Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: OCTOBER 24 TO NOVEMBER 1, 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 October 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 10/24/-11/1/2015

The Magic Kingdom will be open 9a-12MN 10/24, 9a-7p 10/25, 9a-11p 10/26, 9a-7p 10/27, 9a-11p 10/28, 9a-7p 10/29, 9a-11p 10/30, and 9a-7p 10/31 and 11/1

Epcot will be open from 9a-10p 10/24, 9a-9p 10/25 through 10/29, 9a-10p 10/30 and 10/31, and 9a-9p 11/1

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-8.30p 10/24 and 10/25, 9a-7p 10/26 through 10/30, and 9a-8.30p 10/31 and 11/1

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 8a-6.30p 10/124and 10/25, 9a-5p 10/26, 9a-5.30p 10/27, 9a-5p 10/28, 9a-6p 10/29 and 10/30, and  8a-6.30p 10/31 and 11/1

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 10/24/-11/1/2015

Saturday 10/24 Morning:  Hollywood Studios Evening: none

Sunday 10/25 Morning:  none Evening: Hollywood Studio

Monday 10/26 Morning: Magic Kingdom  Evening: none

Tuesday 10/27 Morning: Epcot Evening:  none

Wednesday 10/28 Morning:  Animal Kingdom  Evening:  Magic Kingdom

Thursday 10/29 Morning: none Evening: Epcot

Friday 10/30 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Saturday 10/31 Morning:  Hollywood Studios  Evening: none

Sunday 11/1  Morning: none  Evening: Hollywood Studios

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 10/24/-11/1/2015

The Magic Kingdom:

• Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p every day
• Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 9 and 11p 10/24, 10/26, 10/28 and 10/30

FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 10/24-11/1/2015

Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 10p 10/24, 10/26, 10/28 and 10/30

Illuminations at Epcot: 10p 10/124; 9p 10/25 through 10/29; 10p 10/30 and 10/31; 9p 11/1

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 7.30 and 9p 10/24 and 10/25; 7.30p 10/26 through 10/30; 7.30 and 9p 10/31; 7 and 8.30p 11/1

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 10/24/-11/1/2015

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

LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 10/24/-11/1/2015

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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I published this morning a new Disney World itinerary for lower-crowd weeks.

Called the 2016 FastPass+ Lower Crowd Itinerary, it’s appropriate –by which I mean “better” –for all the lower crowd weeks in 2016 from January through May than what I had been suggesting.

(Which weeks you can use it are indicated here.)

My itineraries are based among many things on the patterning of crowds at the parks. One driver of park crowding is Extra Magic Hours. Disney is experimenting with multiple EMH patterns in 2015, but has largely settled on the following pattern for 2016:

• Sunday: Morning HS
• Monday: Morning AK
• Tuesday: Evening Epcot
• Wednesday: Evening MK
• Thursday: Morning Epcot
• Friday: Morning MK, evening HS
• Saturday: Morning AK

There’s big changes here compared to the old patterns my itineraries have been based on, so I’ve been publishing a lot of “swap Sunday and Wednesday”—which helped a lot but didn’t really fix Fridays. Moreover, doing so put the Magic Kingdom earlier in a trip than I think is best.

Meanwhile, there’s some changes coming in 2016 that deserved note. Sometime, I expect, in the spring Rivers of Light will open at the Animal Kingdom, and Frozen Ever After at Epcot. Moreover, Soarin will be closing in January for a multi-month refurb.

So the new itinerary sends you to the right park on the right day and incorporates these other changes as well.  It’s here–the image overview is below.

If you’ve not made your dining reservations yet, it’s easy to convert to the new itinerary.

If you have made your dining reservations based on the old itinerary (following my “Swap Sunday and Wednesday” advice) then stick to the old itinerary…with one exception: follow the new itinerary’s FastPass+ suggestions (changed to your actual park days) if your dates put you in Disney World after Soarin closes and/or Rivers of Light and Frozen Ever After open.

I’m sorry abut the sudden changes.  I publish itineraries 6 months or so in advance so people can make their dining plans.  When Disney makes changes, I ride with them a bit–in case they are temporary.  But now that May is out, this EMH change is solid for five months…so it’s time for an itinerary that incorporates it.

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Note: for arrival dates during lower-crowd weeks after May 27, use this itinerary instead.

Below is my 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.

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:

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

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EPCOT DAY 1: FIRST SATURDAY 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. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

• 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+ on the Spaceship Earth side of the Lagoon) area 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 spend the first of two days at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You get to sleep in–you want to arrive by noon. Check with your concierge on transport (likely buses) and what time you should be at the bus stop.

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EPCOT DAY 2: FRIDAY AGENDA

Today you will complete Epcot, and have the evening off.

Assuming you saw Spaceship Earth, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Frozen Ever After and some of World Showcase on Saturday, you’ll have an easy day today.

If you missed some of these, the priorities from among them to fit in today are Spaceship Earth, Mission Space and World Showcase.

For today you should have FastPass+ for Test Track, Turtle Talk with Crush, and a third ride.

You have no reserved dining today.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 45 minutes before open. 

AT THE PARK: MORNING

• Enter the turnstiles when the park opens at about 8.45, grab a map and Times Schedule, and see Soarin’
• See MISSION Space
• Head to Test Track. Ride it using FastPass+.
• Head to the other side of Future World and see the attractions in the Imagination Pavilion– Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival and Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Fit in The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Living with the Land, and Circle of Life around your FastPass+ for Turtle Talk with Crush. If lines are too long for Living with the Land, get a fourth FastPass+ for it later. Note that as you ride each FastPass+ ride you can move the next to an earlier time, if available.
• Have lunch while you are in this area of the park at Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion on the lower level
• Next is the rest of World Showcase, starting in Canada and progressing counter-clockwise. Tour as you did Saturday night, checking out the shows as you wander
• If the kids are bored by World Showcase, check out Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
• And you are almost done!  Check out Innoventions on your way out of the park

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you complete your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

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ANIMAL KINGDOM DAY 1: FIRST SUNDAY AGENDA

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

You should have FastPass+ for Rivers of Light (if open during your visit), Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. If Rivers of Light is not open, your third FastPass+ should be for Kali River Rapids.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary. The itinerary works only for certain weeks. See this to see if it works for your dates.)

MORNING

• Sleep in and eat breakfast in your room
• If you are seeing Kali River Rapids rather than Rivers of Light, bring spare clothes as you will get soaked
• Arrive at Animal Kingdom around noon

AT THE PARK

• Today your goal is to see Discovery Island, most of Asia, DinoLand, the special night-time shows, and Rivers of Light if it is open–you’ll be returning next Sunday morning to see Africa in daylight, 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
• Eat lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue
• Head to DinoLand and use your Dinosaur FastPass+.  The other rides here aren’t worth much of a wait except for Finding Nemo. Ride them if they look like fun and the lines are short
• Fit Finding Nemo in around your FastPass+ for Expedition Everest, seeing also the Maharajah Jungle Trail and the show Flights of Wonder (Nemo is close to Expedition Everest)
• Have dinner at the counter service near Yak and Yeti
• If you have the time and energy, and there’s another show available, see Festival of the Lion King in Africa.  This will simplify your Sunday morning
• See Kali River Rapids
• See the sunset version of Kilimanjaro Safaris
• See Tree of Life Awakenings
• See Rivers of Light if open by your trip
• Note that you have one or two available FastPass+ for next Sunday morning.  When you have finished today, re-book favorites for then

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

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

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