Does a perfect day in Disney World actually exist? What about FIVE perfect days? Only one way to find out! Let’s figure out how to build YOUR perfect vacation!

So, “perfect” is a pretty BIG claim, but the purpose of this post, we’re going to set you up for success. We’re gonna tell you which rides you’re gonna want to prioritize, which shows you’re not gonna want to miss, which restaurants to get up at 5:45AM to book, and – this is the best and most important part – we’re gonna give you the BEST insider tips for 2022 and 2023 to get your trip as close to perfect as possible. We’re in the parks every single day making TONS of mistakes so that we can make sure YOU don’t make the same ones!

Since we’re covering a LOT of ground today, we’ve come up with printable checklists for EACH of the parks, covering ALL the must-do’s, recommendations, and tips we’re covering here today.

That way, you’ve got a nice little guide to refer back to when doing all your Disney World vacation planning. If you want these checklists sent to your email straight away, just CLICK HERE to get these downloadable PDFs sent to your inbox AFTER we wrap up here today.

Disney Genie and Genie+

Before we jump right into perfect park itineraries, let’s do a quick review of Disney’s big planning tool, Disney Genie. Planning a Disney World trip can feel overwhelming. There are loads of tips to help with this – including choosing whether or not to buy Genie+, which allows you to bypass main queue lines at over 40 rides in Disney World.

Disney Genie is a FREE planning tool on the My Disney Experience App. But with this free planning tool comes premium features. Line bypassing features, to be exact.

If you pay $15 per person, per day (or more depending on when you visit) for Disney Genie +, you’ll be able to access Lightning Lanes for MANY rides and select attractions around each of the Disney World parks. These Lightning Lanes will allow you to bypass the main queue lines in exchange for a much shorter queue.

Individual Lightning Lanes

There’s also a SECOND premium tool — the Individual Lightning Lane Entry tool — which is set up in more of an a la carte fashion. The a la carte Lightning Lane choices allow you to get reservations for the HOTTEST rides in each of the parks, which won’t be featured in the Genie+ set list. These prices usually range around $7-$15 per person per ride. These prices will also vary depending on when you visit Disney World. So if you visit at a more crowded time, expect the prices to be higher.

Now, we WILL be mentioning Genie + and the a la carte options throughout this post, but DON’T STRESS over this being REALLY heavy on the Genie + tips. We’re gonna talk about how to manage WITHOUT this extra expense, too, to give it a nice, fair concoction of tips. And, if you want MORE Genie + guidance, you can always check out our video that REALLY gets in-depth with HOW to navigate that service.

But there are also plenty of non-paid tips to help you conquer as many rides as you’d like. Stay tuned.

So let’s jump into DAY ONE.

Day One: Magic Kingdom

Many folks make Magic Kingdom a priority park. It IS the OG of the four, after all.

But not EVERYONE walks away from a day at Magic Kingdom feeling like they were able to accomplish EVERYTHING they wanted to do. Good thing that won’t be you!

Rides

There are over 27 rides in Magic Kingdom. Actually, in the Spring of 2023, that number will jump up to 28 rides — once the TRON Lightcycle Run coaster is up and running in Tomorrowland.

The Mountains

So let’s PRIORITIZE your must-do rides! If you and your group love rides with a little more of the “thrill” elements, then you’re gonna want to focus your energy on the Magic Kingdom mountains. These include: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (which some ARGUE isn’t a mountain, but, y’know, it looks awful mountain-y to us. So a mountain it shall be!)

So how can you get through all these mountains in ONE day? You’re gonna have to start early. REALLY early. Especially considering the lines for all of these can get pretty steep. If you’re staying at one of the Disney-owned resorts on property, you’ll have the Early Theme Park Entry perk — which will allow you to hop into any of the parks on any day 30 minutes before the parks officially open to the rest of the public. So take advantage of that if you have it.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Although Seven Dwarfs Mine Train IS part of the a la carte Lightning Lane options because it tends to see the highest crowds during the day, you can use that 30 minute timeframe to get in line for this one ASAP. (And if you don’t have that 30 minute wiggle room? You’re STILL gonna want to go to the park for rope drop. The earlier you can get started on your Disney day, the better!)

Space Mountain

After that, you may wanna head over toward Space Mountain next — since it’ll be located in the next land over: Tomorrowland!

Splash and Big Thunder Mountains

Now, you COULD aim for Splash Mountain AFTER your trip through space which is located KINDA farther away in Frontierland, but you may also want to wait for the end of the day — considering fewer people seem to want to get all sopping wet before bedtime.

Just keep in mind that Splash Mountain will not be open much longer since it’ll start undergoing its major retheme — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — in January of 2023. The new attraction is projected to open in late 2024. So this ride could get more and more popular the closer it gets to its official closing date. If you’re wanting to get absolutely DRENCHED on Splash Mountain, you’re gonna want to sit towards the front and to the right. Riders who sit towards the back left of this log flume tend to make it out of the ride more or less unscathed.

When you’re in the Frontierland area, you’ll be right next door to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Out of all the coaster mountains, this one tends to have the shortest wait times of the bunch. Each of the mountains is DEFINITELY a solid first choice for Lightning Lanes, too. But, once again, we’d probably suggest aiming to get Splash Mountain or Space Mountain BEFORE Big Thunder Mountain.

The Classics

Let’s say you’re more into the dark ride scene, OR you’ve already hit up all the thrill rides, and you’re ready to experience the tamer options that Magic Kingdom has available. This park has SEVERAL classic rides to fill your day with.

Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean are some of the most popular options that you’ll want to add to the top of your to-do list. BUT Haunted Mansion might just SPIKE in popularity in 2023 — since it’ll be adding ANOTHER fan-favorite happy haunt to its attraction — the Hatbox Ghost,whom you can already see over at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

Rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “it’s a small world,” and Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid tend to have much shorter wait times than the others though that doesn’t mean they can’t get long, they tend to make great “filler” rides when other queues are starting to look SUPER intense.

Rides Without Lightning Lanes

Though most rides in Magic Kingdom do have Lightning Lanes, there are some rides that don’t — like PeopleMover and Astro Orbiter over in Tomorrowland. That being said, these aren’t rides you’re gonna need to prioritize earlier or later. They’re fun to hit up if their lines are fairly short. But DO NOT MISS the PeopleMover if you don’t have to. It is a gem and totally meditative and worth the ride when you’re run down after a day in Magic Kingdom.

