I’ll be the first to say that Disney World is not for everyone. It’s crowded, can get very expensive, and some would say….feels artificial. But if you grew up a Disney kid like myself, then you forget about all of that and get lost in a place of nostalgia, wonder, and magic. To take advantage of the ‘happiest place in the world’, check out my top 10 bucket list items below.
1- Stay on resort
To make the most of your Disney World trip, and for ultra convenience….stay on resort! We stayed at one of the budget hotels Pop Century Resort to cut down on the costs, but were still able to take advantage of the location (closer to the parks!), the frequent shuttles (no stressing about parking or car rentals), early access for restaurant reservations and Fast Pass+ selections, and the Extra Magic Hours (extended hours for hotel guests). I can’t stress enough how important it is to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours….we went to Disney World over the Christmas/New Year’s Eve busy period and were able to knock a whole bunch of rides out-of-the-way BEFORE the park even opened to the general public! It’s a great way to get the most bang-for-your-buck.
TIP: Skip the meal plan. It sounds like a great idea, but then you realize that you have little flexibility in dining options and feel pressure to eat a ton of food while at the hotel.
2- Make the most of your FastPass+
The FastPass+ is Disney’s ride reservation system, designed to minimize wait times for your high priority rides. I’ll admit, this is one we didn’t do so well. On the first day of our visit, we incorrectly thought we could get new FastPass+ options after using our first FastPass+ selection. In reality, you are required to use up all 3 of your FastPass+ selections before being eligible for a new FastPass+ selection. Once we realized our mistake, we quickly re-planned our 2nd and 3rd day FastPass+ selections so that they were lined up for earlier in the day.
TIP: It may take multiple refreshes to find FastPass+ selections for the more popular rides. Be patient…and keep refreshing!
3- Get a picture in front of Cinderella’s castle at Magic Kingdom
Because it’s Disney World, and Cinderella’s castle is the center of it all. If you take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, you might be lucky enough to get a picture in front of the castle without fighting the crowds.
4- Eat a turkey leg at Epcot
Sold at a wagon in the “USA” land of Epcot, these turkey legs are huge and tasty. Bonus – they’re one of the more filling and cheaper concession items!
5- Take a mini safari ride at Animal Kingdom
Lions, tigers, bears….oh my! I could barely contain my excitement during the safari ride because it felt like we were able to get relatively close to the animals! Animals you might see include: Antelope, Mandrill, Black Rhino, Cheetah, Crocodile, Elephant, Flamingo, Gazelle, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Lion, Okapis, Ostrich, Warthog, White Rhino, Wildebeest, and Zebra.
6- Roam the streets of Hollywood Studios
When you need a break from the rollercoasters and rides, take some time to roam the carefully designed streets and shops filled with Disney gear. It was very difficult for us not to come home with 50 different Disney-themed mugs because they were all so adorable! (FYI – We left with 3).
7- Eat at the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater Restaurant at Hollywood Studios
Dining at the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater Restaurant was one of the coolest dining experiences we had at Disney World. We were able to get our own private booth in a “car”, and enjoyed burgers and milkshakes while watching old science fiction cartoons and movie clips! I was tickled pink at how clever Disney had designed the whole 50’s style drive-through theme.
TIP: Make reservations! Had we not made reservations in advance, we probably would’ve been waiting for dinner for a good hour (not the best idea when you’ve had an exhausting day of sensory overload).
8- Visit Disney Springs
It would be a shame to visit the Disney Parks without at least hanging out at Disney Springs for a night. Formerly known as ‘Downtown Disney’, Disney Springs is a massive outdoor entertainment destination area outside of the Disney Parks area, featuring lots of shopping and restaurant options. There’s a good variety of cheap food options (e.g. concession stalls and food trucks) as well as fine dining options (e.g. Morimoto).
TIP: Check out the “World of Disney” shop…the largest Disney shop in the world. It’s the perfect place to buy souvenirs (even better because you don’t have to worry about carrying your purchased goods with you onto rides).
9- Make time for some shows
The best firework display I’ve ever seen was at Disney World. It’s mind-baffling how much money they spend on fireworks and lighting effects for their nightly shows! I’d highly recommend planning for some shows while you’re visiting the parks…they’re a nice way to break-up the rides and also really enjoyable to watch. Favorites include: Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios (featuring pyrotechnics, video projected on water, and Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice), Star Wars a Galactic Spectacular at Hollywood Studios (featuring clips from the movies with a massive firework display), Illuminations at Epcot (a fireworks display celebrating the past, present, and future of Earth), and Wishes Nighttime Spectacular at Magic Kingdom (a gorgeous nighttime projection show against Cinderella’s Castle).
10- Eat at ‘Be Our Guest’ restaurant
Okay, I’m biased here because Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney moving growing up. The design of the restaurant is absolutely stunning (your meal takes place in one of 3 places: the grand ballroom, the west wing, or a dining room of Beast’s Enchanted Castle). The food itself is decent (make sure to get the grey stuff!) but the experience and atmosphere is truly magical. Being one of the most ‘in-demand’ restaurants at Disney World, advance reservations are a must!
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