Okay...the real reason everyone comes to Disney World...the parks. For me, not so much...but for everyone else, that's the case. I enjoy the parks, don't get me wrong; but there are so many great things to do besides the parks. I must admit, I love to go to the parks with people who have never been or people who didn't like it the first time around. If you don't know how to navigate and 'work' the parks, you could go insane walking around in circles with thousands of people who are hot, sweaty, smelly, and often rude!! Here's my take on the parks, one-by-one.
Magic Kingdom (the most popular)- most people think Disney World is the Magic Kingdom. Actually is it the first park created in Disney World. It is most popular with the kids and is definately more kid oriented. There are several 'lands' to visit in Magic Kingdom, each with various rides and attractions. There is Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, also Tom Sawyers Island, Main Street, and Liberty Square. Each area has specific rides and attractions that focus around that lands theme. A few must sees are: Pirates of the Carribean (Adventureland), Philharmagic (Fantasyland), It's a Small World (Fantasyland), Space Mountain (Tomorrowland), The Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square), Splash Mountain (Frontierland), Big Thunder Mountain (Frontierlnad), and Buzz Lightyear (Tomorrowland). There are many, many more; but those are our favorite must sees. There are also many places to eat in Magic Kingdom, we like the Crystal Palace (Main Street, a character buffet and a little pricey), Harbor House (Liberty Square, counter service), and Cosmic Rays (Tomorrowland, counter service). I suggest always packing your own snacks and water, but those are some good places to go and eat a decent meal. Disney allows you to take in backpacks and carry bags; they just have to be checked at the gate. I would say for beginners to take 2 days in this park to enjoy all the sites and attractions.
Epcot (our favorite and enjoyed by many adults)- I would call this the adults theme park; although Disney is trying very hard to make it kid friendly. There are several neat rides for kids, but there are more interactive things for the kids to do here. I would have a plan in hand when going with kids; so that you know exactly where to go for the kids to enjoy. There are two main sections to this park; World Showcase and Future World. Future World always opens first and has the most rides; must sees in this area are Soarin, Fast Trak, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, and Finding Nemo. There are several diffent themed buildings that have various activities to enjoy, see characters, watch shows, etc. I would explore this area in full then head over to World Showcase. This is one of our favorite areas in Disney. It is a replica of various countries across the world. In each 'country' there are shops, restaurants, attractions/rides, and entertainment. Our favorite's are; Mexico (must check out the margarita's), England (check out the Rose and Crown restaurant), Japan (neat shopping), Norway (check out the boat ride, Maelstrom, and the shops which carries my favorite perfume Laila!). When you come to this area, eat....The best time to come is during the food and wine festival (fall) when you can sample food around the world set up around the countries in food stands. You can sample dishes, desserts, and wines for a small fee. I will admit this get costly because you want to 'try' so many things and never seem to get filled up; so be careful and bring lots of money. Our favorite places to eat in the World Showcase; England, France, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and China. My husband loves Germany and Norway, but I don't guess it depends on your tastes. Plan at least one day in this park.
Animal Kingdom- This park closes before any other park and you can just about do it in a half day. It is a really neat park that both adults and children will enjoy. There are different areas within the park; based on a specific theme. In Africa you must do Kilimanjaro Safari; it is by far the best attraction in all of Disney (my opinion of course, my husband and daughter are disagreeing as we speak). On this ride you travel by big jeep unto a safari (the land is about the size of the Magic Kingdom) and see lots of animals, it truly feels like you've stepped into Africa. This ride is about 10 minutes long and well worth the wait. Go there first thing when you get in the park or fast pass it. Another great ride is Mount Everest in Asia. A great 3-D show is the Bug's Life in the Tree of Life. Dinoland is a neat area and has several rides the kids will enjoy. Check out the monkey/gorilla section between Africa and Asia, they are quite interesting to observe. There are a few good places to eat here; there is a Rainforest Cafe and although neatly themed, can be quite expensive. A good counter service restaurant is Flame-Tree BBQ. We usually do this park and Hollywood Studios together. Animal Kingdom first, then Hollywood Studios...so next and lastly Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Studios (honestly my least favorite)- This park is themed around Hollywood big screeen and production. There are many shows to sit down and watch, so if you're into that you will love this park. I like it well enough, but not something I would do over and over again. The biggest highlight to this park is the end of the night finale Fantasmic; a must see if you are there at closing (go early to get a seat or you will never get in). Some other good rides/attractions in this park is Star Tours (redoing currently), The Rockin Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Backlot Tour, Muppet Vision 3-D, Toy Story Mania, and The Great Movie Ride. If you're going with kids, they will love the Animation Courtyard, so be sure to check that out. There are several places to eat, none stand out, but most are okay.
Again...there is so much to say and so little time to say it all. My suggested times to visit the parks; Sept.-Nov., Jan., end of Apr-May. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask or comment. I'd also love to hear your tips, share your thoughts, and hear of your favorites. Next post we'll talk about, a favorite of mine...eating, so until next time...
