25 Things You MUST See, Do & Eat at Walt Disney World

As an Itinerary Planner for Walt Disney World it's my job to know Disney inside and out. Which means that going to the parks on a regular basis is a requirement (I know you feel bad for me don't you!). It's important to me that I am able to provide my guests with information on the best things to see, do and eat on property from my personal experience. A first time Disney visitor can be overwhelmed by the amount of options that are available and sadly it's impossible to experience it all in one visit! After all Disney property is 62 square miles of fun, fun, fun, which by the way is three times the size of Manhattan!

So with that in mind I decided to put together my personal picks for the MUST See's, do's and eats. I've included something from each one of the four theme park as well as activities available outside the parks and they're in no particular order because each one is as equally fantastic as the other! So let's get started!

* Wishes Nighttime Spectacular. Otherwise known as the" Fireworks in Front of the Castle" at The Magic Kingdom. Our good friend Jiminy Cricket starts this celebration by telling us all about wishes and how dreams come true, then Tinkerbell that cute little pixie flies down the zip line at the start of the show. And the fireworks are just amazing! They are synchronized with the music and even make shapes like hearts and Mickey ears. Meanwhile the castle is changing colors to fit the theme of the music...which is of course wonderful. The area all around the castle and all long Main Street USA gets EXTREMELY crowded during the show so make sure to get there at least an hour if you want a place in front of the castle. Even though you can see them from anywhere in the park it adds to the experience to watch the castle changing colors. You can also see the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian Resort.

* Soarin - Located in "The Land" at Epcot, you need to go get a fast pass for this first thing. The ride takes you on a cinematic journey of California...as you "Soar" through the air. The best part of this ride is that when you are going through the orange orchard you can SMELL the fresh oranges and all the little kids are telling their parents to "lift up your feet Mommy" cause it seems like they will crash into the trees at any moment. I've never been hand gliding but this simulated ride is as close to the real thing as I can imagine and you actually feel like you're flying! Don't close your eyes for a second on this ride. Soak in every second, and then go back and do it again. It's well worth the wait!

* The Bibbity Bobbity Boutique - Okay, so guys I realize that if you do not have little girls this may not appeal to you, but hear me out on this one because the BBB is gaining massive popularity and one day you may have a little girl or know someone who does and if you wanna be a big hero, you will make her an appointment for this experience. There are 3 locations on Disney Property. Two located inside the Magic Kingdom and one at Downtown Disney. Appointments are highly recommended, but they do take standby's. Here is a little tip....if you make your appointment at Cinderella castle for the minute the park opens, your confirmation number will get you in the park early giving you an awesome picture opportunity in front of Cinderella's Castle with very few strangers in your shot. But if you are running late they will hold your spot for 20 minutes. Upon arrival little girls receive their royal invitation and a pamphlet showing the three different hairstyles to choose from. The hair, the makeup, the nails...all done in Disney style. Packages vary in price but each girl leaves with a pretty pink bag full of all the products used on her hair,face and nails as well as a BBB sash. It's well worth the price to have you little girl be a princess for the day!

* It's Tough To Be A Bug! This is a is an an 8-minute, 3D movie and multimedia show, fun for big kids, teens and adults, performed in an air-conditioned movie theater embedded in the enormous root structure of the beautiful Tree of Life. Hosted by Flik, everybody's favorite ant, and his grasshopper friend, Hopper, from the Disney• Pixar film A Bug's Life. The supporting cast consists of cute and creepy crawlers like spiders, termites, beetles, weevils and butterflies. Through 3D "Bug-Eye" glasses, get a fascinating and hilarious look into the animal kingdom that just might change your perspective. It's a great show! Only at Disney can they make you smell the aroma of a stink bug (and then remove it just as fast) and make you actually "feel" the creepy crawly bugs under your seat. But this show isn't for everyone, if you have a fear of our insect friends you might want to sit this one out as it can be quite realistic.

* High School Musical 3: Senior Year- Right Here! Right Now! The talented East High Crew celebrates the songs and fun of High School Musical 3: Senior Year with a traveling "concert". Join in the party atmosphere outside the Sorcerer's Hat, where this high-energy show goes into a full production with interactive sequences, a gleaming set and concert lighting. As the incredible music pulsates, you'll find yourself dancing and singing like one of the Wildcats, filled with the best of teen spirit!What I love about this show is that it is like a high energy pep rally with live performers. Every little girl over the age of 6 is singing along with the music (okay, and me...so what?) and they involve the audience in the show. Dance, sing and cheer on the Wildcats in this rousing show as the movie you loved soars to life with tons of pure "Wildcat Fever"!

