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 …
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, I was able to see just how much that had changed. Honestly, I think Hollywood Studios is now one of the most complete parks at Walt Disney World. By that I mean there is so much to do. If you’re a thrill seeker, its probably the Disney park you’ll want to spend most of your time at. It definitely now warrants a full day to explore. In this post, I’ll be providing my 1 day Hollywood Studios itinerary that I used on my latest trip to show you how I tackled it.
I visited Hollywood Studios on a July weekday, right in the middle of the Disney tourist season. Naturally, that meant heat and crowds. Despite this, I managed to do everything that I wanted at the park while following this Hollywood Studios itinerary. At Disney World, you just need to make good decisions in the early part of the day, and you’ll generally be able to have an enjoyable time.
As a resort guest, I was eligible for early entry to Hollywood Studios, meaning an extra half hour of ride time before day guests were admitted to the park. With the official park opening time scheduled for 8.30am on the day of my visit, early entry officially began at 8.00am. With that said, we were already moving into the park at 7.30am. This illustrates the key rule of Walt Disney World – get to the parks early! I was at the front entrance to Hollywood Studios at 7.00am (an hour before early entry time) and it paid off when touring the park according to my Hollywood Studios itinerary.
I’ve mentioned in a few of my Disney itinerary posts that this was the first time I had been to Walt Disney World since the implementation of the Genie+ system. As the successor to the old Fastpass+, I found it to be really handy when planning a Hollywood Studios itinerary. The only major attraction that currently doesn’t offer regular Lightning Lane bookings under Genie+ is Rise of the Resistance. You need to buy an Individual Lightning Lane for this attraction (I did) if you want to skip the line here. You can make that booking at 7.00am on the day of your park visit.
In addition to securing my 2.45pm Resistance booking, I booked a regular Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog at 4.00pm. I also had an advance reservation for Oga’s Cantina (made 30 days before my trip) around 12.30pm.
Arriving at the park entry via the Disney Skyliner with plenty of time to spare, I started my Hollywood Studios itinerary by rope dropping the park’s newest attraction. Located inside the replica of Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad is a popular ride for all ages. Being right at the park entry, it gets swamped with crowds throughout the day, so I felt it was a good choice to start with. I was one of the first people in line for it and got off just as the park officially was set to open for early entry guests. As I’ve said countless times, getting up early pays off at Disney!
Leaving that whacky railway behind, the next stop on my Hollywood Studios itinerary was Sunset Boulevard. With two of my favourite Disney attractions at the street’s far end, I was keen to ride them while most guests were still arriving. First on the agenda was Rock n Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith. I normally use the single rider line on this attraction, but its not needed this early. Naturally, I followed it up the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, my personal pick for best attraction at Disney World. By the time I finished there, it was regular park opening time.
As day guests started filing into the park, one of the classic Hollywood Studios attractions seemed less crowded than the rest. That made it an easy decision to head for Star Tours – the Adventure Continues. I’m glad this ride is still at Hollywood Studios. Its no doubt been overshadowed by Galaxy’s Edge, but for years, this was where you would come for your Star Wars hit at Disney World. Riding it again was a must on my Hollywood Studios itinerary.
And speaking of Galaxy’s Edge, that’s where I was headed next. It was just past 9.00am when I ventured into Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, and this was definitely where the majority of the crowds were at. Right from the start of the day, it was busy in Batuu. But at the same time, it was oh so amazing. Disney have done such an amazing job at creating an immersive world here. I fully intended to take it all in, but first, I had a spaceship to catch.
I had a major win when I got in the single rider line for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. Its well documented that while you’ll save time using this line, you are virtually guaranteed to not be chosen as the Falcon’s pilot. Well, I wasn’t assigned that role either…BUT…another person in my group (for some reason!) didn’t want to fly the ship. I instantly piped up and offered to trade my measly engineer role, and the rest was (very bumpy) history.
My Hollywood Studios itinerary fell apart for a bit after the Falcon. I had planned to move into Toy Story Land and knock over some attractions there, but instead, I spent about an hour and a half wandering around Batuu’s shops and stalls. It really blew my mind.
By the time I left Galaxy’s Edge, it was about 10.30am. I made my way into Toy Story Land, though the lines had picked up here as well. Luckily I managed to secure a Lightning Lane for Toy Story Mania to use later in the day. I hadn’t been to this part of the park before either, so I spent a bit of time taking in the aesthetics, while also taking a ride on Alien’s Swirling Saucers. I also had an early lunch at Woody’s Lunch Box, which was actually quite tasty, albeit basic.
Up next, I moved on to Animation Courtyard and used this busy part of the day to check out some of Hollywood Studio’s mini-museums. I started out with Walt Disney Presents (I’d overlooked the memorabilia in the entry hall previously, but it really is comprehensive). Up next I went through Star Wars Launch Bay and came face to face with Darth Vader himself. After all that, I caught a screening of MuppetVision 3D on Grand Avenue.
