TRAVEL
TOPPING THE CHART OF BUCKET-LIST DESTINATIONS AND FLYING THE FLAG FOR THE ‘ CAN ’ T- WAIT-TO-RETURN ’ LISTS FOR A MYRIAD OF VACATIONERS , WALT DISNEY WORLD ® RESORT LAYS RIGHTFUL CLAIM TO OFFERING THE MOST MAGICAL OF HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS AND EXPERIENCES . FROM CHARACTER PARADES TO SHOPPING PARADISES , RIDING THE WAVES TO RIDING THE MOST INCREDIBLE COASTERS , DELVING INTO PARK SPECIALITY TREATS TO AWE- INSPIRING FIREWORKS , THERE REALLY IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE .
BY SAMANTHA READY
A trip to Disney World is not simply a trip , holiday , or a vacation , it ’ s an encapsulating escape to somewhere really , really special . But how do you actually ‘ do ’ Disney ? Inspired to return again for another family adventure , Samantha Ready is ready with more top tips for a truly magical experience …
If you ever needed the final persuasion to book your own WDW holiday , the excitement of the littlest Readys being told that they were incredibly fortunate to be returning to Disney World for a second visit should be all you need to know . Matching the sheer intensity of their original reaction a year ago , we were met with more excited disbelief , shrieks , whoops , mandatory grabbing of the must-wear ears and a heartfelt thank you !
Now , aside from a maddening selection of Disney ears ( these are de rigueur daily park wear btw !), a cuddly Mickey , Stitch and Donald , and a plethora of Disney branded merch - matching Mickey T-shirts ( yes , we are that family !) Toy Story socks , Disney Princess hairbands , and , inexplicably , the demand to pack a lightsaber ( I kid you not - that was left at home , I mean , just imagine the security queue at Gatwick …), there is far more preparation to be done before rocking up to the most magical place on Earth . For the most magical place on Earth is vast ! The size of a large county in the UK no less , boasting numerous parks full of parades , character meet-n-greets , photo opps , shops , shows and of course rides , and that ’ s not even mentioning waterparks , destination-dining hotspots and Disney Springs , its own downtown shopping , dining and entertainment village . It even has its own road , monorail and water ferry network ! You will , therefore , need time to ‘ do ’ Disney World full justice which is where the multiday hopper passes ( we had the 5-day Hopper , with most UK visitors cleverly opting for the 7- and 14- day options to slow down the pace ), and Disney ’ s incredible Genie and Genie + services comes into their own .
So , where to begin ?
Planning your Disney trip can very easily start to veer from magical to mental as you become bombarded with hints , tips , forums , chat rooms , social media groups and more … But the most important thing is to work out what brings you the most magic ? Is it thrill rides , shows , meandering the magic or , like us , a combination of all ? Then plan a day that mixes up the action with some sit down shows , some thrills with some delicious snacks and utilise virtual queues with Genie + to maximise your time .
Start by knowing your parks .
Each park has its own entrance , car park , premium parking ( which is more expensive but super close to park entrances ), shuttle bus stops and different ways of arriving . Some , like Animal Kingdom , are a walk in from the carpark . For others , like Magic Kingdom , you can choose either the monorail or ferry transfer for example .
The most iconic park has to be Disney ’ s Magic Kingdom . Home of Cinderella ’ s Castle , 40 attractions and the park where the real magic begins as fairytales come to life , a day here culminates in the most jaw-dropping of parades and fireworks displays each evening .
Ready ’ s Magic Kingdom Must Rides / Sees : Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ; Big Thunder Mountain ; meet Mickey & Minnie at the Town Hall ; the main parade ; and , of course , closing fireworks at the castle . We also had to ride TRON Lightcycle / Run - the newest attraction in the park , it ’ s an actual ride-on rollercoaster where you sit astride your own TRON ‘ lightcycle ’ ( think motorcycle with illumination !) and are blasted into the dark and then outside on a racing track of extreme thrill proportions on one of Disney ’ s fastest rides !
Disney ’ s Hollywood Studios is the place to step into the magical world of showbiz , where amongst the incredible Star Wars experiences , and Toy Story Land you ’ ll find live-action displays and backstage adventures .
Ready ’ s Hollywood Studios Must Rides / Sees : Slinky Dog Dash ( which remains six-year-old Jaxon ’ s top pick !); Millennium Falcon : Smugglers Run ; Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance ; The Twilight Zone : Tower of Terror ; Toy Story Mania ; watch Beauty and the Beast ; and end with Disney Movie Magic , a projection film and music extravaganza !
Disney ’ s Animal Kingdom , as the name suggests , is home to Disney ’ s animal attractions ; with everything from Lion King shows to safaris and bird displays , as well as access to a whole other realm , Pandora from Avatar , to explore .
Ready ’ s Animal Kingdom Must Rides / Sees : Avatar : Flight of Passage was hard to beat and remained nine-yearold Lyla ’ s and quite possibly my own top pick ( it is simply an incredible VR ride experience !); Dinosaur ; Expedition Everest ; Kilimanjaro Safaris ; Na ’ vi River Journey ( but be prepared to get wet !); and don ’ t miss watching the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo : The Big Blue shows .
Epcot has its own special magic ! Amongst some of Walt Disney ’ s Future World predictions , you ’ ll find the World Showcase , a pitstop around the world with unique attractions , such as Norway ’ s Frozen Ever After water ride and France ’ s not to be missed Ratatouille ride , alongside global cuisine and drinks . You ’ ll also find Disney ’ s newest experience - Journey of Water , Inspired by Moana . Here , you explore a landscaped walking trail full of immersive water installations . Walk through , touch , splash and make water music , and of course get as wet as you please ( this is delightfully refreshing on a hot Florida day !) while also learning about water conservation . Epcot also boasts Disney ’ s arguably most impressive ride , Guardians of the Galaxy : Cosmic !
Ready ’ s Epcot Must Rides / Sees : Guardians of the Galaxy : Cosmic ( our top ride across all parks ! We recommend you pay if the Lightning Lanes are fully booked . It . Is . Insane !); Soaring ; Test Track ; Remy ’ s Ratatouille Adventure ; Frozen Ever After ; and then dine and drink around the world - think fresh French crepes , Chinese bao buns , English fish and chips , Belgium beer flights … and you can see the draw ! Before ending with Harmonious , Epcot ’ s spectacular closing light and firework show .
Alongside the attraction parks sits Disney ’ s two water parks : Blizzard Beach ,
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