My favorite and I'm going to ride it any and every time I'm in Magic Kingdom…read more The line queue is outside but covered to protect you from sun or rain. The employees running the line play the part from their outfits to stone faces. A large group of riders will be let inside the first and second waiting areas of the ride, which set the tone and have you greeted by a spooky host. Doom buggies will ride you through the various dark scenes and show you all the inhabitants of the mansion. 99 ghosts in all! Don't forget to check out the nearby gift shop.

The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite rides at Disney World. Top five. It's a must-ride…read more It's not actually scary like a haunted house you'd go to during Halloween season or an attraction at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. The ride is family-friendly, so kids and adults can enjoy it alike. I never rode this one as a kid, only as an adult, and I quite enjoyed it. It just has a lot of original charm and appeal. The ride is old and opened concurrently with Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. While updates have been made over the years, I've heard that the original magic of the ride has stayed true to the original. We had Lightning Lane passes on a non-holiday Monday around 1:05 PM and experienced about a five-minute wait. The regular line was really long. There are lots of memorable moments. Highlights for me included the seance room with Madame Leota, the ballroom with the dancing ghosts (neat special effects; reminds me of Super Castlevania IV), and the cemetery with old-school animatronics. I like the song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts," composed by Buddy Baker in 1969. There are lots of fun details and Easter eggs inside and outside of the ride. Admittedly, I didn't notice that the paintings stretched. I was a bit disoriented in the "elevator" room and didn't know what to expect. I thought maybe the room was rotating. My wife and I got stuck for a few minutes in one of the "Doom Buggies" in the cemetery. That experience was actually fun and we didn't mind it. It gave me extra time to take in and appreciate the sights. Shortly after getting home from this trip to Disney World, we watched the movies Haunted Mansion (2023) and Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) on Disney+. These are movies based on the ride. The original version of this ride at Disneyland in California is different. The Disneyland version is shorter and the outside looks like an antebellum mansion as opposed to the Disney World version's Gothic revival architecture. I recommend checking out Cinemassacre's September 2025 video review of The Haunted Mansion on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nQguaXmUzk

Our experience was awesome. I got my kids the season pass and I thought the price was great! My…read morekids and I had a blast on the rides, our favorite were the racing cars. The live music, car shows on Friday and Saturday nights are great bonus to add to your fun filled day. We are looking forward to returning for more fun.

Tough to know how to rate this one. I'm going to fun spot mainly for the roller coasters and funnel…read morecakes. The Mine Blower was physically uncomfortable and I was there too early right when the park opened to grab a funnel cake. Not the best coaster I've been on, it's wooden and you feel every turn in a jerking way. Some decent hang time and a fun opening drop but everyone in my car each time was glad when it ended. The park itself however looks nice and accessible which is what I like about the place. Parking is free(preferred spots for season pass holders); admission is free so it makes for a nice third place with the family; and there are rides for all ages, ability, and tolerance. Like other locations you can pay per ride or purchase a day or season pass. There's an arcade and dining options and a saloon. It's also attached to a boardwalk type attraction with restaurants and shops. Makes for an affordable outing. Season pass for all parks was $90. Everyone who worked there was helpful and staff seem to genuinely hope you're enjoying the ride. I

This was my first time attending howl-o-scream and it was a fun experience. It's a lot more laid…read moreback and more affordable than Hhn. We went through 4 of the 5 houses, rode a few coasters and went to a few shows. They don't have accurate or posted times for the houses which was not very helpful. They did have a food and drinks pass which we saw too late! Otherwise we would have gotten than. The scare actors through the houses and scare zones did a great job! I'll be keeping these things in mind for next year to make it more enjoyable for myself and the rest of my party.

I love Howl-O-Scream.. dare I say it can sometimes be better than Universal's Horror Nights? The…read morelines are shorter for the houses and there are actually more scare zones. Yes the production has less of the big name movies of course but it's still amazing. Also, more affordable. The absolute BEST part though? THE SHOW!! Yes, singular.. honestly if you came here and didn't do any of the houses and only did one show, Monster Stomp is it! I've watched it for the past probably three years at least and I never get sick of it (we see it more than once a season lol) SO GOOD!!

I was going to skip this ride as I'm not a fan of heights and this one really picks you up and then…read morethe video makes you feel like you're flying though the sky. I've been on this once before in Disneyland when it first opened and once was enough for me. My husband really wanted to go so we went. I figure if it got that bad I could always close my eyes. We had the Premier Pass so it wasn't an issue that we wanted to go spur of the moment. We were in line with another ride and that's when he told me his favorite rides were virtual reality rides like Soarin'. The line to Soarin' wasn't long. We waited less than 15 minutes and the line moved the whole time. There was a large group in front of us so there was a little bit of confusion as they didn't all fit on one row, and at least wanted to be on at the same time so they moved them which took a little bit of time to coordinate. We rode Soarin' and it wasn't bad. I only closed my eyes a couple of times. It really is a magnificent view. My husband said it wasn't as good as the one in Disneyland. I'm glad we rode it, at least my husband can say that and not be like we should have rode it, but didn't.

