As my trips to Walt Disney World have become more frequent, people often ask me why I keep choosing to spend my vacations at the same destination. How is it possible that I am not tired of it yet? I think if I still traveled to Disney the way I did during my first trip, I easily could be. But not only have the parks evolved, making things new and different, but I have also found a lot of other ways to ensure that my trips to Walt Disney World still feel fresh and new every time:
1) Go to a new restaurant.
Walt Disney World is full of incredible restaurants, so finding a new yummy place can become a highlight of any trip. Whether it’s taking a trip to the food court at a resort near a park or finding that delicious sit-down restaurant inside the park, you can always find a new restaurant to try each time you go. Over the years I have found two of my favorite restaurants — Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom and Trail’s End at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground — by just trying them on a whim because I saw positive reviews online when looking for new places.
2) Resort hop to places you don’t normally stay.
Everyone has their favorite Disney Resorts to stay at, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little excitement to your trip by checking out the fun elsewhere. Whether it’s relaxing on the beach of the Polynesian Resort with a Dole Whip, going to the Campfire Sing-A-Long with Chip & Dale at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground or watching the animals on the Savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge, resort hopping can add a nice break to your park days while still making the most out of your time in Disney.
3) Try out all of the transportation options.
Depending on what resort you stay at (if you are staying on property at all), you may only consistently use one of the Disney transportation options to get around property, so take some time to make use of the others. Take the monorail to go from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, giving you the opportunity to have a bird’s eye view of Future World. When going to Disney Springs from a park, head to Port Orleans French Quarter first, grab a beignet, and then take a boat down the Sassagoula River to the Springs (arguably one of my favorite routes on property). Think creatively when going from place to place just to add something a little different to your day!
4) Take a behind the scenes tour.
See one of the parks in a way you have never seen before on a guided tour. Take an in-depth look of the greenhouses and fish farm in The Land Pavilion during the hour-long “Behind the Seeds” tour at Epcot. Get up close and personal with the wild animals on the safari in Animal Kingdom’s “Wild Africa Trek.” Or spend the day learning all about the creation of the most magical place on Earth in Disney’s “Keys to the Kingdom” tour through Magic Kingdom. The list goes on of the possible ways you can see parts of Walt Disney World through a different lens on a special guided tour.
5) Travel at a different time of the year.
Walt Disney World is filled with different festivals and events throughout the year, so be sure to vary when you take your trip in order to take advantage of them all. At the beginning of the year, Epcot holds the International Festival of the Arts, bringing visual and performing arts into the parks (along with BEAUTIFUL food selections at food booths). The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival fills the park with topiaries of everyone’s favorite Disney characters. Fall in Walt Disney World brings both the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as well as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom. And of course, you can’t beat Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort, where holiday magic takes over all the parks and resorts throughout property with parties, special events, and beautiful decor. There really is no bad time to go to Walt Disney World, just switch it up from time to time to appreciate all Disney has to offer year-round.
