Disney 101

🏰 Start on Main Street, U.S.A.
Take your castle pictures while everyone still looks cute. Wander the shops, soak up Main Street and resist buying ears for approximately seven minutes.

👻 Haunted Mansion
Kasi’s favorite ride. This is therefore mandatory wedding research. Please say hello to the 999 happy haunts.

🧜‍♀️ Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Climb into a clamshell and become part of Ariel’s world. Sweet, air-conditioned, musical and delightfully Disney.

🍍 DOLE Whip break!
Head toward Adventureland for something pineapple-y and wonderful. This is an important cultural experience.

🥟 Find the cheeseburger spring rolls
Another wedding-week taste test. Try them now, then compare notes when you encounter their cousins at our celebration. Scientific rigor is important.

🎠 Choose one classic:
Pirates of the Caribbean, “it’s a small world,” Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight or whatever makes your little Disney heart happy.

🎭 Catch some characters or a parade
If Festival of Fantasy lines up with your visit, grab a spot and enjoy peak Disney pageantry. Otherwise, hunt down a favorite character and get a picture!

🏰 One last castle photo…

…and escape before someone in your group decides you should stay another eight hours.

✨ Vibe: Castle. Ghosts. Mermaid. Snacks. Parade. Done.

🏰 Arrive late morning-ish
No 6:00 AM alarm required. Stroll down Main Street, admire Cinderella Castle and immediately take far too many photos.

🚀 TRON Lightcycle / Run
Marcus’s favorite. Apparently being launched through the Grid on a motorcycle is his idea of a good time.

👻 Haunted Mansion
Then balance that nonsense with Kasi’s favorite: slowly riding through a haunted Victorian mansion with 999 ghosts. Obviously superior vibes.

🧜‍♀️ Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

👑 Meet somebody magical
Ariel at her grotto is an excellent choice, but Mickey, Minnie, princesses and assorted Disney friends are scattered throughout the park. Pick whoever makes you happiest and go say hi.

🍍 Adventureland snack pilgrimage
DOLE Whip.
Cheeseburger spring rolls.
No further explanation necessary.

🏴‍☠️ Pirates of the Caribbean

🌴 Jungle Cruise

🎉 Festival of Fantasy Parade
Dragons! Princesses! Characters! Music! Extremely enthusiastic waving at people you’ve never met!

🌹 Fantasyland wandering
Choose a few: Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, “it’s a small world,” Mad Tea Party, Dumbo or another classic.

🍽️ Dinner or snacky dinner
This is Disney. Three snacks can absolutely constitute a meal.

🌅 Golden-hour castle wandering
This is one of our favorite times to just exist in Magic Kingdom. Everything starts glowing and somehow Cinderella Castle becomes even prettier.

✨ Stay for nighttime magic if you have it in you
Catch the nighttime parade and/or Happily Ever After, depending on that day’s schedule.

Then stroll down Main Street at night while insisting you’re just looking inside the Emporium.

You will leave with a bag.

✨ Vibe: Major rides + characters + snacks + parade + nighttime sparkle without requiring an athletic training program.

Hydrate. Charge your phone. Wear comfortable shoes. Tell your family you love them.

We ride at dawn.

🌅 ARRIVE EARLY
Get yourself through the gates and onto Main Street while the day is still young and everyone is filled with optimism.

🏰 Castle photos first
Because the version of you standing here now has significantly more energy than the version coming back tonight.

🌹 Fantasyland Morning

🧜‍♀️ Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
🐘 Dumbo the Flying Elephant
🍯 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
🌎 “it’s a small world”
🏴‍☠️ Peter Pan’s Flight
☕ Mad Tea Party if your stomach agrees

Then:

🧜‍♀️ Meet Ariel at Her Grotto!

Tell her you’re here for Kasi & Marcus’s wedding. We have absolutely no idea what she’ll say, but we’d like to imagine she’ll be delighted.

🚀 Tomorrowland

⚡ TRON Lightcycle / Run — Marcus’s Pick

Then choose your preferred level of Tomorrowland chaos:

🚀 Space Mountain
👽 Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
🎠 Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

The PeopleMover is particularly useful when your feet begin filing formal complaints.

👻 Liberty Square

Time for the most important attraction in Magic Kingdom:

HAUNTED MANSION.

Kasi’s favorite.
999 happy haunts.
One spot left.

Coincidence? We think not.

🥟🍍 The Official Wedding Snack Research Tour

Head toward Adventureland.

🥟 Cheeseburger spring rolls

🍍 DOLE Whip

Eat both.

Take notes.

Because cheeseburger spring rolls, DOLE Whip and beignets are all making appearances in our wedding festivities. Your assignment is to try the Disney versions during your trip and then compare.

We take this research very seriously.

🌴 Adventureland

🏴‍☠️ Pirates of the Caribbean
🌿 Jungle Cruise
🧞 Magic Carpets of Aladdin if the mood strikes

🎉 PARADE BREAK!

Find yourself a spot for Festival of Fantasy and rest those feet while giant colorful floats, princesses, characters and a spectacular fire-breathing dragon go by.

Wave enthusiastically.

Characters appreciate commitment.

👑 Character Quest

Pick at least one!

