Disney superfans share their favorite things to do at the theme parks

• Business Insider has asked US Disney fans about the best things to do, see, and eat at the parks.
• Frequent visitors love classic attractions like the Carousel of Progress and Tower of Terror.
• They also shared food recommendations, from Casey’s Corner and Satu’il Canteen to Wine Bar George.

As part of our Disney Diaries series, Business Insider has been gathering must-do itineraries for Disney World and Disneyland from people who love the theme parks. 

Here are some of their favorite things to do, see, and eat. 

Kayleigh Price has worked at Disney World and still visits the parks often

Casey’s Corner is the best quick-service restaurant at Magic Kingdom

Another spot Price worked at and loves is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It’s a must for her every time she visits Hollywood Studios. 

She loves all the little details during the preshow and ride, as well as the catchy song played throughout.

Read Kayleigh Price’s full Disney Diary: I worked at Disney World for 2 years. Here are 16 things I always do when I visit the parks.

Travel planner Kari Becker has been to Disney World over 40 times — with and without kids

Grand Floridian Café is a great breakfast spot before a day at Magic Kingdom

No matter where you’re staying, on or off property, Becker said it’s always worth taking a spin on the monorail. 

The nostalgic Disney transportation is fun for adults and kids alike. It’s also convenient if you’re looking to visit one of the Magic Kingdom resorts for shopping or dining. 

Read Kari Becker’s full Disney Diary: I’m a travel planner who’s been to Disney World over 40 times. Here are 13 things I always do at the parks.

Carly Caramanna has been going to the parks for over 30 years

Wine Bar George at Disney Springs is her favorite restaurant across the property

After visiting the Disney parks for over 30 years, Caramanna’s first pick for dinner reservations is Wine Bar George in Disney Springs. 

It’s owned and led by a master sommelier and has menu items like savory chimichurri skirt steak and creamy burrata along with over 140 wines.

Living With the Land doesn’t always get the hype it deserves

Umar could easily spend a day exploring Disney Springs — the property’s free dining, shopping, and entertainment district.

The former Disney World employee recommends grabbing treats from the Ganachery, Gideon’s Bakehouse, or Amorette’s Patisserie while you’re there. 

It’s almost always worth it to take a midday break from the parks

Umar has found that getting to the parks early is key for cruising through the lines of some of the most popular attractions.

It also gives you time to take a much-needed break in the afternoon by seeing an indoor, air-conditioned show like “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” in Magic Kingdom, the Short Film Festival in Epcot, “Finding Nemo” in Animal Kingdom, or “Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy” in Hollywood Studios.

Epcot is known for drinking ‘around the world,’ but Animal Kingdom has some great drinks, too

Resort-hopping is a fun way to spend an afternoon, especially when you get to check out some of the fancier spots, like the Grand Floridian.  

The Disney resorts also sometimes offer free activities, food, or beverages around the grounds.

Soto has been able to enjoy Champagne and s’mores on different visits to the Grand Floridian. 

After a day at the parks, you can grab a late-night cupcake at Disney Springs

An ATM at Sprinkles in Disney Springs offers cupcakes and cookies 24/7.

It’s great for late-night cravings after a day at the parks. 

Read Noelani Soto’s full Disney Diary: I’ve perfected visiting Disney World for just 24 hours. Here are 12 things I try to do every time I visit.

Annual passholder Megan duBois has been visiting Disney World for over 25 years

Selfies are a great way to save memories from each trip

The line for Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom is usually over an hour long, so DuBois recommends going right before the park closes. 

The wait time might still be listed at 60 minutes, but the actual wait is typically 30 minutes or less.

Read Megan duBois’ full Disney Diary: I’ve had a Disney World annual pass for nearly 25 years. Here are 13 things I do every time I visit.

Tarah Chieffi has 30 years of experience exploring the Disney parks

Instead of waiting in line for meet and greets, book character meals

Chieffi doesn’t typically make a lot of sit-down reservations at Disney World. Instead, her family loves quick-service spots like Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora section.

The food is customizable and suitable for a range of diets.

She recommends the cheeseburger pods (which she says taste just like a McDonald’s cheeseburger) and the green Hawkes’ Grog ale.

Read Tarah Chieffi’s full Disney Diary: I’ve been going to Disney World for over 30 years. Here are 14 things I always do there.

Stephanie Machado lives 15 minutes from Disney World and visits weekly

You can grab a Starbucks coffee at each of the theme parks

Machado goes to Disney World multiple times a week, and as a coffee lover, she highly recommends grabbing a cup at Main Street Bakery (Starbucks) in Magic Kingdom. 

Each park has a unique Starbucks location with a themed name.

Get in line for any rides you missed right before the park closes

Castle pictures are iconic, but the area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland is often very crowded. 

Luckily, Disneyland employee Wainwright says there are several other beautiful photo spots across the parks that are covered in artwork, like the wall on Pixar Pier.

Galaxy’s Edge is a must for ‘Star Wars’ fans

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is home to the fictional planet of Batuu, and it’s a great place for unique shopping, dining, and character experiences.

