Today, I’m talking all about Disney parks, something I consider myself pretty much an expert on. My love for Disney started at birth. Since then, I’ve visited a Disney park every year of my life. After around 18 trips, I’ve experienced the best rides, food, shows, and hidden gems Disney has to offer. So if you’re planning a Disney vacation, here are my top must-dos for every park.

First, so no one gets confused, there is are 2 different Disney themed locations in the United States. The one in California has 2 parks, and the one in Florida has 4.

Disneyland Park: This is the original park that Walt Disney himself opened back in 1955, and it features the beautiful Sleeping Beauty castle. Disney California Adventure Park: This is the park right next door that is all about Pixar, Marvel, and California-themed lands, like Cars Land, and it is located just across from the original park.

Then you have Walt Disney World, which is in Orlando, Florida. It has 4 main theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, plus two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). I’ve visited all of the theme parks and water parks in Florida. 

Disney in Florida is ginormous; it is its own little city. The whole area of Walt Disney World in Florida is 27,000 to 30,000 acres (about 43 to 47 square miles), which can be compared to the size of San Francisco, so, yes, it is very big. 

Let’s start with Magic Kingdom, probably the most iconic of all four parks. It has the Cinderella castle as soon as you walk in, and it looks gorgeous. It’s one of those parks that you will probably need at least two days to fully go through, as there are many things to do all around the park. Even though these are some hard choices, I’m going to tell you guys the best of the best that you must do on your vacation to the Magic Kingdom. 

Magic Kingdom

1. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

This ride, which used to be “Splash Mountain,” is just one of those rides that you must get on. In this new version of the ride, you will follow Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, going through the Louisiana bayous to help her prepare for a Mardi Gras party. The ride has small drops throughout, but the big star of the ride is the 50-foot drop at the end that leaves you soaked.

       2.  Space Mountain

Space Mountain is a high speed indoor roller coaster that has a lot of sharp and sudden turns. With the whole theme being futuristic and set in space, the ride is in the dark. You might get a little whiplash while riding since it’s as if you’re in a bob sled that just keep turning different ways in the darkness, but, overall, it’s one of my favorite rides in the Magic Kingdom.

        3. Classic Dole Whip

Every time I think of Disney, I think of a pineapple Dole whip, and the only places you can get it on Disney property are Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs (Downtown Disney). It can make any hot Florida day into the best day when you taste the refreshing taste of pineapple.

       4. Meet and greet Mickey Mouse

Since Magic Kingdom is the main theme park in Walt Disney World, you must meet Mickey. He is the face of the whole brand, so leaving without meeting Mickey at his home just does not feel right. There are different areas around the park where you can meet him, but I think the perfect place to meet him is right when you get to the park by the town square theater. Just meeting him and getting a picture with him makes the trip worth it.

        5. Happily Ever After firework show

The night obviously has to end in front of the Cinderella castle, watching the fireworks. This show will make you tear up and feel emotional about how your whole day you just spent at Magic Kingdom, maybe one of the best days of your life. It’s the best way to end the night after having a perfect day at the most magical place on earth.

Special Mention Rides:

It’s a Small World 

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Now onto Hollywood Studios, the park that’s all about the stars, and where you will find special lands for Star Wars, Toy Story, and many more. I think this is the best park for older children since it has great, high-thrill rides. 

Hollywood Studios

1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith

This amazing roller coaster, whose theme is now being changed to The Muppets, is a thrilling roller coaster that guides you through Hollywood as you are riding a limousine. The ride goes from 0 to 57 mph in just 2.8 seconds. As soon as you take off, all you hear is classic rock music and all you see is neon lights everywhere. You have no clue where you are going, but it’s pretty fun. There is a moment on the roller coaster where you are upside down, but you can’t even feel it because of how fast everything is going and how dark it is. 

2. Fantasmic

This closing show, which lasts 32 minutes, is the best way to end your night. The show is all about Mickey’s imagination, where he goes through different Disney movie scenes with tons of music, fireworks, water effects, characters, and villains. The show is set in an amphitheater, while Mickey and all of the other characters that come out during the show are on the water. It’s just the best, and of course, there are fireworks at the end.

3. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – On this ride, from the moment you step into the waiting line, it’s already amazing. It’s as if you were walking through the Millennium Falcon. Disney cast members select each member of your group to have a job while you pilot the Millennium Falcon and make sure it doesn’t crash. It feels as if you are actually piloting this ship in a galaxy far, far away. 

4. Tower of Terror

The iconic Tower of Terror is a must do, even though I have never personally ridden it because I’m too scared to do so. Everyone in my family has and always tells me how much of an amazing ride it is. It’s just iconic to the park. Guests “check in” to a haunted 1939 Hollywood Hotel, dropping 13 floors in a runaway service elevator. The ride is in a 199-foot tower, and it drops at 39 mph. The main drop happens from roughly 130 feet up within the 199-foot tower.