🐭 Mickey Mouse
🎀 Minnie & friends
👑 Cinderella
🐸 Tiana
🧜‍♀️ Ariel
🐯 Pooh & Tigger
✨ Whoever you happen to find!

Photos with characters when you’re an adult are still adorable. We do not make the rules.

🌊 Afternoon Round Two

This is where the strong survive.

Hit anything you missed earlier, revisit a favorite, wander the shops, find another snack, or take a blessed air-conditioned break.

And if you somehow still have energy…

Ride Haunted Mansion again.

Kasi supports this decision.

🌅 MAGIC HOUR

As the sun starts dropping, slow down.

Get pictures around the castle. Wander Main Street. Grab something cold. Let the lights start coming on around the park.

This is when Magic Kingdom gets ridiculously pretty.

🌟 NIGHTTIME MAGIC

If Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is running during your visit, catch the nighttime parade.

Then find your spot for Happily Ever After. ✨🏰🎆

Yes, you’ve been here approximately fourteen thousand hours.

Yes, your feet hurt.

Yes, the castle projections and fireworks will probably make at least one member of your party emotional.

Worth it.

👻 THE FINAL CHALLENGE

If the park is still open after fireworks and the wait cooperates:

Haunted Mansion at night.

Because obviously.

Then slowly make your way back down Main Street, take one last look at Cinderella Castle, and congratulate yourselves.

You didn’t simply visit Magic Kingdom.

You conquered it. 🏰✨

📸 Start with Spaceship Earth

Take the obligatory EPCOT ball picture.

You are legally required to do this.

We checked.

Then head toward the most important item on today's agenda.

🚀 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COSMIC REWIND

PAY FOR IT.

If there is an option during your visit to purchase access that makes Guardians easier to fit into your day:

Do it.

This is Kasi & Marcus's public service announcement.

Cosmic Rewind is one of those rides where explaining it doesn't really work.

It's a roller coaster.

But also not like a normal roller coaster.

You're moving.

You're spinning.

There's music.

The Guardians are yelling about something.

You have very little idea where you're going.

And it is SO. MUCH. FUN.

If you're debating whether it's worth spending extra money to make sure you ride it:

Yes.

Wedding website officially endorses irresponsible Guardians spending.

🌱 THE LAND

Now change the energy completely.

Go from saving the galaxy to…

vegetables.

🌿 Living with the Land

One of Kasi's favorite rides.

Yes.

In the same park as Guardians.

And she stands by it.

Climb aboard your little boat and peacefully float through Disney's greenhouses looking at enormous vegetables and interesting growing techniques.

It is relaxing.

It is fascinating.

It is aggressively EPCOT.

We love it.

And while you're here:

✈️ Soarin' Around the World

You're already in the building.

Might as well fly around the planet.

🌮 WELCOME TO MEXICO

Now begin your World Showcase adventure.

And our first stop happens to be an important one.

🍹 Margarita + Nachos

One of Kasi's absolute favorite EPCOT combinations.

Get yourself a margarita.

Get some nachos.

Sit somewhere lovely.

Congratulations.

You understand EPCOT.

If you have time, wander inside the Mexico pavilion because the pyramid is MUCH bigger than it looks from outside.

There's shopping.

There's atmosphere.

There's a boat ride.

There's air conditioning.

All excellent things.

🇳🇴 Norway

If Frozen Ever After has a reasonable wait or you can snag access:

Ride it!

Then there is another extremely important Kasi-approved activity:

🌸 Smell the perfumes.

Go into the Norway shops.

Try the fragrances.

Find one you love.

Contemplate buying it.

Remember you came in here to “just look.”

Sure.

🇨🇳 China

🥟 SPRING ROLL STOP.

Find the cart.

Get the spring rolls.

Kasi & Marcus approve.

Then wander through China for a bit before continuing your international expedition.

🇫🇷 France

If time permits:

🐀 Remy's Ratatouille Adventure!

Shrink down to Remy's size and run through a French kitchen.

Adorable.

Chaotic.

Very French rat.

And before you leave:

🌸 Smell more perfume.

Norway was only round one.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Finish your abbreviated tour properly:

🐟 Fish & chips.

🍺 A pint at the pub.

Sit down.

Look around.

Congratulate yourself.

In approximately five hours you saved the galaxy, toured a greenhouse, flew around the world, visited multiple countries and consumed several internationally themed carbohydrates.

✨ Vibe: Guardians. Plants. Margarita. Spring rolls. Rat. Fish & chips.

Extremely EPCOT.

🌐 Start at Spaceship Earth

Take your pictures.

Wander around the front of the park.

And if Spaceship Earth is calling your name, ride the giant golf ball.

It's an EPCOT rite of passage.

Then:

🚀 GUARDIANS.

Have we mentioned Guardians?

Because:

GUARDIANS.

Cosmic Rewind is a Kasi & Marcus must-do.

Pay for easier access if that's what makes sense during your visit.

This is not the place where we encourage frugality.

There are times for budgeting.

This isn't one of them.

🌱 THE LAND PAVILION

Next, head over to one of Kasi's favorite little corners of EPCOT.

🌿 Living with the Land

Peaceful boat ride.

Greenhouses.