Wainwright highlighted eating Ronto Wraps at Ronto’s Roasters, building a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, and hunting rebel scum with Kylo Ren.

Catch a unique view of the fireworks from the Incredicoaster

There are so many little entertainment opportunities up and down Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, particularly right after the park opens.

The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet gives a welcoming serenade, and the Citizens of Main Street and Women’s Suffragists interact with guests.

It’s nice to spend some time at the resort pool at the hottest part of the day

People usually visit Disney for the theme parks, but Perrin said the resort pools shouldn’t be missed. 

Her kids love playing there, and there’s sometimes even poolside entertainment like dance parties, games, trivia contests, and evening movies.

Some of her favorite Disney pools are at Caribbean Beach Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and the Beach Club Resort. 

Read Jackie Perrin’s full Disney Diary: I’ve visited almost every Disney World resort with my kids. Here are 15 things we always do at the parks.

Richard Keller regularly takes his 5 kids to Disneyland on a budget

Bring your own water bottles to the park so you can stay hydrated throughout the day

One of the best tips Keller has for visiting Disneyland after making several trips with his family of seven is to pack your own water bottles. 

The heat can leave you dehydrated, and buying drinks at the parks can be pricey, especially for big families.

Pro tip: Fill them up with ice ahead of time so the water stays cool throughout the day. 

Churros are one of the best snack options at the parks, and they’re big enough to share

Disney World employee Olivar always rides the Carousel of Progress when she visits Magic Kingdom.

The classic attraction was built for the 1964/1965 World’s Fair, and it has a catchy theme song and detailed sets. 

The wait is also always less than 15 minutes, and the indoor show offers 20 minutes of respite from the sun. 

The ‘Hub grass’ is a great spot to enjoy lunch 

The lawns in front of Cinderella Castle (referred to as the “Hub grass”) are the perfect spots to enjoy breakfast or lunch. 

Olivar recommends a coffee from Main Street Bakery (Starbucks) and the loaded tots from Friar’s Nook in Fantasyland — her favorite quick-service location in the park. 

The margaritas in the Mexico Pavilion are a must

Robbins’ kids like bringing their Disney pins to the parks so they can trade with employees — or even sometimes other guests. 

Look out for employees with lanyards or corkboards around the parks if you’re looking to swap. 

Planning a rest day is a lifesaver on a busy Disney vacation

Marching around the parks in the hot Florida sun all day can be tiring, so Robbins makes sure to plan for one rest day each visit so her family can relax at the hotel pool or get some time out of the sun. 

Read Jill Robbins’ full Disney Diary: I’ve taken my 12-year-olds to Disney World every year since they were 5. Here are 12 things we always do.

Tiffany A. Telles has 3 decades of Disneyland experience under her belt

Snapping photos with characters is always a highlight

Telles doesn’t always want to waste precious park time on sit-down meals, so the baked potatoes at Troubadour Tavern near Fantasyland have become a go-to. 

They’re easy to take on the go, have plenty of toppings, and cost less than $10 each. 

Read Tiffany A. Telles’ full Disney Diary: I’ve been going to Disneyland for 33 years. Here are 13 things I always do in the parks.

Disney World isn’t just for kids — Terri Peters visits the theme parks on her own at least once a month

Taking full advantage of resort stays is easier when you’re traveling solo

One of Peters’ favorite things to do on a solo trip to Disney World is spend an afternoon relaxing on her hotel patio. She highlighted Yacht Club and Animal Kingdom Lodge as resorts with the most tranquil vibes. 

A glass of wine, a snack, and a pretty view are the perfect medicine for park fatigue. 

Not having to share cheeseburger egg rolls is a dream come true

If she can’t swing a full day off work, frequent Disneyland visitor Neil just brings her iPad with her. 

Some of her favorite places to get a couple hours of writing in are a quiet corner on Main Street, the Grand Californian Resort lobby, Jolly Holiday, and Hearthstone Lounge.

Picking one souvenir to collect can make shopping at the parks more special

As a California local, Neil has mastered the art of not going overboard in the Disneyland gift shops. But over the years, she’s loved collecting mugs that catch her eye.

Being able to curate her souvenirs makes it even more fun when a new item pops up in stores. 

Disneyland has food festivals that are just as good as Epcot’s

Adults can only wear real costumes at the Disney parks at the annual Halloween parties, but Disneybounding (wearing outfits inspired by different characters) is allowed all year long. 

Bisbee always jumps at the chance to really immerse herself in the Disney bubble by wearing clothes that resemble her favorite characters’ senses of style. 

Not everyone knows about the fun drawing lesson available in the park

Disneyland’s Animation Academy offers free lessons every day where guests get step-by-step instructions on how to draw a rotating cast of beloved characters. 

Bisbee said it’s one of the most underrated things to do at the theme park, plus you get to keep your sketch as a souvenir. Since the space is indoors and air-conditioned, it’s also a great way to spend a hot afternoon. 

Read Dana Bisbee’s full Disney Diary: I used to work at Disneyland. Here are 11 things I always do when I visit the parks.

This landing page was originally published in June 2022 and most recently updated on August 21, 2024.