Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 6, 2015

The material below details next week’s Disney World operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

The same stuff is in the graphic, but organized by park, not by topic. For more on December 2015 at Walt Disney World, click here.

Note that typos happen, and schedules change! If something seems odd, or if you want to double check, use the calendar links near the bottom to get the latest official Disney World scoop.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/28/-12/6/2015

The Magic Kingdom will be open 8a-11p 11/28, 9a-7p 11/29, 9a-11p 11/30, 9a-7p 12/1, 9a-11p 12/2, 9a-7p 12/3 and 12/4, 8a-12MN 12/5, and 9a-7p 12/6

Epcot will be open from 9a-9.30p every day

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 8a-11p 11/28, 8a-8p 11/29, 9a-8p 11/30 through12/3, 9a-9p 12/4, 9a-9.30p 12/5, and 9a-8.30p 12/6

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 8a-8p 11/28, 9a-8p 11/29, 9a-5p 11/30 through 12/2, 9a-6p 12/2 and 12/3, and 8a-6.30p 12/5 and 12/6

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/28/-12/6/2015

Saturday 11/28 Morning:  Hollywood Studios Evening: none

Sunday 11/29 Morning:  none Evening: Hollywood Studios

Monday 11/30 Morning: Magic Kingdom  Evening: none

Tuesday 12/1 Morning: none Evening:  Epcot

Wednesday 12/2 Morning:  Animal Kingdom  Evening:  Magic Kingdom

Thursday 12/3 Morning: Epcot Evening: none

Friday 12/4 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Saturday 12/5 Morning:  Hollywood Studios  Evening: none

Sunday 12/6  Morning: none  Evening: Hollywood Studios

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/28/-12/6/2015

The Magic Kingdom:

• Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p every day
• Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 8 and 10p 11/28; 9 and 11p 11/30, 12/2 and 12/5

FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/28-12/6/2015

Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 9p 11/28; 10p 11/30, 12/2 and 12/5

Illuminations at Epcot: 9.30p every night

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 7 and 8.30p 11/28 and 11/19; 7p 11/30 and 12/1; 7 and 8.30p 12/2 through 12/6

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/28/-12/6/2015

See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.

LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 11/28/-12/6/2015

See this for forecasts.

DISCLAIMER

Everything is subject to change and typos! Check the Disney Calendars for updates and official schedules. These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:

• Magic Kingdom Calendar
• Hollywood Studios Calendar
• Animal Kingdom Calendar
• Epcot Calendar

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For the last month–while you thought I was just goofing off–I’ve been updating my lower-crowd itineraries.

I published the core new eight night itinerary in mid-October, and over the past week published the three shorter variants

• A seven night version with a Sunday arrival
• A seven night version with a Saturday arrival, and
• A six night version

The reasons behind the new variants are detailed here, but they boil down to a new pattern for Extra Magic Hours (and thus for crowding), the closure of Soarin, and the openings of Rivers of Light and Frozen Ever After.

Any questions?  Leave me a note in the comment form below.

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This itinerary will be retired for 2017, as with additions at the Animal Kingdom it is too short.

Below is a six night variant of my updated FastPass+ based Disney World itinerary for lower crowd weeks.

It does not work all dates, and some dates that it mostly works it may need some little adjustments.

Check your week here. If the eight night lower crowd itinerary works unchanged, then so will this. If I indicate on the linked page required changes to the eight night itinerary, then use the comment form below to ask about your week.

This six night variant does a great job of covering the parks, at the expense of almost all your time off. The seven and eight night options are much better choices.

The recommended FastPass+ that make it work are in the To-Do List, so you can book them at the 60 day window for FastPass+ sign-ups. Daily agendas are in the links:

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday

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This To-Do List is for the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, 6 Night Variant. For To-Do-Lists for other itineraries, see this.

A. MORE THAN 180 DAYS BEFORE YOUR PLANNED ARRIVAL DATE

(Note that a good travel agent, such as Destinations in Florida, can do almost all of this for you, for free. If you use Destinations in Florida as your travel agent through a link for this site–like this one–then they share a bit of the pixie dust they get from Disney with me.)

1. Confirm your budget, planned dates, intended hotel, kids’ development and heights, and your transportation choice and its availability for your planned dates.

2. Make your plane reservations, if flying. Make any other needed transportation arrangements.

3. Create your My Disney Experience account here and add your family members to it

4. Set up your hotel and tickets. Call 407-939-7675 (preferred, because this allows you to tell the reservationist which building at your resort you wish to be in), or click here to use Disney’s online system.  (Note: if your dates are later than what the online system permits, see this.)

