Things to do at Disney World Orlando: Best Attractions and Rides

We have already spoken in the past about the theme parks of Orlando, the world capital of entertainment, but today we want to focus your attention on perhaps the best known park and celebrated by fans of the genre (young and old): Disneyworld Orlando.

 About DisneyWorld Orlando

There is no other amusement park in the world as large, innovative, and ambitious since its origins: Walt Disney, the visionary creator of the Disney universe, conceived the project of building a new, large theme park in Florida, a grand monument dedicated to entertainment that could make his name eternal and memorable for centuries to come.

With time it became clear that the dream of DisneyWorld Florida was much more than a suggestion: the area of Orlando was chosen and, despite the death of Disney (1966), the project began to take shape: this was 12 years after the opening of Disneyland Los Angeles (1955), the first Disney park in the world and the only one that Walt actually saw for himself.

The new Walt Disney park in Orlando opened in 1971, and since then, what seemed to everyone to be a pipe dream began to become a reality: the Walt Disney Company purchased a large amount of land in Lake Buena Vista, about 25 miles from Orlando, in Orange and Osceola counties, and the Walt Disney World Resort (this is the official name) began to expand more and more, soon showing the features of a real city dedicated to entertainment.

In almost 50 years, the original core of the resort (initially limited to the Magic Kingdom, a park almost mirroring Disneyland in Los Angeles) has expanded exponentially, branching out into 5 other amusement parks, each dedicated to a specific theme of the endless Disney universe.

Yes, you read that right: DisneyWorld Orlando consists of 6 autonomous amusement parks that, together with all the other facilities and services (shopping areas, hotels, golf parks, sports facilities, nature reserves, car circuits, and so on), extend on the impressive area of 47 miles²! If you cannot imagine how big DisneyWorld can be, imagine that Miami has an extension of 35.6 miles², and San Francisco 46.7 miles²!

So let’s discover the wonders of the 6 amusement parks of Disney World Orlando: we will not limit ourselves only to telling you about the best attractions, but we will give you tips and information on how to get to DisneyWorld Orlando and how long to stay there, how to move between the various parks, where to sleep, how to save on ticket prices, and much more.

DisneyWorld Orlando: Magic Kingdom

A bit of history

Let’s start at the beginning, in every sense of the word: Magic Kingdom, as we mentioned, was DisneyWorld Orlando’s first theme park. It was designed in the wake of the enormous success of Disneyland Los Angeles (of which, it reproduces almost the entire structure) and was opened in 1971.

What to expect

Just like in Los Angeles, Magic Kingdom is divided into 6 different areas:

• Main Street, U.S.A: the entrance area of the park;
• Adventureland: dedicated to Disney adventures in foreign and wild lands;
• Frontierland: dedicated to adventures in the world of Cowboys and Indians;
• Fantasyland: dedicated to the most classic Disney fairy tales (among others, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, Alice…);
• Tomorrowland: dedicated to the most adrenaline-filled space adventures of the Disney world;
• Liberty Land: an area of the park where a colonial-style city is reproduced.

Top attractions

Every nook and cranny of this park should be experienced to the fullest, and it seems impossible to give you a compendium of all the thrills that are experienced on the individual attractions. However, among others, we recommend that you try the breathtaking  Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland, the wonderful and now beloved attraction dedicated to Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland), the interactive Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Tomorrowland), and Seven Dwarf Mine Train (Fantasyland), inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Directions

Magic Kingdom (1180 Seven Seas Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830) is located in the area north of the Resort and can be reached by car. The nearest parking lot is near the pond 1 mile from the main entrance. It is called the Ticket and Transportation Center and it is also the place where you can buy tickets: it is connected to the park with a monorail that leads right in front of Main Street. If you have already stayed in one of the resort’s hotels, you can take advantage of the bus or boat service.

DisneyWorld Orlando: Epcot

A bit of history

Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) is a model of an ideal city developed by Walt Disney in the sixties and materialized in 1982, in the form of a park within the DisneyWorld resort. Epcot covers 0.46 miles², doubling the size of Magic Kingdom.

What to Expect

The vocation of Epcot is a particular one: it is an amusement park of futuristic character that uses the theme of “the human spirit”. The park is divided into two clearly recognizable areas:

• Future World, dedicated to knowledge and direct experience of science and technology through entertainment;
• World Showcase, dedicated to 11 countries of the world, of which some monuments or landscapes around Epcot Lake are reconstructed.

The best attractions

As for Future World, perhaps not everyone feels like experiencing the thrill and adrenaline rush triggered by Mission: Space, the space launch simulator. We recommend The Seas with Nemo & Friends, the underwater slow-ride dedicated to the famous fish. If instead, you want some advice about the World Showcase (a sort of Expo of fun!), do not miss the areas dedicated to China, Morocco, and Mexico.

