The Resorts Gal Guide to the
Disney World Parks
Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks and two water parks. Below, we’ll provide an overview of each one. This guide is designed as a simple starting place to learn about the parks. It expands on our coverage through various series of articles dedicated to each park. You can select any of the parks to learn more specifics about that park. We’ve also listed our most popular planning articles specific to spending time in the Disney World Parks!
Magic Kingdom
Often referred to as the Most Magical Place on Earth, Magic Kingdom Park is Walt Disney World’s original 1971 theme park. The park’s icon, Cinderella Castle, sits in the center of the park at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. Magic Kingdom has so many attractions and rides that it can be challenging to take it all in over a day’s time. We recommend planning a minimum of two days at this park, and you still probably won’t get to see everything!
Newest Attractions:
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- TRON Lightcycle/Run
What’s Not to Be Missed at Magic Kingdom?
This answer could vary depending on your touring party. But we think it’s important to experience a mix of classic attractions combined with more modern ones. Our bucket list day at Magic Kingdom includes the following attractions and entertainment:
Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Magic Kingdom
![the entrance to Magic Kingdom with the train station in the background and Mickey floral planter](https://www.resortsgal.com/wp-content/uploads/disney-world-parks-magic-kingdom.jpg)
Epcot
Epcot opened on October 1, 1982, and is the second theme park at Walt Disney World. Originally called EPCOT Center, the name stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This theme park offers a mix of educational aspects combined with thrills. Those who have a love for travel will likely be inspired by the eleven countries offered in the park’s World Showcase.
Newest Attractions:
- Mickey and Friends Character Spot
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
What’s Not to Be Missed at Epcot?
Obviously, this answer depends on various factors, including your likes and dislikes. But we would not want to visit Epcot without touring the Land Pavilion, the Seas Pavilion, the countries in the World Showcase, and riding Guardians of Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Below, we have a more concise list.
Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Epcot
![a lake with Epcot's icon Spaceship Earth in the backdrop with red flowers and blue skies](https://www.resortsgal.com/wp-content/uploads/disney-parks-guide-epcot.jpg)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989, as Disney-MGM Studios. The park was designed to be a working studio combined with a theme park. Over the years, Hollywood Studios underwent a name change and settled on being only a theme park. It’s now home to two widely popular lands based on favorite Disney-owned film franchises: Star Wars Galaxy Edge (Star Wars) and Toy Story Land (Toy Story).
- Coming Soon: The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
- Newest Attractions: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
What’s Not to Be Missed at Hollywood Studios?
You’ll want to make sure that the things on our list are suitable for your family. But these are some of our favorites, including seeing Fantasmic! which is almost always packed and often requires a time investment to get decent seats.
Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
![Echo Lake at Disney's Hollywood Studios, a theme park at Disney World](https://www.resortsgal.com/wp-content/uploads/disney-parks-hollywood-studios.jpg)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park opened on Earth Day (April 22, 1998). It is the last of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, but definitely not the least. A day spent at Animal Kingdom is truly like no other. We recommend touring this park at a slow pace and exploring all of the little things. You will be better for it by the end of the day. If possible (based on operating hours), we recommend touring the park after dark to see Pandora, World of Avatar glow in bioluminescence.
- Coming Soon: Zootopia Attraction in the Tree of Life Theater
- Newest Attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey
What’s Not to Be Missed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
It’s important to remember that a park like Animal Kingdom is not necessarily about thrill rides. However, there are a few options.
Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
![the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom a Disney World Park](https://www.resortsgal.com/wp-content/uploads/disney-world-parks-guide-animal-kingdom.jpg)
Typhoon Lagoon
Open seasonally, this is one of two waterparks at Walt Disney World. The park is themed to an island setting after a typhoon turns everything upside down. You might even find a ship sitting on top of a mountain!
Blizzard Beach
Someone had the idea to put a ski resort in Florida, but as you can probably imagine, it soon turned into a melting ski resort! Thankfully, puddles make for a good start when it comes to water parks. Also, open seasonally, Blizzard Beach is Disney’s secondary water park.
![the lazy river at Disney's Water Park. Typhoon Lagoon](https://www.resortsgal.com/wp-content/uploads/disney-typhoon-lagoon-water-park.jpg)
Browse Our Disney World Parks Planning Articles
These articles will help you decide which rides are suitable for your family. They include a list of height requirements for rides in every park and instructions on how to use Rider Switch if you have an ineligible rider. Given its popularity, we’ve also included a list of everything related to Frozen at Walt Disney World.
The 1-Stop Guide to Disney World Lightning Lanes: If you’re planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, this is one of our most important guides. It details everything you need to know about Lightning Lanes, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and Single Pass. Preview average prices, selections, and a step-by-step overview of how the entire process works.
Disney World Rides with Height Requirements: This guide lists every attraction at Walt Disney World with a height requirement, and the ones that don’t!
How to Use Rider Switch at Walt Disney World: Find out everything you need to know to experience attractions at Walt Disney World when traveling with little ones.
Everything Frozen at Disney World: The Frozen frenzy continues! We’ve put together a guide that shares everything related to Frozen in the four theme parks.
The Magic Kingdom Rides Guide: This is one of our most popular articles. It gives a brief description of every attraction at Magic Kingdom.
Luminous: The Symphony of Us Viewing Locations: This article shares photos of Epcot’s fireworks from some of our favorite viewing locations (and a few of the worst!).
Seasonal Guides
Here are a few of our seasonal guides for the parks.
8 Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July at Disney World: Spending the 4th of July at Disney World? Don’t miss this special list of must dos for the holiday!
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide 2024: This seasonal guide teaches you everything you need to know about the seasonal Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. This year’s event begins on August 9, 2024!
Meeting Characters at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: If you’re looking to meet characters at this year’s event, this is the guide for you! We’ve met them all and shared our experience walking through each character’s meet-and-greet during the party!
9 Things to Do During Christmas at Walt Disney World (2024): This guide shares announcements for the Christmas holidays at Walt Disney World during the 2024 holiday season.
Meeting Characters at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: If you’re looking to meet characters at the Christmas party, this guide is for you! We’ve shared a preview of every meet-and-greet and what to expect as far as lines.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: Preview photos and videos of the Christmas parade at Magic Kingdom!
The 1-Stop Guide to Disney World Lightning Lanes
Rides at Walt Disney World with Height Requirements (And a List of Rides that Don’t)
A Comprehensive Guide to Using Rider Switch at Disney World
Everything ‘Frozen’ at Walt Disney World
We Like to Watch ‘Luminous: The Symphony of Us’ From These Locations
Trending
If you’re visiting during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, don’t miss taking the time to tour the exquisite topiaries. We’ve got the entire list with photos of each one and their location.
Disney World Theme Parks
The following guides are for each park. Each guide shares a list of attractions and other planning articles specific to that park.
The Resorts Gal Guide to Magic Kingdom
The Resorts Gal Guide to Epcot
The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Most Popular
Here are a few of our most popular articles related to the Walt Disney World theme parks.
Don’t Miss Entertainment
These are a few of our favorite entertainment offerings at Walt Disney World.
Disney After Hours Guides
Are you considering purchasing tickets for Disney After Hours? We break down our experiences in the following guides.