It’s possible to ride everything in one day. No, really, it is. But if that’s your goal, then we tend to enjoy having Genie+ to lean on in Magic Kingdom. More rides = more money’s worth. If you DO go the Genie+ route, you’ll only be able to buy it on the day of your visit, starting at midnight, and the reservations won’t go live until 7AM. The sooner you can start booking your Lightning Lanes, the better off you’re gonna be! Also, if doing everything is your goal, you may want to plan to visit when the parks are a bit less crowded (so avoid holidays, spring break, etc.).

The Five Best Rides at Magic Kingdom (And the Four Worst!)

Shows

Though Magic Kingdom has a LOT of rides, the shows are a good way to get some AC when ride lines are at their peak in the middle of the day. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Carousel of Progress have minimum waits, old-school animatronics, and a lot of Disney history running through their roots.

There’s really not a bad time to get in line for these rides — but we don’t recommend hitting them up first thing in the morning since that’s prime ride time that you’re not gonna want to miss out on, when you’re starting to feel a little weak in the knees and need to get out of the sun for a bit is the PERFECT time to check these out. They’ll give you a place to sit for a while, indoors, with blasting AC.

In 2021, Philarmagic in Fantasyland got an extreme makeover — with improved 3D and an additional Coco scene. Much like the other shows, Philarmagic can be ridden at any time throughout the day.

Fireworks

But, of course, the big show you’re gonna want to check out is Disney Enchantment — which happens at the end of each Magic Kingdom night…

For now — Disney Enchantment WILL be running its final show in 2023 — and will be replaced by a NEW Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular at a to-be-determined date. So, before that switch happens, you’ll more than likely want to see the full-on projection/fireworks combo at Cinderella Castle. The best place to view Disney Enchantment is gonna be Main Street, U.S.A. Plan to stake out your spot 30 minutes early.

This area WILL be crowded. Like, VERY crowded. So if you don’t wanna mess with the crowds, and you wanna stick with JUST the fireworks, you can always opt to watch the show from behind Cinderella Castle, instead, which is a whole lot less people-y.

The BEST Places to Watch Fireworks in Disney World

Food

Are YOU feeling rumbly in your tumbly? Let’s fuel up. Now, before we start listing off some of the restaurants that can help build your picture-perfect Disney day, keep in mind that — with each park — we’ll only be listing a select few that’ve really stood out to us over the years.

We’ve got a full guide of EVERY SINGLE DISNEY WORLD restaurant in our 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. And if you’re thinking, “Wow. That’s a lot of information.” Then, yeah, you’re right. It’s restaurant reviews, full-color pictures, budgeting tips, and recommendations. And it’s a project we are all really proud of!

We’ve also got separate DFB snack guides to help you narrow down what treats you’re really gonna want to prioritize while you’re in the parks. Which you can buy separately OR in a bundle for a discounted price.

Okay — It’s chow time!

Cinderella’s Royal Table — Character Dining

The MOST popular restaurant in Magic Kingdom is located INSIDE Cinderella Castle — at the signature dining experience, Cinderella’s Royal Table. Here, you’ll dine in a royal setting and get the chance to meet Disney princesses for a quick photo op. Because of the restaurant’s popularity, you’ll want to make an Advance Dining Reservation.

Advance Dining Reservations will open 60 days before your visit, starting around 5:45 EST. And, trust us, you’re gonna NEED to wake up around then to get these hot shot reservations — so set multiple alarms to motivate yourself to actually GET UP before the sun does.

Review: Is Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table Worth the Cost Right Now?

Crystal Palace — Character Dining

If you want to meet a LOT of characters at once, The Crystal Palace is another option for you. This is a buffet-style setup where you can meet the Hundred Acre wood gang for pictures, autographs, and lots of hugs!

Currently, The Crystal Palace is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Read our review of The Crystal Palace here! 

Skipper Canteen

If you’re wanting something a little more unique, you can always hit up The Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant, Skipper Canteen, instead. Skipper Canteen is a good time — filled with lots of puns and adventure-driven knickknacks. You can also ask for the hidden menu here for access to even more unique eats and appetizers. Not to mention, reservations for this sit down restaurant are way easier to snag than you’ll find at Cinderella’s Royal Table. You may even find a reservation the day-of — just check the Dining Tip Board on the My Disney Experience App to see if a Walk-Up Waitlist or last-minute Dining Reservations are currently available. These may be a little tougher to come by on the weekends — just a head’s up.

Table service meals are a fun way to experience a unique side of the parks — however, considering there are so many rides in Magic Kingdom, and only so much time to complete as many as possible, table service dining could end up being a huge time suck.

Quick Service Restaurants

And if that’s the case, you’re gonna want to hit up something quick. REALLY quick. So here are a few quick and counter service restaurants that could buy you more time for rides, shows, and other Disney experiences if you hit them up instead:

• Columbia Harbour House –This Liberty Square quick service has hearty, grilled, and fried surf-and-turf options.
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe — Close to Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (and even closer to Country Bears Jamboree), you can get LARGE Tex-Mex dishes like fajitas, nachos, and rice bowls.
• Westward Ho — This often-overlooked Frontierland kiosk has our favorite Magic Kingdom pastry — the Wendell’s Bear Claw — as well as some other snacky options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also get flavored Joffrey’s coffees here!
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe –Looking for straightforward theme park food — like burgers, chicken strips, and hot dogs? Cosmic Ray’s WILL provide! Make sure to say hi to Sonny Eclipse for me while you’re there, okay?

If you decide to go the quick service route — and you need a little extra snack pick-me-up when the middle of the day rolls around — don’t skip out on those CLASSIC Magic Kingdom snacks!

Snacks

Some of our personal favorites include the savory spring rolls at the Adventureland Spring Roll Cart, regular and specialty Dole whips (at Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace), and the corn dog nuggets with a side of plastic cheese for an extra $1 at Casey’s Corner.

Characters

Hold on, friends — we’re not done with Magic Kingdom, yet!

If you wanna meet some of your favorite Disney characters, you’re gonna need to know where to track ‘em all down. Though not every meet-and-greet spot has fully returned yet, here are all the places you can find some familiar faces (as of now):

Main Street, U.S.A.:

• Mickey and Minnie are at Town Square Theater — You can even get a Lightning Lane for them!
• Snow White is (usually) on the Town Square Theater Porch

Fantasyland:

• Rapunzel, Tiana, Cinderella, and Elena of Avalor are at Princess Fairytale Hall. You can even get a Lightning Lane for them!
• Merida at Fairytale Garden,
• Peter Pan near Peter Pan’s Flight,
• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at the Thotful Spot, at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Adventureland:

• Aladdin and Jasmine like to pay a visit at the Agrabah Bazaar from time to time.

