What to try and skip at Disney World

State of play: I'm a periodic parkgoer but not a Disney diehard and didn't stay at a Disney resort. I traveled with a group of nine, aged 4 to 80. We visited a park each day.

• Best item I packed: Brita Filtered Water Bottles from Walmart.
• Best kid experiences: Cinderella's Royal Table (lots of princess meet-and-greets) and Savi's Workshop's lightsaber experience (yes, we lugged a lightsaber back through TSA).
• Best plans: We secured meal reservations and experiences 60 days in advance the minute options opened. While in Orlando, we had two designated people each morning hopping on phones to snag Lightning Lane spots.

Situational awareness for my fellow '90s kids: Most characters don't sign autograph books anymore and instead provide less-than-magical printout signatures.

• Also, RIP Splash Mountain.

Magic Kingdom

What to try: Stay late for the Happily Ever After fireworks. The light show on Cinderella Castle is truly spectacular and, near the end, look for Tinker Bell to take flight.

• My only regret was not packing noise-cancelling headphones for the kids. It was too loud for them.

Keep an eye out for Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening this summer.

What to skip: Pirates of the Caribbean terrified our kids, both under the age of 10, and I thought the characters on the ride looked dated with the exception of Jack Sparrow.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

What to try: All things Star Wars. In Galaxy's Edge, everything from the Coca-Cola carts to the souvenir misting fans have an intergalactic flair, and we easily spotted Rey, Chewie, Kylo Ren and multiple stormtroopers.

• Favorite spots included Oga's Cantina (make reservations and peek at the drinks before you go) and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride.

What to skip: Slinky Dog Dash. Stick with me here, this children's coaster is fun, but a wait over an hour is not worth it.

• Yes, but: If you can secure the Lightning Lane, you've got a friend in me.

Ashley's thought bubble: Disney needs more entertainment in its long lines.

• I saw children — some just learning to walk — glued to phones. "The most magical place on Earth" could find ways to make waits part of a joyful experience instead of one that inspires T-shirts like this.

Epcot

What to try: Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

• The vibe: If the old 4D "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" was made into a ride, it would be something like this. Remember the dog sneezing? In Remy's ride, you travel in a mouse car and get spritzed by a champagne bottle.
• Yes, but: For anyone that doesn't do well with spins and 3D glasses, this isn't for you.

Also, Journey of Water was a great Moana-inspired self-guided way to cool off and work together to make music and water fountains.

• For the grown-ups: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was my favorite coaster. If the line was shorter, I would have ridden it twice.

What to skip: Space 220 Restaurant, the park's newest dining spot boasting an intergalactic experience, turned out to be more like a diner setting with technical problems. We weren't "launched" into space and the screen that was supposed to show views of the cosmos during dinner wasn't working. The food was fine, but nothing I'd go out of my way to get.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

What to try: The safari is the main attraction here, but again, Lightning Lane it.

• Pandora: The World of Avatar is also worth a visit, and the Na'vi River Journey is a cool, slow ride that's family-friendly.

What to skip: DinoLand U.S.A. gives off extinct carnival vibes, and we passed on the Dinosaur ride after warnings it was too scary for kids.

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Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect that Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is in Epcot, not Magic Kingdom.