* Mickey's PhilharMagic. A 12-minute 3D musical experience right in the middle of Fantasy Land at The Magic Kingdom. Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and featuring scenes from classic Disney films projected on one of the largest seamless screens in the world. Even before the show starts, you can't help but be awed by the massive 150-foot-wide screen. Once you put on your "opera glasses" and the action starts up, the colorful animation and soaring music combine to create a dazzling spectacle that will put a smile on the face of any fan of classic Disney animation. But things get crazy when Donald Duck decides to "borrow" Mickey's sorcerer's hat from Fantasia, he plans to conduct a magical symphony. But things do not go as expected, and he ends up on a whirlwind tour of some of the most memorable scenes in Disney animation history. Be on the lookout for a few extra special surprises! This is a fun show for all ages and should not be missed!

* " Honey I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure is a colossal 11,000 square-foot play area for kids of ALL ages located at Disney's Hollywood Studios. With monumental movie props and play structures inspired by the Disney movie, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, get the sense of what it feels like to be shrunk to bug size by Professor Szalinkski's Electromagnetic Shrinking Machine. Climb, crawl and explore the larger-than-life playground that has: a 52-foot long leaking water hose that sprays, 40-foot tall bumblebees, 30-foot tall blades of grass, Jumbo plant-root mazes, Slides made from over sized film strips, a giant jar of Play Dough and much more! The photo ops are endless here and you'll laugh till your sides hurt!

* Club Cool. This is one of the numerous gift shops located all over property but this one sells Coke products. It is located in Future World at Epcot near Innoventions. Why is this so "cool" you ask? Because they have free (yes I said free) samples of soda from all over the world. So when it is 100 degrees and 150% humidity at 2 in the afternoon, stop in here and spend a few minutes cooling down with ginger ale from a foreign land. Ahhh....refreshing. The sodas are interesting and fun to sample and are like nothing you've ever tasted! I recommend sampling the one from Italy which is intended to "wet" your appetite before a meal. This place is tons of fun and the shop is filled with Coca Cola trinkets.

* The Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby. Okay, so it's true that sit down restaurants at Disney can be pricey; you will pay about $20-$30 for an adult entrée. But it is also true that the food at any of these restaurants will be great, the service wonderful and lets face it, sometimes it is worth paying $20 for a great plate of spaghetti just to escape the heat and crowds. The Hollywood Brown Derby is located inside The Hollywood Studios and is an exact replica of the original Brown Derby in Hollywood, California. T he Cobb salad was created by the restaurant's owner Bill Cobb and quickly became the most popular item on the menu. This was not only the best Cobb Salad I have ever had, it was probably the best salad I have ever eaten...period. And I barely finished half of it! The restaurant is glorious and grand and transports you back to Hollywood's hay day,the salad and the experience are not to be missed!

* Downtown Disney. Back in the day this used to be called Lake Buena Vista when it was just a few little shops, but now it has exploded and you can spend more than one day seeing everything here and the admission is free! The Downtown Disney area features more than 70 shopping, entertainment and dining choices, all nestled along the shores of Village Lake. Spend your money at a ton of shops and here is one of my tips about your trip in general. With the exception of things you may find in the countries at Epcot, almost every single item that is sold in the theme parks will be found within the shops here. So my advice is to take a day (mid-trip) to go shopping at DTD, saving Mommy and Daddy from hauling around bags and bags of souvenirs while trying to enjoy the attractions. In addition to great shopping you will find great restaurants like Fulton's Crab House and Bongos Cuba Cafe. Plus lots of other cool things like a Lego Store with displays made of thousands of Lego's, a 24 screen AMC movie theater, the coolest McDonald's you'll ever see, as well as Disney Quest, the Indoor Interactive theme park. There's plenty to see and do here so it's a great way to take a break from all the lines and crowds in the theme parks.

* Cirque Du Soleil - You can't spend the day in Downtown Disney without taking in this mesmerizing show! It's magical and unforgettable. Not quite a circus, it's unlike anything you've ever seen. Creative acrobatics and unusual acts make this a circus like none you've ever seen before! Cirque includes sights and sounds you'll want to experience again and again. I've seen it twice and took something new away from it both times. It's what great vacations are all about and I highly recommend you spend the money and see this phenomenal show!

* Pineapple Dole Whip Float - Oh my goodness, as I write this I am planning my next trip to Disney and dreaming about my trip yo Hawaii, just to get my hands (or mouth) on one of these. Because my friends those are the only two places you can get this fabulous frozen treat. Let me tell you this dessert is delicious with a capital YUM! Pineapple ice cream with fresh pineapple juice poured over it. It also comes in orange, but the pineapple is definitely my favorite. You can find this yummy treat at the Polynesian Resort or at a little stand over in Adventure Land. So make sure to stop in for this tropical goodness. You'll thank me for it!

