Top 10 TV Shows Set at Disney World
Synergy between ABC’s television shows and Walt Disney World is a tale as old as time. For over 25 years, sitcoms have done Disney theme park episodes that got kids hyped up and showed families everything new. This top 10 list will showcase the best of these WDW-ABC crossover episodes, and cover how they were perfect for an era before the internet.
Like most people of a certain age, I was a voracious consumer of ABC’s TGIF. Between that and NBC’s Must-See TV, my family gathered around the television every Thursday and Friday night. We were also big Walt Disney World fans, planning our annual pilgrimage months in advance with little info in between, aside from occasional features in “Disney Adventures” magazine, television commercials, and guidebooks.
Enter the special Walt Disney World episodes (plus a handful set at Disneyland in California). These ABC sitcoms were already the height of entertainment in my book, and adding Disney to them took that to the next level. So, when those episodes rolled around, it was time to fire up the VCR to make recordings that could meticulously be studied and analyzed for the months between vacations. (Two of these I’ve seen so many times that I can recite them from memory.)
If you’ve never watched any of these Disney episodes, first of all, I’m sorry. You were either deprived as a child or born in the wrong decade. Second, this is very much a nostalgia trip. In retrospect, ABC’s TGIF programming was not objectively good and almost none of it stands the test of time. Many of these shows were a product of their era, and if you didn’t live/watch through that era, these shows might be cringeworthy for you.
Personally, I loved and still love ABC’s TGIF shows. They’re comforting and nostalgia-inducing…much like Walt Disney World itself. Although I cannot support this assertion in any way whatsoever, I think all of these shows are pretty awesome and are still worth watching if you’ve never seen them. They’re a microcosm of a moment in time–both for television sitcoms and Walt Disney World…
T10. The Goldbergs – This most recently occurred with the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge “Takeover” of ABC, Freeform, Disney Channel, and ESPN that offered full Disney episodes, plus Easter eggs, vacation giveaways, and sneak peeks into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It was an example of synergy gone awry.
This was the one exception to that. In this episode of the Goldbergs, the family paid tribute to the iconic 1983 film National Lampoon’s Vacation. Beverly insists that the family take a road trip to go on vacation to Disneyland before Erica and Barry go off to college. As in the film, things don’t go as planned as they travel across the country to visit California. This episode scores points for actually being good, but loses many more for not actually being the Disneyland of the 1980s. (Streaming on Hulu; S07E01)
T10. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch – On a field trip to Walt Disney World, Sabrina visits Animal Kingdom while working to pass a test for her witch’s license and accidentally turns Libby and Valerie into zebras. Subplots revolve heavily around Dinoland and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
This was a thinly-veiled promotional push for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The episode actually filmed before Animal Kingdom had opened to the public, and aired two days after the park’s grand opening. (Streaming on Hulu; S02E23)
9. Blossom – “The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men” is the 19th episode of the 3rd season of Blossom, with the premise that Blossom’s dad gets a job at Disneyland as an Elvis impersonator, so the rest of the family decides to take a trip to see him. There are various scenes around the park, including Blossom catching Vinnie hugging another girl from the Skyway.
Ironically, I got “hooked” on Blossom as a kid thanks to another crossover episode–one featuring ALF as the guardian to the gateway to heaven. I’m not sure how that’s relevant here, but it’s a stronger memory for me of Blossom than the Disneyland episode, which really says more about my affinity for ALF than anything. Also, ALF rules.
8. Roseanne – Dan brings home his final paycheck from the Lanford City Garage and rather than being responsible and putting the money towards bills, the Conner family goes all-out and splurges on a trip to Walt Disney World. There’s an amusing rope drop scene, Dan’s quest for beer at Epcot, and a fairly sweet ending involving Pooh and IllumiNations.
Roseanne is one of the “better” shows on this list, which is probably why it fell flatter for me as a kid. These episodes are more true to life than the pure fantasy scenarios of other Walt Disney World episodes, but that’s also why they’re less compelling from a Disney perspective. There’s also less footage from the parks (they even appear to be staying off-site, in a quasi-Contemporary Resort). Things pick up towards the end of the second installment, but I prefer the similar episode of the Middle. (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video; S08E17-18)
7. Black-ish – This season premiere episode of Black-ish is premised around Dre taking the family to Walt Disney World and having VIP treatment. The Johnsons get whisked around to all of Walt Disney World’s headliner attractions thanks to their VIP tour guide, which elicits mixed feelings. In typical Black-ish fashion, there’s some mild social commentary and lighthearted fun poked at Disney.
