A guide to Walt Disney World Resort

Best for: Magic Kingdom Park is where Walt Disney World began and is still full of timeless fairy tale magic. Fireworks cascade over Cinderella’s Castle at the Happily Ever After night-time spectacular, The Haunted Mansion is ghoulishly good, and Main Street, U.S.A. swells with music, and even smells of fresh cookies.

The lowdown: In this pocket of childhood memories, you’ll float, rather than walk towards your first view of Cinderella’s Castle. Mickey’s PhilharMagic and “it’s a small world”, both beloved rides, are practically run on a mix of nostalgia and children’s smiles. Book into the Be Our Guest Restaurant and make sure you try their cupcake, topped with curiously-named ‘grey stuff’; just like they say in the Disney song, ‘it’s delicious’!

Tips for little visitors: The Bippity Boppity Boutique is no ordinary shop. Fairy Godmothers-in-training will give children a royal makeover in their magical salon – from painted nails to perfect up-dos. If your children love playing princess, this is the ultimate treat – and you can save money if you bring your own dress to complete the look.

Tips for bigger visitors: Plenty of adults flock to Magic Kingdom Park to relive cherished childhood memories. Embark on Disney’s version of the three-peak challenge: ride Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – one after the other. Oh, and don’t miss a chance to take a photo in front of the purple wall in Tomorrowland for your Instagram.

Best for: A world in miniature, Epcot is for explorers. There are 11 country ‘pavilions’ to explore – great for anyone who wants to channel Phineas Fogg and circumnavigate the world at pace – and in Future World you can experiment with space and speed on impressive rides. 

The lowdown: The park fans out around a lake with the famous Spaceship Earth monument right in the middle. Split your time between 11 countries along the shore, meeting Mulan in China, Snow White in Germany and Aladdin in Morocco and then fast-forward to Future World, the other area of the park. Soarin’ Around The World is the ride everyone talks about here. With the help of a big screen and piped-in scents it takes you flying over the wonders of earth. Mission: Space is for more intrepid explorers – but do it before lunch, not after.

Tips for little visitors: Little tiddlers will love meeting their favourite Finding Nemo friends in Turtle Talk with Crush, where they can discuss current affairs with the wise turtle himself through an ocean window.

Tips for bigger visitors: Stay late and watch the evening show on Epcot’s lake: it’s possibly the best fireworks display at Disney.

Best for: Bringing film to life in a blaze of attractions, shows and state-of-the art sound, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is for movie lovers.

The lowdown: Despite exciting new openings at Hollywood Studios, classic favourites like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ and the Fantasmic! Evening show aren’t going anywhere. The riotous Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is always ready for an encore, whilst colourful Toy StoryLand will enchant little fans. If you want to stop for lunch, enjoy home-style cooking at the 50s Prime Time Café, where ‘Mom’ will make sure your children eat their greens.

Tips for little visitors: Whip your youngsters into shape with a dose of Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, where they’ll learn to channel their energy into forces for good instead of evil. Book them in as soon as you get to the park as the slots fill up quickly.

Tips for bigger visitors: It’s all about Star Wars. Even diehard fans will be impressed by the level of detail and love that’s gone into recreating the galaxy far, far away.

Best for: Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park has a yeti and a tribe of Avatar’s Na’Vi as well as white rhinos, tigers and cotton-top tamarins.

The lowdown: The amazing Pandora - The World of AVATAR area of the park is one of the most popular reasons to visit Animal Kingdom. This park is full of surprises for adventurous types; even the most intrepid might lose their cool when they discover the big-footed surprise hiding within Expedition Everest or the monstrous Banshee on Avatar’s Flight of Passage in Pandora - The World of AVATAR. Tiffins Restaurant is a popular stop for lunch to stop you feeling hungry as a horse. Our top tip? If you want to see a safari, go early, when the animals are at their most active, whilst you can leave Pandora for the end of the day – this biolumisescent world is even more spectacular after dark.

Tips for little visitors: Your family will love watching the uproarious celebrations at the Festival of the Lion King.

Tips for bigger visitors: The Kali River Rapids are the most pragmatic way to cool off in the middle of the day, but be warned: on this white water adventure the water isn’t just white, it’s also very, very wet – prepare to get soaked.

Best for: Confusing skiers: there’s nothing chilly about this great water park, which is themed around an alpine ski resort – just one that ‘melted’.

The lowdown: You’ll find big slides and fun rides centred around Mount Gushmore and the water remains a civilised 21°C throughout the park. One of the biggest rides is Summit Plummet, which you can see from far, far away. The faint-hearted might want to keep it at a distance. Shaped like a ski jump, this waterslide shoots you like a piece of pneumatic post through a tunnel at a phenomenal 60 mph.

Tips for little visitors: Little children will love splashing around at Tikes Peak, where there are special miniature slides. For afters, nothing beats Cross Country Creek, a lazy river so lethargic you’ll never want to leave.

Tips for bigger visitors: If you’re too old and wise to tackle Summit Plummet, then try Humunga Kowabunga. This water slide drops you straight into a dark tunnel. So, you’re not as wise as you thought.