Plants.

Fish.

Enormous produce.

Disney agricultural wizardry.

It's basically the exact opposite of Guardians and somehow they belong in the same day.

Then:

✈️ Soarin'

You're downstairs already.

Go fly around the world.

🥕 Garden Grill

If you're hungry and want a proper meal, Garden Grill is one of our favorites.

Characters.

Family-style food.

A rotating restaurant.

And some of the ingredients are actually grown right downstairs in the greenhouses you just floated through.

Very EPCOT.

Very cute.

Very convenient.

Also, Mickey is there.

Hard to argue with that.

🌎 NOW WE EAT OUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD

The key here is:

Do not rush.

World Showcase isn't just a walkway connecting food stands.

Go inside things.

Explore.

Look at the architecture.

Wander through the shops.

And perhaps consume a beverage or seven.

Responsibly, obviously.

🇲🇽 MEXICO

First stop.

🍹 Margarita.

🌮 Nachos.

Kasi's favorite.

There are many excellent EPCOT food opinions.

This is hers.

Head inside the pyramid afterward and wander around.

The interior is gorgeous, it's perpetually nighttime inside, and it's a lovely place to pretend you didn't just walk into air conditioning specifically because Florida is trying to cook you.

🇳🇴 NORWAY

❄️ Frozen Ever After

If you can get on it, absolutely do.

Then:

🌸 PERFUME TIME.

Wander through the shops and smell the Norwegian fragrances.

This is apparently an attraction now.

We stand by it.

🇨🇳 CHINA

Explore the pavilion.

Look through the shops.

And most importantly:

🥟 Find the spring rolls.

One of our favorite EPCOT snacks.

Acquire.

Consume.

Continue.

🇩🇪 Germany

Wander.

Shop.

Look at all the ridiculous cuckoo clocks.

Consider purchasing an object that would make absolutely no sense inside your house.

This is what World Showcase is for.

🇮🇹 Italy

Take your time.

Grab a drink if something sounds good.

Look around.

Take pictures.

Pretend for a moment you're actually in an Italian piazza and not sweating profusely in central Florida.

🇺🇸 The American Adventure

This is a good middle-of-World-Showcase opportunity to:

Sit.

Hydrate.

Find air conditioning.

Regroup.

Perhaps reconsider how many countries remain.

Then continue.

🇯🇵 Japan

GO INSIDE THE STORE.

Trust us.

Japan is one of those EPCOT pavilions where you can accidentally disappear into the shopping for quite some time.

Explore.

Look around.

Find something bizarre and delightful.

Continue when your group finally locates you.

🇲🇦 MOROCCO

Slow down here.

The pavilion is beautiful and worth actually exploring instead of just walking past.

And for Kasi & Marcus:

🍷 Find some Moroccan wine.

Order a glass.

Wander.

Enjoy.

This is EPCOT.

🇫🇷 FRANCE

Bonjour!

We have two assignments.

First:

🐀 RATATOUILLE!

Ride Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.

Shrink down.

Run through the kitchen.

Try not to get murdered by a champagne cork.

Standard French vacation activities.

Then:

🌸 PERFUME ROUND TWO.

Go smell the French perfumes.

Compare them to Norway.

Develop opinions.

Debate whether you need a bottle.

You probably don't.

That has never stopped anyone at Disney World.

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM

And now we've reached another Kasi & Marcus favorite ritual.

🐟 Fish & chips.

🍺 Pint at the pub.

This is how civilized people finish a lap around World Showcase.

Find somewhere to sit.

Eat.

Drink.

Discuss everything you've consumed today.

Realize the list is substantial.

Feel no shame.

🌅 EPCOT AT NIGHT

Don't immediately leave.

World Showcase is gorgeous when the sun starts going down.

The lights come on.

Spaceship Earth begins glowing in the distance.

Everyone is tired enough to stop obsessively checking wait times.

This is when EPCOT gets especially lovely.

Stay for the nighttime spectacular if you're up for it.

Or simply wander your way toward the exit at a leisurely pace.

✨ Vibe: Guardians + greenhouse + characters + food + drinks + eleven countries + one extremely well-fed traveler.

Charge your phone.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Bring sunscreen.

Drink water.

Prepare your stomach.

Today we save the galaxy and then eat around Earth.

🌅 GOOD MORNING, EPCOT

Start beneath Spaceship Earth.

Take the photos while everyone still looks presentable.

Admire the fountains.

Enjoy the morning.

Then prepare yourselves.

Because we're going directly from peaceful EPCOT optimism to:

🚀🚀🚀 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COSMIC REWIND

PAY. FOR. IT.

We cannot emphasize this enough.

If paying for access is an option and it means you're guaranteed/easily able to experience Guardians during your day:

Kasi & Marcus say DO IT.

Cosmic Rewind is one of our absolute Disney must-dos.

The music.

The movement.

The ridiculousness.

The moment you realize the ride vehicle is doing something roller coaster vehicles generally do not do.

It's fantastic.

Ride it.

Get off.

Immediately compare which song everyone got.

Spend the next several hours wishing you could ride it again.

🌐 FUTURE WORLD-ISH EPCOT EXPLORATION

Yes, Disney renamed these neighborhoods.