Soarin' is a fun ride where you sit in rows of seats that lift up into the air in front of an…read more80-foot IMAX screen with a 180-degree view. The ride simulates you flying above various beautiful, wide-sweeping vistas. There are different variations of this ride. We did Soarin' Around the World. Soarin' Around the World includes, in order, the Swiss Alps, Greenland (polar bears), Sydney Harbour, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, Mount Kilimanjaro (elephants), the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the West and East Mitten Buttes in Arizona, islands in Fiji (my favorite since my wife and I just got back from there), Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina, the Eiffel Tower, and, finally, a fireworks show at EPCOT. There are smells and scents (e.g., when you go through the African grasslands, you smell grass; when you go to India, you smell spices), water mist (e.g., when you go to the waterfalls), and the seats tilt and move to help with the flight simulation experience. The music for Soarin' was originally composed by the late legendary Jerry Goldsmith. He scored many of my favorite motion picture soundtracks like the Star Trek and Rambo movies. Soarin' is located inside the Land Pavilion in World Nature at EPCOT. Soarin' also has locations in Anaheim, Shanghai, and Tokyo. In Summer 2026, the Orlando and Anaheim rides will change from Soarin' Around the World to Soarin' Across America to celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence). Here's a preview of the new ride: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQFhC-WEnWG/ It looks incredible!

The boo to you parade is the special parade that happens during Mickey's not so Scary Halloween…read moreparty. The first thing to note is that you must have a special event ticket to the Halloween Party, normal day guests will need to leave before the party starts. There are 2 parade times and the parade will start in Frontierland and make it's way to Main Street. We prefer and always recommend the second parade as it is less crowded and easier to find a space to watch the parade. If you want to sit down and watch it I would recommend grabbing a spot early as this is one of the most popular parades. It is one of my personal favorite. The parade starts with the best part of the parade, the headless horseman. He rides the entire parade path and it is so incredibly neat to see! You must see if at least once. The parade has a very catchy tune as well. During the parade it is very different than the daytime parade. The characters have Halloween costumes on and there are more villains. Another favorite spot is the gravediggers from the Haunted Mansion. They drag their shovels on the ground and actually make sparks. Its very neat to see! Overall this is a great parade! I love it. You can only see it during the Halloween party but if you go, this is a must see even if you are watching just a few moments. I highly recommend it.

The boo to you parade is the special parade that happens during Mickey's not so Scary Halloween…read moreparty, at the Magic Kingdom. This event is a separate ticketed event. So if you're there as a day guest, you'll have to purchase additional tickets for the family. The Boo to you parade is shown twice. It will start in Frontierland and make it's way to Main Street. My wife and I prefer the second parade since it is less crowded and easier to find a space to watch the parade. Just a note though, if you want to sit down on the sidewalks, you will need to arrive early and grab your spot. The headless horseman starts the parade and it is the one thing most people want to see, it truly is amazing. He rides the entire route on his horse carrying his pumpkin head. It's actually really cool to see. Cast members working the parade route tells all guest, to make sure our feet are on the side walk, before the horse arrives in the area. This is to ensure the horse doesn't get distracted while on the route. The parade itself is totally different from the Magic Kingdom day parade. The characters are wearing Halloween costumes and there are more villains in the parade. One of the most favorite segments of the parade, is the gravediggers from the Haunted Mansion. They drag their shovels on the ground and actually make sparks. Overall this is a great parade! We love it, I enjoyed watching it all the time when I worked there. Remember that you can only see it during the Halloween party which a separate ticket, but if you attend the party, you must see the parade. ACES!

