When I planned my trip to Miami, I was surprised to learn there is a Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach. The horrific genocide carried out by Nazi Germany during World War II wasn’t something I had associated with this South Florida city. Upon visiting, I …
Miami is known for so many things – warm weather, sandy beaches, delicious food and refreshing cocktails, just to name a few. But there is perhaps nothing more definitively Miami than the assortment of Art Deco hotels and buildings found throughout South Beach. You really …
Miami is one place in the United States that I had wanted to get to for as long as I can remember. Despite this, it wasn’t until my most recent trip to the US that I finally got around to spending 3 days in Miami. Located in Southern Florida, its a beautiful city, most famous for offering year round sun and sand time. The beach is definitely a big part of it, but there’s other things to do in Miami as well. Its an extremely cosmopolitan city and what many people will think of when they hear the words “holiday destination”.
I think 3 days in Miami is the perfect amount of time to spend in this city. Unlike other major cities in the United States, Miami doesn’t have that many conventional “must-see” sights. Its more about being in this beautiful part of the world and soaking it up. In saying that, there’s plenty of family friendly zoos and other parks that I didn’t visit on my trip. In this 3 days in Miami itinerary, I’ll cover the highlights of the city that I visited, give you plenty of sunbathing time, and even take you beyond the city limits for an unforgettable Florida experience. Welcome to Miami – where life’s a beach!
Being Florida, you should definitely factor in the weather when choosing when to take a trip to Miami. By weather, I mean hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June all the way through to November, though the worst months are typically September and October. Don’t take that to mean you can’t visit Miami in the back half of the year – I was there in July and the weather was perfect, but I personally would try to avoid September and October if you can. The last thing you want is the weathering your beach vibes!
Another thing to know – Miami gets hot. Really hot. Especially in the summer, when the humidity is high as well. When I visited in July, temperatures were typically in the 30s (Celsius). I love the heat, so it wasn’t a problem for me, but remember to stay hydrated! Despite being associated with summer, Miami is actually a solid winter destination – in January, you’re still looking at temperatures in the high 20s (again Celsius).
One time of year to avoid is mid-March. Miami is VERY popular as a Spring Break destination.
Most visitors will arrive in Miami through the Miami International Airport (MIA), which is located northwest of Downtown Miami. Its one of the US airline hubs, so you’ll have no problems getting a flight here domestically, or from international destinations. The airport is huge, consisting of three terminals, and sees more than 40 million passengers pass through its gates each year. The airport can also be quite busy (I faced a rather long wait clearing customs, as a number of flights had arrived at once).
Miami doesn’t have a great public transport system. Your best option for getting into the city from the airport is to use Uber or other RideShare apps. If you’re staying in Downtown Miami, it will take around 20 minutes, whereas if you’re in Miami Beach, you can expect about a 25 minute ride.
You can also get to Miami by flying into Fort Lauderdale International (FLL), which is about a 30 minute drive north of the city. Its a much smaller airport and therefore isn’t serviced by as many connections, but its worth checking flights to see if you’ll get a better deal here, especially if you’re flying domestically.
Remember to check international travel requirements. If you’re coming from a visa-exempt nation, you’ll still need to apply for an ESTA to enter the United States. If you’re eligible for an ESTA, you should apply on the official website well in advance of your trip.
Miami is comprised of Miami proper (often referred to as the mainland) and Miami Beach, which is located across Biscayne Bay, connected by a series of causeways. You’ll be visiting both sides of the bay on a first time trip to Miami. While Miami’s mainland is home to a number of attractions (and generally cheaper), I feel like you have to stay in Miami Beach to get the proper experience. To be right in the thick of this amazing city, you’ll want to stay in South Beach, which is where most of the holiday-goers hang out (and it contains Miami’s famous Art Deco buildings).
Miami is a fairly expensive destination. In general, you can expect to pay roughly the following for a double room in the city (per night):
I spent 3 days in Miami staying at the Albion Hotel. I loved this place. It was relatively affordable mid-range hotel and situated in an excellent location. The beach was only about a 10 minute walk away, and there were plenty of shops and restaurants nearby (it was just a block away from the main retail thoroughfare of the Lincoln Road Mall. The hotel rooms were spacious with modern utilities (including a bathtub). The stylish lobby contained a bar (which you got a free specialty alcoholic beverage at on check in). There was also a decent outdoor swimming pool and activities deck on the hotel’s second floor. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Miami Beach.
As I’ve mentioned above, Miami really doesn’t have any kind of major public transport system. There’s a few buses (including the touristy Hop On-Hop-Off buses), but honestly, I didn’t use public transport at all during my stay. If you’re staying in Miami Beach, you’ll be able to get around South Beach on foot. As I said, the beach, the Art-Deco district, the restaurants, and all that you’re coming to this part of Miami for, are within a number of blocks of each other. You’ll need transport to get across to the mainland however. I just used Uber and aimed to do everything over there on one day so that I wasn’t paying for multiple trips.
Over on the mainland, the places you’ll want to go are quite spread out. There is a free trolley service that connects certain suburbs (such as Coconut Grove, Little Havana and Coral Gables), but I really just used Uber out of convenience.
