Disney World…the happiest place on earth.
And the most exhausting vacation you will ever take. I always say it’s not a Disney vacation until someone has a meltdown…inevitably it will happen. However, with the right amount of planning Disney can be quite magical. Adults and children alike love this place, me included. I recommend at least one Disney trip, it doesn’t matter peoples ages, there will be something that everyone loves, and your memories will last you a lifetime.
This post is going to be broken into several sections. Honestly, each section could be its own post. There is so much to say about Disney, but I am going to try to keep it short and sweet. I am going to cover places to stay, food, parks, helpful tips, and other random things I think you should know. If you have any questions feel free to reach out.
PLACES TO STAY
There are benefits to staying on property and there are benefits to staying off property. I’ve done both. This post, however, is only going to cover “on property” stays. Some of the perks you will receive for staying on property are listed below.
You can purchase a Disney dining plan. Depending on how much you like to eat and where you like to eat this can be a good idea.
You have access to the Disney magical buses. These buses will take you to and from the parks and Disney Springs, no car needed.
You get extra time in the parks. Parks open to resort guests before the general public.
You can book dining reservations all at once, 60 days out.
Magic Bands
Themed resorts and rooms…its part of the magical experience and I love it
So how do you decide where to stay? In my opinion that comes down to budget. Disney breaks their resorts into 3 main categories. Deluxe, Moderate, and Value resorts. They also offer villas and campgrounds.
I have stayed at all 3 levels and have loved them all. Some differences between the levels outside of price are, room size, pool size, sit down dining options, and distance from the parks. Every room I have stayed in has been clean. The staff at each resort has been fantastic. You really can’t go wrong. Each Disney resort has its own theme, and that theme is carried out to the most minute detail. My hands down favorite is the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Being able to walk out onto a balcony and see animals is a really cool experience!
FOOD
The food options at Disney are endless. Every resort specializes in its own type of cuisine. Every theme park section has its own specialized cuisine to match whatever “world” you are in. If you are a foodie, Disney has you covered. If you only eat chicken nuggets and fries, Disney has you covered. Got food allergies, Disney has you covered. Want candied apples, or smoked salmon pizza at 11pm…Disney has you covered. You could literally go to Disney just to eat…kinda like the State Fair. The food at Disney is part of the experience and it’s a part that you shouldn’t miss out on. If you are staying on property you can make reservations 60 days out for your entire trip. I recommend doing this if you are wanting to get into some of the character dining experiences or some of the higher-end dining. Character dining is a great way to meet/see characters without standing in line. So what are my must eats at Disney? It’s actually one thing…A DOLE WHIP. That’s it, just a dole whip. It is my favorite thing on a hot humid day. But a close second would be an ice cream sundae from Ghirardelli located in Disney Springs. I’ve also tried the “grey stuff” it was delicious. Smoked salmon pizza from Wolfgang Puck’s is also delicious. If you have kids that love dinosaurs you can’t go wrong at T-Rex. Got a sushi lover? Try Morimotos (also it’s beautiful inside). If you are heading to Epcot, go hungry! There is so much food, everywhere…but you will counteract those calories with all the walking you will be doing, so eat and eat lots.
PARKS
Disney World has 4 parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. They have 2 water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They also have a shopping/dining area known as Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney for us old school people). This section is going to focus on the non water parks and Disney Springs. I have never been to the water parks because that’s just not my thing.
Let’s kick it off with Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom is quintessential Disney in my opinion. It has Main Street USA that leads you right to Cinderella’s castle. The sights and smells, there is nothing like it. The iconic nostalgic rides are located here, think Small World and Haunted Mansion. It evokes wonder and happiness in even the grumpiest of people.
Magic Kingdom is divided into 5 distinct areas; Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Each land has its own unique theme, rides, snacks and characters. At the end of the evening fireworks are set off over the castle. Magic Kingdom tends to be the busiest of the parks so I would strongly recommend utizling early entrance times and extended hours. In the fall you can trick or treat here during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, my absolute favorite thing to do. You can also get a princess makeover here at the Bippity Boppity Boutique.
Next we have Epcot. Epcot is probably best known for its food and alcoholic beverage selection. You can literally eat and drink around the world (not necessarily in that order) and I highly recommend it. Epcot contains 11 pavilions showcasing countries from all over the world. Each country has its own food and drinks and shopping, and you can learn a lot.
