Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks and two water parks. Below, we’ll provide an overview of each one. This guide is designed as a simple starting place to learn about the parks. It expands on our coverage through various series of articles dedicated to each park. You can select any of the parks to learn more specifics about that park. We’ve also listed our most popular planning articles for spending time in the Disney World Parks!

Magic Kingdom

Often referred to as the Most Magical Place on Earth, Magic Kingdom Park is Walt Disney World’s original 1971 theme park. The park’s icon, Cinderella Castle, sits in the center of the park at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. Magic Kingdom has so many attractions and rides that it can be challenging to take it all in over a day’s time. We recommend planning a minimum of two days at this park, and you still probably won’t get to see everything!

Newest Attractions:

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• TRON Lightcycle/Run

What’s Not to Be Missed at Magic Kingdom?

This answer could vary depending on your touring party. But we think it’s important to experience a mix of classic attractions combined with more modern ones. Our bucket list day at Magic Kingdom includes the following attractions and entertainment:

Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Magic Kingdom

Epcot

Epcot opened on October 1, 1982, and is the second theme park at Walt Disney World. Originally called EPCOT Center, the name stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This theme park offers a mix of educational aspects and thrills. Those who love travel will likely be inspired by the eleven countries offered in the park’s World Showcase.

Newest Attractions:

• Mickey and Friends Character Spot
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

What’s Not to Be Missed at Epcot?

This answer depends on various factors, including your likes and dislikes. But we would not want to visit Epcot without touring the Land Pavilion, the Seas Pavilion, the countries in the World Showcase, and riding Guardians of Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Below, we have a more concise list.

Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Epcot

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989, as Disney-MGM Studios. The park was designed to be a working studio and a theme park. Over the years, Hollywood Studios underwent a name change and settled on being only a theme park. It’s now home to two popular lands based on favorite Disney-owned film franchises: Star Wars Galaxy Edge (Star Wars) and Toy Story Land (Toy Story).

• Coming Soon: The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
• Newest Attractions: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

What’s Not to Be Missed at Hollywood Studios?

You’ll want to ensure that the things on our list suit your family. But these are some of our favorites, including seeing Fantasmic! which is almost always packed and often requires a time investment to get decent seats.

Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park opened on Earth Day (April 22, 1998). It is the last of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, but definitely not the least. A day spent at Animal Kingdom is truly like no other. We recommend touring this park at a slow pace and exploring all of the little things. You will be better for it by the end of the day. If possible (based on operating hours), we recommend touring the park after dark to see Pandora, World of Avatar glow in bioluminescence.

• Coming Soon: Zootopia Attraction in the Tree of Life Theater
• Newest Attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey
• Construction: Dinoland U.S.A. will begin to close in 2025 to make way for a new Tropical Americas-themed land.

What’s Not to Be Missed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

It’s important to remember that a park like Animal Kingdom is not necessarily about thrill rides. However, there are a few options.

Learn More >> The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Browse Our Disney World Parks Planning Articles

These articles will help you decide which rides are suitable for your family. They include a list of height requirements for rides in every park and instructions on using Rider Switch if you have an ineligible rider. Given its popularity, we’ve included a guide on everything Frozen at Walt Disney World.

The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney World Lightning Lanes: If you’re planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, this is one of our most important guides. It details everything you need to know about Lightning Lanes (Multi Pass, Single Pass, and Premier Pass) Preview average pricing, selections, and a step-by-step overview of the process.

The Resorts Gal Ride Selector: This free tool will help you select Lightning Lanes for each day of your trip ahead of time. When it comes time to reserve your rides and times, you’ll have a complete plan. Make sure to get your copy of this incredibly helpful spreadsheet.

Free Disney World Ride Spreadsheet: Our free ride spreadsheet is created with Google Sheets to help you plan. It has a tab and detailed instruction guides with examples for each park. Use it to quickly reference rides by their location within the park, height requirements, Lightning Lane status, and whether or not they’re available during early entry or extended theme park hours.

A Step By Step Guide to Purchasing Lightning Lanes (With Screenshots): This guide walks you through opening the My Disney Experience app and reserving Lightning Lanes. Use our screenshots to guide you as you practice the process before your reservation date.

Disney World Rides with Height Requirements: This guide lists every attraction at Walt Disney World with a height requirement, as well as the ones that don’t!

How to Use Rider Switch at Walt Disney World: This guide will teach you everything you need to know to experience attractions at Walt Disney World when traveling with little ones.

Everything Frozen at Disney World: The Frozen frenzy continues! We’ve compiled a guide that shares everything related to Frozen in the four theme parks.

The Magic Kingdom Rides Guide: This is one of our most popular articles. It gives a brief description of every attraction at Magic Kingdom.

Luminous: The Symphony of Us Viewing Locations: This article shares photos of Epcot’s fireworks from some of our favorite viewing locations (and a few of the worst!).

Seasonal Guides

Here are a few of our seasonal guides for the parks.

The Resorts Gal Guide to the Holidays at Walt Disney World: Find out everything you can expect for each of the four theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.

The Resorts Gal Guide to the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: Find out everything you need to know to celebrate the holiday season at Epcot!

8 Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July at Disney World: Are you spending the 4th of July at Disney World? Don’t miss this special list of must-dos for the holiday!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide 2024: This seasonal guide teaches you everything you need to know about the seasonal Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. This year’s event begins on August 9, 2024!

9 Things to Do During Christmas at Walt Disney World (2024): This guide shares announcements for the Christmas holidays at Walt Disney World during the 2024 holiday season.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: Preview photos and videos of the Christmas parade at Magic Kingdom!

Browse All Park-Related Articles