What is the Difference between the Four Parks at Disney World?

What’s the same?

Before we say what is different, let’s talk about what’s the same! They all have attractions, which consist of rides, shows, and character meet and greets. They also have entertainment, comprised of a combination of parades, fireworks, live shows, and street performers. They all have a variety of dining experiences that should have something to please almost anyone. And finally, they all have shops that provide you with ample opportunities to purchase souvenirs. Oh, yeah! They also all have Disney magic that helps provide a special day!

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is the oldest park, that was built with Walt Disney’s original ideas. Things have changed through the years, but what remains the same is the feeling of nostalgia. This is where you’ll find attractions that he created for the World’s Fair and then moved to Disneyland. When it was built, Carousel of Progress was eventually moved to Orlando. Some attractions like It’s a Small World were replicated from what he made for the Fair and consequently Disneyland. Along with those nostalgic attractions, you’ll also find newer ones like Tron Lightcycle Run, which opened just a few months ago. Magic Kingdom has something for everyone in the family! Don’t miss those evening fireworks! Talk about magic!

Epcot

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was built next. The original idea Walt had was to build a living, working community for people. While Epcot is a different entity than he dreamed about, it is a place that was built as a forward thinking environment. The original Future World was filled with attractions that taught guests something: history of technology, automobiles, the sea, the land, and the imagination. It was a very different place than the Magic Kingdom! Throughout the years it evolved into what it is today. This park boasts the new Guardians of the Galaxy:Cosmic Rewind attraction! In addition, you can ride Test Track, Soarin and many other rides.

World Showcase hasn’t changed as much as Future World. Here you will find small versions of countries from around the world with cultural attractions, as well as food and merchandise available from those countries. Epcot hosts 4 Festivals throughout the year, which center mostly around these countries and often add even more booths that represent more countries. Want to go when there is a Festival? You’re in luck! There’s almost always a Festival!

Hollywood Studios

Originally designed as a studio lot, Hollywood Studios has definitely evolved through the years! Today, it has lands: Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge, as well as attractions that are not in a land at all, like Rockin Rollercoaster and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Certain areas still have that studio lot feel, like Sunset Blvd, but by and large the theme seems to be more about movies than Hollywood. That doesn’t stop it from being one of my favorite parks!

Animal Kingdom

The fourth park, Animal Kingdom is not a zoo! In fact, the original marketing for the park told us that over and over! There are animals of course, but there is also much more! One of my favorite attractions is Kilimanjaro Safaris because you get to see animals in what looks just like their natural habitat. But there are also rides like Everest and shows like Lion King. It’s hard to say exactly what this park is except to say it is a theme park with animals!

Whichever parks you choose to visit, it is important to remember that the magic comes with some thought and planning. You can’t do everything in one day. Pick some things you are interested in and then see what else there is. You don’t have to blow your budget to have a great time. It just takes a little planning and pixie dust!

Comments

What is Pixie Dust?

First Time Magic When I was Young…and so was Disney World My first visit to Disney World was in 1971. I was not excited to be going to Disney. Why? I did not know that Disney existed, much less that I was going there. 1971 was the year that Walt Disney World opened in Florida and I was 5 years old! Whether my Dad kept it a secret so that it would be the ultimate surprise is unclear to me. What I am sure of is that he took us to the most magical place on earth. Operations were very different than they are now, but the one thing that remains the same is that it is still the most magical place on earth. What is Pixie Dust and how can I Make it Happen on my Trip? Pixie Dust is a magical, unexpected thing that can happen while you are at Disney, but you cannot make it happen. I have heard people recently complain that the magic is gone since the pandemic started. It’s not true. I am sad for these people because they are missing the point. There are two types of Pixie Dust: Unexpe

Signature Dining at The Walt Disney World Resort

One of my favorite things I have a confession. While it is true that I love all things Disney , the attractions, the parades, the fireworks, the characters, the thing I love most at Disney is the dining! Whether I am on a Disney Cruise or visiting the Theme Parks, the dining is my favorite thing! You may not be aware of this, but Disney offers several different types of dining experiences: Table Service, Quick Service, Character Dining , and the coveted Signature Dining! Why is it called Signature Dining? Disney's Signature Dining locations are named as such because they are each a one of a kind, dining experience. Walt Disney talked about taking an experience and "plus-ing" it. In other words, taking something great and then taking it up another notch. That is exactly what the Signature Dining experience is! What do I need to know? Each of these unique locations is available by reservation and they tend to fill up very quickly! Reservations can be made 60 days bef

Disney Value Resorts: Which one is Best?

Why are they called Value Resorts? Pop Century The Disney Value Resorts are called that because they are the least expensive resorts that Disney has to offer. In other words, staying at one of these will stretch that Disney Budget farther. Currently, there are 5 Values: Pop Century , The Art of Animation , All Star Music , All Star Movie s, and All Star Sports . What amenities and entertainment can I expect at a Value Resort? All of these resorts will have a counter service restaurant, a pool bar, a gift shop, a themed pool near the main building, guest laundry, Movies Under the Stars, and special resort activities at the main pool. In the rooms, you can expect beds for 4 people (2 to a bed) or if you book a suite it will sleep up to 6 people. In the standard rooms and suites you will have a coffee pot with coffee service provided and a cooler/fridge perfect for keeping drinks cold, but not much else. The suites also have a microwave as well as a small supply of plastic forks a

Some of My Favorite Things: Hollywood Studios Edition

Hollywood Studios: What can I expect? Hollywood Studios, like Epcot , is not like the MagicKingdom . It is not like Epcot either. So what is it? Originally, Hollywood Studios was a small theme park named MGM Studios. The theming of the park was a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Everything that was originally there had to do with the making of movies. Though it was my favorite park, it had a problem. It earned the reputation of a half-day park. Through the years, it has changed significantly. Today’s version of Hollywood Studios is definitely a full day park. It still has a movie theme, but the newer attractions are more of immersion into those movies than experiencing a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Is it still my favorite? Absolutely! Maximizing Your Let’s get right down to it! You could spend your whole day and only experience a few things if you’re not careful. Pixie Dust Tip: If you only buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes one day of your trip, I would consider doi

Why Should I Stay at a Disney Resort?

Discounts! There are many reasons to choose a Disney Resort for your upcoming Disney vacation! It is true that there are tons of resorts in the Orlando area. It is true that you might find one that is cheaper, though I would double check that that is true because you can sometimes get some super good deals at Disney. Probably one of the biggest reasons to pick a WDW Resort is the discounts. If you book last minute, you might not be able to find a discount, but if you plan ahead when the deals are first coming out, the savings can be anywhere from a little to a lot! To find out how to make sure you are getting the discount you think you are getting, click here . What kind of discounts can you get? Most often they have room discounts from 15-35% depending on when and where you book your stay. Some of the bigger discounts are attached to having an Annual Pass or a Chase Disney Visa or sometimes even having Disney+. What else? Occasionally, you might find a ticket discount, especially if

Planning for Pixie Dust

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