A family vacation to Disney World can be a great experience. There are rides and activities for family members of all ages. Listed below are reviews of our favorite things to do at each amusement park.
Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom has too many classic Disney Rides to name them all. Our favorites include Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Space Mountain. There are a number of kids rides to keep you busy for hours such as Dumbo and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Kids can also have a blast playing and exploring Mickey's Toontown Fair. There are also some fun thrill rides like Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain.
Be sure to catch the fireworks here one night as well as the night time parade. They are "magical" in every sense of the Disney way. You can also meet characters and get signatures in many areas.
Epcot
We were surprised with how much fun we had at Epcot during our last trip to Disney World. New rides (since we had been there) like Soarin' and Mission: Space were a blast. We also had a great time at Innoventions where we created our own roller coaster and then rode it in a simulator, created our own video game with us as the main character, and participated in a comedy show. This was great fun for the family and a respite from waiting in lines for rides. Another very fun activity for the family was Kim Possible. You get cell phones that give you clues to a mystery. Then you go around the different world pavilions and unlock secret clues. Great fun! There are several worlds and mysteries you can explore.
We also love Epcot for grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many world pavilion restaurants. Be sure to catch the spectacular fireworks here one night.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Our favorite rides here are Toy Story Mania, Rock n' Roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror. The last two are not for young kids, but there is plenty here for them to enjoy as well including Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Muppet Vision 3D. During the day you will want to catch American Idol Experience (doesn't sound that great, but it really is neat!) and the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt show. At night you won't want to miss one of the best shows in all of Disney World, Fantasmic.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom can be a nice break from the other parks. The plants and trees allow for lots of shade and can cool things off on a hot day. You can walk around and explore some of the wildlife exhibits and then take in a few rides. Expedition Everest is an awesome roller coaster for those who like thrill rides, The Lion King is a great show for everyone, and you won't want to miss an adventurous ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari.
Other
Both of the Disney World water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are excellent and provide a change of pace from the amusement parks. Downtown Disney can be a good place to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat.
Where to stay at Disney World
Staying at a Disney resort will be the easiest and most convenient place to stay. This can be expensive, though. Disney does have some less expensive options. We stayed at Pop Century resort and enjoyed it. We've also stayed off site and driven in each day. When we got to the parks early, parking wasn't too much of a problem.
