Disney World
Attractions
Walt Disney World is filled with some of the most magical and exciting attractions that families love. Disney World consists of four different theme parks that each have their own unique attractions and shows. The amazing thing about Disney World is that all ages can enjoy the majority of attractions and rides together. Since the resort is so large and has so many events, attractions, parades and shows, keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to do everything on your wish list on one single trip, and may need to prioritize. The amount you are able to do will depend on the time of year you visit, crowd levels, and length of your stay.
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Before you head on your vacation, it is a good idea to measure each of your children’s heights, with shoes on, so that you know beforehand what rides they are tall enough to ride. Let them know before your trip what rides they aren’t big enough for so that there isn’t disappointment when you arrive. Check out our height charts to help you figure out what attractions your kids can ride. |
All attractions have been rated and reviewed by our panel of parents based on their children’s like or dislike of the attraction. Comments come from our parents as well. Ratings for each ride are below by land/area of the park.
FP=FastPasses available for this ride
*=Possibly frightening for small children
Quick Links: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks, Special Tours
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is the most popular park at Disney World because it has the most classic Disney elements that are inspired by the original, Disneyland. MK is divided into six lands: Main Street, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. New Fantasyland was recently added to the Fantasyland area and final construction will be finished in 2014 with the new Seven Dwarfs Mine ride.
Main Street |
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Main Street Vehicles |
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Walt Disney World Railroad |
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Celebrate: A Dream Come True Parade |
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Dream Along With Mickey Show |
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Main Street Electrical Parade |
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Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it! Street Parade |
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Town Square Theater (Mickey Mouse Meet & Greet) (FP) |
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Wishes Nighttime Fireworks |
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Main Street Tips & Advice: The railroad is fun for the younger crowd but loses it appeal on older children. The same is true for the vehicles. The parades are always wonderful. Best time to catch a parade is middle of afternoon when you may be tired of walking and standing, but try to find a shady spot as it will be hot. Watch the Dream Along with Mickey Show in the morning when temps are cool as it is in the sun. Fireworks are a must see! |
Liberty Square |
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The Hall of Presidents |
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Haunted Mansion * |
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Liberty Square Riverboat |
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Liberty Square Tips & Advice: Hall of Presidents lacks appeal for young kids but can afford some cool, quiet time. Haunted Mansion could scare some preschoolers but is a favorite for most kids. Haunted Mansion has a fun, new, interactive queue that kids love so don't skip it. |
Fantasyland |
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The Barnstormer (FP) |
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Casey Jr. Splash N' Soak Station |
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Cinderella's Castle |
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Dumbo (FP) |
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Enchanted Tales with Belle |
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it's a small world |
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Peter Pan's Flight (FP) |
| Princess Fairytale Hall (Princess Meet & Greet) | |
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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (FP) |
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Mad Tea Party |
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Mickey's PhilharMagic |
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Prince Charming Regal Carrousel |
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Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid |
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Fantasyland Tips & Advice: The most popular rides in Fantasyland are Dumbo and Peter Pan, as well as the new Fantasyland attractions. Also the Winnie the Pooh queue is now interactive. PhilharMagic can be dark and loud but is a very cute 3D movie. Early morning is the best time to beat the crowds here. Must be age 7 to ride Dumbo alone. Height restriction on Barnstormer is 35". Dumbo now offers either the FastPass system or the standby queue with inside play area and pagers, so waiting is easy for families. |
With the current expansion of Fantasyland, the Snow White's Scary Adventure is closed and a new Seven Dwarves Mine Ride is being constructed, scheduled to be open in 2014. Don't miss the other new attractions in Fantasyland including a meet & greet with Ariel, Enchanted Tales with Belle and the Princess Fairytale Hall where you can meet Cinderella and Rapunzel.
