Post by Marissa
Planning an upcoming family Disney trip? Our recent review of Animal Kingdom (half-day) + Hollywood Studios (full-day) with toddlers & big kids — best rides, Lightning Lane tips, Waldorf Astoria stay & more!
Table of Contents
Why We Chose Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios
With a toddler, big and bigger kids, we needed a mix of calm and chaos. We chose Animal Kingdom to deliver animals and nature, and Hollywood Studios for movie-themed thrills. Something for all ages!
Where We Stayed in Orlando
We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, we loved how it’s tucked right inside Disney World itself—just minutes from the gates—so we never wasted time commuting. We’d hop on the complimentary shuttle to the Disney parks (with the exception of Hollywood Studios, where we used RideShare) which runs on a set schedule with multiple departures throughout the day (check with concierge for weekly schedule), and the drivers were always on time and super friendly.
As the Waldorf Astoria is an official Disney hotel, we got early park access, so we’d catch that 7 a.m. shuttle and be among the first in line for rides. Even getting to Universal was easy with a 30min taxi.
The moment we stepped off the shuttle, hotel staff greeted us with cold water and those signature warm towels to refresh after long, sweaty park days. Our room had an incredible view of the nightly Epcot fireworks right over the pool, and with adjoining rooms and a real crib for baby Luke, everyone slept like royalty.
The two pools were a lifesaver: the kids went wild for the one with the slide and lazy river, plus movie nights under the stars, while we ordered yummy dinners poolside until 8 p.m. on weekends (7 p.m. weekdays)—the staff was amazing and let us eat late as long as we ordered before closing. We grabbed most breakfasts at the little on-site cafeteria. And had one room service dinner when we got back too late from the park. It truly felt like our luxurious home base for the entire Disney and Universal adventure.
Main Tips for Disney World
1. Use the My Disney Experience App
There is free wifi (and good wifi!) throughout every Disney park, makes using the app a breeze. It can track where you are via interactive maps, show you wait times for rides, mobile order food so you can pick it up when you swing by, book reservations and a lot more! It was a valuable tool in every Disney Park.
2. Buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Even at $300–$400 per person (plus tax, varying by date), it’s worth every penny if you’re only doing half to one full day per park. Without it, you’ll waste hours in standby lines, feel very rushed, and likely need extra park days—adding hotel, food, and exhaustion costs. Lightning Lanes are the key to seeing more magic at Disney in less time. Just a reminder that once you use it on a ride, you aren’t able to use it for that ride again that day. You will have to wait in the regular line if you want to go a second or third time.
3. Use Rider Switch (It’s Free!)
Perfect for families with really little ones—this genius service lets one adult ride while the other waits with the child who is too small, then swap without re-waiting the full line. Bonus: the other riders often gets to ride again right away. For example, if our Mom (Jane) came on a ride with Noah, Sully and I, afterwards she could quickly switch off with Kristen in the Rider Switch lane so Kristen could have the experience. The older kids and I got to join her for a second ride without waiting in line again! Total win-win for thrill-seekers and parents alike.
4. Splurge on at least 1 Character Dining Experience
It’s pricey, but the most enjoyable way for the entire family to meet Disney characters. Instead of standing in long lines in the heat, you get to wine and dine while the characters come to you! It’s exciting, the kids feel special, and it’s a chance to get off of your feet and enjoy something that isn’t deep-fried!
5. Pack Ponchos
As much as the Disney ponchos are probably the nicest ones you’ll ever own, they are pricey! If you plan to visit Disney anytime June – October, I recommend throwing a cheap amazon poncho in for each of you. When the rain hits, it hits hard!
Half-Day at Animal Kingdom
Inside by 8:30 AM. No Lightning Lanes.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Prioritize the Safari first and early as that’s when the animals are most active. This was so fun! Elephants, Crocodiles, Lions, Cheetahs, Giraffes, Rhinos, Zebras, and Luke’s favourite Ankole Cattle! Don’t miss this ride.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
Self-guided walk. Gorillas playful, meerkats popping up.
Pandora – Avatar Flight of Passage
Couldn’t stop taking pictures and videos the minute we walked into Pandora… it’s an incredibly cool part of Disney! After the Safari, this is the main ride you should prioritize, especially if you don’t have lightning lane! We waited the full 60-minutes. Worth it though. Queue labs + banshee “link” build hype. Ride: wind, mist, drops.
DINOSAUR
DinoLand. Dark, bumpy, T-Rex roar. Thrilling for the 40″ height minimum!
Tusker House Lunch
Character buffet in Africa. Donald, Mickey, Goofy and Daisy in safari gear! They visit one table at a time—you can eat, then interact. Family-style African-inspired platters with a side of chicken tenders and mac & cheese. Something for everyone! Service was excellent. Beats meet-and-greet lines.
Snacks & Shopping
Mickey-shaped cinnamon bun first thing—warm, gooey, 10/10. The Merchandise shops were some of our favourites! Safari themed water bottles, banshee puppets, dinosaur plushes, bamboo cups and more.
Pin these for later!📌
Full Day at Hollywood Studios
Bought Lightning Lane Multi Passes for this park. Worth it!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
This was an all immersive experience! From the droid and plot building while waiting in line, to the actors who kept you on your toes and the multi-stage simulators! 30-minute experience total. Everyone speechless. Rode twice! So worth it.
Snacks
After conquering the thrills of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Grandma Jane snagged a Mickey Pretzel with cheese sauce—salty, warm, and the perfect handheld snack while dashing between rides. Pro tip: grab the pretzel early; the cheese sauce runs out fast on busy days! It tastes like Cheez Whiz!
The kids wanted ice cream so we headed to Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction on Echo Lake—a great cool-down spot in Hollywood Studios. The giant green dinosaur stand is impossible to miss, and the soft serve cones (vanilla-chocolate swirl for the win) were creamy and generously portioned. The Mickey Premium Ice Cream Sandwich, its classic ears shape making every bite feel like a photo op.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
This was extra fun during Halloween season! A spooky elevator in an old haunted hotel. Random deep drops, spooky story and visuals. Quick view of the entire park from the top before you drop! Another thrilling ride for the 40″ height minimum!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Indoor coaster in the dark—blasts off to 0-60 mph in seconds with Aerosmith tunes pumping! Neon signs, loops, corkscrews. 48″ height minimum. Total adrenaline rush!
Toy Story Land
- Slinky Dog Dash – smooth family coaster, 38″ height.
- Toy Story Mania – 3D shooting game! Was fun for everyone and a great way to get out of the rain for a bit.
Rainstorm
Afternoon downpour. October is near the end of hurricane season but we definitely got rain! We sheltered through the worst of it in a Guest Relations Kiosk with piña coladas and wine! When it let up enough we dashed to Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. Atmosphere was nostalgic, burgers were good, movie clips looped every 20 mins—could use more variety.
Final Thoughts
Overall, both parks were very worth seeing. If you have time, I would do an entire day at Animal Kingdom. There was lots we didn’t have time to see! Hollywood Studios gets looked over by some, but I wouldn’t skip it. Even if you just spend half a day there. Some of the funnest rides, and a vibe that can’t be matched.
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