No, some of us will probably still occasionally call the entire front half Future World until we're 90.

Wander.

Explore.

Ride whatever catches your attention.

Spaceship Earth is always a classic.

Then make your way toward:

🌱 THE LAND

Time for the dramatic tonal shift of the century.

We just flew through space with a talking raccoon.

Now:

🌿 Let's look at cucumbers.

Living with the Land is one of Kasi's favorite rides.

Float through the greenhouses.

Look at how Disney grows things.

Learn something.

Enjoy the air conditioning.

Become strangely invested in a nine-pound lemon.

This is EPCOT magic.

Then head downstairs for:

✈️ SOARIN'

You've toured the greenhouse.

Now fly around the planet.

Casual morning.

🥕 BREAKFAST/LUNCH AT GARDEN GRILL

If you're doing the full-day EPCOT extravaganza, this is a fantastic place for a proper meal.

Garden Grill is another Kasi & Marcus favorite.

Family-style food.

Character visits.

A restaurant that slowly rotates while you eat.

Views into Living with the Land.

Ingredients grown right there in the pavilion.

Eat.

Meet Mickey.

Wave at Chip and Dale.

Eat again.

You've got an entire planet to walk around.

You'll need the fuel.

🌎 WORLD SHOWCASE: BEGIN THE EXPEDITION

You are now entering the portion of the day where time becomes meaningless.

Do not try to “complete” World Showcase.

Experience it.

Go into the pavilions.

Walk down the little side streets.

Explore the stores.

Try things.

Stop when something looks interesting.

That's the whole point.

And conveniently, Kasi & Marcus have provided a few research assignments.

🇲🇽 MEXICO

Our journey begins correctly.

🍹 MARGARITA.

🌮 NACHOS.

Kasi's EPCOT happy place.

Grab them.

Enjoy them.

Then head inside the pyramid.

Shop.

Wander through the nighttime marketplace.

Ride Gran Fiesta Tour if the mood strikes.

Donald Duck is missing.

Again.

Someone should really put an AirTag on that duck.

🇳🇴 NORWAY

If you can snag a reasonable wait/access:

❄️ Frozen Ever After

Do it.

Then explore the shops.

And:

🌸 SMELL THE PERFUMES.

This is mandatory cultural enrichment.

Kasi said so.

🇨🇳 CHINA

Take some time to explore.

Go inside.

Look around.

Then locate:

🥟 THE SPRING ROLLS.

One of our favorite snacks.

At this point you may be thinking:

“Didn't we just eat nachos?”

Yes.

Welcome to EPCOT.

🇩🇪 GERMANY

Explore the shops.

Look at the clocks.

Look at the glass.

Look at the Christmas things.

Look at the caramel.

Make poor financial decisions.

Proceed.

🇮🇹 ITALY

Stroll through the piazza.

Take pictures.

Browse.

Maybe grab something small.

Maybe get a drink.

Maybe don't.

We have many countries remaining.

Pace yourselves, world travelers.

🇺🇸 THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE

Congratulations.

You've reached roughly the halfway point.

This is your opportunity to sit somewhere.

Drink some water.

Possibly locate air conditioning.

Remember hydration.

EPCOT beverages are fun.

Water remains annoyingly necessary.

🇯🇵 JAPAN

Now we're shopping.

Go inside Mitsukoshi.

Tell your group you'll only be a minute.

Disappear.

Look at snacks.

Look at dishes.

Look at Pokémon.

Look at Studio Ghibli things.

Look at all sorts of things you absolutely did not travel to EPCOT intending to buy.

Emerge 45 minutes later.

This is normal.

🇲🇦 MOROCCO

Do not blow past Morocco on the way to France.

It's one of the most beautiful pavilions in World Showcase.

Explore.

Look at the tile work.

Wander through the quieter spaces.

And then:

🍷 Moroccan wine.

Find yourself a glass.

Slow down.

This is exactly what an EPCOT afternoon should feel like.

🇫🇷 FRANCE

We have arrived.

First:

🐀 Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

Become approximately six inches tall.

Follow a rat through a kitchen.

Experience several culinary emergencies.

Survive.

Then wander through France.

Browse the shops.

Look at the pastries.

And:

🌸 Smell the perfume.

Compare with Norway.

Choose a winner privately.

We don't need an international incident during wedding week.

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM

You have almost completed your journey.

There is only one appropriate course of action.

🐟 FISH & CHIPS.

And:

🍺 A PINT AT THE PUB.

Grab your fish & chips.

Head toward the pub.

Order something cold.

Sit down.

You've earned this.

You have traveled from Mexico to Norway to China to Germany to Italy to America to Japan to Morocco to France and finally the United Kingdom.

On foot.

While eating.

This is basically an athletic event.

🇨🇦 Canada

Yes.

There is still another country.

😂

Wander through Canada.

Explore.

Enjoy the gardens.

Then turn around and look back across World Showcase Lagoon.

Because you've officially done it.

🌅✨ EPCOT AFTER DARK

Now stop accomplishing things.

Seriously.

The itinerary is over.

This is the reward.

World Showcase starts glowing.

Spaceship Earth lights up across the water.

