In the spirit of the Academy Awards, I thought I’d share some of my personal recommendations for experiences at Walt Disney World Resort.
To start off, here are a few fun Disney facts when it comes to the Oscars:
- Walt Disney holds the record for the most Academy Awards in history at a count of 26.
- A special award was created to celebrate Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (you can see it at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco or spot a photo in Carthay Circle in California Adventure).
- Beauty and the Beast (1991) was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture.
Now to the winners. Because I love Disney so much, I couldn’t narrow down my favorites to one per category. So I figured, why not pick my best few? Here are my favorites for a Disney World vacation.
Favorite Disney Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort. It has the best resort pool on Disney property.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The whole hotel is just beautiful.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. I love anything that reminds me of Hawaii.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. They’re intimate, quiet, and pretty, especially for Moderate Resorts.
Favorite In-Park Restaurants
Be Our Guest Restaurant. I love “the grey stuff” and the atmosphere is straight out of the movie.
Hollywood Brown Derby. It’s such a classy restaurant with an old Hollywood feel.
Le Cellier. A great retreat in Epcot’s World Showcase with really great steaks.
Favorite Outside-of-the-Park Restaurants
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. My favorite restaurant at Disney (food-wise); they have the best fried chicken and doughnuts.
Raglan Road Irish Restaurant & Pub. I love the live dancing and they have surprisingly good food.
Grand Floridian Cafe. This is such a great place for a breakfast/brunch on your departure day.
Favorite Lounges
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Bar. My husband and I love the versions at Disney World and Disneyland.
Nomad Lounge. This is the perfect quiet spot in Animal Kingdom and has great hibiscus-flavored drinks.
Favorite Snacks
Dole Whip. This is the treat I look forward to all year long. What beats pineapple soft serve?
Ghirardelli Sundaes. Ok, the salted caramel sundae at Ghirardelli in Disney Springs is high on my list too.
Sprinkles Cupcakes. They have a cupcake A.T.M. It’s open 24/7. Enough said.
Favorite Thrilling Attractions
Mission: SPACE. I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut and this is as close as I can get for now.
Space Mountain. Another classic race to the stars (although I prefer the one at Disneyland).
Soarin’. This ride is equally thrilling and relaxing.
Favorite Family Attractions
Dumbo. It doesn’t matter how old you are – flying on an elephant is just plain fun.
Mad Tea Party. Who doesn’t like spinning around in giant tea cups?
Toy Story Mania! Play a giant video game as if you were a toy. Plus listen to your favorite Toy Story songs.
Favorite Spots to Meet Characters
Town Square Theater. I got to have a chat with Mickey!
Cinderella’s Royal Table. Character meals are great for meeting multiple characters at once.
Epcot World Showcase. I like meeting characters in their “native countries”.
Favorite Shows
Fantasmic! Although I think Disneyland’s is better, this is still my favorite Disney show.
Wishes. I’ll be sad to see it go, as this is one of my favorite fireworks spectaculars.
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage. I never got to see the Broadway version, so this comes close for me.
Flag Ceremony. Not a traditional show, but I always appreciate the time Disney takes to recognize our Armed Forces.
Favorite Souvenirs
Themed Pins. I collect Disney Trading Pins based on my interests: Disney history, space, and whatever I find special.
Metal Earth Puzzles. These are 3D puzzles you can construct out of thin metal to build classic Disney icons (you can only find the Disney ones at Disney World).
Celebration Buttons. I have buttons for birthdays, anniversaries, my engagement, my honeymoon, and more. They’re fun, free collectibles.
Personalized Ear Hats. I loved picking out a personalized hat for my son on his first visit.
Disney Prints. I have a few prints and puzzles that I use to decorate my home featuring Main Street, U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle.
Favorite Special Events
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. So…much…incredible…food…
Christmastime. I love to visit in early December to enjoy all the holiday fun without the crowds.
Halloweentime. I love fall for the pumpkin-spiced treats and perfect weather.
I’ve said it before, but everyone experiences Disney in their own way. These are just my personal favorites that I can vouch for. What are your favorites?
Ready for your next Disney trip? Let me help design your dream Disney vacation! I offer stress-free vacation planning, personalized itineraries, 1-on-1 concierge services, and more at no cost to you. Request a free, no-obligation quote through my web form, email me at jtullino@themouseexperts.com, or call me at (321) 222-DSNY. I’d love to help your plan your most memorable vacation yet!
LOVE Soarin’ …. we try to go several times when we visit, it’s worth the wait! We really like the Food and Wine Festival as well. We’ll have to try some of these other “best of” spots on our next visit!
Which Soarin’ version do you like better? Soarin’ Around the World of Soarin’ Around California?