I had been to Disney World a few times before, but somehow I had never actually experienced Epcot…read moreuntil this particular trip. And honestly, my husband made sure my first visit was memorable. It was near my birthday month, and he decided to surprise me with what became an early birthday gift trip to Epcot while he attended a large software conference nearby. The conference itself was completely paid for by the company inviting him, so all he really had to cover was my airfare and incidentals. Clearly I married a man who understands strategic generosity. I suspect he realized it is far easier to justify another technology conference when Disney World is somehow involved for the spouse. Very clever, honestly. One of the biggest highlights of the trip was getting to stay inside a Disney World resort hotel. That alone completely changes the entire experience. Instead of battling traffic, renting cars, or navigating endless parking situations, we could simply hop onto the Disney transportation system and take relaxing ferry rides around the property to wherever we wanted to explore. There was something oddly peaceful about gliding across the water early in the morning while heading toward the parks. It genuinely felt like we had stumbled into some sort of temporary VIP existence. And because my husband was attending the conference, there were all kinds of wonderful little perks throughout the week. One evening there was a private dinner and concert event exclusively for conference attendees and guests, which was such a fun surprise. Then near the end of the trip, we were given access to a reserved roped-off viewing area beside the lagoon for the nighttime fireworks spectacular. That alone felt magical. No fighting crowds. No standing ten people deep trying to see around someone's Mickey ears. Just an incredible unobstructed view of the fireworks reflecting across the water while we relaxed together at the end of a very long and very happy week. As for Epcot itself... First-time visitors should absolutely understand that this park is very different from the classic Disney experience many people expect. Epcot feels more like a celebration of technology, imagination, culture, architecture, and world travel all wrapped into one giant park. The World Showcase was probably one of my favorite parts -- wandering through beautifully themed country pavilions representing places like Japan, France, Italy, Morocco, Norway, and Mexico while sampling food, shopping, architecture, and cultural details from each one. At times it almost felt like taking a tiny whirlwind world tour without ever leaving Florida. And of course, there is Spaceship Earth -- the giant iconic geodesic sphere everyone associates with Epcot. Seeing it in person for the first time honestly made me feel oddly emotional in that nostalgic Disney sort of way. I truly was like a child in a candy store during this trip. I wanted to see everything. Taste everything. Photograph everything. And despite spending an entire week there, I still never managed to see it all. But honestly, that may be part of the magic. By the end of the trip I felt completely happy, thoroughly exhausted, and wonderfully spoiled. My husband gave me an early birthday experience I had wanted for years, and somewhere during those ferry rides, fireworks, and endless wandering through Epcot, I quietly realized another item had officially come off my bucket list. By the time we flew home, I was completely satiated and entirely ready to sleep in my own bed again.

If you're NOT a frequent visitor or annual passholder, and you're planning a trip to EPCOT, do…read moreyourself a favor--start researching at least two months in advance! My husband and I first returned in 2021, thinking it would feel similar to when we brought our boys back in 1998... not even close. Technology has completely transformed the experience. Not in a bad way--but if you're not prepared, it can be overwhelming and honestly a little frustrating. After that visit, I knew I needed a better game plan. This time, I booked early--about six months ahead--directly through Walt Disney World and bundled our hotel and park tickets, saving around $1,600. I also spent time watching YouTube vlogs to relearn the park layout and get Park tips, which made everything so much easier. NOTE: Disney is extremely app-driven. I highly recommend pre-purchasing a MagicBand. It acts as your room key, park ticket, Lightning Lane access, and even your credit card. Having everything on your wrist is incredibly convenient. Speaking of time-saving-- we splurged and purchased the Lightning Lane Premier Pass. In 2021, we waited in lines up to two hours and barely got on rides. This time, with the Premier Pass, our waits were typically 5-20 minutes. As a Baby Boomer, I can confidently say--it was absolutely worth the splurge. BTW, there are single rider lines which are complimentary. Another small but "You'll Thank Me Later" tip: cushioned sneaker inserts. You can easily walk 8+ hours a day, and your tootsies will thank you. We visited the week before Easter during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, and it was stunning. The flowers and topiaries were incredible, and the outdoor kitchens added a fun (and delicious) touch. Being able to simply tap my MagicBand to pay for food made everything seamless. Bottom line: taking the time to plan ahead completely changed our experience. We rode everything we wanted, avoided long lines, and truly enjoyed the park. If you're heading to EPCOT--go in prepared, and you'll have an amazing time.

We went back to SeaWorld Orlando after a long break, bringing our son and my mother-in-law and…read moreusing my annual pass free ticket--which was a nice perk. Right off the bat, it's just a very different vibe from Walt Disney World. Parking felt like a free-for-all (we got lucky with a close spot), and entry was super basic--scan and go, nothing special. We got there around 3 and went straight to the Orca show at Shamu Stadium, which was actually really good. The park didn't feel too crowded, but ride wait times were still long. This trip was all about our son, and Sesame Street Land at SeaWorld Orlando delivered. Seeing him in his Elmo outfit light up during the parade was everything. Food at Altitude Burger was underwhelming--expensive, basic, and the seating area needed some attention cleanliness-wise. The highlight, though, was the animal experiences. The dolphin viewing at Dolphin Nursery had my son completely mesmerized--nonstop smiles, talking, just pure joy. SeaWorld has its flaws, but for kids and animal encounters, it really delivers. Final Verdict: 4 overall, 5 for kid happiness--because at the end of the day, that's what matters most

