This leaves many visitors to Orlando wondering if renting a car at Disney World is worth it? While renting a car at MCO has its ups and downs, heeding a few car rental travel tips for your Disney World vacation should help you avoid many of the hassles.

Always Make a Reservation When Renting a Car at Disney World (or Anywhere)

It isn’t uncommon for high traffic airports to run out of available cars, even if you make a reservation. This happens because rental agencies, like airlines, overbook their inventory counting on cancelations and no shows. At other times, inventory can be depleted by late returns.

When this happens, your reservation can’t be honored, or the agency will need to move you to a different class of vehicle. This happened once to us in Salt Lake City where we reserved a Toyota Camry or similar. When we approached the ticket counter, we were informed that the only available vehicle was a Dodge Challenger, a car wholly unsuited to our needs.

If booking a car rental reservation won’t guarantee a vehicle is waiting for you, why go through the trouble? Because lines at Orlando airport rental counters can be long. It isn’t uncommon to find 10-30 people standing in line to pick up a car, leading to waits of over a half an hour  or more. 

While there are many reasons for long airport rental counter lines, one major impetus is the lack of reservations. In our experience, the vast number of travelers simply pick an airport rental agency after arriving and ask for a car. 

Since agency personnel must gather all of the information related to your rental onsite, including details travelers don’t always have at the ready, creating each reservation takes an inordinate amount of time.

Making a reservation ahead of your arrival streamlines your pickup and reduces the amount of time you’ll stand at the counter before being handed the keys to your rental car.

Provide as Much Information When You Make Your Reservation as You Can

Depending on the company, rental car agencies may not ask for much information when you make your booking. That doesn’t mean they don’t require more information before they hand over the keys.

A time-saving travel tip for Disney World car rentals is to look up your reservation online using the confirmation code sent to you by the company. In most cases, you can add your drivers license, insurance information and other details the agency may require before your arrival at the airport. 

This will save you time and hassle at pickup and get you on your way faster.

Always Join Rental Agency Loyalty Programs When Renting a Car at Disney World

Even if this is your first time renting a car at Disney World (or anywhere), take some time to join the agency’s loyalty program. Similar to airline and hotel loyalty programs, you can earn free rental days and enjoy other perks that will enhance your rental experience. One of these is an expedited service line.

Consider it a Lightning Lane to your car, and it’s offered to loyalty members at many rental agencies operating in Orlando and other major airports in the U.S. I’ve been promoted to the head of a line of 20 or 30 people before, simply because I am a loyalty member. Just look for the separate queue when you arrive at the rental counter at MCO

Look for Ways to Skip the Rental Car Counter

No matter how short the line, picking up your car at the rental counter is always going to be a time sink for your vacation. One of the biggest travel tips for Disney World is to skip the experience entirely, but it will require you to rent from specific companies.

Rental car agencies, such as National, offer loyalty program members the chance to skip the line at the counter and go right to the garage to select a car. Once you’ve loaded your luggage, simply drive to the exit where you’ll be checked out in a flash.

Utilizing these programs usually requires you to reserve your car through a special program. At National, loyalty members have the option to book a mid-size car and pick any car from a special Emerald Aisle. Available vehicles are guaranteed to be mid-sized, but larger or premium vehicles are often available.

Avis offers a similar program, but you will be required to download the app and select an available car when you land at the airport. Upon doing so, you’ll be given a parking space number. After picking up your luggage, simply head to the assigned space in the parking garage where your vehicle with keys is waiting.

While not every airport or rental car agency offers a skip-the-counter program, you will find many agencies offering this perk when renting a car in Orlando, Florida. These include:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget (Fastbreak service)
• Hertz
• National (Emerald Aisle)

No matter what your Disney World rental car budget is, you should be able to find an agency offering skip-the-counter benefits.

Make Sure to Add Your Flight Details to Your Reservation

When you book your rental car reservation, you’ll be asked to provide flight arrival numbers and departure times. This helps the rental car company manage inventory to help ensure your reserved class of vehicle is ready when you arrive, but it has added benefits for early and late arriving passengers.

Like other businesses, airline rental counters have established operation hours. However, companies will be certain to staff counters when they know your flight is arriving late. Adding your flight number will help ensure agencies keep staff on hand.

While agencies at Orlando airport are commonly prepared to facilitate very early arriving or departing passengers, you should be made aware of closures when you make your reservation. If you receive such a notice, it’s a good idea to call the company or choose a different agency.

Be Aware of Fees When Making Your Reservation

When quoting rental prices, some agencies have been known to play a bit of a shell game. The initial price shown may only reflect the base fare without required taxes and fees. This means you could compare several offers and select one that seems the cheapest, only to receive a much higher price when taxes and fees are added in.

In fact, Orlando airport began assessing rental car customers a customer facility charge of $9 per day in 2024. This rate was increased from $6 a day to help support the construction of a new consolidated rental car facility, and now comprises the second highest fee of its kind in the U.S.

Prepare for Tolls When Renting a Car at Disney World

No matter how you slice it, your drive to Disney World is likely to be interspersed with toll roads. When renting a car in Orlando, or anywhere tolls are common, cars may come equipped with a box on the windshield. Activating this box will incur you a daily charge from the rental car company in addition to any tolls you incur.

However, you don’t need to activate a device to incur rental car company handling charges for toll fees. Now that many toll booths have been eliminated in favor of self-scanning overhead gantries, rental car companies regularly receive charges for customers who drive these roads.

They’ll be sure to pass any assessed tolls along to your credit card, along with a daily processing charge. If you’d like to avoid these added fees, you can always purchase a SunPass or similar device and set up an account. 

Answering Some Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Car at Disney World

Is MCO the closest airport to Disney World?

While Orlando International Airport (MCO) is nearly 17 miles away from Disney World, it is still the closest airport when flying in to visit Mickey and friends. Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is 47 miles away, providing travelers with another option, though travel time will be longer.

Can you rent a car at Disney World?

Guests wishing to take a day trip from their Disney World resort hotel will be happy to hear that rental cars can be reserved and picked up right from Disney World’s Car Care Center. Drivers will even pick guests up at their resort and bring them to pick up their waiting car.

Can you hire a car at Disney World?

There are many car services available for guests visiting Disney World. Most focus on providing airport transportation and rides to popular local attractions, such as Universal Studios or Kennedy Space Center. 

Ridesharing is also an option, with Uber and Lyft drivers plentiful around the resort.

Do I need to rent a car at Disney World?

If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, complimentary transportation to and from the parks is included in your resort stay. With this added perk, many guests do not feel it is necessary to rent a car at Disney World, especially when airport transportation options are plentiful.

If you’re looking for a travel tip for getting around Disney World, remember you can always order an Uber or Lyft if you need to leave the Disney campus.

Other Disney World Tips and Tricks

The Walt Disney World Skyliner: A Whole New Highway in the Sky

The Walt Disney World Monorail- What It Is and Why You’d Use It

Disney World Resort Transportation: The Ridesharing Bus Showdown

What Is Universal Studios Orlando?

One of the biggest Universal Orlando vacation tips is this: You aren’t dealing with a single park but rather 2 dramatic theme parks.

Universal Studios Florida opened its gates in 1990 with a groundbreaking vision: to immerse guests in the magic of filmmaking by bringing movie action to life. Unlike traditional theme parks, Universal designed its attractions to put visitors at the heart of the story, transforming them into the stars of their own cinematic adventures. 

Here, you’ll find the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogwarts Diagon Alley, a realistic representation of the hidden London venue featured in the J.K. Rowling classic and the Warner Brothers Film series. Additional Hollywood style rides include a clash with The Mummy as well as adventures with transformers, the Simpsons and E.T, among others.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure opened in 1999 as a companion park to Universal Studios Florida, designed to offer immersive experiences across a variety of themed “islands.” Each island is centered around a distinct concept, such as superheroes, mythology, or children’s stories.

Highlights include Marvel Super Hero Island, featuring attractions like The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. Known for its advanced ride technology, Islands of Adventure is home to some of the world’s most innovative attractions, including Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. 

Opening in 2025, Epic Universe is set to expand the Universal Studios world with 5 themed lands, including a new Harry Potter experience: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Ministry of Magic. Additional areas within the park will continue the movie focus and include Super Nintendo World and How to Train Your Dragon—Isle of Berk. 

Epic Universe will also include 2 new lands not themed to a particular movie, but rather the adventures we experience through storytelling. These include Dark Universe, where classic monsters come to life, and Celestial Park where guests can explore the future. 

Planning Your Trip to Universal Orlando

Universal Studios Orlando brings the world of the movies to life and sets you as the star. As you plan for your own epic adventure, it’s best to get off on the right foot with these Universal Orlando vacation planning tips.

Deciding When to Visit Universal Theme Parks

Finding the right time to visit Universal Orland Resort depends on a number of factors. For many guests, finding time when the parks are less crowded makes itinerary planning easier and park visits more enjoyable.

Like most Orlando theme parks, you’ll find that Universal Studios is most crowded when schools are out of session and less crowded when classes are being held. For that reason, you’ll want to avoid common school holidays if you are crowd averse as well as shoulder seasons associated with these dates. These include:

• The week between Christmas and New Years
• The week following Christmas
• Thanksgiving week
• Any Friday through Monday that includes a Monday holiday, such as Columbus Day
• Early March through mid-April (spring break)
• Beginning of June through mid-August

During these peak travel times, you’ll find hotels will be booked more fully, making it harder to find a reservation. Parks will also be more crowded, swelling wait times on the most popular attractions.

When it comes to avoiding crowds, the best times to take a theme park vacation to Universal Orlando are:

• Mondays through Thursdays the starting the second week of January through the week before President’s Day
• Sunday through Friday beginning the third week of April through the middle of May
• Sunday through Friday in September through the first week of October
• Tuesday through Thursday late October until the week before Thanksgiving
• Sunday through Friday beginning the week after Thanksgiving until the week before Christmas

Deciding When to Visit Universal Orlando: Thinking Beyond Crowds

While avoiding crowds may be a top priority for some guests, it isn’t the only factor to consider when planning a trip. You’ll also want to consider weather.

If you’re picturing sun-filled days and warm temps, keep in mind that winter days are not always warm. It is possible for highs to dip into the 40s sporadically during the winter months. Since we can’t control the weather, it’s better to avoid these months if you run a little cold blooded.

Your budget is another consideration. Pricing on hotels and tickets is typically lower when traveling during one of the less crowded times listed above.

However, if you’re a Halloween ghoul looking to scream your way through the thrills and chills of Halloween Horror Nights, you’re confined to the dates this event runs, usually September through the end of October. Fortunately, that’s a fairly easy time to find low crowds. October also offers some of the best weather Orlando has on tap.

It’s a similar situation if you want to visit Universal during the Christmas holidays. Decorations tend to go up right after Halloween and special events begin in November.

Essential Universal Orlando Vacation Tips: Deciding Where to Stay

If you’re familiar with Disney World vacation planning, then you know that where you stay can have a big impact on your vacation experience. We found the same was true at Universal.

For our first trip, we scoured maps and read countless reviews of the available hotels and Universal resorts. In the end, we opted to stay onsite at a Universal hotel. There were more than a few reasons behind this decision.

Advantages of Staying at a Universal Orlando Hotel

One Universal Orlando vacation tip is to stay at a Universal onsite hotel, where you’ll enjoy exclusive perks. The first is transportation to and from the parks. 

Complimentary Transportation to the Parks for Guests of Universal Orlando Resorts

Universal’s complimentary transportation system includes buses and/or boats. 

All modes of transportation run on a regular schedule throughout the day. You’ll find that multiple boats and buses run early in the day and closer to closing, so your wait is likely to be lower during those times. While hotel personnel will likely tell you that vehicles run every 20 minutes, we never waited more than ten minutes, even when we narrowly missed a departing boat.

In addition to accessing the Universal transportation network, guests at Universal’s Premier resorts can also take a short stroll to the theme parks. Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay share a walking path, surrounded by beautiful landscaping and shaded from the sun, that leads directly into City Walk. You’ll find the entrance to both parks here. 

Lowes Royal Pacific also has a walking path. However, it will not take you to both parks. On the positive side, it does offer a more private way to enter Islands of Adventure, putting you a little ahead of other guests.

Early Park Admission Put Guests of Universal Hotels Ahead of the Crowds

Whether you’re enjoying the premier perks of Universal’s signature hotels or Universal’s superior budget-friendly amenities, you’ll have access to Early Park Admission. With Early Park Admission, guests staying at Universal’s line of hotels are permitted entry into Islands of Adventure one hour before standard opening. During more popular travel dates, this perk may be extended to Universal Studios.

Skip the Line with Universal Express Pass by Staying at a Premier Resort

An Unlimited Universal Express Pass is included for each guest booked into a room at one of Universal’s Premiere Resort. Universal Express Pass puts guests ahead of the crowds with access to most rides via a special queue exclusive to Express Pass users.

Since the only other way to get Express Pass is by purchasing it, this is a perk that could be worth the splurge on a Premier resort. Universal Premier Resorts offering Express Pass include:

• Loews Portofino Bay
• Hard Rock Hotel 
• Loews Royal Pacific

Charge Purchases on the Fly

By staying at a Universal resort hotel, purchasing everything from souvenirs and food is simplified. Just link a credit card to your room, and your key card becomes a charging card. If you’re using this card to access implied Express Pass privileges, you’ll have it readily available, so using it to charge purchases just makes sense.

Universal Orlando Vacation Tip #3: Maximize Your Time in the Park

Whether you’re visiting Universal Theme Parks during a peak travel season or during a less crowded time, you’ll want to make the most of your time in the parks. The Universal Orlando vacation tips in this section are designed to help you do just that, with guidance on itinerary planning and perks to help you beat the crowds.

Early Mornings Are a Breeze at Universal

We found early mornings to be less crowded than other times of day. From park opening to around 11:30 to noon, the parks were relatively uncrowded and wait times for attractions were at the lowest of the day.

Early Park Admission for the Win

If you’re looking to beat the crowds, there is now better way than to utilize Early Park Admission, particularly if you want to experience attractions in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with little wait or you aren’t using Universal Express Pass. This perk is exclusive to guests of Universal hotels and permits entry into Islands of Adventure one hour ahead of scheduled times.

Universal Express Pass Let’s You Skip the Lines

If you’re serious about rides and soaking up as much movie immersion as you can, you’ll want to at least consider Universal Express Pass. With Express Pass, you’ll enter rides from a separate queue exclusive to Express Pass Holders. Since the only way to score an Express Pass is to stay at a Premier Resort on Universal Property or to purchase one, lines are much shorter than traditional standby queues.

Arrive Early, Stay Ahead of the Crowds

If you take advantage of Early Park Admission or enter the parks at opening, you might just realize an unusual perk. You’ll remain ahead of the crowds for most of the day.

The trick to this is to start your day in the most popular sections of the park and keep moving from land to land. At Islands of Adventure, that means starting in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, moving onto Jurassic Park and onward from there. When visiting Universal Studios, start again in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and keep moving in a clockwise direction.

Since all lands are laid out in circular fashion, it isn’t possible to cut across the park to another land. That means that all guests must move from one land to another. 

Guests who enter after you will remain behind you for most of the day as they make their way from land to land. This strategy is only effective if you arrive for Early Park Admission, when offered, or when the park opens if there is no Early Park Admission.

Enjoying Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure with Minimal Wait

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is one of the most popular rides in Islands of Adventure, and with good reason. However, that also means it stacks up some powerful wait times during the day. The fact that this is the only headliner attraction without an Express Pass Queue means you could be waiting in long lines to experience it, even if you arrive during Early Park Admission.

That leaves one Universal Orlando vacation tip to beat the crowds: arrive even earlier. On our first park day, we arrived about 20 minutes before the start of Early Park Admission. This put us about 25 people back in our single queue line. However, almost all of the many entry points had a similar number of guests queued and waiting to enter.

One thing to realize about Universal is that their admission process is a little clunky, with a slightly outdated camera system in use to ensure you own the ticket you are using. That means it can take time to move guests through the queue. 

On this day, it took us 10 minutes just to get into the park. By the time we arrived at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the queue for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure stretched into the Lost Continent and registered an 80-minute wait.

We decided to do better the next day and arrived about 50 minutes prior to Early Park Admission. We chose a queue line where we would be first to enter and waited it out. Time passed quickly as we chatted, and soon we were admitted to the park.

Some guests tried to run or at least fast walk their way to the Wizarding World. We kept a steady comfortable pace and arrived with no visible line at the ride.

We stowed our backpacks and entered the queue. It’s a lengthy line to walk, but we did it without stopping and were put on the ride with no wait.

You May Want to Skip the Backpack

One of the biggest Universal Orlando vacation tips for convenience is this: leave your backpack, purse or other larger bag at home. At many rides, you are required to stow these in a locker before entering the ride queue. This can become a little cumbersome ride after ride, so you’ll find it more convenient if you can leave a carrying bag at home.

You could also find it cheaper. While smaller lockers are free to use, larger lockers require a fee, and even modest size backpacks will require a larger locker. This includes Loungefly bags from Disney parks, a popular crossover carrying pack for guests who visit both franchises.

Going Upside Down? Prepare for Extra Security

While the use of lockers is recommended on many attractions, you’ll find it strictly enforced on rides that turn riders upside down. Be prepared to pass through a metal detector when entering the ride queue to make sure you’ve left nothing in your pockets.

Do You Need Express Pass?

If you’re staying at one of the Universal Studios Premier resorts (listed above), Unlimited Express Pass is included in the price of your room reservation. If you aren’t a recipient of this perk, you’re likely wondering if it’s worth the purchase.

