New Orleans Square

For those who compare Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to Disneyland in California, there is nothing like New Orleans Square. Yes, both parks offer Pirates of the Caribbeanand Haunted Mansion. But even then, you get the better deal at Disneyland. Haunted Mansion offers a holiday overlay based on The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is wondrous—and it can’t be found in Florida. Pirates is nearly twice the size as the attraction found at Magic Kingdom. It’s much more immersive and is the original as well.

But the third gem of New Orleans Square lies between these two classic attractions. It is the square itself—which ironically is anything but square. The winding streets of this little neighborhood are as immersive as the attractions found in it. You can truly get lost in its little shops, entertainment and restaurants.

One such dining locale is the Blue Bayou, which serenely looks over boats sailing past in the Pirates of the Caribbean. It is always evening at the Blue Bayou, and you can even see fireflies in the distance.

In some ways it’s better than the real New Orleans—at least it’s cleaner, as Walt jabbed when he invited the mayor to its opening. All the architectural details are there. Your eyes go gazing upward as you wander around.