My Favorite Walt Disney World Park (Hers)

When I met another person like me, by that I mean another person with Disney in the veins and on the brains, the conversation always leads to a very important question.  What is your favorite park? You can tell what kind of person you are speaking to with such a question. Are they a hopeful and playful optimistic with a nostalgia streak? Do they prefer culture and cuisine as oppose to a fast paced life? Is this person an adventurer? Do you enjoy wildlife and love animals? Will they enjoy the fast-paced nature of break neck speed attractions and the beauty of film? There is something at Walt Disney World for everyone. However, as soon as you tell me what park you want to visit, I know a little something about who you are.

Of course I love all the parks. They are all near and dear to my heart. I love the trilling attractions at Hollywood Studios. Tower of Terror, Rockin' Roller coaster, and the Great Movie Ride are some of my favorites.  And I can't get enough of the For the First Time in Forever Frozen Sing Along! No matter if you're young or old, have seen the movie once or a thousand times, by the end of the show you are singing at the top of your lungs. The Animal Kingdom is so detailed and beautiful. The sights and sounds make you feel like you are in a real jungle observing the wildlife. My appetite loves Epcot the best for more than just the food. An appetite for possibilities and world travel can be feed there as well. The whole park encourages a smooth and easy pace of discovering new cultures and exploring a future as one peaceful world. As wonderful as these parks are, none are my favorite.


I am a kid at heart.  As I climb onto the Monorail and hear, “¡Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas!”, there is a jolt in heart.  Along the ride I catch the hint of Cinderella's castle and my breath catches in my throat. Its like seeing a friend you haven't seen in years and have missed so much.  It is your grandmother's cookies.  It is your warm bed after months away. It is your childhood realized! Here you can play with the old imaginary friend you thought was lost forever. Caught in the 'age of not believing' never to be seen again, but here they are! When you no longer need them, those childhood hopes and dreams travel home to the Magic Kingdom and you can visit them anytime you want. That's why it feels like home to me.  That's why it is so awe-striking and whimsical to me. In no other word it is, magic.  


As the Citizen of Main Street USA greet you to the "Happiest Place on Earth" you are magically transported to another realm. A point in time that has never truly existed but is all that more wonderful because of it.  The twirling skirts, the Daper Dans serenading you, and the quaint shoppes of main street create a home town feel without the added subtle details of  red brick representing the red carpet of a movie premiere. Or the optical illusion in detail given to the buildings to make the castle seem more predominate and majestic. Or that the name in the windows above shoppes are honored former cast members and loved ones of Disney himself.  Or that there is a trash can every 30 feet, a distance that was painstakingly researched by Walt Disney by following around patrons of other theme parks making Walt Disney World the cleanest of its kind. Your senses take all this in with out even knowing it.  The subtly of every detail allows for you to discover something new each time.  Then you reach the hub in front of the castle.  From there its a pick your own adventure. 
Do I want to walk through the Swiss Family Tree House and imagine I live there? Which room would be mine? Or maybe a pirate scavenger hunt where my nephews can learn how to read an actual map that we get to keep? Perhaps the Wild West is calling me and I'm inchin' to follow ol' Briar Rabbit into his Laughin' place? I could visit Master Gracey and pick up a hitch hiking ghost. Maybe a flight with Peter Pan followed by some Lefou's Brew. Maybe I'll eat at Cosmic Ray's and rock out to his amazing space angels. You can be anything and go anywhere in the magic kingdom. Its timelessness and creative qualities is what makes it my favorite place on Earth. 

My Favorite Walt Disney World Resort (His)

During my first trip to Walt Disney World in 1987 there were only 2 of the four parks open; Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center. The Magic Kingdom had a lot of excitement for me at 8 years old, but my first love was EPCOT. It boils down to several reasons that were as true for me in '87 as they are now:

1. Wide Open Spaces
Epcot, in comparison to the other parks at WDW, has open air spaces throughout the park. The fountain at the center of FutureWorld is a prime example, as is the International Gateway bridge.
As a young child I had difficulty navigating the crowds of people at the parks. On more than one occasion I would lose sight of my family or get bumped away by fast moving (and sometimes rude) guests. When you are eight most of the people you encounter are taller and bigger than you, and that can make things feel claustrophobic. That feeling stayed with me since youth. While I enjoy the Magic Kingdom and enjoying going there on every visit; I always have to fight the feeling of being closed in. Epcot has never had that feeling of crowds for me. In most areas of the park I feel the opposite--open and free. With that freedom I feel like I can totally relax.

2. History, Science and Imagination
I have always been into History. It was my favorite subject in school and later my college major. Spaceship Earth quickly became one of my favorite rides at WDW (the other being Carousel of Progress, which is also history based). I still remember Ricardo Montalban's (now Dame Judy Dench) voice as he narrated our way through history. I remember my first visit was full of images and scenes from history I didn't fully understand. Each time I would return, as I aged, I would understand more and more of the ride. I thought it was so cool as a college student studying world history to see the Phoneicians (the traders that sailed the Mediterranean Sea several thousand years ago (and yes I am a history Nerd). It made it so real. Even today as I ride Spaceship Earth, which has changed very little since the early days (except for a little interactive computer program they added about 5 years ago). The end of the ride brings it full circle for me. The future is unknown and all things are possible.

3. World Showcase
As a lover of Social studies the World Showcase of Countries was a dream come true. We were not able to travel much when I was young. In a very small way I was able to experience different cultures while still here in the US. It seems silly, but to a young child this was a great experience. Each country has different smells, sounds and music to fit you right into the culture. When I was young we didn't have a lot of money. Disney was a huge treat and we were certainly traveling on a budget. I don't remember sampling any food or buying any souvenirs. I recall walking from country to country to see all the sights. When I came back as a teenager I had some of my own money to spend. My mother and I picked out a lion tee shirt at the outpost (near Mexico). I wore that shirt until it nearly fell off my body. As I have traveled back I have been able to experience more and more of what Epcot has to offer.

4. Dancing Water and the best Fountain on Earth
When I was young I was mystified by the dancing water across the Epcot hedgerows. I remember coming out of Imagination and taking a break in the shade as a family. As kids we were totally entertained for 30 minutes trying to catch the dancing water.
The other thing that still gets me to this day is the FutureWorld Fountain. I can't really explain my fascination with it, but on every visit I just enjoy sitting and watching the water dance along to a recognize classical music piece. I just love it! It held so much wonder for me as a child.






5. Illuminations
As you might imagine this had a profound impact on me as a youngster. It was the first laser show I had seen, and it left quite an impression. Illuminations used the whole lagoon to showcase lights, fireworks, laser lights and fire effects. The real selling point for me was the music. Illuminations had a whole new music score than I had heard before. It was inspiration, compelling and downright enjoyable. Since its conception they have edited and improved Illuminations several times; even composing new music to go with the new technology. Each and every time I am inspired by Illuminations. It summarizes the International Showcase to a tee. It is every nation. It is people all over the world existing as one. For a young kid from New England it was the greatest thing I had ever seen.

My love of Epcot does not take away from my fondness for the other parks. Each of the parks has several attractions and experiences that I just love. Epcot has always stood above the rest for me. In some ways I think Epcot encompasses Walt Disney's true spirit. He was known for innovation and imagination. Mr. Disney wanted to express himself with animation in ways that had never been done, so he invented new ways. He revolutionized the world of the possible, and in doing so the world of imagination. Without his steps in science and robotics the Magic Kingdom would not be the same. Epcot is Walt--through and through.