• If you are following my itinerary, you want the hotel you’ve picked for 6 nights, seven day, no hopper, no “water parks and more” tickets, the Dining Plan, and Disney’s Magical Express if you are flying
• Itineraries other than mine will have different requirements here

B. 181 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

Decide whether on Monday night you’ll be dining at Akershus or the San Angel Inn. Akershus is a princess meal–you’ll have another princess meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table on Saturday.  If you really like princesses, do Akershus; otherwise, San Angel Inn is the better choice.

Login to your MyDisneyExperience.com account, click the “Things to Do” tab at top right, under Dining hit “Make Reservations,” and practice trying to reserve restaurants (hint: use the search box at the upper right).

This may well drive you crazy, but the site works better than it used to…and is likely the only way you can get your Cindy reservations done! (as the site opens up a new reservable day at 6a, whereas the phone reservation line opens at 7a).

Collect your restaurant reservations together. You will want to do them online in order of hardest to reserve first. This is how they are listed below.

C. EXACTLY 6am EST, EXACTLY 180 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

(For an 180 day calendar, see this).

Be on the restaurant website by at least 5:50am EST, and have your Cindy reservation all set up on the page. Keep refreshing, as you will be let in as soon as Disney’s system decides it is 6a.

Make as many of the following as you have patience for (try to get through at least Chef Mickey’s), in the exact order listed:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table Lunch (dining plan, two credits): Saturday at 11a or later if you can; earlier than 11 only if your sole option…
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (dining plan, two credits): Thursday 6.15p show. The later time will keep you up later than you need to be, OK if all you can get. Avoid the earlier time–it’ll cut into your park time too much
• Chef Mickey’s (dining plan, one credit) Thursday 11a.  Later is OK, but not a whole lot earlier–no earlier than 10.30a
• Akershus Banquet or San Angel Inn (dining plan): Monday 7p.  No later, but earlier is OK.

For those you don’t make online, make them by calling call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)

D. 60 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

1. Go to your MyDisneyExperience account at 7a and set up the following FastPass+

• Monday at Epcot: Tier One: Frozen Ever After. Tier Two: Spaceship Earth and a third ride. The Tier One FastPass+ is your priority. Set the Tier Two times for when your travel plans permit you to be in the park. If one or both Tier Twos is impossible to set at a good time because of your travel schedule, then book just one or two FastPass+.
• Tuesday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Tier One: Toy Story Midway Mania. Tier Two: Star Tours and Frozen Sing-Along. Set Toy Story Midway Mania for 1-2p, Star Tours for noon-1p, and the Frozen Sing Along for 11a-noon.
• Wednesday at Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris 11.30a-12.30p, Kali River Rapids 4-5p, and Rivers of Light (if open by your date–if not open, have your third FastPass+ be for the the next available Festival of the Lion King after your Kilimanjaro FastPass+)
• Thursday at the Magic Kingdom: Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, and Jungle Cruise. Set Space Mountain for 12-1p, Buzz Lightyear for 1-2p, and Jungle Cruise for 3.30-4.30p
• Friday at Epcot: Tier One: Test Track. Tier Two: Turtle Talk with Crush and a third of your choice. Set Test Track for 10.30a-11.30a, Turtle Talk with Crush for 12.30p to 1.30p, and the third for right after.
• Saturday at the Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and the Haunted Mansion. Target Seven Dwarfs for 1-2p, Belle for 2-3p, and the Haunted Mansion for 3.30-4.30p. (At park open, head to Peter Pan.)
• Sunday Morning at the Magic Kingdom: Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Big Thunder Mountain. Set Big Thunder for 9.30-10.30, Pirates for 10.30-11.30, and Splash for 11.30-12.30.

2. Do online check in, requesting as you do special location points

3. Customize your MagicBands

E. NOTES ON PACKING ETC. BEFORE YOU LEAVE

1. Bring your MagicBands in your carry-ons

2. If you use Disney’s Magical Express, you do not need to collect your bags at the Orlando airport unless you arrive late in the evening/at night or are an international traveler. Disney will get them for you and, eventually, deliver them directly to your room. Your bags may arrive hours after you do; so, depending on the weather forecasts, have a carry-on with an appropriate change of clothes for Orlando weather on Monday, as you will almost certainly go to Epcot on Monday before your checked bags arrive.

3. Follow the instructions in the Magical Express packet you will receive in the mail regarding both tagging your bags pre-departure, and where to go at the Orlando airport to find your transport to your resort.

