08 May 2023

All The Best, Most Unmissable Experiences At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida

Learn more at WaltDisneyWorld.com.au or visit your preferred travel agent to book.

Here at Punkee, we love a theme park – and when it comes to Disney Parks, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is truly in a league of its own.

Spanning almost double the size of Manhattan, Walt Disney World Resort boasts four theme parks, two water parks, and basically everything else your heart could possibly desire – including multiple golf courses and over 25 Resort Hotels made for all budgets in mind.

As the Northern Hemisphere warms up, there’s never been a better time to go: so we’ve compiled a handy list of the most unmissable things for your next trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth.

Magic Kingdom Park

This Park is an essential destination for anyone visiting Walt Disney World Resort, in fact we actually recommend ticking it off your list first! Say hi to some your favourite Disney Characters and enjoy the nostalgia of some of your favourite classics.

Start your adventure with one of the fastest coasters at any Disney Park in the world, and join a high-stakes race based on the Disney Sci-Fi film TRON: Legacy. Climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and take off on a rip-roaring high-speed adventure, reaching a top speed just shy of 95 kilometres per hour at the new TRON Lightcycle / Run (Presented by Enterprise) experience.

After saving the Grid, come back to Earth and travel back in time to the 1850s Gold Rush ghost town of Tumbleweed with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Descend into an abandoned mine shaft and board your train. As you enter the cursed cavern, the engine speeds up along the rickety track. Hold onto your seats as you dodge exploding dynamite and falling boulders as you swoop around turns, and drops into canyons!

Depending on how you’re scheduling your day we recommend making time for either (or both!) Disney’s nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After or the day time parade Festival of Fantasy. Happily Ever After is an breathtaking show with some of Disney’s most iconic stories that finishes with a fantastic fireworks display. Not to be outdone, the Festival of Fantasy parade includes live performances and acrobatics!

Let’s not forget meeting some of our favourite friends! Meeting Disney Characters is not only a chance to snap a memorable photo or grab an autograph, but it’s also a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Whether it’s a warm hug from Winnie the Pooh, a high-five from Buzz Lightyear, or a magical moment with a Disney princess, we’ll never be over the excitement of meeting these larger-than-life Characters in person. For children, it’s a chance to see some of their favourite Characters, while for us adults, it’s an opportunity to relive childhood memories and experience the magic of Disney in a whole new way.

EPCOT

You won’t want to miss EPCOT, its pretty unique! It showcases both an area dedicated to innovative technologies and a World Showcase section that highlights various countries and cultures.

First take off on one of the newest additions to Walt Disney World Resort on an intergalactic chase through space and time on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. As you explore an exhibition showing the similarities and differences between Xander (that you might recognize from The Guardians of the Galaxy films) and Earth, everything goes sideways, and you are called into action to help The Guardians of the Galaxy. Join Rocket, Groot, Gamora and Star-Lord on an exciting space pursuit.

After successfully saving the universe, you’ll have earned yourself a break. Hit up Space 220 Restaurant, featuring a celestial panorama from a space station for a delicious meal. Heads up, the Space 220 Restaurant is one of the newest restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort so we recommend booking in advance to secure your table! To begin your journey, board a special space elevator that will ascend to the stars! We reckon the Planetary Punch pairs nicely with views of Earth from 350 kilometres up, but that’s just us.

Now that you’ve conquered space, and had some lunch, we recommend heading over to the France pavilion and checking out another attraction that is a recent addition to EPCOT, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This Park is all about the glamour and excitement of Hollywood. Get ready for fantastic fireworks, thrilling rides and seriously cool special effects.

Immerse yourself in a legendary tale of good versus evil at the Fantasmic! open-air nighttime spectacular. Featuring stunning effects, hair-raising stunts, dazzling fireworks and rousing music, this larger-than-life show is painted on a grand canvas of dancing water and light. Overflowing with silly and suspenseful surprises, and beloved Disney Characters from some of your favourite animated films including Moana, The Lion King, and many more.

How about a face off with Kylo Ren? Immerse yourself in the stories of Star Wars and bump into some of your favourite, friendly (or not so friendly) Characters across the universe when you enter that planet Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Whilst you’re there, make sure you check out Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance which is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced at Walt Disney World Resort… or anywhere else in the galaxy!

Don’t forget, battles across the galaxy aren’t the only things on offer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Take a walk down memory lane riding the Slinky Dog Dash at Toy Story Land or say hi to Disney icons at Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Fancy yourself a bit of a Frozen fanatic? Check out the For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration or if scary thrills are more your speed, check out The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

You’re the nature lover in the family? You’re going to love Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park where you can immerse yourself in nature!

Experience the world of Avatar and the lands of Pandora from the skies and seas. Head straight to Avatar Flight of Passage where you can board your own Banshee and embark on a thrilling expedition, where interstellar explorers (such as yourself) embark on a breathtaking flight over Pandora’s otherworldly landscape.

Continue your adventure through Pandora with Na’vi River Journey and prepare to feel a sense of wonder as you journey with the legendary Na’vi Shaman of Songs. Experience a bioluminescent rainforest alive with the sights and sounds of exotic plants and creatures on all sides – even overhead.

Bring it back to Earth and summit the iconic Mount Everest on the thrilling Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Begin your journey on a train-style roller coaster to the top of Everest, but of course things don’t go smoothly — which is exactly what you came for. You’ll find yourself speeding around twists and turns through a cursed mountain where a Yeti lurks, before plummeting backwards through pitch darkness. You’ll definitely scream and you’ll love every second of it.

Disney’s Resort Hotels

When it comes to your Resort Hotel options at Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll be spoilt for choice: from rustic campgrounds all the way up to deluxe villas and resorts. Each Disney Resort Hotel is designed to transport guests to a different world, with themes that range from the Wild West to the African savannah to a Polynesian paradise. Guests can stay in rooms decorated with some of their favourite Disney Characters or sleep under the stars in a Disney campground.

Word to the wise: staying in a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel has added benefits including extra time in the Parks to immerse yourself in the magic (at select Parks, on select days throughout select Walt Disney World Resort holidays), early access to dining and Lightning Lane Entry purchases, and complimentary resort transportation; so all in all, a pretty great deal. Whatever Resort Hotel style you’re looking for, the Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World Resort offer a wide range of options to fit every budget and taste, making it an ideal continuation of the your Disney experience, for families and couples alike.

Water Parks, Mini Golf And More

For the icing on the cake, you can also check out Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach water parks for water slides, tranquil river floats, sandy beaches, and water coasters for an added thrill.

How about a friendly round of miniature golf? Enjoy some lighthearted competition at The Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf and the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf courses. While you’re there be sure to check out the many shopping and dining options on offer at Disney Springs which is only a short trip away. Not to play favourites but check out Disney’s Days of Christmas for a special souvenir ornament to put on your tree this year!

With so much to explore, it’s worth planning a holiday dedicated entirely to Walt Disney World Resort! Learn more at WaltDisneyWorld.com.au or visit your preferred travel agent to book.

Both a Theme Park reservation and valid ticket for the same Park on the same date are required for Park entry. Entertainment and offerings are subject to availability, restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit WaltDisneyWorld.com.au for important information before visiting the Walt Disney World Resort.

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This article was originally published on AWOL.