Hey there, Anna, and welcome to planDisney!
We are two-of-a-kind, Anna. Growing up here in Florida, Walt Disney World Resort has become a second home for me like Disneyland in California is for you. But I was a little anxious when visiting Disneyland for the very first time ten years ago, and I wish that I would have used resources like planDisney to make the most of that visit. Since then, my few Disneyland trips have been nothing but magical. Anna, I am here to make sure that you have the best mini-vacay ever!
As you may remember, Disney World is a lot larger than Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom parking lot alone can fit inside of Disneyland Park. Here’s a quick rundown of each park:
Magic Kingdom is the O.G. theme park that you probably visited as a child. It’s the home of Cinderella Castle, the much taller and just-as-magical version of Sleeping Beauty Castle in California. EPCOT is all about world and tech exploration and its year-round festivals. The Flower & Garden Festival will be in full bloom by the time of your visit.
Animal Kingdom is full of exotic animals and breathtaking live shows. Hollywood Studios is where you go if you like stepping into full-scale versions of stories that you love like Star Wars and Toy Story.
When deciding where to go consider these things:
-Which parks have rides and experiences that you want to try that weren’t around when you were younger? For example,
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is, in my opinion, the best ride in the world and has only been around for a few years.
-Which parks are home to rides that are not found at Disneyland? Animal Kingdom is, by far, the most unique Disney theme park and most of its experiences can’t be found anywhere else. A safari through a savanna is pretty unbelievable. You may want to prioritize visiting areas of Disney World that you can’t find at your home park.
-What activities do you want to do? For rides, you can’t go wrong at any of the theme parks, but the shows, food choices, and nighttime entertainment are vastly different from park to park.
If I could have it my way, I would rope drop Animal Kingdom because it usually opens early. Visit Pandora and use a
pre-purchased Lightning Lane Single Pass for Flight of Passage. See as many animals as possible, then head to Hollywood Studios. Skip Galaxy’s Edge (because it’s in Disneyland) but head to Toy Story Land and ride Tower of Terror (if you miss the old theming). Take the Skyliner to the back of EPCOT and take a walk through the World Showcase’s countries and use a Lightning Lane for Cosmic Rewind. Take the Monorail to Magic Kingdom, ride TRON, watch the new
Starlight Parade and the fireworks. Want a less intense plan? Focus on having Lightning Lanes, Single Rider lines, and make a list of must-dos that won’t feel overwhelming.
AN EXTRA GEM: If you want more insight about how to visit all four theme parks in one day, check out
my planDisney answer about the “4 Parks Challenge.”I hope that this helps you plan your upcoming adventure, Anna. Please
revisit us here at planDisney if you need any more tips and tricks.
Magic always,
LeAndra