Intersection of Interstate 4 and FL 528 (Bee Line Expressway), 10 minutes south of downtown Orlando and 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport. For general park information, call (800) 4-ADVENTURE, or (407) 351-3600.

Animal Kingdom

The hours for AK are the most restrictive due to most events only being available during daylight hours.  If you are planning a short day (early start, early finish), this is the park.

Hours
-Animal Kingdom normally opens earlier than the other parks.
-Hours are subject to change.
-Extended hours may apply during holidays and summer months.
-Call 407-824-4321 or check here for up-to-date information.

Parking
-All-day parking is available at $8.00 for visitors and free to Walt Disney World Resort guests with proper resort ID.
-Trams provide transportation from the parking lots to the park entrance.

Getting Around
-There is no in-park transportation.
-Buses provide transportation to all on-property resort hotels.

Disney Hollywood Studios

As with the Animal Kingdom, daylight is the name of the game here.  The hours vary with the seasons, but the Lights, Motors, Action show is done by dusk. The backstage tour is also a daylight event.  The biggest planning challenge here is balancing the timing of the shows you want to see.  Also – If you are planning on seeing Fantasmic, you have to allow an hour to be in line prior to the opening for seating.   Be sure to have done everything you wanted to do before you get in line.

Hours
-Usually 9:00 a.m. until about an hour after sunset.
-During holidays and summer, hours may be extended.
-Call 407-824-4321 or check here for up-to-date information.

Parking
-All-day parking is $8.00 for daily visitors and free for Walt Disney Resort guests with proper resort ID.
-Lots are marked by your favorite Disney characters holding video cameras.
-Trams provide transportation to the main entrance from areas not within walking distance.

Getting Around
-There is no in-park transportation.
-Buses provide transportation to all on-property resort hotels.

Epcot

EPCOT is a bit unusual since Future World opens 2 hours before World Showcase.  Any park activity planning should allow for that.  EPCOT has the least variable hours of any park and is fairly consistent with the 9AM to 9PM schedule, except around the holidays and some Fridays.

Hours
-Future World is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
-World Showcase hours are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
-Extended hours are offered during certain holidays and the summer months.
-Call 407-824-4321 or click here for an up-to-date schedule.

Parking
-All-day parking at Epcot is $8.00 for daily visitors and free for Walt Disney Resort guests with proper resort ID.
-Lots are named after Future World pavilions.
-Trams provide transportation to the main entrance.

Getting Around
-Water taxis, called FriendShip launches, ferry guests across the World Showcase Lagoon. Docks are located near Mexico, Canada, Germany, and Morocco. Also, double-decker buses shuttle guests to and from Future World to the World Showcase.
-Water taxis provide transporation from selected Disney resort hotels and Epcot.
-Buses provide transportation to all on-property resort hotels.

Magic Kingdom

These hours can fluctuate more than any other park due to 1) projected crowd level, 2) seasonality and 3) most attractions are not limited by darkness.  Therefore, in your plan, you should take this high level of flexibility into account.  Extra Magic Hours here may extend your playtime anywhere from 1-3 hours per day.

Check the Disney website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/

Hours
-9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. -During busy seasons, it is open later than usual.
-Call 407-824-4321 or click here for up-to-date schedules.

Parking
-All-day parking at the magic kingdom is $8.00 or free to resort guests with proper resort ID.
-Lots are named after Disney characters.
-Lots Minnie, Sleepy and Dopey are within walking distance of the ticket center. Other lots are served by trams.

Getting Around
-The Walt Disney World Railroad steam trains make 20-minute loops of the park, stopping to pick up and drop off passengers at stations on Main Street, Frontierland, and Mickey’s Toontown Fair.
-Horseless carriages, a fire engine, and horse-drawn trolleys take turns offering one-way trips down Main Street.
-Buses provide transportation to all on-property resort hotels.

The best ones are below.

Disney World Wait Times by Phunware is also a free Android App. It is a much more comprehensive app as it includes excellent data on park hours, parade times and multiple days can be viewed.  This can come in handy for planning during a multi day visit.   It also gives detailed info on each ride, including age and height requirements.

Phunware – Wait Times App

This app is $3.99 and is a very comprehensive as it includes excellent data on park hours, parade times and multiple days can be viewed.  This can come in handy for planning during a multi day visit.   It also gives detailed info on each ride, including age and height requirements.

