WDW Top-3 in 2019

The end of the decade is nearly upon us, and the last year of the 2010s saw plenty of additions (and subtractions) to the four themed parks in the Walt Disney World Resort.  We took a look back at the last 365 days and came up with our favorite new attractions to WDW.  

3. Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Parade

To help celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday, the new Move It! Shake It! Parade was introduced at the Magic Kingdom.  This fun parade features the original song “It’s A Good Time” along with Mickey and Minnie in their birthday outfits.  The parade has a fun and upbeat energy that really gets kids and adults moving and singing.  

2. Epcot Forever 

This pick might come with some confusion and question marks, but hear us out.  Yes, Epcot Forever is a temporary show before Harmonious debuts in 2021. No, it is not better than Illuminations.  But Epcot Forever does something few nighttime spectacles do - take park guests on a trip down memory lane.  

via DisneyParks.com

Epcot Forever features music from Epcot attractions past and present.  Current attractions like Soarin and Journey Into Imagination are featured in the show, but so too are songs from past fan favorites like the Universe of Energy and the Tapestry of Nations parade.  

And if the musical ensembles wasn’t enough, the new show features amazing laser and light shows and kites with fire on them.  

And if you’re an Epcot purist who detests seeing “Disney IP” in the parks, then you are not a fan 

of the show ending with “A Whole New World.”  But the direction of Epcot is changing and more and more Disney characters and movies are going to be making their way into the park ahead of the park’s overhaul by 2021 and this will include Disney music in the future night time show “Harmonious.”  

1. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge  

It’s almost a no-brainer as to the best addition of 2019.  For all of the negative press that it has received, Galaxy’s Edge is the most immersive themed land to grace a Disney park.  Opening in May at Disneyland and then in August at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, both parks transport guests to the planet of Batuu.  

Both parks opened with only one ride: Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run.  This ride puts you in the cockpit of the fastest “hunk of junk” in the galaxy as you make a trip to pick up coaxium.  Guests are assigned a role as they navigate the Falcon. You are either a pilot, gunner, or engineer. While every group will successfully complete the mission, your score will be determined based upon the effectiveness of the other crew members on your team.  

You could spend hours just walking through Galaxy’s Edge without stepping foot on a ride.  Not a single detail was overlooked by Disney Imagineers when they created this land. Even ordinary items such as “light fixtures” are unique to Batuu.  You’ll also notice that the Fast Pass readers are missing the signature Mickey Mouse outline. This is a testament to the commitment by Imagineers to remove you from the park and put you on a different planet.  As you walk through Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll encounter tie fighters, resistance fighters, storm troopers, Chewbaca, and galactic traders.  

In addition to sipping on green and blue milk, there are two other must-dos that we recommend.  First, if you have a Disney PhotoPass, get your photographs taken by the Millenium Falcon. Disney employs the use of a long range camera to create a special video that you’ll be showing off to all of your friends.  

Second, we recommend a trip to the Droid Depot.  Now, many might argue that creating your own lightsaber is a more worthwhile experience, but we prefer creating your own droid for two reasons.  First, the remote control droid gets more use once you leave Batuu and return to your own home planet (AKA your home). Second, Droid Depot will run you $100 to build and take home your own droid (compared to the $200 price tag to create your own lightsaber).   

We loved getting to pick the parts of your very own droid as they came down on a conveyor belt.  There are plenty of cast members who are able to help you and answer any questions that you have.  And immediately outside of Droid Depot is a “play pen” where you can take your droid out for a test ride.  The entire experience was well worth the cost.