1 Day 3 Park plan...am I crazy?

[Gearbm95]

First of all, just recently found this forum and everyone here has been so helpful and nice, thank you!

Have a very short trip planned, only have 1 park day, Tues April 20th. It’ll be my sister (52), mom (70), and I (35)...doing a quick gambling and Disney trip haha. My sister has never been to Disney and my mom has many times, neither of them are big thrill seekers but they do enjoy other rides.

I have an 8:20am ADR for GF Cafe and was hoping to be done and on the monorail over to MK by 9:15am at the latest. Thinking get to MK around 9:30am, park is scheduled to open at 9am. Plan on leaving by 1:30pm and be off to HS.

MK 930a-130p
Must Rides: PP, Small World, Little Mermaid, HM, POTC, People Mover.

What should I try to do first at MK?

HS 2p- 3:30p
Must Rides: MMRR, Star Tours OR MFSR

Not much we want to do at HS since they’re not big in thrill rides. Does HS tend to empty out at mid afternoon once the second group of BGs is given out?

Epcot 4:45p-8p
Must Rides: SE, Soarin, Frozen a walk

Plan on grabbing some food from the food stands in WS for dinner. How are lines at night here?

Has anyone tried to do something this ambitious? How did it turn out? Any tips?

 

[Sjm9911]

With all due respect, while your 35 and could do this, your mom is not. And probably will not want to or shouldn't be rushed that much. I get it, my mom is older and active, and i wouldn't do that to her. Take it slow, and if you have to do stuff, do it by yourself later, let mom decide on her pace. Moms always right! And have fun.

 

[redrosesix]

Tbh I wouldn't go to a park for just 1.5 hours, and I'm not sure you're allowing enough time for travel to DHS. If you're going to have a good time at MK, be there by rope drop at the latest or all of your wait times will be longer since thousands of people will have gotten there before you. Without a FP, your chances of getting on Soarin might not be good but I haven't been there during covid times so I could be wrong on that.

We have done 3 parks in 1 day but it was DHS, boat to Epcot, monorail to MK and it was ok but we were all tired by the end of the day. But we had also been to all of those parks many times, and I'm actually more worried about your sister having a crappy time on her first visit. Will she really want to run through the parks and not look at anything?

 

[scrappinginontario]

It really depends on the stamina of your mom. I could do this with my daughter but it's a pretty full plan. You may also want to consider the travel time between parks. Leaving the MK to HS would require a bus. Those buses may or may not run as frequently during the day. Sometimes we've found they came quickly and other times waited as much as 45 mins.

We went with my parents 2 years ago. Both are in their mid-70's, love Disney and have been often. That trip, both required scooters.

We did 4 days in the parks and found that they could do 3-4 attractions happily and then were ready to call it a day. It was a very different trip for us as we often open and close the parks but this trip was for them so we took it at their pace.

Your situation may be very different but my thoughts are that you have a very aggressive plan, especially when you consider all the additional walking required each time you leave and enter a new park.

Just my thoughts since you asked.

If you're looking for suggestions, for everyone's sake I would highly recommend skipping DHS and enjoying a slower paced day at MK and Epcot. Hopefully the Epcot monorail will be open by then for a nice cool rest between parks.

PS - As a comparison, my then 9yo daughter and I did 4 parks in a day 2 years ago and we only managed 2-3 things per part and we went hard from 9am - 9pm! We clocked over 24,000 steps that day.

 

[Beamerball]

First of all, just recently found this forum and everyone here has been so helpful and nice, thank you!

Have a very short trip planned, only have 1 park day, Tues April 20th. It’ll be my sister (52), mom (70), and I (35)...doing a quick gambling and Disney trip haha. My sister has never been to Disney and my mom has many times, neither of them are big thrill seekers but they do enjoy other rides.

I have an 8:20am ADR for GF Cafe and was hoping to be done and on the monorail over to MK by 9:15am at the latest. Thinking get to MK around 9:30am, park is scheduled to open at 9am. Plan on leaving by 1:30pm and be off to HS.

MK 930a-130p
Must Rides: PP, Small World, Little Mermaid, HM, POTC, People Mover.

What should I try to do first at MK?

I would start with Fantasyland (PP, Small World, little Mermaid). Then HM and POTC. People mover is not close to any of these so you will be

HS 2p- 3:30p
Must Rides: MMRR, Star Tours OR MFSR

Not much we want to do at HS since they’re not big in thrill rides. Does HS tend to empty out at mid afternoon once the second group of BGs is given out?

maybe somewhat but not a ton until an hour or so before park close. You should be able to do MMRR and star tour that time frame.

Epcot 4:45p-8p
Must Rides: SE, Soarin, Frozen a walk

Plan on grabbing some food from the food stands in WS for dinner. How are lines at night here?

if taking the skyliner I would grab something to eat in Worldshow case before going into future world. If you are leaving via the front of the park

Has anyone tried to do something this ambitious? How did it turn out? Any tips?

I did these exact parks with my 9 year old. We had a blast, walked 24,000 steps and were dead tired the next day. It will be hot and you have to wear a mask the whole time, except when eating. We had to stop at rest/drink multiple times in order to keep our stamina up.
Have as great trip!

