Which Disney World Park Is Best: Exploring Parks in Disney World

If you’re visiting the Walt Disney World theme park for the first time or taking a short trip, you’re probably wondering what Disney World park is the best for spending most of your time. Unlike Disney parks in other locations, Disney World in Florida is comprised of 4 distinct parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Understanding which is best for you will help you prioritize your time and get the most from your vacation and your Disney World vacation planning.


Determining the Best Disney World Park

Deciding which Disney World park is the best comes down to determining what is important to you and how you want to spend your time.

Do you like to watch live performances or do you prefer the thrill of coaster rides? Maybe you’re traveling with small children and want to understand which park offers the most for them.

To help you decide, we’ve broken each park down into the particulars that matter most: Number of thrill rides, number of rides suitable for children under 40″, number of rides suitable for children over 40″, adult appeal, number of restaurants, number of live shows/parades/performances, number of character meet and greets, amount of walking required, ease of transportation and number of nearby resorts.


Is Animal Kingdom the Best Disney World Park for You?

Animal Kingdom is part zoo, part Walt Disney World theme park, but blended seamlessly. When it comes to understanding which Disney World park is the best, we need to understand the sections in each park.

Animal Kingdom is split into 7 unique lands. Oasis, Pandora, Dinoland USA, Discovery Island, Asia, Africa, and Rafkiki’s Planet Watch. While many of the lands are based on real locations, some bring in the fantasy element you would expect from Disney.

The Oasis is basically the entrance, with smaller animal exhibits that are both hidden and in plain sight. Here, you will find birds and some small reptiles. In fact, across the park you will find animal exhibits from various geographical locations, seamlessly intermixed with rides and attractions that match the geography of the lands.

After crossing the Oasis, you’ll enter Discovery Island. This area acts as a hub for the park, with almost every other land converging at this point. Discovery Island contains more small animal exhibits, the famous Tree of Life, restaurants, and shopping as well as the opportunity to don your “bug eyes” and enter the underground world of our insect friends.

Expedition Everest is one of Animal Kingdom’s best loved thrill rides.

Pandora is themed to the land from the Movie Avatar, with the same name. Here, you will see a painstaking replica of the movie environment, complete with floating rocks.

Dinoland USA covers the extinct animals, in a fun and quirky way.

In the Asia section of this Walt Disney World theme park, you will find the thrill ride Expedition Everest, and many eateries.

Africa contains the highlight of the park, the safari! Here, is where you will find the most animal exhibits, and walkthroughs. The animal exhibits add a few extra points in Animal Kingdom’s favor when considering what Disney World park is the best, in my opinion.

Lastly, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which requires a train to get to, features a petting zoo, and interactive educational displays on various animals.



Disney World Animal Kingdom Highlights

Animal Kingdom highlights and must do rides include Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, and Flight of Passage. Animal Kingdom’s lands have some of the best theming out of all of the four parks, and the animal exhibits and shows add a new element that other theme parks lack.

Where to Eat at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has some diverse food offerings, much beyond the typical theme park burgers and fries, particularly when it comes to their quick service meals. We highly recommend the Satuli Canteen inside Pandora for counter service, as well as the Harambe Market. Both of these quick service locations serve diverse food offerings that will please your entire group.

For sit-down dining, we highly recommend the table service version of Yak and Yeti. They serve high-end and delicious Asian cuisine in a fun atmosphere.

Lower Crowds and Mass Appeal May Make Animal Kingdom the Best Disney World Park for You

Animal Kingdom does seem to have the lowest daily foot traffic out of any of the four Walt Disney World theme parks. With crowds peaking in the morning and mid-day, and diminishing later in the afternoon.

Animal kingdom shifts the focus from rides and gives an entirely different feel than a theme park. This is one of the only Disney parks where you could spend all day without riding a ride, and still be entertained, if you so choose.

That being said, if you are not an animal lover, Animal Kingdom may not be the best Walt Disney World theme park for you, or one that is best for a half day excursion. It is easy to ride every ride in the park in half a day and have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy all the animal exhibits.