Download here from iTunes

Versa Edge – Wait Times App

The second app is free and it covers all the parks.  It’s pretty basic and is user based.  It allows you to enter new wait times as you travel the parks and you can validate the accuracy as you go.  This can be important if time is tight.

Displayed wait times are based on app user submitted times and park crowd levels. Now with hundreds of thousands of users.

• Ride wait times for all 4 Disney World parks
• All times for each park displayed on the same screen
• See recent times submitted for each ride
• Submit a ride wait time if you are in the park
• See rides nearest to your GPS position
• Time displayed in minutes, a CL if closed, or dashes if unavailable

Download here from iTunes

By Mike S.

PARKS:

Below is a list of a few family favorites.  Your best bet – do the map link below and pick your personal favs – beforehand!  Work everyone’s picks into a flexible plan.

You can also get custom maps made up at the Disney website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/maps/

Yes, this is all a part of the planning process.  It helps to optimize your time, give everyone options, and allows for flexibility

Magic Kingdom:

In no particular order….

Space Mountain – this is the iconic ride in Tomorrowland that is on a lot of must do lists.  Recent renovations have made the queue time a bit more interesting (but not less painful) and have also made the ride a lot darker.  Yes – it is better.

Big Thunder Mountain is less intense than Space Mountain and many kids who shy away from the darkness of Space Mountain will tackle this.  Lots of fun!

Haunted Mansion – a scary ride for kids, but the effects are incredible.

Mickey’s Philharmagic – this is a short musical show that is a must see.  We go every time we are in the MK.

Pirates of the Caribbean – another must –see if you are a fan of the movies.  Jack Sparrow pops up a few times and the likeness is spooky.

Jungle Cruise – funny ride with funny boat captains and lots of corny jokes. Great family fun.  You’ll moan, you’ll groan, but the jokes never get old.

Splash Mountain – you will get wet.  Moms classically do not like to walk around soggy the rest of the day.  Kids don’t care.  Dads need to be well aware of everyone’s preferences here (note: especially mom’s).   In the summer, this feels great.  In the winter, not so much.

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin – fun fun fun.  This is the “older” version of Toy Story Mania at HS and is still a lot of fun.  Don’t worry about motion sickness here – you control the spin.  The name sometimes intimidates people.

Dumbo – this may look fun, but be prepared for a long wait.  This is traditionally the longest queue in the park.

Tomorrowland speedway – kids have loved this for years and it has not changed much at all.  Best to know who is going to drive BEFORE actually getting up to the car.  And yes, you will bump the car in front of you, especially if it contains a sibling.

Stitch’s Great Escape – this can be very scary for the younger crowd.  Crazy special effects in the dark.

Hollywood Studios:

Toy Story Mania in 3D.  This is a must see, even if you aren’t yet aware that this is a must see.  Get a fast pass early or wait in line.  The Toy Story themed decorations inside make it worth the wait.  This is a great interactive ride – one of the newest rides on the property.

Beauty and the Beast show.  Excellent – especially if you liked the movie.  Live show.

Fantasmic.  Outside nighttime fireworks/pyrotechnics show.  Can be a bit overwhelming for younger kids.  You have to decide based on what your family likes.  This also takes a lot of time, between waiting and watching.

Animation building.  Do the tour and draw a character. These make great free souvenirs.

Lights, Motors, Action.  Car stunt show is very good.

Indiana Jones Stunt Show.  Excellent show if you liked the movies.

Tower of Terror.  Great view of the park.  Can be scary in the dark during the ride.  And it is probably something to skip if you don’t like heights or that funny feeling in your gut when going down on a roller coaster.

Rockin’ Rollercoaster.  This is only for real coaster riders.  High speed in the dark with loops.  Can be disorienting, but what a ride!  0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds.

Animal Kingdom:

Fav show of all time – Nemo, the Musical.  You have to do this show.  Live actors with huge puppets.  Excellent music and Broadway quality performance.  The soundtrack is available on iTunes.  This is entertaining for the entire family.

Kilimanjaro Safari.  This is a great ride in a SUV type vehicle through the plains of Africa.  This is real with real animals – not animatronics.  Great photo ops.

Expedition Everest:  Not for the faint of heart.  I have seen grown men get off this ride and turn green.  It goes forwards and then backwards in the dark.