Miami, as with the rest of the United States of America, uses the US Dollar (USD) as its currency. ATMs are widespread and you’ll have no problem paying for things by credit card.
Miami is a fairly safe city. As with all major cities, there are parts that you should avoid, but following this itinerary you’ll have no reason to be anywhere near them. You should use your normal common sense as always (be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye out for pickpockets, etc), but you really don’t need to be afraid here. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all when travelling in Miami, day or night.
If you’ve got 3 days in Miami, its the perfect amount of time to see this gorgeous city. You’ll spend lots of time in the sun and on (or in) the water. You’ll also dive into the city’s distinctly Cuban culture and see some of the best tourist spots in the area. With Miami being laid out the way it is, this itinerary has been designed to group the Miami Beach attractions together, and then the mainland attractions on another day. It will save you having to make too many Uber rides across the causeways.
Your first of 3 days in Miami really needs to be spent exploring South Beach. As I’ve said, this vibrant district (where you’ll hopefully be staying) is the very heart of the city. Today you’ll be taking in its charm while wandering its streets and cooling off in the sea. South Beach is my favourite part of any trip to Miami, and I really hope you’ll love it as much as I did.
The Art Deco Historic District of Miami Beach is world famous, with over 800 buildings in the area listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings. Filled with unique designs from a bygone era, the various hotels, clubs and other structures that line Ocean Drive and its surrounding streets are a must-see when visiting Miami. After a leisurely start to your day (there’s plenty of breakfast options throughout the Lincoln Street Mall and beyond), wander down to Miami Beach’s main drag on foot. If you look for the small Art Deco Museum near Lummus Park, it makes a good starting point. If you want to go inside, admission costs $5.00 USD.
There’s numerous organised tours that you can book that will take you through Miami Beach’s Art Deco scene. While there’s no doubt that you’ll learn a lot, I personally enjoyed wandering around (on a route around the highlights that I planned beforehand) and taking it all in on my own time. I spent about an hour walking the streets and taking plenty of photos of the different buildings. Some of my favourites included the Breakwater and Colony Hotels. They’re all so unique and photogenic (and quintessentially Miami).
An advantage of doing your Art Deco photography early in the day (aside form the obvious fact that it won’t be too hot yet) is that since they mostly face the water to the east, the sun will be beaming down on the buildings.
When you’ve had enough, you might want to grab a leisurely lunch in the area. As a tip, you’ll be paying considerably less if you pick a cafe that isn’t on Ocean Drive.
Its now the heat of the day, so I’m not unleashing you on the beach just yet. Besides, you’ve just eaten! Your next stop is a few blocks north of the Lincoln Street Mall, and is a stark reminder that Miami isn’t all fun in the sun. Miami is home to a remarkably poignant memorial to the atrocities committed against adherents of the Jewish faith during the Holocaust. I have to admit that I was intrigued as to why this memorial was built in Miami, however as it turns out that Miami Beach is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States.
You won’t miss the Memorial as you head towards its location. It consists of a massive arm reaching up into the sky, covered with individual men, women and children. Pay your respects and then take some time reading the historical information on display on a number of panels that mark the entrance to a tunnel leading into the centre of the Monument. The Memorial is also staffed and I spent a fair bit of time speaking to one of the staff about the story behind it. It was a memorable and sobering experience, and one that I recommend devoting half an hour of your time in Miami towards.
Alright, alright, its time. Its probably the reason you’ve decided to spend 3 days in Miami after all. To the beach! South Beach is well renowned as one of the best beaches in all of the United States. It’s vast stretches of white sand reach for miles along Miami’s coastline, dotted with incredibly photogenic and vibrantly hued lifeguard huts every so many metres. From the moment you get to South Beach, I’m letting you spend the afternoon however you like. There’s plenty of facilities along the beach where you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas if that’s your thing, or you can jump right into the warm water (mind the seaweed!) and splash around under in the sun.
I loved my time on the beach. It was the highlight of my stay in Miami (and this comes from someone that normally rushes around from site to site).
If you’re up for a walk along the sand, head south all the way to the South Pointe Pier and you’ll be able to walk out and join the fishermen on a boardwalk offering stunning views back up the shore with the Miami skyline in the background. On the way back, take a detour under the palm trees of Lummus Park and watch the skaters rush on by. You can even join a game of volleyball if you like. Miami Beach is great. I love every bit of it.
When you’ve had enough time at the beach and are ready to grab some dinner, there’s countless options in Miami. One of the best spots to stop by is Espanola Way. Located between Washington and Drexel Avenues, this beautiful thoroughfare brings the Mediterranean vibes to the extent that you might even feel that you’ve crossed into Spain! There’s numerous restaurants offering outdoor alfresco dining here. You’ll be diving into Cuban culture later on your 3 days in Miami, but if you want to make a head start, I highly recommend Havana 1957. I ate at the bar and had a sampler serving of a whole bunch of Cuban dishes. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a mojito or three.
Whatever you decide to do for dinner, you’ll probably saunter back down towards Ocean Drive afterwards. Its up to you whether you want to venture into one of the many bars or clubs, or just want to enjoy life outdoors in the Florida warmth (on one night I was in Miami they even had an outdoor theatre set up in Lummus Park!). Wherever you end up, you can count on finding something to do in South Beach.