* The Kilimanjaro Safari - This is my favorite attraction ever! Located in the Animal Kingdom, you want to go straight past the ticket gate and make your way to this ride as fast as your little feet will carry you. This is a 30 minute ride that takes you on a "safari" and you see tons of animals like giraffes, black rhinos and lions, as they roam free on the 100-acre savannah. And yes they are actually roaming free I've had numerous giraffes stick their curious heads inside the jeep. It is a little but jarring as it crosses rickety bridges, rocky hills and rivers but it's so worth it! My recommendation is to hit this ride early in the day while it's still cool. The animals tend to disappear during the heat of the day since their habitats are very much like their natural environment. So no matter how much you want him to...the lion is just not gonna stand up on the beautiful posing rock at 3 pm in August and do a magnificent roar that you can capture on film. He will be in the shade somewhere wishing he could be slurping down a Pineapple Whip...wouldn't you?

* The World Showcase - I really feel like this is an area of EPCOT (well WDW in general) that is overlooked and under appreciated. I mean where else other than Disney can you experience the food, culture and shopping of 11 different countries all in one day? Each one of the 11 pavilions authentically represents it's country right down to the smallest of details. All the cast members you'll meet on your "travels" are native to that country and are living here in the US and working for Disney on a 1 year visa. So you really get to experience what it's like to spend a day in Italy, you can see the Frescoes, taste the vino and even visit Disney's version of the Trivet Fountain. As you stroll between the countries, you'll be amused by the live performers - and some may even ask you to participate in the show! There's plenty of kid-centric entertainment, too, like Character meet and greet locations and Kidcot fun stops. At Kidcot stations , kids can create one-of-a-kind souvenirs. At Epcot, creativity is encouraged, imagination is celebrated and countries are united. Be amazed, inspired, enlightened and entertained!

* Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - This is one of the newest attractions at Magic Kingdom but is an absolute must see. The Laugh Floor at Monsters, Inc. has been transformed into a comedy club for visiting humans so guests are ushered in to a theater type setting. Inspired by the Disney• Pixar movie Monsters, Inc., in this show the audience must help "Monster of Ceremonies" Mike Wazowski and his wild and crazy pals power the city of Monstropolis-with laughter! Skeptical manager Roz, however, isn't so sure they can pull it off. Mike and friends interact with the audience as they do their comedy routines as audience members are called to participate. One lucky guest earns the title of "that guy" throughout the entire show. It's ton a of fun for adults and children alike. Due to the high interaction between characters and guests each show is unique. So you won't have the same experience twice as Mike invites his funny, furry friends to the digital stage to trade jokes with audience members like you. You can even text your favorite joke before hand and it could be used in the show! You'll laugh yourself silly and power up the city!

* Character Dining - This is an absolute MUST and there are a ton of opportunities all over property to take advantage of this experience. I recommend that a Character meal be on your To Do list if you do nothing else I've suggested. There's just nothing like it anywhere. Sure you can stand in line to get that quick snap shot and autograph with your favorite character but in this setting you can actually interact with them. For instance at Chef Mickey's, Mickey and pals help the kids create a one of a kind dessert masterpiece and at Cinderella's Royal Table little girls can sit in Cinderella's throne and whisper her secret wishes to the Fairy Godmother! It's important to keep in mind that even though there are several Character Dining locations located all throughout the parks and resorts, there are some that tend to be more popular and therefore much harder to get into on a short notice. I recommend doing a little research at Disney.com to check out the different locations offering this experience. My final piece of advice is this: BOOK EARLY! Most restaurants book 90 days in advance and the larger your party the harder it is to get a table. So once you've decided which Character dining experience you'd like to have call and book it!

* DINOSAUR - is a thrilling adventure aboard a time rover that transports you to the age of dinosaurs on a daring quest to bring back a living piece of history. A routine visit to The Dino Institute museum is interrupted by a mischievous scientist with a secret mission. As guests are recruited to travel back to the Cretaceous era, 65 million years ago, to capture a mild-mannered Iguanodon and return to the present day with the 3.5-ton dinosaur in tow. Once you climb aboard an experimental CTX Time Rover, you'll want to buckle up. Time travel can be quite a turbulent trip! Your rover arrives in a dark prehistoric forest that's almost pitch black, but you can sense large creatures are moving all around you and hear the roars of the unseen beasts. Some are gentle giants; others are monstrous meat-eating predators in search of a tasty snack. Suddenly a enormous animal appears-and it is not one of the friendly variety. But the Iguanodon is nowhere to be found and you're lost in a thick jungle with hungry dinosaurs, and that's not the worst part believe it or not: the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs is about to strike. You've got to find that dino and get out of the past before you become history.Get ready for a bumpy ride filled with thrills and close calls! The clock is ticking. Will you escape or become extinct? Find out by visiting the Dino Institute in Dino Land, U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom. It's a roaring good time!