Parades

But there are also random character encounters you may stumble upon, too! Be sure to check My Disney Experience and the Times Guide for characters and their appearance times. You can ALSO meet characters in passing during the daytime parades and cavalcades! The main parade is the Festival of Fantasy — which usually shows twice a day, at noon and 3PM.

These are good times to also try getting back in line for some of the other popular rides — since many guests will flock to the sidewalks to watch the floats as they pass by. But, if you’ve got a kiddo in your group who wants to meet characters — but is still kinda skittish when it comes to meeting ‘em face-to-face — the Festival of Fantasy allows them to wave at them from afar without all the extra meet-and-greet stress.

Before the 50th Anniversary Celebration wraps up in 2023, make sure to take the time and visit EACH of the golden statues sprinkled around each of the parks.

There are a ton in just Magic Kingdom alone.  You can find ‘em all. Like Pokémon!

Your Ultimate 1-Day Plan For Magic Kingdom

Got all that? GREAT. Time for DAY TWO!

Day Two: EPCOT

You’ve got four different lands to explore in EPCOT: World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery, and World Showcase. Because EPCOT is so spread out, you’re gonna need a solid game plan to get everything done in a day.

So let’s start PLANNING!

Rides

EPCOT isn’t a ride-heavy park like Magic Kingdom is, so being able to hit everything in one go is definitely possible in a single day — even without Genie+. But, that being said, EPCOT is a very involved park — so you’re gonna be filling up your day with way more than just rides. So prioritizing your “must do”s is still gonna be the key to your best day ever.

New Rides

Let’s start with the newest rides in EPCOT: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is (currently) the newest ride in Disney World. It’s got a backwards launch, 360-degree vehicle turns, and a rockin’ soundtrack that’s random EVERY time you ride. It’s also currently using the Boarding Pass system: Which means you’re gonna need to enter a virtual queue instead of waiting in a super-long physical queue. Boarding Groups go live at 7AM and 1PM daily on the My Disney Experience App. And, because of the ride’s popularity, they tend to fill up quick. So if this is a must-do ride for you, try to aim for that 7AM virtual queue drop. That way, on the off-chance you miss your window of opportunity, you’ll have a safety net, and will get the chance to try again when 1PM rolls around.

Cosmic Rewind is also available on the a la carte Lightning Lane options. But even these Lightning Lanes tend to book up quicker than others. Try getting in the virtual queue at 7AM before attempting to grab a Lightning Lane. If you miss your chance at a Boarding Pass, and you don’t want to take your chances and wait on that 1PM virtual queue drop, then you can go ahead and do the Lightning Lane purchase for this one.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — over in the France Pavilion —is part of the regular Genie+ ride list. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is super close to EPCOT’s second park entrance — the International Gateway, which connects the park to the EPCOT-area resorts. If you’re staying in this area or if you’re staying at one of the Skyliner Resorts, you’ll be able to enter through the International Gateway when the park opens and head over to Remy’s first thing in the morning.

If you’re entering from the park’s main gate, you can still make the trek over to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure for an early morning ride, or you can wait until the evening when the crowds die down for it again.

Soarin’ and Living with the Land

Now that we’ve got the new kids on the block outta the way, let’s discuss some of EPCOT’s other popular rides: Soarin’ and Living with the Land are located on the first floor of the Land Pavilion. Since they’re pretty close together, you can hit up one, then the other, back-to-back. Soarin’ will have the longer lines of the two — since it’s a fairly popular screen-based flight simulator, that everyone always claps for at the end. It’s an unspoken rule, at this point. That being said, wait times do dip down throughout the day — and, normally, linger around the 20-30 minute mark.

Soarin’ actually has a new third queue choice, that’s not part of the main queue or a Genie+ queue. And that’s the single rider line. There are only a handful of single rider options available throughout Disney World, but if you can find them, they often provide shorter wait times for those longer rides. Not always, but often enough that — sometimes — it may be worth a shot, just to get everything done that you wanna accomplish. The Single Rider queue will break up your group, though — so if you’d rather ride altogether, stick with the main queue and just wait things out.

Test Track

Test Track is another thrill ride with the single rider option. However, the wait times for this one are pretty reasonable if you go right when the park opens.

Frozen Ever After

And then there’s Frozen Ever After — located in the Norway Pavilion — which is a family boat ride featuring Elsa, Anna, Sven, Olaf, Kristoff, and Marshmallow, the ice monster! Be warned! He’s gonna send you down a little drop that you might not be expecting from a dark ride!

Frozen Ever After’s a good one to grab a Lightning Lane for — since the line tends to creep outside its building and extend into the neighboring China Pavilion at times. But, you can also aim to ride this one at the very end of the night. Your wait could be even shorter if you decide to hit this one up while EPCOT’s nighttime spectacular is going on. But you don’t have to jump in line around then to experience this ride if you don’t wanna miss out on the big show.

Walk-On Rides

Looking for rides that are basically walk-ons? Spaceship Earth, Grand Fiesta Tour: Starring the Three Caballeros, The Seas With Nemo and Friends, and Journey Into Imagination with Figment can be ridden at pretty much anytime. If you see them pushing a 20-minute wait or beyond, don’t get in line for ‘em yet!

They should MAJORLY drop at sometime during the day for you to hit up later.

The 5 Best Rides at EPCOT (And the 5 Worst!)

Shows

It’s SHOWTIME in EPCOT, folks!

During the EPCOT festivals, you can catch live concert performances. You can watch the Candlelight Processional, if you’re visiting around the holidays, on the American Gardens Theater Stage in The American Adventure Pavilion.

Shows are usually pretty easy to catch during their limited afternoon and evening performances, aside from the Candlelight Processional, which brings in BIG crowds that you’re SO not gonna want to underestimate. Just don’t get caught up in all the World Showcase offerings and forget about these performances altogether! There aren’t many showtimes for these groups each day, so if seeing one of the bands is a big deal to you, then add this to your itinerary!

Later in 2023, you’ll be able to catch these types of festival performances, plus many others, at the BRAND NEW CommuniCore Hall and Plaza — which is currently in-the-works and will become a main hub for the EPCOT festivals once it opens.

