Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1: FRIDAY AGENDA

Today you begin your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

Over the course of the day, you’ll complete Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Liberty Square.

You should have FastPass+ for Enchanted Tales with Belle, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan. In addition, you have dining with Cinderella booked.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, Six Night Variant. It does not work all weeks–use the comment form to check in on yours!)

FIRST THINGS

Arrive at the Magic Kingdom by 45 minutes before open

AT THE PARK

• At open, head to Tomorrowland and ride Space Mountain
• See Buzz Lightyear
• See Astro Orbiter
• It the Tomorrowland Speedway looks like fun, ride it
• Head to Storybook Circus, and if they look like fun, ride Dumbo and the Barnstormer
• See Enchanted Tales with Belle (FP+)
• Fit Journey of the Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh, and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (FP+) around your reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table
• After these, until about 2.30p, see the other rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland that you’ve missed so far
• Find a spot to see the 3p parade around 2.30p, and watch it
• See Peter Pan (FP+)
• As soon as you get off Peter Pan, try to book a 4th FastPass+ for the Haunted Mansion
• Continue with any rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland that you’ve missed so far
• Go to Liberty Square, and see the Hall of Presidents
• See the Liberty Belle steamboat
• See the Haunted Mansion

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will continue your visit to the Magic Kingdom!

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EPCOT DAY 2: THURSDAY AGENDA

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

Assuming you saw Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, most of Innoventions East, and some of World Showcase on Monday, 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 Soarin, Turtle Talk with Crush, and a third ride. (If you missed Mission Space on Monday, change your third FastPass+ to it, for early in the morning.)

You have no reserved dining today.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, Six Night Variant.  It does not work all weeks–use the comment form to check in on yours!)

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 head to Test Track. Ride it.
• Go into Innoventions East and check out The Sum of All Thrills.  If it looks like fun, ride it
• If you missed them Monday, see Mission Space and Spaceship Earth, and if you wish, more of Innoventions East and Ellen’s Energy Adventure (which takes 40 minutes)
• Head to the other side of Future World and see the attractions in the Imagination Pavilion– Captain EO and Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Two of your FastPass+ for today are on this side of the park.  Using them see Soarin and Turtle Talk with Crush.   Fit in The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Living with the Land, and Circle of Life around the FastPass+ rides. If lines for Living with the Land are too long, get a fourth FastPass+ for it after Maelstrom. 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 same level as Soarin
• Next is the rest of World Showcase, starting in Canada and progressing counter-clockwise. Tour as you did Monday 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 West on your way out of the park

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you begin your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: WEDNESDAY AGENDA

Today you have the morning off and then begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which you will complete Sunday morning.

You should have FastPass+ for the Frozen Sing-Along, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and Toy Story Midway Mania. You have no scheduled dining today. Today’s plan is to work four scheduled shows in around you FastPass+ and some minor attractions.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, Six Night Variant. The itinerary works only for certain weeks.  It does not work all weeks–use the comment form to check in on yours!)

FIRST THINGS

Sleep in and be at the park by noon.

AT THE PARK

• Grab a Times Guide and check the timing for Lights Motor Action, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic
• See the Great Movie Ride (if lines are too long, get a fourth FastPass+ for it after Toy Story Midway Mania)
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid (FP+)
• See Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
• See Toy Story Midway Mania (FP+)
• See the Frozen Sing-Along (FP+)
• See Lights Motor Action
• See Beauty and the Beast
• Be at Fantasmic 30-45 minutes before showtime. Fit dinner before or after

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you continue your visit to Epcot.

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ANIMAL KINGDOM: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and from there head to Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness for dinner.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Lower-Crowd Itinerary, Six Night Variant. The itinerary works only for certain weeks.  It does not work all weeks–use the comment form to check in on yours!)

You should have FastPass+ for Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, and Festival of the Lion King.