The second of your 3 days in Miami will take you back across Biscayne Bay (and onto it) as you explore the actual city of Miami. After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll want to make your way into the Coconut Grove district. Its across the causeway and an Uber ride should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Also, make sure you’ve booked your ticket in advance for your first stop of the day – its currently required (though I don’t think you’d have any problems logging in and buying it then and there if you’ve got internet access).
I didn’t know much about Vizcaya Mansion before planning my trip, but its definitely a place to see and explore when you’ve got 3 days in Miami. Overlooking Biscayne Bay, the city’s most opulent property served as the winter residence of millionaire James Deering, dating back to its construction in 1916. The mansion is a blend of architectural styles, with inspiration spanning from the Renaissance to the Neo-Classical eras. Vizcaya and its stunning gardens subsequently opened to the public in 1952, following the property’s acquisition by the county, and has been converted into a museum. You can take an audio tour to learn about the man behind its creation, explore the various furnished rooms, and check out all kinds of artworks and artefacts from the museum’s collection.
While wandering through the 34 of the mansion’s 70 rooms that are open to the public is memorable, I feel the highlight of Vizcaya are its elegantly manicured and seemingly never-ending gardens. You’ll be taking part in many an impromptu photo shoot as you wander about (its also quite a popular spot for wedding photos). There’s so much to see, but my favourite spot was right by the water at the mansion’s rear. Standing by the docking area, you’ll look beyond a stone barge to the Miami Beach skyline across the bay.
You should expect to spend around 2 hours wandering around the Vizcaya Estate. I got there at about 10.30 and was ready for lunch by the time I left.
As you might expect from its name, Little Havana is the Cuban neighbourhood of Miami. Cuban culture is a huge part of this city, with many Cuban immigrants settling in Miami after fleeing their homeland in the 1960s. The neighbourhood is about a 10-15 minute drive away (call that Uber) from Vizcaya and is filled with countless shops, bars, cafes and more. As for where to start (particularly if you’re ready to eat), I recommend getting dropped off near Versailles Restaurant. Its arguably Miami’s most touristed food spot, but this dining institution offers delicious delicacies. Versailles was my first experience with Cuban cuisine, and I LOVED it. Order the sample platter for a bit of everything, but also don’t pass up that classic Cuban sandwich!
Beyond Versailles, you can wander along the main road (Calle Ocho). The heart of Little Havana is found between 11th and 17th Avenues. Browse the cigar stores, follow the Cuban Walk of Fame, and try one of the myriad flavours at Azucar Ice Cream Company. From there, you’ll be across the road from the Instagram-famous Calle Ocho sign. Right next door is Maximo Gomes Park where you can watch the locals partake in their favourite pastime – shuffling dominos (they really get into as well). There’s plenty of people watching to be done in Little Havana, so take your time just chilling out for as long as you feel like.
One of the best things to do in Miami is to take a cruise across Biscayne Bay and see Miami from the water. Its called the Millionaire’s Row, as you’ll spend a lot of the time checking out the often exotic and mind-blowing mansions of celebrities on the private islands in the bay. When you’re ready to get out on the water, you’ll need to head to the Bayside Marketplace and find the ticket booth for Island Queen Cruises (you can’t miss it). Sign up for the next tour (you can book in advance, but I had trouble with their online booking system) and their staff will show you where to meet for your cruise. The Bayside Marketplace is about 10 minutes away (by car) from Little Havana.
Millionaire Row cruises run for about 90 minutes and are definitely worthwhile. When you board, most people will head to the top deck, but I personally thought I had a great spot up the very front of the boat (just pack a hat on a sunny day!). Kick back as you journey past the massive cruise ships in port. As the mainland turns into an amazing skyline, you’ll see sites like the Scarface Mansion, with all the spots being pointed out by a riveting guide. Its basically a guided city bus tour on the water! You can also buy snacks and drinks on board.
When you disembark from your cruise, you may as well spend some time exploring Bayside Marketplace. Yes, its super touristy (the complex is the most popular shopping district for tourists in Downtown Miami), but its an enjoyable area to wander, filled with bars, restaurants and street performers. If you want to get away from the bustle of it all, you can also head across to Bayfront Park. This public park by the water is the perfect spot for some relaxation as the afternoon fades away (some days they even run free yoga classes here).
Back in the Marketplace, you’ll probably be drawn to the Miami Wheel. This giant ferris wheel offers excellent views of Miami from above, though it is just a ferris wheel (its not one of those amazing ones like the London Eye). I rode it, but it wasn’t the best part of my day by any stretch of the imagination.
You can easily spend the evening around the Bayside area. Like I said, there’s plenty of restaurants and bars and you can also do your souvenir shopping around here. Sure, its a pricey part of town, but so is the South Beach alternative. The tourists come here for a reason – its a fun place to be!
Spending 3 days in Miami gives you just enough time for an excursion out of the city itself. Considering there’s a UNESCO recognised National Park less than an hour away, you definitely should see it. On the third day of this itinerary, you’ll take a half day tour of Florida’s famous wetlands before getting back to Miami in the early afternoon. That will give you plenty of time to relax under the sun and enjoy Miami’s vibes for the remainder of your stay.
