If you’re reading this then hopefully you’re ready to go with flights and accommodation and park tickets from checking out our TMTO planning pages here. So, here is our guide to the ultimate theme park resort. As a family we’ve been lucky to visit Walt Disney World WDW many times since our first trip in 2013. And here are few things we’ve noticed and our honest opinions about the rides and attractions we’ve experienced.
Tips for various things common to all 4 parks first and then links further down for details about each theme park in Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World (WDW) is about 30 minutes drive (with no traffic) from MCO Orlando International Airport. The resort is just outside of Orlando surrounded by Kissimmee to the east, Davenport to the south and Clearmont to the west and accessible from the I-4, Highway 192, and the 429 Western Expressway Toll.
It even has its own freeway – World Drive which runs through the resort. The start of which is marked by a Mickey Mouse electricity pylon at Exit 62 on the I-4.
Just after World Drive crosses over Highway 192 you will drive under the famous ‘Most Magical Place On Earth’ Welcome Sign archway where Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy welcome you into Walt Disney World. Signs tell you not to stop here and Disney Security are always present to enforce this but have a passenger ready with a camera to snap away as you approach it.
It has long been the planet’s most visited theme park resort with 58 million visitors a year.
The whole resort area is around 40 square miles (about the size of Greater Manchester!) but as part of the deal to build the resort the Florida State authorities made sure Disney had to keep much of the natural Florida landscape when they were developing WDW.
The resort has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, over a dozen hotels, golf courses, camp sites, shopping and restaurant malls and even 2 petrol stations and its own fire station. The resort has a road network, free bus services, Monorail trains and even a cable car system to transport visitors and guests between the theme parks and hotels.
TMTO TIP: When approaching all WDW car parks, keep to the left. Most visitors tend to gravitate to the right hand lanes. Remember the attendant can take payment at the passenger side so have your $30 ready!
WDW Monorail
This iconic transport system has 3 different lines which interconnect at the Transportation and Ticket Centre (TTC). 2 of these lines loop around the Seven Seas Lagoon. One of these is the Magic Kingdom Express Line which most people will use during your holiday as it is the primary way of getting from the Magic Kingdom car park to the park entrance. The other line around the lagoon is the Resort Line which has stations for the Magic Kingdom area hotels – the Contemporary Resort Hotel (the Monorail travels through the length of the hotel!), the Grand Floridian Resort Hotel and the Polynesian Resort Hotel.
The third line from the TTC will transport you to Epcot. The Monorail is free to ride anytime.
Transportation and Ticket Centre
TMTO TIP: Keep your camera ready when you board for Magic Kingdom as you can get some great shots of the Castle and Space Mountain from the Monorail windows. On the route to Epcot you’ll get a nice elevated view of the park and the Spaceship Earth sphere before you stop at the station so, again keep your camera ready.
WDW Skyliner
Opened in 2019 this elevated cable car system connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios with several of Walt Disney World’s resort hotels. Like the Monorail there are two different lines. One connects Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts with Hollywood Studios (via a change at Caribbean Resort), the other connects Epcot with the Riviera Resort. The Caribbean Beach Resort acts as an interchange station between the two lines. So, travelling from Hollywood Studios to Epcot means changing at Caribbean Resort station. Also like the Monorail it is free to ride anytime.
TMTO TIP: Get the best view from the Skyliner during the day. At nighttime the graphics on the outside of some of the cable cars used to reduce the glare from the Florida sun can block much of the view.
Park Hopping
TMTO TIP: If you’re getting near to the end of your holiday and there’s still a ride or two you want to tick off your list then Park Hop between Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios is easily done using a combination of the Monorail and Skyliner. Animal Kingdom is not connected by any of these transport systems. If you’re driving between parks don’t forget to retain your car park receipt to avoid paying the $30 charge again. The Park Hopper option is included in every UK issued 7 and 14 day dated WDW ticket. Check out our Theme Park Tickets page for more details.
TMTO TIP: Give a wave and a ‘good morning/afternoon/evening’ to cast members you see in the parks. There’s good chance you’ll get a few Disney freebies like Disney stickers or even pin badges out of it! The Monorail staff usually have highly collectable Disney cards available so be extra nice to them too!
After Hours & Special Events
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
During late August and in September and October Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place on selected evenings. Here you can meet Disney Villains and various classic Disney characters in their fancy dress costume. You’ll get a souvenir bag to pick up all the sweets and chocolate you can carry at the treat stops around Magic Kingdom (these are included in the ticket price). There’s special shows with the witches from Hocus Pocus, the Boo-To-You parade which is led by the headless horseman and a Halloween fireworks and castle projection display. The Halloween Party events are the only times Disney relax their costume rules for adults meaning you too can dress up as your favourite character!
