We recently took a look at reams of search engine data to determine what sort of Disney World questions were being researched on the internet. We were surprised to find that some of the least searched queries were related to vital information that anyone planning a trip to Disney World would want to know.
So, to help fellow trip planners, here are answers to the least asked—but important—questions about Disney World and vacation planning:
Disney World Question #1: What Disney World Park is the Best?
This question should really be reworded as “Which Disney World park is best for me?” since answering this Disney World question is a matter of preference.
If you prefer thrill rides and live action shows, then you’ll probably enjoy Disney Hollywood Studios the most. With the high-rolling Rock-n-Roller Coaster and the drop-in thrill of Tower of Terror, this park offers more in amped-up excitement than either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Add in the live-action Indiana Jones stunt show and two relatively new Star Wars themed thrillers, and you have a real winner.
However, Animal Kingdom is another contender for the best Disney World park for thrill lovers, given the yeti-tracking adventure of Expedition Everest and the swooping, soaring ride on a Mountain Banshee in Flight of Passage.
But if you’ve planned a trip for the little ones or just prefer a few more sedate thrills, Magic Kingdom or EPCOT are probably the best Disney World parks for you.
Magic Kingdom features classic Fantasy Land rides, such as Dumbo and Peter Pan for the little ones and adults alike. If you’re seeking some excitement, look toward the Disney mountain range: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. Each ride offers its own share of sudden drops and twisting turns. It’s also one of the few places where in a single day you can travel into outer space, back to the wild, wild west and even join a band of marauding pirates.
EPCOT also offers fun for the entire family, with two of the park’s headline attractions, Test Track and Soarin’ open for little ones over 40” in height. It’s also the best Disney World park for foodies and those who enjoy learning about other cultures as the World Showcase features pavilions housing attractions from around the world. The latest addition to EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, is a must-do thrill ride based on new advances in ride technology.
Question #2: What Disney World Park is Star Wars In?
While our second Disney World question of the day may not get asked that often, knowing which Disney World park to find the Star Wars land is certainly important for anyone who needs the answer.
Disney’s Star Wars Land is located in Hollywood Studios. The actual name of the land is Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and it spans more than 14 acres. According to Disney, that makes it the largest single-themed park expansion in history.
Question #3: Which Disney World park has the most rides?
Our next Disney World question is a little more complicated to answer. Calculating what Disney World park has the most rides, requires a little explanation first.
Disney often refers to “rides” in its parks as attractions. That’s because some, such as Laugh Floor and Mickey’s Philharmagic, walk the line between show and ride experience. Others are true stage performances.
Since this question is asking which Disney World park has the most rides, we’re including rides in our calculations—those attractions that include movement or simulated movement—and those shows that include interactive elements. We’ve left off true stage performances, shows, parades and meet and greets, which Disney may also list as attractions.
Animal Kingdom: 12 (plus animal viewing trails and live performances)
Magic Kingdom: 32 (includes Tom Sawyer Island)
EPCOT: 11 actual rides, though several pavilions feature live performances and/or movies.
Hollywood Studios: 10 (plus live shows and performances, including Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular)
So, in short, the Disney World park with the most actual rides is Magic Kingdom.
Question #4 What’s the closest Walmart to Disney World
Let’s face it. We’ve all forgotten an item or two from our packing list while on vacation, so it’s no wonder that more people asked what the closest Walmart to Disney World is than any of our other least-asked Disney questions.
Here again, the answer depends on you, and where you are staying. If you’re onsite at a Disney World resort, or just want to know the closest Walmart to the parks, the answer is likely to be one of the Super Centers listed below:
8990 Turkey Lake Rd, Orlando, FL
2855 N Old Lake Wilson Rd, Kissimmee, FL
Question # 5: Is Disney Worth It?
To be honest, this was a puzzling Disney World question for certain. Is Disney World worth the cost? Is Disney World worth your coveted vacation days? Of course, we’d answer yes to any and all variables, but we also understand that a Disney World vacation is an expensive commitment for some travelers. That being the case, we’re almost positive that this ambiguous query refers to the cost of a Disney World vacation, and that’s a tough one to answer.
Again, to decide whether a Disney World vacation is worth it, we suggest that you determine your Disney World budget, by adding up the cost of your trip and then weigh it against other variables, such as how long it will take you to save or pay off the expense and how spending that sum will impact your long-term goals. Don’t forget to look up all available discounts and money saving tips to maximize your dollar.
We also recommend considering some other variables, such as other things that could be done with the money and whether you’re carrying a high debt load.
In the end, however, if you have a child who can’t wait to go to Disney World, the answer in the end is probably yes. Disney World will be worth the cost when you see the light in your little one’s eyes, as long as you aren’t risking financial ruin to do so. Instead, consider booking early and working with a travel agent to create a payment plan, allowing you to pay off your vacation over time with no interest or fees.
Question #6: Is Disney World in Orlando?
Our sixth least asked Disney World question is a fair one for certain. After all, Orlando International airport is the closest one to Disney World. However, the Magic Kingdom park, the first one built, is around 22 miles from downtown Orlando.
However, depending on where you are in the World, you could be looking at a Lake Buena Vista or even an Orlando address.
Question #7: How Many Disney World Resorts Are There?
To answer how many Disney World resorts there are, you first have to understand what the term resort means.
Disney operates several hotels that are located within the 47 square miles that make up the area known as Disney World. Since each offers a full list of amenities, Disney calls them resorts.
Located on Disney World property are also other resorts not owned or operated by Disney, including the Swan and Dolphin located near EPCOT but managed by Marriott, and 7 hotels in the Disney Springs area that are operated by outside hoteliers.
However, Disney only lists 31 hotels on its website, including several Disney Vacation properties.
