Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

EPCOT DAY 2: FIRST SUNDAY AGENDA

Today you have the early morning off, and then continue your visit to Epcot.

You should have FastPass+ for Soarin’, Living with the Land, and Turtle Talk with Crush.

You should have dinner scheduled as the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package at 5.45p, and after will be seeing the 8.15p Candlelight Processional and the park-closing fireworks show IllumiNations.

(Note: this is from the Nine Night Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

MORNING

• Sleep in and eat breakfast in your room
• Arrive at Epcot by 11a

AT EPCOT

At Epcot today your goal is to complete seeing the west sides of Future World and World Showcase and to see the evening Christmas shows, plus a Holiday Storyteller or two if you’d like.

• Enter the park, grab a times guide, and check for Holiday Storytellers on the west side of World Showcase you might want to see late this afternoon.
• Go the Land Pavilion and see Soarin’ using FastPass+
• Have lunch just outside the Soarin exit at Sunshine Seasons
• See Living with the Land with FastPass+
• Walk to the Imagination Pavilion and see the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival and Journey into Imagination with Figment (if time before your Turtle Talk with Crush FastPass+ is short, skip Journey into Imagination)
• Go to the Seas Pavilion and see The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush (FastPass+) and explore the exhibits
• Head to World Showcase and explore the west side starting with Canada. As on your earlier visit, use your Times Guide to track special shows or storytellers you want to see among the pavilions
• Head to Mexico for your 5.45 dinner at San Angel Inn, inside the pyramid
• After dinner, head towards the outdoor amphitheater in America where the Candlelight Processional will be shown. You want to be in line by 7.45 for the 8.15 show (the earlier, the closer the seats) so you may have time to explore or revisit a bit on the way to America
• See the 8.15p Candlelight Processional
• Pick your IllumiNations spot–walk towards the main entrance, and seek a spot near the south end of the lagoon with Spaceship Earth at your back. This will let you beat most of the crowds to the bus stops/monorail after IllumiNations. Hit the bathrooms before you pick your spot, as you don’t want anything slowing you down after it
• See IllumiNations
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the morning off, then begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: FIRST MONDAY AGENDA

You will begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, completing it Wednesday afternoon and evening. Two days is way more than enough time, so, thanks to FastPass+, you get to sleep in each day.

You should have FastPass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, and the Frozen Sing-Along.

You have dinner at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness at 6.15p, and need to be at the Studio’s Fort Wilderness bus stop by 4.45p.

(Note: this is from the Nine Night Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

AT THE PARK

• Arrive at Hollywood Studios by noon
• Pick up a guide map and “Times Guide.” Check the times of the Indiana Jones show against your FastPass+ and pick a show to visit.
• Head to Great Movie Ride and see it unless lines are too long.  If so, see it Wednesday
• See Toy Story Midway Mania (FP+)
• Have lunch at Backlot Express
• Fold in the Indiana Jones stunt show among Muppet Vision 3D, the Frozen Sing-Along (FP+) and Star Tours (FP+)
• Around 4.30p head for the bus stops outside the main entrance and look for the bus to Fort Wilderness.

AT FORT WILDERNESS

• Take the bus to Fort Wilderness, then take any internal bus to the Settlement. Find the Hoop Dee Doo area, and check in for the 6.15p show.
• See Hoop-Dee-Doo!
• Ask the cast members outside for the best way to get back to your hotel.  Most likely you will return by boat to the Magic Kingdom, and catch a bus or monorail there.  But special buses may be running…

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you sleep in, then continue your visit to Epcot beginning in the late morning, and shift to the Magic Kingdom for the Christmas Party in the afternoon and evening.

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EPCOT DAY 3 AND MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you have the early morning off, and then in the late morning complete your visit to Epcot.

In the late afternoon, you switch to the Magic Kingdom, using your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets to enter as early as 4p (your tickets will say 7p, but Disney has let party-goers enter at 4p for years).

You should have FastPass+ for Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth and MISSION: Space.

You should have lunch scheduled with the princesses at Akershus at noon.

(Note: this is from the Nine Night Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

MORNING

• Sleep in and eat breakfast in your room
• Arrive at Epcot by 11.45a

AT EPCOT

At Epcot today your goal is to see a few rides in World Showcase and the east side of Future World, plus a Holiday Storyteller or two if you’d like.

• Enter the park, grab a times guide, and check for Holiday Storytellers on the east side of World Showcase you might want to see early this afternoon.
• Have lunch at Akershus
• Ride Frozen Ever After using FastPass+
• See a storyteller or two
• Ride MISSION: Space using FastPass+ (those with the least tiny bit of motion sickness should ride the “Green” side)
• Ride Ellen’s Energy Adventure
• Ride Spaceship Earth using FastPass+
• Exit the park, and take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom

AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM

In the earlier part of today’s Magic Kingdom visit, you’ll be seeing some lower-wait attractions. When the party starts, you’ll be seeing rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland until the fireworks, then watch the special Christmas fireworks and the second showing of the special Christmas parade. Exact times are not out yet, so this agenda may be modified a bit in early November.

