The 10 Best Things to Do at Disney World

Dine out at Some Great Restaurants

Many Disney World visitors chow down on the same nondescript fast food typically found at traditional amusement parks. And that's a shame.

They are missing out on some fantastic restaurants in the Florida resort and an opportunity to make their vacations more memorable. Disney World's best table-service restaurants include both high-end and more moderately priced restaurants such as Jiko, The Cooking Place at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Flying Fish at Disney's BoardWalk.

Don't blow all your vacation dollars indulging in table-service restaurants, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for burgers and fries all the time either. The resort has some great counter-service restaurants, including Sunshine Seasons at Epcot and Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If you are looking for something sweet, Disney World has delectable snacks and desserts.

Yo Ho With Pirates of the Caribbean

After a few decades of yo-ho-ing, this ride is still one of the best in all of Disney World. Surprisingly, it was a ride before it inspired the wildly popular movie series featuring Johnny Depp. The Disney Imagineers then incorporated Depp's character, Captain Jack Sparrow, as well as other film references back into the ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean is still the crown jewel among Disney's attractions. You might also enjoy learning about the history of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. (For great, classic attractions, the Haunted Mansion is typically mentioned in the same breath as Pirates of the Caribbean.)

Head to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach

While you may associate Disney World with Cinderella Castle, Epcot's Spaceship Earth and the Tower of Terror, you'd be remiss to overlook the famous water parks!

Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are among the most spectacular, thrilling, and downright fun water parks anywhere on the planet. However, we give the (slight) nod to Typhoon Lagoon—its evocative and whimsical seaside village theme, dense and beautiful canopy of flora, and tranquil lazy river give it the edge over Blizzard Beach. (Although the latter has the incredibly thrilling speed slide, Summit Plummet.)

Journey to Pandora, the World of Avatar

The level of detail at the Animal Kingdom is breathtaking. Marvel at the floating mountains, gawk at the bioluminescent plants, witness a Pandoran shaman on the tranquil Na'vi River Journey, board a banshee on Avatar Flight of Passage (one of Disney's best attractions), and more in this living ode to James Cameron's film series.

Be aware, however, that since its opening in 2017, Pandora has been wildly popular. The standby wait times to board the two rides, especially Flight of Passage, often swell to two hours or more. To help avoid lines for these and other popular rides throughout Disney World, and to better manage your visit, you should learn how to make reservations and use My Disney Experience.

Experience the Tower of Terror

If you can handle the thrills (which are pretty thrilling), no trip to Disney World would be complete without a visit to the classic The Twilight Zone-themed attraction. At its core, the Tower of Terror is a relatively basic drop tower ride, which is a staple at many amusement parks. However, the elaborate theme and effects take it to a whole different zone. The "Fourth Dimension” sequence, in which the elevator cars move horizontally, is freaky and especially wonderful.

Get Thrilled at Summit Plummet and More

Do you love the Tower of Terror for its stomach-in-your-throat moments? The Florida resort does have some other thrill rides to get your pulse racing, like Summit Plummet, Expedition Everest, and Space Mountain.

Try the Best Rides for Kids at Disney World

Thrills are great. But what about kids who aren't tall enough to tackle the Tower of Terror, and don't have the stomach for thrill rides? Fortunately, Disney World is loaded with wonderful rides that young children will adore, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan’s Flight, and The Sea with Nemo & Friends. Like many things at Disney World, adults will love them too, because they bring out the child in you.

Stay at One of the Disney Hotels

Sure, you could save a few bucks by staying off the property. But you'd be robbing yourself of the full Disney World experience (as well as some nifty benefits, including complimentary ground transportation to and from the airport and exclusive ride time at the parks). Some of the best Disney World hotels include the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Wilderness Lodge, and the Grand Floridian.

Go to the Galaxy's Edge at Star Wars Land

While the "Star Wars" area of the park celebrated a soft launch and opening day in late May, Galaxy's Edge will officially open in August of 2019 and will continue to grow throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Join the crew of the Millennium Falcon on the "Smuggler's Run" smuggling mission, an interactive ride through deep space to help everyone's favorite "Star Wars" characters with their jobs. Later, you can also join the Resistance in its battle against the First Order at the "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance" experience.

Seek Out the Best Rides and Shows

Part of the fun of being at Disney World is to explore the park and check out as many different sights and rides as you can. "Pirates of the Caribbean" frequently takes top billing as one of the best Walt Disney World rides, but others like the "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" and "Mission: Space" are just as fun, often with smaller crowds.