Epcot hosts 4 festivals throughout the year. The International Fesitival of the Arts, The Flower and Garden Festival, The International Festival of the Holidays and The International Food and Wine Festival. On my most recent trip I was there during The Flower and Garden Festival. Stunning topiaries were located throughout the park and were definitely worth seeing. These topiaries were paired with beautiful flower displays, a gardener’s dream come true. Epcot also puts on a spectacular night time show…think fireworks, lasers, lights and music! Although Epcot sounds like an adult paradise there is plenty there for the kiddos as well…think Frozen, Ratatouille and soon to be Moana.
Moving right along, we have my favorite park…Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is like a giant zoo, done Disney style with some rides mixed in. It is also home to The Lion King Show which is absolutely amazing. This park isn’t open super late so it is best mixed with a park hopper if you want to be out all night.
Animal Kingdom is made up of 6 lands. The Oasis, Discovery Island, Dinoland USA, Africa, Asia, and Pandora. I would highly recommend heading to this park as soon as it opens and getting on Kilimanjaro Safaris. The animals tend to be more active before it gets super hot. Also don’t miss the walking trails to see even more animals. When it’s the warmest go see the Lion King or ride the Kali River Rapids. If you have a thrill seeker with you then Expedition Everest is a can’t miss. This is a great park to be able to relax a little. There aren’t the crowds here that some of the other parks see and there are only 15 rides and live shows. If you plan correctly you can easily see everything in one day or even half a day. One last thing, be on the look out for Miss DiVine, you will know when you see her.
The last park on our list is Hollywood Studios. I will be honest on my most recent trip I didn’t get to spend a lot of time here, however it holds a special place in my heart. Years ago when my kids were younger this is where you came to see all the non-princess characters. Think Mike and Sully, Woody and Jessie, Wreck it Ralph…and I have many fond memories of my little guy running full force into their arms. I would say now the biggest attraction for this park is Star Wars. Even if you aren’t a fan get ready to have your socks knocked off.
Hollywood Studios is divided up into 7 '“lands”; Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Echo Lake, Grand Avenue, Animation Courtyard, ToyStory Land, and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. There are stunt shows, and musical shows and thrilling rides but all that really matters is Star Wars. Disney out did themselves when creating this land. In true Disney magic not one small detail was forgotten…and words can’t really describe it. Actually yes they can, think ABSOLUTELY FREAKING AMAZING…and I’m not a Star Wars girl. Rise of the Resistance has to be one of the best rides ever created. In fact it’s not even a ride, it’s a 20 minute experience. I feel like nothing else matters about this park, but that wouldn’t be fair. If you have littles they will be sure to enjoy ToyStory Land or the Frozen Singalong Celebration. Another perk with this park is they tend to be open a little later. This park also offers a fireworks show to cap off your evening!
Our final stop is Disney Springs. Disney Springs isn’t technically a park but in my opinion it deserves a mention. You can easily spend a day here strolling around taking it all in…and it’s free. There are roughly 100 shopping stores in Disney Springs including the world’s largest Disney Store (and this store also has a Bippity Boppity Boutique located inside). Also located in Disney Springs are 65 restaurants and 20 entertainment venues. See how you can spend a day here?? Transportation is easy, you can get here from any Disney park or resort. Come hungry and come with spending money, you won’t have any regrets.
Other Random Helpful Things
Below I am going to list off other things that might be helpful to know or help in making your trip run a little more smoothly.
Disney is exhausting, if at all possible plan a couple of down days to just lounge around the pool or stroll through Disney Springs.
Utilize the Park Hoppers. Whether you want to completely max out a 15 hour day across various parks, or you want to schedule in an afternoon nap between parks, the park hopper is your friend. Yes it is an added cost, but that cost does pay out in my opinion.
Plan your trip to really utilize the early open/late close hours at the different parks. You are paying for a Disney vacation so make sure you get the most out of it.
Genie Plus…yes this is an added feature and you don’t need it everyday but it will totally be worth it so that you don’t have to wait 2 hours in line for a ride. Save your sanity and join the lightening lines.
I wouldn’t waste my money on a photo pass. The Disney workers will absolutely use your phone to take a picture with characters.
Feel free to skip the fireworks and ride rides. The lines will be significantly shorter. Also, stay those extended hours. The later it gets the less people that are in the parks, the less people that are in the parks equals shorter lines.
Skip Mears and get an Uber
Have groceries and snacks delivered to your hotel.
You can rent strollers at the parks
Don’t underestimate Disney Springs. I covered it in the parks section because you really can spend a significant amount of time there and you should. It’s worth it in my opinion. It’s also free to get into…who doesn’t love free!