One of the long-running parts of my Disney bucket list is visiting all four Disney World parks in a single day. I had a chance during a free day in a 2008 work trip, but I didn’t make it to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Despite a sizeable distance between each park, you can get around quickly with the right strategy. That’s the key to maximize any visit to the parks and particularly for this plan. It’s also a fun way to pass the time between Disney vacations. When my mind wanders in the shower or at work, it often veers to inventive plans for touring the parks.
In all honesty, it’s not that hard to visit all four parks in one day. The real challenge is how much you can accomplish at each location. Visiting the less popular attractions is easy; knocking out most headliners takes more effort. I also wouldn’t try this plan with our whole family. It’s more of a solo effort unless I have an equally committed (insane?) partner for this adventure. Dragging my girls all over the Disney World resort would not end well. One park each day is enough to wear them out. This day may be exhausting, but I’m ready for that experience.
I should also clarify that this is just an exercise, not an actual plan for a real day. This strategy must be possible given Disney World’s normal crowds. I can’t expect to wait five minutes at Flight of Passage or grab a rolling FastPass for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train on the app. I set up the activities for each park on Touring Plans to get a general idea of the time required. For the park hours and crowd levels, I’ve chosen May 9th as the model day. It’s a Wednesday that’s only a 4/10 on the overall crowd calendar. The downside is that the park hours aren’t extended, but there is an Extra Magic Hour in the morning at the Animal Kingdom.
What About the Expenses?
Despite this being an imaginary visit, I love the idea of figuring out the costs. Since I’ve picked a specific date, I can look into rates for two hotel nights. In reality, I might consider a cheap off-site resort and lose the Extra Magic Hour. But why skimp when it’s fake money anyway? I will stick to a value resort and inch closer to reality, however. This isn’t a relaxing family vacation at the Animal Kingdom Lodge; all I need is a bed and easy access to Disney transportation.
My goal was finding the cheapest rate at a Disney resort, so I looked into room-only discounts. I did not consider Fort Wilderness, so the value resorts work the best. The All-Star Sports, Movies, and Music resorts all offer a Standard Room at $108.90 per night. It’s only a 10% discount, but the cheapest moderate resort is $166 for Coronado Springs. Without adding tax, that’s $217.80 for two nights in a small room.
I shouldn’t blink at the cost; we’ve spent a lot more at Disney World. It’s just tougher given the limited amenities. I’ve only stayed at Pop Century in the value category, and that isn’t available. I’ll choose All-Star Movies; maybe I’ll get lucky and stay in a building themed to The Love Bug. The room is basically a commodity. This trip is all about maximizing the day in the parks. Join me if you dare for a brave strategy to dominate all four parks in about 14 hours.
Waking Up to Pandora
The most important decision is what to do about the two Pandora attractions. I could use a FastPass for one, but the other will likely have a long line. Flight of Passage also has limited openings, even more than 60 days before the date. My best choice is to save the FastPasses for a later park. Instead, I’m going to participate in one of Disney World’s newest traditions — the early morning Pandora rope drop! I don’t have to be the first person on Flight of Passage, but I need to be part of that early group. The alarm will buzz around 6 a.m. to make that happen.
There’s no time for breakfast, so I’ll have some fruit and snacks ready in the room. I’ll look to board the bus around 6:30 a.m. for the Animal Kingdom. My goal is to arrive at the gates at least an hour prior to the official opening, if not earlier. The Morning Extra Magic Hour limits the numbers but also draws attention. I’m counting on many not being willing to arrive so early.
After my first ride on Flight of Passage, I’ll quickly head over to the Nav’i River Journey before that line gets too long. I expect there will be a wait here, but not on par with later in the day. My entire plan depends on seeing both Pandora attractions right away. I’ll spend a little time enjoying Pandora before proceeding to a few more headliners in other parts of the park.