* Blizzard Beach - One of 2 Water Parks at Walt Disney World: Blizzard Beach consists of raft rides, toboggan slides, a one-acre wave pool, Tike's Peak which is a kid-sized, snow-castle fountain play area with scaled-down versions of the more thrilling attractions. Intense water slides-including one of the the tallest and fastest in the whole U.S.A.! As well as slides and rides for the whole family. The story behind Blizzard Beach begins with a freak snow storm that blanketed Florida. Within the blink of a snowflake-tipped eye, a ski resort sprang up with slalom courses, toboggan slides and iceberg walkways. Then, just as quickly, the weather shifted back to hot. The whole resort started to melt. What to do? An enterprising alligator saw an opportunity! Clad in a scarf and hat, this Ice Gator slid down the snow-less ski jump, shouting 'Yahoooo!' all the way. With a big splash he landed in a pool of melted snow below the mountain. It was at this moment the slushy, slippery slopes became an exhilarating Water Park with a ski theme. Take a leisurely ride to the top of Mount Gushmore aboard colorful, wooden, ski resort type chairlifts with umbrellas and dangling skis. The Chairlifts provide a one-way trip to the top of the mountain for access to these water attractions at the Green Slope area of the mountain: Slush Gusher, Summit Plummet and Teamboat Springs. The resort pools stay busy all summer long and the water parks stay even busier so I recommend planning your visit during the off peak season around late September through mid November. The good news is, it's still warm enough here in the sunshine state to take advantage of this fabulous theme park!

* Fantasmic - This is a breathtaking 25-minute fireworks and water show performed that brings together all of your favorite Disney Characters-including heroes, princess and villains-for the very first time. Starring Mickey Mouse this phenomenal show includes over one million gallons of water and 50 costumed performers. Combining explosive pyrotechnics, shimmering laser lights and dazzling dancing water effects with beloved Disney songs and animation, this is a lavish musical extravaganza in sight and sound, overflowing with silly and suspenseful surprises for the entire family. Journey into the colorful imagination of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice as he invokes the characters and spirit of such favorite Disney classics as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pinocchio, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tarzan, and more! But when the Evil Queen gathers together other villains such as Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Frollo, Jafar and a larger-than-life Maleficent to turn Mickey's dreams into a nightmare, it's up to Mickey and the power of imagination to save the day. Fantasmic! is performed on select nights only at Disney's Hollywood Studios. So be sure to check the Times Guide for schedule and show times but be advised that this is an outdoor show, so it's subject to cancellation in the event of bad weather. Seating begins 90 minutes prior to the start of the show, so get there early if you want a good seat. TIP: Three dining locations inside the park offer the Fantasmic Dinner Package, which basically offers you priority seating for dinner as well as priority seating for the show later that night. This way you have a spot reserved for your party and you don't need to cut your day short to wait in line. Call (407) WDW-DINE for more information.

* Beaches and Cream - Beaches and Cream Soda Shop is a hidden gem when it comes to dining locations on Disney property. This restaurant is themed like a 1950s soda and fountain shop in every way. From the decor and cast member costumes to the authentic juke box which plays a wide variety of classic favorites from the family-centric, mid-century music catalog, you'll feel like you stepped back in time. There's no priority seating reservations available here, so at peak meal times the wait can be long, but at off peak times, this restaurant offers a great escape from a day at Epcot (it's just a short walk from the exit between the France and United Kingdom pavilions to the Beach Club Resort) or just a short boat ride from the Hollywood Studios. The menu is moderately priced and offers a selection of traditional diner foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, turkey sandwiches and more as well as mouthwatering ice cream creations. The most popular family dessert is called the Kitchen Sink Sundae. It's served up in a replica of a small stainless steel kitchen sink amidst great fanfare created by the cast members. It includes a scoop of every ice cream they have as well as brownies, whipped cream, cherries and more. It definitely takes at least four people to finish one of these creations, but it's still fun for smaller families to give it a try. If you order the Kitchen Sink Sundae, be sure to ask your server to snap a picture of your family with spoons in hand! Beaches and Cream is the perfect stop for a light meal, or you can sit outside near Stormalong Bay, the incredible Beach Resort pool, and take in the action while enjoying a delicious ice cream treat. This place is really cool and a definite must!