Music floats around the lagoon.

Everything gets a little cooler and a little prettier.

Find somewhere you like.

Get another drink if you want one.

Wander through a pavilion you loved earlier.

Revisit a shop.

Or simply stand around World Showcase Lagoon and enjoy being there.

And if the nighttime spectacular is happening:

Stay.

Because ending an enormous EPCOT day around World Showcase Lagoon just feels right.

🌐 One Last Look

Eventually, make your way toward the exit.

Look back at Spaceship Earth.

Your feet are destroyed.

Your phone has 3% battery.

Someone has perfume.

Someone else has a shopping bag from Japan.

You've eaten an unreasonable assortment of foods from different continents.

And at some point today, a raccoon helped you save the galaxy.

Successful EPCOT day.

🎬 Start on Hollywood Boulevard

Take your time walking in.

Hollywood Studios has one of our favorite park entrances — palm trees, old-Hollywood storefronts, vintage details and lots of little shops that are absolutely capable of separating you from your money.

Kasi & Marcus highly recommend wandering the shops.

We cannot promise you won't buy anything.

We can promise that we probably did.

🏨 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

A Kasi AND Marcus favorite.

Walk through the abandoned Hollywood Tower Hotel, board a suspicious elevator and discover why Disney apparently thinks elevators should be thrill rides.

The theming is incredible.

The ride is incredible.

The screaming is therapeutic.

10/10. No notes.

🌌 Head to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

This is not a “walk through quickly on the way to something else” situation.

Explore Batuu.

Look at the ships.

Wander through the marketplace.

Watch for stormtroopers.

Take approximately 700 pictures of the Millennium Falcon.

Then pick your mission:

⚔️ Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

or

🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

If you've never experienced Rise of the Resistance, we'd lean heavily toward making that your Star Wars ride.

🎭 Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

Sit down. Rest your feet.

Watch Indy fight bad guys, dodge danger and make things explode.

Everybody wins.

🧸 Quick Toy Story Land wander

Even if you aren't doing every attraction, walk through Andy's backyard. Everything is giant, colorful and adorable.

If it's breakfast time:

🥔 BREAKFAST TOTCHOS AT WOODY'S LUNCH BOX.

This is one of Kasi's favorite Disney breakfasts.

Tater tots + breakfast things + Disney vacation logic = nutrition.

✨ And if your “short day” happens to be at night…

Stay for Fantasmic.

Actually, forget the 4–5 hour rule.

Just stay.

You'll understand.

✨ Vibe: Hollywood glamour. Haunted elevator. Galaxy far, far away. Explosions. Totchos.

🎬 Start with a Hollywood Boulevard stroll

Take the pictures.

Look at the architecture.

Pop into the stores.

Try on ears you have absolutely no intention of buying.

Buy the ears.

🏨 Tower of Terror

This one isn't negotiable in the Kasi & Marcus Hollywood Studios itinerary.

We both love it.

And somehow the anticipation while walking through the hotel is almost as good as the actual drop.

Almost.

🧸 Head into Toy Story Land

Grab breakfast totchos from Woody's Lunch Box if you're there early enough, then pick a ride:

🐶 Slinky Dog Dash
🎯 Toy Story Mania!

Bonus points for meeting some Toy Story friends along the way.

🌌 ENTER BATUU

Now slow down.

Galaxy's Edge deserves wandering time.

🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
⚔️ Rise of the Resistance
🥛 Try blue or green milk if curiosity gets the better of you
🛍️ Explore the marketplace and shops
✨ Keep an eye out for characters wandering Batuu

And please take the time to stand underneath the Millennium Falcon and appreciate how absolutely bonkers it is that Disney built this place.

If you are Star Wars people like us, this entire section of the park is an attraction.

🍹 Optional detour: Oga's Cantina

If you can snag a reservation, stop in for a drink and enjoy one of the coolest little corners of Batuu.

You're in a Star Wars cantina.

Act accordingly.

🎭 Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

This is a fantastic mid-afternoon reset because you get to SIT DOWN while other people perform dangerous physical activity for your entertainment.

Excellent arrangement.

🎬 Pick another show or attraction

Depending on what sounds fun:

🧜‍♀️ The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
❄️ Frozen Sing-Along
😈 Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
🚂 Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
🚀 Star Tours

Or ignore all of those and ride Tower of Terror again.

We support this.

🌅 Sunset Boulevard at golden hour

This area gets so pretty as the lights start coming on.

Wander.

Take pictures.

Shop.

Maybe acquire another souvenir you don't technically need.

Then begin making your way toward the grand finale.

🌙✨ FANTASMIC!

DO. NOT. SKIP. THIS.

Fantasmic is Kasi's favorite Disney nighttime show, and this recommendation comes with absolutely zero chill.

Mickey.

Villains.

Water.

Fire.

Music.

Characters.

Boats.

Pyrotechnics.

Childhood nostalgia being launched directly at your face.

Get there early enough to settle into your seat and enjoy it.

Then watch Mickey Mouse fight the forces of evil using the power of his imagination because Disney is wonderfully unhinged.

✨ Vibe: Major attractions + Star Wars immersion + shows + shopping + Fantasmic without requiring a survival backpack.

