Some of you may know and some of you may not, but I am a huge fan of Disney and Disney World. I always have been and as I’ve gotten older, it continues to increase. I get to go to Disney World with my own agenda and get to see and do what I love most. It has made me appreciate all the magic that it offers even more and every time I have to leave I get a little more obsessed (no joke).
My mom’s side of the family lived in Orlando growing up so we would go down and visit them every year, usually for spring break/Easter since that’s when we had the most time off from school. We would get to see my Grandparents, Aunt, Uncle, and cousins and would spend a day or two visiting Disney World. It’s such a blessing that we were able to go every year but we never got a true ‘Disney World Vacation’ where we would stay for a full week at a Disney resort and do only Disney Parks and Disney things. So now that I am older, treating myself to go to the parks is usually at the top of my yearly vacation list even if it’s just for a few days! I started to stay on property more, trying rides I never used to, eating and drinking at more locations, and began enjoying just being in a park while not doing anything or having any schedule.
I was lucky enough to be in the parks in February 2020 for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon before COVID fully hit the US and I have been missing the parks (like many people) ever since! As a way to cope, I decided to write about all my favorite Disney World things. I do not have an annual pass and I have not gone nearly as many times as some other Disney World fanatics but I wanted to share my own favorites to inspire you for your next magical trip, whenever that may be!
Resorts
Port Orleans Resort French Quarter– The ambiance, the pool, the food, the cost, and the location all put this resort at the very top of my list. I have only stayed at the French Quarter side (the other side/sister resort is Port Orleans Riverside) but French Quarter has my heart. It typically costs less that Riverside and the quick service option is great. I have never had a bad meal from their quick service, Sassagoula Floatworks PLUS they have beignets!! Riverside does not and you can’t get them anywhere else on Disney property. The pool bar has frosé. It’s just all amazing.
French Quarter is smaller and less spread out and the busses seem to be quicker at the French Quarter location. There is no table service restaurant at French Quarter but you can walk to Riverside to go to their restaurant or just go to Disney Springs for their large (and great) selection of restaurants! It is just a boat ride (or bus ride) to Disney Springs and you are the last to get picked up and first to get dropped off, so there are no other stops!
The resort is often quiet and peaceful with jazz music playing in the background. You can get a horse carriage ride or take a nice stroll along the river (‘bayou’) and there are paths connecting the two resorts so you can walk throughout both calming resorts.
This is a moderate resort with some of the best prices! I sometimes don’t ever want to tell people about it so it stays a hidden gem!
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House– For my college graduation in 2012, I wanted to go to Disney World as my present and my dream was to stay in Animal Kingdom to see the animals. My mom (fellow Disney World lover), Grandma, and Aunt came with me. My Aunt, being a DVC owner (more on that later), was able to get us a Savannah view room for the whole week! If you have money to splurge, this will be one type of room I highly suggest getting if an African safari is on your bucket list or you have a love of animals. It is truly an incredible experience. For my 30th birthday/Princess Half Marathon trip in February 2020 my husband and I stayed in a savannah view room and it was even more magical than I remembered. Waking up to the sight and sounds of African animals while sipping coffee on your balcony cannot be beat. We somehow lucked out both times getting a 1 bedroom suite and the extra room made you feel like you owned a house where zebras and giraffes just roam outside your bedroom window.
The food at this resort (and Kidani Village, another sister resort right next to Jambo House) is also amazing. Sanaa is one of my favorite restaurants because you can dine while animals are right outside the windows. Their quick service location also never disappointed us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
One con, is that it is far from the actual parks. It’s closest to Animal Kingdom park but the other parks take a good amount of time to get to on a bus (or if you drive). If time is of the essence, time spent on a bus going to and from the resort/park may make this location not the best choice.
Polynesian Resort– Another on the top of my list is the Polynesian Resort. One HUGE pro of this resort is it’s location on the monorail line and walking distance to the ticket and transpiration center. That means Magic Kingdom is just a quick monorail ride away and once you get to the ticket and transportation center, you hop on that monorail to transfer to the EPCOT monorail making it another super close park. There are only 3 resorts located on the Magic Kingdom monorail line so there are not many stops! Another plus is that the walkway from Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom just opened so you can now walk from the Poly to Magic Kingdom!
