There are few places in the world that spark as much excitement as Disney World. The moment you spot Cinderella’s Castle at the end of Main Street USA, hear the familiar Disney music playing in the background and see children running around with the biggest smiles on their faces, you understand why so many families dream of visiting.
We had already fallen in love with Disneyland Paris, so naturally we wondered: could Disney World really be that much better?
The answer?
Absolutely.
Disney World isn’t just a bigger version of Disneyland Paris—it’s an entirely different experience. With four incredible theme parks, two water parks, dozens of Disney hotels and enough attractions to keep you entertained for weeks, it truly feels like stepping into another world.
Of course, planning a Disney holiday can also feel overwhelming. Which tickets should you buy? Should you stay at a Disney hotel? Is Lightning Lane worth the extra money? And how many days do you actually need?
After spending time exploring the parks as a family, we’ve put together everything we learned along the way. Hopefully our experience will help you plan your own magical Disney adventure.
Why Disney World is worth visiting
Disney World isn’t just about roller coasters.
It’s about watching your children hug Mickey for the very first time. It’s walking through beautifully themed lands where every tiny detail has been thought of. It’s ending the day together in front of Cinderella Castle while fireworks light up the night sky.
Even if you’re not the biggest Disney fan, it’s difficult not to get caught up in the magic.
What surprised us most was how different each park feels. Every morning feels like starting a completely new adventure. One day you’re exploring Pandora in Animal Kingdom, the next you’re travelling around the world at EPCOT or stepping into your favourite movies at Hollywood Studios.
There really is something for everyone, whether you’re travelling with toddlers, teenagers or simply still feel like a child yourself.
Planning your Disney holiday
If you’re travelling all the way to Florida, we wouldn’t recommend squeezing Disney World into just two or three days.
The parks are enormous and there is so much to see that rushing from attraction to attraction almost takes away from the experience.
For us, spending around a week at Disney World felt like the perfect balance. It gave us enough time to enjoy the major attractions without constantly feeling pressured to stick to a tight schedule. We even had time to slow down, grab an ice cream, watch a parade or simply enjoy the atmosphere—something that’s often overlooked but ended up being some of our favourite moments.
If you’re combining Disney with other Florida highlights like Universal Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center or a few relaxing beach days, we’d recommend setting aside at least 10 to 14 days for your trip.
Flying to Orlando
Orlando is easy to reach from Europe, with several airlines offering both direct and connecting flights.
We usually start by comparing prices on Skyscanner because it’s one of the easiest ways to compare travel dates. Sometimes flying one day earlier or later can save hundreds of euros, especially during school holidays.
Once we’ve found the best option, we always compare prices directly with the airline as well. Occasionally the airline offers extra flexibility or better baggage options, which can be worth the small difference in price.
Renting a car in Orlando
One question we often get is whether you actually need a rental car.
Our answer is yes.
Disney transportation works perfectly if you’re staying at one of the Disney Resorts, but Orlando has so much more to offer than just Disney. Having your own car gives you complete freedom to explore shopping outlets, nearby beaches, Universal Orlando or even take a road trip along Florida’s beautiful coastline.
We usually book through Discover Cars, because their all-inclusive insurance gives us peace of mind. When you’re travelling with children, it’s nice not having to worry about unexpected costs at the rental desk.
If you’re looking for the best deal, it’s also worth comparing prices on Rentalcars.com before making your final decision.
Where to stay
One of the biggest choices you’ll make before your trip is deciding where to stay.
Staying at a Disney Resort
There’s no denying that staying at a Disney hotel adds an extra layer of magic to your holiday.
Everything revolves around Disney—from the themed hotels and friendly Cast Members to the complimentary transportation that takes you straight to the parks. If this is your first Disney holiday and it’s within your budget, staying on-site is definitely a special experience.
Another big advantage is that you can fully immerse yourself in the Disney atmosphere from morning until night.
Staying off-site
That said, staying outside Disney World can be a fantastic option too.
Many hotels and holiday homes around Orlando are significantly more affordable, offer larger family rooms or apartments and often have beautiful swimming pools. If you’re planning to combine Disney with other attractions in Florida, staying off-site also gives you a little more flexibility.
For families, we’d especially recommend looking at holiday homes with a private pool. After spending an entire day walking through the parks, there’s nothing better than relaxing together in the evening while the kids jump into the pool one last time.
