You can’t beat a Disney World Vacation in my opinion but what makes one so wonderful? Well, for us it is a whole host of activities and experiences that make a magical vacation so I thought I would share the best things to do at Disney World. Our must do list that makes our vacations magical.
Now in this article we aren’t going to just list rides & restaurants we are going to take a general look at the things to do at Disney World which when put together make a great vacation. Let’s take a look.
1. Have an Unforgettable Disney World Vacation
To have an unforgettable vacation when you get to Disney World you do have to plan beforehand. You need to plan to make sure that you get some good dining reservations and fast pass reservations too.
Take a look at some mistakes you don’t want to make at Disney World
Plan Before You Go
You need to plan your dining reservations as soon as you can. If you are staying at a Disney World resort you will be able to book dining reservations 60 days prior to you arrival.
You can find out more about the Disney Dining Plan here.
2. Make Your Disney World Vacation Special Before You Get There
We like to make our Disney World Vacations that little more special by booking at Hotel at the airport the day before we fly. We can get to the airport early, check into our hotel and then enjoy a nice meal and maybe a few drinks the evening before we fly. On travel day we will have booked ourselves into a lounge so that we can relax before our flight to Florida. This makes it feel like the vacation has started already and make the experience at the airport a little more exciting. Definitely worth considering doing something similar if you are flying long haul to Florida.
3. Meet Lots of Disney Characters
Meeting characters at Disney World is a big part of the experience especially during your first visit. Meeting Mickey for the first time is very exciting as well your other favorite Disney Characters. You can meet characters throughout the parks and resorts and at character dining experiences too. You can get some wonderful photos of your family with all the different characters that are great to look back at after your Disney World vacation. The interactions with characters can be great too which makes for a memorable vacation.
You can read more about Meeting Characters at Disney World here.
4. Enjoy lot of Nice Disney World Food and Drink
Food and drink can be a big part of your vacation, especially if you are using the Disney Dining Plan. Themed restaurants and character dining can make up a big part of your vacation but the variety of food and drink is like no other. Dining can be a great way to take a break during a busy day in the parks but a great dish, snack or drink can too. There is so much great food to try as well as drinks too that eating and drinking can easily become one of the best things to do at Disney World.
You can find all of our Food and Dining Plan Articles here.
5. Rides, Rides, Rides
A really obvious one this but your Disney World Vacation will be full of great experiences on all the great rides across the 4 Disney Parks. Dark rides, roller coasters and water rides as well as a host of other attractions will create some wonderful memories to make your Disney World vacation unforgettable.
You can find our Top 10 Rides at Disney World here.
You can also find all of our other Disney World Rides and FastPass articles here too.
6. Amazing Shows
Make sure you see plenty of shows at Disney World such as Fantasmic and Festival of the Lion King just to name a few. There are lots of shows to enjoy at Hollywood Studios and there are shows whilst you dine too such as Hoop De Doo Revue and Spirit of Aloha. There are some amazing shows to see during the day in the parks and in the evening that will make a memorable part of your vacation.
You can read more about Fantasmic here.
7. Make the Most of Memory Maker
If you have Memory Maker as part of your vacation package then you can get as many photos taken by the Photo Pass photographers as you want. Memory Maker is a great addition to your vacation package as you can enjoy all the ride photos, character photos and park photos as you want which make for some great memories throughout and after your vacation.
You can find our Memory Maker Guide here.
8. Explore Everywhere
Make sure you explore as much of Disney World as you can as it is easy to miss things (especially during your first trip). In the past we have come across characters that don’t usually get to meet such as Wendy Darling from Peter Pan and there are all the resorts to explore to if you have the time. The Boardwalk is a great place to visit for a break from Epcot and is only a short walk from World Showcase. There are also the food kiosks that can sometimes be hidden away a little in the parks as well as some of the stores too. Have a good look around and you never know what you might find.