The food at the Poly is awesome in my opinion for a few reasons. I love Ohana for breakfast or dinner, especially with a group! I know it could be hit or miss but it’s been a hit the few times I’ve been! You can even get some Ohana dinner menu items for room service. The bar outside of Ohana, Tambu Lounge, is great to sit at and grab a drink while waiting for your table or even if you aren’t waiting for a reservation! And their ‘secret’ bar Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a must! This is also the only place outside of the parks that you can get Dole Whip…being lactose intolerant, this is amazing! (PS- it’s dairy free!!)
I love the pool and the pool slide at the Poly! The views at the resort are also heartwarming for any Disney World lover. You’re in-between Grand Floridian and the Contemporary with Magic Kingdom directly in front of the resort across the lake. The view of Cinderella’s Castle from anywhere in the resort never ceases to put a smile on my face.
The one con about this is that it is not cheap. It may be a splurge for some, a pipe dream for some, or perfectly doable but this is a Deluxe resort with actual deluxe prices for a reason.
Other Resorts- I have stayed at a few that just didn’t feel all that magical and therefore I don’t see spending money to stay at them worth it. If you spend the money to stay on property, you want it to feel magical and add to your magical vacation, because after all, you are there to be away from the real world.
Other resorts I haven’t stayed at but would absolutely LOVE to one day is the Beach Club Resort, BoardWalk Inn, and Wilderness Lodge. EPCOT is probably my favorite park so being able to walk there from Beach Club or Boardwalk makes that very desirable for me. Beach Club also has one of the coolest pools ever because it’s a sand bottom pool!
What’s fun about Disney resorts is that you can go visit any of them even without staying there (COVID restrictions have altered this a bit right now). I have been to Wilderness Lodge to walk around and see the beautiful grounds. I’ve rode bikes throughout Fort Wilderness resort grounds. I’ve walked around the property and lobby of Grand Floridian. I’ve shopped in the Contemporary Resort. And I’ve eaten at the Poly even when not staying there. You can get reservations at any resort restaurant without being a guest which is a great way to visit and ‘test out’ other resorts before making a decision to stay there your next trip!
DVC Resorts – DVC stands for Disney Vacation Club. It’s like Disney’s timeshare and there are loads of articles that can explain it way better than I can. But in short, if you choose to rent a DVC owner’s points for a DVC resort, it is usually A LOT cheaper to stay in resorts that way than booking direct with Disney and you still get all the same perks of staying on property. All of the resorts mentioned above with the exception of Port Orleans are DVC resorts. Each time we stayed in a Deluxe and DVC resort that I mentioned (Animal Kingdom and The Polynesian) we stayed on points. Again, my Aunt is a DVC owner so she used her points the first time we stayed at Animal Kingdom and the one time we stayed at the Polynesian. The second time that just my husband and I stayed at Animal Kingdom we rented DVC points to stay there. We have used David’s Vacation Club rentals and highly suggest that if you want to stay at a Deluxe resort but the prices are just a bit too steep for you. It’s a great way to save money to use for park tickets!
Rides
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that I can’t really do big roller coasters anymore and especially can’t do most motion simulator rides. I have some rides that I absolutely love or loved in the past that now make my head spin a littleee too much. However, I’ve rounded up my personal favorites- some relaxing ones and some more thrill ones where even if you tend to have motion sickness issues, they are not too bad. My husband has come to realize he is a lot worse with motion sickness than he realized so I will also note how he did on some of the questionable ones.
I’ve broken them down by each park to make it a little easier!
Magic Kingdom
The park that has the most rides (and some of the most nostalgic) is Magic Kingdom. There are a lot to choose from but most are great choices!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train- I think this has been my absolute favorite in Magic Kingdom since it opened in 2014. My husband says the rocking of the mine cars adds a bit more to a typical small roller coaster that doesn’t always sit well with him but he can make it through and go about his day after riding it.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin- I don’t care what anyone says about this ride (some somehow hate it??), if it’s a walk on or even 10 minute wait, I will ride it back to back a few times. I think it’s because I’m competitive LOL
Pirates of the Caribbean- a classic that can’t be beat
Splash Mountain- this one is like a leisurely log flume ride with just one big drop but somehow I love it every single time. I’m interested to see what it will be like now that it’s being reimagined to Princess and the Frog theme!