My reservation at Oga’s Cantina was coming up as 12.30pm neared, so I made my way back to Galaxy’s Edge. As with everything on Batuu, I was really impressed by the attention to detail given in the re-creation of an authentic Star Wars cantina. When you book at Oga’s, you can stay for an hour, and can order 2 space themed cocktails. I enjoyed both the Fuzzy Tauntaun and Bespin Fizz (the latter of which comes out smoking!). The cantina also offers intergalactic snacks and other beverages.
I spent about 45 minutes at Oga’s. I then had a little more time to fill in before my reservation for Rise of the Resistance, so I hiked back down Sunset Boulevard and did Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, seeing as there was practically no wait.
As 2.45pm approached, I was getting excited. It was time to finally experience Rise of the Resistance, the Star Wars headliner that has received rave reviews for being the best attraction Disney has put together to date. And let me just say, from the moment you step into the waiting area, it lives up. After being briefed on our mission by Rey and then being taken onto a Resistance transport, we were taken into First Order custody. Before we could escape however…the ride went down for maintenance. That’s right, I got to see the intimidating officers revert to regular cast members as we were told the ride was going down.
Not the ideal first experience of this epic attraction, but Disney looks after you when this stuff happens. We were all given a free Lightning Lane to use on the attraction at any point in the day when it went back online. However, there was no estimated time for when it would be back up and running. As it turned out, a performance of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Adventure was about to start as I exited, so I rushed over to catch that. I also used the downtime in line to book a Lightning Lane for another go on Smuggler’s Run later in the day (the single rider line is great, but I wanted to be a pilot again!).
With Rise still down, it was time to go back to Andy’s backyard. With my Lightning Lane window open, I got on Slinky Dog Dash. I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected to. Its definitely a welcome addition to the park. I followed it up with another Lightning Lane attraction, as I was able to ride Toy Story Mania.
Having now done everything in Toy Story Land, I used my reservation on Smuggler’s Run back in Galaxy’s Edge. I also secured an additional reservation for the Tower of Terror later in the evening.
Getting off my second run on the Falcon, I noticed that Rise of Resistance had reopened. It was going on 6.00pm by the time I was back through the parts of the experience I had already seen. I was basically up to the ride portion. After boarding the First Order escape transport, I can safely say it had all been worth it. Everything, including the last drop back to Batuu makes for an extremely memorable adventure. I definitely see the hype around this attraction, and think its worthy of all the praise its attracted. Its not overblown in the slightest.
After getting off the ride, it was time for dinner. Already being in Galaxy’s Edge, I ate at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. Its a good quality counter service option (which doesn’t require a reservation). Try the Batuuan Beef Stir Fry – its delicious!
With about 2 hours of park time left after dinner, I had done pretty much everything I wanted to do on my Hollywood Studios itinerary. While I had missed a few of the shows (Beauty & the Beast, Frozen, etc), I had seen them in the past, so wasn’t too worried. With there being no Fantasmic performances at the date of my visit, I ended the day by doing some of my favourite rides again. First off, I used the single rider line on Smuggler’s Run (sadly no pilot role this time), then used my final Lightning Lane at the Tower of Terror. From there, single rider on Rock and Rollercoaster was a short wait. I followed that up with one last ride on Tower of Terror from the standby line.
I really enjoyed my day at Hollywood Studios. Having seen just how much the park has grown over the past few years between visits to Disney World, I was very impressed. I feel like this park now offers the most exciting attraction line up in Walt Disney World. Hopefully this Hollywood Studios itinerary post has given you some ideas as to how best to experience them all and so much more.
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 …
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, the Magic Kingdom was part of the same resort). Instead, the original incarnation of the park aimed to provide an educational (but fun!) experience for guests, focuses on the two broad themes of technology and culture (each embodied by a separate section of the park). EPCOT has certainly evolved in the decades since, and its currently the site of major construction work at Walt Disney World. Despite the front part of the park being midway through an overhaul on my recent trip to Disney World, EPCOT remains my favourite Disney park in Florida. In this guide, I hope to convey why that is.
EPCOT is a really huge theme park. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be doing countless laps around the park (especially in the rear section), so wear some good shoes on the day of your visit. I do a lot of walking every day that I’m at Disney, but I find my EPCOT days are usually the most arduous when it comes to the step count! Despite covering such a large area, as a first time visitor to EPCOT, you can do the park in one day, especially as the front part is currently undergoing a major refurbishment. I actually spent two days at EPCOT on my recent trip to Walt Disney World, but that’s because its my favourite theme park and I always spend a huge amount of time soaking up each of the pavilions in the World Showcase (more on that later).
If you’re an experienced Disney traveller that knows all about the old Fastpass+, you’ll be interested to learn about the Genie+ service. Unlike its predecessor, Genie+ is a paid service, but if you include it with your ticket, you’ll be able to make Lightning Lane (skip the line) reservations throughout the day. You make your first reservation at 7.00am (if you’re a resort guest), and can make a new reservation every two hours from park opening onwards. Note unlike Fastpass+, you can’t book the same ride more than once each day. At present, I think EPCOT is probably the park at which Genie+ is the least useful (though I used it on my trip).