Choosing the right Disney tickets
If you’ve started looking at Disney tickets already, you’ve probably noticed there are quite a few options.
Don’t worry—it sounds more complicated than it actually is.
The most affordable choice is a standard ticket, which allows you to visit one park per day. This works perfectly if you’re planning a relaxed holiday and don’t mind spending a full day in each park.
If, like us, you enjoy a little more flexibility, the Park Hopper Ticket is definitely worth considering. It allows you to visit more than one park in a single day, which is especially useful if you’d like to spend your morning in one park and return to another in the evening for the fireworks.
For longer holidays, there’s also the Park Hopper Plus option, which includes Disney’s water parks as well.
We compared several ticket providers before booking and found that prices can vary more than you might expect. A trusted company we often recommend is Undercover Tourist, here is a deal buy 4 days and get 1 free
which regularly offers discounted Disney tickets. It’s always worth comparing prices before purchasing.
How many parks are there?
One thing many first-time visitors don’t realise is just how enormous Disney World really is.
There are four main theme parks, and each one has its own unique atmosphere:
- Magic Kingdom, where classic Disney magic comes to life.
- Hollywood Studios, perfect for movie lovers and thrill rides.
- Animal Kingdom, combining incredible attractions with beautiful nature.
- EPCOT, where technology, culture and food come together.
On top of that, Disney also has two fantastic water parks, making it easy to mix exciting park days with a little relaxation.
And that’s exactly what we loved most about Disney World.
Every morning felt like starting a completely new adventure.
Our favourite Disney parks
One thing we quickly discovered is that every Disney park has its own personality. We expected to have a clear favourite before we arrived, but by the end of our trip we were constantly changing our minds.
Some parks completely exceeded our expectations, while one didn’t quite live up to the hype for us. Of course, every family is different, but these are our honest experiences after spending several magical days exploring Disney World.
Magic Kingdom – The Disney park you’ve always dreamed of
If it’s your first visit to Disney World, this is where the magic begins.
Walking down Main Street USA with Cinderella Castle at the end of the street is one of those moments you’ll never forget. It doesn’t matter how many photos you’ve seen before—you still get goosebumps when you see it in real life.
Magic Kingdom is the park that feels most like Disney. Every corner has something to discover, from colourful shops and classic attractions to parades and character meet-and-greets.
What we loved most was that there really is something for every age. While one family member was chasing the bigger rides, another could enjoy a gentle boat ride, meet a favourite Disney princess or simply watch the entertainment happening all around the park.
Our favourite attractions
We won’t list every single ride because honestly, that’s not what makes Magic Kingdom so special.
These were the attractions we kept talking about long after we got home:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – beautifully themed and one of the best family coasters in Disney World.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – one of those rides we happily rode more than once.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – a true Disney classic that still holds up.
- Haunted Mansion – spooky, funny and incredibly well themed.
But some of our favourite memories weren’t even on a ride.
Watching the parade with an ice cream in hand, wandering through the castle after sunset and seeing Cinderella Castle light up at night were just as magical as any attraction.
If we could give one piece of advice, it would be this:
Don’t spend your entire day running from one ride to the next.
Leave time to simply enjoy being there.
Hollywood Studios – Our favourite park for thrills
If Magic Kingdom is all about classic Disney, Hollywood Studios is where Disney brings films to life.
This park surprised us in the best possible way.
It has a fantastic mix of thrilling attractions, incredible theming and some of the best shows in Disney World.
One of the highlights is simply walking through the different themed areas. Toy Story Land genuinely makes you feel like you’ve shrunk to the size of one of Andy’s toys, while Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is so immersive that even non-Star Wars fans will appreciate the incredible attention to detail.
The ride we still talk about…
If we had to choose one attraction that completely blew us away, it would probably be The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Without giving too much away, let’s just say it’s much more than a simple drop tower. The storytelling, atmosphere and unexpected surprises make it one of the most memorable rides we’ve ever experienced.
We also loved Slinky Dog Dash, a family coaster that’s exciting enough for older kids while still being accessible for younger thrill seekers.
Even if rides aren’t your main reason for visiting, don’t skip the live entertainment. Hollywood Studios has some fantastic shows that are a great way to escape the Florida heat for a while.
Animal Kingdom – The park that surprised us the most
Before our trip, Animal Kingdom was probably the park we were least excited about.
We assumed it would mainly be a zoo with a few Disney attractions.
We couldn’t have been more wrong.
