Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: MAY 26 TO JUNE 3, 2018

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

For more on May 2018 at Disney World, see this, and for more on June, see this.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 5/26-6/3/18

The Magic Kingdom will be open from 8a-12MN 5/26 and 5/27, 9a-11p 5/28, 8a-11p 5/29 and 5/30, 9a-11p 5/31, 8a-11p 6/1, 8a-12MN 6/2, and 8a-11p 6/3

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

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-9.30p  5/26, 9a-6p 5/27, and 9a-9.30p 5/28 through 6/3

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 8a-11p 5/26 and 5/27, 8a-10p 5/28 and 5/29, 9a-10p 5/30 through 6/2, and 9a-10.30p 6/3

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 5/26-6/3/18

Saturday 5/26 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Sunday 5/27  Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: none

Monday 5/28  Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Tuesday 5/29 Morning: none Evening:  Epcot

Wednesday 5/30 Morning:  Animal Kingdom  Evening: Magic Kingdom

Thursday 5/31 Morning: Epcot, Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Friday 6/1 Morning:  Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Saturday 6/2 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Sunday 6/3  Morning: Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom Evening: none

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 5/26-6/3/18

The Magic Kingdom: Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p every day

FIREWORKS AND EVENING SHOWS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 5/26-6/3/18

Happily Every After at Magic Kingdom: 9.15p every night

IllumiNations at Epcot:  9p every night

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:  9p 5/26 and 5/28 through 6/3

Star Wars Show and Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9.30p 5/26 and 5/28 through 6/3

Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 9.15 and 10.30p 5/26 through 6/2; 9.15 and 10.15p 6/3

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 5/26-6/3/18

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

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This  Walt Disney World itinerary is designed for the four weeks following Thanksgiving 2018.

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. 

A detailed  To-Do List covers all the planning steps you need to undertake. Even more detailed daily guidance is in the links:

DAILY PLANS

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

ITINERARY DESIGN GOALS

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

1. See the best that Walt Disney World has to offer, including all of its special Christmas season offerings
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. Given all the evening shows and late nights, have as few early mornings as practical

The 2018 version differs from previous ones in a couple of ways:

• It incorporates the new Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• It’s updated to include various openings, closures, and time changes since the 2017 version.

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

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(Note: this is from the 2018 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the four weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2018.)

EPCOT DAY 1: FIRST SATURDAY AGENDA

Check in, get settled, and head to Epcot.

Today is the first of your three visits to Epcot. I’ve designed this itinerary with three Epcot visits because there are three key Tier One FastPass+ at Epcot, and you will use one each visit. This lets you sleep in before your next two Epcot visits…

Your plan tonight is to see Test Track, to visit the parts of World Showcase that are most fun in the evening, to sample the Holiday Storytellers, and to check out, if you have time, the holiday decorations in the nearby Epcot resorts.

You want to be on your way out of Epcot by 9.30p, so that you miss the crowds that will depart the park after the 9.30 IllumiNations show is over. (You will see IllumiNations on Friday night.)

You should have FastPass+ for Test Track, and you have no scheduled dining tonight.

FIRST THINGS

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 may 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.

Head to Epcot as early as you can, and at the latest in time to make your FastPass+ at Test Track.

AT THE PARK

• Go through the turnstiles and pick up a park map and “Times Guide”–a schedule.
• Head to World Showcase, and while keeping an eye out for your Test Track FastPass+, 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. Most also will have a Holiday Storyteller.
  • Check your map, times guide, and the pavilion itself, to see what each pavilion has.
  • For scheduled events like the Storytellers, 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
• Ride Test Track (FastPass+)
• Have dinner at a convenient counter service when you are ready.
• If you have time, head over to the BoardWalk Inn (walk or boat—the walkway and boat are at the International Gateway between the UK and France) and see the holiday decorations in its lobby, continuing on to see those in the nearby Yacht Club and Beach Club, time permitting.
• Be back in Epcot and headed towards the bus and monorail stops by 9.30p, so that you miss the crowds leaving after IllumiNations.
• Return to your hotel.

BACK AT THE HOTEL

Buy food, supplies (bowls, spoons, etc.) and get 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. You can also get these in the morning, but crowds in the shops/counter service will likely be lower tonight.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will spend the first of two days at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You want to arrive by 8.15a. Check with your concierge on transport (likely buses) and what time you should be at the bus stop. Pack spare dry clothes, as you will get wet on Kali River Rapids!

MATERIAL IN THIS DISNEY WORLD ITINERARY

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(Note: this is from the 2018 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the four weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2018.)

ANIMAL KINGDOM DAY 1: FIRST SUNDAY AGENDA

Today you begin and end your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which you will return to next Sunday morning. You should have dinner booked at Tusker House as the Rivers of Light Dining Package.

You should have FastPass+ for Na’vi River Journey, Finding Nemo, and Kali River Rapids. Bring spare socks and shoes to change into after Kali River Rapids.

MORNING PLAN

• Arrive at the turnstiles 45 minutes before open
• At open, head to and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
• See Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
• See Na’vi River Journey (FastPass+)
• Explore Pandora
• Have an early lunch
• See the noon Finding Nemo: The Musical (FastPass+)
• See the Maharajah Jungle Trek
• See Kali River Rapids (FastPass+)
• See the 1.30p UP: A Great Bird Adventure
• See it’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Head back to your hotel for a nap and/or time at the pool

EVENING PLAN

• Be back in the park in time for your Tusker House Rivers of Light Dining Package dinner.
• See Rivers of Light –be in the Dining Package line no later than 30 minutes before show start
• If the park is still open, explore Tree of Life Awakenings and Pandora: World of Avatar after dark
• Ride, if you wish, Expedition Everest and/or Kilimanjaro Safaris after dark
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

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

MATERIAL IN THIS DISNEY WORLD ITINERARY

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(Note: this is from the 2018 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the four weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2018.)

EPCOT DAY 2 AND MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1: TUESDAY 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. Check the regular Times Guide for the Muppets show
• 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)
• Fit in dinner at a counter service (Columbia Harbor House is nearby and recommended) and the Muppets show (if the show is inconvenient, or you spent a lot of time on Tom Sawyer Island, put the Muppets off until later in the week.)
• 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 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 Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

MATERIAL IN THIS DISNEY WORLD ITINERARY

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(Note: this is from the 2018 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the four weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2018.)

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 2: WEDNESDAY AGENDA

Today you return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to complete the visit you began Monday.  You have no reserved dining today.

You should have FastPass+ for Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Fantasmic.

FIRST THINGS

• Arrive by 45 minutes before open

AT THE PARK

• See Tower of Terror
• See Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (FP+)
• See Slinky Dog Dash (FP+)
• See  Walt Disney Presents
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• See Disney Jr. Live on Stage, if you have fans in your group
• See Star Wars Launch Bay
• See March of the First Order
• See Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away
• Head back to your hotel
• Return to the park by 45 minutes before Fantasmic
• See Fantasmic
• See Sunset Seasons Greetings
• If the park is open after Fantasmic, most lines will be short–if you wish, this will be a good time for re-rides. Try for more FastPass+, or simply check standby lines (note that posted waits will be exaggerated)
• Head back to your hotel when you are ready

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will continue your visit to the Magic Kingdom

MATERIAL IN THIS DISNEY WORLD ITINERARY

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