EPCOT is also home to the newest ride in Walt Disney World – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Unlike the other attractions in the park, you can only make an Individual Lightning Lane Reservation (for a separate cost) to avoid the regular standby queue.
When visiting EPCOT, you should get to the park at least 30 minutes before opening (an hour at busy times of year). You’ll beat the line to your first attraction.
The front part of EPCOT was formerly known as Future World and is where you’ll find most of the park’s rides and larger scale attractions. Today its superficially divided into World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature regions, a distinction that should become more clear when construction wraps up in this area of the park. Highlighted by the geosphere (golf ball) that houses Spaceship Earth, this opening area is filled with pavilions that span across themes of technology, exploration, sustainability and imagination. Most guests start in this region of the park before moving into the World Showcase, which contains pavilions dedicated to 11 countries in a permanent world fair surrounding a large lagoon. Its my favourite part of a trip to Walt Disney World.
If you enter EPCOT from its main entrance, you’ll be in the World Celebration area of the park. In general terms, this is basically the central and northern part of the old Future World, though it does branch out to include the Imagination Pavilion. When the park’s renovations are complete, World Celebration will be filled with lush gardens, fountains and trees, as well as a new Disney statue. It will apparently even include an elevated area that will offer prime views of the nighttime fireworks show over the park’s lagoon. When I visited EPCOT back in July, it was basically a construction site between the two halves of the front of EPCOT – though its attractions were open.
Located right at the park’s entrance, Spaceship Earth is one of the most well known attractions at EPCOT. Its also the ride most guests rush to first thing in the morning, since its literally there when you enter the park. For that reason, you’re better off experiencing other rides before getting on this one. Spaceship Earth is an educational dark ride that takes you on a journey looking at the evolution of human communication and technological development.
The ride lasts around 15 minutes and makes impressive use of the interior of the giant golf ball you’ll see from around the park, with numerous audio-animatronic displays dating back from caveman times to the relatively modern world. Technology has obviously changed at a far faster pace than the ride expected, and prior to the pandemic, Spaceship Earth was set to undergo a major renovation, presumably to bring its sets up to speed. That was put on the back burner, but if its back on the cards, I’m glad I was able to ride this version again for the sake of nostalgia.
Found in the Imagination Pavilion towards the rear of the park’s front section, Journey into Imagination is a classic Disney dark ride. After boarding your vehicle for a tour of the Imagination Institute, the friendly dragon Figment takes over and subjects you to a variety of optical illusions and other phenomena, putting your imagination to the test. While great for kids, you can skip Figment if you’re rushed for time. I do wonder how much longer this ride will exist at EPCOT though, as it seems a little outdated compared to the rest of the park. Journey Into Imagination’s theming feels much more in line with the old EPCOT. It was basically a walk on during my last visit.
World Discovery is essentially the old Future World East, and comprises some of the main thrills rides in the park across three main pavilions. The over-encompassing theme are those of science, technology and adventure…or you know, discovery. It also contains one of the most unique restaurants in all of Walt Disney World at Space 220. Located right next to Mission Space, you board an elevator to be transported to a virtual space station – projection screens display the earth’s globe and stars around you as you eat your meal. I haven’t dined in Space 220, but it looks amazing. Naturally, reservations are in high demand. Also coming soon to World Discovery is the interactive Play Pavilion, designed for younger explorers. But for now, lets dive into the main attractions across this part of the park.
As the newest ride in EPCOT, the Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster is amazing. Its currently the only attraction at EPCOT that requires an Individual Lightning Lane reservation to skip the long standby line (at the time of writing, you can also make a reservation under a virtual queue system from 7.00am the day of your visit for free). I’m sure this will change in the future, but at the time of my visit, there was no standby line. After learning about the planet of our favourite Marvel Guardians through the queuing area, you’ll meet up with our heroes when chaos breaks out, and board a transport to escape. That transport happens to be a rotating rollercoaster cart on an indoor track which even includes a reverse launch. Naturally, this is the most thrilling ride in EPCOT.
I was blown away by this one. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was. Its definitely not the snooze fest the old Ellen’s Energy Adventure used to be! If you’re only doing one ride at EPCOT, it has to be Cosmic Rewind.
Mission: Space is a motion simulator thrill ride that utilises g-forces to simulate lift off and weightlessness on a journey by rocket to Mars. You board a (slightly claustrophobic) ride vehicle and are strapped in for your virtual mission. Along the way, each rider is designated a specific task, meaning they’ll have to press a certain button when told to do so to ensure the mission in a success (though I don’t think they really impact the mission in any way). I love the weightless feeling you get during this ride, but its definitely something that those with motion sickness will struggle with to the point of nausea. Those worried about this should opt for the “Green” version of the ride which doesn’t subject riders to g-forces. Unless you know you’ll throw up, I think the full “Orange” option is the way to properly experience Mission: Space.