TMTO TIP: The official start time for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is 7pm but you can get access to the rides and attractions from 4pm.
Christmas events
From November through to New Year Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights in Hollywood Studios take place on selected evenings. The Very Merry Christmas Party has a Christmas parade and firework and projections on the Cinderella Castle in the evening. Also available is seasonal food and drink and as many cookies and as much hot chocolate as you can eat and drink is included in the price. Classic Disney characters in their festive outfits will available for meet and greets including Scrooge McDuck from the Mickey’s Christmas Carol movie.
TMTO TIP: Just like the Halloween Party you get get admission to Magic Kingdom at 4pm for the Very Merry Christmas Party.
All of these seasonal parties are separate ticketed events and are not included in your general admission 7 or 14 day ticket.
Both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Very Merry Christmas Party are usually very popular especially as get closer to 31st October and Christmas Day. Pricing is also done on date and will get more expensive as the season progresses. Expect to pay around £90 early in the season up to £200 nearer the big day (31 Oct and 25th Dec). It’s not a very cost effective way of visiting but if you’ve been before and just want a quick Disney fix while you experience other activities that Orlando and Florida has to offer then it’s nice way to do visit Magic Kingdom without braking the bank.
After Hours
During the rest of the year (from January through to the summer months) Disney’s After Hours events take place in Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios (not Animal Kingdom as Disney claim it disturbs the animals) on selected evenings only. You will pay £125 to £150 per person for just 5 hours so, like the other special events, it’s not a very cost effective way of visiting WDW. However some snacks like Mickey ice cream bars and soft drinks are included in this price. Some events have a DJ and the music is piped throughout the park for the duration of the event.
H2O Glow at Typhoon Lagoon – Disney’s water park also has an After Hours event with a DJ and characters and you can experience the slides and wave pool after the sun has gone down.
All the above mentioned special and seasonal events will have any Virtual Queues suspended for the evening so you can get on the newer rides in the standby line. The main reason these events are so popular is that numbers of tickets are limited and many of the rides will have no wait or a very low wait time. However the shows and many of the character meets are not in operation for After Hours events.
TMTO TIP: Although After Hours events don’t officially start until 9:30 or 10pm you can enter the park at 7pm on the day of the event.
If you’re planning on visiting during the times these special events are on the park will usually close at 6pm for guests without a Halloween or Christmas party ticket and 8pm for when the After Hours events are on. And of course the parks will be decked out every day of the season in decorations from August to October for the Halloween Party and November to early January for the Christmas Party. Christmas is our favourite time of year to visit and when you see how well the parks and Orlando residents set up their decorations you’ll want to come back every year like us!
Characters
Character meets are something Disney do very, very well. All the characters you’re going to meet in WDW whether you’re 5 or 95 will always strictly stay in character so little ones will always come away believing that they’ve just met the real Cinderella or Aladdin or Goofy (who is always hilarious by the way!). It’s a credit to the actors as they really do make an effort with every visitor. Our daughter was so star struck by her first meeting with Ariel at 2 1/2 years that she was unable speak a word. So parents/carers, you need to just go with it and join in the fun – remember, you’re in Walt Disney World so it’s OK to act like a kid too. A hug, high fives or a fist bump will all be welcomed! Photopass photographers accompany almost every character and they will ask for your ticket or Magic Band to load the photos to your My Disney Experience app PhotoPass. They’ll always be just as willing to take photos with your phone or camera as well so, feel free ask.
Parades
Like character meets, the Disney parades are the best you’re going to see anywhere. Only Magic Kingdom has the large parades with dancers and floats nowadays so check out the Magic Kingdom link below for more info. But generally speaking, cast members will tape out the standing room on the floor about 20 minutes before the parade is due to start to allow other guests to still access the shops and restaurants around the parade route. Get a spot at the front of the taped off area for the best view. Each parade lasts about 20 – 30 mins so ensure you’ve made yourself comfortable! You’ll find people begin to camp out ready for the parade about 20 – 30 mins before it’s due to start. Hollywood Studios also has a small Pixar character parade and a small Christmas parade around the festive period.
TMTO TIP: As a back-up, you can still pick up a park map and a daily guide leaflet with show, parade and character schedules near the entrance to each park. Also ask a cast member as they usually have a few on them.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs isn’t a theme park but a large outdoor shopping and entertainment area over in a east of Walt Disney World. It’s free to park here all day and you don’t need a park ticket to enter – anyone can go in.
