Walt Disney World is a very magical place where, as they say, dreams come true. But despite all this magic, Disney can be very confusing. Between the many hotel or restaurant choices, choosing what parks to visit, and the complicated Fastpass system, it may feel like your worst nightmare booking your trip instead of a dream. So, we are here to help explain the very basics to Walt Disney World and turn your nightmare around. First, we will conquer the theme parks and places to go to.
The Parks
At Walt Disney World Resort, there are currently four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. Magic Kingdom is probably what you think of when you hear “Disney World” and has that classic Disney feel. Here, you can see Cinderella Castle, zoom through space, or go on ‘the wildest ride in the wilderness’ (a Charming Sister favorite: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). Animal Kingdom is all about conservation with a lot of education about all the animals they have there. You can see the Tree of Life, Avatar: World of Pandora, or even dinosaurs here. Epcot is about the future and celebrating world unity. You can try a variety of food from around the world with the World Showcase. And finally, Hollywood Studios celebrates different cinematic hits and has that showbiz feel. Ever wanted to fly the Millennium Falcon or ride Slinky from Toy Story? Well, at Hollywood Studios you can in the two very immersive lands Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land.
Icons from the Four Parks
Whether you decide to go to all the parks on your trip or only some is up to you. I personally can’t imagine going to Disney World and not visiting the four theme parks but Katie Charming does it all the time. Each park is magical and unique for its own reasons so whichever parks you go to, you will still get the Disney expectations.
Other Places to Go
There are also few other places to visit on the complex. These are the two Disney water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, and Disney Springs. Typhoon Lagoon is a Caribbean themed water park while Blizzard Beach is a winter-themed one. They both have many slides and pools to relax or cool off at. Disney Springs, on the other hand, is free to admission but chances are you will still end up spending money there whether it’s at the delicious restaurants or buying souvenirs at one (or more) of the many shops.
Disney Springs Aerophile Balloon
Tickets
In terms of tickets, you could buy a theme park ticket for each day of your stay or save some days for visiting a water park, Disney Springs, or relaxing at your hotel. A standard theme park ticket gets you into one theme park per day. Another option in addition to the standard ticket is to add on the park hopper. This means you can go to as many of the four theme parks as you want in one day. This can be very helpful if there is one you’re not sure you’ll love, one you don’t want to spend a whole day at, or if you want to leave room for flexibility. The Park Hopper sadly does not include the water parks and they have a separate ticket from a theme park ticket. Finally, you can bundle your tickets with your room if you are staying at one of Disney’s Resorts. This could be cheaper if you choose the bundle over a standard ticket but it’s always smart to do the math if you’re not sure you want to stay at a Disney Resort.
Cinderella Castle
And that’s all you need to know about the theme park! Remember, your trip is all about you. Make your trip the way you want it to be so you can soak up all the Disney atmosphere. Most importantly, don’t forget: there is no wrong way to vacation. It’s okay to relax and spend a day at the resort if that’s what your family needs. Whatever you choose to do, we hope your trip will be just as magical as your dream it will be!
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