4 parks --> 1 day

[_Deanne_]

My oldest son and I will be in Orlando for a campus visit later this month and were able to carve out a park day. Yeah! It's just the two of us, which is a real (and rare) treat.

We're going all out and plan to hit all 4 parks that day. We are repeat customers, so to speak, so it's not critical to see/do everything. Here's the estimated plan so far based on what my son wants to do. I am leaving it all up to him

What do you think? Any tips, besides caffeine?

7:15 am - bus from Pop to AK (emh 8:00 am): Kali/Everest/Safari/Dinosaur

11:00 am - bus to Contemporary/walk to MK: FP+ for Buzz/Dwarfs/Jungle Cruise (get new FP+ for HS)

2:00 pm Monorail to Epcot: Test Track/Crush/street performers (never seem to catch those). Dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel (we live in Texas yet he still picks Mexican food. Go figure).

5:00 pm Walk or Boat to HS: Hopefully we'll have some new FP+ for here. TS Mania/Tower of Terror/R&RC/Drawing Academy. Maybe FP+ for MK? Unless they are all gone, of course.

9:00 pm Bus to Contemporary/Walk to MK: Wishes! And as many or as few rides as we can squeeze in until they kick us out at midnight (Space/Thunder/Splash Mtns).

12:00 am bus back to Pop

Thanks! We are excited - it'll be a great day.

 

[Doug M]

Sounds fun.

Two things, doubt highly you get any FP in HS that late for anything of value. Also animation academy is closing next week i think, so that is out. The HS portion is the only where your timeline could be tight, some queues could be 60 to 120 minutes that time of day.

 

[marissamayhem]

I'd definitely check out which Fastpass+ kiosks tend to be the least busy in each park. I've never used one but I can see that cutting into your time if there's a long line.

Four parks in one day sounds like a blast though! Have fun & good luck!

 

[ErinsMommy]

1 - Unless something has changed, you can't FP rides at a different park than the one you're currently at.

2- Once you use your 3 FP+ you can only get FPs one at a time and IMO the top 3 you have at HS may be hard to get - if you get them at all.

3 - I personally would go to AK, then HS, then Epcot then MK and stay there. In the day you have, the less traveling back and forth to MK will save you time and get you more ride time as well.

 

[_Deanne_]

Thanks, Doug. Agree on HS. If we get on rides, great. If not, it's okay. The single rider line for R&RC should help some.

 

[Doug M]

RnRC you should get on no problem with single rider, ToT could be 20 minutes or 2 hours, saw this last June same time of day two days same week. TSMM was at least 45 minutes to 90 minutes anytime we were there. ErinsMommy has a good suggestion for park order. Consider going with that, one less hop, saves you potentially an hour.

 

[_Deanne_]

ErinsMom - good tips, thanks! We thought about saving MK until the end, but they were building dwarfs last time we were there and it is at the top of my son's list. We were afraid we would miss it is we waited until the end of the day. The whole FP+ system is new so we really do appreciate the tips. I am old enough to remember E-tickets, so things have definitely changed!

Thankfully we have been on all these rides in the past so it's not the end of the world if we miss something.

And Marissa - great idea on the kiosks - thanks!

 

[JimmyV]

I agree that when doing all the parks in one day, it isn't wise to go to one, then leave it, then return. I would get FPs for two of the big three rides at DHS (TSMM and ToT would be my choices), and hit up that park second. You can book your third FP at that park for either Star Tours, or book it for an early time and simply let it lapse. With TSMM and ToT taken care of via FP, you can use the single rider line for RnR.

Also, at AK, I would not do the rides in the order you have them. Too much back-tracking. Start at the Safari, then go to Everest, then to Dinosaur, then to Kali. (Though you could flip-flop Kali and Dinosaur if you want). Then head out of the park.

After DHS, go to Epcot and do the single rider line for Test Track. Whether you do Soarin' or not will depend on the wait time. At this point in the day, there won't be FPs, so you either wait or punt.

Finally, go to MK as your 4th park and stay there until it closes. You might still find some FPs for some stuff. And even if you have to wait in a few lines, they won't be as bad as the DHS and Epcot lines.

 

[_Deanne_]

My son has been on the app every day looking at ride times - it's a hoot. I think I have a budding Disney planner on my hands

 

[AngiTN]

One thing to note, you won't need to bus to CR and walk to MK. There are park to park buses.

 

[_Deanne_]

One thing to note, you won't need to bus to CR and walk to MK. There are park to park buses.