Haunted Mansion- another classic that can’t be beat!
People Mover- if you need a break, go on the People Mover!
Honorable Mentions!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- one of my favorite rides growing up was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. When that closed for Winnie the Pooh ride to take over, I was devastated….but I’m happy that this ride is just as cute!
Tom Sawyer Island- a place you can run around as a kid or an adult and also relax away from the busy walkways. I’ve loved it as a young kid and as an adult just the same!
Epcot
Epcot is probably my favorite park. I find that I do more eating and drinking here than actual rides but it is home to one of my absolute favorite rides in all of Disney World.
Soarin’- I was first introduced to Soarin’ when my family and I went to Disneyland while on a Southern California vacation. The ride had just opened up and it was Soarin’ Over California. We raved about that ride for years…and even my dad raved about and told everyone, and guess what? He DOESN’T like Disney. When they brought it to Epcot and reimagined it to Soarin’ Over the World I was so excited that we could finally ride it again and again. While it’s slightly different from the original, it’s still one of my favorite rides and as a pro-tip, ask a cast member to be seated in the front row of the middle section. Even if you have to wait a little extra, It’s 1,000% worth it. This is a soft motion ride with no big drops or turns so my husband is fine with this!
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Cabellros (Mexico Pavillion)- Epcot had minimal rides growing up so when my cousins and I were all young we couldn’t wait to ride the Mexico ride…it has continued to stay a favorite!
Spaceship Earth- I’ve come to appreciate this more as an adult than I did as a child. They also added some fun newer features to it. It’s another nice relaxing ride!
PS- I purposely left out Frozen Ever After for a few reasons. 1. My family and I LOVED Maelstrom (the original Norway ride) growing up so I’m still bitter about that 2. I’m not really that big of a Frozen fan?? I know, GASP. 3. It’s always such a long wait and I’d rather get a Soarin’ fastpass than Frozen. With that being said, it is a really fun, cute ride.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom doesn’t have too many rides that I love. However, it does have my favorite ride (love it even more than Soarin’!) so it is a must visit every time.
Flight of Passage- hands down the coolest ride and technology in the past few years. I mentioned that motion sickness has gotten worse for me over the year but this ride is perfectly fine for me. The smells and feel that you are actually flying on a banshee still blows my mind every time. I’m not even am Avatar fan and I think it’s a must do for every single person. It’s worth the wait but definitely try for a fast pass! My husband said he sometimes feels motion sickness on this and sometimes he’s fine but once he’s off he’s usually good.
Expedition Everest- this used to be a favorite but the last couple times I rode it, I definitely started to feel a bit of motion sickness. My husband also has an issue with this one…SPOILER ALERT- you go backwards at one point which is what we think effects us the most. It’s very fun but may not be the best if you experience the same issues.
PS- The safari ride is also a neat experience but it is kind long…a 22 minute attraction! It’s nice to sit and feel like you’re on a safari looking at different animals and even having some cross your path, but it is a time sucker so I sometimes feel like this can be skipped. Plus you can still walk around and see some of the animal exhibits!
Hollywood Studios
I’ll admit it…Hollywood Studios isn’t really a park I need to go to. It’s never really been my favorite and as a HUGE Star Wars fan, the addition of Galaxy’s Edge is cool but not a game changer in my mind. The new Millennium Falcon ride, Smugglers Run is a hard pass from now on. We tried it (and were even the pilots) and while it was fun, the motion sickness aspect overtakes the fun aspect for us. It was awesome we got to ride it but never again. It’s another motion simulator but unlike Flight of Passage, this one is very bouncy and all over the place. With that said there are still some fun rides that I highly recommend!
Rise of the Resistance- When we went in February 2020, Rise had recently opened (December 2019 to be exact) and getting a boarding group (their virtual queue) was the most talked about Disney topic (and kind of still is!) because of how difficult it is to get. I’m not sure how, but I was able to snag us Boarding Group 9. That’s HUGE. It is honestly an extremely awesome ride and unlike any ride you’ve ever experienced. I still think Flight of Passage is my #1 but this is a close second. There is a small motion simulator part but the whole ride caused no motion sickness for either of us.
