The Walt Disney World Resort has some of the best hotels, restaurants and thrill rides of any theme park resort in the country. Disney spares no expense to go all out on everything within the resort’s grounds, but here are some of the top tier things you can expect to find on your vacation to Walt Disney World.
The food at the Walt Disney World Resort is second to none. The theme parks and resorts are littered with quick and full service food establishments that cover all spectrums of cuisine. All of the restaurants at Epcot could be classified into this category, as each country in the World Showcase has food that is authentic to their native land and are prepared by world-renowned chefs. Other establishments that are best of the best include the California Grill, which is known by many as the best restaurant on the entire property. Located at the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, this restaurant allows its guests to enjoy a spectacular view and experience fine dining inspired by the tastes of West coast American cuisine. The California Grill, along with the award-winning Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, are not only known as some of the best restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort, but also some of the best fine dining establishments in all of Orlando. Ohana at the Polynesian Resort is another can’t miss. With skewers of meat and vegetables being brought around all night long with a Polynesian flare, this restaurant not only has some of the best food in town, but one of the best environments to dine in as well.
When it comes to thrill rides, the Walt Disney World Resort primarily sticks to family-friendly rides with only a few bone-chilling attractions on property. All of the rides in all four theme parks are very heavily themed, which make them all exciting to go on, and it adds a different element to the thrill rides that they does have. While other thrill rides in Orlando theme parks are outside and look like the classic roller coasters, the ones at the Walt Disney World Resort are different. Take The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror for example. From the outside, it looks like an old Hollywood hotel. But on the inside, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is anything but glamorous, as riders drop down 13 stories (157 feet) in a series of drops that take them up, down and flying out of their seats. There are also four sequences of drops for this attraction, so you never know which sequence you are going to get, adding an additional aspect of the unknown to this ride. Also at the Disney-MGM Studios, the Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Attraction is a thrill ride with a musical twist. This ride is not only the sole attraction at Walt Disney World that goes upside down, it is also the only one that blasts music in your ears while you go for the ride. The Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Attraction is completely indoors and also launches you from zero to 60 mph in under two seconds at the beginning of the ride.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the latest thrill ride to launch is Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Opened in 2006, this ride is a high-speed train that combines coaster-like thrills with several surprises, including an incredibly lifelike glimpse at the yeti (otherwise known as the Abominable Snowman) at the end of your ride. Expect to go both forward and backward on this ride as you race through canyons and caverns on this 20-story attraction.
Finally, Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom Park has been one of the most popular rides at the Walt Disney World Resort since 1975. This high-speed coaster only goes about 28 mph, but with the complete darkness and special effects that make you seem as if you are going through space, it makes for a scary three-minute ride.
Once you have eaten at the best restaurants and ridden the best rides, you can head back to one of the best hotels in all of Orlando. The Walt Disney World Resort has several deluxe resort accommodations, but some of the best are right outside the Magic Kingdom’s doorsteps. The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the flagship resort on property. This 900-room resort with a Victorian theme defines elegance with elegant décor, full-service restaurants and top-notch Disney service at every angle. The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa also offers business services, a health club, a luxurious full-service space and plenty of on-site activities (not to mention a great location just minutes away from the Magic Kingdom Park’s doorsteps). Right next to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is one of the other deluxe resorts that is hard to beat at Disney – the Polynesian Resort. This beautiful hotel has a Polynesian flare, from the burning tiki torches at night to the leis that greet every guest when they enter the doors. The Polynesian Resort also has multiple restaurants, two swimming pools (including a zero entry pool with a slide inside of a volcano), an arcade and a beach with hammocks for lounging and relaxing after a busy day in the parks.
The Beach Club and the Yacht Club are also two of the nicest resorts on Disney property. Located along a 25-acre lake, the Beach Club and the Yacht Club are modeled after the New England Seashore hotels of the 1880s. Both offer an outstanding location (within walking distance to Epcot), the best pools on property (including a 750,000-gallon pool area that has a sand bottom and is a mile long if it were stretched out) and a variety of indoor and outdoor activities and restaurants. And finally, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is right across the lake from the Beach Club and Yacht Club and offers the same outstanding location in equally-outstanding accommodations, all decorated in cherry wood furniture.
Now that you have heard all about the best of the best at the Walt Disney World Resort, be sure to check out the best deals on discounted Disney tickets here at Orlando Fun Tickets!