One of the most popular rides in EPCOT, Test Track is tons of fun. During the queue for this ride, you’ll design a virtual car, with the idea being you’re about to put it to the test in a number of key testing areas. When you board your ride vehicle, you’ll be taken through a variety of simulations before being unleashed on the high speed outdoor section of the track, where you’ll accelerate at over 100 kilometres an hour, racing another vehicle in the process. If you’ve been on the Cars ride at Disney’s California Adventure, its a less fancy version of that. Test Track gets more popular as the day goes on. While you can use the Lightning Lane with Genie+, the ride also offers probably the best single rider queue in all of Walt Disney World.
The final section making up the front part of EPCOT is World Nature, which is basically the old Future World West (excluding the Imagination Pavilion). Comprised of the Land and Sea pavilions, this section of the park showcases the natural beauty and balance of our natural world through a variety of attractions. In addition to the rides that I’ll cover below, there’s a number of dining options here. Within the Land Pavilion, you’ve got the counter service Sunshine Seasons and the more formal rotating restaurant in the Garden Grill (character meet and greets included). There’s also the really cool Coral Reef Restaurant which serves seafood while being surrounded by a vibrant aquarium. I haven’t dined at any of these (I’m normally eating out at the World Showcase), but I’ve generally heard favourable reviews. World Nature is also scheduled to introduce a Moana themed nature trail – Journey of Water.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends is both an immersive dark ride taking guests through the story of Finding Nemo, and a larger pavilion housing several aquarium exhibits (often referred to as the SeaBase). The actual ride utilises impressive technology to project the characters from Finding Nemo amongst live fish swimming in the huge tanks beyond and is a great hit for younger visitors. The SeaBase aquarium contains various reef species, dolphins, sea turtles and manatees. Its well worth spending some time here after the ride to observe the various forms of aquatic life. Younger guests will also enjoy Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show where they can converse with on screen versions of Crush and other Finding Nemo characters.
This slow moving boat ride is one of two major attractions housed within the Land Pavilion in Future World West. Its another educational ride that showcases agricultural development over the years. The ride starts by taking you past beautiful sets of the various climate regions on earth before sending you out into a series of futuristic greenhouses. The produce grown here is used at many restaurants throughout Walt Disney World. Many consider Living with the Land to be a boring experience, but I think its an underrated attraction that reminds you of what the original EPCOT concept was all about.
The other attraction in the Land Pavilion, Soarin’ is another immensely popular ride at EPCOT. Here you board a hang-gliding simulator by being elevated in front of a giant IMAX screen. You’ll be taken on an aerial tour of the world’s most famous landmarks, ranging from the Great Wall of China to the Matterhorn in the Alps. Its a gentle and relaxing experience, so unless you’re terrified of heights, you’ll be fine here – and likely love it. Soarin’ is a must do attraction, and you’re going to want to get here first thing or secure a Lightning Lane through Genie+ to avoid a long time spent in line for this one.
A new addition to the Land Pavilion, this film is narrated by Ty Burrell who plays the role of a realtor pitching Earth and all its natural beauty and diversity. Its a good way to spend 15 minutes out of the sun, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see this one.
I love the World Showcase. Its probably my favourite place in all of Walt Disney World. Consisting of 11 pavilions around a central lagoon, this is a permanent World Fair, with various countries around the world being represented. While there are comparatively few rides compared to Future World (though there’s two major attractions that I’ll get to, plus other things to do), the World Showcase is full of culture – you can shop, watch performances, and eat and drink at each pavilion to experience the essence of that particular country. I love the World Showcase so much that its actually inspired my original travel bucket list. To give an overview of what you can do in the World Showcase, I’ll take you on a clockwise tour of the country pavilions.
The main area of the Mexico pavilion is housed inside a replica Mayan pyramid, making it the only pavilion in the World Showcase that is mostly indoors (although there’s markets and few dining options outside by the lagoon as well). Inside the pyramid, the pavilion is spectacularly themed to make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a nighttime village market in Mexico. There’s lots of authentic artefacts for sale which makes browsing the stalls an enjoyable experience. Mexico also houses the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros, a boat ride that can easily be walked onto at any time for what is essentially a Mexican version of Its a Small World.
In terms of dining, Mexico offers two full service restaurants. The San Angel Inn is housed inside the pyramid and offers riverside dining as the Fiesta Tour passes by. Meanwhile, outside you can dine at La Hacienda de San Angel. Both offer great Mexican cuisine. If you’re after something to drink, head to La Cava del Tequila for a choice of over 200 tequilas and cocktails.
Other entertainment in Mexico include performances by the Mariachi Cobre Band, exhibits on Mexican culture (such as the Day of the Dead) and meet and greets with Donald Duck in his Caballero attire.