Black-ish is probably the most incongruous show on this list, as it is ABC’s closest thing to a prestige sitcom. It was also odd that the previous season ended with some heavy loose ends, and all of those are totally ignored in this one-off episode. It’s objectively better than other entries on this list, but not up to the show’s usual standards. Still, it’s a fun episode and has amusing situations for characters in a different setting. (Streaming on Hulu; S03E01)
6. Modern Family – This one isn’t quite the grand premise at other vacation ‘event’ episodes, as the Dunphy family lives in Los Angeles and takes a day trip to Disneyland. The funniest scenes belong to Dylan, who joins the Dapper Dans and gets disguised as Little John. The episode culminates in a touching moment at Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
This episode actually filmed the day after one of the 24-hour parties at Disneyland (perfect timing as that day was really dead), and we watched the shooting of several scenes. I also have an embarrassing anecdote about Sarah geeking out upon seeing a couple of the actors during the party, but I don’t think she’d appreciate me sharing it. (S03E22)
5. The Middle – In “Orlando/Wonderful World of the Hecks,” Sue wins the Disney trip in a contest, but they only find out it was a Disneyland trip upon arriving to Walt Disney World. In the family’s typical luck, the series of unfortunate events continues for the first three-quarters of the episodes’ run-time, with a disproportionate emphasis on MagicBands.
In those regards, these episodes of the Middle are a little less compelling as fodder for nostalgia or escapist fun. However, it sets the table for an emotional gut-punch at the end that I won’t spoil. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the Middle–it hits a bit close to home–but this alone causes the episode to rank very highly for me. (Streaming on IMDb TV via Amazon; S5E23-24)
4. Step by Step – The set-up for this two-parter is that Frank’s mother offers the couple and their kids a trip to Florida to celebrate their wedding anniversary. There’s simultaneously a lot going on in these episodes and absolutely nothing happening. Frank and Carol trying to spend time together for their anniversary and Flash trying to ride all the rides and visit all locations in the parks to break the record held by a Russian are the main “premises” of the episodes.
When viewed as a television show, these episodes are abominations. They’re complete nonsense, basically a flimsy pretense for a lot of Walt Disney World footage. And that’s where they shine! There’s a lot of unique stuff here, including what’s now Old Key West Resort (Disney Vacation Club would’ve been new at this point), plus Pleasure Island and other spots not normally seen in Disney episodes. (Streaming on Hulu; S05E22-23)
3. Family Matters – “We’re Going to Disney World” continues ABC’s time-honored 1990s tradition of nonsensical Disney episodes. These two episodes follow a familiar beat: one character inexplicably winning a trip, and the rest of cast tagging along for no particular reason at all.
The crazy twist that Family Matters adds is Urkel’s “Stefan Urquelle” alter ego coming out thanks to his transformation chamber, which is why Urkel won the trip in the first place. None of that is germane to why you should watch. Rather, it’s the footage of Wilderness Lodge, Innoventions, Dinosaur Gertie, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, and other spots seldom seen in these Disney vacation episodes.
2. Boy Meets World – For me, the top two are in a league of their own. While I regularly watched most of the shows on this list, these are the two I absolutely loved as a kid. The premise here is that Cory is trying to win Topanga back–he and Shawn skip school to chase her after she wins a trip to Walt Disney World.
Once in Florida, Cory begins his relentless pursuit of Topanga throughout the parks, with an inordinate amount of time spent at the Living Seas pavilion in Epcot. Naturally, the couple ends up reuniting before the episode ends–that’s the magic of Walt Disney World! (I forgot the moment happens right behind the Fountain of Nations, which makes it even more bittersweet.) The episode also offers some comedic relief back at home, with Eric’s Cory dummy plan being a highlight. (Streaming on Disney+; S03E21)
1. Full House – So many iconic moments. The most memorable of these is when Michelle is crowned Princess of the Day and discovers that absolute power corrupts absolutely. There’s also DJ seeing Steve everywhere (including as Aladdin!), a sweet scene in the Grand Floridian, a fun gag with Kimmy and Prince Charming, and more time in the Living Seas, for some reason.