One Universal Orlando vacation tip we commonly give to first timers is to make the purchase if your budget permits it. This will simplify your trip and reduce the stress of planning an itinerary and rushing from ride to ride to beat the crowds. Simply show your room key or Express Pass at the entrance to the Express Pass line, and you’ll be riding in no time.

Express Pass is particularly important if you’re visiting the parks during one of the peak times listed above and could save you money in the long run. If you’re waiting in lines of 30 minutes plus, you could easily need 2 days per park to experience all of the attractions. With Express Pass, we rode everything in a single day with time to spare.

Universal Orlando Vacation Tips Regarding Express Pass

If you do decide to use Express Pass, there are some important Universal Orlando vacation tips to heed and general things to know. First, Express Pass does not eliminate the line entirely. You will wait a few minutes for each ride, but your wait will be significantly shortened when compared to the standby queue.

Second, Express Pass lines ebb and flow in length just like the standby lines. We saw the longest Express Pass lines beginning around noon and extending into the late afternoon. The shortest lines occurred early in the day. 

If you receive Express Pass as part of your hotel booking, your pass will be tied to your hotel reservation. This means, you’ll need to show your hotel key at each Express Pass Line. Some of us found it easiest to purchase a lanyard and plastic card holder to carry the Express Pass. Scanning it at each ride through the plastic sleeve was a cinch.

Dining at Universal Studios Theme Parks

There are 3 important Universal Orlando vacation tips to understand when it comes to dining at Universal Studios. The first is the availability of table service restaurants. 

Reservations Ensure a Space at Table Service Restaurants

You’ll find very few table service restaurants within the theme parks, so if you want to sit down and be served while enjoying your day, you’ll need to be sure to make reservations ahead of time. A good time to do this is about a month before your arrival, but you will be able to find availability at some establishments as close as a week away.

If you are not able to book a reservation for a sought-after restaurant, try scoring a same-day reservation. However, you should expect a wait if you take this approach with no guarantee that seating will be available. Guests staying in club level rooms at Universal hotels are likely to find greater availability by speaking with your hotel concierge.

Mobile Ordering Saves You Time

If you’re going to eat counter service, you’ll certainly simplify your dining experience. If you use the mobile order option, you’ll find dining in the parks even easier.

Mobile ordering is available through the Universal Orlando app and is well worth the effort. We mobile ordered our meals while waiting in line for the last ride before we intended to eat. We then clicked to prepare our meals when we were within sight of the restaurant, found a seat and waited for the notification that our meals were ready. In most cases, we walked right past other guests who were waiting in a lengthy line to order, when picking up our food.

Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenir Cups

Before leaving off with dining, we have one last Universal Orlando vacation tip. We saw many guests carrying insulated mugs and refilling them at Freestyle machines throughout the parks. We also saw a splash headline within the Universal App regarding free Freestyle drinks.  It turns out the 2 are related.

When you purchase a refillable mug, you are granted free unlimited refills throughout the day. The break-even point was about 3 drinks, so if you plan to purchase at least 3 fountain drinks throughout the day, including Icees, purchasing a refillable mug may be worth it.

If you do opt for a mug, be sure to hang onto it for the rest of your trip. You can purchase a refill pass on subsequent days of your trip for a discounted price when using a prepurchased mug.

Booking Your Hotel and Tickets

When it comes to making your hotel reservations and purchasing your theme park tickets, the easiest way to do so is by booking a vacation package. Doing so, bundles the cost of your theme park ticket and hotel reservation into one purchase, allowing you to make a minimal deposit at time of booking.

Universal offers a number of package options, including selections that roll in popular experiences, such as a meal at Three Broomsticks or tickets to a popular after-hours event. You’ll also find build your own packages, but before you take this route, it’s wise to brush up on the various types of theme park tickets available.

Park-to-Park tickets allow you to visit more than one park in a day and is an essential ticket type if you plan to ride the Hogwarts Express. Single Park tickets will restrict you to visiting one park each day.

In addition there are 1-park, 2-park and 3-park tickets. You will only be able to visit the number of parks associated with your ticket type. For example, if you pick a one-day ticket, you will be asked to specify whether you plan to visit Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios. With a 2-park ticket, you will be able to visit both, and a 3-park ticket throws in a visit to Volcano Bay, Universal’s premier water park. Beginning in May of 2025, you will be able to select Epic Universe as one of your 3 parks.

Last, you must specify how many days you want on your ticket. A 3-day, 2-park ticket, for example, will allow you to visit Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios each day for 3 days. If you wish to visit both parks on each day or any day of your trip, you will need a 3-day, 2-park, park-to-park ticket.

All tickets for Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios can be purchased with an Express Pass add-on allowing you to skip the regular line on most rides. 

Guests planning to visit Epic Universe in 2025 will initially need to purchase at least a 3-day ticket. However, 2 of those days must be spent at the original parks. Guests will only be able to visit Epic Universe for one day when the park opens in May of 2025.

Given the many ticket types, add-on options and available discounts, many guests find it easiest to work with a travel agent when booking their trip. This way, they can more easily find the right ticket type for their trip and ensure they aren’t missing any special experiences.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort can be a complex experience, especially for first-time visitors. Ultimately, a successful trip boils down to thoughtful preparation. Whether you’re navigating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, braving Jurassic Park’s VelociCoaster, or exploring the upcoming Epic Universe, the right strategies will ensure you maximize your time and budget while minimizing stress. 

Use our Universal Orlando vacation tips as a guide, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Universal Orlando Resort.

While Jollywood Nights offers unique experiences for guests of all ages, we found this event to be decidedly adult oriented. In fact, adults dominated the attendance roster, many dressed in their Hollywood finest.

Keep reading our Disney World Jollywood Nights review to see what this event may have in store for you.

Overview of Disney World Jollywood Nights

Launched as a reimagined way to enjoy the holiday season at Disney World, Jollywood Nights features exclusive stage shows, rare character meet-and-greets, and beloved attractions enhanced with holiday theming. 

For instance, laser projections dress up the Hollywood Tower Hotel (aka The Tower of Terror) in festive scenes, diminishing its otherwise abandoned appearance. Special lighting outside Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster also brings an unexpected holiday flair. Even the Chinese theater gets in on the festive excitement, donning an all new façade that changes throughout the event.

Guests can revel in this joyful atmosphere while savoring seasonal treats and beverages crafted especially for the event. With limited-capacity tickets, shorter wait times for rides, and exclusive entertainment offerings, Disney Jollywood Nights provides a more intimate holiday experience compared to the general park hours.

While Jollywood Night theming and event offerings are family friendly, the festivities really do appeal more to an adult crowd. In contrast to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, this after-hours extravaganza focuses on adult enticements. 

You’ll find pop-up street bars throughout the event, featuring a wealth of adult libations and special alcoholic concoctions. Entertainment also tends to emit an adult feel, highlighting music and characters from the heyday of old Hollywood. When it comes to Disney’s star lineup, you’ll find traditional characters as well as old favorites, many who sport a decidedly millennial appeal.

That’s not to say that younger guests won’t appreciate walk-on waits at popular Toy Story Land Star Wars attractions, but most of the entertainment, including dance parties and character experiences, are geared to adults over 21. When compared to the child-friendly focus at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, parents may feel let down if they opt for Jollywood nights over the Magic Kingdom event. On the night we attended, the number of adults far outnumbered the few children we saw.

Disney World Jollywood Nights Event Dates and Ticket Information

Disney World Jollywood Nights is scheduled to take place on select evenings from November 9 to December 21, 2024, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This special event runs from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM, with ticket holders permitted to enter the park as early as 6:00 PM on the event night.

Event Schedule and Operating Hours

The 2024 event dates are as follows:

• November: 9, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
• December: 2, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21

Each event night begins at 7:30 PM and concludes at 12:30 AM. Guests with event tickets can enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting at 6:00 PM on the day of their ticketed event. They do not need to hold a separate Hollywood Studios park ticket.

Jollywood Ticket Pricing and Purchase Options

Ticket prices for Disney Jollywood Nights vary by date, ranging from $159 to $179 per person, plus tax. Tickets are available for purchase through the official Walt Disney World website and authorized Disney Vacation Planners.

Contact Kathleen at Mickey World Travel to purchase your Jollywood Nights tickets. Get your questions answered and receive personalized tips to navigate the event. Click here to request a quote.

Disney World Jollywood Party Entry Policies 

To join in the fun at Disney World Jollywood Nights, you’ll need a special event ticket just for this magical celebration—standard park admission tickets won’t cover it. The good news? You may enter the park as early as 6:00 pm with your party ticket. 

However, if you’d like to explore Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier in the day before the party begins at 6:00 PM, you’ll need both a regular park ticket and a Jollywood party ticket for that day. 

Disney World Jollywood Special Offers and Discounts

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members are eligible for a $10 discount per ticket on all event nights. To receive the discount, tickets must be purchased through the appropriate channels, and valid membership identification may be required at the time of purchase.

Jollywood Nights Entertainment and Attractions

Disney World Jollywood Nights is bursting with entertainment and attractions designed to immerse guests in holiday cheer and Hollywood glamour. 

Exclusive shows take center stage, featuring festivities that blend classic holiday music with Disney magic. Fans of character interactions will be thrilled to meet rare Disney characters dressed in their holiday best, while popular attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are enhanced with seasonal touches to add extra sparkle to the night. 

Themed dance parties and roaming performers bring an interactive flair to the event, ensuring there’s never a dull moment. 

Exclusive Shows and Performances

Disney World Jollywood Nights offers a lineup of exclusive shows that bring the holidays to life. At the Theater of the Stars, “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” dazzles with a spirited holiday musical hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Joined by beloved characters like Tiana, Belle, Minnie, and Mickey Mouse, along with a talented ensemble of singers, dancers, and jazz musicians, this star-studded show is a must-see. 

Over at Hyperion Theater, “What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” invites guests to sing along with Jack Skellington to iconic songs from the film. This enchanting journey through Halloween Town culminates in a showdown with Oogie Boogie. With multiple showtimes throughout the night, you’re sure to fit one of these performances into your schedule.

On Hollywood Boulevard, “Glisten!” presents a stunning skating spectacular featuring internationally acclaimed skaters performing dazzling routines to holiday music and Disney classics like “Be Our Guest” and “When You Wish Upon a Star.” With showtimes spaced throughout the evening, these interactive elements keep the holiday spirit alive wherever you go.

Meanwhile, the Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club offers a classy escape with cocktails and live swing music in the courtyard of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Each venue delivers a distinctive and unforgettable holiday vibe.

Disney World Jollywood Night Character Appearances

Rare character appearances are a highlight of Disney Jollywood Nights, giving guests the chance to meet Disney favorites in their holiday attire. Many of the more unique sightings will appeal to millennials who are most likely to remember the shows and movies in which these special actors starred.

Head to Echo Lake for a nostalgic bash featuring throwback characters like Phineas, Ferb, Max Goof as Powerline, and Baloo and King Louie from Talespin. Characters such as the Mandalorian have been spotted in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge while Bo Peep or Lotso have popped up in Toy Story Land and Joy has made her way to Pixar Place. Guests should also be on the lookout for the mischievous Santa Stitch terrorizing…er visiting, Echo Lake.

Jollywood Night Parades and Fireworks Displays

The night wouldn’t be complete without a dazzling display, and “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” is the grand finale you won’t want to miss. This nighttime spectacular lights up the façade of the Chinese Theater with projections of holiday moments from Disney films, synchronized with fireworks, lasers, and a holiday inspired soundtrack. This exclusive display captures the spirit of the season in a way only Disney can.

Interactive Experiences and Street Parties

Interactive experiences and street parties ensure that the energy never dies down at Disney Jollywood Nights. 

The Animation Courtyard transforms into the “Holiday Fiesta en la Calle,” a vibrant street fair with Latin holiday tunes, festive décor, and appearances by José Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros. 

At Pixar Place, the Pixar Disco invites guests to groove alongside Edna Mode, Frozone, Joy, and other Pixar favorites. We found this event to be the one happening focused on delighting the under 12 guests.

Disney Photopass  Pictures

If you really want to commemorate the event, you’ll have the chance with Disney PhotoPass photographers stationed at key points within the park to snap your photo. Best of all, these digital, high quality images can be downloaded for free as part of the cost of your event ticket.

While we did not find any special surprises hiding in our downloaded photos, special effects are often added to pictures snapped at key locations. 

Disney World Jollywood Nights Exclusive Merchandise

Disney Jollywood Nights will feature an exclusive line of merchandise for attendees in 2024. The collection centers around Ollie, a whimsical gingerbread man created to reflect the nostalgic charm of the event’s vintage Hollywood theme. 

Key items include a Spirit Jersey adorned with an all-over Ollie print and the phrase “Happy Ollie Days 2024” on the front, accompanied by the event logo on the back. A graphic tee showcasing Ollie walking along Sunset Boulevard aligns with the event’s Tinseltown theme. Accessories include a specially designed ear headband featuring embroidered plush Ollie ears, a satin bow, and an event marquee, marked with “2024” to commemorate the year.

Additional merchandise includes a Lug bag tailored for convenience during the event, a retro-inspired mug featuring Ollie and event branding, and a collectible trading pin designed for Disney pin enthusiasts. A decorative ornament depicting Ollie and the Jollywood Nights logo is also available, catering to those seeking keepsakes for holiday décor.

These items are exclusively available to attendees of Disney Jollywood Nights. The merchandise can be found at designated locations, including the Stage 1 Company Store and Once Upon a Time shop within Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the event dates. Further details and insights about Ollie and the merchandise collection are accessible on the Disney Parks Blog.

Disney World Jollywood Nights Dining and Beverage Options

No Disney holiday party would be complete without a staggering array of special treats, and Jollywood Nights won’t disappoint.

Some of the more interesting options include:

• Agent P Croissant: A waffle croissant dipped in caramel-chocolate, topped with mint cream, a chocolate hat, and M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies. 
• Holiday Turkey Popover: Roasted turkey and creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy and cranberry chutney in a house-made popover. 
• PB&J Doughnut: A half-glazed doughnut with creamy peanut butter and grape jelly, dipped in dark chocolate, served with house-made salt and vinegar chips. 
• Kermit’s Frozen Banana Shake: A non-alcoholic frozen banana and white chocolate shake with caramel swirls, topped with matcha whipped cream and sprinkles. 
• Mistletoe Martini: A festive blend of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur mixed with cranberry juice, garnished with fresh cranberries and mint leaves.
• 1939 Royale: A sophisticated blend of Teremana Blanco Tequila, Cointreau Orange Liqueur, desert pear, agave nectar, and lime juice, crowned with Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut and served in a souvenir Disney Jollywood Nights Champagne Flute.
• Holiday Mickey Hot Cocoa: A rich house-made hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, caramel-chocolate brownie Mickey ears, and festive sprinkles.

For a more comprehensive look at the exclusive food and beverage treats offered at Disney World Jollywood Nights in 2024, you can check out this Disney Parks Blog article.

Visitor Reviews and Testimonials: Disney World Jollywood Nights 2024

As previously stated, adults attending Disney World’s Jollywood Nights in 2024 should enjoy the experience. Hollywood Studios is one of the most visited parks in the Disney Florida lineup, so it’s hard to resist a chance to experience lower crowds. This is particularly the case earlier in the season. 

Our Jollywood night took place in mid-November, with few crowds and no wait on any attraction with the exception of Slinky Dog Dash. Here, we timed a posted wait of 35 minutes at only a 10 minute continuously moving queue. We even rode twice.

The lower crowd levels, particularly when attending early in the season, really highlight the festive atmosphere and provide more guests a chance to participate in the celebration. Special events, such as Glisten, are offered multiple times a night, allowing more guests to participate without large crowds.

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam was the only portion of the night that was crowded. Since this finale presentation was offered once, that wasn’t surprising. The good news is, it’s a great time to visit other areas of the park that are typically more crowded if you aren’t interested in the show. We watched for a bit and then headed over to the Tower of Terror to pick up our 1939 Royale in souvenir glass.

When compared to the holiday fireworks show at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party, this show is a bit of a sleeper. However, if you’ve never been to any of Mickey’s holiday extravaganza’s at the Magic Kindom, the splendor of the holiday projections and quirky story line could suit your festive mood—if you can find a place to see the Hollywood Theater clearly.

We were riding Slinky Dog Dash when guests began staking out space to watch the show. By the time we ambled in with 2 minutes to showtime, there was really nowhere to stand where we could see the show well enough, given our shorter statures. A word to the wise: make sure you find a good spot to watch the show at least 15 minutes before it stars, earlier if the event seems a little more on the crowded side.

What We Loved about Disney World Jollywood Nights

Despite some less than satisfactory reviews for the 2023 premier of Jollywood Nights, we found the event offered some real positives that will appeal to many guests:

• The over 20 crowd will enjoy the adult oriented theming of this event and the chance to dress up like the Hollywood stars of the 40s if they choose.
• Since crowds are lower at Jollywood Nights than you’ll experience during typical park hours, it’s a chance to experience the Hollywood theming, particularly on Sunset Boulevard where we could stroll crowd free for much of the night.
• Low wait times on rides are one of the biggest highlights of the event. We walked on and off rides all night, with the exception of Slinky Dog Dash, which had a 10 minute queue later in the evening.
• There is much to do at Jollywood Nights. Whether you want to focus on rides, enjoy the shows or dance the night away, you’re bound to find something to amplify the spirit of the holidays.
• The party is long. A run time from 7:00 to 12:30 am provides guests with the opportunity to fit in much of their must-do experiences.
• Some treats may be given away for free at closing time. We visited Starbucks right as the event ended and were offered some free confectionaries, since they’d be thrown out otherwise.

