Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary.)

EPCOT DAY 1: FIRST SATURDAY 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 Epcot Forever.
• 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 Epcot Forever
• 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 Epcot Forever near its FastPass+ area on the Spaceship Earth side of the lagoon as you can find
• Watch Epcot Forever, 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 first of two days at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 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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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.

(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary.)

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 Flights of Wonder
• See it’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Consider seeing Rafiki’s Planet Watch, a petting zoo and conservation station.  If that sounds fun, take the Harambe Express train in Africa to ge to it
• Head back to your hotel for a nap and dinner

EVENING PLAN

• Be back in the park in time for your Tusker House Rivers of Light Dining Package dinner.
• See Rivers of Light (FastPass+)—be in the FastPass+ line 30 minutes before show start
• 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, arriving 45 minutes before opening.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary.)

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: MONDAY AGENDA

For visits after 2/19/202o, use this. Otherwise, follow the material below.

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
• 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–either Star Wars Galactic Adventure or 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 Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary.)

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you start your visit to the Magic Kingdom, seeing Tomorrowland and then touring some lower-wait attractions in Adventureland and Frontierland. You have brunch at Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort near the Magic Kingdom, and end your day at Fort Wilderness’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.

You should have FastPass+ for Space Mountain, the Tomorrowland Speedway, and the Jungle Cruise. The other fixed points in your schedule are Chef Mickey’s and Hoop-Dee-Doo.

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 45 minutes before open.

AT THE PARK

• At open, head to Tomorrowland and see Buzz Lightyear
• See Space Mountain (FP+)
• Ride Astro-Orbiter
• Ride the Tomorrowland PeopleMover
• Ride the Tomorrowland Speedway (FP+)
• Exit the park about 10.30 and either walk or take the resort monorail to the Contemporary Resort. Eat at Chef Mickey’s
• Return to the park, head into Tomorrowland, and see the Carousel of Progress and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Go to Adventureland and fit the Swiss Family Treehouse and the Enchanted Tiki Room around your FastPass+ for the Jungle Cruise
• Find the passage into Frontierland and see the Country Bears
• If you have time, find the rafts near Big Thunder Mountain and see Tom Sawyer Island
• 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 cast members 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.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the morning off, then complete your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary.)

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 2: WEDNESDAY AGENDA

For visits after 2/19/202o, use this. Otherwise, follow the material below.

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 then the last show–either Star Wars Galactic Adventure or Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you will continue your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Higher Crowd Itinerary.)

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 2: THURSDAY AGENDA

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

You should have FastPass+ for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and the Haunted Mansion. Other fixed points in your schedule: you have lunch reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table and want to see the afternoon parade at 3p. (The parade shifts to 2p between August 16 and December 22, 2019.)

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 45 minutes before open.

AT THE PARK

• Enter the turnstiles when the park opens and head to Peter Pan. Ride it
• See it’s a small world, the Carrousel if you wish, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and Winnie the Pooh while you are in the area
• Head into Storybook Circus and see Dumbo
• See the Barnstormer if it looks like fun and lines aren’t too long
• See the Mad Tea Party
• Fit together Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, your FastPass+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and your lunch at  Cinderella’s Royal Table
• For visits before after 12/22/19, see  Enchanted Tales with Belle (FP+) and then the 3p parade by grabbing a spot around 2.30 between the Castle and Liberty Square
• For visits before 12/22/19, see the 2p parade by grabbing a spot around 1.30 between the Castle and Liberty Square, and then see Enchanted Tales with Belle (FP+)
• Fit the Hall of Presidents and Liberty Belle Riverboat around your FastPass+ for the Haunted Mansion.
• Have dinner at the park or in your hotel (counter service)

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you finish your visit to Epcot.

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