Animal Kingdom is also one of the more relaxed parks. Crowds are typically lower, and due to the animal exhibits being spread out, any crowds are easily dispersed.

Animal Kingdom Rides and Attractions

Number of Thrill Rides: 3-4 Rides

  • Expedition Everest – Must Do
  • Flight of Passage – Must Do
  • Dinosaur

(If you don’t mind being absolutely soaked, Kali River Rapids is a great added thrill ride, although we usually skip this one.)

Number of rides suitable for children under 40”: 5 Rides

  • Kilimanjaro Safari – Must Do
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Rafiki’s Train
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • TriceraTop Spin
  • Plus, all of the walkthrough animal exhibits.

Number of Rides suitable for children over 40”: Everything listed above plus 3 Rides

Number of live shows/ parades/ performances: 5

  • Amimal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight: Watch as winged macaws take flight over and around the Tree of Life. Experience a short trainer presentation.
  • The Animation Experience at Conservation Station (25 minutes): Using real-life animals as inspiration, learn how to animate like the Disney pros.
  • Feathered Friends in Flight (35 minutes): Learn about birds from around the world and enjoy an entertaining show. We never miss this one.
  • Festival of the Lion King (40 minutes): Elaborately costumed characters bring the story of the Lion King to life through songs and puppetry.
  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! (25 minutes): Embark on an underwater search for everyone’s favorite clown fish as told through music and puppetry.

Adult Appeal: 7/10

(Animal Kingdom features many locations for adult beverages, multiple thrill rides, and many relaxing areas to step away from the crowds. But, if the adults in your party are not animal lovers, this is not the park for them as rides are limited)

Restaurants/snack locations: 32

Character Meet and Greets:

  • Discovery River Character boat parades
  • Dining inside Tusker House
  • Mickey and Minnie Adventurer’s Outpost
  • Donald, Daisy, Chip ‘n’ Dale performing in Donald’s Dino Bash in Dinoland U.S.A.
  • Kevin roams through Discovery Island at different intervals
  • Moana at Character Landing

Amount of walking required:

  • Moderate (Animal Kingdom may be the largest park, but most of that land is used for animal exhibits, meaning guest pathways do not cover that much land.)

Ease of Transportation: Somewhat Difficult

  • Animal Kingdom is the farthest park from most resorts, and can only be accessed by bus or by ride sharing.

Number of nearby resorts:

Where Is Animal Kingdom Located?

Animal Kingdom has a reputation for being a distant haul from other destinations across Disney World. Compared to the majority of parks and resorts, Animal Kingdom is a bit off the beaten path. The park is located at 2901 Osceola Pkwy in Lake Buena Vista Florida in the southwest corner of Disney property.


Ranking Disney Hollywood Studios 

The Millennium Falcon as featured at Disney's Hollywood Studios, one of the best Parks at Disney World for thrill rides.

Hollywood Studios is a huge contender when answering the question which Disney World park is the best. In the beginning, Hollywood Studios served as a park for all things Hollywood.

For a period of time, some films and tv shows were even filmed onsite. Recent additions and changes to the theming have now made this one of the most popular Disney World parks.

Today, this Disney World theme park features an old Hollywood themed section at the entrance, as well as other themed areas, including Sunset Boulevard, Toy Story Land, and the Star Wars themed land of Galaxy’s Edge. Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge are still very new, and drawing high excitement from Disney World guests.

While these new renovations put Hollywood Studios high on the list when considering which Disney World theme park is the best, they also draw in large crowds at all times of the day. In fact, on most days, popular Lightning Lane passes are gone by the afternoon.

Hollywood Studios is a park we recommend avoiding on weekends, and holidays, and planning accordingly when visiting during the week. You may even consider using Lightning Lane Multipass and making Lightning Lane Single Pass purchases if you want to visit all of the rides in a single day..

