The Resorts Gal Guide to 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 for 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:

  • Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
  • Eat a Favorite Treat (Popcorn, Dole Whip, or Ice Cream)
  • See Happily Ever After Fireworks
  • Ride Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Ride Haunted Mansion
  • Ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover (Day and Night)
  • Ride TRON Lightcycle/Run
  • Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Meet Characters!
  • See the Festival of Fantasy Parade
  • Relax in a rocking chair on the Town Square Theater porch and take it all in!
  • Cool off in The Hall of Presidents, and be surprised by how much you enjoyed it!

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

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 and thrills. Those who love 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?

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.

  • See Luminous: The Symphony of Us (Evening Fireworks)
  • Ride Living with the Land in the Land Pavilion
  • Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
  • Meet Disney Princesses in the World Showcase
  • Visit the Seas Pavilion and Explore (The perfect place to wait out a storm or tour during the heat of the day.)
  • Take the time to REALLY explore the countries in the World Showcase and see what they have to offer.
  • Ride Frozen Ever After
  • Ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • See Impressions de France (check hours, usually after 7:00 p.m.)
  • Splurge on a unique snack or beverage in the World Showcase.
  • Meet Mickey Mouse

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

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 and 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 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 ensure that the things on our list suit 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.

  • Ride Slinky Dog Dash (x2 day and night)
  • Ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Meet Star Wars Characters
  • Meet Disney Junior Characters at Animation Courtyard (for the littles).
  • See For a First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along
  • Enjoy lunch outside at the Brown Derby Lounge (if the weather is nice).
  • Ride Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Eat a Ronto Wrap from Ronto Roasters
  • See Fantasmic!
  • Tour Galaxy’s Edge at Night
  • Stroll down Hollywood and Sunset to see the neon lights at night.
  • Take on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Echo Lake at Disney's Hollywood Studios, a theme park at Disney World
Echo Lake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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
  • Construction: Dinoland U.S.A. will begin to close in 2025 to make way for a new Tropical Americas-themed land.

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.

  • Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris (x2 or more if you can swing it).
  • Tour the trails on both sides of the Tree of Life.
  • Have lunch at Satu’li Canteen
  • Have dinner or a break at Nomad Lounge (preferably outside).
  • Ride Avatar Flight of Passage
  • Explore Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek
  • Ride Expedition Everest
  • See Festival of the Lion King
  • Take the Animation Class at Rafiki’s Planet Watch!
  • Have fun, and take it slow!

Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom a Disney World Park

Disney Water Parks

Disney is home to two water parks: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Learn More>> Disney’s Water Parks

the lazy river at Disney's Water Park. Typhoon Lagoon

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 using Rider Switch if you have an ineligible rider. Given its popularity, we’ve included a guide on everything Frozen at Walt Disney World.

The Resorts Gal 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 (Multi Pass, Single Pass, and Premier Pass) Preview average pricing, selections, and a step-by-step overview of the process.

Free Disney World Ride Spreadsheet: Our free ride spreadsheet is created with Google Sheets to help you plan. It has a tab and detailed instruction guides with examples for each park. Use it to quickly reference rides by their location within the park, height requirements, Lightning Lane status, and whether or not they’re available during early entry or extended theme park hours.

A Step By Step Guide to Purchasing Lightning Lanes (With Screenshots): This guide walks you through opening the My Disney Experience app and reserving Lightning Lanes. Use our screenshots to guide you as you practice the process before your reservation date.

Disney World Rides with Height Requirements: This guide lists every attraction at Walt Disney World with a height requirement, as well as the ones that don’t!

How to Use Rider Switch at Walt Disney World: This guide will teach you 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 compiled a guide that shares everything related to Frozen in the four theme parks.

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.

The Resorts Gal Guide to the Holidays at Walt Disney World: Find out everything you can expect for each of the four theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.

Epcot Festivals Guide: Learn More About Epcot’s four festivals held throughout the year.

More Planning

Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? You might benefit from some of our other popular planning resources. You can sign up for our 5-lesson quick start course below or browse our complimentary courses on the Resorts Gal Roadmap.

We specialize in covering the resort hotels at Walt Disney World and have extensive coverage of almost every aspect of each resort. You’ll find everything from photos of what’s available in the resort gift shop to pictures of the pools and rooms.

Our Disney World Dining Handbook offers a complete overview of everything you need to know about dining upfront. It also links to guides that discuss the Disney Dining Plan, best dining spots, and subjects like character dining in more detail.

Our most popular guides fall under the Disney World Transportation category. We have a transportation guide for every resort hotel at Walt Disney World and extensive guides that discuss using the monorail, boats, buses, and the Disney Skyliner.

Lastly, if you’re hoping to meet characters at Disney World, we have you covered. We have photos of all the characters who meet regularly in the parks and a few rare ones!

Browse All Park-Related Articles