Drawbacks to Disney World Jollywood Nights in 2024

As with any extravaganza, there are bound to be a few downsides. We didn’t find much to dim our enjoyment, but here are a few things we found regrettable.

• It isn’t possible to do everything at Jollywood Nights. If you focus on rides, you’ll miss many of the shows or character experiences and vice versa. We suggest selecting some must-dos before heading out and prioritizing those experiences first.
• To keep people flowing through the attractions, many ride preshows are skipped. This could seriously impact your enjoyment of attractions such as Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, so think twice about making your only visit to Hollywood Studios during Jollywood Nights. 
• You’ll wait in lines to meet characters. While we didn’t wait any longer than 10 minutes, those queues do add up over the course of the night. If you want to visit any of the rides or shows, be sure to have an idea of which character visits you’d like to prioritize.
• Exclusive merchandise was hard to find. We scoured every shop on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, only to find out at closing time that we should have visited  Stage One Company Store across from Mama Melrose’s Ristorante. Since this is a seldom visited area of the park, at least by us, we never made it there to find the exclusive party merch. If you’re interested in purchasing party exclusives, be sure to ask a cast member early in the evenings where these can be found.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Disney World Jollywood Nights Review 2024

Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios provides a distinct holiday experience with anostalgic Hollywood charm and more adult-oriented atmosphere. Unlike the festive energy of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights leans into a more refined and stylized celebration focused on the glitzy glamour of old Hollywood. 

From themed entertainment like Glisten! and the Twilight Soirée, the event feels tailored for guests seeking a unique take on Disney’s holiday magic. While there are opportunities to enjoy popular rides and attractions, it’s the overall atmosphere—one that channels the glamour of classic Tinseltown—that sets this event apart.

For those seeking an alternative to the bright cheer of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights offers a quieter, more stylized celebration. While it’s not without its drawbacks, it’s an enjoyable addition to Disney’s holiday lineup, particularly for those looking for a change of pace from the usual festive Disney offerings.

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It’s the premier party event of the holidays, and it takes place at the happiest place on earth. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party brings an extra dose of magic to the Christmas season, with magical rides, parades and special events, including a cookie stroll and free hot chocolate. If you’re thinking about joining the festivities, follow along as we cover Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024 dates, happenings and more.

When Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024: Dates and Times

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins at Magic Kingdom park in November and wraps up just before Christmas. Below are the Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party 2024 dates:

• November – 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 29
• December – 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 20

While the party officially kicks off at 7:00 pm each night, guests with a party ticket may enter the Magic Kingom park as early as 4:00 pm. No valid theme park ticket is needed for guests entering at this time or later as long as they hold a valid Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Ticket for that date.

What Are Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Prices?

Prices for tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party vary by date and day of the week, with weekends generally commanding higher pricing. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party pricing for 2024 is as follows:

Adults

$169 plus tax      November 11, 12, 14

$179 plus tax       November 17, 19, 21

$189 plus tax      November 15, 22 and December 1, 3, 5

$199 plus tax      November 24, 26, 27, 29 and December 6, 8, 10, 12

$209 plus tax      December 13, 15, 17

$219 plus tax       December 19, 20

Children aged 3-9

$159 plus tax       November 11, 12, 14

$169 plus tax      November 17, 19, 21

$179 plus tax       November 15, 22 and December 1, 3, 5

$189 plus tax      November 24, 26, 27, 29 and December 6, 8, 10, 12

$199 plus tax      December 13, 15, 17

$209 plus tax      December 19, 20

Buy Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets

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What Happens at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024?

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is filled with events for the entire family, from special character sightings to exclusive merchandise and snacks, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. Plan on experiencing rides with little wait, enjoying a spectacular Christmas parade complete with Disney Characters, witnessing special castle lighting, dancing the night away with familiar friends from Disney movies, strolling for a unique collection of cookies, and more.

How Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Works

As previously mentioned, guests may arrive at the Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 pm to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2024. If you don’t hold a theme park ticket for the day, you’ll be admitted through a dedicated queue for partygoers. 

Here, you’ll scan your MagicBand or ticket and then be directed to pick up your wristband from a cast member waiting just beyond the gate. At this time, you will also receive your special party favor, usually a collectable ornament, and guide to the party festivities.

Guests often begin lining up at the park gates as much as an hour or more before party opening time. However, this hardly seems necessary. The line is dispersed pretty quickly once 4:00 hits, so you really aren’t saving yourself that much time by standing in line for an hour or more to be one of the first ones let into the park. If you want to avoid waiting a few minutes for your wrist band, you’re better off arriving a little later, once the crowds have dispersed.

On the other hand, if you have a theme park ticket for the day and are already in the park, you’ll still need to pick up a wrist band before the party starts. You can do this at a number of places. Just look for the signs or cast members holding a sign. We usually pick up our wrist bands, party favor and guide at the entrance to Tomorrowland, right behind what used to be the Stitch’s Great Escape ride.

Once you have your wristband, fasten it on tight. After 7:00 pm, cast members will start asking to see it as you board rides or attempt to move away from the exit to the park. This is to ensure that only people who have purchased admission remain inside the Magic Kingdom once the party begins.

As the night wears on, cast members usually stop asking to see your band.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Schedule

You’ll find included in Mickey’s Verry Merry Christmas Party a strong lineup of events. These take place throughout the night, offering you non-stop activity even if you don’t ride a single ride.

Shows and Dance Parties

Shows and dance parties will take place at multiple locations and times. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is presented several times during the evening on the Cinderella Castle stage. You can catch Disney characters celebrating the holidays at 7:40, 9:25, 10:35 and 11:55 pm.

Show off your moves at the Club Tinsel, the ultimate holiday dance party on the Rockettower Plaza Stage! Join Disney friends in Tomorrowland for a night filled with festive beats and nonstop dancing.

Little ones can enjoy their own holiday dance session at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. At the Disney Junior Jingle Jam, young guests get to groove with characters from Disney Junior favorites like Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and The Lion Guard.

Frozen Holiday Surprise
At 8:15 PM, join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and the snowgies as they transform Cinderella Castle into a magical, icy wonderland—a holiday spectacle you won’t want to miss!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Character Greetings

Capture memories with your favorite Disney friends as they join the holiday cheer! Keep an eye out as you wander Magic Kingdom park—these Disney Characters will be dressed up in their seasonal finest, ready for festive photo ops.

Many characters will take up residence at a particular location to pose for photographs. When this happens, lines will usually form. It isn’t uncommon to stand in line for 15 to 20 minutes for photo ops with rarely seen characters.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade

One of the biggest highlights to the night is Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade. This spectacular event is filled with imaginative parade floats featuring many of your favorite characters, including the mouse himself, decked out in their finest holiday garb. The parade takes place nightly at 8:30 pm and 11:00 pm, but may be canceled due to inclement weather, which most often means torrential rain.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show

If you’ve ever seen a fireworks display at one of Disney’s ticketed events, you know how special the experience is. If you haven’t seen one yet, be sure to make time for this incredible presentation as the castle comes to life in moving beams of light and the sky above erupts with fireworks orchestrated to favorite carols.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show begins each party night at 10:00 pm, but like the parade, may be canceled due to inclement weather. In this case, inclement weather may mean heavy wind or rain.

Cookie Stroll

Stroll through Magic Kingdom, collecting cookies and hot chocolate as you go. Cookies are distributed at various locations throughout the park, and each venue offers a different flavor. Similar to Trick or Treating in the Magic Kingdom during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you may visit each location as many times as you’d like.

Holiday Ride Overlays

While these can be experienced at any time during party hours, it’s important to note that some rides will also be decked out for the holidays or feature special ride elements. These include Mad Tea Party, Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain and Monsters, Inc. Jungle Cruise will become Jingle Cruise during the holidays, bringing an array of seasonal jokes, but this can be experienced during normal park hours.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party PhotoPass

PhotoPass photographers will be out in full force during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, to help you catch all of the Magic of the night in photographic memories. You may find added festive props and holiday-themed surprises show up in your shots. Special photo frames are also available around the park, so you can step into the shot.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Merchandise

If shopping is your vibe, you’ll find exclusive finds just for ticket holders to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. In fact, a number of surprises are likely in store. From unique holiday sippers and popcorn buckets to exclusive shirts and other apparel, we’ve seen it all.

Generally, merchandise features a specific holiday design for each year. For instance, in 2024, we saw this Mickey with a present graphic adorning a number of party-specific apparel and houseware as well as merchandise such as ornaments.

Some items, you may find at limited locations outside of the Christmas party, like our favorite from 2023, this Donald Tree Sipper.

While we won’t know what party merch is available until the start of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2024, we’ll be sure to report back with some pictures after our trip in early November.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Food and Dining

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party food choices include a bounty of treats and eats. From exclusive party snacks to all out special surprises, it’s sure to be a feast for all your senses. 

Holiday Snacks and Specialties 

Special snacks this year include the Letter to Santa flourless chocolate cake. Or, delight in hot cocoa mouse and marshmallows topped with chocolate pieces at Main Street Bakery.

If neither sweet treat appeals to your taste buds, no worries. Disney promises over 30 new items premiering at restaurant locations throughout the park:

• Main Street Bakery: Letter To Santa: Flourless chocolate cake, hot cocoa mousse, and marshmallow topped with chocolate pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only); Mickey-shaped Cinnamon Roll with holiday-themed icing (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)

• Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Hosted by Edy’s: Gingerbread Milk Shake: Vanilla ice cream, gingerbread syrup, and ginger snap crumbles topped with whipped cream and a chocolate piece (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only); Peppermint Brownie Sundae: House-baked brownie topped with peppermint ice cream, hot fudge, and chocolate granola with candy cane pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours); Peppermint Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich: Peppermint ice cream sandwiched between two oatmeal-peppermint chip cookies and rolled in candy cane pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

• The Plaza Restaurant: Gingerbread Milk Shake: Vanilla ice cream, gingerbread syrup, and ginger snap crumbles topped with whipped cream and a chocolate piece (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours); S’mores Cake: Chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, toasted marshmallow mousse, and sugar snowflakes (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)

Casy’s Corner Hosted by Coca-Cola

• Holiday Dinner Hot Dog: All-beef hot dog with turkey and gravy, fried onions, and cranberry sauce (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only; foot-long version also available)
• Holiday Dinner Loaded French Fries: French fries with turkey and gravy, fried onions, and cranberry sauce (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Candy Cane Tart: Chocolate tart filled with peppermint ganache topped with festive meringue (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Black Currant and Mint Lemonade (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Main Street Snacks  

• Festive Pretzel: Jumbo pretzel with chocolate-hazelnut drizzle, caramel sauce, TWIX Cookie Bar Pieces, and festive sprinkles (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Hot Cocoa Churro: Churro rolled in hot cocoa powder and topped with marshmallows and peppermint candy pieces (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)
• Red Velvet Christmas Wreath Doughnut: Red velvet doughnut topped with buttercream and holiday sprinkles (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)
• Gingerbread Cola: Coca-Cola served with gingerbread syrup (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Popcorn Cart near Cinderella Castle

• Hot Cocoa Churro: Churro rolled in hot cocoa powder and topped with marshmallows and peppermint candy pieces (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)
• Red Velvet Christmas Wreath Doughnut: Red velvet doughnut topped with buttercream and holiday sprinkles (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)
• Gingerbread Cola: Coca-Cola served with gingerbread syrup (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Aloha Isle Refreshments Hosted by DOLE Packaged Foods

• Holiday Pineapple-Orange-Guava Juice Float: Pineapple-orange-guava juice, coconut soft-serve, and a spiced pineapple tree pop (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 11 p.m.)
• Cranberry Citrus Float: Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry and fruity boba pearls topped with DOLE Whip (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 11 p.m.)

Golden Oak Outpost 

• Holiday Chicken Nugget Platter: Crispy chicken nuggets with sage butter and cranberry barbecue glaze served with mashed potatoes and corn (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Festive Beignets: Light and fluffy beignets dusted with blue sugar cookie dust and served with cookie butter icing (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Fried Ice Cream Christmas Tree: Peppermint ice cream rolled in cereal topped with green cookie butter whipped cream and festive sprinkles (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café

• Carne Asada Loaded Fries: Seasoned french fries with carne asada, chipotle queso, caramelized onion, avocado salsa verde, and queso fresco (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 11 p.m.)
• Cheese and Chile Tamale: Served ‘Christmas-style’ with mild red chile and green chile-pumpkin seed sauces, citrus-chipotle chicken, cilantro rice, pinto beans, and queso fresco (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 11 p.m.)
• Chocolate Eggnog Tart: Chocolate tart topped with eggnog mousse and chocolate antlers (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 11 p.m.)
• Salted Caramel Horchata (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 11 p.m.)

Sleepy Hollow  

• Orange Chicken Tenders: Fried chicken tenders with orange-soy glaze, glass noodles, green onions, and crispy garlic (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Szechuan Cauliflower: Spicy breaded cauliflower tossed in kung pao sauce, glass noodles, green onions, and crispy garlic (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Brownie Peppermint Bark with peppermint candy pieces (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starting at 8:30 p.m.)
• Holiday Red Velvet Waffle Sundae: Mickey-shaped red velvet waffle topped with M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, peppermint ice cream, and hot fudge (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Milk and Cookies Mousse: Brown sugar cookie cake topped with chocolate chip cookie dough mousse, milk mousse, and chocolate chip cookies (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Pinocchio Village Haus

• Baked Brie Flatbread: Brie-cheese spread, mango chutney, green apples, arugula, almonds, and a honey drizzle (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 9:30 p.m.)
• Lasagna Flatbread: Italian sausage, meatballs, five cheese mix, ricotta cheese, and pesto (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 9:30 p.m.)
• Black Forest Parfait: Flourless chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and cherry chantilly topped with brandy-cherry compote and chocolate popping candies (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only until 9:30 p.m.)

The Friar’s Nook

• Holiday Pot Roast Hot Dog: All-beef hot dog topped with braised pot roast, Swiss fondue, horseradish mustard, and crispy onions (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Italian Beef Tots: Tots topped with braised beef, cheese curds, zesty giardiniera, and red wine gravy (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Sugar Cookie Hand Pie: Sugar cookie dough wrapped in a flaky crust with icing and festive sprinkles (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Toasted Marshmallow-Panna Cotta Tart with graham cracker ganache macaron (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Eggnog Shake: Eggnog soft-serve with ginger snap crumbles topped with whipped cream and festive sprinkles (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)

Storybook Treats

• Sugar Plum-Vanilla Soft-serve Sundae: Sugar plum-vanilla soft-serve swirl dipped in birthday cake cone dip topped with marshmallows and almonds (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours) 

Pretzel Cart in Storybook Circus

• Festive Pretzel: Jumbo pretzel with chocolate-hazelnut drizzle, caramel sauce, TWIX Cookie Bar Pieces, and festive sprinkles (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Hot Cocoa Churro: Churro rolled in hot cocoa powder and topped with marshmallows and peppermint candy pieces(New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)
• Santa Belt Buckle: Pistachio mousse with a dark chocolate truffle center and a chocolate buckle (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café Hosted by Coca-Cola

• Holiday Pot Roast Melt: Slow-cooked beef on thick toast with cheddar, provolone, and beef gravy (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Holiday Turkey Burger: Turkey burger topped with traditional stuffing, provolone, and cranberry chutney on a brioche bun (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Christmas Cookie Cake Roll: Christmas cookie roll with buttercream topped with festive holiday sprinkles (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Peppermint Éclair: Éclair with white chocolate peppermint mousse and chocolate pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Christmas Punch: Cranberry and citrus punch with amaretto syrup and Seagram’s Ginger Ale (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies  

• Lump of Coal In Your Stocking: Cookies and cream shake topped with whipped cream, cookies and cream crumbles, and a chocolate doughnut hole (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Smoky Chocolate Brownie Sundae: House-baked brownie topped with smoky chocolate soft-serve covered in chocolate cone dip topped with marshmallows and festive sprinkles (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Whoopie Pie: Chocolate cake sandwiched with marshmallow mint buttercream (New) (Plant-based) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Cherry Cordial Cold Brew: Joffrey’s Cold Brew topped with cherry whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and chocolate curls (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dining

To make sure revelers stay fueled for the long night ahead, several quick service restaurants stay open during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024. These include: 

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
• Casey’s Corner
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn Cafe
• The Friar’s Nook
• Sleepy Hollow

If you’re willing to take more time away from your party-going adventures, 3 different table service restaurants will be offering dinner dining at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party. These include: 

• Be Our Guest Restaurant
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• The Plaza Restaurant

Special Dessert Parties

For a truly special addition to your Mickey’s party agenda, why not try a dessert party? You’ll sample a selection of yuletide delectables while watching Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, all from a prime viewing location.

Desserts are prepared by one of Disney’s pastry chefs and include classic Disney treats such as Candy Cane Tarts. Beverages, including beer and wine, are also available.

Dessert parties are categorized by the viewing location, either the East Plaza Garden viewing area or the Tomorrowland Terrace. Reservations are required. Dessert parties also incur a separate charge. 

