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Summer 2022 Disney World Bucket List

As the weather warms up and school calendars draw to a close, summer is quickly approaching. For many families, summer means an opportunity to vacation at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Maybe it was just a few months since you visited the Most Magical Place on Earth. Or maybe you’ve been counting down since you drove off the Disney property after your vacation last summer.

Credit: Disney Parks

Either way, we bet you are officially counting down the days until you are back at your happy place, Walt Disney World! There are some excellent new things in store for Guests at Walt Disney World during summer 2022. New attractions, restaurants, and experiences are ever-evolving, so there may even be new things to see, eat, and ride the next time you are at Walt Disney World.

That said, classic rides, restaurants, and your favorite Disney World Resort hotel are what keep Guests coming back again and again. Rest assured, I’m looking forward to experiencing all my old favorites again on my next Disney vacation. Since I am counting down the days until our summer vacation, I put together this Summer 2022 Disney World bucket list to make sure I didn’t forget anything. Is one of your must-do experiences listed here?

Nosh on Salt & Straw Ice Cream

Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper
Credit: Salt & Straw

On April 20, 2022, the Portland-Oregon-based ice cream company Salt & Straw opened another location at Disney Springs. This delectable ice cream company has been a hit in Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney since 2018. The shop at Disney Springs is the third Salt & Straw location in Florida, with two other locations around Miami. I have been craving this ice cream ever since I saw Guests sharing videos of the beautiful ice cream case on TikTok.

Salt & Straw offers some classic favorite flavors like double fold vanilla and cinnamon snickerdoodle, but they are also famous for their seasonal flavors. With flavors like jasmine milk tea and chocolate almond stracciatella, and rhubarb crumble with toasted anise, that seasonal menu will definitely be where I focus my attention during my summer visit. My Disney vacation cannot arrive quickly enough!

Take a Ride with Remy

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
Credit: Disney

Next on my bucket list is experiencing Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in my favorite Disney Park, EPCOT. This 4D ride shrinks Guests down to the size of a rat and takes them through a big Parisian adventure. When I experienced this attraction at Disneyland Paris several years ago, it was the highlight of my day. So of course, I was delighted to learn that Disney was moving this popular attraction from Disneyland Paris to the France pavilion at EPCOT. Having not visited Walt Disney World since the opening of this ride, I am super excited to experience it and to help Chef Remy prepare a Gusteau-worthy-meal in time.

France Pavilion
Credit: Disney

I plan to follow my visit To Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure with a trip to sample one of the newer culinary additions to EPCOT, Le Crêperie de Paris. This new crêpe spot opened on October 1, 2021. Inspired by the light and delicious crêpes from the Brittany region of France, this restaurant serves up a melt-in-your-mouth snack. Guests visiting this quick-service restaurant can nosh on savory crêpes known as galettes or traditional sweet crêpes. I have my eye on the Gourmande crêpe, stuffed with hazelnut spread and topped with whipped cream. French wine and hard ciders are menu items that are not to be missed at this restaurant. For this reason, I will be enjoying my crêpe with a glass of champagne.

hazelnut crepe
Credit: Disney Dining

Catch Up with Nemo and Friends

finding nemo the big blue and beyond
Credit: Disney Parks

Man, was I excited to see that The Big Blue World – Live On Stage is returning to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This live stage experience located in Dinoland U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom is an adorable and entertaining show that I recommend Guests of all ages see. Based on the beloved film Finding Nemo, this is one of my favorite theme park shows. The awesome performers handle their puppets with such ease you forget you are watching a stage show.

Special effects coupled with awesome innovative lighting, animated backdrops, and vocally talented performers make for an entertaining and enjoyable show. Not to mention, we can always use a break from the summer heat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Be sure to check the entertainment schedule on the My Disney Experience app or the show times guide at the front of the Park to plan which showtime you will attend.

Related: Have You Heard of These Rules for Disney World Food Service Cast Members?

Dinner at ‘Ohana

Ohana Bread Pudding
Credit: Disney Dining

I can’t take a family vacation to Walt Disney World and skip out on a dinner experience at ‘Ohana. This bottomless Polynesian feast is the culinary highlight of our summer vacation each year. To be honest, I’ve been dreaming about those grilled shrimp and the flavorful pineapple bread pudding since last July when I left Walt Disney World. The food, ambiance and Cast Members (er, cousins) that work at ‘Ohana make this an unforgettable dining experience. However, spending the evening enjoying exploring Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a big part of the fun for my family.

Pineapple-Lanai
Credit: Disney Dining

I can’t wait to spend an evening on my summer 2022 vacation strolling the beach that overlooks the Magic Kingdom while enjoying a Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai. We always leave the Parks early to provide enough time to enjoy the Moana Mercantile and explore the other shops at the Resort. Most importantly, we always spend time hanging out at Tambu Tambu Lounge and sipping on one of my favorite Disney cocktails, the Lapu-Lapu. This is one charming Walt Disney World Resort that I love to visit. Some experiences never get old.

Hug Mickey Mouse

Character meet and greet
Credit: Disney

The last thing on my summer 2022 Disney World bucket list is a no-brainer. I have to get a hug from Mickey Mouse! On April 18, 2022, character meet and greets officially returned to Walt Disney World Parks. As a Disney fan who loves meeting favorite characters, snapping photos, and having face-to-face interactions, this is an exciting development in the post-Covid world. I’m excited to meet all the characters on our summer Disney vacation, but of course, I’m most excited to hug the mouse that started it all, Mickey!

Katie Chapman

Hey There! I am a Georgia native with a passion for writing, traveling, cooking, decorating, pugs and of course all things Disney. Growing up in South Georgia just a few hours from Walt Disney World made for a magical childhood. Some of my best memories were made on Main Street U.S.A. with my sister watching SpectroMagic nighttime parade or beside my grandparents, parents and extended family at Chef Mickey’s celebrating on a family vacation. Epcot was my favorite park from a young age and I credit it with my interest in and love for international travel. As a kid I… More »

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