* Turtle Talk with Crush- Is like Whoa, a live show where kids of all ages can have a conversation with the totally tubular turtle from Disney• Pixar's Finding Nemo. Located inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. This innovative attraction takes place inside a theater featuring a large "window to the ocean world." After taking your seat, watch Crush swim to the window from his ocean home and begin taking questions and chatting with audience members. He'll also educate you on the importance of protecting the world's oceans. Disney uses state-of-the-art, 3D, voice-activated computer animation to bring Crush to life and it's this advanced technology that allows him to communicate directly-in real time-and hold unique, improvised conversations with audience members. Each and every show is different so no matter how many times you visit him in one day Crush will always have something new to say. This 15-minute show presented throughout the day. Be sure to check the Times Guide at Epcot to know exactly when you can catch it. It's totally gnarly!

* Block Party Bash - The newest "parade" at Hollywood Studios Block Party Bash is a fun-filled, 35-minute street spectacular starring over 20 of your favorite Disney• Pixar friends and is one of the best I have ever seen, honestly. Instead of just passing by and waving, the parade actually stops for about 8-10 minutes and while characters dance on rotating stages, cast members are in the street on scooters, bikes and even trampolines! There's singing, there's dancing and pretty soon the entire crowd is on their feet dancing to favorites like "Celebration" and "Footloose". While the kids are invited out into the street to learn the dance moves. The parade stars such familiar faces as Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc, Buzz and Woody from Toy Story, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible from The Incredibles and many more, The Green Army Men from Toy Story are out doing improv with the crowd and they're fantastically funny! This interactive street spectacular is the perfect treat for everyone in the entire family.

* Banana Stuffed French Toast - Also known as "Toga Toast" this might be the most amazing sweet breakfast ever created. If you take egg, bread sliced three inches thick, stuff it with bananas, deep fry it and then dust it with cinnamon sugar you have Tonga Toast. The most deliciously yummy concoction known to mankind. There is a legend that Elvis Presley loved this banana stuffed french toast so much that he flew his personal chef to Walt Disney World just to learn how to make it. Disney people swear the story is true and Elvis fans swear it isn't. But, after my first bite I could care less about anything except the deliciousness on my plate. Combined with a steaming hot cup of Kona Coffee this is a breakfast made in Polynesian heaven and can only be found at the Kona Cafe. Be sure to make a priority seating reservation because it can get really busy during breakfast and once you taste this toast you'll know why!

* The Tower of Terror - This is my all time FAVORITE attraction at Disney! Why do I love it so much? Is it the plunging 13 story free fall? Of course, but there's so many other things that make this ride so great! This attraction is as much about the experience as it is about that spine tingling drop. Legend has it that classic stars of the silver screen sought rest and relaxation at the grand Hollywood Tower Hotel during the Golden Age of Hollywood. But in 1939, during a gloomy Halloween night, 5 unlucky souls were riding down the Hotel's maintenance service elevator when a violent storm struck the building... and they were never seen again. Black scorch marks still scar the building where lightning left its autograph. This abandoned hotel is eerie and creepy, the lobby still remains as the last guests left it, a cob web cover tea cart sits in the corner, while the daily paper lays beside it on the table unread. While the even creepier bell hops anxiously usher you down to the boiler room and into that phantom elevator that leads straight to... The Twilight Zone!

And finally we've come to the end of my list and if I do say so myself it's been a pretty fabulous list thus far. But the final must is a definite MUST.

* The Key's To The Kingdom Tour - Sadly you have to be at least 16 to participate in this activity but like I said this is an absolute MUST for any serious Disney fan. This is a full day event though folks, a walking tour of the Magic Kingdom that takes you behind the scenes and behind the magic. You'll learn well kept Disney secrets and see things that only cast members are privy to. Your knowledgeable tour guide takes you through each one of the 5 "lands" pointing out all kinds of little things that you've likely never noticed, like the tool box that sits on the bench across from the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. Legend has it this was the box of tools used to build the tree house. The stories and attention to detail only enhance the magical experience you'll have the next time you visit as you'll find yourself sharing all of the fun facts you learned with friends. You will ride several of the attractions and the price of the tour does include lunch but park admission is required as well. Cameras are allowed but you are not permitted to take any photos in the backstage areas. When the tour is completed each guest receives a gold "key to the kingdom" pin. This is a great way to see the Magic Kingdom in a whole new way and worth every penny!

Well there you have it, my picks for the 25 must sees',do's and eats at Walt Disney World. I hope that I've inspired you to check a few (or all) of these things out. I promise you won't be disappointed and you'll have a magically good time!