While you’re making your way around The World Showcase, there are a few shows that you can stop at for a quick pit stop, if you need a much-needed “out-of-the-sun” break.

Films

These films are located in the Canada, France, and China pavilions. And though they’re not the most exciting things you’re gonna experience in the World Showcase, they’ve got AIR CONDITIONING. They’re also pretty quiet — if you’re looking for an escape from the crowds.

The American Adventure pavilion has a more impressive show — featuring numerous audio-animatronics that recount vital points in America’s history — but it’s currently closed for refurbishments ‘til the foreseeable future. We’ll let you know when it’s back up and running again, pronto.

Fireworks

But the big show you’re really gonna want to check out is HARMONIOUS, which takes place on the World Showcase Lagoon. Harmonious takes classic Disney songs and performs them in several different languages — making a nighttime spectacular with international influences and tons of special effects, like shooting water, pyrotechnics, projections, and — of course — fireworks!

Much like Disney Enchantment, Harmonious’ time in EPCOT will be coming to a sudden end in 2023. We don’t know what show’s gonna replace it yet, but what we do know is that you’re may gonna want to see this one in all its glory when you visit before it disappears for good. The front of the World Showcase (ie: the area BETWEEN the Mexico and Canada Pavilion where you’ll find the main World Showcase gift shops) is gonna give you a straight shot of the performance.

But, since Harmonious does happen in the MIDDLE of the World Showcase, it’s WAY easier to find a good viewing spot for this one — even 10-15 minutes before showtime.

A few of our favorite places to watch this show from are:

• Behind Rose and Crown in the UK Pavilion (on the right or left hand side — where there’s a LOT of patio space (as long as there’s still room available)
• To the right of the torii structure in the Japan Pavilion
• On the Italy patio (as long as there’s not an event going on here — which will block off this area for the rest of the evening)
• And the big open area between the Mexico and Norway pavilion (with no obstructions whatsoever)

A Full List of Showtimes in EPCOT

Food

Y’know how Magic Kingdom has the most rides? Well, EPCOT has the most dining options! But, then again, it’s got 11 different countries for you to potentially eat at — so it makes sense!

The highlight of EPCOT dining is all thanks to its four different festivals that happen throughout the year, including:

• Festival of the Arts,
• Flower and Garden Festival,
• Food and Wine Festival,
• and Festival of the Holidays

EPCOT Festivals

Very rarely will you visit EPCOT, and a festival won’t be happening. So you’ll wanna see all the different food booths that’ll be available during your visit to narrow down your must-eats before you get there. Otherwise? All of the different options could be… extremely overwhelming to choose from. Which is why we ALSO have detailed festival guides, too! And best of the fest YouTube videos that we release at the beginning of each new festival! So you’ll know exactly what our personal top-picks are!

Space 220

But what if you don’t want to taste test items from around the world? What if you want a full meal that’s OUT of this world? Space 220 is a highly-immersive restaurant that’s set in the Centauri Space Station, with giant windows that look out toward space. That’s right — SPACE. The menu options here aren’t our FAVORITE, by any means, but the atmosphere gets top marks from us — and may be worth a visit if you’ve got an aspiring astronaut in the family.

Le Cellier

If you want something a little classier — you can book a table at Le Cellier Steakhouse — which has a menu of signature Poutines, tender steakhouse cuts, and that oh-so-famous Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.

Rose ad Crown and Yorkshire County Fish Shop

And speaking of comfort foods, Rose and Crown Dining Room has a bunch of comfort foods — like bangers and mash and fish n chips. But if you want an even cheaper option for fish & chips, the Yorkshire County Fish Shop next door has the same entree for WAY less. In fact, it’s usually the only entree on the Yorkshire menu. But, really, it doesn’t need another option. The fish n chips have got things covered plenty on their own.

Garden Grill — Character Dining

On the second floor of the Land Pavilion is the Garden Grill character dining experience that not only serves some top-notch comfort classics on its menu but is also set in a slow-rotating dining room — so you may look up from your mashed potatoes and mac and cheese and find your view to be slightly different than before.

Don’t worry — you don’t have to rely on festival booths alone for a quick meal.

Quick Service Meals

Here are some quick services meals that’ve served us well time and again:

• Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie (in the France Pavilion) has numerous pastries and croissant sandwiches at reasonable prices
• Regal Eagle Smokehouse (in the American Adventure Pavilion) has barbecue options inspired by the regions in this nation that are known for their famous BBQ stylings.
• Karamell Kuche (in the German pavilion) isn’t gonna, like, fill ya up for lunch and dinner or anything — but it’s got great caramel-coated treats that’ll at least satisfy your sweet tooth.
• La Cava de Tequila (in the Mexico pavilion) doesn’t have a whole lotta hearty food options either — but it does have chips and queso. But what it’s really known for is its tequila. So. Much. Tequila.
• And Connections Eatery (in World Celebration) is a new quick service location with lots of seating and a few unique options, such as the Apple Pie Gelato Shake and the Curry-Spiced Pizza

We’ve Eaten at Every EPCOT Restaurant. These Are the BEST.

EPCOT Pavilions

While you’re making your way around the World Showcase, don’t forget to really explore these different pavilions.

Not only does each country have a lot of food, a lot of shops, and a lot of festival offerings, and, in some cases, a fun dark ride to throw in the mix, but many of them also have side exhibits and galleries that act as a mini self-guided tour through the country’s history and current culture. These little exhibits also double as a great place for a little AC and a moment of peace in an otherwise-busy park.

Characters

And, yes, you can also meet characters in EPCOT too!

• Disney Pals (like Pluto and Goofy!) tend to hang out near EPCOT’s Main Entrance.
• While Joy from Inside Out and Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph chill inside ImageWorks.
• Winnie the Pooh likes to spend time outside near the Imagination Pavilion, often chasing butterflies with his trusty net.
• And Mickey can be found in the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival Building.
• Characters also tend to pop up all around the World Showcase (especially the princesses) — so keep your eyes open
• Be on the lookout for a Figment meet and greet next year, too! Our imaginative purple dragon found will be a new meet-and-greet character by the end of 2023.

Your Ultimate 1-Day Plan for EPCOT

Third park’s a charm! Let’s get to it!

Day Three: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Don’t let the name fool you — Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not gonna be a wild time. This is the more easy-going park out of the four which we are not complaining about! But that doesn’t mean you can’t slack off on your planning here! Despite it being a more relaxing time, this is the biggest park on Disney World property. To make room for ALL those animals!