Avoiding the Rush
A sacrifice in this plan is avoiding most attractions that take a really long time. That means no stage shows or rides with variable lengths. A prime example is Kilimanjaro Safaris, which can easily take more than a half hour at times. It also might have a line by the time I finish Pandora. I’ll stroll through Harambe on my way towards Asia, but that’s about it. My next stop is Expedition Everest, which is an easy sell thanks to its single-rider line. There aren’t too many single-rider lines in Walt Disney World, but they’re quite helpful on a solo visit.
After saying hi to the Disco Yeti, I’ll stop at Dinosaur as I begin the circle back towards the front of the park. It’s one of those attractions that I sometimes miss because it’s so far into one corner. I don’t expect lines to be large as most guests remain in Pandora or Harambe. Around 9:30 or so, I’ll swing by Creature Comforts and pick up a grande iced coffee and blueberry muffin before leaving the park. After a hefty $7 price tag, I’ll be fueled for my second park.
It’s tough to leave the Animal Kingdom after such a short time, but that’s the discipline of this plan. My tentative exit will happen around 9:45 a.m. as I stroll towards the bus stop for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The travel time isn’t long between these parks, though I’ll be at the mercy of the Disney buses and luck. At worst, I’m probably looking at a 20-minute wait before the next visit. Transportation is a tricky part of such a defined plan, so a little leeway is definitely necessary.
FastPass Time!
When you’re tackling all four parks, having fewer attractions isn’t so bad. The Studios doesn’t have that much to see at this point, and FastPass will make it simpler. Traveling solo makes Toy Story Mania less enticing, so I’ll skip it. This leaves three main attractions for this brief stop at the Studios. It’s the perfect spot to use FastPass and save time in this packed day.
The trick with the day is maximizing FastPass. My first stop would be Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and I’ll need to set up the FastPass window to start during my transit. Booking more than 60 days out, I’ll have to do serious planning. Setting up the window for 9:40 to 10:40 should allow for plenty of time. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster does have a single rider line, but it can take a while at times. This approach should help to save time, and I can then go right to the Tower of Terror.
Both the Tower of Terror and Star Tours are Tier 2 attractions, so I can select both choices. I’ll reserve the 10:40 to 11:40 slot for the Tower and pick the next hour for Star Tours. The goal is to complete the attractions around noon, but I will keep an eye on the standby wait for Star Tours. In the downtime between the FastPass times, I’ll swing by Walt Disney Presents to explore those exhibits. It’s a relaxing way to slow down and not just blitz through the headliners.
Just a Brisk Walk
It’s time to stop relying on buses! After departing the Studios around noon, I’ll save time by walking to Epcot. I’ve never made this stroll, so I’m also looking forward to approaching the park from a different vantage point. Once the gondolas are open, they’ll be the obvious choice for this trip. Visiting in 2018, the walk is still the best way to reach my next step. I’m heading to the International Gateway and reaching World Showcase at the perfect moment — lunch time.
I’m trying to save time, so it’s all counter service for me today. I don’t want to grab just burgers and fries, however. The International Gateway entrance is close to Morocco, so a perfect spot for my needs is the Tangierine Café. This underrated restaurant offers a lot of food for a reasonable price (by Disney standards), and it’s good too! I’ll order the Shawarma Chicken and Lamb Platter for $14.99, and it comes with sides of Hummus, Tabouleh, and Tangierine Couscous Salad with fresh Moroccan Bread. Even with a drink, I’m out of there for less than $20.
World Showcase isn’t my focus on this trip, but I can’t skip Impressions de France. The 1:15 pm showing lines up perfectly with schedule. After a wondrous trip to France with stunning music, it’s time for a quick Kronenbourg 1664 beer ($7) to celebrate my progress. I’ll pick one up at the outdoor Crepes de Chefs de France stand and enjoy it as I stroll towards Canada. My next destination is back in Future World, where I’ll spend my remaining time in Epcot. It’s time to check out one of my favorite boat rides in all of Disney World.
