Four parks in one day - Possible or Impossible?

[DeterminedOne]

DH and I hatched a plan that the last full day of our trip (10/1) is reserved for going to all four parks. Do you think it can work? Any suggestions? Which park first? Keep in mind we want to dine at Brown Derby and California Grill that day also. (premium plan) Think it could work?

 

[cleo]

Sure, you can visit 4 parks in one day. You can't DO much, but you can certainly say you were in all 4 parks.

We occasionally have to visit all four in one day, but only to see something specific, then leave. If you have two sit-down dining reservations it's going to be a bit tighter. But why not? If you're not going for the attractions it's a fun thing to say you've done, I guess.

The real problem is, you're going to spend a lot of time in transit. That's the stopper for us, unless we HAVE to do all 4. It's just not fun to be in the car (or worse, on the bus) for so long when you could be enjoying a park (or even two).

 

[k5thbeatle]

"Sure, you can visit 4 parks in one day. You can't DO much, but you can certainly say you were in all 4 parks."

Exactly! But why kill yourself with such a feat?

 

[IndyJammer]

I think it'd be neat to try! It definitely could be done - and I'm sure quite a few "DIS"ers have done it!

I would start early though - at the park that has the extra magic morning hours. I would think it would be best done on a day where AK has the early entry. Then go to MGM - take a boat (or walk) to Epcot. Then take the Monorail over to MK.

C'mon - someone tell us how you've done it!

 

[Pixiedust34]

You *could* do it, but I wouldn't even try. I'd rather spend time IN the parks than going to/from each park.

Maybe you can split your day between MGM (Brown Derby) and the MK (convenient to CG). You could do more at each of those parks and not feel so rushed.

 

[eblack0409]

You can do it....you will need to start with EMH in the morning with whichever park has morning EMH...then do end the day with whichever park has evening EMH...hitting the remaining 2 parks during the middle of the day....it CAN be done, but you won't get to do alot of stuff at each park....

 

[Pea-n-Me]

To me, it wouldn't be very enjoyable, but sure, it can be done. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Gradar1]

Doing 4 parks in one day is quite possible, yet you need to budget your time wisely. Go first thing in the morning to the park with the Extra Magic Hour, do what you need/want to do and then move on. This, as others have said, doesn't seem incredibly enjoyable, and it also doesn't leave much time to just enjoy yourself int he parks. Good luck trying!

 

[livingthedream]

Yeah, its very possible.

We did the exact same thing on the last day of our two week trip in December 2005. We (DH, DS14, DS12, and me) tried to decide what our favourite attractions were in each park. Once decided, we went back to each one.

We started at Epcot (drove - and it was the first morning that we weren't even there at opening) and hit Soarin' first to get fastpass. We then walked over to Test Track and convinced DS12 to go on it for the first time (we have a wonderful PhotoPass pic of him with a grin from ear to ear!). The clock said 25 minutes wait, but we got in after 5 or 6 minutes (last ones into the pre-show). We hit MouseGear for those last-minute souvies and then walked over to the Land where our Soarin' fastpasses were just open. We waited in the fastpass line for about 10 minutes and lucked out and got the first row again (that was the third time that trip!)

Then we hopped on the bus to MGM. We hit Rock N Rollercoaster with less than 5 minute wait. We had missed Sounds Dangerous when we were there the first time so backtracked and went to that show. We waited outside about 15 minutes for the next one, and while we waited, we bought my younger son his sorcerer's hat that he wanted. We loved Sounds Dangerous. Glad we got to see it. Then we went to see the new Narnia attraction (a long, glorified trailer, but the boys wanted to see it before we left).

Then we hopped a bus to AK where we arrived just in time to see a showing of Festival of the Lion King (waited about 5 minutes outside and then just over 5 after we were seated). We had more character interaction this time (even more than last time) and we did a much better job with our pics this show so it was worth it!). We had time for Kali again but the weather was pretty cool, so we had a late lunch at Flaming BBQ. We wandered over to Dinosaur just in case there wasn't much of a line and there wasn't, so guess who went on Dinosaur again (this time with DS12 keeping his eyes open!!).

We saved the best for last. We hopped on the bus to get to MK.....and still had plenty of time for our favourites. We hopped on the Railroad to Frontierland to get to BTMRR. This was the first ride my DS12 had the courage to ride when we visited earlier in the trip, and this was his third ride. He loved it just as much the third time. If there hadn't been a long line we would have waited for another ride. However, my other son wanted to go on Space again, so back on the Railroad over to Toontown we go, and while we are on the way, my older son is trying to talk my younger son to go on Space for the first time (are you getting the idea my younger son didn't like the big thrill rides?!). Long story short, when we say "Last chance!", he says, "okay, okay, I'll go on it" and we scadoodle over there as quickly as possible before he changes his mind! We waited about 5 minutes and he absolutely LOVED it! My cautious child is now a ride-addict! To finish it off we shot at the aliens on Buzz a couple of times and then left MK for our ADR at the Wilderness Lodge.

The boys did the Whispering Canyon with gusto. They asked for ketchup. My hubby volunteered my 14 year old to hand out the certificates to all the younger kids who did the gallop around the restaurant. We took pictures of us in front of the gorgeous Christmas tree. We got a twilight boat ride and a boat ride in the dark from Wilderness Lodge to MK. We travelled with people coming from Fort Wilderness to MVMCP who were singing Christmas carols on the boat (and of course we joined in the spirit), and it was just magical.

We watched Holiday Wishes as we hopped on the monorail over to Epcot and we had a monorail car all to ourselves. We just stood there with our noses plastered to the glass watching the show in the sky.