The Everglades cover over 1.5 acres of the south Florida wilderness and are known around the world for their endless mangroves, alligators and airboat rides. Home to hundreds of animal species, this unique ecosystem is beautiful in its own way. Its also protected as a US National Park. You could easily do a multiple day adventure through the Everglades, but you won’t have time for that on a short stay of 3 days in Miami. Instead, you’ll find countless providers offering half day trips to various sites in the park to whet your appetite. I visited the Everglades on an organised four hour tour from the city, in which we visited Sawgrass Recreation Park, but there’s plenty of others.
Most tours to the Everglades will include a airboat ride. Its undoubtedly the highlight. In all likelihood, you probably won’t see any wild alligators at most tourist spots (though it is possible), but the experience of the wind rushing through your hair as you careen through the swampland makes up for that. Most tourist centres will also have exhibits housing alligators in captivity, so you won’t miss out on coming face to face with Florida’s most iconic reptile. You’ll likely also have the chance to grab some lunch before heading back to the city.
When you get back to Miami (probably around 1.30pm or so), I’m setting you loose to do whatever you want. I’ve said it a few times, but the best part about being in Miami is soaking in the Florida weather and just letting the day go by. Personally, I’d head back to the beach for a swim, though the possibilities are endless. Feel like another cocktail? There’s so many spots to choose from in Miami. If the weather’s not great (or you just want a more cultural experience), Miami has a number of museums and galleries (some of the more notable being the Perez Art Museum and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, both of which could easily eat up half a day).
As for dinner, its all up to you as well. Depending on what you’re craving, I have a few recommendations. Cuban is always at the top of the list for me in Miami, and Bella Cuba is another great spot in South Beach (drunk chicken rice? yes please!). If you’re wanting a break from the Cuban kitchen, 11th Street Diner makes for a fun traditional American experience. Of course, you’ve also got the famous Joe’s Stone Crabs – say no more! Whatever you’re looking for, chances are you can find it at a delicious restaurant in Miami.
I was already looking forward to experiencing Miami, however after visiting this city, its a place I’ve very much fallen in love with. If you’re planning on spending 3 days in Miami (or more), hopefully this post has given you a few ideas for how to spend your time in town. What are your favourite things to do in Miami? Are there any must-do places that I’ve missed out on?
Disney Springs is a huge shopping and dining complex in Walt Disney World. Its basically an outdoor shopping mall filled with over 100 retailers and more than 60 restaurants. You can go to Disney Springs for all your needs when at Walt Disney World. Its …
On my latest trip to Walt Disney World, I was shocked at how efficiently I was able to tour Animal Kingdom. While I stayed at the park from open to close, I definitely didn’t need that amount of time to see everything the park had …
Animal Kingdom is the newest of the 4 theme parks that make up Walt Disney World. It opened in 1998 and is a hybrid of a traditional amusement park and a zoo and wildlife conservation station. In addition to hosting some of Disney’s best attractions, the park contains a series of wildlife trails, presenting guests the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the beauties of nature. You can even take a mini-safari on the Serengeti here! With stunning additions such as the World of Avatar, Animal Kingdom is better than ever. I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the park earlier this year. I’ll cover the specifics of my day in more detail in another post, but for now I’ll be providing you with a guide to the attractions found in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
I personally recommend doing Animal Kingdom towards the back end of your Disney vacation. To me, the park is always one that can be toured with a more relaxing pace, making it ideal after a busy few days at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. In saying that, Animal Kingdom opens early. Like really early. On the day of my most recent visit, the park opened at 7.30am to Disney resort guests (and at 8.00am to regular day guests). Since you’ll want to be at Animal Kingdom about 60 minutes before park opening, that means setting a very early alarm to ensure you’re there on time. If you can be on the first bus from your resort for the day, you’re doing great.
That ties into my next point. While I’m sure Galaxy’s Edge does something similar at Hollywood Studios, Flights of Passage draws huge lines INSTANTLY. You want to be right at the front of the queue entering the park and following the cast members into Pandora. Your only chance of doing that is being at Animal Kingdom early enough that you beat the pack of others doing the same thing. Its a stressful start to the day, but once you’ve ridden it, things will be much calmer for the remainder of your day.
As with the other Disney parks, Animal Kingdom now utilises the Genie+ system. It has replaced the old Fastpass+, and is basically a means to book “skip the line” windows at most attractions throughout the day. Genie+ comes at an additional cost to your park admission. I don’t think its essential at Animal Kingdom (you’ll be able to fit everything in without it), but given the advantages Genie+ provides at other parks, I think its worth purchasing for your trip.
Genie+ covers all the rides at Animal Kingdom except for Flights of Passage. To skip the line at that attraction, you need to pay for an Individual Lightning Lane reservation.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom shares a basic layout that is similar to the Magic Kingdom – the classic “hub and spokes” model. You enter Animal Kingdom through the Oasis, the park’s Main Street equivalent. Instead of being one simple thoroughfare to the centre however, the Oasis is made up of a number of paths passing various animal exhibits, all converging at the same destination. That destination is Discovery Island, home of the Tree of Life. This massive 14 storey artificial tree is the park’s icon. From here, the remainder of the Animal Kingdom’s lands branch out from the hub. Moving clockwise through the lands, you’ll encounter Pandora: the World of Avatar, Africa, Asia and DinoLand USA. I’ll now take you through all of them.