Animal Kingdom ended up becoming one of our favourite parks.
It feels completely different from the others. There is so much greenery that you almost forget you’re inside a theme park, and the atmosphere is noticeably calmer.
Then there’s Pandora.
Even if you’ve never seen the Avatar films, walking into this area is incredible. Floating mountains, waterfalls, glowing plants—it honestly feels like another planet.
Flight of Passage
There are theme park attractions…
…and then there’s Avatar Flight of Passage.
It’s difficult to describe without spoiling the experience, but it’s one of the most immersive attractions we’ve ever done anywhere in the world.
If there is one attraction we’d recommend prioritising during your visit, this would be it.
More than just rides
One thing we loved about Animal Kingdom is that it never feels rushed.
The safari was far more impressive than we expected, and simply wandering through the different areas, spotting animals and enjoying the surroundings made this one of the most relaxing Disney parks.
Don’t miss the Festival of the Lion King either. Even if you’re not normally someone who watches shows, this performance is absolutely worth your time.
EPCOT – Different from the other parks
We’ll be completely honest here.
EPCOT was probably our least favourite park.
That doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy it—it just has a very different atmosphere compared to the other Disney parks.
Where Magic Kingdom feels magical and Hollywood Studios is packed with blockbuster attractions, EPCOT is slower, more relaxed and focused on culture, technology and food.
For some visitors, it ends up being their favourite park.
For us, one day was enough.
That said, there were definitely some highlights.
We loved Soarin’, which makes you feel as though you’re flying over some of the world’s most beautiful places.
The World Showcase is also lovely to explore. Walking from country to country, trying different snacks and soaking up the atmosphere is a completely different Disney experience.
If you’re visiting with older children—or if you enjoy great food—EPCOT is definitely worth including in your itinerary.
Which Disney park was our favourite?
People ask us this all the time, and honestly, it’s almost impossible to answer.
Each park offers something completely different.
If we had to rank them based on our own experience, it would probably look like this:
🥇 Magic Kingdom – Pure Disney magic and an absolute must for every first-time visitor.
🥈 Animal Kingdom – The biggest surprise of our trip, with breathtaking theming and some unforgettable attractions.
🥉 Hollywood Studios – Perfect if your family loves exciting rides and movie magic.
🏅 EPCOT – Relaxed, beautiful and ideal for food lovers, but the least exciting park for us personally.
Of course, that’s just our experience. One of the wonderful things about Disney World is that every family comes home with different favourites.
As we were leaving Magic Kingdom on our final evening, fireworks lighting up the castle behind us, we found ourselves already talking about what we’d do differently on our next visit.
And perhaps that’s the magic of Disney World.
You don’t leave thinking you’ve seen everything.
You leave dreaming about coming back.
Our best tips, money-saving advice & final thoughts
By the end of our Disney holiday, we realised something.
The attractions are amazing, the shows are spectacular and the fireworks are unforgettable—but it’s often the little moments you’ll remember most. Watching your children dance during the parade, sharing a Mickey-shaped ice cream, or walking through an almost empty Main Street at the end of the evening with Cinderella Castle glowing in the background.
Disney World isn’t a place where you need to do everything.
It’s a place where you simply enjoy being together.
Here are a few things that made our trip easier—and that we’d definitely do again.
Is Lightning Lane worth it?
This is probably one of the questions we get asked most often.
And the honest answer is…
It depends.
If you’re visiting during school holidays or other busy periods, Lightning Lane can save you a lot of time, especially for the most popular attractions.
We didn’t use it for every ride, but we did choose it strategically. Instead of spending two or three hours in one queue, we could experience more of the park—or simply slow down and enjoy the atmosphere.
If your budget allows it, we’d recommend using it for one or two must-do attractions rather than trying to skip every queue.
Is Memory Maker worth buying?
Before our trip, we weren’t sure whether Memory Maker would be worth the extra cost.
Looking back?
We’d absolutely buy it again.
Throughout all four parks, you’ll find Disney PhotoPass photographers in some of the most beautiful locations. They’ll take professional family photos, often with fun Disney “magic shots” added afterwards.
Normally, one of us is behind the camera, so it’s rare to come home with photos of all of us together. Memory Maker solved that problem.
One of our favourite photos is still the one in front of Cinderella Castle—something we probably wouldn’t have captured ourselves.
If you’re celebrating a special family holiday, we think it’s a lovely keepsake.