Do we regret doing four parks in one day - was it rushed, or were we too tired? No! Never! Would we do it again? Absolutely! It was by far our best day. Go for it!! Enjoy!

 

[islandbeachnut]

4 parks in a day......possible, yes - pleasureable, no

 

[Figment1964]

Along those same kind of lines, I once sat next to a woman on a plane out of Orlando who lives in the LA area. She had an AP to Disneyland and her goal for that day was to have breakfast on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom at WDW and dinner on Main Street at Disneyland. When I last saw her she was headed to her connection in DFW and I hope she met her goal!

 

[dlaushey]

I did it! This was back in 2000 so I might miss some of the details. This was to be the last full day of a week long trip; our first trip with our girls 4 & 2 at the time. My parents were also with us and we were staying in a cabin at FW. Anyway, we started off 1st thing at AK. We wanted to see Tarzan Rocks because we had missed it early in the trip. We also managed to visit a few characters and get a T-shirt my wife really wanted (Pooh with a magnifying glass looking at a real tiger and saying “Is that you Tigger?”). We left right after TR and drove our car to DS. There we wanted to see the Hunchback of Notre Dame show (again which we had missed). While waiting for the show my parents to the girls to the HISTK Playground and we got FP’s for RNR. We grabbed a snack before the show and used our FP’s after the show. My DD4 wanted to get Cinderella’s autograph but we hadn’t seen her since the 1st hour of our trip when we were at EP. We didn’t’ have our books yet so we were unable to get a signature then. Before leaving DS we stopped at GR and asked if she would be out anywhere that day at any of the parks. We were told she would be at EP that afternoon. We left the park for our cabin to have lunch and naps figuring we wouldn’t get C’s autograph this trip to the world. However after lunch we came up with the crazy idea that we could rush over to EP with DD4 while DD2 took a nap with the grandparents. We did and managed to find her after a search through France and a quick ride on SE. We rushed back to the cabin to pick up the rest of the gang and we headed over to MK for the Night Parade. My parents grabbed a few good spots while we went to FL for Pooh and Small World. We found my parents and watched the parade and then the fireworks. Afterwards we went back to the cabin and crashed.

Although we had planned for 3 parks we added the 4th on a spur of the moment decision to see Cinderella. It was busy but a lot of fun and a day we won’t forget. Even DD4 remembers that we went to all 4 that day even 6 years later.

On our checkout day we packed the car and waited for my parents to head out via bus to the airport. We drove from Atlanta so we were getting ready for our 8 hour drive home. Since we had LOS passes we decided to go back to MK for a few more rides to hold us until our next trip. We were there until about 3:00p and we asked the girls if they wanted to leave or one more ride on Buzz. DD4 was ready for one more when DD2 started to cry and said she wanted to go home . 8 days in the World was all she could handle!

It can be done, even without planning for it!

 

[WillCAD]

I've done it in 1/2 day, on my inbound travel day in Sept 2002.

I only did 2 attractions at each park, and ate counter-service for lunch and dinner, and the trip was in September during a year with very light crowds, so most of what I did were walk-ons.

You can read about it in my trip report:
http://willcad.org/disney_tr2002b.html

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thanks for the encouragement that it can be done and thank goodness for EMH! The point behind visiting all the parks in one day is not to see the parks but to ride some rides one last time, as well as catch up on any last minute shopping. It will likely be our last Disney trip for many years because we're headed to Hawaii for our ten year anniversary. The things we will likely want to do again are shopping on Main Street, Buzz, WDWR, Soarin', shopping at Mousegears and WS, EE and RNRC.

 

[jann1033]

DH and I hatched a plan that the last full day of our trip (10/1) is reserved for going to all four parks. Do you think it can work? Any suggestions? Which park first? Keep in mind we want to dine at Brown Derby and California Grill that day also. (premium plan) Think it could work?

I'm sure you could but it seems like with 2 ts meals espc. cal grill it would really cut into your time. we usually park hop the last day or 2 so if you only plan on doing a few things at each place it should be doable. I'd go to emh where ever it is and end at what ever is open latest but not sure where CA would fit in unless MK is open till midnight.
edited cause sorry,
once again i jumped the gun and wrote before i read, sorry for the same thoughts. imo the dsneyworld -disneyland lady is nuts but what ever floats your boat.

still not sure about CA since it kind of defeats the purpose of a nice leisurely meal but then again you'd be so tired maybe you'd enjoy it more have fun whatever you do!

 

[clkelley]

once again i jumped the gun and wrote before i read, sorry for the same thoughts. imo the dsneyworld -disneyland lady is nuts but what ever floats your boat!

I know many left coasters that when they leave WDW for home and have an early flight, they spend an hour or so at the WDW parks then when they land in LAX stop over at Disneyland before heading home. It's not really that nuts at all.

 

[GGOOFY1]

We plan this for the last day of all our trips. The kids love to go and ride their favorites one more time. As posted previous, plan your day around the EMH. Make sure you have your own car....too much time wasted waited for the buses.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I've done Fantasmic, Illuminations, and Wishes, all in one night, after spending the day at AK ... so yes, I've been to all 4 parks in one day.

(I've also done IOA, US, Epcot, MGM, and MK all in one day, with at least 2 major attractions at each park)

 

[clkelley]

I know some folks that have done Bush Gardens, SeaWorld, IOA, US, Epcot, Studios, MK, and AK all in one day. Did one major attraction per park.

Carol

 

[Eeyore2003]

I have not read all the advice completely, but to save "travel" time (I assume you have lunch at Brown Derby and dinner at California Grill), I would take bus to AK, then from there bus to MGM, then lunch, then from MGM take the boat to Epcot, (or walk), then monorail to MK. The real "time eater" is AK, but the other 3 are connected pretty well.