Discovery Island is the heart of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, providing access to the other lands around the park. Situated under the massive Tree of Life, a man made baobab tree (on which the night time Awakenings projection show is displayed), Discovery Island is home to a few minor attractions as well as shopping and dining options. The land puts you in the mood to explore the rest of Animal Kingdom. You won’t spend the majority of your day in Discovery Island, but there’s a few things worth checking out here all the same.
Its Tough to be a Bug is an immersive 3D film housed inside the Tree of Life and inspired by the Pixar film: A Bug’s Life. The show illustrates the importance of insects to our global ecosystems. The film is humorous, similar to Mickey’s PhilharMagic at the Magic Kingdom, however it does get a bit creepy for kids when Hopper and his gang of grasshoppers show up to cause some trouble. Without spoiling too much, lets just say the special effects go beyond what you’ll see on the screen. Overall, Its Tough to Be a Bug is an underrated attraction that I recommend seeing some time during the busy afternoon hours.
The Discovery Island nature trails wind around the base of the Tree of Life. Not only do they provide close-up views of the Tree’s animal carvings, you can also see various zoological exhibits including flamingos, tortoises and otters along the way. There’s larger nature trails throughout Animal Kingdom, but this is a good introduction to that aspect of Animal Kingdom.
Wilderness Explorers is the Animal Kingdom’s scavenger hunt style game that you can play while exploring the park. The idea here is that you sign up to Russell’s (from Up!) Boy Scout gang and earn a series of badges by attending various wildlife checkpoints around the park. Along the way, you’ll learn various facts about the animals you’ll see in your travels. Wilderness Explorers is great for families with young children, especially if they can’t ride the bigger rides throughout the park.
While there’s a number of snack and counter service options in Discovery Island, the land is also home to three restaurants. Pizzafari, as the name suggests, is famous for some of the best pizza in Walt Disney World (at least outside of EPCOT), making it great for fussy eaters. Meanwhile Flame Tree Barbecue is where you can stock up on delicious BBQ ribs and other smoked specialties. The land is also home to the signature dining restaurant of Animal Kingdom – Tiffins, which serves diverse, exotic offerings with waterfront views.
Africa is the largest land in Animal Kingdom and where you’ll find the park’s original headliner attraction. Guests enter Africa through the fictional village of Harambe, themed as a modern east African town that operates tours on the great savannah. As you explore Africa, you’ll encounter various forms of street entertainment such as the Tam Tam Drummers and Harambe Village Acrobats who each participate in numerous performances throughout the day. While the safari itself is definitely Africa’s main attraction, there’s many other things to see here.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is the park’s original headliner, and its an experience like no other. Its essentially a mini-safari. Guests board large safari trucks and take a guided tour of the African savannah. Along the way, you’ll encounter all kinds of African animals wandering around – elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos and more. It used to be open for night time safaris as well, although my understanding is that these now need to be booked in advance. Kilimanjaro Safaris, its a good choice for Genie+ reservations if you’re using it at Animal Kingdom, so that you can choose the time of your tour. Avoid the heat of the day as there’s less chance that the animals will be active. Personally, I’d try to do this right after rope dropping Pandora, as the animals will still be reasonably active at that early hour.
The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail can get quite busy, probably owing to its entrance being right next to the queue for Kilimanjaro Safaris. The highlight here is obviously the gorilla exhibit (you won’t see them on the safari), but you’ll also visit a walk through aviary and get underwater views of the hippo pool along the way.
This mini-broadway show features the various characters of the Lion King and all the film’s classic songs. Numerous acrobats, puppets and performers put on a very exciting show that is well worth checking out. The shows runs just over 20 minutes, so check out the times throughout the day to ensure you set aside enough time to enjoy this one. The show is popular, so you might need to arrive early to get a good seat.
Broadly part of Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch is an area of Animal Kingdom that encompasses the Conservation and Affection Section, the park’s veterinary headquarters and petting zoo. You reach this section of the park by way of the Wildlife Express Train. While a visit to the conservation station is interesting, personally I think it eats up a bit too much time that could be spent experiencing the rest of the park. If you miss this part of the park, you’re not losing out. You’d get just as much out of watching the Animal Kingdom series on Disney+ if you’re interested in Disney World’s conservation efforts.
Africa is home to both a quick service restaurant, and a table service restaurant. The quick service option, Harambe Market, is a great choice for a snack at lunch time, with differing outdoor stations serving African inspired cuisine. Meanwhile Tusker House Restaurant hosts the park’s only character dining experience – Mickey, Donald and the gang meet guests in safari costumes, with countless African dishes available in an all you can eat buffet setting. Having dined at Tusker House in the past, its a really good dinner option if you’re wanting to try something different.
