Top 10 Places to Visit Both During the Day and Night in Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is amazing no matter what time of day it is.  Many people spend a lot of time in the parks during daylight hours but might miss out on the fun that happens after the sun goes down.  The parks completely transform and look very different at night and you won’t want to miss it.  Here are the top 10 places to visit both during the day and night in Walt Disney World:

1 – All of the park icons across all four theme parks

Each of the park icons at the four major theme parks are very different experiences depending on whether you visit them during the day or at night.  Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom and the Chinese Theater at Hollywood Studios are the icons and you definitely want to get your picture in front of them during the day and at night.  At night all of them are lit up and perfect for enjoying the nighttime atmosphere. The Tree of Life even has a light show that is performed throughout the evening.

2 – Pandora – The World of Avatar:  Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This themed land is a must-experience during the day and at night.  During the day you can see the beautiful detail that was put into creating the immersive land.  At night, the bio-luminescent atmosphere comes to life and you get to see a whole different world.  We definitely recommend seeing it both times, but if you can only pick one, definitely pick to visit at night!

3 – Toy Story Land: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

You definitely have to visit Toy Story Land during both times of the day.  The land allows you to experience what it is like to shrink to the size of a toy and explore Andy’s backyard. The backyard area is so fun during the day and has a different kind of beauty and mystery during the evening hours. We love seeing the attractions all lit up, and Slinky Dog Dash is definitely fun both during the day and at night.

4 – World Showcase: Epcot

The World Showcase has a different vibe during the day than at night.  During the day it is beautiful and you see the beauty of each country come to live from pavilion to pavilion.  At night, there is a much more romantic feel.  The torches are lit all around the lagoon and it is so beautiful to look around at how the pavilions are lit up.  You can also find a great spot to watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

5 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad:  Magic Kingdom

We don’t know which our favorite is, but we do know that you must experience this attraction during the day and at night.  During the day the attraction definitely feels more like the Frontierland vibe. At night, it almost has a little spookier feel but it is a little bit more exciting since the mine parts are definitely completely pitch black.  Both are great experiences, so we recommend that you try both.

6 – Disney Springs

During the day Disney Springs feels more like a great place to relax, shop and dine. At night the entire location seems to transform into the perfect spot to enjoy the nightlife and a night on the town. Both are great times to visit and you can definitely shop and dine during the day and night.  We recommend checking out both since the area looks very different when it is lit up at night.

7 – Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We definitely prefer night if we have to pick one, but still, recommend that you make sure to ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror during the day as well as at night.  During the Day the attraction doesn’t feel as spooky as it does at night.  Since it is supposed to be more on the spooky side, which is why we tend to prefer nighttime. During the day, you get an amazing view of the park before you drop.  At night you get that same amazing view, but you also get to see the park all lit up for the evening.

8 – Tomorrowland:  Magic Kingdom

This is such a fun, themed land within the Magic Kingdom.  The vibe in Tomorrowland feels different during the day versus at night. Both are a lot of fun and perfect for the park, but it is amazing how different it looks at night.  There are also attractions like Astro Orbiter and Tomorrow Land Transit Authority PeopleMover that are also different to experience during the day versus at night, so you will definitely want to check it out.

9 – Everest:  Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Much of the Everest attraction takes place outside before heading inside of the mountain.  There is also a drop on the outside.  It is a different experience to enjoy it during the day and then ride it again when it is dark. You can definitely see more during the day, but both times are great to experience.  Plus, the ride is fantastic, so you will definitely want to ride it twice anyway.

10 – Test Track:  Epcot

The end of the attraction sends you racing out at high speeds all around an outdoor track.  When you ride during the day, you get to race around and see amazing areas of Future World.  At night, the park is all lit up, so you get different views.  This attraction continues to be one of the most popular attractions in Epcot and it is easy to see why.