So the more ground you can cover while you’re here, the better off you’ll be.

Rides

Out of the four Disney World parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the least amount of rides. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s still a lot to do at Animal Kingdom, and the rides they do have are a good time. You’re just probably not gonna need Genie+ for this park, since you’re not gonna get a whole lotta use out of it.

Flight of Passage

The one ride that tends to see the highest waits throughout the day is Flight of Passage — over in Pandora: World of Avatar. But even then, you can only get a Lightning Lane for this ride through the a la carte selections, and not through the regular Genie+ choices.

Don’t be intimidated by those really high afternoon wait times! Flight of Passage tends to cut down its wait times by half of what they were during the day when it’s getting close to the end of the day. But even if you do decide to wait for this one, it’s not the worst queue to pass the time in. Actually, it’s got some really fun theming with a full-on laboratory and a life-sized Navi animatronic featured in the last room of the queue.

Na’vi River Journey

Na’vi River Journey also tends to see pretty high wait times. And, although it’s a cute boat ride — with bioluminescent plants and one of the coolest ride animatronics out there, the giant Shaman, waiting for you toward the ride’s conclusion — it’s not a ride you’re gonna want to wait over 30 minutes for. Since it’s pretty short. Plan to ride this one early rather than later in the day.

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris — over in the Africa section of the park — is one of those quintessential Animal Kingdom experiences you’re not gonna want to miss. Each time you ride, you’ll see different animals in this full-on 20+ minute safari across an expansive savanna.

Avoid riding this one during the heat of the day, though — since the animals will be way less active and probably hiding in the shade. Can you blame ‘em? Surprisingly enough, one of the best times to ride this one is when it’s lightly raining. The animals tend to love the showers. You may even see the younger elephants playing in puddles!

Thrill Rides

In need of some thrills? Expedition Everest (in the Asia section) and Dinosaur (in DinoLand USA) are a little more… intense.

Expedition Everest is the park’s only rollercoaster — and features an 80-foot drop, backwards momentum, and LOTS of interactions with a certain yeti who’s tearing apart your mine train tracks. Dinosaur may not have the drops or backwards track, but it does make you tango with gigantic dinos who wanna eat your face. But it’s all for the sake of science!

Both rides tend to see average wait times around 20-30 minutes long. So if you see them projecting longer than that, just keep an eye on your My Disney Experience App so you’ll know when the crowds start to die down. Expedition Everest DOES have a single rider queue — so if you really don’t wanna wait in the main line, you can bypass a good chunk of it by “ridin’ solo” instead of needing a Lightning Lane for it.

The Five Best Rides at Animal Kingdom (And the Five Worst!)

Shows

There are two major shows in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Festival of the Lion King

The first is Festival of the Lion King — which is located in the Africa section of the park. Festival of the Lion King is a party. There’s singing, there’s dancing, there’s giant puppetry, and there are TUMBLE MONKEYS! Depending on what section of bleachers you’re sitting in will determine your “team” for this performance. You’ll either be in the warthog, lion, giraffe, or elephant section. And that’s not gonna be, like, detrimental to your show experience or anything, but you will have to mimic your animal later on. And that’s pretty funny stuff. There’s not really a bad seat in this house, but if you want a better chance of your kiddos being able to participate in some on-stage activities toward the show’s conclusion, then try to sit closer to the front where they’ll be easier to see!

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond

The second show is Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond — which was recently reimagined to incorporate characters and scenes from the Pixar sequel, Finding Dory. Again, the seating is stacked — so getting a good view of the performance isn’t too terribly challenging. Though the further back you sit, the more you’ll be able to see the whole picture of the performance.

Both Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: Big Blue and Beyond have multiple performances throughout the day — so check those showtime guides and plan to get in line 15-20 minutes before the theater starts letting guests in.

It’s Tough to Be a Bug

And then there’s inside The Tree of Life, which shows… It’s Tough to Be a Bug. To cut to the chase… we’re not huge fans of this show, and you might not be either if you’re not a fan of bugs getting all up in yo’ business but if you’re looking for a, err, multi-sensory 3D show centered around Pixar’s A Bugs Life? Then this show runs continuously all day long with very little wait times.

A Full List of Showtimes in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Food

Ohhhhh yes. Now, these Disney World eats might be good enough to solidify a perfect day all on their own.

Quick Service Restaurants

For quick services, you’ll always hear us singing the praises of Satu’li Canteen, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Eight Spoon Cafe.

Satu’li Canteen offers customizable bowls and cheeseburger pods that’ll satisfy picky and adventurous eaters alike. Though there’s lots of indoor and outdoor seating here, Satu’li Canteen can still get pretty packed out. A good rule of thumb for quick services — whether you’re dining at Animal Kingdom or another Disney-owned fast food location — is to: A) Use the mobile order app to order ahead of time. This will allow you to not only place your order, but also select a pick-up window time frame that works best with your schedule  B) dine during non-peak dining times. If you can order a late lunch or early dinner, you’re more likely to not have to struggle to find a table, and you won’t get stuck behind a long line to order. Even if you mobile order during those peak dining times, your order could still take a bit to get out to you if the quick service location is getting a lot of traction.

Flame Tree Barbeque is, well, just good barbecue. You can get decent pulled pork and smoked chicken portions here for a more budget-friendly price. Eight Spoon Cafe is an unassuming little kiosk, but it’s got some great baked mac and cheese options, as well as an interesting doughnut and pulled pork sandwich — that could help curb both your salty and sweet cravings in one bite.

If you’ve got some picky eaters on your hands, Restaurantosaurus may be a better option — that offers up your typical theme park spread of options in a kitschy setting! Take some time to look at all the details here!

Tamu Tamu Refreshments is the place you’re gonna want to go for your traditional and specialty Dole Whip offerings…

…While Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery has some solid plant-based items, like flatbreads and spice potato hand pies, as well as quick/affordable breakfast options, too.

Tusker House — Character Dining

If you’re looking for some character dining, Tusker House has Donald and the gang, all dressed up in their safari gear, ready to say “cheese” for some more-than-memorable photo ops. All while you dine on an African-inspired cuisine.

Yak & Yeti

Yak & Yeti is probably one of our favorite sit-down restaurants in Animal Kingdom. And since they often have reservations available after the park closes, you don’t have to worry about wasting daylight in the park! There are a TON of pan-Asian-inspired options here — including a shareables menu, in case you wanna save some money and split a meal with someone else.