You can check ticket pricing for various dates of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing here. Pricing and availability for Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace can be found here.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tips

Like any Disney activity, knowing some special Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tips can help you make the most of your trip. Based on our personal experience with this event, we recommend the following:

• If you plan to eat dinner at Magic Kingdom, dine early, preferably at 4:00 after you first arrive. We don’t advise that you wait until the party officially starts. Once party festivities begin, you only have a short time to enjoy them. There is so much to see and do, you’ll want to have time to take it all in.
• Be advised that Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass are not available during party hours. However, you really won’t need it. Lines tend to be far shorter than during regular park opening and get shorter as the night wears on. You may be able to use the virtual queue for Tron Lightcycle Run.
• If you’re looking to hit those really popular rides, Like 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, with little wait, be sure to ride during the first parade of the evening. Just make sure to make time at the end of your night to catch the last showing.
• Consider how badly you really want a picture with a character before jumping in line. These queues can be deceptively long and take up much of the time you could be spending on other party festivities. If you want to see popular characters, such as Jack Skellington, Pooh characters or the 7 Dwarfs, get in line when greeting locations first open. Consult the guide passed to you at entry for times and locations.
• Don’t skip the parade and fireworks. We tried to do this the first time we visited an after-hours event, but soon found ourselves being drawn in. Both the parade and fireworks at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party are worth the time.
• Stake out a viewing spot for the parade or fireworks at least 15 minutes before starting time. You’ll notice people beginning to grab ground as much as an hour before. However, unless you’re very particular about where you stand or sit, this isn’t necessary. For the fireworks, in particular, people will fill in around you, so there are very few private viewing spots. 
• The best place to view the fireworks is the castle hub at the end of Main Street USA. However, anywhere you have a clear view of the castle will allow you to see most of the show.
• Party parades begin in Frontierland and end at the firehouse on Main Street USA. This means, if you watch the parade from Frontierland, the procession has passed you by while viewers on Main Street are still enthralled in the action. This gives you a few minutes to jump on a ride or into character greeting line or grab that coveted piece of merch before people start to rejoin the queues.
• The second parade of the evening will have fewer people in attendance, meaning an easier time to grab a more choice viewing spot. Many people with young children will leave right after the parade or fireworks.
• Purchase your ticket now. Seriously, don’t wait until you arrive to buy tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This is one of the most popular events of the year, and party dates do sell out.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Is It Worth It?

If you’re a fan of the Christmas holidays and/or Disney, you really need to be at this party. Where else can you combine seasonal festivities with the magic of Disney?

However, you don’t need to be a Christmas nut to enjoy this party. For one thing there are several exclusives, such as snow on Main Street USA, that can only be enjoyed during party hours. It’s also the only time to see the Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade and Minnie’s Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show.

For many, it’s a chance to experience all of the popular attractions with little to no wait, particularly as the night wears on. It’s also a time to be in the park after dark, with the Christmas lights twinkling and Cinderella’s Castle lit up in holiday illumination.

If you have the funds in your travel budget, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a great way to add some park time to your vacation, experience more of the Magic Kingdom rides and enjoy the holidays while doing so. If you’re worried about budget and planning to purchase Multi Pass on your regular Magic Kingdom day, you could consider foregoing the purchase. Doing so won’t cover all of your party ticket, but could take a bite out of the cost.

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The question many travelers ask is whether they need to book a Walt Disney World vacation package or if it’s better to make reservations a la carte. To help you decide, we’re breaking down the benefits of booking a package to Walt Disney World.

What Is Included in a Walt Disney World Vacation Package?

When booking a package to Walt Disney World, you are able to roll a number of vacation elements into a single unit. For most people, this means bundling their tickets and resort hotel into a single cost.

However, the flexibility associated with a Walt Disney World vacation package means you can also include the cost of your ground transportation as well as other extras. To break it down, imagine that you want to book a 6-night stay at Port Orleans, a Disney World moderate hotel.

You could book your hotel in one reservation and then separately purchase theme park tickets. Or, you could purchase both in a single transaction called a package.

With a Walt Disney World vacation package, you also have the added advantage of purchasing travel insurance, Disney’s Memory Maker, a dining plan, transportation to and from the airport as well as magical extras, such as a round of golf. It’s the most simple and convenient way to plan and reserve Disney World travel.

Packages to Walt Disney World, What Are the Advantages?

As discussed, when purchasing a package to Walt Disney World, you’re rolling all of the elements associated with your trip into a single transaction. This is beneficial for a number of reasons:

Fewer Up-Front Costs with a Walt Disney World Vacation Package

When it comes to booking a Walt Disney World vacation package, you’ll only be required to make a $200 deposit at the time of booking. Contrast this to a booking where you reserve your hotel and purchase your tickets separately. In this scenario, you’ll need to leave a deposit equivalent to one night’s stay. At many resorts, this is more than the $200 required to hold a package reservation.

When it’s time to purchase your tickets, you’ll need to pay for the total cost up front. In contrast, booking a Walt Disney World vacation package allows you to hold the reservation with a $200 deposit. You then have up until 30 days prior to arrival to pay the balance. This provides you with ample time to save or to even make payments on your trip. Keep reading for more information on flexible payment plans.

Keep in mind, that while the $200 deposit will stand as an inititial down payment for most package elements, you will be asked to pay in full for any extras at the time of booking, such as travel insurance and Memory Maker. However, this would be true whether you booked these services separately or include them in your package.

If you aren’t ready to pay for extra add-ons to your package to Walt Disney World at the time of purchase, you can always add them later by contacting your Disney World travel agent. The same holds true if you simply decide later on that you want to add Memory Maker, ground transportation or other value-added benefits.

Package to Walt Disney World Offers Payment Flexibility

All Walt Disney World vacation packages must be paid in full 30 days before your arrival date. However, if you’re on a budget or prefer to make regular payments, you can easily set up a payment plan by booking your vacation through a travel agent specializing in Disney World vacations.

Your travel agent can set up a personalized payment plan, according to your needs, whether it be weekly, biweekly, monthly or whatever you choose. For guests booking reservations into the next year, a payment plan provides a nice runway for spreading out the cost and helping families afford a trip to Disney World easier.

Flexible Cancellation Policies with Package Convenience

Packages to Walt Disney World come with flexible cancellation and change policies. Guests may cancel up to 30 days before arrival and receive a refund of all monies paid, minus any non-refundable portions of a travel protection policy or other third-party charges where applicable.

If you need to cancel your Walt Disney World vacation package between 2 and 29 days before your arrival, you will be credited any monies paid (minus any non-refundable portions of a travel protection policy or other third-party charges where applicable) less the $200 deposit.

Walt Disney World Vacation Package Easy Change Policies

Planning a Disney World vacation can be a complex endeavor. Many guests book months in advance to secure special discounts or resorts for certain dates. So, what happens if plans change?

With a package to Walt Disney World, you’re able to make changes up to 30 days before arrival. This includes swapping out a guest who can’t make it with another traveler (as long as it is not the lead guest), changing travel dates, and selecting new accommodations or party size.

Keep in mind, if any change results in a higher cost to your travel arrangements, you will be responsible for the additional charges, but you will not be required to pay a change fee. Likewise, if the changes result in a decrease in package cost, you will receive a refund of any monies already paid that result in an overage.

For changes made 30 days or less prior to arrival, there is a $50 change fee.

Booking a Walt Disney World vacation package also allows you to cancel and receive a refund on the cost of your theme park tickets, according to the terms above. Tickets purchased separately are non-refundable.

When thinking about cancelations, keep in mind that many changes require a call to Disney World Travel. That means waiting on hold for the next available representative. To streamline their package purchase, many Disney World guests book through a Disney vacation planner or travel agent specializing in Disney vacations. That way, if changes are needed, your vacation planner can make these for you with far less hassle.

Receive a Free No Obligation Walt Disney World Vacation Package Quote

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Easy Setup of Your My Disney Experience Account

With a Walt Disney World vacation package, it’s easy to set up a My Disney Experience account or add your vacation to an existing one. Simply enter your reservation confirmation number and link the tickets associated with your package to the appropriate members of your party.

If you book extras, such as Memory Maker, these will also automatically sync with your account once you add your confirmation number, meaning all of your precious photos taken on rides or with PhotoPass photographers, will appear in your My Disney Experience account for download.

Walt Disney World Vacation Packages Include Magical Extras

When booking a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes a Disney owned resort hotel, you’ll receive Magical Extras that aren’t available with a la carte bookings. If you book a Disney World vacation package in 2024, you’ll receive the following Magical Extras:

• Receive four (4) vouchers per Walt Disney World vacation package, valid for one (1) 18 hole round of miniature golf on one (1) day for one (1) guest at either Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course or Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course. 
• Receive four (4) vouchers per Walt Disney World vacation package, each voucher valid for one (1) general admission to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on one (1) day for ONE (1) guest. Valid only on event days. 
• Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of bowling (walk-in bowling only), receive 10% on the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages (dine-in only), and receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Splitsville Luxury Lanes located in Disney Springs West Side.
• Receive 10% off the cost of surrey bike rentals and resorts offering this recreation option.
• Receive 10% off food & non-alcoholic beverages at City Works Eatery & Pour House located at Disney Springs West Side as well as House of Blues Restaurant and Bar and House of Blues® Gear Shop.
• Receive 20% off your entire purchase at Local Green Orlando, located at Disney Springs west side. 
• Receive 20% off your entire purchase at JOFFREY’S COFFEE & TEA COMPANY® at the following locations at Walt Disney World Resort: Magic Kingdom® Park, EPCOT®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney Skyliner and Disney Springs® The Landing including Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company® store, or purchase online at JOFFERYS.com using coupon code. 
• Receive 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages at Pardiso 37 located in Disney Springs.
• Receive 10% off adult entrees at Rainforest Cafe located in Disney Springs Marketplace or outside the entrance to Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the Boathouse restaurant in Disney Springs Town Center.
• Receive 10% off adult entrees at T-REX® located in the Disney Springs Marketplace. 
• Receive $1 off at The Spice and Tea Exchange: $1 off any 16oz Iced or Hot Tea To Go. Offer only available at The Spice & Tea Exchange® located in the Disney Springs® Marketplace.  
• Buy 2 pretzels, get one free at Wezel’s Pretzels located at Disney Springs West Side and Marketplace.
• Receive 10% off your entire purchase at Balocoloc Venian Masks. This offer is only available at the Italy World Showcase Pavilion location in EPCOT. 
• Receive 10% off entire purchase, excluding sale items, at Basin located at Disney Springs Marketplace or Basin White located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
• Receive 15% off entire purchase at Chapel Hats located at Disney Springs® the Landings.
• Receive 15% off purchases of $30 or more at Coca-Cola Store located at Disney Springs Town Center.
• Receive 10% off your order at Crown & Crest in EPCOT World Showcase.
• Receive 10% off purchases at the Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers stores at Disney Springs Marketplace, Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT. Exclusions apply. 
• Receive 20% off your purchase (exclusions may apply) at Edward Beiner Purveyor of Fine Eyewear located in the Disney Springs® Town Center. 
• Receive 15% off entire purchase at Just Fun Socks located at Disney Springs the Landings.
• Visit Kendra Scott located at Disney Springs® Town Center and receive 15% off your entire purchase! 
• Receive 10% off your outbound Shipping services, and shipping boxes at Ricoh Business Centers.
• Receive 10% off non-discounted merchandise at Sugarboo & Co. located at Disney Springs Town Center.
• Visit Superdry at Disney Springs® Town Center and receive 15% off a purchase of regular priced items!
• Receive 15% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Volcom® located at Disney Springs® Town Center.

Walt Disney World Vacation Packages Are Available for Many Offsite Resorts

When booking a trip to Disney World, many vacationers assume they are limited to reserving Disney World resorts if they want to book a Walt Disney World vacation package. Fortunately, Disney World offers package options that include a number of offsite hotels, including popular chains such as Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott.

Hotels available for package reservations will hold a special designation, such as Good Neighbor Hotels, indicating that they meet Disney World’s stringent quality standards and offer a required set of amenities. However, you may not receive the same perks as you would when booking a Disney World resort hotel, depending on where you choose to stay.

Walt Disney World Vacation Package Caveats

As with anything, there are some things you should know before booking a vacation package to Walt Disney World. For instance, not all costs associated with your Disney resort stay will be included in the cost of your package.

If you opt to charge purchases to your room, you may see additional charges on your checkout statement, including the purchase of Lightning Lane reservations, as well as any purchases or restaurant tabs you charge to the credit card on file with your room.

Second, while MagicBands are available for guests booking a Walt Disney World vacation package or hotel stay, they are no longer included in the cost of your package. Anyone wishing to use MagicBands will need to make a separate MagicBand purchase prior to arrival through their My Disney Experience account, Shop Disney or after arriving at Disney World.

HINT: You can usually purchase MagicBands at a discounted cost if you link your Walt Disney World vacation package reservation to your My Disney Experience account. Just visit My Disney Experience from a computer, and you should be offered the chance to pre-order Magic Bands at a cut rate. We’ve seen plain color MagicBand+ for as low as $24.99 a piece, compared to $35 in the parks. Pre-ordered MagicBands will ship to your home before the start of your vacation.

Overall, booking a package to Walt Disney World is a convenient way to plan your travel, providing you the opportunity to consolidate your costs and arrangements. You’ll add convenience and cost protections over booking your travel elements separately, with no additional expense.

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Join us on this journey as we explore the magic of the holidays at Disney World and discover why it’s the perfect place to celebrate any occasion.

What Holidays Are Celebrated at Disney World?

From Halloween to New Year’s Eve and beyond, Disney World celebrates every holiday in its own unique way. Whether you’re a fan of spooky thrills, festive parades, or heartwarming traditions, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Disney World during several of the holidays recognized across the U.S.

If you want to experience holidays at Disney World but don’t know when to visit, this information can help you narrow in on the right holiday for you.

Christmas Is the Biggest Holiday Celebration at Disney World

If you’re looking for colorful decorations and dazzling light displays across the 4 theme parks, then Christmas is the time to visit Disney World. You’ll find towering trees and specialty décor designed to evoke the best of the season as well as the theme of each park. At Animal Kingdom, for instance, decorations take on a festive safari flair.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll discover nostalgic Christmas décor from the golden age of Hollywood.

However, the seasonal spirit brought to life inside each park is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to experiencing festive delights. You’ll find that each resort located on Disney property is decked out for the season. From the moment you pull up to the doors to the moment you enter your room, you’ll find that Disney hotels know how to celebrate the season.

Some of our favorite decorations can be found at the Grand Floridian Resort, where a giant ginberbread house takes center place in the lobby. We also love Port Orleans Resort French Quarter, where holiday décor takes on a jazzy flair, full of bright colors and glitz.

In addition to Christmas decorations, Disney World goes all out for the Christmas holidays in many other ways, with special events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Candlelight Processional.

Another popular special event is Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. This celebration showcases the diverse holiday traditions of cultures around the world with special performances, food booths, and holiday-themed merchandise.

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas or New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of special ticketed events at Disney World to add even more magic to your holiday vacation. Be sure to book your tickets in advance, as these events often sell out quickly.

Enjoy a Not So Spooky Halloween Holiday at Disney World

While Christmas may be one of the more popular times for holiday-bound visitors, Halloween is one of our favorite seasons to visit Disney World. You’ll find the largest decorative displays at Magic Kingdom where everything from lamp posts to the windows on Main Street USA are decorated with fall flair.

Decorations tend to rotate as well, so you’ll never see quite the same decorations year after year. However, large jack-o-lanterns and Mickey shaped pumpkins tend to be standard.

At other parks, you’ll find nods to the holiday in seasonal treats and merchandise, but little in the way of décor. EPCOT often celebrates with pumpkins painted to represent Disney characters. They are hidden in various places for guests to stumble upon or seek out.

What the other parks lack in holiday decorations is more than made up for with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This ticketed event brings everything you love about the holiday with none of the blood and gore.

Highlighting the event is the Boo to You parade, led by the Headless Horseman and featuring many of Disney’s more villainous charcters. You’ll also find special castle lighting, spooky fog and an array of Halloween treats and merchandise that is exclusive to the party.

To learn more about Disney World’s Halloween party, visit our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party guide.

Thanksgiving at Disney World

Thanksgiving at Disney World is nearly swallowed up by Christmas. As soon as the Halloween decorations come down, the Christmas decorations go up, in an overnight transformation that sees the Magic Kingdom turn from festive fall to glittery Christmas. However, you will find a few nods to the season as Thanksgiving Day approaches in the form of special treats or merchandise.

While Thanksgiving decorations may be lacking, you won’t have to forego your turkey and mashed potatoes if visiting on the holiday itself. Several restaurants offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including Liberty Tree Tavern, where you can dine on time-honored fare every day and experience newly found favorites.

Celebrating Easter at Disney World

Easter is another one of those holidays at Disney World that is often overshadowed by other events. At EPCOT, the Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing, celebrating the blooms and buds of spring with delightful character inspired topiaries and other garden delights.

EPCOT is also home to the Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt. For a small fee, you can purchase a map and stickers. Find the specially decorated eggs throughout the park, fill in your map with the provided stickers, and win a prize.

Each year, the eggs are decorated to a different theme. In 2023, eggs were decorated to resemble Disney’s famous character rabbits, such as Thumper, White Rabbit, and, well Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh.

At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, you can find a chocolate Easter Egg display as well as Easter inspired treats. The Easter Bunny and his bunny wife have also made appearances on Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom in an Easter procession. Mr. Bunny is also willing to meet with children and other fans during this one time of year.

Other Easter delights at Magic Kingdom include a spring trolley show, where the citizens of Main Street dress up in their brightest and finest holiday style. You’ll also find a number of Easter inspired snacks throughout the parks.

Earth Day at Walt Disney World

Since Animal Kingdom Park was established in 1998 to inspire conservation, it doesn’t come as a surprise that most of the Earth Day activities take place here. You’ll find nature-inspired activities, special snacks and possibly an original show to commemorate the day.

Fourth of July at Disney World

When it comes to commemorating America’s independence, Disney World pulls out all of the stops, blazing the night sky with one of the most spectacular fireworks displays. That statement says a lot, because Disney is one destination that knows how to put on a show, and holiday fireworks are no exception.

