Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is a massive resort complex that offers not just one, but four world-class theme parks. These include Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. On our first trip to Disney World together, we went as adults before we had kids. This gave us a little more flexibility to plan a jam-packed week with all 4 theme parks. We woke up early to be at the parks for rope-drop and stayed late with Extra Magic Hours to maximize our visit. Of course, not everyone wants to do that. In fact, we still can’t believe we did it ourselves. However, this experience helped us learn which age groups and personalities are best for each Disney World park.
While we believe all 4 parks are worth visiting, we understand not everyone has the time, budget and/or interest in doing so. That’s why we put this guide together for those trying to figure out which parks to visit on your next Disney trip. We review each theme park and share who would most enjoy each park (and throw in some extra tips as well!)
MAGIC KINGDOM
Magic Kingdom is usually the first park that comes to mind for many people when they think of Disney World. And for good reason! The iconic Cinderella Castle and other popular attractions there are known all over the world. As its name suggests, this is where you’ll best experience the “magic” that Disney is famous for. The selection of shows, rides, fireworks and characters available in this park set the bar for what other theme parks are measured against. Magic Kingdom itself is divided into smaller lands, including Adventureland, Fantasyland, and our personal favorites: Frontierland and Tomorrowland. Each area has a unique theme that ties all the attractions together. So who do we recommend visit this park?
BEST FOR:
- First-time visitors: if you’ve never been to Disney World before, Magic Kingdom should definitely be on your list. It is a classic Disney experience that shouldn’t be missed! Even if you’re not a big live show or parade person, the nightly fireworks along with the castle projections cannot be beat.
- Younger kids: this is a great park for young children, especially if they are into Disney movies and TV shows. They’ll be able to see and meet their favorite characters here. Magic Kingdom also has the best selection of rides geared towards younger ages, as well as other attractions like parades and shows. If your child isn’t ready yet for more thrilling rides or roller coasters, there are plenty of gentler options (which may also be a plus for the older members of your party!)
- Guests looking for a nice balance: Magic Kingdom really has something for everyone. While there are rides geared for children, there are plenty of thrills to be found with rides like Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But there are also rides such as It’s a Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean that the whole family can enjoy. There is also a wide variety of dining options to satisfy any palette and budget, from burger joints to fine dining.
THINGS TO NOTE:
- For people that don’t “get it”: one of the best parts about Disney World is escaping reality for a bit and getting swept up in the experience. But we understand that it’s not for everybody. If you or someone you’re with isn’t really into the whole Disney magic thing, this park may not be the best choice. For more ideas on what to do instead, check out our post: “11 Things to Do at Disney World for Non-Disney People“.
- The number of attractions: while Magic Kingdom is a smaller park when it comes to square footage, it offers the most number of rides and attractions. In fact, this is the one park where it may take 2 days for you to see and do everything you want to experience. So if you know you will only be spending one day in Magic Kingdom, it’s important to set the right expectations and realize you probably won’t get to do everything available there.
EPCOT
The second most famous Disney World park is arguably Epcot, thanks to the distinctive shape of Spaceship Earth (or “that giant golf ball”). Epcot, an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, is divided into two sections: Future World and World Showcase. Future World’s attractions focus on science and technology while World Showcase contains pavilions each representing a specific country. So who do we think will love Epcot?
BEST FOR:
- Adults on an adults-only trip: this is a great park for adults visiting without kids, particularly the World Showcase area. 11 countries are represented here: Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States. A popular activity here is to “drink around the world”. In addition to alcoholic beverages, you can also enjoy delicious entrees and desserts from each country. Adults may also want to check out annual events at Epcot, such as the Food & Wine and Flower & Garden festivals.
- Travel lovers: visitors of all ages who enjoy traveling will love Epcot as well. Pavillions throughout World Showcase offer family-friendly attractions to help you experience and learn more about their countries. These include 360-degree movies in Canada and China, shows like The American Adventure, and rides like Norway’s Frozen Ever After and Mexico’s Gran Fiesta Tour.
- Anyone who enjoys learning, especially science and technology: Epcot is probably the most educational of the Disney parks. Most of the attractions involve learning in some way, which is probably why Karen as a teacher loves it so much. There are rides that are more learning-heavy like Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth. But others mix plenty of thrills with learning like Soarin’ and Test Track. In fact, Test Track is the fastest ride at Disney World! Many visitors also don’t realize there is a full aquarium at Epcot. It’s big enough to fit all of Spaceship Earth and then some! Of course, there’s also plenty of learning to do in World Showcase as well.
THINGS TO NOTE:
- Lack of “Disney-ness”: especially compared to a park like Magic Kingdom, Epcot does not have as much of your typical Disney characters or theming. So if you’re with really young children who just want the more magical aspect of Disney (princesses, Mickey, etc.), this park may not be the best fit. They may appreciate Epcot more once they are of elementary school age.
- Planning your day: Future World has a lot of popular rides like Soarin’, Test Track and Spaceship Earth. We recommend starting your day in this area by rope dropping and using some FastPasses in Future World. The aquarium is a great place to spend some time if you’re waiting for your next FastPass reservation. Then swing over to World Showcase for lunch. Many country pavilions have indoor shows and attractions to give you a break from the afternoon heat. If you want to use a FastPass for Frozen Ever After, try to get an early afternoon time after your 2 morning reservations in Future World. This gives you the opportunity to snag additional FastPasses for the rest of the day.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
For movie fans, look no further than Hollywood Studios. The additions of Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land means this film-themed park now has plenty of attractions to fill your day. Originally known as MGM studios, this park brings movies to life through interactive rides and shows. While it’s great for guests of all ages, who do we think this park is especially recommended for?