Nomad Lounge

And then there’s Nomad Lounge — another all-time favorite — which serves select small plates from the same kitchen as its signature restaurant neighbor, Tiffins. Nomad Lounge is a hot-spot, and you can’t make reservations for it ahead of time. So get a spot in line before the lounge opens up at 11 AM.

Snacks

How ‘bout a snack? We’re all for the Ice cream sammies from Dino Bites, as well as the street corn from Harambe Fruit Market.

A few other classic faves from the DFB team are:

• The Night Blossom drink and Pongu Lumpia at Pongu Pongu
• Buffalo Chicken Chips at Trilo-Bites
• The mini mango pie at Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes
• And the animal-decorated sweet treats at Zuri’s Sweets Shop

The Best Breakfast at Animal Kingdom

Walking Trails

Do yourself a favor — don’t skip over Animal Kingdom’s walking trails! Animal Kingdom has three main walking trails: The Maharajah Jungle Trek, the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and the Discovery Island Trails. These are fantastic areas to escape the crowds while also taking in the scenery, and saying hello to several animals, too!

Wilderness Explorers Activity

Before you start exploring all the nooks and crannies Animal Kingdom has to offer, however, get your kiddo all set up for the Wilderness Explorers interactive experience — so they can collect badges as they learn about the surrounding wildlife from trusty Animal Kingdom wilderness guides. You can start your adventure at the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters located on the bridge between Oasis and Discovery Island, or at one of the other Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader locations featured around the park.

Characters

Guess what? You’ve got meet-and-greet opportunities in Animal Kingdom, too!

• You can meet your Favorite Disney Pals — Mickey and Minnie — at Adventurers Outpost this one gets pretty popular, which is why there’s a Lightning Lane option available!
• Or you can meet Donald, Daisy, and Chip n Dale at DinoLand USA.
• Many characters, however, and exclusive to the Animal Kingdom park and roam freely around different areas, like — Kevin, the massive colorful bird from Up, or our good friend De-Vine, who’s kinda hard to spot, but usually hangs out toward the entrance of the park.

Flotillas

Sometimes, you may be able to catch a character passing by down the river, via flotilla. In the past, we’ve seen Timon and Pumbaa, Pochanonta and Meeko, Dino-riffic Chip and Dale, and members of the Fab Five — as well as several other characters that’ll swing by to catch a boat ride every now and then.

Wildlife Express Train/Rafiki’s Planet Watch

If you jump aboard the Wildlife Express Train — located in the Africa section — you’ll be able to travel to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Here, you’ll find a plethora of activities — like the Animation Experience drawing class, the Affection Section petting zoo, and the veterinary/nutrition area, where Disney’s animal experts prep to care for the wildlife onsite.

DFB Video: Animal Kingdom is the BEST Disney World Park

Three parks down, one to go!

Day Four: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We’re in HOLLYWOOD, baby!

But — much like the real Hollywood — things can be pretty fast-paced here. In order to keep up, you’ll need a strategy or two, or three or… a dozen.

Rides

When it comes to the rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’re gonna have heavy hitter, after heavy hitter, after heavy hitter. Meaning? Those wait times can get extremely long.

Low Wait Time Rides

The rides that have the lowest waits throughout the day are Star Tours (over in Echo Lake) and Alien Swirling Saucers (over in Toy Story Land). But even those can push 30+ minutes in the afternoon. Though Hollywood Studios doesn’t have as many rides as Magic Kingdom, this is another park where Genie+ could come in handy —especially if you don’t want to spend the majority of your day waiting in line after line. But let’s take a look at how to tackle each of these rides to make sure you’re getting the best ridethroughs, and lowest wait times.

Rise of the Resistance

Starting with the big one — Rise of the Resistance, over in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Rise of the Resistance isn’t just the most popular ride in Hollywood Studios. We’d say it’s THE most popular ride, period. Even those who aren’t big into the whole Star Wars fandom are gonna get a kick out of how incredibly immersive this ride is — from its state-of-the-art animatronics to its trackless ride system, to its sudden thrills, to its multiple preshow rooms… Yeah. It’s a lot.

Even if you’ve got the Early Theme Park Entry on your side, most everyone who is using that extra 30 minutes of time will be flocking towards Rise of the Resistance. And there are two ways to go about this: 1) Follow the crowd. Even if the wave of guests looks overwhelming, these crowd levels still won’t be as bad as they’ll get later on in the day. Or 2) Go to another popular ride and pretty much walk right on. Decisions, decisions…

You can also purchase an a la carte Lighting Lane for Rise of the Resistance — even though it tends to be on the higher scale of that fluctuating price range. If you’re having a hard time getting on this ride without it being over an hour wait, there’s always a chance that those crowd levels will drop down toward the end of the night. There’s an even bigger chance they’ll start to dip during showings of Fantasmic! Many guests will plan to see this popular nighttime spectacular, meaning there’s a strong chance all those guests who usually fill. up the Rise of the Resistance queue in the evening will be flocking towards the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater off Sunset Boulevard.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Joining Rise of the Resistance in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge scene is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Smugglers Run is…definitely less popular than its younger Rise of the Resistance sib. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its fair share of heavy wait times. That being said, you’re probably gonna see the lines for this one die down toward the end of the night.

Each time you ride Smugglers Run, you’ll be given a position and assignment to help complete the smuggling mission.  As a pilot you’ll get to actually fly the Millennium Falcon. Gunners will shoot down enemies that try to intercept your mission. And engineers make ship repairs when needed to keep this hunk of junk flying. There are two people per assignment — one will sit on the left-hand side of the ship, and the other will sit on the right. Making it, six riders total.

The pilot is the most coveted spot of the three — but it can also be the most stressful. Smugglers Run is one of two rides in Hollywood Studios that has a single rider line — in case you want to try and bypass the lines that way. The other ride that uses single rider is located on Sunset Boulevard — and that’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the park’s high-speed launch coaster that you’ll probably want to hit up earlier rather than later on — when everyone else starts funneling into the park. And, although the Tower of Terror drop ride is right next door, this one’s a good one to wait for ‘til night. Not just because the lines start to dwindle, but also because the vibes are ways spookier once the sun sets.

Both Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror can be intense for younger riders — and some younger kiddos in your party may not be tall enough to ride just yet. To make sure everyone in your party who wants to ride these gets a chance to, you can use a nifty little feature called “Rider Swap.”