You’ll also find special nighttime surprises at EPCOT. In years past, this park celebrated the event by adding a special segment to the currently running nighttime spectacular. With a new show in the making, we can’t wait to see how EPCOT amps up the celebration this year.

The only big downside to visiting Disney World during the Fourth of July is the fact that you can’t be in both parks at once.

Holiday Eats and Treats at Disney World

Every holiday at Disney World features special snacks or other food items that can be purchased at different eateries. In the past, we’ve celebrated with something as simple as Christmas spiced frosting on the cinnamon rolls at Gaston’s Tavern to new palate-busting wonders in unusual shapes or forms.

If you’re curious about the culinary delights you’ll see at Christmas, drop us a line at ka*****@Mi***************.com. Ask to be put on our holiday food list, and we’ll alert you as soon as the special eats are released.

Special Ticketed Events to Celebrate the Holidays

One of the many reasons that guests enjoy holidays at Disney World is due to the special ticketed events that take place throughout the parks. These events offer visitors the chance to experience even more holiday cheer and unique experiences during their stay.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a favorite among Disney fans. Held in Magic Kingdom, this special ticketed event features Christmas holiday-themed parades, fireworks, and even snow on Main Street, U.S.A. Guests can also enjoy exclusive access to attractions and character meet-and-greets, as well as complimentary holiday treats and beverages.

Jollywood Nights premiered in 2023 at Hollywood Studios. This after hours event celebrates the Christmas season as only old Hollywood can, with glitz, glam and a host of holiday delights. Enjoy special entertainment, exclusive treats, rides with lower wait times as well as a special nighttime spectacular celebrating Disney films.

In the past, guests have had the option to experience a truly unforgettable New Year’s Eve experience: Disney Elegant Evening Under the Stars at the Contemporary Resort. Here, you could join Disney characters as you toast in the new year, while also enjoying live entertainment. If you don’t mind the price tag, nearly $700 a person, it’s also the perfect place to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks display from an exclusive viewing area.

If you’re interested in this or other ticketed events, be sure to contact us at ka******@Mi***************.com. Ask to be put on our ticketed event list, and we’ll contact you as soon as news is released on these events for the current year.

One of the most popular special events at Disney World is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Held in Magic Kingdom, this spooky celebration is perfect for families looking to enjoy Halloween without the intensity and scares that might highlight other celebrations.

Guests are encouraged to dress up in costume and can trick-or-treat throughout the park. They can also enjoy exclusive access to attractions, meet-and-greets with Disney favorites, and a special Halloween parade featuring Disney characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes. The night ends with a spectacular fireworks display. If you haven’t experienced a Disney holiday fireworks show, you are in for a treat!

Tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party are available now for anyone holding a current Disney World resort hotel reservation. Contact us by emailing ka******@Mi***************.com for more information or to purchase your tickets.

Disney Has Its Own Holidays

Epcot, one of Disney World’s four theme parks, is not only a celebration of human achievement and technological progress, but also a hub of cultural diversity and culinary excellence. One of the ways Epcot showcases this diversity is through its many festivals that take place throughout the year. We like to think of these as Disney’s own holidays.

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is one of the most beloved springtime events at Disney World. During this festival, guests can admire stunning topiary displays featuring favorite Disney characters, attend gardening seminars, and taste delicious food and drink at outdoor kitchens throughout the park. The festival also features outdoor concerts, family-friendly activities, and a butterfly garden.

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a must-attend event for foodies and wine connoisseurs. Taking place in the fall, this festival features dozens of food booths serving up international cuisine and wine pairings, as well as cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and seminars on wine and beer.

Guests can also enjoy live music and special events, such as Party for the Senses, a grand tasting event that features dishes from Disney chefs and renowned guest chefs from around the world. Since the Food & Wind Festivals is easily one of the most popular events, expect nights to be crowded around the world showcase during the dates that the festival is running.

For fans of the arts, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is a winter event that showcases visual, performing, and culinary arts. Guests can watch live art demonstrations, attend workshops and seminars, and purchase unique art pieces from around the world. The festival also features Broadway-style performances and a variety of food and beverage options.

Finally, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is a winter celebration that showcases the diverse holiday traditions of cultures around the world. Guests can enjoy special holiday-themed food and drinks, as well as holiday storytelling and live music performances. The festival also features the Candlelight Processional, a beautiful retelling of the Christmas story featuring a celebrity narrator, choir, and live orchestra.

No matter what time of year you visit Epcot, there is always a festival to enjoy. From floral displays to culinary masterpieces, there’s something for everyone at Epcot’s festivals.

Book your holiday travel. Request a free no-obligation quote. Complete travel planning from experienced professionals.

Conclusion

Celebrating the holidays at Disney World is a great way to create new traditions and enjoy the festivities. While the jury is still out over which holidays are the best for travel, there are two things you can expect.

First, any holiday at Disney World is going to invite higher crowds, particularly if you visit the day of or the week surrounding the holiday. Plan to spend extra time in the parks to see and do all you want to experience.

Second, adding Disney to any holiday celebration will always create an extra element of fun and excitement. If you’re looking for a fun and festive way to enjoy a holiday celebration, consider booking your trip when the festivities are underway at the parks. For Christmas and Halloween, there is so much to see and do, you might not even realize that you’re enjoying the parks with other holiday travelers.

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Disney owns and operates more than 25 resorts across the property, each elaborately-themed to extend the magic beyond the walls of the four theme parks. If budgets or tastes don’t align, however, there are numerous offsite accommodations that could easily suit your fancy.

Deciding whether to book Disney World accommodations onsite or offsite can easily make your head spin, so we’ve put together the pros and cons below, as well as a few options you may not have considered.

Staying Onsite at Disney World: Understanding Your Hotel Options

There are some very compelling reasons to book a Disney World hotel on property instead of offsite accommodations. For one thing, Disney onsite resorts come in three tiers, improving the odds that you will find one that appeals to your tastes and your budget:

Whether you book a value, moderate, deluxe or villa Disney World resort hotel, you’ll find that some very compelling perks are associated with staying onsite at a Disney World.

What Are the Benefits of Staying at a Disney Hotel?

Magic is a big part of a trip to Disney World, and when it comes to keeping the magic alive, it’s hard to beat a stay a Disney World onsite resort. If you’re wondering how this works, consider this.

When staying onsite at Disney World, you’ll travel to and from the parks via the Disney World complimentary transportation system. This network of boats, buses, monorail and Skyliner are part of the Disney World experience. Routes are carefully crafted to keep you within the “Disney Bubble” and to provide you with little extras to extend the magic outside the theme parks.

Compare that to staying at an offsite resort. While many resorts located near Disney World offer complimentary shuttles, others charge a fee. Most run only every 30 minutes, meaning you’ll need to schedule your travel carefully if you wish to arrive at the theme parks for opening or any special events. Often, this requires booking a reservation on the shuttle ahead of time.

On the other hand, Disney World’s onsite transportation runs continuously, with multiple vehicles on schedule to accommodate guests.

If you’re thinking about driving to the parks from an offsite resort, it’s important to consider the cost. Parking a car at one of Disney’s theme parks is free to guests staying at a Disney onsite resort, but those staying at offsite accommodations will be charged a daily parking fee that starts at $30, for each and every day you visit.

Most importantly, you’ll find the Disney magic follows you throughout your vacation when staying onsite at Disney World. From elaborate theming to character visits and meals, your Disney World onsite resort hotel becomes part of the Disney vacation experience.

Of course, if magical extras are your ultimate goal, there is no underestimating the impact of Early Theme Park Entry, only available to guests of Disney World resorts and some Disney Approved accommodations. Early Theme Park Entry allows guests to enter a given park a half an hour early each and every day. With an extra half an hour in the parks, guests are able to experience a few attractions with far shorter line queues, saving time and energy for the busy day ahead.

A stay at a Disney World resort hotel also offers another big perk: earlier access to Lightning Lane reservations. Purchasing Multi Pass and Single Pass allows guests to pre-book a spot in an expedited queue known as a Lightning Lane. Since access during any given time is limited, guests enjoy a short queue and spend less time waiting in line.

Multi Pass and Single Pass are available to all guests whether they are staying onsite or off, but guests of onsite hotels at Disney World (including Shades of Green and Disney Swan or Dolphin) can preselect up to 3 attractions per day 7 days prior to arrival. Guests staying offsite must wait until 3 days prior to arrival to start making reservations. When the parks are crowded, the head start provided to guests of Disney onsite resorts gives a significant advantage over guests staying offsite.

When staying onsite at Disney World, you also have the option of turning your hotel booking into a Disney World vacation package, allowing you to include your room, theme park tickets and cost of food into an all inclusive booking. By adding the Disney dining plan to your package, you’ll roll the cost of two meals and one generous snack into the cost of your resort accommodation booking. There is no denying the convenience and surety of knowing ahead of time how much you’ll pay for meals.

Benefits of Staying at a Disney Hotel

• Character meet and greets
• Dine with your favorite characters at select resorts
• No fees for hotel or theme park parking
• All inclusive packages available
• Earliest access to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass bookings
• Early Theme Park Entry, allowing guests of Disney hotels to enter theme parks up to a half an hour before other guests
• Access to Disney World transportation system included in your hotel booking

The Advantages of Booking a Hotel Offsite Near Disney World

When selecting your travel accommodations, it is possible that some elements associated with staying at an onsite hotel at Disney World might not fit your traveling style. For one thing, you’ll likely pay more for the food you eat, since you’ll be limited to dining at your hotel or within the parks. If you opt for offsite accommodations, you’ll find a number of less costly food options near your Orlando-area hotel. And since you’re more likely to have a car when staying at an offsite location, you’ll find it easier to stretch outside the confines of Disney World for your meals.

Once again, this is another downside that you can easily work around. Renting a car or calling for a ride share allows you to travel offsite for cheaper meals if your budget dictates.

Sometimes, guests are looking to use or earn hotel loyalty points when booking their Disney World accommodations. Unless you stay at the Disney World Dolphin hotel, the Disney World Swan hotel or the Swan Reserve, you cannot earn loyalty points from a nationally recognized hotel brand while staying at a Disney-owned onsite hotel.

On the other hand, you’ll find a large number of offsite accommodations associated with major brands. Most will allow you to either earn points or use points to book your stay. The same is true with miles or points earned through credit cards. These will also need to be used at offsite resorts.

Guests traveling with pets will find only a few choices to accommodate their furry family members when staying onsite at Disney World. While pet-friendly accommodations at Disney World include some of the best onsite hotels and a welcoming atmosphere for 4-legged travelers, the number of rooms and resorts is limited. You’ll find greater choice and availability by looking at offsite resorts. All guests, whether staying onsite at Disney World or in the surrounding area, can take advantage of the Disney World Kennel day care for their pet while they are in the parks.

Is It More Expensive to Stay at a Disney World Onsite Resort?

When considering where to stay on a Disney World vacation, many people opt for offsite accommodations to save money. Depending on the type of accommodations you select, this may not be necessary.

For example, a standard room rate at Disney’s All-Star Music resort will average around $200 a night. However, Disney often offers discounts on onsite hotel stays.

Disney World hotel deals have frequently delivered 15-30 percent, or more, off the cost of a Disney World resort reservation. That reduces the rack rate to well below $200 a night.

At times, Disney also offers a free Disney Dining Plan to guests of Disney onsite hotels as an incentive to encourage more bookings. So, when selecting your Disney World accommodations, it’s important to be informed of all available discounts. If you’re able to book a free dining promotion, that same rack rate at Disney All Stars now includes meals for four, making it a far better value than the offsite hotel.

Consider a Disney Approved Hotel for Your OFFSITE Disney World Accommodations

When thinking about Disney World accommodations, many people don’t realize that there is some middle ground between booking completely offsite and staying onsite at Disney World. While onsite resorts are owned and operated by Disney, there are a number of Disney approved hotels that put you close to or in the heart of the magic. Best of all, most are owned by common hotel brands, allowing you to use points you may have accrued from loyalty or rewards programs.

Disney Swan and Dolphin hotels, for example, are located near EPCOT, right next to the Beach Club and Yacht Club, two of the most popular Disney World onsite resort hotels. The two establishments are operated by Marriott International, allowing you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points when booking stays. As an added perk, you can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry. You will also be able to book FastPass+ reservations 60 days before you arrive, just like guests of Disney World resort hotels.

Additional Disney approved hotels can be found in the Disney Springs area. These include popular chains such as Hilton, Holiday Inn, Best Western and Doubletree. At these Disney approved hotels, you’ll have the added benefit of being close to the nighttime action of Disney Springs, as well as the regular amenities associated with these brands.

As a Disney approved hotel, these accommodations must meet minimum standards set by Disney, including a guest services desk to support activities such as making reservations or purchasing tickets. Hotels are also periodically reviewed by Disney to ensure they maintain compliance.

To book a stay at a Disney Approved hotel, you can speak with a travel agent, visit the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels website, the Disney Swan and Dolphin hotel website, or through Disney’s website. If you choose the latter, look for the More Great Accommodations tab. Here you will find a list of hotels that are approved and recommended by Disney. Each offers many of the same benefits of a Disney World resort hotel, such as the ability to book dining reservations and Lightning Lane reservations earlier than offsite accommodations, transportation to and from the theme parks, and access to Early Theme Park Entry.

Still have questions about where to stay at Disney World?

We can help you find the perfect accommodations, whether onsite or off-site. We’ve teamed up with Mickey World Travel to offer Disney travel planning and booking services to our readers. With decades of experience in hand, we provide customized guidance, cutting through the confusion with clear explanations and actionable tips. We’ll help you create the best experience, with recommendations and travel planning advice based on the trip you want to have and the memories you want to make.

Last, Disney has partnered with a number of properties known as Good Neighbor Hotels. Good Neighbor Hotels must meet minimum Disney Standards such as a offering a guests services desk to assist with things like purchasing park tickets and a shuttle to provide transportation to and from the parks. Hotel packages with a Good neighbor hotel can be booked through a travel agent specializing in Disney World vacations.

When comparing the cost of a Disney Approved hotel against that of a Disney World resort hotel, be careful to look up any additional fees. Some charge a “resort fee” or additional charge for parking.

FAQs About Staying Onsite at Disney World

Which Disney Hotels are on the monorail?

If you’re looking to book a Disney World onsite resort with access to the monorail, you’ll find a nice variety of options:

• Disney Bay Lake Towers
• Disney Contemporary Resort
• Disney Polynesian Village and Villas
• Island Tower (coming soon)
• Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Which Disney Hotels Have Skyliner Access?

Hotels along the Disney Skyliner route cover a wide variety of theming and price points. The following Disney onsite resorts offer stations with on and off access to the Skyliner:

• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney Art of Animation Resort

Do Disney hotels include park tickets?

By turning your Disney hotel booking into a package reservation, you can easily include the cost of park tickets in your Disney World onsite hotel booking. Best of all, you can do so while still taking advantage of any available discounts on hotels and ticket pricing.

What Disney hotels allow dogs?

Disney offers several dog-friendly accommodations onsite. You’ll find that your canine friend is warmly welcomed at the following Disney World onsite resorts:

• Disney’s Art of Animation
• Disney Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort

Do Disney hotels include breakfast?

By adding the Disney dining plan to your resort hotel booking, your reservation includes 2 meals and a generous snack each day, as well as a resort refillable mug, allowing you to enjoy breakfast included in the cost of your stay.

Do Disney hotels charge for parking?

At present, onsite Disney World resort hotels do not charge guests to park a vehicle.

More Information on Planning a Trip to Disney World

Walt Disney Saratoga Springs, the Hidden Delight in Disney’s Hotel Lineup

What’s So Special About Disney World Deluxe Resorts?

Trip to Disney World: All Inclusive Adventure Awaits

Disneyland vacation planning can be a daunting task. From deciding when to visit, to finding the best accommodations, and understanding what to do when you get there, you have a lot of choices. To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide. Here, you’ll find helpful tips for planning your itinerary and getting the most out of your time at the park. We’ll also provide an in-depth look at what makes Disneyland such a special place to visit, complete with our own personal trip report. So, whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning after many years away, this guide will help ensure that you have an unforgettable experience at The Happiest Place on Earth!

Should I Visit Disneyland or Disney California Adventure? What’s the Difference?

Disneyland has been around since 1955. Walt Disney, its founder and creator, wanted to build a place where families could come together and enjoy the magic of fantasy. His vision succeeded with 28,000 guests flooding park gates on opening day and overwhelming attractions and staff.

Since then, Disneyland has grown and expanded, adding new themed lands and experiences. One of the more controversial additions was the Disney California Adventure (DCA) park. Following a less than stellar reception of Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris), CEO Michael Eisner didn’t have the stomach for a costly expansion of Disneyland. The result was the lackluster original Disney California Adventure park.

While designed to take guests around California in a day, visitors were disappointed by the lack of quality Disney theming, big ticket rides and quite frankly, originality. New CEO Bob Iger set out to change all of that in 2007, with a $1 million plus expansion. This included the addition of the fabulous Cars Land and a redesigning of the park entrance area to reflect the old Hollywood style theming reminiscent of Disney’s Hollywood Studios park in Orlando.

The reimagining was a success, allowing DCA to hold its own in the Disney park lineup and offer guests some truly unique experiences.

Based on our recent Disneyland trip review, answering the question as to which park to visit is simple. You really need to do both.

Disneyland features the original Fantasyland, complete with classic attractions such as It’s a Small World, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Unlike its sister attraction in Florida, Cinderella’s Castle, California’s original fantasy creation is more than a mere backdrop and stage show area. The original Disney castle includes a walk through exhibit that brings the story of Sleeping Beauty to life in vivid color.

