Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

EPCOT DAY 1: FIRST SUNDAY 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 Seven Night Itinerary, Sunday Arrival Variant. 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 a room assignment, earlier.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you continue at Epcot.

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DISNEY WORLD ITINERARY DESIGN

This site provides 8-night itineraries here for all of the year (published about six months ahead), as well as itineraries a night or two shorter (more of these are coming…).  Beginning for June 2014 travel dates, all are based on optimizing the use of FastPass+.

If these aren’t enough, here are a few thoughts on designing your own shorter itinerary.

For a blank excel version of the itinerary spreadsheet to use for your own itinerary, click here. For a blank PDF version, click here.

How to divide up and allocate your days

• Decide how many days you can be at the parks—include if you can time on your arrival and departure days, as the cost of tickets after four days is so low that partial days are worth it! Shoot for at least 6 days and 5 nights on site–e.g. four full days and two partial travel days. 7 days and 6 nights is much more humane, if you can do it
• Divide your days among the parks. You have two different issues here: the overall use of your time at the four parks, and the days you can spend at each. Because you can pre-book only three FastPass+ per park, two half days–and thus six FastPass+–are more valuable than one full day.
• For the overall use of your time, very few sources will suggest less than
  • At least a day each at the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
  • More than a day at Epcot
  • Around two days at the Magic Kingdom.

How to sequence your days

Work through the following five rules in order. You rarely will be able to design a perfect trip unless you have extra off times that you can move around, so do the best you can. You will need to check the Disney calendar while doing this.

It’s easier to work with the individual park calendars. To view a day–for example, to figure out if and when Fantasmic or Wishes is on that day–go to the individual park’s monthly calendar and click within the date you are curious about.

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

1. Avoid Extra Magic Hours unless you are starting at a morning EMH park and hopping to another park where your FastPass+ are scheduled. The higher crowds in EMH parks typically overwhelm the EMH benefits

2. Make sure that one of your Magic Kingdom evenings is a day with the evening fireworks show Happily Ever After, and ideally one that also does not close right after the fireworks

3. Otherwise, avoid Magic Kingdom on days where it has the evening shows in the middle of a stretch of days where it doesn’t.

4. Make sure that Fantasmic is playing one of your Hollywood Studios days. Fantasmic is on almost–but not quite–every night.

5. Within the constraints above, try to see Epcot first, and the Magic Kingdom last

FOOD, SHOWS, AND SUCH

See this for various meal and show options ranked in order.

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Note: This itinerary is just an example!  I will be revising it (if needed) after Disney World publishes its actual schedule for December 2016, likely in late May.

This Walt Disney World itinerary is designed for the three weeks following Thanksgiving.

If you aren’t going one of those weeks, see Other Itineraries for alternatives the rest of the year, which are published about six months ahead.

You can enlarge the basic itinerary by clicking it. For a PDF, click here.

As with the other itineraries on this site, there is also a detailed page for each day of your vacation, with specific instructions for that day. Find them here:

Moreover, a detailed To-Do List covers all the steps you need to undertake–including reserving dining and booking FastPass+.

ITINERARY DESIGN GOALS

The basic itinerary was designed to meet several goals: to ensure that you

1. See the best that Walt Disney World has to offer
2. See the parks in the order that works best for kids (essentially Epcot first, as it is potentially the most disappointing, and the Magic Kingdom last, as it is likely to be the best loved)
3. Avoid unnecessary waiting, by using FastPass+ and other tactics…
4. Have as much time off, and as few early mornings, as practical
5. Avoid unnecessary spending–for example, the basic itinerary does not require you to buy the “Park Hopper” option, saving you more than $200

If you can’t do the Basic Itinerary, see Other Itineraries for alternatives for both the December week and the rest of the year.

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ANIMAL KINGDOM DAY 2: SECOND SUNDAY AGENDA

Today you spend the morning completing your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and then depart for home. You have no scheduled meals.

You should have FastPass+ for Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, and a third ride of your choice. Your goal today is to see Africa–the first two FastPass+, Pangani Forest, and, if you have time, Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks following Thanksgiving. For itineraries for other dates, see this.)

MORNING

• Check out and note your instructions for Disney’s Magical Express if you are using it.  If you aren’t, for many domestic airlines you’ll be able to check bags and print boarding passes near the front desk.  This is a tip-based service.  You can also store your bags at the bell stand
• Arrive at Animal Kingdom by 45 minutes before open

AT THE PARK

• Enter the park, and if you loved it on your earlier visit, head to and re-ride Expedition Everest. Otherwise go to Africa and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
• See the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, and while wandering, if you just saw Kilimanjaro, decide if you want to do Kilimanjaro again. If not, change your FastPass+ for it to something else from Thursday you’d like to see again
• Use your FastPass+ for Festival of the Lion King, Kilimanjaro, and/or anything else you have scheduled
• 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
• Sadly return home

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MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 3: SECOND SATURDAY AGENDA

Today you will complete your visit to the Magic Kingdom, with options for your FastPass+, fun character meals, and the nighttime shows in the evening.

You should have seen all the major rides in the Magic Kingdom by now, so your FastPass+ are for re-rides. The other fixed points in your schedule are lunch with Pooh and Tigger dinner at the Crystal Palace, dinner with Mickey and the gang at Chef Mickey’s in the nearby Contemporary Resort, and the evening fireworks (see Times Guide for schedule, likely 10p)

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks following Thanksgiving. For itineraries for other dates, see this.)

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 15 minutes before your Crystal Palace reservation.

AT THE PARK

• Have lunch at the Crystal Palace
• See your first FastPass+ ride
• See the 3p Festival of Fantasy Parade
• See your second FastPass+ ride
• See your third FastPass+ ride
• Walk or take the resort monorail to the Contemporary Resort
• Have dinner at Chef Mickey’s
• Via the resort monorail stop at the Polynesian, then the Grand Floridian, to see their Christmas decorations
• Continue on the resort monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Find the Wilderness Lodge boat at the front, and take it to the Lodge.  See its Christmas decorations. Return by boat to the Magic Kingdom
• See  Celebrate the Magic and Wishes
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you finish the Animal Kingdom, and then return home.

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MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 2: FRIDAY AGENDA

Today you will continue your visit to the Magic Kingdom. You’ll finish Fantasyland and see Liberty Square.

You should have FastPass+ for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and Peter Pan. As soon as you have finished your FastPass+ for the Mine Train, try to get a fourth FastPass+ for the Haunted Mansion. The other fixed point in your schedule is your reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks following Thanksgiving. For itineraries for other dates, see this.)

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 15 minutes before your Cinderella reservation.

AT THE PARK

• Dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table in the castle.
• See Peter Pan (FP+)
• See it’s a small world,  the Carrousel, and Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid around your FastPass+ for Enchanted Tales with Belle
• See the Mad Tea Party
• See for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (FP+). As soon as you are off the Mine Train, go to a kiosk to try to book a fourth FastPass+ for the Haunted Mansion
• See Dumbo
• See the Barnstormer if it looks like fun and lines aren’t too long
• Take the WDW Railroad from the Fantasyland Station to the Frontierland Station. Walk from there to Liberty Square
• See the Hall of Presidents
• See the Haunted Mansion (perhaps with FastPass+)
• See Liberty Belle Riverboat
• Re-book your FastPass+ for Saturday late afternoon to re-ride your three favorites from the Magic Kingdom so far, beginning at 2p

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you finish your visit to the Magic Kingdom!

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