5. Slinky Dog Dash

This is the best ride in Toy Story Land, and its backstory is that Andy built a roller coaster in his backyard using his “Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit”. Slinky Dog serves as the ride’s vehicle. The whole time you’re looking around while waiting in line, it feels like you are a toy, too. Everything in Toy Story Land is purposefully made to be really big, so you feel like one of the characters in the movie. This is the very first Disney coaster to have two launches. The first one is right at the beginning, but the best part is the second launch in the middle, where the train stops and pulls back just like a “wind-up” toy before launching you up a 50-foot hill.

Special Mention Rides: 

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Toy Story Mania

Animal Kingdom is the park that most people might think is a zoo, but it isn’t. It is the largest park in Walt Disney World. It has over 500 acres, and it is dedicated to animal conservation and nature. The whole park is divided into different areas that all surround the Tree of Life, which is literally the centerpiece of the park. It is a 145-foot tall structure that was actually made by hand, and it has more than 300 different animals carved all over it, which is just so crazy to see in person. I personally think it’s one of the most underrated theme parks out of all four. 

Animal Kingdom

1. Expedition Everest

This might easily be the best ride in the park. It’s set around a train journey through the Himalayas while escaping the Yeti. The ride has an 80 foot drop, speeds up to 50mph, and it goes backwards. It’s the only actual roller coaster in this Disney park, so the waiting lines are usually filled, but it doesn’t take as long as you’d expect. 

2. Avatar Flight of Passage

This ride is located in the Pandora area of the park, which is super nice as it is set in the world of the movie Avatar. It’s a 3D flying simulator that links you to an avatar so you can fly on the back of a mountain banshee. The ride is so cool; it has sudden drops, and it feels like you’re flipping through the air on the back of an actual banshee. You will feel the wind on your face, mist from waterfalls, and smell the scents of everywhere you pass by.

3. Kali River Rapids

This ride is perfect for a hot, summer day. This rafting ride is themed around a conservation mission in the Chakranadi River that goes wrong when you find illegal logging. Disney literally has a sign before you go into the ride that says, “You will get wet.” And you will, so if you don’t want to get soaked, better bring some other clothes or wear a poncho. 

4. Kilimanjaro Safaris

I think this safari is one of the coolest features of the park, and it truly makes you realize that you are in a park themed around animals. It’s a massive guided tour through the Harambee Wildlife Reserve. It brings you close to over 34 species of African wildlife who are just walking around in their different habitats. Some animals you can find are lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and many more. They truly make you feel like, for a second, you might be on an actual safari all the way across the continent in Africa.

5. Cookie Dough Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich

This amazing dessert will be a welcome treat after all the rides you’ve been on, and you just have to try it. It has vanilla ice cream between a brownie and cookie dough, and it has chocolate chips on top. It’s like the perfect ice cream sandwich but with a brownie.

Special Mentions:

Festival of The Lion King Show

Na’vi River Journey Ride

Epcot is the theme park that is dedicated to human achievement, technological innovation, and celebrating different cultures. It has 11 different pavilions that represent different countries from around the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, the American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico. In each country, you are surrounded by authentic buildings that make it look like you are actually in each said country, and you will find food available for purchase from each of these countries, so you feel even more involved in each country’s culture. 

EPCOT

1. Soarin’ around the World

Soarin’ is a ride that makes you feel like you’re flying over some of the most famous places on earth, like the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, and other landmarks. The ride has different scents, depending on what landmark you are passing, and you can even feel the wind blowing through your hair, which makes it really feel like you are gliding through the air. It’s a very relaxing ride and one of the coolest at Epcot. 

   2.    Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

In this ride, you “shrink” to the size of a rat and run around a Parisian kitchen and restaurant with Remy. The vehicle you ride in is a ratmobile that fits up to 6 people. You can smell the freshly baked bread and other foods being prepared as you go through the kitchen. You will even feel heat as you go under the stove and some water when a champagne cork pops or a mop passes over you. Overall, it’s a really fun experience, and it truly feels like you are trying to escape with Remy. 

      3. Journey into Imagination with Figment

My all time favorite ride in Epcot is so underrated, and it gets a lot of hate. The story follows Dr. Nigel as he tries to give a tour of the Imagination Institute. But the purple dragon figment messes with the whole tour and takes over. Figment takes you through his world of imagination using all five senses, while chaos ensues along the way. It’s an iconic EPCOT ride that has been there since the park opened, even though it’s gone through several different versions. 

4. Spaceship Earth

This ride is located inside the giant Epcot ball that you see when you enter the park. The ride takes you through the history of human communication, from cave drawings all the way to modern technology. It’s kind of a slow attraction, but it’s cool knowing you’re inside the EPCOT ball. 

5. Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros

Located in the Mexico pavilion inside the pyramid is a little boat that floats through different scenes of Mexican culture and landmarks while Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito get in trouble all throughout Mexico. It’s a chill ride, perfect for when you need a break from all the heat. You get to sit down for about 8 minutes and just enjoy the music as you ride along the water.

Special Mention Rides 

Test Track 

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

After years of visiting Disney parks, one thing remains the same no matter how many times I go: the magic never fades. Each trip contributes to the memories when it comes to the different rides, amazing food, and special moments with family. The Disney parks are more than just theme parks, they are places where imagination comes to life for people of all ages and where fond memories are created that will last a lifetime.