Frontierland |
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad* (FP) |
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Country Bear Jamboree |
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Frontierland Shootin' Arcade |
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Splash Mountain* (FP) |
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Tom Sawyer's Island |
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Frontierland Tips & Advice: Early in the morning, this part of the park is very quiet and empty. Big Thunder and Splash can be a little scary for young preschoolers but are favorites of school-age kids. You will get wet on Splash Mountain! Request to sit on the left side if you prefer to be dryer. Height restriction on Splash & Big Thunder is 40". Tom Sawyers is a nice place for kids to just run around and explore. |
Adventureland |
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The Enchanted Tiki Room |
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Jungle Cruise (FP) |
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Magic Carpets of Aladdin |
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Pirates of the Caribbean |
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Swiss Family Treehouse |
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Adventureland Tips & Advice: Magic Carpets are a Dumbo-like ride. Wait times go down in the evenings. Pirates can be a little scary for the youngest park-goer but the ride is usually a favorite with kids. Save the Tiki Room for late afternoon when temperatures are high. Keep in mind the Tiki Room has loud thunder and lightning and could be frightening - let your kids know before you go in. |
Tomorrowland |
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Astro Orbitor |
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Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (FP) |
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Monster's Inc Laugh Floor |
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Space Mountain* (FP) |
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Stitch's Great Escape* |
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Tomorrowland Speedway |
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Transit Authority PeopleMovers |
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Carousel of Progress |
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Tomorrowland Tips & Advice: PeopleMovers is a great ride to relax your feet and is generally loved by kids so don't skip it! Stitch's Great Escape may be too scary for preschoolers. Bring a couple good jokes with you and text them during the Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor - they may read them aloud! Height restrictions for Space Mtn is 44" and Speedway is 32". |
Character Meet & Greets |
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Tinkerbell & Fairies |
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Princess Meet & Greet |
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Princess Tiana & Naveen |
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Merida |
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Ariel's Grotto |
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Jasmine & Aladdin |
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Gaston |
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Pete's Silly Sideshow |
Quick Links: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks, Special Tours
Epcot
Epcot is really two theme parks in one. The size of this park is over twice the size of Magic Kingdom, which means there is a lot to do and see! There are two parks within Epcot: Future World and World Showcase. Future World has a vast array of rides and attractions that focus on human ingenuity and invention. World Showcase consists of beautifully crafted pavilions for eleven countries that include shopping, dining and some films/rides. Each pavilion is stunning and detailed, and definitely should not be missed.
Future World |
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Captain EO* (film) |
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Circle of Life (film) |
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Ellen's Energy Adventure |
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Imagination! Pavilion |
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Innoventions |
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Journey into Imagination |
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Living with the Land (FP) |
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Mission: Space* (FP) |
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Soarin' (FP) |
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Spaceship Earth |
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Test Track (FP) |
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The Seas with Nemo & Friends |
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Turtle Talk with Crush |
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Future World Tips & Advice: Test Track and Soarin' are the highlights for kids, so try to grab a fastpass first thing in the morning. For Mission Space, kids should choose the green side which doesn't spin and consider this one for older kids. Nemo and Turtle Talk are big favorites with young kids, and they enjoy seeing all the sealife at the Seas pavilion. Imagination Pavilion and Innoventions are great to run around in when crowds in the park are high. Living with the Land is slow but if your child loves gardening, they will like this ride. |
World Showcase |
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American Adventure |
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Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros |
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Impressions de France (film) |
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Illuminations |
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Kidcot Fun Stops |
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Maelstrom* (FP) |
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O'Canada (film) |
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Reflections of China (film) |
World Showcase opens a couple hours after Future World, and typically has low crowds right when it opens. Most attractions are films except Gran Fiesta Tour and Maelstrom which are boat rides. Films are usually about 30 minutes long and young kids may lose attention quickly, as well as most are standing room only. Each country has amazing design and grounds so there are a lot of great photo ops. A favorite of the panel are the gardens in Canada and United Kingdoms, but don't miss the tiny village and trains in Germany.
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World Showcase Tips & Advice: Kidcot Stops are a fun way for kids to visit each country. Consider buying the Epcot Passport and getting it stamped in each country, or bring something from home. For young kids, pick one film to see as all of them will be too much for them. |
Quick Links: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks, Special Tours
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is a park dedicated to the magic of films and movies. While some of the most popular rides and thrills are here in this park, it also has some of the best shows. It is divided into four areas with different streets dividing each. Areas include Echo Lake and Hollywood Boulevard, the Streets of America, Sunset Boulevard, and Animation Courtyard with Pixar Place. Hollywood and animation magic are everywhere!
