In December 2019, I visited Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and had a great time! Throughout this post I will discuss my experience by outlining my transportation, hotel, meals, and experience in the parks.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”
-Walt Disney
Lodging: I stayed in Disney’s All Star Music Resort, this was my first visit to this hotel, and it was very enjoyable. This hotel is in the Animal Kingdom resort area, and is surrounded by All Star Movies Resort, and All Star Sports Resort. Within the resort, each area is themed to a different genre of music, including country, calypso, broadway, rock, and jazz. The usage of lights, signs, music, and oversized icons helps the guest become immersed in the music. Inside the resort there are two pools that also contribute to the music theme. One pool is shaped as a piano, and the main pool is shaped as a guitar and called the “Calypso Pool”. This pool is themed with Donald Duck and the Three Caballeros.
The main building of the resort is called Melody Hall and is home to Intermissions Food Court, Maestro Mickey’s Gift Shop, and Note’able Arcade, and a bus stop. I stayed in the Broadway Inn section. The resort is very nice, and does a great job of keeping you in the Disney mood. Inside a standard room, there are 2 queen beds, a flat screen television, a table and chair, a mini fridge, a microwave, and a bathroom. The bathroom section of the room is separated by a curtain, and a door to the bathroom. The theming inside Broadway Inn’s rooms was very subtle and not overdone. The beds were also very comfy, and the housekeeping did a great job keeping my room clean throughout the week.
Transportation: To get around to each park from my resort, I usually took the complimentary Disney shuttle bus. These buses are rather large, and arrive and depart about every 10-15 minutes. I also used the monorail to get between Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Disney also offers a skyline, and boats to some locations, but those are only available in some parks and resorts.
Parks: Inside Disney World there are 4 theme parks. Among those parks are Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. All 4 of these parks are full of rides, attractions, gift shops, and great food, and feature extensive theming of Disney’s movies and different regions of the world. I will outline all 4 of these parks, and my experience I had inside of each of them.
Magic Kingdom: Easily the most identifiable park in Disney World, this is home to many different themed lands. Starting with Main Street USA, then Fantasy Land, Adventure Land, Frontier Land, Liberty Square, and Tomorrowland. And in the middle of the park, the Cinderella Castle overlooks the rest of the park.
Inside Magic Kingdom you can watch your favorite characters parade around the park, you can eat inside the Beast’s castle, you can take flight with Peter Pan, and of you are lucky, you can walk through Cinderella’s Castle. If you enjoy eating great food, and not paying top dollar to do so, I would recommend buying the Disney Dining Plan. To get on this plan you MUST stay at a Disney Resort. Many people call this plan overpriced, but if you actually plan on using all your meal credits, it is a great deal. There are 3 different dining plans, the Quick Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan, and the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan. I recommend the Disney Dining Plan, which comes with one table service meal, one quick service meal, and 2 snacks per night. In the Magic Kingdom I ate at Be Our Guest, Pecos Bill, Columbia Harbour House, The Friar’s Nook, Tony’s Town Square, The Crystal Palace, and The Diamond Horseshoe. Among those restaurants, my favorite quick service was the Columbia Harbour House, which featured New England seafood dishes and was themed in the colonial era. And my favorite table service was the Crystal Palace, which features a massive buffet of American favorites, and has a character greeting with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. There are many rides in Magic Kingdom, so I will just break down my favorite in each land. In Adventureland my favorite is Pirates of the Caribbean, in Frontier Land my favorite is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, in Liberty Square my favorite is The Haunted Mansion, in Fantasy Land my favorite is the Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train, and in Tomorrowland my favorite is Space Mountain.
Epcot: The next Disney Park I explorer was EPCOT. This park is currently over going a massive transformation, but it is home to Future World, and the World Showcase. In EPCOT, you can see the different technologies of the future, experience other cultures, and try some of the best food in the world.
In Future World, you can see how humans are developing new innovative technologies, and you can experience the history of our progress. Rides like Spaceship Earth, Test Track, and Living with the land do a tremendous job of showcasing our progress. You can also learn how to live in harmony with nature in The Seas Pavilion, and The Land Pavilion. One hidden gem of Future World, is The Coral Reef. This restaurant is tucked in the back of the Seas Pavilion, and is surrounded by an aquarium. It offers delicious seafood, and a unique place to eat it.