I've been to Disney World over 60 times. There's always something new and exciting, but I return to these 6 favorites every trip. (2024)

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I always buy a Park Hopper ticket, no matter how long my trip is.

I don't think I've ever visited Disney without forking over the extra money to hop between parks.

It's typically around $60 to $100 extra, depending on the time of year and the length of your trip, but it's always worth it to me because I see it as a way to get the most out of quick vacations.

Plus, part of the fun for me is taking the monorail trains or Skyliner gondolas between parks.

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Rope-dropping the parks in the mornings helps me maximize time.

My Disney vacations usually aren't long — I typically only spend two or three days in the parks during each trip. Because of that, I try to maximize my time by being at the parks first thing in the morning and entering when the "rope drops."

Staying at a Disney resort also typically comes with perks such as early access to the parks, so I also tend to do that.

But knowing park hours and what rides or areas tend to fill up quickly is also crucial for maximizing park time. I never rope-drop Epcot because the World Showcase doesn't open until 11 a.m.

I prefer getting an early start at any other park and heading to Epcot in the afternoon.

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I make time to ride my all-time favorite attractions.

The rides are one of the most important parts of my Disney World trips, so my favorites are high on my list of priorities.

At Magic Kingdom, I almost always start with Space Mountain and make time for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and "It's a Small World," for nostalgia purposes.

I love Kilimanjaro Safaris in Animal Kingdom in the morning because the animals are usually more active. Expedition Everest is also always a must for me.

Exploring Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has become a staple of my trips to Hollywood Studios, but my favorite Disney World ride will always be Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at the other end of the park.

I used to work at Epcot, so I have a soft spot for almost everything there. But the first ride I ever rode as an employee was Spaceship Earth, so I always allocate 15 minutes of my park day to it.

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Reminiscing on my time working in the parks is always on the agenda.

I sound like someone's parents saying they used to walk uphill both ways to school as a kid, but it's true: I can't shut up about working at Disney World while I'm there.

Sometimes, I'll point out the backstage areas to my party — or talk about the time Chris Evans walked by me while I was working. But usually, I'm either reminiscing about long shifts before fireworks or, more likely, wishing I still had my employee discount.

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I'll never get sick of buying and trading pins.

When I had that employee discount, I purchased multiple mystery pin packs each time I entered the parks.

Now, I'm a bit more frugal and keep my buying strictly to Winnie the Pooh and Maleficent pins my favorites.

I also always check out the boards and lanyards around the park to see if employees or fellow guests are looking to trade pins.

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Dessert is a priority, end of story.

Truth be told, I usually plan my Disney vacations around the seasonal festivals that offer my favorite snacks. But no matter what time of year I go, I think about dessert first.

Mickey ice-cream bars and Dole Whip stands are sprinkled all over the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs, so it's hard not to eat at least one a day.

But I also love the s'mores from The Ganachery at Disney Springs and the carrot cake usually available at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.