We have season passes that we purchased for the San Diego Seaworld, but it applies to ALL of…read moreSeaworld's properties (to a an extent). This included "free" parking, albeit the parking lot attendants could be more helpful directing those with elevated season passes to the correct location. This review is a couple weeks late, but we went at the beginning of their annual Seven Seas Food Festival. Those venues did not open until late afternoon, so we ended up eating at one of their restaurants for lunch (which wasn't too bad actually). I had spoken to a rep at customer service who informed me a couple of the perks, as a platinum season ticket holder, that a couple of the perks were not applicable here in Orlando, such as no allotted free guest passes. I was told we could transfer our passes to Orlando, but the cost would be twice as much then our "great deal" passes from San Diego (we passed of course). The park listed the hours of operation until 8pm, but they were closing everything, except the gift shops of course, at 7pm; thus we did not get to go up in the Sky Tower to watch the sunset. A custodian employee working that area was kind of dumbfounded that nobody (other employees) was there as well. I planned to give this visit a 2 star rating (could've been better), but opted for 3 (OK) because we did enjoy a couple of shows and the Expedition Odyssey ride. BTW, there are a couple bars that actually have a 'happy hour' but it is not advertised. We were only informed of this by the guest services employee who volunteered the 411.

We had an incredible time at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party! The event requires a special…read moreticket and has limited availability made by reservation. If you don't get a ticket, call and ask because if someone cancelled their reservation you might be able to get a ticket. The Magic Kingdom looks amazing at Halloween. Plenty of spooky fun Disney decorations and themes. You will receive a trick or treat bag to fill during the night. There are several candy spots where you will fill your bag. We got soooo much candy!! If you or your kid has a food allergy no worries, when you go to the candy stop they receive a special token good to redeem at their own station where they receive an entire bag of allergy free treats! Pretty cool!! You will see Mickey and all of the Disney characters... and I mean ALL OF THEM! There are several scattered throughout the park and every single character is in the parade. I mean characters I've never seen before walk in the parade!! The lines to rides are shorter so you are able to go through them much quicker and can do more. We did all of the premier rides at least once and a couple twice. Some of the smaller quick service food spots are closed and a few of the non-ride entertainment attractions are closed to make room for the trick or treat candy pickup spots. Overall it was a 10/10 experience for our entire family of 6.

Mi keys no so scary never disappoints! We had so much candy I had to give it away and we didn't…read moreeven get to hit all of the stops in the park. The parade was great and watching the headless horseman ride down Main Street is always a great time! The decor always on point and the castle show is spectacular! I have a full review on my TT page @efeleats where you can see the full review of Jack and Sally meet & greet but that was so worth it ! They did such a great job changing up Jack Skellington this year All the yummy treats are great and the decreased wait times during party nights for the rides is always a plus as well

I give the outside of Spaceship Earth five stars. It originally opened on October 1, 1982 and still…read morelooks cool and futuristic today (2025-2026). It's a major global icon. During our recent visit to EPCOT, our MagicBands+ automatically lit up in sync with the changing lights, colors, and music of the Spaceship Earth sphere. I give the inside of Spaceship Earth, the dark ride, four stars. It's a classic and probably a top-10 ride at Disney World for me. The ride takes you on a journey through advancements in human communication, from papyrus hieroglyphs to radio and TV. A couple of the cooler and more memorable parts for me are the fall of Rome, Gutenberg's printing press, and Michelangelo painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Best of all, this ride is filled with animatronics, which I love. This was my second time doing the ride. The first time was circa 1989-1990. This time, we happened to go right after the 2025 refurbishment was completed. The ride had been closed for months. When we entered the line, a Cast Member told us the ride reopened early the night before. We entered the line at 4:33pm on an ordinary Sunday and there was barely a wait (no Lightning Lane, even though we had passes). We lucked out. Vlogger Adam the Woo (David Adam Williams, @TheDailyWoo on YouTube) did a nice video review of this ride. Coincidentally, he went the same day we did, but at nighttime: https://youtu.be/kTUMy5-E3OY?si=TK0iKQgo000BltMo&t=397 I agree with him on two things: 1. It's a "complete travesty" that Horizons, a similar dark ride at EPCOT (1983-1999), is gone. It was my #1 favorite ride at Disney World as a kid. I even asked my parents to buy me a book that had pictures of Horizons so I could relive it through the pictures. After going on Spaceship Earth again recently as an adult, I realized I conflated scenes from my childhood memories of Spaceship Earth and Horizons. 2. Like Adam, my photo on Spaceship Earth didn't work either. However, my wife's photo worked. She sat in the same time-machine vehicle as me.

Spaceship Earth is what greets you and waves goodbye at Epcot. We noticed this visit it had…read moreextremely long waits in the morning. It's likely because it's the first attraction; however, I'd let it calm down and ride it later if you encounter long wait times. In some ways Spaceship Earth is getting archaic and in others, it's completely fine as its scenes tell the story of how we evolved our living conditions, education and languages. The backwards glide down is still peaceful as you're simply there to look at the galaxy of stars. A classic that my family will always ride. Two people per seat.