With so much to see and do, it can be overwhelming to decide which experiences to prioritize when planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Whether you’re traveling with young children or simply a Disney enthusiast, there’s something for everyone at Walt Disney World.
Here are just a few of the types of experiences you can have on your Walt Disney World vacation:
Theme Parks
Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Each park offers a unique set of attractions, shows, and dining options. From classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom to newer additions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot, there’s something for everyone.
- The Magic Kingdom offers the most classic Disney experience that most people think of when they consider a Walt Disney World vacation. This is where you’ll find Cinderella Castle, classic dark rides, and amazing parades and fireworks. If you’ve got small children in your party, this is the place to be.
- Epcot is where you’ll find thrill rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track, rides for the whole family like Soarin’ and Spaceship Earth, and of course the World Showcase, where you’ll find pavilions representing 11 different nation’s cultures. Epcot tends to appeal more to teens and adults, though there is certainly something to be found for the entire family!
- Hollywood Studios is home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, along with attractions themed to the movies. This park can appeal to all ages with its inclusion of fantastic shows, but teens and adults will be most excited for the thrill rides located here!
- Animal Kingdom is an incredibly themed park with lush foliage and amazing animal attractions, which makes it another park that is super popular with little kids. Pandora, the World of Avatar, is an area of the park where you’re transported out of this world to see how the Na’vee live on Pandora from the movie Avatar and contains one of the most immersive and exciting thrill rides at the parks: Avatar, Flight of Passage.
Water Parks
Resorts
If you need a break from the theme parks, Walt Disney World also has two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. These parks offer a variety of water attractions, from lazy rivers to thrilling water slides.
Walt Disney World has over 25 resort hotels to choose from, each with its own unique theming and amenities. From value resorts like Pop Century to deluxe resorts like the Grand Floridian, there’s a resort for every budget and preference. Each resort offers its own set of unique amenities and activities, and resort exploration is an adventure on its own when staying at Walt Disney World!
Dining
Food is a big part of any Disney vacation, and Walt Disney World has no shortage of dining options. From character meals to fine dining experiences, there’s something for every taste and budget.
Entertainment
In addition to the theme parks and water parks, Walt Disney World offers a variety of entertainment options. From live shows like Festival of the Lion King to nighttime spectaculars like Happily Ever After, there’s always something to see and do.
Putting it all together
No matter what your vacation goals are, Walt Disney World has something for you. By prioritizing the experiences that matter most to you, you can create a magical and unforgettable vacation!
As you plan your vacation, you should take some time to consider all of the above options with your travel party and prioritize what things your group wants to experience. This is an important step because it impacts what type of park tickets you’ll end up purchasing, which will have a big impact on your overall trip budget.
When I’m planning a trip, I like to map out what every day will look like from a high level view. The way that works best for me is creating a calendar that I can share with my travel party and time block off days with the things I expect to do on that trip. This creates a visual map of where we’ll be spending our time.
Ticket Types
Once I know how many days I expect to visit the parks and if I’m going to want to visit the water parks or mini golf, then I can decide what kind of tickets to purchase. Walt Disney World offers four types of tickets:
- Base Tickets which allow guests to visit one theme park per day,
- Base Tickets with Water Parks, Sports, and More which allow guests to visit one theme park per day AND visit a water park, mini golf, or play a round of golf each day as well,
- Park Hopper Tickets which allow guests to visit multiple theme parks in one day,
- Park Hopper Plus Tickets which allow guests to visit multiple theme parks in one day AND visit a water park, mini golf, or play a round a golf each day as well.
Ticket prices vary based on the day of your planned visit, or you can pay a little more and choose a ticket that isn’t associated with a specific date for ultimate flexibility. Ticket prices also are variable on the number of days purchased – with the price per day decreasing the more days purchased.
Next Steps
Now that you have an idea of what you’d like to do on your Walt Disney World Vacation, it’s time to think about where you’d like to stay!
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