Like much of Animal Kingdom, Asia is an incredibly themed land, drawing from architectural styles found in South and South East Asian nations such as India, Indonesia, Thailand and Nepal. It’s centrepiece is the fictional village of Anandapur in the Himalayas. A facade of Mount Everest provides a great photo opportunity and also contains the park’s most thrilling ride, while numerous other attractions will also keep you busy in this part of the park.
Expedition Everest, without question, is one of the best rollercoasters in all of Walt Disney World. Definitely more thrilling than the rides that you’ll find at the Magic Kingdom, this epic coaster takes you up into the mountains on a quest to come face to face with the resident Yeti himself. Without spoiling too much, expect to reach great speeds and travel in both directions (forwards and backwards), but there’s no loops or inversions to worry about. You’ll save time at Expedition Everest using Genie+, but an even better tactic is to use the Single Rider line to dramatically cut down on your wait (chances are you’ll be ushered right on up). Its definitely an attraction you’ll want to ride more than once as well, and the single rider line is very handy at ensuring you can do this.
As the name suggests, Kali River Rapids is a whitewater rafting ride that takes guests downstream to witness the impacts of deforestation and environmental exploitation. You’re bound to get soaked when riding this one, and for that reason it gets swamped with crowds during the heat of the day. While its a lot of fun, the ride is surprisingly short, especially compared to Disney’s river rapid ride over in California. Its still a decent choice for a Genie+ if you’re travelling during the summer months (Florida heat = popular water rides!). As a heads up, just make sure you keep your feet up when riding – you don’t want to walk around Animal Kingdom with wet shoes for the rest of the day.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek is another mini-zoo experience at Animal Kingdom. As you make your way along the path, you’ll pass through the ruins of an elaborate temple, said to be the old palace of a Maharajah. As you move through, you’ll see species such as Komodo Dragons, flying foxes, and of course, the Bengal tigers. This trail is well worth taking the time to experience, though again, avoid visiting in the heat of the day if you want to see active animals.
This wildlife show takes place in an open air amphitheatre numerous times throughout the day and is all about the winged species of Animal Kingdom. Throughout the half hour you’ll witness various birds swooping throughout the theatre, including the majestic bald eagle. I actually haven’t seen the latest addition of this show – I didn’t watch it on my latest Disney trip, and on my last visit, I saw the precursor to its precursor (its changed a lot over the years!). If you’ve watched a bird show at a zoo though, chances are you know what you’re getting into with this one.
Asia contains numerous snack stands that offer incredibly diverse dishes, but only one restaurant. That restaurant is the Yak & Yeti Restaurant and is a great choice for dinner at Animal Kingdom. Yak & Yeti serves numerous Asian fusion dishes in a beautiful Nepalese stylised restaurant. While there’s a counter-service window attached that serves many of the same dishes if you’re in a hurry, I highly recommend taking the time to properly dine here. I did on my latest Disney trip and LOVED it.
While Animal Kingdom is full of excellently themed environments, DinoLand USA is the exception to that rule. Its actually a fairly tacky looking section of an otherwise brilliant theme park. The heart of that tackiness comes from the Dino-Rama Carnival area, which contains a few basic midway rides. Meanwhile, the land’s headline attraction is actually a great thrill ride, tucked away towards a back corner of the land. The land of dinosaurs is also home to Animal Kingdom’s second broadway show.
The main reason to check out DinoLand USA, Dinosaur is a thrill ride in the dark loosely based on the Disney animated feature of the same name. Basically, you board a ride vehicle and are taken through a mixture of a track and motion simulator, similar to the vein of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. Along the way, your ride vehicle bucks about the track on your journey back in time to capture a living dinosaur, with dangerous carnivores providing countless scares in the process. Dinosaur is a great thrill ride that really gets the heart pumping. Because its tucked away it often takes a while for queues to form here. Its definitely an underrated attraction at Animal Kingdom.
TriceraTop Spin is just another spinner ride like Dumbo at the Magic Kingdom. Here the ride vehicles are flying triceratops dinosaurs. This just fills space among the midway games in the DinoLand carnival area and gives kids something to do. You can skip it.
While not necessarily fitting the theming of DinoLand, this excellent 40 minute Broadway show takes place multiple times throughout the day and is of Broadway quality. The show involves stunning puppetry, special effects and choreography to tell the story of Finding Nemo through musical numbers. Make sure you factor this show into your schedule when touring Animal Kingdom if you haven’t seen it before. The theatre is huge, so you shouldn’t have any problem making it into your chosen session.
The Boneyard is an immersive playground for children with the theming being that of a dig site. In addition to running around on slides and swings, kids can also search for dinosaur bones in a sandpit.
DinoLand USA isn’t the place to come in Animal Kingdom for exotic food options. There’s a few food stalls throughout the land, but the only proper dining option is Restaurantosaurus, a counter-service restaurant that serves basic theme park foods like burgers and fries. Unless you’re a really fussy eater, I recommend being more adventurous and eating in the other lands at Animal Kingdom.
The World of Avatar, which first opened in 2017, is the newest land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is absolutely beautiful, being a recreation of the planet Pandora. Set a generation after the events of the original James Cameron film, the World of Avatar brings the floating mountains of the Valley of the Moa’ra to life. Fitting the land into the overarching theme of Animal Kingdom, the story sees Pandora since becoming an ecotourist destination for humans, relations with the Na’vi people having improved significantly since the events of the film.
