreed with my family’s assessment that Animal Kingdom was nothing more than a glorified zoo. It was either a half-day-only park or a skip-this-entirely park.
So much has changed and been added to Animal Kingdom since then! It is my husband’s favorite theme park and my nine-year-old son’s favorite as well.
The Avatar Flight of Passage ride is arguably the best ride at Walt Disney World. I don’t think you’ll ever speak to a Disney fan who doesn’t put this ride in their top five. Whether you’ve seen the Avatar movies or not, I guarantee you’ll walk away from this ride amazed by the experience of flying on the back of a Banshee.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is also a must-do. Magic Kingdom has Jungle Cruise, and while your boat skipper’s puns are sure to tickle your funny bone (or make you groan), the animals in Jungle Cruise are all fake. Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris is full of real animals. It’s hard to believe you haven’t been transported to the plains of Africa as you’re staring up the long neck of a giraffe or trying to catch a glimpse of a cheetah.
Also, my husband and I agree that Animal Kingdom has some of the best food at Disney World. We love the quick-service Flame Tree Barbeque for lunch, while Yak & Yeti is our favorite for table-service dinner.
Some More Quick Notes…
Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are the two water parks at Walt Disney World. They are cool to experience if you have the time. However, I think these two water parks are skippable because they are so similar to water parks anywhere else, just with Disney theming.
FYI, Universal Studios is totally separate from Walt Disney World. Hollywood Studios is one of the Disney World theme parks, but Universal Studios is totally separate and contains two theme parks and a water park of its own.