However, Disneyland park in California also steps outside the bounds of fairytale fantasy, transporting guests to New Orleans, the old frontier, and even the boundaries of space through several uniquely themed lands. During a Disneyland vacation, guests can hurtle through the galaxy, cut loose through an abandoned mine (the wildest ride in the wilderness), join pirates on a cruise or team up with the First Order Resistance on a mind-blowing mission. And that’s all within the confines of a single park.

Guests wishing to race with Mater and friends through the California desert and visit the very convincing town of Radiator Springs will need to hop on over to Disney California Adventure Park. While there, visit the Avenger Campus and help Spiderman save the region from rapidly replicating spider bots, or join the heroes from the popular Guardians of the Galaxy movie franchise on a drop in adventure sure to get your heart pumping.

Other super heroes visit throughout the day in the Avenger Campus, while Mater and friends seem to consistently cruise through the streets of Radiator Springs. One of the most adrenaline pumping rides in our Disneyland trip review was Pixar Pal Around-swinging version. Don’t let its modest ferris wheel appearance fool you. This 160’ wheel in the sky combines incredible heights with wildly swinging cars for an unusual adventure. If your afraid of heights, take note. This might not be for you.

Both Disneyland Park and California Adventure could be seen in a single day if you arrive early and purchase a park hopper ticket. However, you’ll be missing a lot. One of the best parts of a Disney vacation is taking the time to slow down and enjoy the rich details. Rushing from ride to ride won’t give you much of an opportunity to appreciate aspects of theming or even take time to enjoy other diversions, such as character meetings, parades and shows.

How Many Days Do You Need at Disneyland?

Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park are located across a connecting avenue from one another, making it easy to hop from park to park. As a result, many guests try to visit both parks in a single day. You can do this, but you’ll miss many of the attractions by limiting your vacation to a single day.

We recommend a minimum 3-day trip for a Disneyland vacation and even four or five days if you want time to bask in the amenities of your resort or will be traveling long distances to visit the parks. We usually visit one park on arrival day, spending a half day there. Since lines are usually long when we arrive, we use the Disneyland app to find rides with the shortest wait times and spend our time on those attractions.

On day two, we get an early start using early theme park entry. This perk for guests of Disneyland resorts allows you to enter a half an hour before official park opening. We highly recommend using this time to hit rides that typically have long lines or those not covered by Lightning Lane Multi Pass. At Disneyland, that means hitting up most of the Fantasyland rides. We covered 3 to 4 of these popular attractions before most people entered the parks.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass: Allows you to skip the regular queue on most popular rides in favor of a shorter, Lightning Lane queue.

At California Adventure, we’d use Early Entry to visit Spiderman and Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout on one day and Radiator Springs Racers on our second day to visit this park. Using Early Entry made it possible for us to take afternoon breaks at our hotel or to take extra time dining at table service restaurants.

If you aren’t using Early Entry and/or MultiPass, you’ll find that a 3- or 4-day visit is really necessary to see all attractions in both parks. With more than 70 rides, attractions and things to do, you’ll find it impossible to experience even most of what you want to do with only a 1- or 2-day trip.

Top Rides at Disneyland Park

Disneyland features rides and attractions for all ages, including original attractions placed in 1955, as well as experiences you will find at other Disney parks. Guest favorites include:

• Matterhorn Bobsleds: Race your way through a snowcapped mountain with the resident Yeti in hot pursuit. Be assured, this coaster-type ride features more than a few surprises.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Dubbed “the wildest ride in the wilderness” the Thunder Mountain Railroad enters an abandoned mind, only to lose control, taking guests around curves and over hills rich with old west and mining theming.
• Space Mountain: Space Mountain lifts off into the blackness of space, shooting riders through stars and galaxies, before landing safely on earth again. If you’ve ridden this ride in Florida, you’re in for a treat. The track at Disneyland California is liquid smooth in comparison, offering all of the thrills without the neck cracking jerking motion.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: While we were told repeatedly that Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland was “much better” than its Disney World Florida version, we weren’t in full agreement. The ride does feature 2 drops, compared to the one small drop in Florida, but it is also long, drifting aimlessly through dark scenes that offer little diversion before finally entering the pirate scenes. All the same, this remains a guest favorite, as was attested by the incredibly long line we witnessed as nighttime fell.
• Star Wars Rise of the Resistance: This must be the most popular attraction at Disneyland park. We watch hordes of visitors rush the gates at early entrance and sprint across the park just to stand in a line and wait for the Star Wars Land to open. To be fair, this attraction does stack up some lone queues throughout the day, and it’s easy to see why. As one of Disney’s most immersive experiences, you’ll join the Star Wars resistance and fight the First Order. Not a Star Wars fan? No worries, you’ll catch onto the plot. Just be sure to follow the instructions of the First Order “Lieutenants” to avoid brig time.
• Mickey’s Runaway Railway: Located in the newly reimagined Toon Town, this ride is identical to the Disney World attraction as far as we can tell. In this adventure, guests are invited to step into cartoon land, with Goofy at the helm of your ride train. That should tell you about all you need to know about the type of experience you’re in for, but it’s also worth metioning that this ride uses trackless vehicles, so your experience could vary slightly from ride to ride.

Top Rides at Disney California Adventure During Your Disneyland Vacation

Thanks to consistent overhauls, this park now offers more themed areas and consistency across its attraction line up. Here are some of the hottest rides at Disney California Adventure:

• Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout: If you’ve ever ridden Disney World’s Tower of Terror, you may be fooled into thinking this is the same experience, but it won’t last for long. Mission Breakout pumps up the Tower of Terror adventure with added unpredictability and the addition of Guardian of the Galaxy hero humor.
• Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure: We’re the first to admit that Disney could use some lessons on naming conventions. Something short and to the point, such as Spiderman Webslingers would be far more memorable and easy to come up with when you’re searching a map, but we digress. Lengthy name aside, Web Slingers is a treat, empowering guests with spiderman abilities. You’ll sling webs at out-of-control bots and hopefully save the universe, all with the help of your friendly neighborhood Spiderman.
• Radiator Springs Racers: Built on a similar premise to Test Track at EPCOT park in Florida, Radiator Springs Racers brings the stars of the Cars movie franchise to life, taking guests on an impressively realistic tour of the dessert, ending with a high-speed automotive race against fellow park goers.
• Incredicoaster: This ride will feature some of the longest lines of any in the park, probably because it is the only coaster type ride in DCA. A 2018 retheming brought characters from The Incredibles to the experience, but it’s the high speed launch and drops that rev up the excitement.
• Soarin’ Around the World/Over California: Originally designed to take guests on a glider ride over California, this experience was later expanded to provide a world view of some of Earth’s greatest wonders. We still prefer Soarin’ Over California, so we were delighted to find the original ride had returned during our trip for a limited engagement. You’ll lift off in this ride to soar over different scenes, depending on the movie presented, but this is no sit back and relax film. Instead, you’ll be treated to the sights and sounds of each location—no 3-D glasses required.

Shows and Other Experiences at Disneyland Park

A Disneyland vacation offers far more than richly themed rides and thrilling experiences. You’ll find the same level of detail carried over into some of the most popular shows and attractions:

• Festival of the Lion King: This drama retells the story of Simba through song and dance, and offers a nice respite for your feet while enjoying the upbeat adventure.
• Magic Happens Parade: If you only take one break from riding rides during your Disneyland vacation, make it for Magic Happens. Richly themed floats and original music arrangements bring the world of Disney animation to life and feature some of Disney’s biggest stars. Look for showtimes in the Disneyland app.
• Wondrous Journeys: This nighttime spectacle features projections of over 100 years of Disney animation, followed by fireworks on select nights. This show may be pre-empted for special ticketed events, so be sure to check the Disneyland app to see if it is running during your visit.

Shows and Other Experiences at Disney California Adventure Park

While multiple small shows take place each day across the Avengers Campus, DCA isn’t recognized for lavish parades and shows. You will find Mater and other Cars characters cruising through Carsland, but the biggest showing of Disney might takes place after dark in this park.

World of Color is a vibrant spectacular filled with shooting fountains and wondrous light set against the backdrop of Pixar Pier. To really see this show, you’ll need access to the special seating area, available only through a virtual queue. You can join the virtual queue through the Disneyland app each day starting around noon. Again, check the app upon entering the park to verify timing for that day.

Many of your favorite Marvel Superheroes make appearances throughout the day at the Avengers Campus, including Spiderman. Is this flying, flipping web slinger real or not? It’s a consistent controversy with guests, but we won’t spoil the surprise.

Where to Stay When Vacationing at Disneyland

When Walt Disney built the original Disneyland park, his pockets weren’t quite deep enough to buy all of the land he wanted. As a result, other tourism ventures sprung up all around the property boundaries to take advantage of the inflow of guests. This includes multiple hotels all in walking distance of park gates.

Disney has embraced this eventuality as best they can, even offering ticket and hotel packages that include non-Disney owned properties and chains. While these Good Neighbor Packages set strict quality standards and sometimes lower pricing, they fail to offer the suite of amenities afforded guests who book a Disneyland Resort Package.

Disney owns and operates 3 onsite hotels. Each includes its own elements of theming and amenities:

• Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel: Featuring a rooftop pool and Pixar inspired décor, this resort is a family favorite, thanks to more budget-friendly rates. Another advantage is the close proximity to both Downtown Disney and Disney Grand California Resort. Having both venues nearby significantly increases the number of dining options at your disposal.
• Disneyland Hotel: The original on property hotel now features multiple tower buildings featuring modernly appointed rooms and magical touches. We stayed here on our most recent trip and truly appreciated the Disney appointments, including magically lighted and singing headboard. You’ll find a large pool onsite, complete with monorail themed waterslide and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki bar, a popular evening hangout. The Disneyland Hotel is located directly outside the west gate to Downtown Disney, providing quick access to the parks via this route and expanded dining options.
• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa: Operating as Disneyland’s flagship resort, this hotel delivers on the theming, with Craftsman-style details that bring old world appeal and serenity to the bustle of Disney. We visited here on our last trip and enjoyed the large lobby area while waiting for a dining reservation at Storytellers Café, a highly recommended dining experience. If you have the extra funds to enjoy Disneyland’s premier resort, you won’t regret the extra spend.

Advantages of Staying at a Disneyland Resort

While the 3 hotels owned by Disney offer some nice touches and peaceful accommodations, they aren’t necessarily the closest to park gates. The real advantage comes through related benefits, such as Early Entry.

Early Theme Park Entry allows guests to enter one park up to half an hour early each day of your ticket. If you’re wondering just how much you can accomplish in such a short time, we’re happy to report our experience in this Disneyland trip review.

At Disney California Adventure, we were able to ride both Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout with no wait during Early Entry. We then headed over to Radiator Springs to hit the queue before outside guests were even allowed inside the park. Knocking out three of the attractions with the longest wait times put us well ahead of the masses, and significantly reduced the amount of time spent in line, even without Lightning Lane Multi Pass (more on this later).

We had a similar experience at Disneyland Park. Immediately upon entry, we rode the most popular Fantasyland rides before heading to Space Mountain or Matterhorn Bobsleds. Again, we were able to reach these rides slightly before the ropes dropped to the general public, putting us in the queue well ahead of everyone else.

Guests of Disney hotels are also offered some other small benefits, such as package delivery from the parks to your hotel room, earlier access to dining reservations, and the ability to check into the resort online. This particular perk makes it possible to skip lines at the front desk and go directly to your room. You’ll receive a text when your room is ready and be able to open your door with the Disneyland app.

All Disneyland hotels can be booked as a package, including park tickets and available ground transportation to and from the airport.

Disneyland Vacation Early Entry

No Disneyland trip report would be complete without a more in-depth look into Early Entry. Since we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, we were able to take advantage of this benefit and enter one park a half an hour early each day.

At either Disneyland or Disney World, we are big proponents of Early Entry, and though we miss the earlier iteration called Extra Magic Hours, and the extended park time offered, we accomplished a lot in the half an hour we had to use.

Disneyland Rides Available During Early Entry

There is one thing to keep in mind if you plan to take advantage of Early Entry: only a limited selection of rides are available during this half hour time frame. Fortunately, the list does include some of the bigger headliner attactions.

Early Entry Rides Available at Disneyland Park:

• Alice in Wonderland
• Astro Orbitor
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Disneyland Monorail
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Mad Tea Party
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
• Space Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Early Entry Rides aAvailable at Disney California Adventure

• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
• Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
• Soarin’ Around the World
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

Disneyland Vacation Planning Early Entry Strategy

Thanks to multiple visits to Disney World, we knew that arriving early was the key to making the most of Early Entry, so we carried this strategy over to our Disneyland vacation planning. We arrived at the entrance to Downtown Disney an hour ahead of Early Entry, and yes, that meant standing outside on the sidewalk for 30 minutes starting at 6:30 am.

The Downtown Disney gates are the easiest way to get to the parks for resort guests, and arriving an hour before Early Entry puts you at the beginning of the line. You can usually make it to the park gates within 10 minutes at a good walk. We saw many people sprinting to be the first in line at the parks but didn’t find this necessary. There are multiple gates at each park, and we were never more than fourth or fifth in line.

The park gates usually open ahead of the stated Early Entry opening time. For instance, Early Entry began at 7:30 during our Disneyland vacation. Cast Members began scanning guests through around 7:15 and allowing entry to the park. At this point, Disney resort guests headed to the Early Entry checkpoint to show their room key. After verifying your identity as a resort guests, there was another short wait before the park opened for Early Entry.

By following this strategy, you should be fairly close to the rope that keeps guests from entering the parks. When the rope drops, you’ll see people again sprinting toward Fantasyland, despite stern cast member warnings not to run.

If your intent is to experience the rides in Fantasyland, don’t be dismayed by these wildly running masses. Most of them have no interest in experiencing Fantasyland rides. Their destination is another roped off area that leads to Star Wars Land. They’ll wait here for another half an hour before that land opens with the park.

While we saw a number of people take this approach, it didn’t seem to yield much of an advantage. We had ridden 4 rides in Fantasyland and taken multiple pictures by the time the park openend. The line waiting to enter Star Wars Land was negligible. We recommend enjoying some of the Fantasyland rides during Early Entry, or even Space Mountain or Matterhorn, before joining the mad rush to Rise of the Resistance.

At California Adventure, you’ll find a similar situation. Many guests who are not eligible for Early Entry will arrive early and stack up at the rope. A separate checkpoint allows Disney Resort Guests to queue up for rope drop.

When cast members drop the Early Entry rope, most guests will dash toward Radiator Springs Racers or one of the Avengers attractions. We chose Avengers on our Disneyland vacation because of the close proximity of the rides, and were able to complete both headliners before the park officially opened—all with no wait.

Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi Pass Rides

One of the mouse’s newest inventions is the Lightning Lane Muti Pass service, though if you’re a long time Disney guest, it might not sound so new to you. Multi Pass at both Disney World and Disneyland parks is patterned after FastPass+, allowing guests to skip the regular queue on select attractions in favor of a shorter Lightning Lane.

Guests book a one-hour window to enter the Lightning Lane via the Disneyland app. Since the number guests allowed to reserve each time period is restricted, you’ll be able to access the ride with little to no wait.

While Multi Pass sounds great in theory, we found it far more useful at Disney World than Disneyland. The main reason was the lack of ride availability. At Disneyland, we found several attractions missing from the Multi Pass service, including Fantasyland rides that can sport some typically long lines.

Before deciding whether to utilize Multi Pass, take a look at the list of attractions and determine how many you plan to experience. If it’s only a handful, you may be able to skip the Lightning Lane and still experience low wait times by riding earlier in the day.

Disneyland Multi Pass Enabled Attractions

• Autopia
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones^TM Adventure
• “it’s a small world”
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Disney California Adventure Multi Pass Enabled Attractions

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
• Soarin’ Over California
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

There is a fee for Lightning Lane Multi Pass which can be purchased with your Disneyland tickets. A few additional rides are not included with Multi Pass, but do provide a Lightning Lane. You’ll be required to purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass to visit the most popular attractions in the park. You’ll do this on the day of your visit, after entering the park.

Rides available with a Single Pass purchase include:

Disney California Adventure Park

• Radiator Springs Racers

Disneyland Park

• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Rise of the Resistance

Eating on a Disneyland Vacation

If you enjoy burgers and dogs, you’ll love eating at either Disneyland or California Adventure. We were amazed at the number of places you could get a hot dog across the parks.

If you want quick service dining, you might feel hard pressed to find something different. We were impressed with the options at Bengal Barbecue at Disneyland. Who could resist meat and veggie skewers cooked over an open fire and spruced up with teriyaki sauce? Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante also serves Mexican-inspired plates that were tasty and fairly reasonabley priced.

For table service dining, we enjoyed Café Orleans. The food was good and the mint julep drinks (non-alcoholic) were so tasty we each had 3.

Variety was a little more plentiful at Disney California Adventure. We enjoyed our burgers at Flo’s V8 café as well as the fun ambiance. This venue features both indoor and outdoor seating in a roadside drive in atmosphere overlooking the scenic Radiator Spring Racers.

For something more unique, you can try the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill or the Lucky Fortune Cookery. Disney California Adventure also has 4 table service restaurants that accept advanced dining reservations.

Allergy Dining at Disneyland

Dining with allergies is a breeze at Disney World, so we expected a similar experience at Disneyland. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.

Many restaurants do not offer an allergy menu, even for common allergies, such as tree nuts or eggs. When it comes to gluten free dining, even restaurants where food options could have easily and tastily been changed to a gluten free recipe, they were not.

If you suffer from food allergies, be sure to visit Disneyland.com and check out the restaurants where allergy menus are available. Unless you’re really certain about the ingredients in an item, its advisable to stick to those restaurants with an allergy menu. By ordering this way, your food is more likely to be cooked in a separate kitchen away from other food items that may act as contaminates.