Of course you are right! Thanks for the reminder!

 

[_Deanne_]

I agree that when doing all the parks in one day, it isn't wise to go to one, then leave it, then return. I would get FPs for two of the big three rides at DHS (TSMM and ToT would be my choices), and hit up that park second. You can book your third FP at that park for either Star Tours, or book it for an early time and simply let it lapse. With TSMM and ToT taken care of via FP, you can use the single rider line for RnR.

Also, at AK, I would not do the rides in the order you have them. Too much back-tracking. Start at the Safari, then go to Everest, then to Dinosaur, then to Kali. (Though you could flip-flop Kali and Dinosaur if you want). Then head out of the park.

After DHS, go to Epcot and do the single rider line for Test Track. Whether you do Soarin' or not will depend on the wait time. At this point in the day, there won't be FPs, so you either wait or punt.

Finally, go to MK as your 4th park and stay there until it closes. You might still find some FPs for some stuff. And even if you have to wait in a few lines, they won't be as bad as the DHS and Epcot lines.

Excellent advice. We'll think about holding off MK until later in the day. I just know that Dwarfs is the only absolute must-see since it is new from our last visit. The AK rides weren't listed in any particular order but I appreciate your helping out with that As far as Epcot goes, TT is the only one he really wants to ride so we'll single rider line that one and be on our merry way.

 

[ErinsMommy]

ErinsMom - good tips, thanks! We thought about saving MK until the end, but they were building dwarfs last time we were there and it is at the top of my son's list. We were afraid we would miss it is we waited until the end of the day. The whole FP+ system is new so we really do appreciate the tips. I am old enough to remember E-tickets, so things have definitely changed!

Thankfully we have been on all these rides in the past so it's not the end of the world if we miss something.

And Marissa - great idea on the kiosks - thanks!

You can still FP+ MK rides/attractions you just wont be able to FP+ rides at HS. Its like a double edged sword as to which line you rather stand on - lines @ MK or lines @ HS. If you go with the AK, HS, Epcot, MK loop. You bus to AK, bus from AK to HS, walk or boat from HS to Epcot, then Monorail from Epcot to MK.

 

[JimmyV]

I just know that Dwarfs is the only absolute must-see

No worries. It is not imperative that you have a FP to do the 7DMT. When doing 4 parks in a day, there are times when you simply have to bite the bullet and wait in a line or two. You just have to decide which ones. The 7DMT is not a line that you need to fear, especially if you have never done the ride before. I'd much rather wait in that line than the one for TSMM or ToT.

 

[tomatecerise]

You need this

 

[ErinsMommy]

I'd much rather wait in that line than the one for TSMM or ToT.

Depending on when OP is going and weather isn't a factor, I agree. If not, I vote to wait in line at TSMM or TOT as both are indoors for the most part.

 

[_Deanne_]

No worries. It is not imperative that you have a FP to do the 7DMT. When doing 4 parks in a day, there are times when you simply have to bite the bullet and wait in a line or two. You just have to decide which ones. The 7DMT is not a line that you need to fear, especially if you have never done the ride before. I'd much rather wait in that line than the one for TSMM or ToT.

Makes sense. And I completely agree. We aren't really worried about lines, particularly since it is just the two of us. Weather won't be a concern (except t-storms, of course) since we're used to the heat, humidity, and rain. Thanks!

 

[_Deanne_]

You guys are awesome - thanks! Talked with my son when I got home from work and he agreed that it makes more sense to save MK until the end. So, we're now looking at (not including travel time):

AK - 8a to 11a; bus to
HS - 11a to 3p; boat to
EP - 3p to 6p; monorail to
MK - 6p to midnight; bus to bed!

Changed our FP+ to HS (ToT, TSM, ST). The rest we'll wing! Besides, how bad can the line for 7DMT really be? We'll be hanging out together and that's what counts.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

We found a 5 minute wait for 7 Dwarfs just after Wishes a few weeks ago. The posted wait was 65.

We did 4 parks last summer but didn't start until noon and still had time for 18 rides. You'll have fun.

 

[alicat130]

We're going to attempt this in September. We're doing DHS (TSMM, RNRC, ToT, ST)-->Epcot (think we might fastpass Soarin', do TT single rider, SE, MS, early lunch at Via Napoli)-->AK (Safari, Everest, Kali, Dinosaur)-->MK (whatever has a small wait and we have time for before finishing with Wishes)
Hopefully we can get some additional FP+ at AK and MK. I think it will be fun, but tiring I'm sure!