When Disney World is bandied about, the focus is typically on the latest attractions, such as the terrific "Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind," the exhilarating "Tron: Lightcycle Run," and the entertaining "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance."
However, what stands out but is seldom touted is the exceptional attention to detail, which is one of the reasons why Disney World and Disneyland reside at the upper echelon of theme parks.
The little things really do mean a lot. If there's a customer service issue, a Disney representative responds typically within two-minutes from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. If there is an issue, guest services deal with problems effectively and efficiently.
No wonder smiles are ubiquitous at what has been dubbed "The Happiest Place on Earth." That's a heck of a feat considering that Central Florida is blazing during the summer. But folks, ranging from families to newlyweds to the long of tooth, have a wonderful time at Disney World regardless of the time of year.
One of the few drags at Disney World is that it's impossible to experience everything. If you're a completist, visit Disneyland, which is manageable and can be finished in two days.
However, Disney World is akin to the planet. You're not going to cover the entire theme park during a typical stay. The same goes for Earth. However, you can choose to experience what is appealing. And there is an array of new attractions and classic rides at Disney World.
"Tron" is a high-speed roller coaster in Tomorrowland. It's the most intense ride in the Magic Kingdom, with apologies to the beloved Space Mountain. The inspiration is the Disney film "Tron: Legacy." The motorbike-style ride vehicle, which opened in April of 2023, launches riders from 0-60. It's a brief experience but it's worth the wait due to the speed and twists.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which opened in May of 2022, is the featured attraction at Epcot. It features a reverse launch, which is exhilarating. The ride is based on the Marvel "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies with spinning cars and a soundtrack with six song selections. Blondie's "One Way or Another," which fit the ride perfectly, was blasted throughout our run on the thrilling indoor roller coaster, which is located in the World Discovery area of Epcot.
It's easy to spend the day at Hollywood Studios. The marquee ride is "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance," which is a smooth, trackless experience. It's an immersive treat with some fun drops and a great story. It's a repeat ride for certain as we returned for two additional experiences.
The Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run is an interactive simulator where guests operate the Millennium Falcon. It's a blast whether you're a pilot, a gunner or an engineer as you glide through the animated experience.
And then there's the classic, "Star Tours," which has aged remarkably well. I recall waiting 90 minutes to board the ride at Disneyland in 1987 just after it opened at Disneyland. It's a treat flying through various Star Wars scenes even if the experience is bumpy.
It's unfortunate that Disneyland closed "The Tower of Terror" but the exceptional Twilight Zone inspired ride is still a major attraction at Disney World. The ride takes place at the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel. A series of similar accelerated drops continues to lure me back. I can't stop laughing when the ride descends. There's no ride that pleases me more than Tower of Terror, which delivers unadulterated joy.
Aerosmith's final concert was in September of 2023 in Long Island. However, the rock icons live on courtesy of the entertaining "Rock and Roller Coaster." Guests are propelled from 0-57 mph in 2.8 seconds. Riders experience up to 5 Gs and travel through three inversions, which include a rollover and a corkscrew while zipping through the darkness to an Aerosmith soundtrack. It's living on the edge by Disney standards.
Animal Kingdom is worth experiencing for the classic "Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain." The big drops and plummeting backwards in the dark makes for a memorable experience.
Magic Kingdom is still king. That's where my family spends most of its time when we return to Disney. We're compelled to revisit such charming classic rides as "The Haunted Mansion," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Peter Pan," "It's a Small World" and "Winnie the Pooh."
We love the log flume and fortunately in June 2020, Disney announced that Splash Mountain would be rethemed as "Tiana's Bayou Adventure," which opened in June of 2024.
It's based on Walt Disney Animation Studios 2009 film, "The Princess and the Frog." The ride has been delightfully revamped with Louisiana flavor and a few drops, none better than the 52.5 foot plunge, which prompted our group to take two more runs on "Tiana's Bayou Adventure."
There are so many places to dine at Disney but treat yourself at Epcot. How can you choose chicken nuggets and fries when EPCOT's World Showcase offers a diverse and satisfying culinary journey with food and drinks from around the world? Each pavilion features restaurants and kiosks serving dishes and beverages inspired by their respective cultures. Wash down Canadian poutine with a German beer. Have a sake with sushi at Epcot's Japan.
Or follow in our footsteps and visit France, which offers terrific fare at a reasonable price. Two toasted ham and cheese croissants, a quiche, a baguette with butter, two sodas and a pair of macarons can be had for less than $60.
Check out Epcot's culinary options and add the Lightning Lane pass to your ticket. Lightning Lane is a paid service that allows guests to bypass the regular standby line at select attractions and shows. The pass allows guests to book up to three attractions at a time and make additional selections after completing their initial selections.
It's best to make the most of your experience. If you want to maximize your time in Orlando, it's not a bad idea to stay on property since you'll be granted a "Magic Hour" each day at one of the parks Only those staying at DisneyWorld will be able to enjoy rides.
The pro tip is to stay at the inexpensive All Star resorts, Movies, Music or Sports. The latter has the newest rooms of the trio. If you're spending two or three days at Disney World, you'll be in the park for most of the day. You'll return to All Star just to sleep and wake up to enjoy the magic hour. You won't be lounging at the pool so it makes plenty of sense to stay at the lower budgeted digs.
If you would like to splurge, enjoy the Polynesian Village Resort. The Polynesian combines retro Disney and the modern resort in a seamless manner. The amenities, grounds, dining and a revamped pool are exceptional.
If price is no object, stay at the Grand Floridian, which is opulent and luxurious.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is exceptional. You can literally wake up and step onto your balcony and witness a giraffe grazing just outside your room on one of the four savannas outside Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The Beach Club is one of the best places to relax mid-day with its terrific pool complex. There's a lazy river, a waterslide and a relaxed vibe perfect for kids to older adults.
There is still no theme park like Disney World which is unparalleled when it comes to attractions, customer care and nostalgia. It's awfully tough to top Mickey Mouse and the vision of Walt Disney, who was so far ahead of his time in so many ways.
Little things mean a lot. If there is an issue, guest services deal with problems.
If price is no object, stay at the Grand Floridian, which is opulent and luxurious.
Check out Epcot's culinary options and add the Lightning Lane pass to your ticket.