Need Help With Disney Dining or Vacation Planning? We’re vacation planners as well as travel bloggers.

We’ve teamed up with Mickey World travel to provide Disney travel planning services to readers of our blog. You’ll pay exactly the same price as you would booking through Disney, but you’ll have experts on hand to answer question and handle some of the heavy lifting. All you have to do is sit back and prepare fo the vacation of a lifetime.

Disneyland Vacation Planning Tips

During our recent Disneyland trip, we gathered a number of vacation planning tips and tricks to help future travelers better navigate the two parks. Following these suggestions may help you spend less time in line and experience more of what each park has to offer.

Can a Disneyland Vacation Be Done in One Day?

When planning a Disneyland vacation, people often allocate a day to visit each park or worse, try to visit both in a single day. Given the vast number of rides, shows and dining establishments, you may only scratch the surface on a 1- or  2-day trip. A three-day trip is doable with a park hopper ticket, as long as you’re in the area and don’t have to travel too far. However, a 4- or 5-day trip should give you plenty of time to absorb travel mishaps and still experience the 2 parks, Downtown Disney and the amenities of your resort.

Disneyland and California Adventure Table Service Restaurants Book up Quickly

With only a handful of sit-down eateries across the parks, advanced dining reservations are more important than ever. This is one advantage of booking your vacation at a Disney-owned hotel. You’ll be able to make ADRs 60 days before your trip, long before guests of other resorts.

If you don’t manage to score an ADR for the restaurant you want, keep trying. Availability often opens in the week leading up to your trip, as people finalize and change plans. You may also find availability the day of by going to the Disneyland app and selecting the wait list option. If there is availability, the app will provide an estimate of the wait time and add you to the queue. Just be sure to opt for the text alert.

Push notifications through the app are vague and don’t actually tell you that your table is ready. I believe the alert said our reservation had changed. We waited 30 minutes for an alert before approaching the podium. Apparently, we were supposed to understand that a message alerting us to a change in our wait list reservation meant that the table was ready. Cast members say it’s a frequent issue and always advise people to request a text message notification.

Disneyland Vacation Parades and Shows

For the best view of Disneyland parades or nightly fireworks and projection shows, plan to stake out your place early. For parades, this means grabbing a seat on the sidewalk about an hour before the start time. And be sure you’re situated on the curb itself or people will fill in before you.

To see the castle projection show and fireworks, find a spot anywhere you can easily see the castle. Just remember, if you’re too far back, people will fill the space between you and the castle. However, if you’re too far toward the castle, you will miss the projections along Main Street.

Last, World of Color at Disney California Adventure uses a virtual queue. Be prepared to enter this on the Disneyland app.

For more information on utilizing the virtual queue system, you can read our article about the Disney World virtual queue. It works in roughly the same manner.

More Disneyland Vacation Planning Tips

Say Goodbye to Long Lines – Our Disneyland Multi Pass Tips Will Keep You Ahead of the Crowd!

Planning a Trip to Disneyland? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Go

What’s the Difference Between Disneyland and Disney World: Comparing the World’s 2 Greatest Theme Parks

When to Go to Yellowstone if You Only Have a Short Time to Visit

Our most recent trip took place on what turned out to be a snowy weekend in September. Several roads within the park were closed on the second day of our visit, cutting our journey short . As a result, we discovered one crucial point: when deciding what to see at Yellowstone in 3 days, timing is probably the most important thing to consider as you plan your trip.

According to the National Parks Service, over 4 million people visit Yellowstone annually, and the vast majority make their appearance between the months of June and August. Despite the many things to do in Yellowstone, crowded roadways mean you’ll fit less into a 3-day Yellowstone itinerary if you travel with the masses.

While summer vacation schedules play a large role in the spike in attendance during the warmer months, you can’t rule out the impact of weather, and the fact that most of the major roadways through the park are closed to automobile traffic November through late April. In fact, early snows in 2019 prompted temporary road closures throughout late September and into October.

All the same, our weekend trips usually take place in September, when the park sees approximately 16 percent of its yearly attendance. The National Park Service usually holds one of its free National Parks weekends during this time, and we have hit this on both of our last two trips.

Free National Parks weekend is a great time to visit Yellowstone if you’re looking to keep your costs down, as it allows you tour Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone while only paying the one-park admission fee.

Fall is overall a good time to visit Yellowstone. High temperatures are usually in the 60s, and in our experience, the skies are mostly sunny.

Of course, for every rule, there is an exception, and our 2019 weekend in Yellowstone broke them all.

Three-Day Trip to Yellowstone, Day One

Note: Whether you’re setting out to visit the top things to see at Yellowstone on a 3-day trip or spending just a weekend in the park, your day one itinerary will be the same.

When approaching Yellowstone, many people use Jackson Hole as their home base. If you enjoy the night life and high-end shops of this destination area, it’s a nice way to experience the park. The drive into Yellowstone is a bit longer, making it less attractive to visitors looking to see the Yellowstone sites in 3 days, but it comes with the added benefit of close proximity to Teton National Park.

We, however, prefer the quieter and more mellow atmosphere of West Yellowstone, Montana. It’s about a four-hour drive from Salt Lake City, and the northbound drive provides an interesting tour of the varied western landscape, including the lava fields of Idaho.

Since we arrived at our hotel in West Yellowstone late on Friday night during our last trip, our first glimpse of Yellowstone National Park didn’t occur until Saturday morning. It was free National Parks Day, so we arrived early in the hopes of beating the tourist buses that claim the roads during these annual events.

Unfortunately, a fine drizzly mist had set in during the night, delaying daylight’s groggy presence as we rolled through the park gates in near darkness. It was the first time I had driven the road from the West Gate without encountering any of the park’s wildlife. This is a long stretch of winding roadway and a popular place for animals, particularly bison, to congregate, especially as you reach the flatter river plains.

There are only a handful of roadways in Yellowstone National Park, and together, they form a southern loop and a northern loop. Our intent was to tour the southern section, including Old Faithful and the Yellowstone Lake area on day one, so we turned south at Madison Junction as the last rays of gray morning light fully illuminated the landscape.

First Stop, The Lower Geyser Basin

From here, we followed the river south into the lower geyser basin. During previous trips, we’d made several stops for bison by this time, but our first encounter with the large bovines on this rainy day didn’t occur until we reached the steaming valley of the Lower Geyser Basin. Since watching wildlife is one of the most popular things to do in Yellowstone, we weren’t surprised to see vehicles pulled over, enjoying the wildlife sightings.

We made a quick drive through this area, looking more at the bison herds than the many thermal vents. Admittedly, the drizzle was keeping us in the car, and since we’d spent extensive time here on previous trips, we headed out rather quickly. However, you’ll want to take a tour of this area.

Lower Geyser Basin is the largest geyser basin in the park and features an array of thermal features. This is a great spot for getting a feel for the variety and diversity of terrain as you wander around paint pots and geysers on a half mile trail.

Next Stop, Midway Geyser Basin

Up next, was the Midway Geyser Basin. Home to one of Yellowstone’s most photographed features, Grand Prismatic Springs, this area is a must-do when considering how you’ll visit Yellowstone, and one you’ll definitely want to make time for on a Yellowstone 3-day itinerary.

On both of our last few trips, this renowned feature was obscured by heavy mist rising from the water’s surface, a potential drawback to visiting when the air temperatures are cooler. While this meant missing out on the magnificent colors of Grand Prismatic, we were compensated with a hauntingly beautiful sight, particularly when backlit by sunlight.

At Midway Geyser Basin, as in many areas of the park, a narrow boardwalk winds precipitously inches above the caustic hot water of thermal springs and geysers. In addition to Grand Prismatic Springs, you’ll see a few paint pots and deep thermal vents, filled with cerulean water, a color you don’t find many places.

Old Faithful, the Can’t-Miss Thing to Do in Yellowstone

By this time, you’ve seen a good representation of Yellowstone’s thermal landscape, including paint pots and springs. With only a few days to explore, it’s worth continuing south, past the smaller Biscuit Geyser Basin, toward Old Faithful (as of September 2024, Biscuit Basin remains closed). Even if Yellowstone’s most dependable geyser isn’t erupting on schedule, the inn is worth a visit to see the site of one of the world’s most popular geysers.

Built in 1904 at a cost of $140,000, Old Faithful Inn remains one of the largest log-style structures in the world.  You can mingle with many of the original fixtures and furnishings by taking a quick tour of the lobby. If the weather is fine, try rocking on the large porch overlooking Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin or take in a meal at one of the inn’s restaurants.

If Old Faithful doesn’t put on a show, take a stroll around part of the Upper Geyser Basin. The Upper Geyser Basin Trail leads off from Old Faithful through a series of smaller geysers. Some are nearly silent, erupting only every few years while others show off with greater regularity. If you see a uniformed park attendant standing near one of the active vents, it’s is a good clue that one may be about to blow.

Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb

Leaving Old Faithful, head east following signs toward Grant Village or West Thumb.

Back on the road, you’ll wrap your way around  Yellowstone lake, but before starting your shoreline drive, stop at West Thumb. This simple boardwalk stroll takes you to the water’s edge where fumaroles dot the shore, bubbling into the turquoise depths of Yellowstone Lake.

At an elevation of over 7,000 feet, the 132 square mile natural water body is the largest high elevation lake in North America. Despite Yellowstone’s highly active thermal landscape, water temperatures in the lake remain cold, averaging in the 40s. Even a summertime dip cold result in hypothermia with survival rates of only 20 to 30 minutes.

This is one of my favorite areas for viewing the thermal landscape. It’s not quite otherworld, but unique, watching steam rise as the harsh boiling depths of the earth rush into the frigid lake water temps. Taking time to appreciate the irony is something you must do when in Yellowstone.

From West Thumb, unless you plan to head over to the Tetons, it’s worth taking a few moments to stop at Lake Village. Here, you can drive part of the shoreline and visit the Lake Hotel for a peek at old-world elegance National Parks style.

This yellow clapboard manse serves for lakeside stays as well as some tasty eats. We tried the deli and were surprised to find the food was good. Or we were very hungry.

If you are heading for a quick afternoon drive through the Tetons and into Jackson Hole, you’ll head east from here toward fishing bridge. You can pick up the 3-day Yellowstone itinerary at the next step on your way back through and explore as much as you can before daylight fails you.

Otherwise, get back on the main road and head north toward Canyon Village. There are still a lot of things to do in Yellowstone before your first day comes to a close.

How to Visit Yellowstone; Embracing the Afternoon Hours

By this point, you’re pushing into afternoon and probably noticing that the sun is slowly sliding toward the horizon. Still, before you reach Canyon Village, make a quick stop at Mud Volcano.

Leading directly from the parking lot is a loop trail that winds past some of the park’s most unique sights and sounds, including the boiling muddy crater that gives the trail its name. You also won’t want to miss Dragon Mouth Spring. It doesn’t take much imagination to envision the smoky breath emanating from reptilian jaws.

Since these two sites form the bottom edge of the loop and are only a few steps from the parking lot, you might be tempted to loop back down to the car and leave. This is how many people visit Yellowstone, but if you’re up for a bit more adventure and seeking greater solitude, double back past Mud Volcano and take a right onto the extended loop that leads uphill. It’s a steep climb to start but reveals some turbulent sites such as Churning Caldron. It’s also quieter here, with moments of solitude hard to find when sticking to the highlights of Yellowstone on a weekend. You’ll also be sure to catch some of the top things to see at Yellowstone in 3 days.

Canyon Village and Beyond

Leaving Mud Volcano, continue north on the main road until you reach Canyon Village for the next stop on your 3-day Yellowstone itinerary-the road to Upper Falls Viewing area. A visit here, and a quick stroll, takes you to another of Yellowstone’s highlights—Artist Point. Stopping here is one of the most popular things to do in Yellowstone as it provides a prime view of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

However, it’s advisable that you first start at the Uncle Tom’s viewpoint. From here, you will get a view of the Upper Falls and the opening depths of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. It’s a stunning site but seems anticlimactic if you start first at Artist Point.

Once you’ve soaked in the sites from this vantage point, you can travel along the Uncle Tom’s trail to Artist Point, but since time is of the essence, it’s a safer bet to drive the South Rim Drive to the parking area at the end of the road. From here, Artist Point is a short walk.

Artist Point provides sweeping views of the breakneck drops into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone several hundred feet below as well as the best view of the Lower Falls. This is one of the most photographed views in all of Yellowstone and for good reason.

Ochre cliffsides carved from volcanic rock set a contrast to the purity of the water rushing hundreds of feet below your feet, while the 308-foot falls in the distance plunges dramatically into the canyon below. It’s art by nature’s paintbrush, and the view, even for Yellowstone, is hard to beat.

Next, get back on the road and head toward the North Rim Drive. If you are short on time or losing daylight, skip the first few overlooks and head right to inspiration point. A new beautifully constructed stonewalled walkway leads you over a series of overlooks providing a different vantage point on the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. If you have the time, stop at the lookouts on the way to see where you’ve been. The view of the falls is obstructed here however unless you take the Brink of lower falls trail. Just remember the trail back up is going to be steep.

Ending Day One: Closing out the Southern Loop

Tackling Yellowstone in 3 days means sectioning off the southern and northern portion of the parks and taking them in on separate days. After leaving the upper and lower falls, we picked up the Norris Canyon Road, heading west. There are few well-known sites on this cut-through road, but we found one pretty short and adventurous pursuit.

Reaching Virginia Cascade requires travel on a narrow treacherous road that traverses a shallow ledge along the Gibbon River. There are two highlights to this excursion, the first being the heart-stopping sight of several roadside washouts. The second is the cascade itself, a small series of descending rapids that’s actually quite unimpressive when compared to the wonders of the upper and lower falls. It does, however, afford quiet in the late afternoon and a quick chance for some solitary introspection.

Back on the Norris Canyon Road, you’ll find few other highlights until you start south again on Route 89. Stop first at Gibbon Falls. Again, it’s shorter and less dramatic than the lower and upper, but a short and pleasant stroll. We had the area to ourselves on a late fall afternoon, but whether it was the time of day or the continuous drizzle that kept others at bay, I couldn’t say.

Heading south again, take a few moments to pull over to get a better view of the roadside Beryl Spring. Watch it bubble and churn for a bit, because it’s probably going to be the last of the thermal activity for the day as the road leads you south and the sunlight fades from the sky.

Day Two: Yellowstone in a Weekend or 3-Day Itinerary

Whether you’re heading out to find the top things to see in Yellowstone in 3 days or 2, you’ll need a very early start to make the most of day 2. Amazing wildlife, waterfalls and unbelievable terrain lies ahead.

An Early Trek to the Lamar Valley

Watching the amazing wildlife is another of the most popular things to see at Yellowstone, and one of the best viewing areas is the Lamar Valley. Since this lone and isolated patch of the park is in the far northeast corner, it requires a very early rise and quite a drive from our base of West Yellowstone. It isn’t how many people visit the park, but we found it well worth the effort.

We left before the sun was even hinting at light on the horizon and caught the Norris Canyon Road cut through to head north on Grand Loop Road. Taking this route, you’ll travel the 8,859-foot-high Dunraven pass and cross over the 10,243-foot Mount Washburn.

Unfortunately, we hit the Lamar Valley a little late, well after sunrise, so may have missed our shot at glimpsing some of the park’s wolf residents. We did, however, see bison and antelope, and had the chance to take in the amazing vistas that this area of the park affords.

Heading this way also provides you with the opportunity to view Tower Fall. The 132-foot cascade is accessible via a viewing overlook. Just take the short trail from the Tower General Store. Impressive pinnacles make this waterfall a unique spot in the park. Formed by volcanic activity in the region eons ago, the site is somewhat reminiscent of the Pinnacles, hiding off the beaten path in Crater Lake National Park.

After your short visit at Tower Fall, you’ll have plenty of time during your 3 days at Yellowstone to take a little detour to explore the road toward the northeast entrance. The mountains rise tall here and surround you in sheer rock faces, another amazing sight to behold as the sun streams over the peaks. Traveling out the northeast gate, you’ll venture into Silver Gate, a true one-road town, but they do have a few dining options if you’re ready for breakfast before heading back into Yellowstone park.

Stopping for Petrified History, an Unusual Thing to Do in Yellowstone

Back to our 3-day yellowstone itinerary, the next stop after breakfast was the Petrified Tree. What may appear at first glance as nothing more than a tall rotting stump
is actually much more.

This giant redwood succumbed to a violent volcanic eruption 50 million years ago. Encased in molten lava, what was left of the tree was debrided by the elements, forced to endure endless freeze thaw cycles. As water entered the cracks in the lava, silica became embedded in the wood fibers. Over the eons that followed, the tree decayed and the stone remained, creating a complete fossil.

While geologists have studied the tree enough to count growth rings, you won’t be able to get that close. After travelling a quarter mile down a dirt road, you’ll find the hearty redwood surrounded by a stout fence. This is for protection. If you’re in doubt that it’ might need it’s necessary, read some of the signs throughout the park, and you’ll witness a tale of early desecration as uninformed visitors took pieces of things, threw rocks into springs, and committed other acts that unknowingly (at the time) changed the Yellowstone landscape for future generations.

Tower Roosevelt to Mammoth Hot Springs.

What follows next is one of my favorite parts of a 3-day Yellowstone itinerary. The long drive from Tower Roosevelt to Mammoth Hot Springs is one of winding high vistas and mountainous landscapes.