The Norway pavilion has somewhat been taken over by Frozen over the past few years, despite the iconic replicas of Norwegian buildings such as Akershus Castle and a Stave Church. The success of the animated feature has turned the pavilion into an Arendelle hybrid, with most guests coming to this section of the park to experience the Frozen Ever After boat ride. This extremely popular attraction is great for Frozen fans, but I’d highly recommend using a Lightning Lane reservation to avoid the queues here. After experiencing the attraction, you can go on to meet Anna and Elsa at the Royal Sommerhus if you still haven’t got your Frozen fix.
Putting the Frozen stuff aside, the rest of the pavilion contains numerous stores filled with authentic Norwegian merchandise (don’t miss the giant troll statue inside the shops). The Stave Church contains an educational exhibit about the various Norse Gods and other aspects of Scandinavian culture. If you’re up for a snack, head to the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe for some sweet Norwegian treats and beverages. If you instead fancy a sit down meal in Norway, venture over to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall for a Norwegian feast (but you should make reservations in advance – the addition of Disney princesses at this venue makes it popular with young guests).
Up next is the China pavilion, an elaborately decorated area centred around a half sized replica of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Temple building houses a circle-vision film about Chinese people and culture known as Wondrous China which is well worth checking out. The rest of the pavilion consists of beautifully styled buildings, lotus ponds and an art gallery housing rotating exhibits on various aspects of Chinese history and traditions.
The China pavilion contains one proper dining venue, the Nine Dragons Restaurant, which serves an abundance of Chinese favourites from all across the nation. Meanwhile, the Lotus Blossom Cafe is quick service option serving basic Chinese takeaway. On top of the massive store space packed with Chinese goods at this pavilion, you can also meet characters from Mulan at the pavilion. The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats also put on impressive performances throughout the day in China.
The Germany pavilion is themed around a small German town, with various stylised buildings surrounding the main square. These buildings contain a number of shops so you can continue browsing merchandise around the World Showcase. With that in mind, the main draw in Germany is the Biergarten Restaurant, a massive dining hall that makes you feel like you’re outside at night in a village square while enjoying a buffet with German favourites such as kransky and bratwurst (and lots of beer). If you’re after something sweeter, Karamell-Kuche is your best choice as there’s all kinds of treats available for purchase here.
While there’s no major attractions in Germany, you can meet Snow White throughout the day while exploring the pavilion. While in Germany, you should also spend some time checking out the nearby Miniature Train Village by the exit (there’s even a shop in the pavilion that stocks miniature train toys).
The Italian pavilion is themed in a way to replicate Saint Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. The outer edge of the pavilion even has a few gondolas on docked against the edge of the lagoon. Landmarks such as the Campanile and Doge’s Palace are present in the main square of the pavilion, which contains your usual shopping opportunities. While there’s not a huge amount to do in the Italian pavilion, its one of the best designed in the park architecturally.
There’s plenty of food in Italy, with the pavilion housing two full service restaurants. Tutto Italia offers authentic Italian cuisine such as a range of pasta dishes, while Via Napoli serves some of the best pizza in all of Walt Disney World. If you’re looking for some entertainment while exploring the Italian pavilion, keep an eye out for Sergio, who performs a popular juggling act regularly throughout the day.
Marking the halfway point around the World Showcase lagoon, the United States pavilion offers EPCOT a slice of Americana. The main draw here is the American Adventure audio-animatronic show. This large scale performance runs for about half an hour and consists of a retelling of American history, narrated by highly detailed robots of Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin. Its a can’t miss performance that runs multiple times throughout the day. Arrive prior to show time to watch the amazing Voices of Liberty singing performance outside the main theatre.
The United States pavilion also houses the American Heritage Gallery, a detailed exhibit that highlights significant artworks and displays focusing on American history. I’ve never dined at the U.S pavilion (I figure the idea of the World Showcase is to experience different cuisines) but there is also a counter-service restaurant here – The Regal Eagle Smokehouse – which serves BBQ ribs and craft beers.
The Japanese pavilion is one of the most beautiful in all the World Showcase. Centred around a traditional Japanese Pagoda, the pavilion includes a number of gardens, pools, bridges and a replica of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. While this is another pavilion without any major attractions, its one that I can definitely spend lots of time getting immersed in. The Palace building contains an actual branch of the Japanese department store Mitsukoshi, which contains a huge amount of Japanese merchandise, including all your pop culture collectibles. Also inside the same building, the Bijutsu-kan Gallery houses exhibits on facets of Japanese culture, such as ‘kawaii’ (cute culture).
In terms of entertainment, you can catch the Taiko Drummers and various Japanese storytellers throughout the day around the main pagoda. The pavilion is also a culinary delight with three major restaurants. The newest addition, Takumi-Tei, is a high end restaurant offering signature dining. For those on a lower budget, Tokyo Dining serves traditional sushi and sashimi dishes, while Teppan Edo is Hibachi grill dining.
