Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

(Note: this is from the Disney World Lower Crowd Itinerary, Seven Night Variant.)

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 3: SATURDAY AGENDA

Today you will complete your visit to the Magic Kingdom, with Adventureland and Frontierland in the afternoon, and the nighttime shows in the evening. You will also pick up today anything you missed on your earlier visits, or want to see again.  You can arrive earlier if you wish to fit more in–if you want to revisit high-wait rides, then arrive before park open.

You should have FastPass+ for Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean.  The other fixed points in your schedule are dinner at the Crystal Palace and the times of the evening shows.

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by noon (or earlier, as noted above).

AT THE PARK

• Head to Big Thunder Mountain. Ride it using FastPass+
• See the Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• See Pirates of the Caribbean (FP+)
• See Splash Mountain (FP+)
• Re-visit any rides you want to do again or missed earlier in your visit, booking additional FastPass+
• Have dinner at the Crystal Palace
• Re-check the time of the fireworks tonight, then if you have time re-visit any rides you want to do again, booking additional FastPass+
• Move to a spot between the end of Main Street and the castle and watch Happily Ever After
• Watch Once Upon a Time
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you finish the Animal Kingdom, and then return home

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Lower Crowd Itinerary, Seven Night Variant.)

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 Avatar: Flight of Passage and Festival of the Lion King,

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

• Arrive 40 minutes before open
• At open, head to and ride Expedition Everest
• Ride DINOSAUR
• Ride Primeval Whirl
• Ride (if desired) Triceratops Spin
• See Maharajah Jungle Trails
• Ride Avatar Flight of Passage (FastPass+)
• See the 11a Festival of the Lion King (FastPass+)
• Fit more exploring of Avatar: World of Pandora and additional FastPass+ for re-rides into whatever time you have still available

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: AUGUST 19 TO AUGUST 27, 2017

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

For more on August 2017 at Disney World, see this.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 8/19-8/27/17

The Magic Kingdom will be open from 9a-10p 8/19 through 8/24; 9a-7p 8/25; and 9a-10p 8/26 and 8/27

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

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-9.30p 8/19, and 9a-9p 8/20 through 8/27

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 9a-10p 8/19, and 9a-9.30p 8/20 through 8/27

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 8/19-8/27/17

Saturday 8/19 Morning:  Animal Kingdom Evening: Animal Kingdom

Sunday 8/20  Morning:  Hollywood Studios  Evening: none

Monday 8/21 Morning: Animal Kingdom  Evening: none

Tuesday 8/22 Morning: none Evening:  Epcot

Wednesday 8/23 Morning: none  Evening:  Magic Kingdom

Thursday 8/24 Morning: Epcot Evening: none

Friday 8/25 Morning:  Magic Kingdom Evening: none

Saturday 8/26 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Sunday 8/27  Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: none

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 8/19-8/27/17

The Magic Kingdom: Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p 8/19; 2p 8/20 through 8/27

FIREWORKS AND EVENING SHOWS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 8/19-8/27/17

Happily Every After at Magic Kingdom: 9p 8/19 through 8/24 and 8/26 and 8/27

IllumiNations at Epcot: 9p every night

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9p 8/19; 8.30p 8/20 through 8/27

Star Wars Show and Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9.30p 8/19; 9p 8/20 through 8/27

Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom 9.15p and 10.30p 8/19; 8.45p 8/20 through 8/27

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 8/19-8/27/17

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

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Below is a seven-night variant of my FastPass+ based Disney World itinerary for higher crowd weeks.

Updated in April 2018, it includes guidance for the new Avatar: World of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and an alternate set of instructions for the to-open on June 30 Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

1. Toy Story Land will be opening at the Studios June 30.  Unusual operating patterns from then through the week beginning 8/18 mean the following:
   • For visits when your Studios days are before June 30, use the itinerary and To-do List as written
   • For visits when your Studios days are between June 30 and and August 25, use the updated FastPass+ instructions and touring plans for the Studios day you will find on this page.
   • For Studios days after 8/25, I’ll be publishing an appropriate set of FastPass+ and touring plans shortly

On its first Animal Kingdom day, it uses a Rivers of Light Dining Package to save a FastPass+. Note that this package is available sometimes only 2-3 months ahead, rather than the 180 days ahead that most dining is available.

I’m not keen on this itinerary, as it has little rest time. Moreover, to see both evening shows at Hollywood Studios, you need to add an expensive Park Hopper to your tickets.

This itinerary does not work all dates, and some dates that it mostly works it may need some little adjustments. Use the comment form below to check with me on your dates.

As in all images and tables on this site, click it to enlarge it.

The recommended dining reservations and FastPass+ that make it work are in the To-Do List.

Daily agendas are in the links:

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

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary, Seven Night Variant.)

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

• 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 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 Frozen Ever After in Norway, and see Epcot’s park-closing spectacular IllumiNations.
• You should have FastPass+ for Spaceship Earth and Frozen Ever After, and dinner reservations for either Akershus or San Angel Inn at around 6p. 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+
• 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+ area on the Spacehsip Earth side of the lagoon 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 day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You have an early morning–you want to arrive by 45 minutes before open. Check with your concierge on transport (likely buses) and what time you should be at the bus stop.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary, Seven Night Variant.)

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: MONDAY AGENDA

Today you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You should have FastPass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, and the Frozen Sing-Along. You have no scheduled dining today.

FIRST THINGS

Arrive at the Studios by 45 minutes before open.

AT THE PARK

• At park open, grab a times guide to double-check show schedules, head to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and ride it
• Then see Tower of Terror
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• See Walt Disney Presents (formerly Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream)
• See Star Wars Launch Bay
• See the 11a Beauty and the Beast
• See the noon Indiana Jones
• Have lunch
• See Muppet Vision 3D
• See Star Tours (FP+)
• See Toy Story Midway Mania (FP+)
• See Disney Jr Live on Stage
• See the Frozen Sing-Along (FP+)
• Book an additional FastPass+–for Fantasmic if you are seeing it and FP+ are available, otherwise something you want to re-visit
• Have dinner
• Decide between Fantasmic and the projection/fireworks show–Star Wars most of the year, Jingle Bell Jingle BAM from mid-November through December. Note that you can pay for a Park Hopper and return to the Studios Thursday night to see the other of these shows
• Be at your selected show 30-45 minutes before showtime.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will begin your visit to the Animal Kingdom.

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