Pandora is impressive by day, but even more gorgeous at night, when numerous bioluminescent plants light up in vibrant colours. The land is home to two major attractions that develop the longest lines in Animal Kingdom, making Pandora a no-brainer to hit up first thing in the day. Throughout the day, a Na’vi drum ceremony takes place in the land, while Pandoran Conservation Initiative scientists can also be found roaming the land. Overall, Pandora is unlike anything you’ll experience elsewhere in the Animal Kingdom. In many ways, the scope of the land was a precursor to Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios.
Without question the most popular ride in Animal Kingdom, lines for Flight of Passage can easily reach a few hours during busy times of the year. Overall, the ride is an advanced motion simulator that takes you on the back of a banshee for an aerial tour of Pandora (think Soarin’ but far more breathtaking). The ride vehicle even mimics the feeling of the banshee inhaling and exhaling under your legs throughout your flight. Flight of Passage is a technological breakthrough and remains one of the most awe inspiring rides in all of Walt Disney World. Getting off the ride, I was lost for words. Its that good.
Pandora’s other attraction, the Na’vi River Journey, isn’t quite as exciting, but its no less beautiful. On this ride you take a boat trip through the Pandora jungle at night, giving you the opportunity to see the bioluminescent plant life while its still sunny outside. Along the way you’ll also encounter incredibly sleek projections of Pandoran fauna and a hyper-realistic audio-animatronic of the Shaman of Songs, a Na’vi witch of some sort. Na’vi River Journey isn’t as popular as its neighbouring ride, but can still develop lengthy lines. I personally recommend securing a Lightning Lane through Genie+ so you can ride this one after rope dropping Flight of Passage.
Aside from a few snack stands, Pandora only has one dining option, the Satu’li Canteen. Its an excellent choice for either lunch or dinner. Set in an old mess hall from Pandora’s military past, Satu’li Canteen serves customisable bowls where you can mix and match a number of ingredients to create your ideal meal, along with unique and colourful beverages and desserts. I ate here a recent trip to Animal Kingdom and loved it.
Animal Kingdom is a beautiful theme park. I really enjoy the mix between doing rides and taking some time to watch the animals in its various trails and exhibits. I think the park hits a nice balance between the two. Hopefully this post has been helpful if you’ve not been to Animal Kingdom (or its been a while) in showing all the experiences you can enjoy on a day at the park. What is your favourite part of Animal Kingdom?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It used to be such a simple park to tour when visiting Walt Disney World. Thats because for years it was the park that was undergoing renovations (EPCOT currently has that claim to fame). On my last visit to Walt Disney World, …
Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 1989, under the name Disney-MGM Studios. In many ways, the park served as an answer to Universal Studios Florida, which was being constructed at the same time. Hollywood Studios was originally a relatively small park, containing a Studio Tour and …
I love EPCOT. Its my favourite park in Walt Disney World. On my recent trip to Orlando, I spent more than one day at this park. I do think its very possible to see what EPCOT has to offer in a single day though, especially at the moment as the park is going through a stage of redevelopment. In this 1 day EPCOT itinerary, I’m going to provide you with an overview of how I spent my first day at this amazing park during my Walt Disney World trip. I followed this EPCOT itinerary and did pretty much everything there is to do in the park, so I think its a good plan for someone with limited park time.
I bought Genie+ as part of my vacation package on my latest trip to Walt Disney World. While its definitely useful at other parks, I don’t think its really essential at EPCOT. I only made a few Lightning Lane reservations, and honestly, if I hadn’t used them, I think I still would have been able to get through everything on this EPCOT itinerary. There’s just not that many attractions where you’ll be waiting for a long time at EPCOT (provided you plan out the first part of your day well).
I visited EPCOT on a weekday in July – otherwise known as peak Disney tourist season. The Food & Wine Festival hadn’t started yet (it kicked off on a later day in my vacation), so that might have had something to do with the park not being as packed on the day I followed this touring plan.
As a resort guest, I was able to take advantage of early park admission. That meant an 8.00am rope drop on the day I visited (with the park opening to other guests at 8.30am). Since I was staying at Disney’s Pop Century resort, I got to the park aboard the Skyliner, and entered at the International Gateway entrance to the park. I was there by 7.15am and ready to go. Guests were let into the park from around 7.30am.
At 7.00am, (from on board the Disney Skyliner), I made a reservation for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue. My boarding group was called around 12.45pm, so I planned my EPCOT itinerary around that. My first Lightning Lane reservation was for Soarin’ at 8.30am.
Entering the park at the International Gateway (my first time having done so), I started my EPCOT itinerary by following the crowds to the right. Reaching the queue that quickly gathered at the France pavilion, I got ready to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. I really enjoyed this new attraction. It was unlike any Disney ride I had experienced at that point, as it does an excellent job utilising the new trackless ride technology. If I wasn’t entering the park at International Gateway, my EPCOT itinerary probably would have been more dependent on Genie+, as I would have started on the other side of the park, but owing to my circumstances, I was able to get this popular ride out of the way early on. I was actually on Remy’s by 7.50am, before early entry had even officially begun! – getting to the parks early always pays off!