The first signs of civilization reappear as you enter the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Take time for at least a short drive through the old Fort Yellowstone, left over from the Park’s early history when the land was watched over by the U.S. Army. Today, 35 structures from the late 1800s remain, just another glimpse into the past. You can also make a quick stop at the Albright Visitor Center to learn more about this part of Yellowstone.

In the fall, you can expect to see elk surrounding the parade grounds of the old fort, bugling to the herd or sparring for mating rights. It can get dicey at times, so always keep your distance from the wildlife and watch your back.

For some guests, a trip to Yellowstone isn’t complete without heading out the dirt road toward Gardiner and taking a dip in the boiling river. It’s another popular thing to do in Yellowstone as nearby springs trickling into the river give native water temperatures a natural boost.

Since it takes time away from the marvels within the park, we haven’t included it on our 3-day Yellowstone Itinerary, at least not for a weekend trip, but if it’s high on your list, now is the time to make the journey. However, you might consider making reservations at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins, before picking up the rest of this itinerary on day 3.

If you’re sticking to the top things to see at Yellowstone in 3 days, it’s time to loop south again on the Grand Loop Road and cross the drive up to Mammoth hot springs. Here, you have two uniquely different but entirely related experiences before you. A quick drive through the travertine terraces reveals an active thermal landscape, bubbling rich and steamy with a wealth of mineralized deposits that have created a bumpy honeycombed terrain.

Leaving the car at one of the parking areas, you can traverse a different set of terraces through the Mammoth Hot Springs, where water boils from the depths of the earth on a flat precipice that also provides a stunning view of the fort and valley below. If you didn’t fill up on food in Silver City, Montana, you may also want to grab something at either the Mammoth Hotel Dining Room or the Terrace Grill before leaving this area. It’s a long lonely drive to the next stop, with no other options for dining in sight.

If you’re looking at a 3-day itinerary, this is also a great place to end your second day. Just be sure to reserve your spot at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins well in advance. You may also choose to carry on with the itinerary below.

It’s Time to Head South, Wrapping up a Trip to Yellowstone

If you’re setting out to hit the top things to see at Yellowstone in 3 days, you’re now on the third day. You’ve woken refreshed from an early night’s sleep at Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge or Cabin, and after a nice breakfast, are ready to hit the road.

If you’re intent to wrap up your trip to Yellowstone in a single weekend, you’re continuing on from the wild and crazy hot springs in the norther section of the park to en entirely different terrain. Either way, it’s time to head south and wrap up your trip to this ecologically diverse national park.

Visiting Norris Geyser Basin

Leaving Mammoth Hot Springs, you’ll travel south to complete the northern loop at Norris Geyser Basin. Norris Geyser Basin is one of the oldest thermal areas of the park, dating back over 115,000 years. It’s also home to one of the park’s few acidic geysers. You’ll see signs in the parking lot warning you of the potential damage to vehicles should one of the geysers erupt unexpectedly.

The Norris Geyser Basin is home to many acidic geothermal features, including Porcelain Basin, Emerald Pool and Steamboat Springs. The spectacular series of boardwalks covers a lot of ground and a wide variety of thermal vents and pools, many at ground level, providing an up-close viewpoint to the terrain.

Given the vast area covered, it can be quieter here, with long stretches of time between encounters with other guests, unless you are traveling in the peak summer months. You’ll find two main areas with slightly different terrain. The Back Basin is fairly wooded offering a different thermal landscape, while Porcelain Basin is void of most vegetation and is rich in the sulfurous thermal smell.

We last encountered Norris Geyser Basin in the snow. Steamy vents blew high into the sky above the chilly winter landscape, while the contrast between winter precipitation and the evergreens of Back Basin made for Instagram worthy shots at every turn.

Norris Geyser Basin, however, is equally as stunning in dry weather, when you can really see the varying colors of the mineralized landscape. Plan at least a couple of hours here to meander through the network of boardwalks.

Wrapping up Yellowstone in a Weekend

Leaving the Norris Geyser Basin parking area, continue south for three miles until you reach Artist Paint Pots. A flat and wooded trail leads to a series of boardwalks in an extension of the Norris Geyser Basin.

Rumor has it that more than 50 thermal features, such as springs and geysers, cover this area of the park, but the star attraction is the Noble Paint Pot. Providing a sensory experience in color and sound, thick clay in various hues of pink, blue, gray and brown bubbles and pops across a series of pools interlaced by terraced boardwalks.

While mostly flat, the half-mile walk does ascend to a low cliffside walk providing a view of the thermal features below as well as a few unusual springs that dot the edge of the high ground.

You may want to linger here for a bit. It’s the last major stop on your Yellowstone weekend trip before heading back to the ordinary landscapes of city and town. On your way out, watch for animals in the fields and plains as evening can be an active time for wildlife to emerge from hiding. It wasn’t long ago that we were stopped for nearly twenty minutes by a herd of bison who commandeered the roadway. It’s just one of the experiences that make a weekend trip to Yellowstone one to remember.

Continuing Day 3 of a Yellowstone 3-Day Itinerary

While you can hit most of the highlights in a weekend trip to Yellowstone, if you have a full third day not consumed by travel, you can extend your park experience by exploring missed highlights or by adventuring out on some of the hiking trails that cover the park. One popular and worthwhile trek is the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail.

By covering this 1.5 mile hike, you’ll ascend a 200 foot elevation to an overlook and a dramatic view of Grand Prismatic Springs. It’s probably the best way to witness the raucus colors, something you can’t fully appreciate while visiting at ground level. Best of all, most visitors can cover the trail in about 45 minutes. You can pick up the trail at the Fairy Falls trailhead.

If you have a few hours, consider heading out to the the Lone Star Geyser trail. This hike comes in at just over 5 miles, requiring an approximate 2 and a half hour trek, but it’s worth it to commune in solo solitude with one of the park’s more secretive geysers.

The trail picks up at the Lone Star Trailhead. You’ll find it south of Kepler Cascade on the Grand Loop Road. For an added treat, stick around to watch the Lone Star erupt. This occurs about every 3 hours.

Before heading out on any hike, however, it’s a good idea to stop at a ranger station. Here, you’ll learn about any trail hazards and receive safety tips for avoiding other hazards, including wildlife encounters.

When others consider how to visit yellowstone on a third day, they take time for animal viewing. Slowly driving the park roads in the early morning or evenings often reveals many of the park’s denizens as they come into river valleys to spend the night or to eat. We’ve been treated to elk, bison, and antelope sightings as well as other creatures.

You may also opt to head out on horseback. Many animals can’t distinguish between a horse and rider and horse wandering the park on its own, so you’ll often have better wildlife viewing when touring the park by equine. Yellowstone permits several private outfitters to offer guided rides. You may also make arrangements at one of the Yellowstone Lodges.

How to Hit the Top Things to See at Yellowstone in 3 Days, Final Words

The sights and sounds of Yellowstone National Park are a stunning wonder, making it one of the biggest bucket list attractions for U.S. travel. You could easily fill a week by expanding your trip to include the Grand Teton National Park and other surrounding areas, but you’ll hit the most scenic Yellowstone attractions by following this 3-day itinerary. However, if you only have a weekend, you cans still hit all of the high points included in this amazingly diverse geological location.

Bryce Canyon One Day Itinerary: Epic Views and Stellar Hikes

What to Do at Crater Lake National Park-Best Bets

Backroads and Beyond: Arizona Unique Things to Do

However, given breadth of dining options available across all of Disney World, it’s easy to overlook some of what EPCOT has to offer. So, we’ve uncoverd Chef Remy’s list of top places to eat at EPCOT, including some some best-kept secrets, and why we (and others) find them worth your time.

Best Table Service Restaurants

Disney World’s table service restaurants feature sit-down dining and attentive waitstaff, often combined with incredible theming, and EPCOT is no exception. Some of the best restaurants in EPCOT really deliver on the experience factor, transporting guests out of this world, or at least to a different culture.

Biergarten Restaurant, Bringing the Sites and Sounds of Octoberfest to EPCOT

After years of ignoring this eatery, thinking we wouldn’t enjoy German food, we decided to give Biergarten a try. It’s now one of our all-time favorite restaurants in all of Disney World.

If that sounds overstated, then consider the bounty of options available through buffet style dining. You can sample many types of German sausages, with or without sauerkraut, and a number of cold and hot appetizers, as well as other traditional native dishes. While we each had our favorites, everyone in our party of 6 enjoyed the overall presentation of dishes at this restaurant.

Stepping inside Biergarten is like walking into Octoberfest. The lights are dim, imitating an evening in Germany, and the festive family style tables give guests the chance to mingle, just as if they were touring the streets of Germany. A live performance is also included, featuring traditional music and instruments as well as a lively performance.

Of course, no Oktoberfest is ever complete without beer, so you’ll find an ample selection of German favorites.

Biergarten is open for lunch and dinner, and receives an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Space 220, Best Restaurant in EPCOT for an Out of This World Experience

Blast off into Space for some of the best food in or out of EPCOT. Upon arriving at EPCOT’s Space 220 restaurant, guests are given their ticket to visit the Centauri Space Station. Soon, the excitement begins as you board the lift that will rocket you into space.

Watch as the hatch opens, and your craft begins the rapid ascent. EPCOT quietly disappears beneath you as the state of Florida gradually fades into a tiny speck on the vast scope of the Earth. Soon, the planet becomes a beautiful blue orb beneath your feet, as your lift locks into the station.

As the doors open, a uniformed attendant is happy to show you around. Highlights include an aeroponics bay and space wine wall, featuring cosmic vintages.

Making your way deeper into the station, you’ll soon start to see the scope of the earth beyond, framed dramatically through large windows. Once you are seated, you’ll have a grand view of space as space craft float in and out of orbit, joined by the occasional astronaut and even an Astro dog.

While the experience is definitely the highlight of a meal at Space 220, the food does not disappoint. The menu features gourmet fare popular at the more earthbound ground control, with items including Steak and Frites and Rocket Flame Seared Tuna.

All meals at Space 220 are served Prix Fixe, and each order includes your choice of Lift Off (appetizer), Star Course (entrée) and non-alcoholic beverage for a fixed price. The slightly higher cost of a dinner at Space 220 also includes your selection of super nova sweets (dessert).

While Space 220 is one of the few restaurants we’ve encountered at Disney World that does not offer an allergy free menu, the staff is very accommodating about helping you to devise a safe and diet-friendly meal. However, we did not get an assurance that food is prepared in an a separate kitchen, so cross-contamination may occur.

Space 220 serves lunch and dinner, and receives an average 3.75 stars out of 5. To see what it’s like to visit space, view our Instagram reel below.

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Spice Road Table, Best Restaurant in EPCOT for Relaxed Outdoor Dining

The World Showcase remains one the of the most popular spots for finding places to eat in EPCOT. While you’ll certanly find a number of more exotic options throughout this entire section of the park, one top favorite remains: Spice Road Table.

We haven’t tried this eatery ourselves yet, but the internet is alive with chatter about this tapas style eatery, and reviewers appreciate the opportunity to sample various options. Food here takes on the flavors of Moroccan cooking, and favorites include the fried calamari, pomegranate chilli cauliflower, and spicy shrimp. 

With its lakeside location, guests also enjoy the opportunity to sit by the water and feel the cooling breezes as they dine. Spice Road Table is also a top place to eat in EPCOT for those looking to enjoy some adult beverages.

Spice Road Table serves lunch and dinner. The average review is 4 out of 5 stars, making it truly one of the best restaurants in EPCOT.

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Canada’s Le Cellier, EPCOT’s Best Kept Secret

It’s easy to walk right by the Canada pavilion and not even realize it’s there. Tucked back beneath the trees and “mountains” this stone fortress is home to one of EPCOT’s most famed steakhouses, so it’s worth scouting it out on your next trip.

A flower lined path leads through the scenes of Canada’s wilderness, including a stone waterfall, before you reach the door of this fortress-like abode. Inside, the chiseled cellar walls and ceilings continue the ambiance and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for enjoying some of the best food in EPCOT.

Reviewers rave about the poutine topped with cheddar cheese curds, complimentary bread selection and the cheddar cheese soup, featuring Moosehead Pale Ale. However, this cellar restaurant is all about the steaks, and guests agree the menu and dishes don’t disappoint.

Le Cellier averages 4 out of 5 stars and regularly receives rave revies from previous diners. Le Cellier offers a dinner and lunch menu.

Best Quick Service Restaurants

Disney World’s quick service restaurants offer dining on the go, with pickup ready convenience and mobile ordering. When it comes to dining fast at Disney World, some of the best restaurants are at EPCOT.

Connections Eatery-Best Dining in EPCOT for Connecting

Opened as part of the reimagined EPCOT, Connections Eatery is located inside the World Celebration area of the park. The highlight of this restaurant décor is the 160-foot-long mural that celebrates foods and beverages from around the world. While it’s an important statement and helps the establishment fit the feel of this land, most people come to Connections for the food.

The menu is a bit diverse and features some typical American dishes decked out with worldly flare, as well as culturally inspired eats. From our perspective, you can’t go wrong with any of the burgers. One guest even said the French Burger was better than gourmet.

However, if French cuisine doesn’t fit your idea of what’s typically considered classic American fare, try the Southwestern Burger, topped with roasted corn-chipotles, salsa, Oaxaca cheese and guacamole spread. While inspired by the tastes of Mexico, it’s a pure native treat.

From our party, the flatbread pizzas were far less popular, but others disagree, saying the crust is perfectly thin and the toppings perfect in proportion. One reason this remains one of the best restaurants at EPCOT seems to be General Tso’s Chicken Salad. When we visited last, there was at least one on each of the 20 closest tables.

The salad features chicken tenders in sauce over a bed of lettuce, edamame, mandarin orange and wonton strips. It was truly one of the best-looking things on the menu.

One area where this restaurant seems to come up short is the service. Many people complain of long waits to receive their food. We recommend mobile ordering at this establishment.

Connections Eatery is currently serving lunch and dinner, but the integrated Connections Café makes it easy to grab your morning Starbucks, and even offers some limited seating to rest your feet before trekking around this expansive park.

Connections Eatery receives an average 3.75 out of 5 stars, with most negative reviews focused on the slowness of the food service rather than the quality or taste of the food.

Sunshine Seasons Café – Best Restaurant in EPCOT for Families with Children

With a diverse menu and even a grab and go area, Sunshine Seasons has remained one of our top quick service places to eat in EPCOT. When the kids were young and a little pickier about what they liked, we were always able to find something that appealed to each of the 4 palettes. Even better, Mom and Dad weren’t going hungry either.

This entry on the list of best restaurants in EPCOT offers choice, including cold and hot sandwiches, Asian noodle bowls, hearty soups and salads, grilled items and even a bakery. Items are ordered at separate stations, and you can watch the food being prepared.

A grab and go cooler makes it easy to feed even the pickiest eaters with prepackaged favorites, including gelatin snacks, yogurt and applesauce. For those of us seeking real food, the Oak-grilled rotisserie chicken remains a favorite with our group as does the stir-fried chicken.

One thing guests seem to dislike about Sunshine Season is the hectic atmosphere and the noise. While we haven’t found many quick service restaurants in EPCOT that fit the bill for serene and quiet, this establishment does invite chaos as people move from station to station ordering food. The high ceilings and ambient noise from guests as they move to nearby attractions within the land pavilion are also factors.

Overall, Sunshine Seasons maintains a solid 4 out of 5 stars (or the equivalent) across most review sites.

EPCOT Where to Eat Tip #3: Food on the go doesn’t have to be ordinary or bland. Look to the World Showcase for more unusual counter service menu items.

Yorkshire County Fish Shop, a Little-Known Favorite for Fish and Chips

While Yorkshire County Fish Shop won’t be a favorite with everyone, we stand by this recommendation for some of the best fish and chips around. The batter is light and airy, and the thick and hearty chips make the perfect side.

This is used to be our first stop upon arriving in Florida. Several members of our family love to eat fish, but even those of us who aren’t as inclined to enjoy the bounty of the sea really liked the food here.

One drawback is the seating. The only area to sit down and eat is a small patio section off to the side. It’s a pleasant place right on the World Showcase Lagoon, but it’s small and seating fills up very quickly during prime lunch and dinner times. Once, we even had to sit on the sidewalk in England to eat our meal.

However, if you’re a lover of fish and chips, or a member of a party that is, the Yorkshire County Fish Shop is a great way to break from the traditional quick service fare available at many restaurants across Disney World.

Yorkshire County Fish Shoppe serves lunch and dinner. This restaurant in EPCOT receives an average 4.5 out of 5 stars.

La Cantina de San Angel, Top Pick for One of the Best Restaurants in EPCOT

When thinking about EPCOT and where to eat, it’s hard not to mention La Cantina de San Angel. Located on the shores of the World Showcase Lagoon, both the indoor and outdoor seating areas offer a pleasant place to rest your tired feet, but the food is the real reason you’ll find a bottleneck in this area of the park come lunch and dinner time.

Mexican fare takes on Disney flair at this quick service eatery. La Cantina de San Angel serves up traditional Mexican-American dishes, such as Arroz con Pollo and Guacamole with Totopos (tortilla chips), but you’ll also find some offerings here that provide more of a challenge to wanting palates.

Guests rave about the Tacos de Barbacoa, shredded beef on homemade corn tortillas topped with red salsa and cilantro. Our favorite has always been the taco trio. Unlike other Disney portions, which can be overly large, we find these to be quite manageable for a single person. And another thing, this EPCOT eatery gets kudos for gluten-friendly dining as well as from parents of pickey eaters. You’ll find less Mexican-inspired fare on the kid’s menu.

La Cantina de San Angel serves lunch and dinner, as well as some rave-worthy margaritas. This EPCOT restaurant receives an average 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Looking for more information on EPCOT or Disney World Dining?

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