Rider Swap allows the first part of your group to wait in line per usual, while one or two folks wait outside with those who can’t (or don’t want to ride). Just ask a cast member at the front of the attraction for assistance on how to get all set up with Rider Swap — and they’ll take care of the rest for ya!

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Not every ride is gonna be too intense for the whole family. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — located inside the replica Grauman’s Chinese Theater — has no height requirement and is the only ride in Disney World that stars Mickey and Minnie Mouse! Kinda wild, right?

This ride’s really cute and clever — but you may want to wait to hit it up later in the day rather than first thing. Many guests see the Grauman’s Chinese Theater first, so that’s where they go first — meaning lines can actually be more intense for this one in the morning. But, after the morning crowds die down, the line stays pretty consistent and is usually way more manageable toward the end of the day. However, if the nighttime spectacular is happening the evening of your visit, Runaway Railway’s queue will more than likely close an hour before the show starts. So don’t wait too long for this one — otherwise you might miss it altogether.

Toy Story Land

And lastly, we’ve got Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania over in Toy Story Land — two more family-friendly rides with the same theme, but vastly different executions. Toy Story Mania is a competitive arcade-style interactive ride that has no height requirement, and Slinky Dog Dash is a solid introductory coaster for kids and skittish riders, in general.

Of the two, Toy Story Mania tends to have the shorter lines with an indoor, colorful-and-quirky queue to wait in. Slinky Dog, however, has a pretty intense wait usually at all-times with a partially-covered queue that still gets roasty-toasty during those warm Orlando days.

If you don’t want to prioritize Rise of the Resistance, or you wanna wait for that one later on, then we suggest prioritizing Slinky Dog next, especially if you’re traveling with a bunch of younger riders. Or make it one of your first Lightning Lane choices — if you decide to go that route.

22,000 Disney Fans Rank ALL the Rides in Hollywood Studios

Shows

This is Hollywood we’re talking about so, of course, you’re gonna have solid show options to choose from!

The big three shows you can check out during the day are: Beauty and the Beast: Live On Stage, Indiana Jones: Epic Stunt Spectacular, and The First Time in Forever: Frozen Sing Along.

Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage is a Broadway-style retelling of — you guessed it — TANGLED.  Just kidding, making sure you’re still paying attention! It’s Beauty and the Beast. This live performance takes place in a covered stadium-style outdoor theater off Sunset Boulevard — so you don’t have to worry about any seat being particularly bad. Performances happen several times throughout the day — which will be listed in your park guide AND on the My Disney Experience App.

A lot of the same can be said about Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular — which is a behind-the-scenes look at how major stunts and explosions are created for hot-shot films. It’s a big, covered, stadium-style theater with some really cool special effects. Before you pick a showtime for this one, see what the hourly forecast is looking like. The show could be canceled — or cut short — if the weather starts looking bad. Special stunt effects + rain = not a safe combo for anyone.

The First Time in Forever: Frozen Sing Along is in an indoor theater with great air conditioning! It’s not called FROZEN for nothin’! It’s a fun, upbeat, and interactive show that can also be quite the knee-slapper at times. So if it really is going to rain at some point during your day, this could be a good show to hit up during that time.

MuppetVision 3D, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, and Vacation Fun — An Original Animated Short run constantly throughout the day. Out of the three of them, MuppetVision 3D is a personal favorite that never seems to get old — even if the 3D IS slightly outdated. However, all three shows are indoors and a great way to pass time in the afternoon when the ride lines are all pushing those really intimidating wait times.

Fantasmic!

And the grand finale of your day in Hollywood Studios is Fantasmic! It was closed for a while and returned with a lot of fanfare and some new scenes and special effects! It usually offers two showings, and the second showtime tends to be way less busy than the first. Meaning you can hit up a couple more rides during the first show, and catch the second run later on.

Fantasmic!’s really popular, so plan on getting in line for this one at least 30-40 minutes in advance. You’ll be able to find the outdoor theater close to Tower of Terror, off Sunset Boulevard. From our experience, the best seats are a little further back giving you a better view of the full picture, whereas if you sit in either the first or second row of bleachers, you’re gonna get wet. Fantasmic! uses a lot of water effects to pull the whole thing off — and the spray from those effects is pretty relentless for front-row guests.

You can oftentimes find short fireworks shows at the Chinese Theater as well.

A Full List of Showtimes in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Food

Hollywood Studios won’t be winning any awards for “Best Foodie Park” anytime soon, but you can still track down some stellar eats while you’re here.

Snacks

Some of our personal favorite quick eats we like to track down while taking a break between rides include:

• The Glimmer and Shimmer Blondie at Backlot Express
• The Carrot Cake Cookie at Trolley Car Cafe
• The Lunch Box Tarts at Woody’s Lunch Box
• The Cold Brew Black Caf at Kat Saka’s Kettle
• and the Wookiee Cookie also at Backlot Express

Backlot Express means a lot to us, okay?

Quick Service Restaurants

Quick service dining is pretty straightforward at Hollywood Studios, but we do have to applaud ABC Commissary for its menu overhaul a while back — which brought with it unique items like shrimp tacos and the Buffalo Grilled Cheese Sandwich. If you want some more “adventurous” quick service choices, head into Galaxy’s Edge and hit up Ronto Roasters for their Ronto Wraps or Docking bay 7 for other intergalactic options — that may be iffy for picky eaters, so check out the menu ahead of time.

Fairfax Fare has introduced new bowls and the hot dogs that were once there are now located at Sunset Ranch Market. 

Hollywood Brown Derby

The one restaurant that really shines in Hollywood Studios for its A+ quality food is Hollywood Brown Derby — a signature restaurant that has a variety of California-inspired cuisines: from burgers to cheese plates to their Famous Cobb Salad. If you can’t get a reservation for this one, try getting on the walk-up waitlist for the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge on the day of your visit. You won’t have the whole Brown Derby menu at your disposal, but you will be able to order select appetizers, as well as a variety of cocktails and other spirits.

50’s Prime Time and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

The most unique and themed dining in Hollywood Studios are over at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. 50’s Prime Time Cafe is set in a retro-style household, with plenty of sassy family members that’ll pick on ya (all in good fun), while Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater is… exactly what it sounds like. You’ll sit in a convertible car and watch cheesy black-and-while sci-fi clips while eating diner-style food in a dim-lit setting.

Reservations for these restaurants tend to go quick,  especially the Sci-Fi Dine-In — so mark 60 days before your trip on your calendar and make sure you book those Advance Dining Reservations when the time comes!