Our favourite Disney moments
People often ask us what our favourite attraction was.
Honestly…
The memories that stayed with us weren’t always the biggest rides.
It was seeing the excitement on our daughters’ faces as they spotted Mickey Mouse.
Watching the Festival of the Lion King together.
Walking through Pandora after dark when everything started glowing.
And ending the evening with fireworks above Cinderella Castle.
Those are the moments that still make us smile.
Our best tips for visiting Disney World with kids
After several days in the parks, these are the tips we’d give any family visiting for the first time.
Arrive early
The first hour after the parks open is often the quietest. We managed to enjoy several popular attractions before the crowds arrived, making the rest of the day feel much more relaxed.
Don’t try to do everything
It’s impossible.
There are simply too many attractions, shows, restaurants and experiences to fit into one holiday.
Choose your priorities and enjoy the rest without constantly checking the Disney app.
Plan a rest day
Walking 20,000 steps a day in the Florida heat is exhausting—even for adults.
If you’re staying for a week or longer, schedule a pool day or visit one of Disney’s water parks. Your feet will thank you.
Stay after dark
Many visitors leave after dinner, but some of our favourite moments happened in the evening.
The parks become quieter, temperatures are more comfortable and everything looks even more magical once the lights come on.
Use the Disney app
The official Disney World app is incredibly useful.
You can check waiting times, mobile order food, navigate the parks and keep track of your plans throughout the day.
It quickly became one of the most-used apps on our phone during the trip.
Beyond Disney: explore more of Orlando
As much as we loved Disney World, Orlando has so much more to offer.
If you have extra time, we’d definitely recommend exploring beyond the Disney gates.
A few great family-friendly day trips include:
- Universal Orlando Resort, home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and some fantastic thrill rides, read our blog Universal Orlando with kids: movie magic, adventure & the ultimate family day out
- Kennedy Space Center, where you can learn all about space exploration and even see real rockets.
- Shopping at Orlando International Premium Outlets, perfect if you’re looking for bargains on your favourite brands.
Having a rental car makes it easy to combine Disney with some of these experiences, especially if you’re staying in Florida for two weeks.
Planning your Disney holiday
Planning a Disney trip can feel overwhelming at first, but once you’re there, all that preparation pays off.
For flights, we always like comparing prices through Skyscanner before booking.
If you’re renting a car, we’ve had great experiences with Discover Cars thanks to their all-inclusive insurance, although it’s always worth comparing prices.
For Disney tickets, we recommend checking Undercover Tourist, as we found some excellent prices there before our own trip.
The key is to book the essentials early—especially if you’re travelling during school holidays.
Would we go back?
Without a doubt.
Disney World is one of those places that manages to bring out the child in everyone.
It’s not the cheapest holiday you’ll ever take, and yes, you’ll probably walk more than you ever expected. But the memories you make together are worth so much more than the souvenirs you’ll bring home.
Would we do a few things differently next time?
Of course.
We’d spend another day at Animal Kingdom, slow down even more in Magic Kingdom and make time for one of Disney’s water parks.
But that’s the wonderful thing about Disney World.
No matter how much you see, you’ll always leave with a reason to come back.
And if you’re currently planning your first Disney adventure…
Get ready.
It’s every bit as magical as you’ve imagined.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for Disney World?
We recommend at least 5 to 7 days if you want to experience all four parks without rushing.
Is Disney World suitable for young children?
Absolutely. While there are plenty of thrill rides, there are also attractions, shows and character experiences perfect for toddlers and younger kids.
Should you stay at a Disney Resort?
If it’s your first visit and it fits your budget, staying on-site adds an extra layer of magic. If you’re combining Disney with other Florida attractions, staying off-site can offer more space and better value.
What’s the best Disney park?
For us, Magic Kingdom is the heart of Disney World, but Animal Kingdom was the biggest surprise. Every park offers something unique, so we’d recommend visiting all four if you have the time.
Ready to plan your own Disney adventure?
Have you been to Disney World already, or is it still on your family travel bucket list? We’d love to hear about your favourite Disney memories—or answer any questions you have before your trip. We can even help plan your itinerary https://www.travel-icious.com/hire-me-to-plan-your-trip/
And don’t forget to check out our other Disney guides on Travelicious, including our tips for Disneyland Paris https://www.travel-icious.com/disneyland-paris-with-kids-guide-best-rides-tips-itinerary/, if you’re looking for even more magical family adventures. ✨