Hollywood Studios is a great Walt Disney World theme park because it has a vast variety of experiences. Each land provides a whole new world to explore, with many thrill rides mixed in. Because of this, Hollywood Studios is not as easy to enjoy with small children.

Many of the rides are unsuitable for kids under 38”, and several of the rides are intense. This does make it the ideal park for older kids and adults alike. If you question guests in these age categories as to which Disney World park is the best, Hollywood Studios would easily be the answer. There are also a fair number of rides and shows that can be enjoyed by older adults, such as grandparents, who prefer to sit out the more intense experiences.

That all being said, many younger Star Wars fans will still enjoy visiting Galaxy’s Edge and the meet and greet experiences available there. For true fans, you can even build your own light saber. And of course Toy Story Land is a given, offering young (and old) the chance to feel what it’s like to be a toy.

Disney World Hollywood Studios Highlights

When it comes to which Disney World park is best, Hollywood Studios has a lot of highlights to make it a contender. Hollywood Studios has the most new rides, and in fact, it has two brand new lands.

When visiting, you must Stop by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. Both lands are brand new and each feature many fun rides.

Where to Eat at Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has a smaller selection of restaurants compared to the other parks in Disney World, so you should plan ahead for reservations if you’re going to dine at any table service locations.

For quick service dining, we typically go to the ABC commissary because it has plenty of seating, and is easy to get into without a long wait. But, be prepared for burgers and fries type meals. Some seasonal meals are offered, as well as salads. The food is good and the service is quick.

Inside Galaxy’s Edge, there are some good counter service options as well, although they tend to have long waits. We enjoy Docking Bay 7 for unique culinary delights, and Oga’s Cantina is a must for anyone seeking adult libations.

Woody’s Lunchbox is one of the few restaurants offering breakfast options as well as some quirky kid-friendly favorites throughout the day. It’s worth a visit just to experience food from the perspective of a toy.

If you are looking to splurge and treat yourself, try the Hollywood Brown Derby. The food here are delicious and worth every shiny penny.

The newly opened Woody’s Roundup Barbecue is also a solid option, particularly if you love the films. We suggest you come with an appetite, as food is served family style, with appetizers, entries and desserts available in unlimited proportions. There is just one caveat. You’ll need to drop like a toy whenever Andy enters the room.

Where Hollywood Studios Is Located

Hollywood Studios is located at 351 S. Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista in Florida, on the southeast side of Disney property.

Hollywood Studios Rides and Attractions

Number of thrill rides: 6

  • Slinky Dog Dash – Must Do
  • Tower of Terror – Must Do
  • Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster – Must Do
  • Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Must Do
  • Star Tours
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Must Do

Number of rides suitable for children under 40”: 5

  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Must Do
  • Toy Story Mania – Must Do

Number of rides suitable for children over 40”: 4

Number of live shows/ parades/ performances: 7

  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage (30 minutes): Sing along to all your favorites with this short retelling of the tale as old as time.
  • Disney Junior Play and Dance (10 minutes): It’s a strange cast of characters, but few little ones can resist the chance to catch bubbles and show off their dance moves with Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Timon and Mickey.
  • Disney Movie Magic (10 minutes): Enjoy projections from classic Disney shows set to music across the splendid backdrop of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. This outdoor show occurs nightly weather permitting.
  • Fantasmic (29 minutes): This spectacular has it all, fireworks, water projections, beloved Disney songs and characters and the chance to drop inside Mickey’s dreams. Must Do Attraction.
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration (1 hour): If you have fans of Frozen in your party, it’s worth an hour of your day to hear the royal historians of Arendelle recount the classic tale of Anna and Elsa, complete with songs and special guests.
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (1 hour): This is an oldy but goodie. Learn how popular movie stunts are created complete with explosive special effects.

Adult Appeal: 9/10

This is a great adult Disney World theme park for adults. There are many thrill rides, but many of the non-ride experiences are aimed towards younger audiences

Number of restaurants/ snack locations/lounges: 29

  • You can find a full list of Hollywood Studios restaurants and eateries here.

