From Magical To Tragical: Ranking the Walt Disney World Parks

There are four magical Walt Disney World Parks in Orlando (excluding the two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach).

The four main theme parks all offer an unforgettable experience, and they’re certainly not all right for everyone.

This makes it difficult to decide which park is best, but I am taking on the challenge!

This post is all about ranking the Walt Disney World Parks from best to worst.

Walt Disney World Parks

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I love all the Walt Disney World parks. But if I had to be objective, this is how I’d rank them from best to worst! Do you agree or disagree with this?! To read the full post, check out caffeinebythecastle.com/walt-disney-world-parks/ #disneyworldparks
♬ Disneyland and DisneySea,Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Romancing Saga, Secret of Mana, The Legend of Zelda, Monster Hunter style(1430839) – Takenobu Yamana

The four main Walt Disney World Parks are:

Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom

1st Place – Epcot – The Epitome of Innovation and Culture

Epcot is the strangest and best theme park on this list.

I can’t talk about Epcot without talking about its identity crisis.

Is it a representation of 11 different countries and cultures, or is it a theme park with aquariums and a new Marvel ride? Well, it’s both.

how many disney parks are there in orlando — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

In a weird way, this identity crisis makes Epcot the most versatile of the Walt Disney World parks.

Do you want to drink around the world and feel immersed in different cultures? Go to Epcot!

Do you want to learn about agriculture, design and test new cars and learn about the story of Finding Nemo? Go to Epcot!

Overall, Epcot has more slow rides than fast rides. Until, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened, I wasn’t obsessed with this park as much.

In my opinion, the only thrilling ride prior to this rollercoaster was Test Track (which isn’t exactly the scariest ride ever).

If you’re travelling with a diverse group with different wants and needs, I think everyone will find an attraction or experience they will love at Epcot!

2nd Place – Magic Kingdom – The OG Disney Experience

It all started with the Magic Kingdom.

It is the only Disney World park that has been open for over half a century.

And it is iconic and popular for many reasons. Charming storytelling in rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, it’s a small world and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

This park is considered to be the best for kids, and I think that is a fair assumption, as most of the rides are on the slower side.

Similarly to Epcot, I don’t think Magic Kingdom is the best park for thrillseekers (more on that later). But there are some thrilling rides, such as Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train, Space Mountain and Tron.

I think Magic Kingdom is going to feel slightly empty for me until Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens in late 2024.

But apart from that, this is an amazing park – with great attractions, shows, fireworks, parades and the legendary castle.

3rd Place – Hollywood Studios – Lights, Camera, Attractions!

Objectively, Hollywood Studios is the third best on my list (though it’s often my personal fave).

However, I would argue it is home to the least impressive or revolutionary theming of all the Walt Disney World parks – though there is something magical about taking a late-night stroll around Hollywood Studios.

If you are a thrill seeker, Hollywood Studios will be your paradise! With the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Slinky Dog Dash (I promise it’s not as tame as it looks!).

Unlike Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios is often considered “the least child-friendly”.
This may be true, but there are some slower attractions, such as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania and Star Tours.

In addition, there are some great shows, such as the Frozen Sing-A-Long, Beauty & The Beast – not to mention Fantasmic (AKA the BEST Disney World nighttime show. You can disagree with me on that, but you would be wrong).

I would argue that Hollywood Studios has improved more than any of the other Walt Disney World parks in recent years.
When I started visiting Disney World, there was no Toy Story Land or Galaxy’s Edge. It was still a great park, but not nearly as good as it is today.

If you haven’t been to Hollywood Studios in 5+ years, I’d recommend spending some time there on your next Disney trip. You’ll probably be surprised by the drastic makeover!

4th Place – Animal Kingdom – Take An Adventure In Nature

While Animal Kingdom may rank last on our list, it certainly doesn’t lack in charm or excitement.

The park is wildly unique (pun intended). The other parks may be about fairytales, movies and cultures around the world. But this park is about nature.

Before you write it off as a “glorified garden centre”, there are lions and zebras and giraffes, oh my! And you get to see them very closely on the Kilimanjaro Safari.

Not to mention, the rides. The best rides (in my humble opinion) are Avatar Flight of Passage (a really unique simulator ride) and Expedition Everest (a rollercoaster with a pretty mad yeti).

You probably won’t feel a need to ride the others multiple times, though there are other impressive rides (such as Na’vi River Journey).

One of Disney’s most popular shows, Festival of the Lion King, can be watched at Animal Kingdom.

And one of Disney’s weirdest shows, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!, is also at Animal Kingdom. (Do you also find this show kind of creepy?).

I almost feel bad putting Animal Kingdom at the bottom of the list, as the theming is remarkable (especially since the opening of Pandora).

But due to the lack of attractions, it currently has to be 4th on the list. Though that could change if it ever expands as much as Hollywood Studios has.

If rides aren’t that important to you, or you’re an animal lover, you will love this park!

Ta Ta For Now

Ranking the Walt Disney World parks is no easy task, as each park offers its own magical experiences and extraordinary moments.

Which is your favourite and least favourite park? Let me know in the comments!

This post was all about ranking the Walt Disney World Parks from best to worst.