Walt Disney World, it’s the most magical place on Earth. Escaping into the Disney bubble for any amount of time is a wonderful experience, but it can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t know that:
- Disney has 3 different types of queueing systems in the 4 theme parks onsite
- The app rules your park experience, from dining to drinks, riding to shopping, it’s all on your phone
- You can book experiences before you go, but only 60 days before, and some you can’t because you live in the UK.
It’s a mysterious place where time stops and age doesn’t matter. You’ll find new favourite ways to travel, coffee tastes better, and dragons breathe fire. It’s the place where magic comes to life, character hugs bring out emotions you never knew you had, and people of all ages wear Mickey Ears day and night.
Walt Disney World theme parks
Walt Disney World resort in Florida has 4 theme parks for guests to explore and enjoy. Each park has a different vibe, a visit to Animal Kingdom is nothing like a visit to EPCOT. The 4 theme parks, in order of construction are:
- Magic Kingdom (opening 1 October 1971)
- EPCOT (opening 1 October 1982)
- Hollywood Studios (opening 1 May 1989)
- Animal Kingdom (opening 22 April 1998)
The theme parks each bring their own kind of magic to guest experiences, and visitors to the parks will often end up choosing a favourite.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is the original park, the second of Walt Disney’s parks and now the most famous globally. It is the most visited theme park in the world and is said to attract over 100 million visitors every year, although that isn’t an official Disney figure.
Magic Kingdom is the park that is home to parades and live character shows, nightly Tinkerbell flies across the crowds giving guests a kiss goodnight after Happily Ever After. A park tradition that has gone on since opening day.
EPCOT
EPCOT, the second of the four parks is a park that aligns closely with the visions of Walt Disney. Named after Walt’s vision of a community, Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, it is the park which is said to encapsulate his last vision before his death on 15 December 1966.
EPCOT is home to 4 annual festivals, a night time show, Luminous: The Symphony of Us, and has a reputation with Disney adults for being the park where they can drink around the world. EPCOT is a park that is full of surprises and encourages unity, innovation, and community.
Hollywood Studios
The third of the parks to be built in Walt Disney World, this park was originally only intended as a half day park. From the day of it’s opening it was clear that was never going to be the case and immediate expansion was green lit.
Hollywood Studios is a firm fan favourite park, capturing the glamour and allure of Hollywood in both theming and attractions. Home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land this is the park where the movies come to life.
Offering fans fast and thrilling rides, it is the home of some of Walt Disney World resort’s newest rides. It is also the only park where guests can enjoy a ride experience with Mickey and Minnie.
Animal Kingdom
The final theme park is the largest, offering guests not only rides but animal experiences too. From taking a safari with lions, giraffes, cheetahs, rhinos, and so many other different animals, to a live Lion King show, to riding rollercoasters it’s a park with a difference.
Animal Kingdom offers guests the chance to explore conservation in reality and fiction through the land of Pandora – The World Of Avatar. The largest animatronic Disney have ever built is ready to give you a ride surprise on Expedition Everest. Animal Kingdom is definitely a park which will surprise you.
Walt Disney World water parks
Walt Disney World resort is not only home to 4 theme parks, it is also home to 2 water parks:
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Blizzard Beach
These days only 1 park is open at a time, but both parks offer guests exciting water rides and a place to relax during rest days.
Famous for Food
Disney park snacks have become famous with guests and foodies who delight in Instagrammable food. Delightfully themed snacks add to the magical experience of a day in the parks. With staple Mickey shaped goodies (amongst other snacks) available all year round, Disney regularly release different themed snacks for events and seasons.
From the type of quick-service theme park food you would expect, to dining with characters to fine dining in Michelin star restaurants Walt Disney World Resort has it all. If you like food even a little bit, you’ll love seeing the magic Disney chefs can make with food.
Walt Disney World shopping
Walt Disney World has it’s own sprawling shopping centre, Disney Springs. Home to 97 shops and over 50 restaurants, Disney Springs is a retail haven with free parking for all.
Disney World theme parks boast exclusive pieces of merchandise that you can’t get anywhere else from brands like Pandora and Borgin and Burke bags. Fluffy stuffed animals, themed clothing, and mugs are of course available to buy but Disney shopping in the theme parks has so much more to offer.
In Hollywood Studios Star Wars fans can make their own lightsabers or even build their own droid. These are experiences unique to Disney parks, and you have to book to do them.
1 day in Walt Disney World is never enough
The magic of Disney perhaps lies in the way experiences in the parks capture something inside you that makes you long to return. From awe inspiring icons in each park to rides that blow your socks off, 1 day in a Walt Disney World park never feels like enough.
Guides for Memories
Walt Disney World memories are forever memories. That’s why our guide is here. We want to help UK visitors plan and budget for the best holiday experiences in Walt Disney World. Our experience-based guides share knowledge to help you make the best possible magical memories on your Walt Disney World holiday.