Charge your phone.

Put on comfortable shoes.

Mobile order strategically.

It's showtime.

🌅 OPENING CREDITS

Get there early.

Walk through the gates while Hollywood Boulevard is waking up and enjoy the brief moment when everyone in your party is still cheerful and nobody has said:

“How much farther?”

🎬 Hollywood Boulevard photos

Take them now.

You look better now.

Trust us.

Then get moving.

🧸 TOY STORY MORNING

Welcome to Andy's backyard!

🐶 Slinky Dog Dash

🎯 Toy Story Mania!

🤠 Meet some Toy Story friends if they're out.

And most importantly:

🥔 BREAKFAST TOTCHOS.

Woody's Lunch Box.

Kasi-approved.

Breakfast potatoes are already excellent.

Breakfast potatoes eaten while standing in Andy's backyard are obviously better.

We don't make the rules.

🌌 A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY

Enter Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

And don't rush it.

Seriously.

Kasi & Marcus both love Star Wars, and this is one of those Disney areas where wandering around is half the experience.

⚔️ Rise of the Resistance

This is less “ride” and more “Disney has apparently kidnapped us and placed us inside Star Wars.”

Do it.

🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

You are getting aboard the Millennium Falcon.

THE Millennium Falcon.

Try not to crash it.

No promises.

🥛 Blue Milk vs. Green Milk

Conduct your own extremely scientific taste test.

🛍️ Explore Black Spire Outpost

Look through the shops.

Check out Dok-Ondar's.

Explore the marketplace.

See what weird galactic creature someone in your party suddenly decides they need to bring home.

👀 Watch for Star Wars characters

Batuu has a habit of making things happen around you, so keep your eyes open.

And if stormtroopers start questioning you:

We don't know you.

🚀 BONUS STAR WARS

Before leaving the galaxy entirely:

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Because apparently two Star Wars rides were insufficient.

💥 INDIANA JONES TIME

🎭 Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

Find a seat.

Enjoy approximately half an hour of stunts, fire, fighting, explosions and Indy doing Indy things.

This is classic Hollywood Studios and we love it.

Also:

You are sitting down.

At this point in the itinerary, that alone deserves five stars.

🎬 AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES

Now pick your adventures.

🚂 Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

🧜‍♀️ The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

❄️ Frozen Sing-Along

😈 Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After

🎯 Another round of Toy Story Mania

Or whatever caught your eye earlier.

This is also an excellent time to grab food, find air conditioning and remind everyone to drink water.

🏨 THE HOLLYWOOD TOWER HOTEL

Now it's time.

The icon.

The legend.

The elevator that has absolutely never passed a safety inspection.

⚡ THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR

One of Kasi AND Marcus's favorite rides in all of Disney World.

Walk through the overgrown grounds.

Enter that gorgeous abandoned lobby.

Watch the pre-show.

Walk into the boiler room.

Begin questioning your decisions.

Get on the elevator anyway.

Scream.

Laugh.

Immediately discuss whether you should ride it again.

Answer: probably.

🌴✨ GOLDEN HOUR IN HOLLYWOOD

This is your permission to stop trying to accomplish things.

Wander down Sunset Boulevard.

Explore Hollywood Boulevard.

Go through the shops.

Take pictures.

Look at all the vintage details.

Grab a drink or a snack.

Hollywood Studios is especially gorgeous when evening starts settling in and all those neon signs begin glowing.

This is one of our favorite parts of the park.

You don't always have to be standing in a ride queue to be doing Disney correctly.

🌙 THE GRAND FINALE

Your feet hurt.

Your phone battery is questionable.

Someone is carrying at least three shopping bags.

You have survived the First Order.

You have survived an elevator dropping you repeatedly through another dimension.

You've watched Indiana Jones nearly get flattened by a boulder.

There is only one thing left.

✨ FANTASMIC! ✨

Find your seat.

Sit down.

And enjoy.

Because in Kasi's completely unbiased opinion:

Fantasmic is the BEST Disney nighttime show.

🔥 Fire
💦 Water
✨ Projections
🎆 Pyrotechnics
🦹 Villains
🐭 Mickey
🎶 That music
🥹 And an absolutely ridiculous number of Disney characters

It's dramatic.

It's nostalgic.

It's wonderfully over-the-top.

And when that final character-filled boat comes around?

Just accept whatever feelings happen.

🌅 GO EARLY

Animal Kingdom is worth waking up for.

It's cooler.

It's quieter.

And most importantly:

🦓 Kilimanjaro Safaris

We LOVE an early-morning safari.

The animals tend to be more active before the Florida afternoon turns everyone — humans included — into creatures who would prefer to lie under a tree.

Climb aboard your safari vehicle and head out onto the savanna.

Giraffes. Elephants. Lions. Rhinos. Hippos.

And whatever else decides to make an appearance that morning.

Every safari is a little different, which is part of what makes it so good.

🧊☕ Coconut Iced Coffee

Acquire coffee.

Specifically, if you can find the coconut iced coffee, acquire that.

Kasi approves.

Now we're ready.

🌳 Explore Discovery Island

Stop at the Tree of Life.

Take pictures.

Look closely at the carvings.