Tower of Terror- The idea of this ride always freaked me out so I never wanted to ride it. Fast forward to 2017 when I went on a girls trip with my friends and we decided to ride it. I can’t believe I missed out on that ride for so long! No motion sickness and the drops are not bad at all. I did scream the entire time though. LOL
Toy Story Mania- Some (maybe even most) say that this interactive game ride is better than the Buzz Lightyear one and while I don’t personally think that, it is very, very fun. You have to wear 3-D glasses which is what I think makes it slightly less of a favorite but it’s the same concept so my competitive nature comes out which is why I love it so much!
In Park Food & Drinks
I have not really eaten at many sit down restaurants in the parks (or even on property) but the quick service and snacks are where it’s at! Epcot has my heart with in park snacks, food, and drinks but I’ll break down some favorites. Oh, I should also mention that I cannot have dairy so most my options are dairy free.
Magic Kingdom
Casey’s Corner Corn Dog Nuggets
Gaston’s Tavern Cinnamon Roll
Mickey Pretzel (this is honestly a favorite in every park)
Cheshire Cat Tail
Nutella Waffle Sandwich
Epcot
Food and drink choices are endless here. I can spend days in Epcot just to enjoy different food, snacks, desserts, and drinks! Epcot has different festivals throughout the year and each festival has added booths full of different food. My personal favorite festival is the Food and Wine Festival! We typically just wander and see what new items are at different booths and countries and try different things while being sure to get a few staple items every single trip. Some of my favorite staple items are only available during festivals so I have noted that if that’s the case!
Frozen Margarita from Mexico
Teriyaki Chicken Bun from Japan (available during Food and Wine Festival)
Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic frozen drink available during Flower and Garden Festival)
Bloody Mary from Refreshment Port (usually topped with chicken nuggets, shrimp, or crazy things of that sort!)
Jumbo Pretzel from Germany
Any drink at the bar in Rose & Crown Pub in the UK (the atmosphere is so fun there!)
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is another park that is really good to kind of wander around and try out different foods from different continents. There is one drink I have to get every time I am there though.
Night Blossom from Pongu Pongu in Pandora (non-alcoholic version)
Different bowls from Satu’li Canteen in Pandora
Hollywood Studios
Some favorite snacks and drinks in Hollywood Studios are actually from newer places!
Fuzzy Tauntaun from Oga’s Cantina (Galaxy’s Edge)
Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tar from Woody’s Lunch Box (Toy Story Land)
Ronto Morning Wrap from Ronto Roasters…I get mine without cheese (Galaxy’s Edge)
Southwest Salad with Chicken from Backlot Express (Backlot Express has some great lunch items and also once had Darth Vader waffles and fried chicken which was so good but that unfortunately hasn’t been on the menu in a couple years)
Restaurants
Restaurants in Disney doesn’t just mean places you can eat in the parks. It includes the parks, the resorts (hotels), and Disney Springs. There are soo many restaurants and I have not even eaten at half of them.
I recommend trying out a lot quick service locations because they have a wide range of food that could satisfy a family of all different types of eaters. These quick service resorts are also located in the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. It’s usually just so much easier to go and eat at a quick service when you feel like it rather than planning your full day around a reservation which is why I honestly haven’t eaten at too many sit down restaurants. Keep in mind that sit down restaurants in Disney are usually more expensive (yes, even for breakfast) so choosing one or two really good ones and planning to get your reservation right away may be more doable for you rather than a sit down restaurant for every meal.
For this, I will list some sit down restaurants we have eaten at and really enjoyed and even go back to every trip!
Morimoto Asia (located in Disney Springs)- If you like sushi and Asian cuisine, this is a nicer restaurant to enjoy! I often feel like dressing is usually pretty casual in Disney/Disney property. With this restaurant, you can get a little dressed up and not feel out of place. We used it as an anniversary dinner option and we loved the atmosphere as well as our meals and appetizers- highly recommend!
‘Ohana (located in the Polynesian Resort)- This is one that I recently finally got to try and I’ve now been there 3 times. I went for dinner twice and breakfast once. There are mixed reviews (I think mainly because of the cost) but I have to say it’s such a fun place and while the cost may be slightly high per person, you seriously get SO much food. It is family style and you can continue to get as many refills of the food as you wish. Both breakfast and dinner were great! I have been with just my husband and I, a group of 4, and a larger group.