Don’t miss Illuminations: Reflections of the Earth, the water and light show, that closes all the evenings of Epcot Orlando.

How to get there

Epcot (200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando, FL 32821) is located about a 10 to 15 minutes drive south of the Ticket and Transportation Center of Magic Kingdom. After parking your car, you can take the shuttle to the park entrance. You can also get to Epcot by bus, boat (if you’re staying at a resort), and the monorail that starts at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

DisneyWorld Orlando: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

A bit of history

Originally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios had another, slightly less impressive name: Disney-MGM Studios. This was the name with which, in 1989, the DisneyWorld amusement park entirely dedicated to the world of cinema was christened. In 2008, the organization decided to change the name, after numerous works had already been carried out since 1994 aimed at redeveloping the park, which at the time was considered unable to compete with the other 3, also due to its small size.

What to expect

Many of you, looking at the map of DisneyWorld, will have wondered what Hollywood has to do with Disney and especially with Florida… it’s easy to say: as mentioned, this theme park is dedicated to the masterpieces of Disney films. Of course, the other parks are too, but here the real protagonist is the cinema as artistic expression. The park is divided into 8 sections: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Sunset Boulevard, Streets of America, Commissary Lane, Pixar Place, Mickey Avenue, and Animation Courtyard.

The best attractions

The park, which looks like a sort of giant movie set, houses some rides and attractions particularly suitable for those looking for a nice rush of adrenaline. But that’s not all: there is no shortage of themed shows, and they are among the most exciting of all DisneyWorld. We recommend:

• the disturbing The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a kind of elevator that will make you experience the terrible sensation of falling into the void:
• Toy Story Midway Mania: I’m speaking from passion here, as an early Toy Story fan. This interactive attraction delights young and old alike.
• if you have a soft spot for action movie special effects, don’t miss Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, an informative and well-made show dedicated to the world of stuntmen.
• Star Wars fever is raging these days. If you’re a fan of Lucas’ saga and you’re planning a visit to Disney Hollywood, be sure to check out Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, a 3D experience that will delight all Star Wars fans.

How to get there

Map in hand, we can locate Disney’s Hollywood Studios (351 S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830) about 4 miles south of Epcot. The park is accessible by car, Disney buses, and canal boat for those who have booked a room at the resorts within DisneyWorld. As soon as you’ve parked, you can use the courtesy vehicles to reach the entrance and the main street Hollywood Boulevard.

DisneyWorld Orlando: Animal Kingdom

A bit of history

By many accounts, Animal Kingdom (the youngest of several theme parks – opened in 1998), appears to be one of the most unfairly underrated parks in the entire DisneyWorld Orlando resort. Yet, the numbers say otherwise: this huge amusement park-zoo is seventh in annual visits worldwide, as well as the largest Disney park in the world.

What to Expect

Animal Kingdom is Disney’s Orlando park entirely dedicated to animals and nature: Animal Kingdom’s “safari areas” are home to thousands of animals from at least 300 species, and some are rare and protected. Having obtained the standards in conservation and research, Animal Kingdom, in addition to being an amusement park, is to be considered in every way a zoo. The thematic areas in which it is divided are:

• Oasis: the main street that serves as a welcome area with amenities. Here it is already possible to meet some small animals;
• Discovery Island: located in the middle of the navigable river, it is the central hub to reach all areas. The Tree of Life is the symbol of the park and dominates the middle of the island;
• Africa: this area has the village of Harambe as its reference point and is dedicated to the discovery of the animals from the African savannah;
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch: reachable only by train, this area dedicated to the wise monkey from Disney’s Lion King is entirely designed for children;
• Asia: this area, while hosting various Asian animal species, collects attractions that are more distinctly adrenaline-pumping and stands out for its splendid reconstruction of a Nepalese landscape framed by… Everest!
• DinoLand U.S.A.: dulcis in fundo, the section dedicated to dinosaurs is a must. In a prehistoric context, thrilling attractions, and shows for the family.

The best attractions

Probably, if you go to Animal Kingdom, you should expect great things from Kilimanjaro Safari (Africa): the reconstruction of the Savannah is remarkable, as is the portentous variety of animal species that can be seen (and photographed). In the Asia region, it is worth venturing (and getting wet!) on the Kali River Rapids or going headlong down Everest on a full-speed train (Expedition Everest). Don’t miss It’s Tough to be a Bug, an insect-friendly adventure on Discovery Island, and Finding Nemo (DinoLand), a show about Disney’s famous fish.

Getting There

Animal Kingdom Orlando (2901 Osceola Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32830) is located in the southwest area of the resort. You can reach it on buses provided by the park or by your own car. Parking is fairly close to the entrance and the Oasis area, but shuttles are available to take you directly to the entrance.

DisneyWorld’s Water Parks

Let’s take a closer look at the map of DisneyWorld’s four parks: water-themed attractions are a dime a dozen, but the Walt Disney Company is really hard to please, as is the demanding audience of theme park enthusiasts.