It has a few attractions such as the Aerophile balloon ride ($25 adults/$20 kids) and the Vintage Amphicar ($125 per car – 4 people max per car) which takes you for a trip around the lake area in a 50s Cadillac style amphibious car. These require separate purchases as they are not included in any park ticket and so work out quite expensive.
There are numerous high street and designer shops and of course, various Disney stores including the large World Of Disney which stocks merchandise from the parks. Lego fans will impressed by the Lego sculptures around the large Lego store.
There are many unique and themed restaurants here like a Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood and the dino themed T-Rex restaurant but you’ll also find many smaller independent places to eat too. Cirque du Soleil has long held shows at the tent structure and the large AMC cinema has standard screens and the Dine-In Theatre cinema where you can order dinner while you watch a film. The evenings is when Disney Springs really comes to life as you’ll find many entertainers and live bands and the bars become very lively!
Disney Springs is open from 10am until late – 11pm but sometimes later in peak season. If you’re wanting to watch the Dreams That Soar drone show (more on that below) at weekend evenings we would recommend getting before 6pm as the all car parks can be completely full by 7pm!
Dreams That Soar
But the main attraction at Disney Springs is completely free! Dreams That Soar is a fantastic 10 minute drone show set to music and dialogue from classic and contemporary Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel movies. There are 2 showings: one at 9pm and another at 10:45pm although, like most shows these can seasonally change so check MDE app before you go. To get a good view get there about 1 hour before the show starts as it gets very busy especially at weekends (bring snacks and drinks for while you wait). The only entrance to the viewing area is on the water front of the West Side section of Disney Springs behind the House of Blues restaurant. The official viewing area is between Cirque Du Soleil and The Aerophile balloon ride with the exit to this just behind the Starbucks. This is where you’ll have the best view and hear the music clearly.
TMTO TIP: If you want a good view but would like to get a quick exit after the show then sit behind the Starbucks at the West Side section of Disney Springs. This is the only exit to the viewing area so you’ll be out of the crowds quicker.
If you get a reservation at either Jaleo or Summer House restaurants and are facing the lake you’ll get a nice view. You also can view the show from other areas of Disney Springs such as the top floor open air deck of the Coca-Cola store but you won’t hear the music here. Also another viewing area is from the other side of the lake at Saratoga Springs resort hotel. Again, you won’t really hear the music and the ‘Dreams That Soar’ logo at the end of the show will be reversed!
Theme Parks
Here’s a quick run down of the WDW theme parks and links for more details.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is the world’s busiest theme park! Based on the original Disneyland in California and similar to Disneyland Paris, Magic Kingdom has something for everyone and where even adults can feel like a kid again. Parades, shows, slow rides, character meets and a couple of fairly fast roller coasters mean that from toddlers to teenagers you can always find something to keep everyone in the family entertained. The centre of the park features Cinderella’s castle where after nightfall you can experience some of the best firework shows in the world.
Epcot
Epcot’s iconic Spaceship Earth is the golf ball like structure near the park entrance. Epcot is a great antidote for those who find Magic Kingdom a bit too sweet and cheesy since many of the attractions are educational or cultural. However, there are a lot of characters to meet at Epcot – it’s an easy place to fill your autograph book. The rides are mainly situated in the first half of the park which includes WDWs only Marvel attraction – a Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster. The second half is Epcot’s World Showcase – 11 different countries are represented around the lagoon each with a ‘pavilion’ showcasing architeture, cuisine and other cultural elements and this includes a UK pavilion which has a pub! But most visitors will tell you that the food at Epcot is it’s main attraction. It’s definitely the best selection you’re going to find in any of the Orlando parks.
Hollywood Studios
This park has a feel of the golden age of Hollywood and many attractions are based on popular Disney movies but it also has many contemporary attractions in the Star Wars and Toy Story lands. The icon attraction is the Tower of Terror ride and the centre piece of the park features a Chinese style movie theatre just like that in Los Angeles which houses the park’s newest ride – Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Fantasmic! is a brilliant nighttime show with light projections and fireworks and is well worth staying for.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is, like Epcot proof that Walt Disney World isn’t always about Mickey Mouse and Princesses. The resort’s newest park is largely devoted to animal conservation including an Africa land where many of the parks animals can be viewed on a truck safari. An Asia land features a snow capped mountain which houses our kids favourite roller coaster – Expedition Everest! Fans of dinosaurs will find themselves well catered for in Dinoland USA. The newest part of this park is one of Walt Disney World’s most impressive creations – the Moon of Pandora from Avatar complete with floating rocks. The park icon is the 145 foot Tree Of Life in the centre of the park which features carvings in the trunk of over 300 animals.
TMTO Walt Disney World Map
Take Me To ORLANDO! 