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American Idol Experience |
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Animation Academy |
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Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage |
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Disney Junior - Live on Stage! |
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Fantasmic!* |
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The Great Movie Ride |
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Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set |
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Indiana Jones Stunt Show |
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Jedi Training Academy |
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Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show |
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The Magic of Disney Animation |
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Muppet Vision 3D |
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Rock n Roller Coaster* (FP) |
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Star Tours* (FP) |
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Studio Backlot Tour |
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Twilight Zone Tower of Terror* (FP) |
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Toy Story Mania (FP) |
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Voyage of the Little Mermaid |
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Walt Disney: One Man's Dream |
The key to planning your day at Hollywood Studios is knowing the times of the shows you want to see, since some shows only have a few times each day. You can get a Tour Guide for Hollywood Studios at any park at Guest Services so you have times before you arrive, or better yet, check the online calendars to get exact show times before you even arrive in Orlando. Off-season, Fantasmic is performed only on certain evenings. Line up can begin up to an hour and a half before show time.
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Hollywood Studios Tips & Advice: The most popular attraction at HS is Toy Story Mania and FastPasses can run out in the morning, so get one right when you arrive. Plan your day according to the Tour Guide because most of the shows have specific times. Lights, Motors, Action is loud so prepare your kiddos for noise. Height requirements for Tower of Terror and Star Tours is 40", and Rock n Roller Coaster is 48". |
Quick Links: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks, Special Tours
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is the newest park built at Disney World. The focus here is nature and the environment, and wild animals abound in natural settings. While there are thrills and shows that will entertain, the natural beauty is a wonder unto itself. Children truly never tire of watching animals, and this park is quite a treat for them. Keep in mind this park closes an hour before dusk (except during extra magic hours), so it may be best to make alternate plans for the evenings.
Discovery Island |
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Its Tough to be a Bug! |
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Discovery Island Trails |
Camp Minnie-Mickey |
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Festival of the Lion King |
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Character Greeting Trails |
Africa |
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Kilimanjaro Safaris (FP) |
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Pangani Forest Exploration Trail |
Rafiki's Planet Watch |
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Affection Section |
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Conservation Station |
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Habitat Habit! |
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Wildlife Express Train |
Asia |
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Expedition Everest* (FP) |
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Flights of Wonder |
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Kali River Rapids (FP) |
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Maharajah Jungle Trek |
Dinoland |
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The Boneyard |
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Finding Nemo- The Musical |
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Primeval Whirl (FP) |
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TriceraTop Spin |
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DINOSAUR* (FP) |
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Animal Kingdom Tips & Advice: The most animals are out in the morning for the safaris, and by late afternoon, most animals are hard to see. Also, schedule when you will see the two most popular shows: Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo. Because AK is very lush, it tends to be hotter so it is a great park to have spray bottle fans for the kids. |
Quick Links: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks, Special Tours
Water Parks
There are two water parks at Walt Disney World: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Both offer amazing water park experiences with slides, rafting, tubing rivers and little kid pools. Blizzard Beach has the famous Summit Plummet, while Typhoon Lagoon has a giant wave pool and shark reef. In hot weather season, these are a great option to cool off for a day and have some fun. During off-season, if weather gets too cool, they have been known to close if temperatures just aren’t warm enough or if thunderstorms or lightning are present.
Blizzard Beach |
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Melt Away Bay |
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Cross Country Creek |
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Ski Patrol Training Camp |
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Tike's Peak |
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Summit Plummet |
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Slush Gusher |
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Teamboat Springs |
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Chairlift |
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Toboggan Racers |
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Snow Stormers |
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Downhill Double Dipper |
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Runoff Rapids |
Typhoon Lagoon |
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| Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool | |
| Castaway Creek | |
| Ketchakiddee Creek | |
| Keelhaul Falls | |
| Mayday Falls | |
| Humunga Kowabunga | |
| Storm Slides | |
| Shark Reef | |
| Bay Slides | |
| Mountain Trail | |
| Crush 'n' Gusher | |
Quick Links: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Water Parks
Special Park Tours
Magic Kingdom
- Backstage Magic
- Family Magic Tour
- Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour (Age 12+)
- The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour (Age 10+)
- Other Tours available for teenagers and adults
Epcot
- Behind the Seeds at Epcot (Age 3+)
- Epcot DiveQuest (Age 10+)
- Seas Aqua Tour (Age 8+)
- Other Tours available for teenagers and adults
Animal Kingdom
- Wild Africa Trek (Age 8+)
- Other Tours available for teenagers and adults
For tips for visiting the parks, visit our Disney World Tips page, as well as our Disney World Resources page to help with planning your vacation.