It all culminates with Jesse and the Rippers performing “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes”, as fireworks begin bursting behind Cinderella Castle while Danny proposes. It might sound sappy or cliche now, but at the time it was sappy in the best possible way. (I can only imagine how many trips were booked because of these episodes–probably more than all of Walt Disney World’s other 1993 marketing efforts combined.) Beyond that, “the House Meets The Mouse” Parts 1 and 2 originally aired at the end of Season 6, which is the peak of Full House in my view. (Streaming on Hulu; S06E23-24)
It’s probably no coincidence that most of my favorite Disney episodes aired between 1993 and 1996. The latter year is pretty much my “sweet spot” for the peak of Walt Disney World as a whole. My fondest childhood memories are from that era, as are my favorite attractions. Even though they’re not depicted, this would’ve been the window when many personal favorites were all running: the original Journey into Imagination, Alien Encounter, Universe of Energy, Toontown, Timekeeper, plus several EPCOT Center favorites.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What is your favorite Disney episode of an ABC sitcom…or do you love/hate them all? Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Would your top 2 be the same? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
This is a great post, Tom. Modern Family actually shot part of that episode on the 24-hour Leap Day as well. We got to the park really early that day, and we watched them film a scene with Gloria and Manny down by the Rivers of America across from Pirates. I was a huge fan of the show, and my wife and friends were impressed I knew and recognized the creators who were coming in and out of portable trailers there (I had seen Steve Levitan accept their Emmy’s in the past). That episode will always hold a special place in my heart – for many reasons.
What a fantastic list!! I agree that these shows were total cheeseballs, but I loved all of them and this is definitely bringing back some fond memories. I remember as a kid being in Epcot while Step by Step was filming there. I still have my pictures of Patrick Duffy in France!
While not really in the same category as all of these, for those of us of a ‘certain age’, The Wonderful World of Disney made Sunday’s must see TV. Just watching the opening credits again brings it all back for me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKC49r0Gvc0
It took til my 50s, but I finally got to stay at the Contemporary. Watching the Monorail go through the hotel was like the most futuristic thing ever when I was a kid!
Thanks for this! Going to watch a lot of these with my 3 kids this weekend in quarantine!
No Golden Girls?
I don’t count that one because it’s just quick stock footage–the characters don’t actually appear in the parks.
I just want to say that I always appreciate when you make ALF references in your posts since I was actually named after ALF, haha. My initials pre-marriage were ALF, and my dad chose my middle name so it would start with “L” on purpose. (I guess that’s what happens when you’re born in the 80s!)
ALF rules 🙂
Way back in the day the Partridge Family went to Kings Island. I think there was a Brady Bunch episode that took them there as well. Ahhhh……memories
Also love it when the girls of Big Bang Theory go to DisneyLand. I know the dress up is totally impossible but it’s FUNNY!
Which year and episode was that? I thought we had seen them all!
BBT = Season 6, Ep 18
The Contractual Obligation Implementation
I read this art LE while watching Fuller House on Netflix. I fully plan to binge Boy Meets World at some point during this quarantine. It was my absolute favorite show as a kid and that would be my top episode. I fondly remember all these 90’s Disney episodes though.
I LOVED both the FH and BMW Disney episodes, but Full House one will always be some of my favorite episodes of TV, ever. I was obsessed with both Disney and the show, as a kid. I was supposed to go to Disney over Spring Break that year, but ended up with bad food poisoning. Imagine my devastation when I saw on the local news that the cast of Full House was at Disney World filming. We lived/live 45 minutes away, so knowing they were there and I couldn’t go was paramount to torture.
Ah, that stinks!
While being there during the filming would definitely be a cool story to tell, it also would be pretty boring to see and might’ve ruined the “magic” of the television episode as kid. So…silver lining, perhaps?
Haha! I am an entertainment nerd and
was back then, so I would probably be the one kid who DIDN’T have the magic ruined. Seeing how it all happens makes it more magical for me. In high school, I was able to shadow the director of the Beauty & the Beast show in HS for the day (my stepdad worked on the head sound engineer’s boat and was able to wrangle it). The whole day was amazing. After the second show, she goes, “You know, if you get bored don’t think you have to stay here. I will still give you full credit for the day if you decide to go ride rides.” I politely declined and said that what I was doing was just as fun, lol.
I work in radio now, so the bug never quite went away.
