Walt Disney World is full of great attractions. We all know the fan favorites—Space Mountain, Expedition: Everest, Peter Pan’s Flight, Star Tours—but not all Disney attractions get the credit they deserve. Indeed, some of Disney’s best rides and experiences are ignored by casual guests entirely.
Want to amp up your next Walt Disney World vacation? Don’t skip these seven amazing attractions everyone ignores… Indeed, we think #7 might be the best attraction in the Most Magical Place on Earth!
1. The American Adventure
Image: Disney
Now, you may be asking how one could possibly ignore Epcot’s iconic mainstay, The American Adventure? You would be surprised how many guests skip this attraction. World Showcase’s The American Adventure is an experience like no other at Walt Disney World, a crowning achievement of Disney’s audio-animatronic technology and talent with immersive storytelling. Sometimes guests skip it because it isn’t a true ride or even a traditional show. Other times, there’s a sad assumption that educational attractions must be dull or that kids won’t enjoy them.
The American Adventure defies all these expectations. The pavilion’s museum and entry hall are delightful enough, but the show has a hypnotizing effect that often captures even the most skeptical audience members. Disney manages to tell the story of America in a way that is both beautiful and honest, not glossing over mistakes of the past but also emphasizing a warm telling of our history with stunning special effects. Never taken the plunge? Make plans on your next vacation to visit this Disney icon!
2. The galleries, gardens, and films of World Showcase
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
Just like many guests bypass The American Adventure, many Walt Disney World visitors have never explored World Showcase in depth—most notably World Showcase’s entrancing galleries, gardens, and films.
A Walt Disney World vacation can sometimes feel like running a marathon from one attraction to another. World Showcase’s gorgeous films—Oh, Canada, Reflections of China, and Impressions de France—stand in direct defiance of this mentality. They give us an opportunity to stop, take a breath, and immerse in the beauty of our world.
The galleries of World Showcase are even more enchanting. While other guests languish in long lines, you can take in the beauty of Morocco’s stunning textiles, Japan’s culture of cute, and Norway’s Stave Church gallery at your own pace. Need some calm in the bustle of your vacation? Take a serene tour of the lush gardens in China, Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and do not hesitate to let yourself get lost exploring the hidden corners of Morocco’s Marrakesh market.
3. The Swiss Family Treehouse
Image: Disney
One of Magic Kingdom’s most charming attractions is hidden right in plain sight. I can’t tell you how many years our family visited Adventureland, hurrying from ride to ride, before we finally paused and took the stairs up into The Swiss Family Treehouse. Like Disney’s other walking attractions, the treehouse is a pleasure to explore at your own pace. I like to visit in the morning while savoring a Dole Whip Float. The treehouse’s flets offer plenty of unique corners and details for guests with an appreciative eye to enjoy, while kids absolutely love to search for the highest point in the structure (not to mention all those stairs are a fantastic way for them to work off some energy!). The treehouse also offers a unique 360-degree perspective on Adventureland, including views of the Jungle Cruise.
4. Star Wars Launch Bay
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
We’ve gushed about Star Wars Launch Bay before, but it cannot be overstated what a cool attraction this place is, particularly if you are a Star Wars fan. Most visitors come to the Launch Bay to meet Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, and BB-8, but this monument to that galaxy far, far away is truly a fan haven, from the Stormtroopers ready to accost guests outside to its superb Star Wars merchandise store. The bay’s introductory film offers exclusive behind the scenes footage on the making of Star Wars, while the museum is packed with stunning replicas of props from the films (and even the cartoons). The replica of the Mos Eisley cantina is a very cool foreshadow of things to come in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and sometimes is even visited by inquisitive Jawas (depending on the season).
Like hunting for Easter Eggs? Star Wars Launch Bay won’t disappoint. Keen-eyed fans can spend hours deciphering Aurebesh texts hidden throughout the attraction. Don’t miss the junk closet on the edge of the cantina. Can you identify all the props inside and where they came from in the movies?
5. The Peoplemover
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
It’s astonishing how many visitors completely skip the Tomorrowland PeopleMover. This Magic Kingdom mainstay seriously never gets old, especially if you are a photographer. Its gorgeous views of Tomorrowland and Cinderella Castle never fail to inspire, and in the craziness of Magic Kingdom, there’s something so wonderfully soothing about The PeopleMover’s peaceful journey through Tomorrowland’s dark rides.
Too often, adults assume that kids won’t enjoy the PeopleMover since it isn’t a major ride, but kids absolutely love this attraction. It’s the futuristic transportation of their dreams, and a nice ride on the PeopleMover is a great option for parents who need to give little ones a chance to catch a breather during a long day!
6. Tom Sawyer Island
Tom Sawyer Island is terrible. Seriously, there’s nothing to see there. It’s just a bunch of rocks and spiders. Move along, there’s no reason to visit at all. Who would want to cram onto a raft with a bunch of kids to visit a weird little spit of mystery land anyways?
Oh, all right, that may not be entirely true.
Tom Sawyer Island remains one of Walt Disney World’s best kept secrets sitting right in plain sight. So often, guests never get the opportunity to visit it due to weather issues or the island’s sometimes-prohibitive operating schedule, and fans like myself are more than happy for it to stay ignored. The reason why is that there is seriously something for everyone on Tom Sawyer Island.
Need a quiet place to get away from the crowds and enjoy some peace and reflection? Pull up a rocking chair on the island’s many waterside porches. Got hyper kids who want to run off some energy and play explorer? Set your kids loose in Fort Langhorn and the Mystery Mine. Feel like having the ever-living pee scared out of you? Wait until the island is nice and quiet then take a stroll into Injun Joe’s Cave, which might just be the most delightfully spooky place in all of Walt Disney World. Tom Sawyer Island is like a land unto itself, and despite its diminutive size, you could easily waste away an entire afternoon embracing your wanderlust here.
7. Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire at Disney Springs
Image: Disney / The Void
We recently wrote that the best attraction in Walt Disney World right now is one most guests have never even heard of—and you don’t even need a park admission to experience it.
Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire is a hyper-reality experience (think virtual reality on steroids) hidden in a oft-forgotten corner of Disney Springs. The attraction is one of Disney’s many upcharge experiences bearing some vague similarities to both laser tag and escape game experiences—only with a whopping dose of Disney magic. Secrets of the Empire gives guests the opportunity to literally step into the Star Wars universe and take on a stunningly realistic mission to aid the Rebellion against the Empire.
Through use of cutting edge virtual reality and an enormous maze, guests play spies trying to infiltrate an Imperial base disguised as stormtroopers. Thanks to a clever combination of pristine virtual storytelling and cleverly placed props, guests are able to seamlessly move through and interact with the Star Wars universe in something like an enormous, living video game. Many visitors are describing it as the most fun they’ve had visiting Walt Disney World!
No theme park admission is needed to visit Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire. For around $30 a person, guests can book a specific time during their vacation to visit, and the attraction can be enjoyed with the whole family acting as a team to take on the mission. It cannot be understated how remarkably immersive this game is, and it’s a huge indicator of good things to come with future Walt Disney World attractions.
What is your favorite attraction that most guests ignore?
