The number 1 ranked amusement park in the US, Disney World, has recently added some new rides to its parks. The mix of old and new rides really adds to the nostalgia of being at Disney as a child and gives it a new twist to your later experiences. There also have been many changes to how parks are run and the type of guest experience you will have.

In my opinion, these are the 3 must-experience rides in each Disney park.

Magic Kingdom

1. Tron
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railway
3. Space Mountain

EPCOT

1. Cosmic Rewind
2. Test Track
3. Mission: SPACE

Animal Kingdom

1. Avatar Flight of Passage
2. Expedition Everest
3. Kali River Rapids

Hollywood Studios

1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
2. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
3. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
   

While it would be amazing if you were able to hit all of these rides within your stay at Disney World, more recently it has become much harder and more expensive to be able to do so. Fast passes have changed from physical passes that you could get at a kiosk to now having to schedule them, under the new name “Lightning Lane,” months in advance with the My Disney Experience app. Some of the newer rides are also not always available for Lightning Lane passes and only available for the Virtual Queue that you would need to get on as soon as the Queue opens to have a chance of getting the opportunity to experience the ride. The Lightning Lane is definitely faster on all rides. The Virtual Queue acts as the regular line for the new rides, but it just limits the amount of people in the line at one time.

Another change that has been made in the past 10 years has been the switch from physical pass cards that get you into the park to MagicBands and most recently Magic Band+. The bands have all different designs so you can have a band that has your favorite Disney character on it. These bands also serve as a park ticket, credit/debit card, and room key. MagicBands sync directly to your My Disney Experience account which holds all of your park passes, dining reservations, and your location in the parks so you can find your way around Disney. On top of adding the price of MagicBands, you have to add on the price of an actual park ticket. According to Disney Parks, in 2013, a park ticket cost $95 for a one-day pass, now the price of a one-day pass can cost up to $159. This cost doesn’t include all of the treats you are most likely to buy while in the parks.

While a trip to Disney World is definitely expensive and takes a lot of planning, it is worth the money especially if you’ve never visited before. The mix of rides and attractions with the hospitality at Disney makes it a magical time in the happiest place on earth.