Wandering into the Moroccan pavilion is like taking a stroll into the streets of Marrakesh. The winding streets, surrounded by stylised buildings and minarets truly are some of the most photogenic spots in all of EPCOT. The Moroccan pavilion doesn’t contain any major rides or attractions, but there is a tucked away gallery that highlights aspects of Moorish art and Moroccan culture. You can also wander amongst the outdoor shopping markets for goods to feel like you’re exploring an Arabian souk. While you’re exploring, take the opportunity to meet Princess Jasmine.
Moroccan dining comes in the form of two table service restaurants. Restaurant Marrakesh serves authentic cuisine alongside belly dancer entertainment, while the Spice Road Table offers wonderful views of the World Showcase lagoon in addition to your Moroccan delicacies. On top of all this, the Tangierine Cafe quick service venue is one of the best quick service restaurants in Walt Disney World (I ate their on my recent trip for the first time).
Underneath a replica Eiffel Tower, the France pavilion is an elegantly styled Parisienne neighbourhood, once again made up of various shops selling French goods and souvenirs. In one of the main buildings is a theatre that houses the Impressions de France film, a beautiful cinematic experience that provides a virtual tour of France and all of its highlights. This movie plays at various times throughout the day, alternating with renditions of the Beauty and the Beast Singalong, which is housed in the same building (speaking of which, you can also meet Belle in France at various times throughout the day).
Don’t miss Serveur Amusant, an acrobatic comedy group that draws consistently large crowds to watch their hilarious act multiple times throughout the day. France also has you covered with two proper restaurants – Monsieur Paul being the fine dining option, while Chefs de France is an authentic French bistro. If you’re not looking for a full meal, make sure you at least stop by Les Halles Boulangerie Pattiserie, a charming French bakery with an assortment of delectable treats.
The major attraction in France is the fairly new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This is one of the first trackless dark rides at a Disney park in the United States and is lots of fun for all ages. Its also not a bad choice to rope drop if you’ll be entering the park from the International Gateway (otherwise look into making a Lightning Lane reservation).
The United Kingdom pavilion is made up of a miniature British village, consisting of various architecture styles, gardens, a hedge maze and more. As usual, there’s plenty of shopping on offer here, with Beatles merchandise and other British pop culture icons lining the shelves, along with other souvenirs. If you’re a rock music fan, stop by and watch the British Revolution cover band perform classic UK hits from the 1960-80s. For those more interested in meeting Disney characters, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland all meet guests at the UK pavilion.
If you’re craving a pub feed, the UK pavilion is the place to be. Stop by the Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room for all your British favourites and an assortment of pints of beer on tap. If fish and chips is more your style, Yorkshire County Fish Shop is where you want to be. The UK pavilion is always a great place to stop by and relax while exploring the World Showcase with a good brew.
The last of EPCOT’s World Showcase pavilions, the Canada pavilion pays tribute to the natural beauty of the Great White North. While the centrepiece is a replica of the Chateau Frontenac from Quebec City, the pavilion also includes totem poles, beautiful gardens and even an actual waterfall. Its another one of those pavilions that you need to venture deep into to fully appreciate the level of detail on display. Near the aforementioned waterfall, the Canada pavilion which normally houses a circle-vision film on the country, though it was closed when I visited, as it was in the process of being updated.
A number of Canadian rock bands perform throughout the day at the Canada pavilion stage, so check them out while exploring the sights of the pavilion and looking at the goods on offer in the stores. While Canada doesn’t have any counter service restaurants, it is home to the Le Cellier Steakhouse, one of EPCOT’s most premium dining venues.
EPCOT is completely different to any other theme park at Walt Disney World. Sure, there’s been more thrill rides added over time in an attempt to make it more like the others, but I still feel like a day at this park is different to the rest. I always look forward to spending time at EPCOT when I visit Disney World. If you haven’t been, hopefully this post has helped you understand everything you can do and see. What’s your favourite EPCOT attraction? What do you enjoy doing the most in the World Showcase? Let me know!
On my recent trip to Walt Disney World, I decided to spend only one day at the Magic Kingdom. I wouldn’t recommend a 1 day Magic Kingdom itinerary for most guests (especially first time visitors). There’s a lot to do, see and ride in the …
Walt Disney World is one of my favourite places in the entire world. Visiting Florida’s various Disney theme parks is definitely the highlight of any trip to Orlando. In saying that, there is A LOT to know if you’re planning to go to Disney World …
On my most recent trip to Orlando, I had only one day allocated to spend time at Florida’s Universal Studios theme parks. With tons to do at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, I normally recommend spending two days between them. I was, however, impressed with just how much I managed to accomplish on my one day itinerary. While I wouldn’t recommend it to a first time visitor to Universal Studios Orlando, if you find yourself in the same situation as me (with limited time), you might find this post useful. I wanted to give a recap of how I toured the parks to show you just how much you can do with one day at Universal Studios Orlando resort.
First of all, a few caveats:
My one day tour of Universal Studios Orlando took place on a hot summer’s day in July. That’s right – peak tourist season in Florida! Equipped with my park hopper and Universal Express passes, I made my way to the park entrance after getting dropped off by an Uber and was ready 30 minutes prior to official opening time. Both parks officially opened at 9.00am on the day of my visit, with Universal Studios Florida closing at 9pm and Islands of Adventure at 10pm. This is longer than the normal Universal Studios Orlando park hours outside of summer, so check how long the parks will be open when you’re planning to visit.