Character meet and greets (subject to change)

  • Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
  • Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams
  • Sully, Vampirina and many others at Animation Courtyard
  • Edna Mode at the Edna Mode Experience
  • Chewbacca, BB-8 and Darth Vadar at Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Pixar Pals at Pixar Plaza
  • Green Army Drum Corps: Frequent marches through Toy Story Land
  • Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Vampirina, and Roadster Goofy at Hollywood and Vine character dining (MInnie and Friends seasonally)
  • Ariel at Walt Disney Presents
  • Toy Story characters: Toy Story Land
  • Impromptu walk around visits from Star Wars characters also take place within Galaxy’s Edge

Amount of walking required:

  • Minimal (Hollywood Studios gets another point when asking What Disney World park is the best, because it is the most condensed and requires the least amount of walking.)

Ease of Transportation: Moderate

Skyline Station at Disney HOllywood Studios.
  • Guests at the Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, and Pop Century resorts can access Hollywood Studios from the Skyliner, but some require transferring once throughout the journey.
  • Guests of EPCOT area resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk Inn, Swan and Dolphin can use Skyway or boat transportation or take a 5-25 minute walk using the river walkway.
  • From all other resorts, a bus is required.

Number of nearby resorts: 10

  • Riviera Resort 2.2 miles
  • Caribbean Beach Resort 1.9 miles
  • Disney’s Art of Animation 1 mile
  • Pop Century Resort 1.8 miles
  • Boardwalk Inn 2.3 mile
  • Beach and Yacht Club, Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotel 5.3 miles (driving)

As a Connecticut-based travel agent with Mickey World Travel, Kathleen Hesketh can help you plan and book your Disney World vacation no matter where you live within the U.S.

Plan your vacation your way and receive as much or as little help as you want.

  • Booking dining reservations, saving you the 6:00 am wake up call
  • Custom itinerary suggestions
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  • Help with Lightning Lane
  • and more

Fill out the form to the right (below on mobile) for a no-obligation quote.



Is EPCOT the Best Disney World Park for You?

EPCOT was originally a concept created by Walt Disney, for a self sufficient and technologically forward community. After his death, EPCOT transitioned to being a permanent world’s fair type park, with an added emphasis on technology and the future.

EPCOT has seen many changes over the years, and even more recently. EPCOT consists of three main areas, The World Showcase, World of Discovery, and World of Nature.

The World Showcase is full of pavilions from various countries. Each country features themed buildings, restaurants, and shopping all from each pavilion’s perspective country. Some pavilions feature rides or movies that showcase what makes the country unique. Many pavilions also feature live performances.

World of Discovery is what used to be the Future World section of the park. This area will still feature technology, but with more of an emphasis on today and learning, rather than future focused.

Mickey and Minnie topiaries frame Spaceship Earth in EPCOT, one of the best Disney World parks.

World of Nature explores and educates on the world we live in, how to help it, how better to understand it, and how we can work with it.

Recently, EPCOT has been having a rough time answering the call as to which Disney World park is the best, due to lack of rides. Since its inception, the park has been more focused on education, learning, and festivals. Each festival celebrates a different theme, such as food, flowers and gardening or art. Many adults love the festivals for the unique food and beverage offerings, but with only a smattering of really kid-thrilling rides, you might find it easiset to skip EPCOT when planning a shorter trip with young kids.

Disney World EPCOT Highlights

If you only have a short time to visit EPCOT in Walt Disney World, there are a few things you need to plan to do. First, the biggest, newest highlight in Epcot, and in all of the parks in Disney World, is the new Guardians of the Galaxy Rollercoaster. This is a must do. Keep in mind, though, that you must be over 42 inches to ride.

Additionally, you should plan time for Test Track, Soarin’ and Frozen Ever After if you have little ones who are Anna and Else fans. Also, be sure to shop and dine your way through the World Showcase.