I’m so happy to see that Full House made #1 as I agree, those two episodes are ICONIC!!
They’re not good episodes for efficient park planning, though. The cast is in the same wardrobe for both episodes, implying that it all takes place in a single day. During that day, just the girls:
– Start at the Grand Floridian
– Visit Magic Kingdom, where Michelle is crowned “Princess for the Day” and then subsequently rides the carousel 100 times, runs away, and has a tea party with all the characters
– Visit MGM as a family to see Indiana Jones (even though Danny/Vicki were in Epcot earlier)
– Go back to Magic Kingdom for a montage including Autopia and Dumbo
– Hang out at the GF beach
– Are back in the Magic Kingdom for the afternoon (3:00?) parade and the nighttime fireworks
The rest of the cast does a lot of park hopping too, with Joey visiting the animation studio at MGM, and Danny and Vicki visiting Germany and Living Seas at Epcot, and Jesse visiting Toontown, Living Seas, Grand Floridian, and MK (although that fits Stamos). If that was Day One of their vacation, what did the rest of the week look like?????
Haha, I think all of these episodes use some pretty crazy teleportation and nonsensical timelines!
That’s the nature of the beast–and definitely makes it more fun to watch than having long scenes of waiting for buses, going through bag-check (although most of these predate security at the parks), and standing in other various lines and so forth.
I remember the Full House episode clearly from when I was growing up. I was so excited when Danny proposed. Up until that point, I had always thought that Cinderella Castle was loud and garish compared to our charming Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland (castle bias goes both ways) but when I saw the fireworks go off around it I was sold. My brother and I begged to go to WDW and my Dad tried to make it work and finally after 25 years it may happen!
For me the classic Muppets at Walt Disney World will always be my favourite
Not sure how you would count it but Hulk Hogans thunder in paradise was also interesting- set in the real world but filmed at WDW its fun to watch places mascerading as their real life counterparts, I remember one episode set in north Frica which used Morocco at EPCOT and the Indy stunt show as real life locations 🙂
muppets at wdw is the mecca of disney specials.
For what it’s worth, neither of those were eligible for this list.
We’ll have a list of specials in the near future, though!
I might possibly have the Middle’s Disney episode on my DVR for when I need a Disney fix…and love many of the others you mentioned! Absolutely great list!!
My family calls our Disney World planning itineraries Clipboards of Fun because of the Tanner Family Clipboard of Fun from the Full House episodes!! Ugh, so good, such fun memories!
I heard that the musical Newsies was actually filmed at MGM studios on the Streets of America before it opened – do you happen to know If there is any truth to that?
Ugh the Full House episode drove me nuts because I related so much to Stephanie. Michelle always got away with her antics and this eposode was the epitome of this. I feel more strongly about this than I should :/ Despite Michelle being a brat, I love this episode and temember being enchanted by WDW as a result.
the later seasons of the series became FAR too michelle centric, due to the popularity of the olsen twins. the rest of the cast was severely overlooked, particularly stephanie and dj. its like everyone became supporting characters to michelle.
Sorry Andrea. That was supposed to be a separate reply. My thumbs are tired and clumsy.
this post is everything!
It takes every ounce of strength I have not to yell “STEVE, NO!” Each time I go to the Indiana Jones show at Hollywood Studios.
you’re my kind of people.
SAME! Glad I’m not the only one!
My kids say this each time, lol.
I don’t think that particular episode of Modern Family is actually available on Hulu anymore, as they only stream the most recent seasons–alas!
Thanks for the continued blog updates–yours is my favorite!
Ah dang, you’re right!
Thank you for making this list! Roseanne and The Middle are my absolute favorite episodes. Whenever those episodes are on I don’t even watch the characters, I’m too busy looking at Disney World! They bring back so many memories of my trips to Disney. And with not being able to go anytime soon, I’ll live vicariously through them.
“Whenever those episodes are on I don’t even watch the characters, I’m too busy looking at Disney World!”
That’s how I am with several of the entries on this list–including a couple in the top 5, which still rank highly because the WDW footage is just so good! Until recently, I didn’t realize how bad the actual episodes are because I’m never focused on the plot or dialogue.
I’m right there with ya! It’s all about seeing Disney World. What really bugs me is the continuity in the episode (if thats the right wotd). They make it seem like you can go from park to park in minutes, and everything is close by. Or they walk the wrong way to leave the park!