Then — and this is important —

🛍️ GO IN THE SHOPS.

Animal Kingdom has Kasi's favorite shops in Disney World.

The jewelry.

The home stuff.

The animal-themed things.

The clothes.

The weird little things you didn't know existed but suddenly desperately need.

Budget accordingly.

🏔️ EXPEDITION EVEREST

Now it's time for our favorite.

Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain.

Kasi loves it.

Marcus loves it.

We therefore consider this a highly reliable recommendation.

Board your train.

Head toward Everest.

Discover that perhaps the train tracks are not in ideal condition.

Meet a yeti.

Make some questionable backwards decisions.

Scream.

Laugh.

Immediately consider doing it again.

10/10. Yeti perfection.

🌌 Welcome to Pandora

Walk into Pandora – The World of Avatar and give yourself time to actually look around.

The floating mountains are ridiculous.

The plants are ridiculous.

The amount of detail is ridiculous.

Disney was showing off.

Pick an adventure:

🪽 Avatar Flight of Passage

or

🌿 Na'vi River Journey

Then wander a little before heading out.

🍖 One Last Important Stop

If you're hungry:

Flame Tree Barbecue.

One of our Animal Kingdom favorites.

Grab some barbecue, find a shady table and enjoy the fact that you accomplished a pretty excellent little Animal Kingdom day.

✨ Vibe: Safari. Coffee. Yeti. Pandora. Barbecue. Shopping.

Honestly?

Pretty perfect.

🌅 Start Early

Yes, we know.

You're on vacation.

Trust us.

Because first up:

🦒 EARLY-MORNING SAFARI

Head to Kilimanjaro Safaris while the morning is still relatively cool.

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Take pictures.

Wave at giraffes even though they absolutely do not care.

Try to spot the lions doing something other than sleeping.

This is one of Kasi & Marcus's favorite ways to start an Animal Kingdom day.

🥞 TUSKER HOUSE BREAKFAST

Now we're talking.

Head into Harambe for breakfast at Tusker House Restaurant.

This is a Kasi & Marcus favorite.

Eat breakfast.

Meet Disney friends dressed for adventure.

Eat more breakfast.

Take adorable character pictures.

Get another plate because calories consumed while Mickey is nearby are governed by different laws of physics.

Important: This one requires a little more time than grabbing something quick, but that's the point.

You're on vacation.

Enjoy it.

☕ Caffeine Intermission

At some point, find your way to Creature Comforts.

Which is Starbucks.

But Animal Kingdom Starbucks.

Which obviously makes it more adventurous.

Grab a coffee, regroup and continue.

And if the coconut iced coffee is calling your name elsewhere…

Listen to it.

🌿 Explore Africa

Do not immediately run away after the safari.

Wander through Harambe.

Look at the buildings.

Listen to the music.

Check out the animals.

Explore the trails.

Animal Kingdom is full of places that reward you for simply looking around.

🏔️ YETI TIME

Expedition Everest.

Our favorite Animal Kingdom ride.

There is a mountain.

There is a yeti.

There is a section of track that seems to have a fairly significant problem.

That's all you need to know.

Ride it.

And if the line isn't terrible?

Ride it again.

Kasi & Marcus support this behavior.

🍖 FLAME TREE BARBECUE

Eventually, food.

And one of our favorite quick-service options in the park:

Flame Tree Barbecue.

Get something delicious and then look around for seating.

There are beautiful tucked-away areas down by the water that make this an especially nice place to slow down for a while.

This is not merely lunch.

This is a strategic sit-down.

Your feet will thank you.

🍹 NOMAD LOUNGE

Speaking of sitting down…

Welcome to one of our favorite places in Animal Kingdom.

Nomad Lounge.

Drinks.

Small bites.

A gorgeous patio.

Excellent atmosphere.

And absolutely no reason to hurry.

Find a seat, order something fun and enjoy being at Disney without standing in a queue.

This is the Animal Kingdom philosophy.

🌌 Pandora

Save plenty of time for Pandora – The World of Avatar.

🪽 Flight of Passage

🌿 Na'vi River Journey

🌱 Wander the Valley of Mo'ara

📸 Take far too many pictures of floating mountains

And if the sun is starting to set?

Even better.

Because Pandora is about to change.

✨ Pandora After Dark

If you've never seen Pandora at night, stay.

The landscape begins glowing.

The pathways change.

Plants light up.

Everything suddenly feels even more alien.

This is one of the best reasons not to treat Animal Kingdom as a “half-day park.”

Slow down.

Walk around.

Enjoy it.

🛍️ And Before You Leave…

Remember those shops?

Go back.

Kasi certainly would.

✨ Vibe: Animals + character breakfast + yeti + barbecue + cocktails + Pandora + irresponsible souvenir decisions.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Charge your phone.

Bring sunscreen.

Prepare financially for the shops.

We ride at dawn.

🌅 THE SAVANNA AWAITS

Get there early.

Animal Kingdom in the morning is special.

The air is cooler.

The park is waking up.

The music is starting.

And everyone in your party still likes one another.

Enjoy this moment.

Then head toward Africa.

🦒 KILIMANJARO SAFARIS

Morning safari first.

