I recently turned 30, so to celebrate I thought I’d share my top 30 favorite experiences at Walt Disney World & Disneyland!
Disneyland Resort
- Carthay Circle Restaurant – get the signature house biscuits. Trust me.
- Napa Rose – for a special occasion, this is a fantastic restaurant that has won numerous awards.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – the last attraction Walt worked on.
- “it’s a small world” Holiday edition – so, so beautiful, and gets me into the holiday spirit every time I ride it!
- Dole Whip with Rum – available at Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel!
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – US history + Disney history in an air conditioned theater; a classic Walt Disney attraction.
- Pixar Pal-A-Round – the swinging gondolas are SO fun and honestly terrifying!
- Haunted Mansion – excellent Disney theming, and a fantastic story to boot!
- Walking the trails behind Grizzly River Run – it’s very peaceful back here, and you get nice views of the attraction and nature scenes.
- Disneyland Hotel – if you can manage a 1 or 2 night getaway, this is the best hotel on property in my opinion! It’s the perfect mix of classic Disney theming with modern touches.
- Monorail – boarding the Monorail at Downtown Disney and getting to see the park from above is a magical way to enter the park!
- Jungle Cruise – because I love corny jokes and I laugh every time.
- Mickey’s Toontown – I know a lot of people don’t love this land, but I really enjoy the theming in the attractions, and meeting Mickey & Minnie in their own houses is so cool!
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes – where else can you canoe in the middle of Anaheim?!
- Beignets from Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen – if you love beignets, this is the place to go!
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – a little painful on the back and neck, but this historic coaster can be terrifying!
- Storybook Land Canal Boats – impeccable details abound on this gentle boat ride in Fantasyland.
- Watching the fireworks from “it’s a small world” – generally less crowded, and you get a fun projection show on the facade of the attraction!
- Cars Land at sunset – wait for the song to come on, and the neon to light up. It’s magical.
- Ghirardelli ice cream – located in DCA, Ghirardelli serves up my favorite ice cream in the parks!
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – another unique experience. Where else can you go in a submarine in Anaheim?!
- World of Color – every version of this show has blown me away. It’s fantastic, moving, and magical.
- Corn dogs from the Little Red Wagon on Main Street, U.S.A. – the best corn dogs I have ever had! (And trust me, I’ve had a lot of corn dogs in my life…)
- Monte Cristo sandwich – available at table service restaurants in New Orleans Square, this sandwich is incredible! Try it with the jam.
- Listening to Walt’s opening day speech at the New Orleans Square train station – it’s one of those little details that separates Disney theme parks from the rest.
- Snow White’s Wishing Well – where my husband proposed, and where we go to reminisce on good memories together!
- Storyteller’s Cafe brunch at the Grand Californian Hotel – go towards the end of the brunch hours for more interactions with characters! The food is great, too!
- Burgers from Craftsman Grill at the Grand Californian Hotel – trust me on this, they are good.
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough – pure Disney storytelling with beautiful sets and scenery.
- Mickey Rice Krispie Treat – available at the candy stores in Disneyland, DCA, and Downtown Disney, it’s my favorite treat if I’m in the mood to treat myself!
Walt Disney World Resort
- Expedition Everest – such a fun coaster with a unique twist!
- Carousel of Progress – I’m a sucker for Disney history, and I love the theme song.
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – this never gets old!
- Spaceship Earth – a perfect example of Disney “edutainment”, and very relaxing.
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – part of me is still very sad about the loss of the Great Movie Ride, but this attraction is SO much fun!
- The entirety of Disney’s Animal Kingdom park – beautifully themed, wonderful attractions, and full of learning opportunities.
- World Showcase – I honestly love wandering World Showcase and taking in all the details.
- Rose & Crown at Epcot – everything I’ve had there has been fantastic!
- California Grill – sushi, pizza, wood-fired steak, and great desserts with a view of the Magic Kingdom. Need I say more?
- Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot – an affordable walking tour of Living with the Land, another fine example of Disney “edutainment”!
- Disney’s Boardwalk – walking the Boardwalk area at night, watching the sun go down, is so romantic and peaceful.
- Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge – this resort feels homely and quiet at the end of a long day in the theme parks. I absolutely love it!
- Monorail rides – resort hopping, or hopping between Magic Kingdom and Epcot, there’s nothing like a scenic ride on the highway in the sky!
- Homecomin’ at Disney Springs – wow. Southern food at its absolute best.
- Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – talk about a VIP experience that lets you get up close with some of the animals! If you’re looking to treat yourself, this is one way to do it.
- RunDisney events – I’ve only done the Princess Half Marathon but I intend to do more. There’s nothing like running down Main Street, U.S.A., and through Cinderella Castle!
- Haunted Mansion – although my favorite version of this attraction is the original at Disneyland, the differences at the Magic Kingdom version make this one a frightfully fun experience.
- Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. – getting my son’s 1st haircut here is such a wonderful memory!
- Sanaa – dining with a view of the animals is incredible, and the food is great too!
- Disney’s Skyliner – a fun and futuristic way to get from Point A to Point B, and the ride is free!
- Guacamole from San Angel Inn Restaurante – first of all, the location is beautiful. Secondly, this California gal approves of the guacamole. Trust me on this one.
- Impressions de France – the scenery and music of this presentation makes me want to visit France!
- Flower & Garden Festival – the most beautiful festival in Epcot!
- Tiffins – this restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom blows me away every time. It’s a must-do for adventurous eaters and Joe Rohde fans.
- Rock’n’ Roller Coaster – I thought I would hate coasters like this, but turns out I love them!
- TTA Peoplemover – a relaxing ride above Tomorrowland, and reminds me of my childhood rides on Disneyland’s Peoplemover.
- Plaza Restaurant – classic comfort food on Main Street, U.S.A. with peekaboo views of Cinderella Castle.
- Glazed almonds – I typically get these in Tomorrowland, and I’m not sure where else they are available… but dang these are addicting!
- Breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort – great food, fun character interactions, beautiful views.
- Mosaics at Cinderella Castle – these are simply stunning. Worth going to see!