The other thing to look into is which parks are offering early entry. On the day of my visit, Islands of Adventure was open early to Universal resort guests (it tends to offer early entry every day), whereas Universal Studios Florida was not. Knowing that the lines at Islands of Adventure would already be packed with resort guests, I therefore decided to start my day at the original Universal Studios park.
Despite being advertised to open at 9.00am, the gates were already open at 8.30am and guests were entering the park with some of the rides already operating. That in itself demonstrates the importance of getting to Universal Studios Orlando early if you plan on maximising your time without crowds. Entering Production Central, you might be tempted to tackle the hugely popular Despicable Me ride first up, however its a relatively lengthy experience, so I don’t recommend it. You’re better off knocking out a few other rides without any lines at all. My first ride of the day was Transformers 3D – The Ride, and by 8.50am I was already heading to my next attraction of the day (see, you can actually do rides before the park is officially open – lots of guests are still at their hotel at that time!).
Revenge of the Mummy was closed on my visit to Universal Studios (it had been under refurbishment for the whole summer – if anyone’s been on it since its reopened, let me know!). If it had been opened, I would have done it next. Instead, I decided to zig while others zagged and headed to the back of the park, where very few people were even around. Heading to World Expo, my next ride was Men in Black: Alien Attack. Getting off that ride, the park officially opened, and I followed it up with a spin on The Simpsons Ride, always a favourite. Then I backtracked towards the entrance and did the ET Adventure.
From there, I decided to knock out two of the newer attractions in the park, starting with the underwhelming Fast & Furious: Supercharged, followed by the surprisingly enjoyable Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon.
By mid-morning, I had done most of the non-Potter rides at Universal Studios Florida, save for a few near the park entrance (benefits of Express Pass much?). Impressed with my progress, I decided it was time to take on the Wizarding World. After checking out the London facade surroundings (Grimmauld Place and the Knight Bus), I stepped through the figurative wall into Diagon Alley. This is one of my favourite sections of both Universal Studios parks in Orlando – once you enter the magical shopping district, its like stepping into a familiar world!
In Diagon Alley, your first stop will be Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, in my view the best ride in Universal Studios Florida. After that magical experience, its a good time to relax a bit and take in the sights of Diagon Alley. I exited Gringotts just as a performance of Tales of Beedle the Bard was wrapping up, so I stuck around for that, before grabbing a butterbeer at the Fountain of Fair Fortune (a must – its so tasty!). From there, I spent a bit of time ducking into the stores throughout the Wizarding World, such as the Magical Menagerie, Madam Malkins and even Borgin & Burkes in dodgy Knockturn Alley nearby.
As the morning began to fade away, it was time to head to Hogwarts. That meant showing my park hopper pass and climbing aboard the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 & 3/4. Arriving at Islands of Adventure minutes later, I started with a tour of Hogwarts aboard Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I skipped Flight of the Hippogriff, but now would be a decent time to do that if you’re so inclined.
After being told that the single rider line was currently closed for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures, I temporarily left the Wizarding World behind me to embark on an adventure through the other Islands of Adventures. That adventure started in Jurassic Park, where I took a journey on the classic Jurassic Park River Ride, another favourite classic Universal Studios Orlando attraction of mine. I also didn’t have any luck getting in the single rider line at the Velocicoaster yet, so I put that off for later and grabbed a quick bite at the Burger Digs and checked out the Discovery Centre.
After lunch, I made my way further counter-clockwise around the park and tackled Skull Island: Reign of Kong. While I’m not a huge fan of the Fast & Furious adaptation from the Hollywood park’s studio tour segment, the Kong ride lives up to the hype and should definitely be experienced.
My planning had paid off as I reached Toon Lagoon during the absolute hottest part of the day. Perfect time to get soaked! I started by riding Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. That was just the warm up though (or cool down?), as while you get wet on the flume ride, its nothing compared to Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges! Completely drenched after doing both, the Florida heat will have you completely dried off 30 minutes afterwards.
After all that, it was off to Marvel Super Hero Island for some big time thrills. Entering from this direction, the first attraction you hit is the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, something of a hidden gem in my view when it comes to the Universal Studios lineup. Once you’re done web slinging, Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall is nearby. I skipped Storm Force Accelatron and got right in line (after renting a locker for my loose belongings) for the Incredible Hulk Coaster – quite possibly the best rollercoaster in Orlando! I lost a bit of time here as the ride went down for maintenance while I was in the queue, but if time allows it (and you’ve got Express Pass), multiple rides on this rollercoaster are highly recommended!
Crossing through the Port of Entry (and stopping for a coffee at Starbucks of course!), up next was Seuss Landing. I didn’t spend much time in this part of the park (its mostly kids rides), but if you’re wanting to do one of the attractions here, I suggest the Cat in the Hat. I didn’t do it on this recent trip to the park, but I have done it in the past.