Where to Eat in EPCOT

EPCOT has some of the best dining out of all of the parks in Disney World, especially when it comes to counter service. Quick service dining in the World of Discovery section of the park is fine, but a bit basic. For more diverse food options and some unique culturally inspired finds, the World Showcase section of EPCOT has diverse food options for each country. Many countries have counter service options, as well as table service, and even buffets, such as the phenomenal Biergarten restaurant in the Germany pavilion.

If you are not a fan of trying new diverse food options, but want a delicious and fun table service experience in EPCOT, try Space 220. In this dining establishment, you’ll be offered delicious food offerings 220 miles above earth, with great space views.

Where is EPCOT Located?

EPCOT is located at 200 Epcot Center Dr, Lake Buena Vista in Florida, pretty much in the center of Disney property and south of Magic Kingdom.

EPCOT Rides and Attractions

Number of thrill rides: 3

  • Test Track – Must Do
  • Mission Space
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Must Do

Number of rides suitable for children under 40”: 7

  • Frozen Ever After
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
  • Journey into Imagination with Figment
  • Living with the Land
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Spaceship Earth
  • the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Number of rides suitable for children over 40”: 3

  • Mission Space
  • Test Track
  • Soarin’ Around the World – Must Do

Adult Appeal: 9.5/10

  • This is a great Disney World theme park for adults. EPCOT has a lot of dining and places to get a drink. This park also tends to be a bit quieter and have a more relaxing atmosphere as well as some of the best and unique thrill rides.

Number of restaurants/ snack locations/lounges: 67

Available character meet and greets (subject to change)

  • Disney Friends: EPCOT main entrance
  • Friends from the Hundred Acre Wood: United Kingdom Pavilion
  • Donald Duck Mexico Pavillion
  • Alice and Mary Poppins in the UK Pavillion gardens
  • Belle and Princess Aurora in the France Pavilion Promenade
  • Anna and Elsa: Royal Sommerhus
  • Asha: Near World Showcase Plaza
  • Donald Duck: Mexico pavillion
  • Mickey and Friends: Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Figment and Joy: Inside ImageWorks
  • Mulan: China pavillion
  • Princess Jasmine: Morocco pavillion
  • Snow White: Germany pavillion

Amount of walking required: Extreme

  • EPCOT is the largest park, and requires the most walking

Ease of Transportation: Easy

  • EPCOT can be accessed via walking, buses, the monorail, ride sharing, and boats

Number of nearby resorts: 8

  • Riviera
  • Caribbean Beach
  • Boardwalk Inn
  • Beach Club
  • Yacht Club
  • Disney’s Swan Hotel
  • Disney’s Dolphin Hotel

Ranking Disney World Magic Kingdom as the Best Disney Park

Magic Kingdom is the original Walt Disney World theme park, and a huge contender for being in the top of the best Disney World park rankings. Magic Kingdom brings together the future with history, in a fantasy way.

Magic Kingdom is well thought out and nearly every detail you see is intentional. When you first walk in, you will walk under the train station, and through Main Street USA to Cinderella’s Castle.

From this hub in the park, pathways splinter out in all directions, leading you to many fantastical lands. Directly behind the castle is Fantasyland, which is exactly as it sounds. Fantasyland brings the world of all your favorite Disney characters to life.

An exterior view of Cinderella's Castle, just one of the reasons guests consider the Magic Kingdom the best Disney park

There is also Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Liberty Square. Each themed section has rides, dining, and stores that match its personality.

Magic Kingdom is truly the park for all ages. There are endless rides for young ones, and plenty of exciting rides, dining, and shopping for older guests. Magic Kingdom is known for its fireworks shows, parades, and character opportunities as well.

Magic Kingdom tends to have even crowds, with the main rides seeing a peak in the morning and through midday. Crowds do increase on weekends and holidays when local guests come to visit.

Disney World Magic Kingdom Highlights

Magic Kingdom has the most highlights out of any of the parks in Disney World, and is the best park for young kids. Magic Kingdom highlights include Space Mountain, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, Thunder Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Additionally, Magic Kingdom has various character meet and greets with popular Disney characters and Princesses.