Just Make Believe…
The walk to The Land pavilion should take about 10 minutes, and that’s at a fast pace. But let’s step back a moment. I’m not too worried about crowds at Living with the Land. I have a contingency plan if lines are long. There’s a more popular attraction in the same building, and I hope to have a FastPass secured before I arrive. When you’re traveling solo, grabbing FastPasses on the MDE app is easier. I’ll refresh the app to grab a Soarin’ FastPass before I even reach Epcot, and I won’t take no for an answer.
I can’t think of visiting Epcot without riding Living with the Land; it’s THE priority. Soarin’ is a bonus. I’m going to assume that I’ve acquired a FastPass between 2:00 and 3:00 for Soarin’. If the line for Living with the Land is longer than 20 minutes, I’ll enjoy my flight around the world first. Before Patrick even says “Soarin’ to tower”, I’ll have a FastPass for Living with the Land. Based on past experience, this should be easy.
After visiting the sticky floors at Club Cool to drink the Beverly, I’ll swing by Mission: Space for a first look at the new Green mission with superstar Gina Torres. The single-rider queue is my friend at Test Track for my next stop. I’ll say it again; Disney needs more of these. My last stop in Epcot is of course Spaceship Earth thanks to another FastPass from the app. Now let’s hit the Monorail!
A Fitting End
I can’t think of a better way to end the day then at The Magic Kingdom. I can’t possibly see everything, but the MDE app works best there. It’s also a easier to navigate with limited time than other parks. I plan to stroll through the gates around 4:30 after a relaxing Monorail trip. It’s all about FastPasses, and Adventureland is my first stop. I’ll check out a trio of stars — Pirates of the Caribbean, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and The Jungle Cruise. Several will likely involve FastPasses, with the Tiki Room sandwiched between them.
I’m focusing on the classics on this trip to The Magic Kingdom, so the Country Bear Jamboree is essential. It also gives me time off my feet, which is so important after nearly 12 hours. I’ll snag a FastPass and hang out with the 999 ghosts at The Haunted Mansion before finally having dinner. Thanks to mobile ordering, I’ll have a Combination Platter ($12.49!) waiting for me when I arrive at the Columbia Harbour House. It isn’t rocket science and is so convenient!
I promise this long imaginary trip report to the parks is almost over. If you’re still here, let’s go to Tomorrowland and ride the Carousel of Progress! I’m probably too ambitious in expecting a FastPass for Space Mountain, but it’s my dream so it’s happening After failing as usual on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, I’ll visit my other essential attraction — The People Mover. The only goal is ensuring I finish in Tomorrowland before Happily Ever After plays at 8:00. I need to get back across the park before the fireworks clog up Main Street. We performed this same trick during our last trip over MLK weekend, so it’s totally possible.
If possible, I’ll board Big Thunder Mountain during the fireworks either by FastPass or Standby. Lines disappear quickly during nighttime shows, and I’m counting on that to happen. I’ll also check out Splash Mountain, which is another must-see when it’s open. And that’s it! Well, that’s almost the end. I’m swinging by Aloha Isle before the park closes for a Dole Whip. Strolling down Main Street all lit up with an ice cream in hand is perfect. If I’m still standing by this point, I’ll check out a few shops and enjoy the atmosphere before finally exiting the park.
The Numbers
Parks: 4
Attractions: 25
Ticket Price: $174.00
Hotel Rate: $217.80 (two nights)
Food Costs: $61.95
Souvenirs: $0
Total Costs: $453.75
Note: The estimated costs listed above don’t include tax, and I haven’t considered airfare in the calculation of the total costs. There are limits to my imaginary planning.
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Disney World Trip Report: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
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This is awesome thanks for sharing I need a game plan for my trip in June. I took advantage of Pandora last summer so if the wait is too long I might return to check it out later in the evening. No time to waste at Disney World.
Definitely. Pandora’s waits were definitely up there when I visited in January. Flight of Passage was 3-4 hours every time I checked, even at night. The wait times seem to be holding pretty steady, even on slower days. Thanks for the comment!