That’s why, respectively in 1989 and 1995, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park were opened, two beautiful water parks smaller than the others in the Resort, but no less fun. Both are located within the Resort, are accessible by car or buses and vehicles provided by the park, and have their own parking lots.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

This park has a very specific concept: it is a lush tropical island that has withstood a terrible typhoon. Here you’ll find impressive runs along the rapids (Keelhaul Falls), steep water slides (Mayday Falls and Homunga Kowabunga), and relaxation areas (Castaway Creek).

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Even this park will appeal to lovers of water parks, not only for the good level of the attractions it offers but also and above all for the originality of the concept: the creators of the park have imagined a Florida put in check … by snow! We recommend:

• Summit Plummet, is a classic but very big slide!
• Teamboat Springs, an engaging family raft on a fun and longer than an average course;
• Toboggan Racers, a not-too-steep slide suitable for speed races among friends;
• Cross Country Creek: a slow, relaxing doughnut ride along a course that circles the entire park.

DisneyWorld Orlando: Visiting Hours

Let’s say right away that, at the end of the day, you should plan at least 1 day for the complete visit of each park, even if some people manage to visit two of them (albeit in a superficial way). This means that you’ll have to make a decision beforehand: is it better to visit just one park within the resort or stay for several days and have an overdose of fun?

To answer this question, the first point to address is the matter of schedules. Every single park has its own opening and closing times and, basically, there is no seasonal timetable to consult in order to organize your stay as best as possible, especially if, in order to fully enjoy your visit, you have to calculate your movements to the minute. The only solution is to go to this page on the official website and do your research filtering it with the dates of our vacation at Orlando DisneyWorld.

Usually, those who go to Orlando (and stay there for 7 or more days) know very well that, to be able to say they have visited DisneyWorld, they will need on average at least 3 days stay in the resort, so they can definitely visit 3 parks, if not more. In this sense, it may be useful to purchase hopper tickets (available from 1 to 10 days) that, unlike daily tickets, allow you to move freely around each of the 4 parks (or 6, if you add the option of water parks), as many times as you want during the days you stay at DisneyWorld.

DisneyWorld FastPass: an ingenious way to avoid queues

A method to save time in the individual parks – avoiding the long, unbearable lines that are created at the entrance to the best attractions – is to use the Fast Pass, a free service designed by the Walt Disney Company and dedicated to the busiest rides (but not all).

How does it work? If you carefully consult the map that is given to you at the entrance, you will notice that some rides have the initials FP next to them. Near the entrance to the corresponding attraction, there are machines that dispense small tickets with a time slot: if you show up at the entrance of the attraction during that time, you can skip the line! Be careful, though: you can only use one FastPass per time slot.

Car Parking in Disney World Orlando 

The best way to visit DisneyWorld Orlando on your own with your car and roam freely through the streets of the resort, reaching the various parks in a few minutes – traffic permitting – and parking the car in the various areas equipped. But how much does it cost to park your car at DisneyWorld? Since each park has its own parking lot, do you have to pay the fee each time?

The answer is… no! Anyone who wants to visit the resort’s parks, by paying a daily rate, will be entitled to a parking pass valid for all parks, including the water parks. Here are the prices:

• Cars and motorcycles – $20 per day
• Shuttle, Limousine, Camper, Caravan, and RV – $22 per day

If you decided instead to use the transportation provided by DisneyWorld, know that the bus service is free and covers the entire park, including the resort and shopping areas, from 45 minutes before opening to one hour after closing. As mentioned above, if you’ve stayed at one of the lakeside resorts, you can take advantage of the boats to move between the parks connected by waterways.

Getting to DisneyWorld from Miami

If you’re staying in Miami and you’re planning to visit DisneyWorld, the trip could be prohibitive, since the Miami-DisneyWorld route takes more than 3 hours to get there and 3 hours to get back. In this case, an organized tour such as this one might come in handy:

1-day tour of DisneyWorld with transportation from Miami

DisneyWorld Orlando Tickets: how to save money and how to book them

I recommend buying them online before your visit, thus avoiding the long lines at the ticket office and taking advantage of the various offers and discounts. There are different types of tickets to visit Disney World, but basically, in most cases you’ll find yourself choosing between 2 options, the one-day visit and the multi-day visit:

1. Day Ticket

Places to Stay Near Disney World Orlando. Best Hotels and Resorts

As the citadel of fun that it is, Disney Orlando offers its visitors a remarkable number of hotels and resorts, some of which are truly dreamy. You’ll find beautiful, exclusive Disney-style accommodations near the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom (there are less expensive ones here), but especially to the east of the parks, in Disney Springs, Disney’s Downtown is devoted entirely to shopping and dining. You can reach the parks by boat or by dedicated shuttles and buses from many of these beautiful structures.