Question #8: Does Disney World Have a Zoo?
This Disney World question is a good one for anyone just starting to research their vacation. It could be said that Disney World does have a zoo, when you consider that Animal Kingdom is an entire park dedicated to animals. However, unlike many zoos, the 250 animal species that call Animal Kingdom home live in natural habitats. Guests can view the animals, including hippos, rhinos, gorillas and okapis, using various walking trails around the park or by taking a wild safari ride.
The Animal Kingdom park, while not a zoo, is full of Disney World secret innovations that make life for the animals like living at home, while aiding in conservation efforts and providing guests the opportunity to view live animals in a natural setting.
Question #9: How Many Disney World Parks Are There in Florida?
After one of our first trips to Disney World, a conversation with a friend who lived in Utah revealed something very interesting. Many people don’t realize that there are distinct differences between Disneyland on the west coast and Disney World in Florida. So, it makes complete sense that some people would be asking how many parks there are at Disney World in Florida.
The number of theme parks at Disney World now stands at 4. However, there are also 2 water parks, a vast shopping and entertainment complex known as Disney Springs, mini golf complexes and even a world-renowned golf course.
The many Disney World parks and entertainment venues in Florida make it a vacation destination in and of itself.
Question #10: Can I Do Disney World Without a Car?
If you’re wondering if you can do Disney World without either driving a car or renting one at the airport, the simple answer is yes.
If you fly into Orlando and are staying at a Disney owned resort, you can take advantage of several airport shuttle options.
Once at your resort, Disney’s complimentary internal transportation is available to take you to and from the parks.
However, if you are staying offsite, you might find that driving your car or renting one is useful. While many hotels outside of the Disney World campus offer shuttles to and from the park, you will need to find a way to get to and from the airport. This can be accomplished through a private car service or via independently operated bus service, but having a car will allow you to take advantage of much cheaper meals at restaurants outside of Disney.
You may also use either Uber or Lyft to get around. Disney operated Minnie Vans are another option for ground transportation but do come at a higher cost.
Question #11: Disney World vs. Disneyland Size – which is bigger?
If you’re looking at the size of Disney World vs. Disneyland and wondering which is bigger, the answer is very simple: Disney World.
Encompassing 47 square miles, Disney World dwarfs its predecessor, Disneyland for ground covered. Disney World also offers four distinct parks compared to Disneyland’s two parks, as well as a host of other attractions such as water parks, mini golf and a vast shopping and entertainment complex called Disney Springs.
Question #12: What Is the Disney World Underground Tour?
Disney World’s secret tunnels, or utilIdors, are a thing of legend, so it is no wonder that people are asking whether Disney World offers an underground tour. The good news is, yes.
The Keys to the Kingdom Tour takes guests into backstage areas, including a few associated with rides, and ends by going underground into Disney World’s secret utilidor passageways. We took this tour in 2018 and were amazed to see the vast network of tunnels encompassed in the system.
Question #13: Are Disney World Tickets Refundable?
This question is crucial when planning your Disney World vacation, and like many of these queries, has multiple answers.
If you purchase individual single-day or multi-day tickets outside of a vacation package, your purchase is non-refundable. However, if you bundle your tickets with the cost of your hotel, including some offsite hotels, your tickets may be refundable. This is how it works.
When you book a package, you book room accommodations for a specific number of days. You include a ticket for a set number of days. These do not have to match.
For instance, you can book a Disney World hotel for 5 nights and only purchase tickets for 3 days. Either way, by booking them together, you have now reserved a Disney World vacation package.
You are required to put down $200 at the time of booking with the balance due 30 days before arrival. This means, you may cancel at anytime before you final payment is due without penalty. All monies paid will be refunded. In this essence, your tickets are refundable.
Cancelations made from 2 to 29 before arrival will incure a refund of any money paid, less the $200 deposit. In this instance, your tickets are refundable with a cancelation penalty.
If you want more information about the advantages of booking a Disney World vacation package, including convenient payment plans, you can read our Disney World vacation package guide.
Question #14: How to Plan a Disney World Vacation
It’s a simple question that results in a complex answer, given the number of variables involved with planning a Disney World vacation. We recommend that vacationers first decide when they plan to visit and settle on a choice of 2 or three resorts. From there, research amenities and distance from the parks. Think about where you will spend most of your time and how far your chosen resorts are. For example, if you plan to spend the majority of your time at Magic Kingdom, you may want to select one of the resorts on the monorail line.
Next, decide whether you want a standard theme park ticket, allowing you to visit one park per day, or if you need a park hopper ticket. For anyone traveling after January 9, 2024, you’ll also want to consider whether you want the Disney Dining Plan.
Determining these variables will get you started. For more complete information, visit our ultimate checklist to Disney World vacation planning.
Question #15: When Does Disney World Decorate for Christmas?
Our last least asked Disney World question is actually a bit underrated. “When does Disney World decorate for Christmas” was seeing 880 searches a month at the time our research was conducted. If you’ve ever visited Disney during the holidays, you’d understand why someone would want to plan their trip when the parks are decked out for the season.
Answering the question, however, is a little harder. Disney World has been playing around with when they decorate the parks for Christmas over the last few years. Several years ago, decorations started going up around mid-November in the parks with Disney World resorts following suit at a slower pace.
For example, during our 2014 trip, decorations were up by the second week of November in the parks, but the two resorts where we stayed did not decorate until the weekend before Thanksgiving.
In 2019, Halloween decorations were removed from the parks during the overnight hours of October 31 and replaced with Christmas decorations. Guests entering the parks on the morning of November 1, were greeted with a Christmas holiday wonderland after celebrating with ghosts and villains the night before.
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