• Arrive at Magic Kingdom, go to the special event turnstiles and get your party bracelet. Get both a regular Times Guide and a party map. Check the regular Times Guide for the Muppets show
• Head back into Frontierland and get a raft to Tom Sawyer Island. Play and explore.
• Take a raft back, walk to Liberty Square and ride the Liberty Belle Steamboat
• See the Hall of Presidents (which will have a show on just a few minutes after the Liberty Belle unloads)
• Fit in dinner at a counter service (Columbia Harbor House is nearby and recommended) and the Muppets show (if the show is inconvenient, or you spent a lot of time on Tom Sawyer Island, put the Muppets off until later in the week.)
• A little before 7p, head to Tomorrowland.

AT MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

• See the Carousel of Progress
• See Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• See Space Mountain
• See Astro Orbiter
• Walk to Fantasyland
• See Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Ride Winnie the Pooh
• Make your way to a spot between the Castle and the entrance to Main Street by half an hour before the fireworks begin
• See Celebrate the Magic and the fireworks
• Stay in the same spot and watch the Christmas Parade
• Head to Adventureland and see the Jungle Cruise
• If you still have the energy, see any special shows that have another performance, or re-ride one of your favorites from this evening
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the morning off, then complete your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 2: WEDNESDAY AGENDA

Today you have the morning off. You will then return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios by noon to complete the visit you began Monday.  You have no reserved dining today.

You should have FastPass+ for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

(Note: this is from the Nine Night Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON

• Sleep in and have breakfast in your room
• Arrive at Hollywood Studios by noon

AT THE PARK

• Check the Times Guide to plan when to see Beauty and the Beast (preferably the last show of the day) and to double check the times of the evening shows.
• See Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid (FP+)
• Have lunch
• See Disney Jr Live on Stage
• Fit Beauty and the Beast in among your FastPass+ for Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Have dinner
• Get in line for Fantasmic about 30-45 minutes before the show, or, if you want to see the new Christmas show Jingle Bell Jingle BAM instead, pick a spot in the center stage area in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater instead
• See Fantasmic or the Jingle Bell Jingle BAM show
• If the park is open after Fantasmic, most lines will be short–if you wish, this will be a good time for re-rides. Try for more FastPass+, or simply check standby lines
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the early morning off and then continue your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

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MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 2: THURSDAY AGENDA

Today you have the early morning off, and then in the late morning continue your visit the Magic Kingdom.

You should have FastPass+ for Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain.

You should have breakfast or lunch scheduled with the princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

(Note: this is from the Nine Night Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

MORNING

• Sleep in and eat breakfast in your room
• Arrive at Magic Kingdom in time for your Cinderella booking–or if it is later, by 11a

AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM

At Magic Kingdom today your goal is to complete seeing Adventureland and Frontierland while fitting in your meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table, and the afternoon parade.

The To-Do List did not give specific times for today’s FastPass+ (Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain), because of the need to fit them around your dining reservation.

So you will need to adjust the sequence below based on your actual meal and FastPass+ times, and also interrupt it to be in position for the afternoon parade near Pecos Bill’s by 15 minutes before it starts–typically at 2.45p

• Enter the park, grab a times guide, and confirm the time of the afternoon parade (usually 3p)
• Have your meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Go to Adventureland and ride Pirates of the Caribbean
• Walk through the Swiss Family Treehouse
• Do Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• See the Enchanted Tiki Room show
• Ride Splash Mountain (FastPass+)
• See the Country Bears
• Ride Big Thunder Mountain (FastPass+)
• Look for a fourth FastPass+ on your phone if you’d like to return to a ride from today or earlier this week.
• Fit into the above seeing the afternoon parade (find a spot near Pecos Bill’s by 15 minutes before it starts–3p starts are typical)
• Revisit rides from today or earlier this week
• Return to your hotel–to get to the exit, take the Walt Disney World Railroad from the station between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain to the Main Street station for a bit of a treat and some time off your feet.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will spend the first of two days at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You get to sleep in–you want to arrive by 1p. Check with your concierge on transport (likely buses) and what time you should be at the bus stop. Pack spare dry clothes, as you will get wet on Kali River Rapids!

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ANIMAL KINGDOM DAY 1: FRIDAY AGENDA

Today you have the morning off and then begin your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which you will complete Sunday afternoon. You have no scheduled meals today.

You should have FastPass+ for Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Rivers of Light (I am hoping it will be open by your trip…)

(Note: this is from the Nine Night Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

MORNING

• Sleep in and eat breakfast in your room
• Bring spare clothes as you will get soaked on Kali River Rapids
• Arrive at Animal Kingdom by 1p

AT THE PARK

Today your goal is to see Discovery Island, most of Asia, Kilimanjaro Safaris after sunset, and Rivers of Light if it is open–you’ll be returning Sunday afternoon to see more of Africa, DinoLand, and other areas you missed.

Enter the park, grab a times guide, and compare the times of Flights of Wonder and Finding Nemo: the Musical to your FastPass + schedule, figuring out when to see these

• Head to Discovery Island to see It’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Ride Kali River Rapids using FastPass+
• Dry off, change clothes, and eat lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue
• Recheck the show times and see Finding Nemo, and Flights of Wonder. Fit the Maharajah Jungle Trail and visiting the exhibits and carvings around the Tree of Life between shows
• Have dinner at the counter service near Yak and Yeti
• Use your FastPass+ for Kilimanjaro Safaris and Rivers of Light
• If you have the time and energy, and lines are short, see Expedition Everest. You have FastPass+ for it next Sunday morning, but it’s worth doing in the dark, too!
• After dark, perhaps on your way out, see the Tree of Life Awakenings

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the morning off, then complete your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

MATERIAL IN THIS DISNEY WORLD ITINERARY

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