I have a close friend, and he and his family have never been to Disney World. He and his wife have two daughters, 16 and 8. I am not an expert on what to do or see at Disney, but I want them to get the best experience for their first visit. Can you help?

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Answer 1

Matthew, helping your friends enjoy their first visit to Walt Disney World Resort makes you my favorite kind of friend. The question is: where to start? I'll go park-by-park focusing on the attractions and sprinkling in some of my favorite treats.

Magic Kindom Park is classic Walt Disney World. This park opens on Main Street USA with a view of Cinderella Castle. Speaking of Cinderella, she and several of her tiaraed royalty meet guests in Princess Fairytale Hall. Rides like Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, "it's a small world," Peter Pan's Flight, and Pirates of the Caribbean are staples that have defined Walt Disney World. It also has its thrills with Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and the newest coaster TRON Lightcycle / Run. Walt Disney's Tiki Room and Carousel of Progress are family favorites to give our feet a rest, enjoy air conditioning, and see attractions Walt invested himself in bringing technology and storytelling together. Not-to-missed snacks in Magic Kingdom include a DOLE Whip from Aloha Isle in Adventureland and the Fresh Fruit Waffle sandwich (a waffle with Nutella and fruit) from Sleepy Hollow.
EPCOT is two parks in one. The iconic Spaceship Earth welcomes you into the park and begins the World Celebration. In this front half of the park, you can also find World Nature with the new Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, Soarin', and The Seas Aquarium. In World Discovery is the best coaster on the planet: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The back of the park is World Showcase with an array of pavilions from around the globe. In Norway, you will find Frozen Ever After, but my favorite is Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros in Mexico. There are so many options for dining and snacks. I love the caramel corn at Karamell-Kuche and the bakery in France is divine.
Disney's Hollywood Studios takes you to a galaxy far, far away where your Star Wars dreams come to life. You feel like a toy in Toy Story Land. Slinky Dog Dash is the smoothest roller coaster - so fun and even better at night. This park has the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster for some heart-racing adventure. And to keep your heart rate up, don't miss the chance to meet Darth Vader up close in Launch Bay. It is a character greeting that will have you calling upon your faith in the Force. One of my favorite places to eat here is the Backlot Express. It's one of the few places with a drink fountain where you can sit, eat and get refills.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park takes you on the most magnificent journey of discovery. My favorite is the Kilimanjaro Safari, a trek through African wildlife with guides who have so much to share about these beautiful animals. This park is also home to Pandora and Avatar Flight of Passage, a thrilling ride on a Banshee. I love Expedition Everest, especially riding this with first-timers. It has some surprising twists! Satu'li Canteen has delicious quick-serve options and Tusker House has a tasty buffet if character dining is on the menu.

Be sure to tell them to look into Virtual Queues for Tron and Guardians. Ask for a "First Visit" pin from any shop. And come back to planDisney. We have so much to share!

Cheers!
Jana

I have a close friend, and he and his family have never been to Disney World. He and his wife have two daughters, 16 and 8. I am not an expert on what to do or see at Disney, but I want them to get the best experience for their first visit. Can you help?

Meet the Panelist: Jana, Georgia

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I have a close friend, and he and his family have never been to Disney World. He and his wife have two daughters, 16 and 8. I am not an expert on what to do or see at Disney, but I want them to get the best experience for their first visit. Can you help?”

Meet the Panelist: Jana, Georgia

Related Links

Related Video

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Share a message of thanks with the knowledgeable panelist who provided a personalized answer to your Disney vacation question.

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I have a close friend, and he and his family have never been to Disney World. He and his wife have two daughters, 16 and 8. I am not an expert on what to do or see at Disney, but I want them to get the best experience for their first visit. Can you help?