BEST FOR:
- Star Wars fanatics: Hollywood Studios had already offered something for fans of a galaxy far, far away with the Star Tours ride. But with the addition of Galaxy’s Edge in 2019, it’s a must-visit for Star Wars fans. Because it’s a newer land, it also offers some of the most technologically-advanced attractions, making it worth a stop even if you don’t know the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek. Pilot the Millennium Falcon on Smuggler’s Run, experience the Rise of the Resistance and even build your own droid or lightsaber.
- Thrill-seekers: this park has some of the most intense rides available at Disney World. One is the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. This indoor coaster launches riders from 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds! It also takes you through 3 inversions while you jam out to Aerosmith hits. The other ride to note is Tower of Terror. This “Twilight Zone”-themed attraction combines a creepy atmosphere and story with a series of randomized accelerated drops. Even though we typically don’t like free-fall rides, we enjoyed Tower of Terror more than we expected!
- Cinema fans: whether you enjoy watching movies or are interested in the movie-making process, Hollywood Studios is a great park for cinephiles of all ages. There’s Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, Mickey & Minnie and more for younger movie watchers. Attractions that may appeal to an older generation include the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! and Muppet*Vision 3D, to name a few.
THINGS TO NOTE:
- Nighttime entertainment: most parks just offer one major nighttime entertainment show. But you may have to choose one or the other at Hollywood Studios. The long-running Fantasmic! is a favorite of ours. This show is a combination of lights, water, pyrotechnics and characters from a wide range of Disney animated movies. There may also be a fireworks show in the park later that night, such as Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. While they don’t have the same start time, it is pretty difficult to catch both. With the possibility of Fantasmic! not starting right on time plus how long it can take to leave the amphitheater within a large crowd, don’t expect to also make it over to catch the full fireworks show. If you’re not sure which one to pick, we recommend Fantasmic! for a family-friendly classic Disney experience.
- Virtual queues: Disney began to roll out virtual queues instead of waiting in physical lines with Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge. Be sure you have the My Disney Experience app downloaded on your phone. Also, don’t forget to review how virtual queues, boarding groups and notifications work prior to your visit. You don’t want to get frustrated in the park and miss your opportunity to get into this attraction due to a lack of preparation.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
The newest park at Disney World is Animal Kingdom. As the largest of the Disney parks, Animal Kingdom is part theme park, part zoo. The highlight of this park is the massive African-style wildlife preserve. The Kilimanjaro Safaris take you on a guided tour through the preserve which has no visible fences for a great viewing experience. They are also careful not to disturb the animals. So if a rhino decides to chill in the middle of the road, the driver of your vehicle will stop until the animal moves away. If this sounds fun, you’ll definitely want to add Animal Kingdom to your list.
BEST FOR:
- Animal lovers: obviously, anyone who loves animals should visit this park. Kids who love going to the zoo will feel right at home. If we had to pick the best 2 parks for younger children, we’d probably choose Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. With the safari, a large zoo and even a dinosaur land, there is plenty to see and experience. If you’re a fan of animal-based Disney movies, you’ll also love the shows here like the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo The Musical.
- Avatar fans: the World of Pandora is a newer addition to Animal Kingdom. It seems a little random, but it’s an impressive area nonetheless. It’s obviously a must-visit for Avatar fans. But even if you’ve never seen the movie, the attractions, especially Flight of Passage, is worth the long wait. On this ride, you’ll fly on the back of Banshee as you soar through Pandora in an incredibly immersive and realistic 4-D adventure.
- Travel lovers: similar to Epcot, if you love traveling, you will enjoy Animal Kingdom. Two of the major areas in this park are Africa and Asia. You won’t find as many specific details or countries here like in Epcot. But in terms of theming and especially food, there is plenty to explore here. Some of our favorite meals at Disney World have been in Animal Kingdom.
THINGS TO NOTE:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris: the safari experience can greatly vary based on the time and day. If it’s an incredibly hot day, you may not see a lot of active animals. Other times, you may get to see a lion put out a mighty roar. Not everyone agrees on the best time to view the animals. But many believe that you’ll see the most activity first thing in the morning or at sundown when it’s cooler.
- Non-animal attractions: even if you’re not a big animal person, Animal Kingdom offers a great selection of thrilling rides. In addition to Flight of Passage mentioned above, Expedition Everest is a crowd favorite. This roller coaster features great storytelling, a backwards section and an 80-foot drop. Kali River Rapids is also popular, but to be honest, we found it to be a bit overrated. Just be ready to get potentially soaked on this ride!
WHICH DISNEY WORLD PARK IS BEST FOR YOU?
Each Disney World park offers a unique experience. Because of this, like we said earlier, all the parks are worth checking out. But if you need to pick just a few on your next visit, we hope our guide helps you plan your trip. For the sake of over-generalizing, if you have children between the ages of 2-6, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are probably your best bets. Older children may be able to enjoy more what Epcot and Hollywood Studios have to offer. Adults may also be drawn to the shopping and dining options available at Disney Springs.
Choosing which Disney World parks are the best for your family is just one part of the planning process. It’s important to mention that Disney World is a vacation destination that may need a little more planning than other trips to ensure a smooth experience. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below and we’d be happy to answer them. Be sure to check out our other posts on Disney World to help plan your best trip to the most magical place on Earth!