Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

(Note: this is from the 2019 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2019.)

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: MONDAY AGENDA

You begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, and complete it on Wednesday.  The schedule is a bit fluid, as opening hours may vary quite a bit, as does interest in some of the special features at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So you have some options…

You should have FastPass+ for Indiana Jones at 2.45p for the 3.15p show, 4p to 5p for Tower of Terror, and 5p for the 5.30p Frozen Sing-Along.

AT THE PARK

• Arrive at the park and be through security and in line for the tapstiles well before the park opens. Right now I can’t tell you how early, but I would aim to be at the tapstiles an hour before open.
• Enter the park, enter Galaxy’s Edge, and if your date is after December 5, ride Rise of the Resistance, then check the lines for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and ride it if the wait seems tolerable. (You’ll see it Wednesday if waits are too high today.) If arriving before December 5th, ride Smugglers Run.
• Exit into Toy Story Land, and ride Toy Story Mania.
• When you get off Toy Story Mania, check the waits for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.  If they look OK, head to it and ride it.
• What happens next depends both on how early you got into the park, and which of the options in the next bullet you wish to pursue. A late park opening and wanting to do many of the options in the next bullet means continuing in the park and working through them; an early open and/or not having an interest in any means you can head back to your hotel and take a nap. You can also put some of the options off til Wednesday.
• The next general point in your itinerary is to be outside of Indiana Jones by 2.45p.  You may wish to return to the park earlier–or even stay in the park–if  you wish to wander more in Galaxy’s Edge, have bookings at Oga’s Cantina or Savi’s [lightsaber] Workshop, or if you want to see some of the minor attractions in the park–e.g. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, Walt Disney Presents, Disney Jr Dance Party, or Star Wars Launch Bay
• See the 3.15p show of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Show (FP+)
• See Tower of Terror (FP+)
• See the 5.30p Frozen Sing-Along (FP+). As soon as you tap in, check for FastPass+ availability for another ride
• Have dinner
• See the holiday show projected on Tower of Terror
• Be in line for Fantasmic (the first show, if two are scheduled) no later than 60 minutes before show start, and see Fantasmic
• If the schedule permits, head back to the Chinese Theater area and see the Wonderful World of Disney Animation and then the last show, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you begin your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

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(Note: this is from the 2019 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2019.)

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you have the early morning off, and then in the late morning begin 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. You have dinner at Fort Wilderness’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.

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 begin seeing Adventureland and Frontierland while fitting in your meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table, and the afternoon parade. You will then end your day at Fort Wilderness’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.

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 at 2p.

• Enter the park, grab a times guide, and confirm the time of the afternoon parade
• Have your meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Go to Adventureland and ride Pirates of the Caribbean (FastPass+)
• 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–2p starts are now typical this time of year)
• Revisit rides from today or earlier this week
• Around 5p, head for the main entrance and look for the boat docks right in front
• Take the boat to Fort Wilderness (not the Wilderness Lodge), and follow the crowds to the Hoop-Dee-Doo area, and check in for the 6.15p show.
• See Hoop-Dee-Doo!
• Ask 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 complete your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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(Note: this is from the 2019 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2019.)

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 2: WEDNESDAY AGENDA

Today you return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to complete the visit you began Monday.

You should have FastPass+ for Slinky Dog Dash for 2p to 3p, Star Tours for 3p-4p, and 4.30p for the 5p show of Beauty and the Beast.

The flow of the day depends on what you were able to complete on Monday. If you have seen all of Galaxy’s Edge that you wish, rode Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and either completed or had no interest in the optional items from early Monday afternoon, then you need not arrive until it is time to use your 2p Slinky Dog Dash FastPass+.

Otherwise follow the steps below.