Magic Kingdom boasts the best parades and shows for all ages.

Where to Eat in Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom has so many places to dine, it can be difficult to choose one. For Counter Service, we enjoy Columbia Harbour House for quick and yummy seafood options that go beyond just burgers. If burgers are your thing, stop by Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland.

For table service dining, we recommend Be Our Guest. While it can be pricey, it is delicious and the atmosphere is unlike anything else you will find inside a Walt Disney World theme park. For a more casual table service experience with bigger portions, we also recommend Crystal Palace, particularly for breakfast. If you have a princess fan among you, it’s hard to beat a meal at Cinderella’s Castle, where famous princesses stop by your table to chat.

Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions

Number of thrill rides: 4

  • Space Mountain – Must Do
  • Thunder Mountain – Must Do
  • Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train – Must Do
  • TRON LIghtcycle Run – Must Do

Number of rides suitable for children under 40”: 20

  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • The Barnstormer
  • Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train
  • Peter Pan
  • It’s a Small World
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirate’s of the Caribbean
  • Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel
  • Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority
  • Under the Sea
  • Carousel of Progress
  • Walt Disney World Railroad

Number of rides suitable for children over 40”: 3

  • Thunder Mountain
  • Space Mountain
  • Tron Lightcycle Power Run

Adult Appeal: 6/10

  • This is a great Disney World theme park for kids, but adults who have a flair for fantasy and classic Disney will love it too. Those seeking the larger thrills of higher hills and faster coasters will probably want to skip Magic Kingdom.

Number of restaurants/ snack locations: 39

Some of the character meet and greets at Magic Kingdom (consult the park guide for exact locations, times and characters as they are subject to change on a day-by-day basis):

  • Ariel: in her grotto
  • Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Cinderella and a visiting princess: Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Aladdin, Jasmine and Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland
  • Winnie the Pooh and Friends at Crystal Palace character dining
  • Belle at Maurice’s Cottage
  • Disney pals as circus stars: Pete’s Silly Sideshow
  • Mickey Mouse: Town Square Theater
  • Mirabel: Fairytale Garden
  • Winnie the Pooh and Tigger: The Thotful Spot

Amount of walking required: Moderate

  • Magic Kingdom has a lot of lands, so you will always find yourself crisscrossing the park to see everything. But the park itself, is not that large.

Ease of Transportation: Easy

Number of nearby resorts: 8

  • Contemporary
  • Polynesian
  • Grand Floridian
  • Bay Lake Towers
  • Wilderness Lodge
  • Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

Which Disney World Water Park Is Best?

When it comes to cooling down in the hot Florida sun, Disney World has 2 thrilling water parks, each offering its own distinct experience. At certain times of year, selecting which park is best will be easy, because you won’t have a choice. One water park a year closes for refurbishments in the late fall through early winter.

At other times of year, your choice will be guided on one big preference: snow or sand. Keep reading for more details.

Blizzard Beach

What if it snowed at Disney World? Well, you’d create a giant snow-themed water park of course. This is the backstory behind Disney’s Blizzard Beach waterpark, and you’ll find elements of cold weather fun even as you bask in the Florida sun.

Imagine a giant melting snowman, gushing waterfalls cascading down a ski mountain, a beach-themed chair life or inner tubes floating along a lazy river themed as a melted Slalom course and you’re starting to get the idea of Blizzard Beach. Some of the stars of Frozen have even been known to join in the fun.

What Makes Blizzard Beach Unique?

Thrill seekers can plummet down the tallest and fastest vertical waterslide in Orlando, Summit Plummet, or race down the body slides of the Ski Patrol Drop. While little ones splash in Tike’s Peak, families bond over a wave pool mimicking a blizzard and share snow cones (not snow!) under the Florida sun. This unique blend of wintery theme and watery fun makes Blizzard Beach a one-of-a-kind experience for all ages, offering frosty adventures amidst the sunshine.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Legend has it that a typhoon swept through a once-pristine tropical paradise, leaving behind a whimsical world of watery chaos. This is the heart of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, where buildings lean precariously, a rusty shrimp boat rests atop a “Mount Mayday,” and castaway treasures litter the landscape.