Sanaa (located in Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village) – The naan bread is soo yummy and comes with several different dips/sauces. They also have some great entrees that all have an African and Indian flavors! If you like wine, they have a wide range of South African wines. The best part is that it’s right on the savannah so you can see animals roaming just outside the windows if you go for lunch or an earlier dinner.
I am lactose intolerant and it’s gotten worse over the years so this past trip I had to tell them I couldn’t have dairy. They accommodated me SO much and explained every detail of ingredients to ensure it would be ok or not. The naan has a lot of butter and milk so they actually regularly make vegan ones! The ones below are the real ones and the vegan ones were not as fluffy but were just as good!
Want to Try: There are a few restaurants that we’ve eaten at that are good but just aren’t WOW or ones that I wouldn’t care if we went back to or not. Yet, there are still soo many restaurants I’d love to try.
One that I would absolutely love to try is Wine Bar George in Disney Springs. Everything I have seen about it just seems like it’s right up my alley.
Miscellaneous Favorites
In addition to all of the above, there are a few things in Disney World that just can’t be beat for me. They are my absolutely favorite things to do and what makes me feel completely at peace. They are pretty random, but definitely need their own spotlight!
Disney World Resort TV channel– I listen to this on YouTube at work that’s how much I love it. The first thing I do when I get in our Disney Resort room is turn on the TV. This channel is the default channel when turned on so you can’t miss it! It has the schedule of the parks that day and plays the happiest, most comforting, and peaceful music. When I listen to it at work, I like the 2017, 2019, and 2020 versions on YouTube.
Epcot World Showcase– Maybe this is an exaggeration but few things make me happier than Epcot World Showcase does. Drinking (or even eating) around the world will forever be my favorite thing to do in Disney World and in general. I love to travel and yes, while I know this is a watered down version of what it’s like to actually go to these countries, you still get the feeling like you are visiting these places while somehow being in the most magical place on Earth. Each country is decorated so beautifully and each trip I notice some design element I have never seen before. So much detail goes into each pavilion and these miniscule details are what sets Disney World apart from every other theme park. The entertainment throughout and the atmosphere makes me want to just walk around for days. I could go on and on about it that’s legitimately how much I love it.
Disney World Background Music– Yes, another thing I listen to at work on YouTube. They are called Disney World music loops and there are so many to choose from. It makes you feel like you are there when you are not and when you are in the park, it gives you such a relaxed feeling. It’s what makes me want to just sit in the hub grass in Magic Kingdom, what makes me not care about waiting in line on some rides, and why I love just sitting and chilling out on a bench. When I’m in the park, I love it all- it adds to the atmosphere and the magical feeling. Some personal favorite music loops to listen to when I’m at home include, the Soarin’ queue music, Soarin’ exit music, Epcot The Land pavilion background music loop, Epcot entrance area music loop (2020 version), Animal Kingdom Tree of Life, and Port Orleans French Quarter. (I’m actually so upset because YouTube has taken a lot of these down in just the past few months and they’ve been up for years!)
Disney Springs– In general, Disney Springs is such a fun place to hang out and walk around. There are lots of shops and endless restaurants and entertainment. My girlfriends and I walked into Disney Springs one night and they had a dance party with a DJ, lights, and hula hoops for kids and we joined in without hesitation because yes, Disney truly brings the kid out in you! The entertainment is all around. They have different stages with difference performances going on. The restaurant Raglan Road is an Irish pub with live music and dancing even at their outdoor patio seating area. Don’t think the entertainment is just random people setting up shop like in cities either- no, these are Disney hired performers! The last few times we were there, Disney Springs had mini bars set up outside of the restaurants so you can get a drink ‘to-go’ and walk around all of the Disney Springs grounds, drink in hand…how awesome?! The bars are all so fun because they are still super themed. My personal favorite is Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar and again, I reallyyy want to try Wine Bar George! They have some amazing dessert specific places like cupcake shops, donut shops, cookie shops, ice cream, a pastry shop, a chocolate shop, etc. It’s a must do for any Disney trip!
What Disney World must-do’s or favorites do you have?! Do we share any of the same ones? I’d love to know so I can try out some things maybe I haven’t done before!
Be sure to save this post to Pinterest for your future Disney World vacation planning!