9. Watch the Fireworks
Disney World Fireworks are amazing. Across Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios there are amazing displays at each park and they can be a fantastic way to end a day at Disney World. Watching the fireworks from Main Street in Magic Kingdom can be very special and the same goes for World Showcase at Epcot and in front of the Chinese Theater at Hollywood Studios. Watching the fireworks is definitely one of the best things to do at Disney World and should be on anyone’s must do list.
10. Escape to the Water Parks
The parks can get busy especially at the weekend so why not take some time out on a Saturday morning at one of the Water Parks. Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are great water parks with lots of slides and other rides to get the kids excited but allowing for some time to relax by the pool too. If you are brave you might try one of the big water slides or simply enjoy a lazy river but you can definitely have some fun and this makes the Water Parks one of things on our must do list.
11. Get to the Parks Early
Getting to the parks early can be really beneficial to you. You can get on a good amount of rides very quickly and really enjoy what the Disney Parks have to offer. This is a great way to beat waiting in line during the day as you are in the park before the crowd levels really start getting busy from 10 AM onward. Do consider getting to the Disney World parks early for rope drop and perhaps taking a break in the afternoon if needed. You may also want to consider using some of our other Line Hacks and Tips that you can find here or by clicking the image below.
12. Enjoy the Disney Bubble
The Disney Bubble is real especially when you stay on property at a Disney World Resort. From getting on The Magical Express at the Airport you are being looked after by Disney. You don’t have to worry about anything that you normally would. You can let Disney transport get you to where you need to go, you can dine without worrying about cooking and you can indulge yourself in the magic of the Disney World parks day after day. The Disney Bubble is a great place to be and is definitely one of the best things about a Disney World vacation.
13. Book a Special Event
As you are on vacation, why not treat your family (or vacation party) to a special event like a Dessert Party, After Hours Event or Halloween/Christmas party. We have done a few Dessert Parties now and I have to say we have really enjoyed the Happily Ever After Dessert Party at Magic Kingdom. The seating area from the Tomorrowland Terrace has great views of Cinderella Castle and that along with all the desserts and drinks on offer make for a very special experience. This year we will be attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and we are really looking forward to it. A special event can definitely be one of the best things to do at Disney World to make your vacation more magical.
If you are looking to treat the children then Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a magical makeover experience for little princesses or the Pirates League can transform little ones into Pirates (both are located at Magic Kingdom). Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is also at Disney Springs. With Galaxy’s Edge also now open building a Lightsaber or your own Droid might be a great choice for Star Wars fans in your family or party. There are lots of options to consider.
You can find out more about special events on the Disney World website here.
14. Tour World Showcase at Epcot
Taking a proper tour around World Showcase at Epcot can very much be one of the best things to do at Disney World as you will discover a lot of good food, interesting drinks, Disney Characters and performers along the way. There is so much on offer around World Showcase to see and do that you really need to allow some time to do it properly but if you do it will be really worth it and it could become a special part of your vacation and one that will be on your Must Do List whenever you return.
You can find our Epcot World Showcase Guide here or by clicking the image below.
15. Stay on Property
We have mentioned staying on Disney World Property a few times already in this article and for us it is the best way to fully enjoy Disney World. Staying at a Disney World Resort really allows you to fully enjoy Disney World and allows you to escape into the Disney Bubble we mentioned above. You also have earlier access to making dining reservations if using the Dining Plan as well as making FastPass reservations too.
You can read our article on The Benefits of Staying at Disney World Hotel here or by clicking the image below.
16. Plan To Go Back to Disney World
Once you have been to Disney World it is highly likely you will want to go back. Leaving Disney World can be hard (Disney World Withdrawal isn’t good but you can read our tips to deal with it here) so why not use you vacation especially the last few days to think about where you want to stay on your next visit, what restaurants you might want to try next time and other activities you might like to try. One of the best things to do at Disney World, especially at the end of your vacation can be planning for your next one.
So, there you have the best things to do at Disney World that we think makes for a magical Disney vacation. If you have enjoyed the article please do share it using our pin below or any of the other images, it helps support our site and helps us to reach others that are planning a Disney World Vacation.
Thanks for stopping by.
Darren
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