From there, it was off to the Lost Continent, where I went through the Poseidon’s Fury experience. Despite being a long-time attraction at the park, I had never done it before (I’d previously been told to skip it), but I actually enjoyed it for what it was. It does eat up a chunk of time (about 20 minutes), but if you’ve got time to spare, I recommend it for a change of pace. After the show, I spent a bit of time checking out the theming of the continent, including the Mystic Fountain and the facade of Mythos Restaurant, though I didn’t eat there (if you’ve got more time to spend for a full sit down meal, its probably the best option in the park).
Speaking of meals, after circling back into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I had an early dinner at the Three Broomsticks Inn in Hogsmeade. It serves traditionally British cuisine (Shepherd’s pie anyone?) and I really enjoyed it. I always recommend eating earlier or later than normal meal times at theme parks – you’ll obviously have less of a wait.
Knowing I’d be returning to Islands of Adventure later in the evening (it closed later than Universal Studios Florida on the day of my visit), when the lines for Hagrid’s and the Velocicoaster were still too long, I decided to get back aboard the Hogwarts Express for the return trip to the original Universal Park. If I hadn’t eaten in Hogsmeade, this is where I’d recommend a good British meal at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley.
Back in Universal Studios Florida, I headed straight for the front of the park, ready to do the few attractions I had skipped over earlier in Production Central. That meant it was rollercoaster time again, as I got on board the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (check out the secret list of songs before you board if you really want to customise your riding experience!). I followed up those thrills with the much more tame Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem (I told you we’d get to it!).
With all the major rides in Universal Studios Florida now tackled, I completely forgot about the Bourne Stuntacular show, which I hadn’t seen on any prior trips to the park. I would have had time to do it here, though I was never really a fan of the franchise, so I’m not hugely fussed that I missed it. Instead, I capped off my time in this park by heading back to Springfield for a beer at Moe’s Tavern.
Having done (pretty much) everything at Universal Studios Florida, it was time to head back to Islands of Adventure – after all, I still had those two new park attractions to experience that weren’t included in my Express Pass! Having already taken the Hogwarts Express in both directions, I walked between the parks outside the front entrance (its a very quick walk, you’ll pass by the CityWalk across the lake). Coming into Islands of Adventure at the Port of Entry, I rushed straight for Hogsmeade. Lo and behold, when I arrived, the single rider line for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure was OPEN. Stashing my belongings in a locker, I quickly got in line and got to ride it, and it was simply…magical. Seriously, this may be my new favourite ride at the Orlando Universal parks! DO IT. KEEP CHECKING THE LINE AND DO IT.
As I got off, I was about to head for the Velocicoaster. Then…that Florida rain hit. With the Velocicoaster being an outdoor ride, it closed. Luckily I still had plenty of time (though my plans would have come majorly unscrewed if the storm didn’t let up for the rest of the evening!). I used this time to browse the stores of Hogsmeade. My inner Potter fan enjoyed checking out the wizarding merchandise in Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods and Dervish & Banges. Heading to Honeydukes is a must to try the Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties, as well as picking up some Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs (the collector’s card makes a great Wizarding World souvenir!). Craving another Butterbeer? The Hog’s Head has you covered.
After a bit of Hogsmeade browsing, the rain began to clear up, with around two hours of park time to spare. Perfect, I thought. With one last major attraction to do, I headed right for the Velocicoaster entrance. A few like minded people had the same idea, and while it remained closed for about 20 minutes after the rain stopped, the coaster finally went online and I was one of the lucky few to get near the front of the queue. That meant a short line for what had been one of the longest waits in the park for most of the day. It was definitely worth it too – the Velocicoaster is one of the most thrilling rides in Universal Studios and an unforgettable experience.
With all the major park attractions done, I had about an hour left at Islands of Adventure before park closure. I used this time to do a few of my favourite rides again. That meant taking another ride on the Hulk Coaster, before going back to the Wizarding World to catch the Hogwarts castle projection show, followed by one final spin on the Forbidden Journey. Not a bad end to a very action packed day at the Studios!
As I mentioned, I was quite impressed by how much I managed to accomplish in my one day at both parks at Universal Studios Orlando. I really covered all the major attractions and overall had a great time – even if it was a very busy day! Having Express Pass definitely helped, I have to concede that – without it, I probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve half of what I did, and thats why without it, I really can’t recommend any less than two days at Universal. Hopefully this post has shown you that it is possible to do both parks in a day if you’re really time crunched though! There’s definitely more efficient touring plans out there, but this worked quite well for me. Do you have a plan when tackling Universal Studios Orlando?
Islands of Adventure is the second theme park that makes up the Universal Studios Orlando Resort. Its situated right next to Universal Studios Florida, and is even connected to that park internally courtesy of the Hogwarts Express. Opened in 1999, Universal’s Islands of Adventure is …