AT THE PARK

• Arrive at the park and be through security and in line for the tapstiles well before the park opens. Right now I can’t tell you how early, but I would aim to be at the tapstiles an hour before open.
• Enter the park, and complete the visit to Galaxy’s Edge you began Monday.
• If you did not ride it Monday, ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
• Check waits and re-ride anything from Monday you want to do again that has a tolerable wait
• What happens next depends both on how early you got into the park, and which of the options in the next bullet you wish to pursue. A late park opening and wanting  to do many of them means continuing in the park and working through them; an early open and/or not having an interest in any means you can head back to your hotel and take a nap.
• The next general point in your itinerary is to be at Slinky Dog Dash at 2p.   You may wish to return to the park earlier–or even stay in the park–if  you wish to wander more in Galaxy’s Edge, have bookings at Oga’s Cantina or Savi’s [lightsaber] Workshop, or if you want to see some of the minor attractions in the park–e.g. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, Walt Disney Presents, Disney Jr Dance Party, or Star Wars Launch Bay
• See Slinky Dog Dash (FP+)
• If you have any interest, see Alien Swirling Saucers if the wait is tolerable
• See Muppet Vision 3D
• See Star Tours (FP+)
• See the 5p Beauty and the Beast (FP+). As soon as you tap in, check for FastPass+ availability for another ride
• See Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Re-ride as you wish. If the show schedule on Monday was such that you missed the later shows, head back to the Chinese Theater area and see the Wonderful World of Disney Animation and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will continue your visits to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.

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(Note: this is from the 2019 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2019.)

EPCOT DAY 2 AND MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 2: THURSDAY AGENDA

Today you have the early morning off, and then in the late morning continue 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 have no scheduled meals.

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
• Ride Frozen Ever After using FastPass+
• See a Holiday Storyteller or three
• Ride MISSION: Space using FastPass+ (those with the least tiny bit of motion sickness should ride the “Green”/”Earth” side)
• 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.
• 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)
• Have dinner at a counter service (Columbia Harbor House is nearby and recommended)
• 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 the fireworks
• Stay in the same spot and watch the Christmas Parade
• Head to Adventureland and see the Jungle Cruise
• If there’s’ time and 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 complete your visit to Epcot.

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(Note: this is from the 2019 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2019.)

EPCOT DAY 3: FRIDAY AGENDA

Today you have the early morning off, and then complete 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 Epcot Forever.

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 Epcot Forever 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/International Gateway after Epcot Forever. Hit the bathrooms before you pick your spot, as you don’t want anything slowing you down after it
• See Epcot Forever
• Head back to your hotel

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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(Note: this is from the 2019 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2019.)

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 3: SECOND SATURDAY AGENDA

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

You should have FastPass+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, and the Haunted Mansion.

You should have dinner scheduled at the Crystal Palace 6p.

MORNING

• Sleep in and eat breakfast in your room
• Either eat lunch in your hotel or arrive at the park earlier than noon to dine there
• Arrive at Magic Kingdom by noon

AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM

At Magic Kingdom today your goal is to complete seeing Liberty Square and Fantasyland while fitting in your meal with Winnie the Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace, viewing the Christmas decorations at a few nearby hotels, and seeing the evening entertainment.

• Enter the park, grab a Times Guide, and confirm the time of Happily Ever After, the evening fireworks show
• Go to Fantasyland and see Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with FastPass+
• Head into Storybook Circus at the back of Fantasyland and ride Dumbo, and if it looks like fun, Barnstormer
• Come back on the other side of the Mine Train and ride Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Head towards the Castle and see Mickey’s Philharmagic
• Ride it’s a small world
• See Peter Pan’s Flight with FastPass+
• Take the path between Peter Pan and it’s a small world to Liberty Square and see Haunted Mansion (FastPass+)
• Look for a fourth FastPass+ on your phone if you’d like to return to a ride
• See the Christmas decorations at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge framed around your 6p dinner at Crystal Palace, likely after dinner
• What you do next is up to you. I’d advise using your fourth FastPass+ if you booked one; revisiting favorite rides; staying for the fireworks show Happily Ever After; watching Once Upon a Time
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you complete your visit to the Animal Kingdom.

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