The Top 5 Things You Don’t Want to Miss this Summer at Disney World

Happy unofficial first day of summer! It's time to start making those summer vacation plans that hopefully include a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. There is so much going on at Disney World right now and throughout the summer that we decided to break it down to a top five list!

Are you headed to Disney World this summer?

Whether you're hitting up the theme parks or the water parks you'll find fun new stuff to see and do. Let's take a peek at this summer's must-do-and-see list.

1. Disney's Animal Kingdom: First on our must-do list is, of course, Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This new immersive land opened May 27 and it should be at the top of your list at Disney. Word on the street is you're gonna love it even if you've never seen the film Avatar.

Pandora - The World of Avatar

Pandora is home to two new attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage and the Na'vi River Journey. And if you're hungry while visiting Pandora you'll find create-your-own bowls and more at Satu'li Canteen (Satu'li serves breakfast too!). Next door to the canteen is Pongu Pongu, the bar for Pandora (the name means party party). Our friends at the Disney Food Blog have been reporting on all things Pandora for a while, so you should probably check out their Pandora page!

Night Blossom and Mo'ara Margarita at Pongu Pongu

Also, when you're visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom don't forget about Rivers of Light, the nighttime spectacular!

2. Happily Ever After: The brand new nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After, debuted May 12 at the Magic Kingdom (replacing the long-running fireworks show Wishes). This 18-minute show features projections on Cinderella Castle, lasers, pyrotechnics, fireworks, new hand-drawn animation, a new musical score and song, and Tinker Bell! Disney films represented in the show include Frozen (of course), Toy Story, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Moana, and many more.

Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom

Be sure to check out this video from our friends at the Disney Food Blog where you'll hear tips on getting the best experience at the show!

3. Disney's Hollywood Studios: 'The Music of Pixar Live! A Symphony of Characters' debuted May 26 at the Studios and is set to run this summer for a limited time. The show will be presented three times nightly at the Theater of the Stars (where you'll catch the live Beauty and the Beast show during the daytime hours). This 40-minute concert features a live orchestra and special appearances by Woody, Jessie, The Incredibles, Mike and Sulley, and more Pixar characters. You can also book a Music of Pixar Live dining package!

The Music of Pixar Live! A Symphony of Characters

4. Disney's Water Parks: Summer is a great time to spend a day at one of the Walt Disney World Resort waterparks - Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. This summer guests at Typhoon Lagoon can check out the all-new family friendly water ride Miss Adventure Falls. And at Blizzard Beach the Frozen Summer Games are in full swing through August 13 with Kristoff and Olaf.

Check out Miss Adventure Falls at Typhoon Lagoon!

5. Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: What's that you ask? Why is the Food and Wine Festival listed as a must-do this summer? Because for the first time the Festival starts in August! That's right, the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival starts August 31, which is technically before the end of summer! This year's Festival will feature 35 Marketplace Booths (in honor of Epcot's 35th anniversary this October).

Guests can also enjoy the Eat to the Beat concert series, low-cost seminars and demos, special events, and much more. This year's Festival will feature a few new and/or returning booths including India and Spain!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival starts August 31!

For the most up-to-date information on all things Food and Wine Festival, be sure to bookmark the Disney Food Blog's 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival page.

And there you have it - five reasons why summer is going to be amazing at the Walt Disney World Resort. Are you making plans to visit Disney World this summer? Leave us a comment and let us know what you're looking forward to on your visit.

Many thanks to the Disney Food Blog for use of their photos.