Best for: A tropical-themed day at a water park. Waves lap at your feet, calypso music comes drifting on the breeze, and ice cream comes served in a bucket.

The lowdown: Typhoon Lagoon is dominated by a seismically stupendous wave pool and a long lazy river. The Crush ‘n’ Gusher ride will do you no harm… unless you’re a banana. Based on an abandoned fruit processing plant this ride is a fruity blend of water slide and roller coaster. Pick a buddy to ride with you on your double float. You might be happier sprawled on a lounger with a picnic, though, in which case the sandy beaches are all yours. Little ones will love their special play areas.

Tips for little visitors: There’s a special play area just for little kids, Ketchakiddee Creek, where you can while away the hours with little ones.

Tips for bigger visitors: Why not sign up to purchase early morning surf lessons (payable locally) at the wave pool before the park opens?

With Toy Story Land now open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, playtime has finally hit the big time. Prepare to get your springs in a twist on the Slinky Dog Dash rollercoaster and spin into space on the Alien Swirling Saucers.

Star Wars has landed at Hollywood Studios. Find yourself surrounded by Stormtroopers as the score swells, and enjoy the daytime and night-time shows, rides and chances to meet your favourite characters. In short, a whole universe of attractions are already open, whilst the exciting new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge launches in 2019.

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in a cartoon? On Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you can step straight into the film and follow Mickey and Minnie on a wild train ride. Goofy’s in the driving seat… what could possibly go wrong? This dark ride will use exciting ‘two-and-a-half-D’ effects to bring Disney’s classic Mickey Mouse Cartoon Shorts to life. It’s due to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2020.

The lowdown: Have the fullest experience of the parks by buying Disney’s Ultimate Ticket, which can be purchased for 7, 14 or even 21 days. With Ultimate Tickets, you’ll have access to all six wonderful parks. These tickets include Memory Maker, which means that you can document your trip with the help of park photographers and ride cams. You’ll be able to skip the standby lines on your favourite rides by using Disney's FastPass+, and you can book your chosen rides in advance. This ticket is only available pre-departure.

Stay for: This cheerful hotel is lovingly loyal to Disney theming. Little fans of Finding Nemo, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Cars will be delighted with the colourful on-site décor here – the poolside pops with colourful guppies and coral centrepieces, plus it’s the largest resort pool at Walt Disney World. It’s ten minutes by private coach from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Know this: The rooms’ mini kitchens – complete with cutlery, including Ariel the Little Mermaid’s favourite utensil, the dinglehopper – are very useful for meal times.

Stay for: Disney’s All Star resorts are great value for groups to use as a base. The All Star Music Resort is no more than 20 minutes from the parks by the regular shuttle, and kids will love the family rooms, decorated Disney-style, and the pizza room service. You can use both the resort pools and dip your toes in the big Art of Animation Resort pool, too, where underwater speakers warble Disney hits while you swim.

Know this: Each building is themed around a different musical genre, so you could end up sleeping next to a pair of giant cowboy boots.

Stay for: This big resort is heaped high with Southern hospitality. You can even toast marshmallows on an outdoor fire pit. With multiple pools, there are plenty of places to swim, including a waterslide area. You’re just 15 minutes from the rest of the world at Epcot and you can take an atmospheric river boat ride to get there.

Know this: Rent a bike to help you travel around the resort with breezy ease.

Come for the themed hotels, stay for the benefits: there are many good reasons to stay on-site when you visit Walt Disney World Resort. If you book Disney's Ultimate Ticket your party can link their MagicBands (ticket, hotel key and credit card all on one wristband) and you’ll be able to access the parks early and stay up late with the Extra Magic Hours. With the complimentary shuttles, getting to the gates of each park is a breeze. And for the family who likes to plan, you can decide which rides to use on your three daily Disney FastPass+ tickets and book them up to 60 days prior to your actual check-in. Not only that, you can take advantage of Disney Dining plans to help budget your family’s meals. Download the resort’s app: My Disney Experience, for a Disney World Map and all your tickets, alongside ride wait-times, and your Disney FastPass+ and dining reservations.

Find out what's included in the Disney Dining Plans

Disney Resort Hotels aren’t the only place you can stay within Walt Disney World Resort: step forward, Disney’s Good Neighbor^® Hotels. Here you can still stay close to the parks, plus enjoy perks like character breakfasts, Disney Extra Magic Hours and FastPass+. Book the Four Seasons Resort or the Waldorf Astoria Orlando for five-star comfort or the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace to be close to Disney Springs. You can also choose to stay at the vast Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort complex, which boasts a heap of restaurants and facilities.

Can you feel the love tonight? Yes, yes you can at Disney Springs. When the parks close for the evening, there’s no better place to go for a date, have a family evening or a meal with friends. Prepare to be bombarded with entertainment, from DJs with your steak at STK Orlando, to pagodas made of sushi at Morimoto Asia, to taking a vintage Amphicar for a dip in the lake. You can bag designer brands in Disney Springs town centre, or buy a hundred variations on the Mickey Mouse ears at the massive World of Disney shop and wear them proudly for dancing at the Cuban Café.