FIRST THINGS

• Pack spare clothes, as you will get soaked on Kali River Rapids
• Be at the park by 45 minutes before open

AT THE PARK

• 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. Target the first Nemo
• Head to Expedition Everest and ride
• Head to DinoLand and see DINOSAUR
• If they look like fun, see Primeval Whirl and Triceratops Spin
• Working around the show times for Fights of Wonder and Finding Nemo, see these shows and Maharajah Jungle Trail and It’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Eat lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue
• Head to Africa and see Kilimanjaro Safaris (FP+) and Festival of the Lion King (FP+), with Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in between
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a minor adventure accessed by the Wildlife Express Train. If interested, and you have time (including the train allow 45 minutes), see it before your Kali FastPass+
• See Kali River Rapids (FP+)
• Be at the Fort Wilderness (not Wilderness Lodge) bus stop by 4.45p
• Take the bus to Fort Wilderness, get off and then take an internal bus to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue (ask the bus driver where to get off)

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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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, Six Night Variant. The itinerary works only for certain weeks.  It does not work all weeks–use the comment form to check in on yours!)

• 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, and see Epcot’s park-closing spectacular Illuminations using FastPass+. You should also have FastPass+ for Spaceship Earth and Mission: Space, 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, 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. Use your Mission: Space FastPass+ then sample Innoventions East (except for Sum of All Thrills, where the line is likely too long–see it on your second Epcot day).
• 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
• Start making your way to the Illuminations FastPass+ area right where Future World and World Showcase intersect. Hit the bathrooms if needed on the way, as you don’t want to so pause after Illuminations
• 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.  The value of your Illuminations FastPass+ is that 1. it puts you in the best viewing spot for Illuminations, and 2. it puts you in the viewing spot nearest the park exit
• 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  room assignment, earlier.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will see Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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This To-Do List is for the FastPass+ Basic December Itinerary, Nine Night Variant.  For To-Do-Lists for other itineraries, see this.

Update 5/12/2015: Hey, you need to swap Wednesday and Thursday in this To-Do List its associated Itinerary!

Daily instructions are here:

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

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 you 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 9 nights, eight day, no hopper, no “water parks and more” tickets, the Dining Plan, and Disney’s Magical Express
• Itineraries other than mine will have different requirements here

B. 181 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

1. 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).

2. Collect your planned 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).

1. 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.

2. Make as many of the following as you have patience for (try to get through at least Crystal Palace), in the exact order listed:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table Lunch (dining plan, two credits): Friday at 11a or later if you can; earlier than 11 only if your sole option…
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (dining plan, two credits): Second Sunday 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) Second Saturday 6p.  Later is OK, but not a whole lot earlier as you have a late lunch this day
• Crystal Palace (dining plan): Second Saturday 1p if you can; a little earlier or later OK,  but not much later
• Akershus Banquet (dining plan): First Saturday 6.30p.  No later, but earlier is OK.
• San Angel Inn as Candlelight Processional Dining Package (dining plan, two credits): First Sunday 5.45p. Can be earlier but not later.

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

3. Go to the site for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and order tickets for your family for Tuesday

D. 60 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL DATE

1. Go to your MyDisneyExperience account as early as moments after midnight and set up the following FastPass+

• First Saturday afternoon and evening at Epcot: Tier One: Soarin. Tier Two: Spaceship Earth and a third ride. Do Spaceship Earth for when you expect to be able to arrive at Epcot, then Soarin, and the third ride before or after dinner.
• First Sunday at Epcot: Tier One Test Track at 1-2p. Tier Twos Mission: Space (12-1p) and a third of your choice.
• First Monday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Tier One: Toy Story Midway Mania for 12.30-1.30p. Tier Two: Frozen SIng-Along for 1.30-2.30p and Star Tours for 2.30-3.30p.
• Tuesday at the Magic Kingdom: Big Thunder Mountain 1-2p, Splash Mountain 2-3p, and Jungle Cruise 3-4p.
• Wednesday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Tier One: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for 4-5p. Tier Twos Voyage of the Little Mermaid for 1-2p, and Tower of Terror for 3-4p.
• Thursday–none, you are off this day
• Friday at the Magic Kingdom: Design in order around your Cinderella lunch time, e.g. Peter Pan 1-2p, Enchanted Tales with Belle 2-3p, and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 3-4p.
• Second Saturday at the Magic Kingdom: You will revise these FastPass+ the night before based on what you wish to re-ride, but start with Splash Mountain 2-3p, Peter Pan 3.30-4.30p, and Space Mountain 4.30-5.30p.
• Second Sunday at the Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris for 12.30-1.30p, Festival of the Lion King for 1.30 to 2.30p, and Kali River Rapids for 3.30-4.30p
• Second Monday: none– off/travel day

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 Saturday, as you will almost certainly go to Epcot on Saturday 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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