4. Bring a copy of your room reservation, confirmation numbers and any tickets for special events you may have received in the mail.

5. Pack breakfast utensils, as they are not always available in the gift shop: bowls, spoons, napkins

6. When you arrive at the hotel, look for the special “On-line Check-in” line, and get into it.

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EPCOT DAY 1: MONDAY AGENDA

Check in, get settled if your room is ready, and be at Epcot as soon as you can.

FIRST THINGS

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, 6 Night Version.)

• Arrive at your hotel, following the instructions in your Disney’s Magical Express packet if you are using it to get from Orlando International to your Disney Resort. Check in
• Unless you are arriving late, your room will likely not be ready, but you can leave your bags. First change into clothes more appropriate for the weather–which your To-Do List reminded you to pack in your carry-ons. You can ask to be called or texted later to find out your exact room
• If your room is ready, and if you have time–you want to be at Epcot as soon as you can–get food and supplies (bowls, napkins, scotch) for your breakfast in the morning, which you will be eating out of your room. Also get (from the counter service restaurant)  “Refillable Mugs,” which you will be able to re-use at your resort for free drinks over your entire stay
• Head to Epcot as soon as you can

AT THE PARK

• Your plan today is to see as many of Epcot’s lengthier attractions as you can to free time on your second visit, see parts of World Showcase that are most fun in the evening, see the new ride Frozen Ever After in Norway, and see Epcot’s park-closing spectacular IllumiNations.
• You should have FastPass+ for Spaceship Earth, Frozen Ever After and a third ride, and dinner reservations for either Akershus or San Angel Inn at around 7p. Those arriving late may have to thin the below to just dinner, Frozen Ever After, World Showcase, and Illuminations
• Go through the turnstiles and pick up a park map and “Times Guide”–a schedule. Use your Spaceship Earth FastPass+ and then see Ellen’s Energy Adventure.
• Head to World Showcase, and while keeping an eye out for your dinner reservation at around 7p, see the pavilions starting with Mexico and going clockwise.
  • Each pavilion will have some or all of shopping, special exhibits, a ride, a movie, and other special events—such as acrobats in China.
  • Check your map, times guide, and the pavilion itself, to see what each pavilion has.
  • For scheduled events like the acrobats, etc., sequence what you do when among items that are not scheduled (shops, exhibits, and rides), and bounce back and forth between nearby pavilions, so that you don’t have to wait long for the scheduled item
• Have dinner at whichever you chose to reserve between San Angel Inn inside the Mexico pyramid or the Akershus Royal Banquet  Meal in Norway at 7p
• Continue touring World Showcase clockwise until about 8:30p, using your FastPass+ for Frozen Ever After
• Pick a spot for Illuminations as near its FastPass+ area on the Spaceship Earth side of the lagoon as you can find
• Watch Illuminations, and if you are parked, taking the monorail, or taking a bus back to your hotel, immediately at its end start walking briskly to the park exit (on the far side of Spaceship Earth) to beat the crowds.
• Return to your hotel

BACK AT THE HOTEL

Buy food, supplies (bowls, spoons, etc.) and refillable mugs for breakfast in your room at your hotel counter service or gift shop, if you did not have time, or a room assignment, earlier.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will see Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You need to arrive at the turnstiles by 8.15a. Check with your concierge on transport (likely buses) and what time you should be at the bus stop.

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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You should have FastPass+ for the Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, and the Frozen Sing-Along. You have no scheduled dining today.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, 6 Night Version.)

FIRST THINGS

Arrive at the Studios by 45 minutes before open.

AT THE PARK

• At park open, grab a times guide, head to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and ride it
• Then see Tower of Terror
• Take a look at your Times Guide.  The challenge today is to see the fixed-schedule shows Indiana Jones, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic in the middle of all the other rides and FastPass+.  If the schedule works, aim for Indiana Jones a little after 11, and Beauty and the Beast around 5.30.  Fantasmic is what it is; if there’s two shows, the later one will be less crowded, but yields a day about 90 minutes longer…
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• See the Great Movie Ride
• See Indiana Jones
• See Muppet Vision 3D
• See the Frozen Sing-Along (FP+)
• See Star Tours (FP+)
• Have lunch
• See Toy Story Mania (FP+)
• See Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
• If time permits, see Disney Jr Live on Stage
• See Beauty and the Beast
• Be at Fantasmic 30-45 minutes before showtime. Fit dinner in before or after, depending on the Fantasmic schedule

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will see Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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