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This is a tough post to write because my favorite Walt Disney World park changes by the day. Sometimes, I’m in the mood for delicious food, while other times I want to experience nostalgic rides. For this article, I’ll focus on the park I believe is generally the best, and then list my top parks under specific categories.
Keep in mind that if you want to experience more than one of the Disney theme parks in a day during your Walt Disney World vacation, you’ll need to have a park hopper ticket. This type of ticket does cost more, so you’ll want to make your plans in advance.
Disclosure: We’ve visited Disney World at no/reduced cost but have also paid our own way many times. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
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The best Disney World park overall is Magic Kingdom, especially for first-time visitors, families with young kids, and anyone who wants the classic Disney experience. EPCOT is best for dining and adults, Hollywood Studios is best for teens and thrill rides, and Animal Kingdom is best for animal lovers and a more relaxed park day.
I love all four of the Walt Disney World parks and really do like to include them all during a Walt Disney World vacation. But here are the rankings of my favorite parks at Walt Disney World.
The best Disney World theme park on my list is the first to open in Florida. The Magic Kingdom may not be as flashy as some of the newer WDW parks, but the recent addition of TRON: Lightcycle Run does add a level of excitement.
The Magic Kingdom is where you’ll find Cinderella Castle and Fantasyland, and the most iconic rides: Space Mountain, it’s a small world, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Jungle Cruise. There’s also great shopping, some delicious restaurants, shows and parades, character interactions, and much more. It’s good for young children but is also great for the whole family.
I would recommend at least one day at the Magic Kingdom. You can easily spend the entire day there, and may even want to add on an additional half-day or full-day. There’s so much to do and see.
EPCOT, Disney World’s second park, is a very close second for me. This park, which was initially developed as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, has evolved to a broader theme.
My favorite part of the park is the World Showcase, offering pavilions for eleven different countries. These pavilions offer attractions, shops, entertainment, characters, and restaurants, all in the country’s theme.
Popular attractions in EPCOT include Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Soarin’, Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, and Journey Into Imagination With Figment.
EPCOT is also a great place to eat. There are some fantastic restaurants in the World Showcase – both table service restaurants and quick service restaurants.
In addition, EPCOT is home to some very popular festivals including the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival and the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. These festivals include international food booths, so I always recommend having one lunch at the festivals.
I really struggled with this rating. I love Hollywood Studios, and ranking it a 3 out of 4 feels inaccurate. But I would still put EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom above it.
Hollywood Studios has undergone major renovations recently, including the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. These lands offer great attractions, including Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
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Other popular attractions at Hollywood Studios are the Tower of Terror, the Rock N Roller Coaster, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. There are also several shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including Fantasmic! and Disney Junior Dance Party!
You can spend an entire day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you plan to include it, I recommend setting aside a full day.
In the past, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had the reputation of a half-day park. While it is now generally open later than in the past, it still sometimes closes earlier than the other theme parks.
However, with the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar, this park is well worth a lengthy daytime visit. In addition to the exotic animals, there are some fantastic rides and attractions. These include Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Na’vi River Journey, and Avatar Flight of Passage.
Disney has recently announced some changes to Animal Kingdom, including the creation of a Tropical Americas-themed land in place of Dinoland USA. In addition, DINOSAUR is currently closed and will be changed into an Indiana Jones-themed attraction. We’re excited to see these changes come to fruition.
In addition to these rankings, we also have some preferences depending on what you are looking for. Here are our favorite Walt Disney World theme parks in these specific categories.
Best for Teens: This can vary depending on your teen’s specific interests. In general, however, I’d recommend Disney’s Hollywood Studios for teens. The thrill rides, combined with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, make this a fun park for thrill-seeking teens.
Best for Nostalgia: No park in Central Florida (the theme park capital of the world) is better for nostalgia than the Magic Kingdom. This original Walt Disney World park offers classic Disney attractions such as it’s a small world, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain. There are also character greetings, character meals, and so much more.
Best for Evenings: My favorite park in the evenings is EPCOT. From dinner to drinks, this park offers so many options. It’s even more fun if you visit during one of the festivals – the International Food and Wine Festival, the Festival of the Arts, or the International Food and Wine Festival.
Best for Dining: I also like EPCOT best for dining. The World Showcase offers so many delicious restaurants that you could easily go there every night for dinner. Just be sure you get a park hopper ticket so you can visit a different park during the day.
| Park | Best For | Top Strength | Possible Drawback | Recommended Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | First-timers, young kids, classic Disney | Most iconic attractions | Can feel crowded | 1–2 days |
| EPCOT | Adults, dining, festivals | Food, World Showcase, Guardians | More walking | 1 day |
| Hollywood Studios | Teens, Star Wars fans, thrill rides | Headliner attractions | Fewer filler attractions | 1 day |
| Animal Kingdom | Animal lovers, relaxed pace | Theming, animals, Avatar | Currently in transition | Half to full day |
To maximize your time in the parks, we recommend adding Lightning Lane Multi-Pass to your tickets. While it does come with an additional per-person expense (which can add up), it’s a great way to save time waiting in line.
Additionally, for the newest rides, a separate service, Lightning Lane Single Pass, is available. Because these rides (TRON: Lightcycle Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Avatar Flight of Passage) are very popular, the Lightning Lane Single Pass isn’t part of the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and is a separate fee for each one.
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