Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

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 Festival of the Lion King, Expedition Everest, and DINOSAUR. Your goal today is to see what you did not see First Sunday, including the daylight version of Kilimanjaro Safaris, and if you have time and interest, to see Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

(Note: this is from the Seven Night Sunday Arrival Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

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 or just outside.  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, go to Africa and see the daylight version of Kilimanjaro Safaris
• If you have time now, see the Gorilla Falls Trail—if not, see it after Festival of the Lion King
• Use your FastPass+ for Festival of the Lion King
• Walk to Asia and use your FastPass+ for Expedition Everest. If you like, ride it again—from the single rider line if standby is too long
• Ride Primeval Whirl and/or Triceratops spin if they look like fun
• Use your FastPass+ for DINOSAUR
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a minor adventure accessed by the Wildlife Express Train back in Africa. If interested, and you have time (including the train allow at least 45 minutes), see it
• Sadly return home

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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.

(Note: this is from the Seven Night Saturday Arrival Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

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 see Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You need to arrive early–by 45 minutes befroe park opening. 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!

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ANIMAL KINGDOM: SUNDAY AGENDA

Today you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You have no scheduled meals.

(Note: this is from the Seven Night Saturday Arrival Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

You should have FastPass+ for Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, and Kali River Rapids.

FIRST THINGS

• Pack spare clothes, as you will get soaked on Kali River Rapids
• Be at the park by 45 minutes before open

AT THE PARK

• Enter the park, grab a times guide, and compare the times of Festival of the Lion King, Flights of Wonder and Finding Nemo The Musical to your FastPass + schedule, figuring out when to see these. Target the first Nemo
• Head to Kilimanjaro Safaris and ride
• Head to Expedition Everest and ride it using FastPass+
• Head to DinoLand and see DINOSAUR using FastPass+
• If they look like fun, see Primeval Whirl and Triceratops Spin
• Working around the show times for Fights of Wonder and Finding Nemo, see these shows, Maharajah Jungle Trail and It’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Eat lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue or head to Africa and eat at Harambe Market
• See Kali River Rapids using FastPass+
• If Rivers of Light is open, try to book a fourth FastPass+ for it
• See Festival of the Lion King, with Gorilla Falls Trail before or after depending on the Lion King show schedule
• 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
• See any shows you may have missed
• Have dinner at Flame Tree Barbecue or Harambe Market or the Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes
• See the sunset version of Kilimanjaro Safaris
• See Tree of Life Awakenings
• See Rivers of Light if open by your trip

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You get to sleep in.

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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 dining today.

(Note: this is from the Seven Night Saturday Arrival Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

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 at a convenient counter service
• Ride Frozen Ever After using FastPass+
• See a storyteller or two
• Ride MISSION: Space using FastPass+ (those with the least tiny bit of motion sickness should ride the “Green” side)
• Ride Ellen’s Energy Adventure
• 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 Celebrate the Magic and 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 have the morning off, then complete your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: MONDAY AGENDA

You will begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, completing it Wednesday afternoon and evening. Two days is way more than enough time, so, thanks to FastPass+, you get to sleep in each day.

You should have FastPass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, and the Frozen Sing-Along.

You have dinner at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness at 6.15p, and need to be at the Studio’s Fort Wilderness bus stop by 4.45p.

(Note: this is from the Seven Night Saturday Arrival Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

AT THE PARK

• Arrive at Hollywood Studios by noon
• Pick up a guide map and “Times Guide.” Check the times of the Indiana Jones show against your FastPass+ and pick a show to visit.
• Head to Great Movie Ride and see it unless lines are too long.  If so, see it Wednesday
• See Toy Story Midway Mania (FP+)
• Have lunch at Backlot Express
• Fold in the Indiana Jones stunt show among Muppet Vision 3D, the Frozen Sing-Along (FP+) and Star Tours (FP+)
• Around 4.30p head for the bus stops outside the main entrance and look for the bus to Fort Wilderness.

AT FORT WILDERNESS

• Take the bus to Fort Wilderness, then take any internal bus to the Settlement. Find the Hoop Dee Doo area, and check in for the 6.15p show.
• See Hoop-Dee-Doo!
• Ask the 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.  But special buses may be running…

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you sleep in, then continue your visit to Epcot beginning in the late morning, and shift to the Magic Kingdom for the Christmas Party in the afternoon and evening.

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HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 2: WEDNESDAY AGENDA

Today you have the morning off. You will then return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios by noon to complete the visit you began Monday.  You have no reserved dining today.

You should have FastPass+ for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

(Note: this is from the Seven Night Saturday Arrival Version of the 2016 Basic December Itinerary. The itinerary works only for the three weeks after Thanksgiving. See this for other itineraries.)

MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON

• Sleep in and have breakfast in your room
• Arrive at Hollywood Studios by noon

AT THE PARK

• Check the Times Guide to plan when to see Beauty and the Beast (preferably the last show of the day) and to double check the times of the evening shows.
• See Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
• See Voyage of the Little Mermaid (FP+)
• Have lunch
• See Disney Jr Live on Stage
• Fit Beauty and the Beast in among your FastPass+ for Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Have dinner
• Get in line for Fantasmic about 30-45 minutes before the show, or, if you want to see the new Christmas show Jingle Bell Jingle BAM instead, pick a spot in the center stage area in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater instead
• See Fantasmic or the Jingle Bell Jingle BAM show
• 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
• Head back to your hotel

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the early morning off and then continue your visit to the Magic Kingdom.

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