What Makes Blizzard Beach Unique?

Dive into the world’s largest outdoor wave pool, where waves up to six feet tall beckon bodysurfers. Explore the shipwreck remnants hidden within the lagoon, or zoom down exhilarating water slides like Humunga Kowunga, a serpentine adventure through a mischievous monkey’s domain. With hidden Mickeys sprinkled throughout and playful theming everywhere, Typhoon Lagoon isn’t just a water park – it’s an immersive story come to life, reminding you that even after a storm, sunshine can always be found.


Deciding Which Disney World Park Is Best – FAQs

Which Disney World park is best for 5 year olds or small children

Magic Kingdom park will have the most rides and attractions suitable for young children. However, you’ll also want to make sure you hit the child-friendly favorite shows at Hollywood Studios and let your kids be a toy for a time in Toy Story Land. Animal Kingdom also offers some delights for young children who love animals, with many viewing areas.

Which Disney World park is best for teenagers?

Teenagers tend to love the bigger thrills, making Hollywood Studios a top contender for best park. You’ll find the highest concentration of thrill rides here. However, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is another not-to-be-missed attraction for teens. Add in the thrill of Test Track and Soarin’, and most teens will enjoy a trip to EPCOT.

Which Disney World park is best for a 10 year old or a 12 year old?

Kids in the 10 to 12 year age range are generally tall enough to enjoy all Disney attractions. Kids in this age range also tend to have varying levels of interest depending on maturity and disposition. Obviously, thrill seekers will love the suggestions provided for teenagers above, but if your preteen prefers mellower thrills, stick to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. They’ll find plenty of interest without feeling pressured to join the scarier rides.

Which Disney World park is best in the rain?

If it’s storming buckets, you’ll want to be in the park that offers the most dry havens, but still has plenty to do. EPCOT fits this bill, with many indoor pavillions to discover. Most rides queues are also inside buildings or sheltered areas.

Which Disney World park has the best fireworks?

In our opinion, 2 of Disney’s parks contend for the best fireworks show. It’s hard to beat firworks over Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom, especially when combined with a dazzling projection show, but if you’re looking for more of a storytelling experience, complete with Disney character appearances, opt for Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios.

Which Disney World park has the best roller coasters

As always, “best” is subjective. In our experience, the best coaster in all of Disney parks is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. However, since it is the only coaster type experience in the park, EPCOT might not win the prize for best park for coaster. If you’re looking for the most coasters, you can head to Magic Kingdom and ride the famed mountain range or dive into a gemstone mine. These are mild thrills though, when compared to the high speed rush of Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster and other thrills at Hollywood Studios.

Which Disney World park has the best food?

The answer to this is EPCOT, hands down. With so many cultural cuisines, and a large mix of table service and quick service establishments, it’s easy to find an option to fit the tastes of your palette. Add in the numerous festivals, each offering a plethora of themed food options, and EPCOT easily wins the award for Disney park with the best food.


What Disney World Park is the Best?

Deciding what Disney World park is the best is not an easy question to answer. In the end, determining the best Walt Disney World theme park depends on you and your group.

If your group is mainly young children, you may want to stick to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. If you are looking for thrill rides, then Hollywood Studios is your park. For a relaxing day with great food, great culture, and a couple rides sprinkled in, try EPCOT.

We know which Disney World theme park is out favorite; which is yours?


By Ali Patton

Ali is a travel blogger for Seconds to Go, where she shares her experiences traveling the U.S. with her co-blogger Mom, Kathleen. She is also an avid Disney travel enthusiast, and with multiple Disney World trips under her belt, is a knoweldgeable resource for all things related to Disney vacations. Ali can be found managing the Seconds to Go social media accounts as well as the famed Double Z Farm pages on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

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