Hollywood and Vine — Character Dining

For character dining, you’ll wanna book a reservation for Hollywood and Vine. For breakfast, this buffet features Disney Junior characters that you’re not gonna see at any other character dining experience, while lunch and dinner have Minnie and friends for Minnie’s Seasonal Dining.

 

And don’t forget about the newest option that’ll be opening in 2023 Toy Story Land — Roundup Rodeo BBQ. This will be a colorful table service restaurant that shrinks you down to the size of a toy while you enjoy a variety of smoked barbecue dishes. We’re already predicting that it’s gonna be a pretty popular option since people sure do love their shiny new stuff in Disney, so keep checking back with us for an official launch date.

Top 3 Table Service Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, According to Yelp

Characters

Do you wanna meet a snowman? Because you can do just that! And you can meet so many other Disney and even Star Wars characters here!

• Olaf can be found for meet and greets over at Celebrity Spotlight, but this Frozen friend is mighty popular — which is why you can make a Lightning Lane to meet him!
• Mickey and Minnie can be found strutting their finest attire at Red Carpet Dreams
• Meet Disney Junior Pals like Vampirina and Fancy Nancy at Animation Courtyard
• Sulley, from Monster’s Inc, is at Walt Disney Presents
• Head over to Star Wars: Launch Bay to meet BB-8, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader
• In Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll see several familiar faces strolling the grounds of Batuu

While, in many other areas around Hollywood Studios, you’ll see some surprise appearances from those classic Disney pals like Chip n Dale, as well as Goofy and his son, Max.

Build Your Own Droid and Lightsaber

If you’re looking for the ultimate Star Wars experience, you can always make reservations to build some custom creations — like your very own lightsaber from Savi’s Workshop, or a droid companion from the Droid Depot. These experiences will cost you a pretty penny, though, so make sure to set aside a budget for them ahead of time.

Walt Disney Presents

And, last but not least, a great way to escape the crowds, heat, and commotion — as well as learn some Walt Disney history, in the process — can be found in the Walt Disney Presents/ One Man’s Dream self-guided tour building. Seriously. This area is super cool — especially for all you Disney buffs out there.

The CHEAPEST Days to Visit Disney World in 2023

Day Five: Disney Springs/Resorts Day

Disney Springs

If you’ve got a fifth day to spend at Disney World but don’t want to buy a ticket, you don’t have to leave the Disney Bubble if you don’t want to. There are still plenty of things you can do.

Disney Springs Food

At the Disney Springs shopping district, you’ll find tons of stores and so many places to eat, like Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Chicken Guy, Morimoto Asia, and Jaleo — just to name a few.

One of our favorite things to do while we’re at Disney Springs, though, is to snack around.

Cookies!

Gideon’s Bakehouse is the most popular dessert destination in the shopping district. So much so that you’ll more than likely have to get on a virtual waitlist just to get in line for one of those massive cookies. The good thing about the virtual waitlist is that even if you Do get on it and have a massive wait of around 2+ hours, yeah, not kidding — it’s that popular, and you won’t have to worry about spending all that time in line. Continue about your Disney Springs day per usual and let the time pass naturally. Just keep your phone’s ringer on so you can hear when you get the text notification, telling you it’s your turn to enter the bakery!

Snacks

If waiting in a massive line — virtual or not — doesn’t sound appealing to you, here are a few other sweet-treat shops we like to munch at, too:

• Salt and Straw for unique ice cream flavors
• Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop for traditional ice cream flavors
• Swirls on the Water for unique Dole Whip flavors
• Marketplace Snacks for character bubble waffles
• The Ganachery for fresh chocolates
• And Amorette’s Patisserie for seasonal petit cakes

Disney Springs Entertainment

But you’ll also find different ways to fill your afternoon, too! You can…

• Watch a movie at the AMC theatres
• Bowl at Splitsville Luxury Lanes
• Ride in a tethered hot air balloon with Aerophile
• Create a Lego figurine of yourself at the Lego Store
• Catch a free concert at various Disney Springs locations
• Or sail in a half boat/half vehicle Amphicar right next to The BOATHOUSE

The great thing about Disney Springs is that many places stay open after parks close. You’ll definitely need to look at each place’s individual hours to check when they close each day of your trip, but the important thing to takeaway here is that you don’t have to wait for a break day to visit Disney Springs if you don’t want to or you simply don’t have a fifth day scheduled into your itinerary at all. You can swing by here after a day in the parks for some last-minute shopping and a late-night meal.

Shopping

You can find all kinds of stores around Disney Springs. World of Disney will carry almost all of the Disney-themed merchandise you will find in the parks. UNIQLO is a great place to grab cheap, unique, and cute Disney tees. There’s also a LEGO store, a bath bomb store, and so much more!

Disney Springs is also a good place to go when you first arrive at the Walt Disney World area, and you wanna kick off your vacation immediately. Not to mention, parking is free! And, when you arrive at Disney Springs, you’ll also be able to grab a bus to any other Disney resort or park. Which can be a big game-changer for you, since Disney buses can’t travel between resorts.

Disney World Hotels

And since we’re on the subject, let’s talk about those resorts!

There are several Disney World-owned resorts around property that you’re more than welcome to check out during your vacation. There are often several free and premium activities, dining, beachside hammocks — and sometimes even fireworks views from the parks. Specifically, if you’re hanging around the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT-area resorts.

The only big downer of checking several of these Disney hotels out in one go is that you won’t be able to drive up to them if you’re not directly staying at them or if you don’t have a reservation for one of their restaurants. However, as we mentioned earlier, you can still take a bus from Disney Springs or a Disney park and be able to access a different resort.

Resort hopping is way easier, however, if you’re exploring different hotels along the Disney Skyliner or Disney monorail loop.

Hotel Food

Many times, we like to escape the parks for an hour or two to enjoy one of the resort’s restaurants. A few of the places we try to visit often for a nice meal are:

• ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boma (and/or Sanaa) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

And several others that you’ll definitely want to make reservations for 60 days out — just like you would at any other Disney park restaurant.

Whether you go to Disney Springs, the resorts, or do a little of both on your free day, try planning for this day outside the parks in the middle of your vacation. Maybe after your first two parks, and before the last two parks of your trip. Think of it as half time performance during a big football game you can have fun and regain your stamina before jumping into the second half of the game.

Your Ultimate One-Day Plan for Resort Hopping in Disney World

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The post The Best Disney World Itinerary for a 5-Day Trip first appeared on the disney food blog.