Getting off Remy’s, I made the long walk to the front section of the park to continue my EPCOT itinerary. I had planned to ride Test Track next, however the ride was facing a delayed opening that morning (not an uncommon occurrence). That meant I continued onwards to Mission: Space (naturally the orange version), and it was basically a walk on. I then headed over to the Land Pavilion to ride Soarin’ Around the World. I used my Lightning Lane reservation, though it was hardly necessary at that hour – I did beat the few rope droppers who had headed here right on official park opening though.
With the park officially open for about a half an hour by the time I got off Soarin’, I next headed to Spaceship Earth, keen to take a ride on this classic EPCOT attraction in light of its rumoured makeover in the near future. Its a fairly lengthy attraction, eating up about 20 minutes of time, but by the time I got off, Test Track had opened, so using the single rider line I did that. I had planned to skip Journey Into Imagination with Figment (I’m not a huge fan of this family friendly ride), but passing it on the way back to the Land Pavilion afterwards, I saw it was also a walk-on, so did it as well. Not bad touring progress as it wasn’t even 10am yet!
With only a few more attractions to experience in the former Future World, I set off to do the rest of them (excluding Guardians). I returned to the Land Pavilion and took the most popular greenhouse tour in the world aboard Living with the Land. I skipped Awesome Planet, and instead made my way to the Seas with Nemo and Friends next door. Starting with the attraction itself (again, basically a walk on), I followed it up with some time watching the manatees, dolphins and more in the SeaBase aquarium – its an excellent aquarium by theme park standards! By the time I was done here, it was around 11am, meaning World Showcase was properly opening. Around the same time, I made a Lightning Lane reservation for Frozen Ever After for around 2.00pm.
With 11am nearing, I made my way back towards the World Showcase. People have differing views as to which way to circle the lagoon, but I tend to always go the clockwise, which means starting in Mexico. After picking up a margarita (I’ll write more about snacking and drinking around the world in the future – its the best part of any EPCOT itinerary!), I spent some time checking out the exhibits and stores, while also riding the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros, which never has much of a line.
Finishing up Mexico with the mariachi band performance, I then wandered into Norway. I proceeded to do everything except the Frozen attractions here, which meant checking out the Norse mythology exhibits and having a snack and Viking coffee at the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe. With time to do one more pavilion before having to return to the front of the park to ride Guardians, I picked up an alcoholic tea cocktail in China, ventured through the pavilion’s massive retail space, and had a look at the Shanghai Disneyland exhibit.
Three countries into my tour of the World Showcase, my boarding group was called for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That meant a long walk back to the main entrance of the park to ride the newest attraction on this EPCOT itinerary. Despite operating the virtual queue, I still spent a decent amount of time in line for the attraction (I’d say probably around 40 minutes all up, including the pre-ride scenes), but it was all worthwhile. This indoor rollercoaster is incredible. It really sends you in all directions and if it wasn’t so popular, I definitely would have tried to ride it again. This is the one attraction you have to make sure you do when you visit EPCOT.
Getting off Guardians, it was time to head back to Norway, as I had another ride reservation to use. With my Lightning Lane window open, I boarded a boat for Arendelle aboard Frozen Ever After. This is the one part of my day where Genie+ paid off, as the regular standby line was about an hour at this point. If I had to get in the regular line, it wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but by passing the normal queue here, I had more time to enjoy the rest of the World Showcase for the remainder of my day at EPCOT.
I resumed my tour of the World Showcase at the Germany Pavilion. It was only 2.30pm, and from here on out, the rest of my EPCOT itinerary made for a very relaxed day. I made my way around the remainder of the country pavilions – Italy, the US, Japan, Morocco, France, the UK and Canada. Along the way I snacked, drank, enjoyed the cultural exhibits and stores, and watched a few musical performances. I enjoyed it so much that I returned on my spare day at Walt Disney World after doing the other parks.
I’m not going to provide a detailed list of everything I did at these pavilions, but I feel like I spent roughly half an hour at each country. As a lover of travelling the world, this was the best part of my day at EPCOT, and by having a busy morning, I was able to take my time and enjoy it. While some might say I could have used my time better by doing other attractions again in the front of the park, to me, the World Showcase is what EPCOT is truly about.
After spending the rest of the day in the World Showcase, I capped off an excellent day at EPCOT with the nighttime fireworks show. Unlike other Disney nighttime shows, you don’t need to arrive early for a good vantage point – there’s so much room around the lagoon you can see it from all angles. Its the perfect way to end your 1 day EPCOT itinerary. I really enjoyed my day touring the park as set out in this post. I’m sure there are other touring plans that readers might prefer (particularly those focusing on the front of the park in greater detail), and I’d love to hear about them. Hopefully if you’re headed to EPCOT though, this post has been of use to you in working out how to tour this excellent Disney park.
EPCOT (originally known as EPCOT Center) was the second theme park to open at Walt Disney World. Opening its gates for the first time in 1982, EPCOT was the first Disney park in the world to not be the conventional “castle style” park (after all, …