 

[Gearbm95]

Thanks for all the feedback...think I’m gonna take your advice and slim it down to MK and Epcot.

 

[redrosesix]

Thanks for all the feedback...think I’m gonna take your advice and slim it down to MK and Epcot.

Good plan. For your morning at MK I would go right to POTC through the Adventureland gate and then do the rest clockwise until you get to the People Mover -- we usually do that as the last ride so it works. Try not to criss cross the park and you will save hours of walking.

 

[gharter]

With what you want to do at MK, not being there at RD could be a big mistake. I haven't eaten at GF cafe, but I'm not sure how realistic it is to have an 8:20 ADR and hope to be on the monorail by 9:15. Best case, you are in MK by 9:30 (not likely). There have been lots of people ahead of you and your lines are much longer. If current reports are correct, parks are opening 45 minutes early so the 9 am opening is 8:15 and now you have 75 minutes of people ahead of you.
Going down to 2 parks is a good idea.
A lot will depend on the health and stamina of your mother. At 70, its still an aggressive plan.

 

[Timandalicia]

First of all, just recently found this forum and everyone here has been so helpful and nice, thank you!

Have a very short trip planned, only have 1 park day, Tues April 20th. It’ll be my sister (52), mom (70), and I (35)...doing a quick gambling and Disney trip haha. My sister has never been to Disney and my mom has many times, neither of them are big thrill seekers but they do enjoy other rides.

I have an 8:20am ADR for GF Cafe and was hoping to be done and on the monorail over to MK by 9:15am at the latest. Thinking get to MK around 9:30am, park is scheduled to open at 9am. Plan on leaving by 1:30pm and be off to HS.

MK 930a-130p
Must Rides: PP, Small World, Little Mermaid, HM, POTC, People Mover.

What should I try to do first at MK?

HS 2p- 3:30p
Must Rides: MMRR, Star Tours OR MFSR

Not much we want to do at HS since they’re not big in thrill rides. Does HS tend to empty out at mid afternoon once the second group of BGs is given out?

Epcot 4:45p-8p
Must Rides: SE, Soarin, Frozen a walk

Plan on grabbing some food from the food stands in WS for dinner. How are lines at night here?

Has anyone tried to do something this ambitious? How did it turn out? Any tips?

I think your itinerary as pretty chill and could be handled. And since your mom has been many times, if she signs off on it, I think your golden.

 

[VeronicaZS]

I agree with previous comments, scale back the plan and rethink your MK strategy. The park has been opening 30+ minutes earlier than the published time.

PS: You're not crazy, Disney World is an awesome place and can make anyone a little over eager!

 

[heresabe]

I have done all 4 Parks in one day, several times. But the Parks were open longer hours and there were no park-hopping restrictions.
If the current protocol remains in place, and guests aren't permitted to enter a 2nd Park until 2:00PM, I don't think I would attempt all 4 Parks.
Also...if this is the 1st WDW trip for one member of the Party, I think I would focus more attention to fewer Parks. If that person is an animal lover, I would consider doing AK.

Lastly a note to redrosesix---is the People Mover currently operating?

 

[zoo2tycoon]

You do know you can’t leave your car parked at GF all day or after your done eating to go to parks.

 

[No.1000]

Just want to throw in there that with your sister having never been to Disney, you might consider the whole day at Magic Kingdom. It is quintessential Disney and there is so much to explore and take in...especially for someone never having been there. You would save money and could always add park hoppers when you are there if you decide you want to hop to EPCOT.

 

[Blondie58]

Does not sound fun to me. I am age 62 and run marathons. It is not that I can't it is that I would not want to.
Too much too fast - no enjoyment. All personal opinion since you asked.

 

[Marthasor]

I would ditch the GF Cafe ADR. I don't think you can count on being seated at 8:20 am and having your food in time to get through security, get on the monorail and get into MK by 9:30 am. I would eat something prior to arrival at MK and try to be at MK at rope drop. Perhaps, instead of GF Cafe breakfast, you make a late afternoon MK ADR and have lunch prior to going to EP? It might be a chance to recharge your batteries prior to hitting your second park.

 

[tgropp]

Thanks for all the feedback...think I’m gonna take your advice and slim it down to MK and Epcot.

Yes please heed everyone advice concerning your mothers health and well being. Ten years ago while being in my early 50’s I decided, on Christmas Day, to do four parks in a day. I drove to Epcot and was there from 8-10:30, then drove at AK and was there from 11-2. Back to hotel for a 2 hour swim/rest then to the Stuios from 4:30 to 7:30 and from 8-11 at MK. I needed two days to recover. Two parks a day is maximum now. Have fun!!!

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Thanks for all the feedback...think I’m gonna take your advice and slim it down to MK and Epcot.

You can also get more done if you rope drop MK as they usually open by at least 8:30. Grab breakfast in the park at a place like Sleepy Hollow, which is good and quick. after you knock out a few of your favorite rides. That early in the morning most of the rides you would like to go on would be walk-ons. Maybe swing by and eat lunch at GF instead of breakfast if you want to go over there and see the GF, then head off to Epcot.