This is one of our absolute Animal Kingdom must-dos.

Head out onto the Harambe Wildlife Reserve and see who's awake.

🦒 Giraffes
🐘 Elephants
🦁 Lions
🦏 Rhinos
🦛 Hippos
🐊 Crocodiles
🦓 And plenty of other residents

Take pictures.

But also put the phone down sometimes.

Some of the coolest safari moments happen for approximately four seconds and then walk directly behind a bush.

🥞 BREAKFAST WITH FRIENDS

Tusker House Restaurant

Now reward yourself for waking up early.

Breakfast buffet.

Characters.

Coffee.

More breakfast.

More characters.

Kasi & Marcus love Tusker House breakfast, and this is one of our favorite ways to make an Animal Kingdom morning feel extra Disney.

Eat enough that you temporarily forget lunch exists.

You will remember.

🦍 ANIMAL EXPLORATION

Now slow down.

Explore some of Animal Kingdom's walking trails.

See gorillas.

Watch animals doing whatever animals feel like doing that particular morning.

Look at the plants.

Read the signs.

Notice the incredible details throughout Harambe.

There is no leaderboard.

You do not get additional Disney points for reaching the next attraction four minutes faster.

☕ COFFEE.

Find Creature Comforts when caffeine becomes medically necessary.

Grab your Starbucks.

Or track down that glorious coconut iced coffee.

Then continue your expedition.

🛍️ THE KASI-APPROVED SHOPPING EXCURSION

We need to discuss something.

Animal Kingdom has Kasi's favorite Disney shopping.

Therefore, shopping is officially part of this itinerary.

Not something you squeeze in while walking toward another ride.

An attraction.

Look at the jewelry.

Look at the art.

Look at the home decor.

Look at the clothes.

Find an animal-themed object you have never previously required in your life.

Decide that actually you've always needed it.

This is the circle of life.

🏔️ EXPEDITION EVEREST

Time to meet the yeti.

Our favorite ride in Animal Kingdom.

The queue alone is worth exploring.

Then board the train and begin climbing into the Himalayas.

Everything is going wonderfully.

Until it isn't.

🚂🏔️❌

We won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't ridden.

But perhaps Everest's railway maintenance department deserves a strongly worded email.

Ride it.

Then ride it again if you can.

🦕 Choose Your Own Animal Kingdom Side Quest

Now wander.

Catch a show.

Explore another trail.

Go see more animals.

Find characters.

Take pictures around the Tree of Life.

Or simply sit somewhere beautiful and watch Animal Kingdom happen around you.

That's the beauty of this park.

🍖 LUNCH: FLAME TREE BARBECUE

You have earned barbecue.

Grab your food and hunt down one of the tucked-away seating areas.

Sit.

Eat.

Hydrate.

Watch the birds carefully because some of them have absolutely no respect for personal property.

This is their park.

We're merely visiting.

🍹 THE NOMAD LOUNGE INTERMISSION

And now…

Nomad Lounge.

One of Kasi & Marcus's absolute Animal Kingdom favorites.

Order a drink.

Get some small bites if you're hungry again.

Sit on the patio if you can.

Watch the world go by.

Do absolutely nothing productive.

This is vacation.

This is also your opportunity to remind the overachiever in your group that resting at a gorgeous Disney lounge counts as doing Disney.

🌳 DISCOVERY ISLAND

Spend some time around the Tree of Life.

Look for the animals carved into it.

Explore.

Take pictures.

Check the shops again.

Yes.

Again.

We already discussed this.

🌌 PANDORA – THE WORLD OF AVATAR

Now save one of the best environments for later in the day.

Walk beneath the floating mountains.

Explore the Valley of Mo'ara.

And ride:

🪽 Avatar Flight of Passage

Fly on the back of a banshee.

Try not to think too hard about how any of this technology works.

Just enjoy it.

Then:

🌿 Na'vi River Journey

Slow.

Beautiful.

Glowing.

Air-conditioned.

At this point in the day, those last two words are particularly important.

🌅 SUNSET IN PANDORA

Now don't leave.

This is where the people who called Animal Kingdom a half-day park realize their mistake.

Find something to eat or drink.

Wander.

Watch the daylight disappear.

Because slowly…

Pandora starts glowing.

🌌✨ PANDORA AT NIGHT

Bioluminescent plants.

Glowing pathways.

Floating mountains overhead.

Alien noises.

A completely different atmosphere than the one you walked through earlier.

Take your time.

Take pictures.

Then put the phone away and actually look at it.

This is one of those Disney environments that's worth simply existing in for a while.

🌿 ONE LAST WALK

Eventually, it's time to leave.

Make your way back toward Discovery Island.

Take another look at the Tree of Life.

Walk through the shops one last time.

Kasi says this is necessary.

Marcus may or may not agree.

We didn't ask.

Then head toward the exit knowing that today you:

🦒 Went on safari
🥞 Ate breakfast with Disney characters
☕ Consumed necessary caffeine
🏔️ Survived a yeti
🍖 Ate barbecue
🍹 Had cocktails at Nomad Lounge
🌌 Flew on a banshee
🛍️ Purchased something you definitely needed
✨ Watched an alien planet glow after dark

Not bad.