Tough to be a Bug.  This is the 3D movie inside the Tree of Life.  Can be scary for young kids.  Screaming kids consistently leave before the end.  Huge spiders dropping from the ceiling and other special effects are fun, but intense.

Lion King.  Do this one also.  Great performances.

Walking tours.  There are two of these (Asia, Africa) and a nice way to take a slow walk and see the animals.

Dinosaur.  This is one of our favorites.  It is not a simulator, but a ride in a mechanically operated vehicle through a series of dinosaur scenes.  You get tossed around pretty good and they take your pic when a T Rex comes out, so it is fun.

EPCOT:

#1 ride – Soarin’.  This has replaced Test Track as the best ride in this park.  It is a simulator that takes you in flight over California.  Excellent ride.  Good for kids.

Test Track.  Always fun and they take your pic at a great spot.  Not a simulator.  You are in a vehicle on a test track environment.  Great ride.

Imagination ride.  Great for the kids.  Lots of interactive activities at the end.

Energy ride with Ellen Degeneres.  Interesting “learning” ride with a fun twist to it.

The Land – the boat tour through the greenhouses is great.  If you have a bit more time, sign up for the Behind the Seeds tour which allows you to walk through the greenhouses with a tour guide.  This is much more interesting.

Mission Space.  This is a major simulator that they actually had to tone down due to too many people getting sick.  May not be for you if motion sickness is even a minor problem.

Canada movie.  This is a 360 film that is really spectacular.

Spaceship Earth.  You are at Epcot and it is simply required to ride in the big golf ball.  The line goes quickly since this is a continuous flow ride.  Lots of interactive kid style activities at the end.

Innoventions.  These two areas are informative, interactive and fun.  Take the time to do a few things.  Riding a Segway is an interesting challenge.

Height Requirement

Get ready for an entire universe of action, thrills and excitement! It’s the only place on earth with two amazing theme parks, non-stop nightlife and three world-class hotels, all in one convenient location.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure® is the spot for serious thrill seekers. On five amazing islands - like Marvel Super Hero Island®, The Lost Continent®, Jurassic Park®, Seuss Landing™, and Toon Lagoon® – you’ll discover fantastic new worlds.

You can finally break into showbiz and be a star for a day at this real working film and TV studio. Universal Studios Florida® is unlike any place on earth!

Ask any local – Universal CityWalk® is Orlando’s hottest spot for dining and entertainment. It’s a bustling 30-acre entertainment complex where you can experience the best of the best in live music, casual and fine dining, dancing, shopping, movies and more.

Wet ‘n Wild, Orlando’s most exciting waterpark, offers the best variety of multi-passenger tube rides. Boogie down on the newest retro raft adventure - Disco H2O™. Splash to the hits of the seventies as you spin circles through an enclosed aqua disco.

SeaWorld Orlando is the world’s premiere marine adventure park with 200 acres of world-class shows, thrilling rides and unforgettable animal encounters. More than 80 million visitors have explored the mysteries of the sea with up-close animal interactions and exhilarating thrills. New state-of-the-art rides such as “Kraken” and “Journey To Atlantis” twist, turn, and drench guests with unprecedented thrills, while amazing animal encounters include killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, stingrays and more.

Water.  Whether or not it is the heat of the summer, this can save you a few dollars.  When you stop to eat (or anytime you are thirsty) just go up to one of the counter service operations and ask for a cup of ice water.  It beats paying $2-3 for a bottle of water!  Many people think that the only way to get water in the parks is to buy bottled or to use a drinking fountain.  Unless you really hate Florida water, do not buy a bottle of water on Disney property.

Parking.  Text your row name/number to your spouse or kids immediately upon seeing it. Do not wait.  If you are just using Disney transportation from your hotel, no problem.

Food/snacks.  Which brings me to my next favorite topic – munchies.   It is perfectly acceptable to bring food into the parks.  Most people have a back pack or bag to hang on the stroller.  This can go a long way to making the kids happy.  And you don’t have to buy all the big dollar snacks!  Of course, some Disney junk foods are required eating.

Eating.  Do not eat at meal time.  If you are a breakfast at 8AM, lunch at noon and dinner at 6PM person, you are in big trouble at WDW.  Eating at off hours is the key to a relaxing meal with minimal lines and plenty of seating.  This applies to all parks, every day, all day.

Coats.  If you are expecting variable weather, you may be bringing coats in the morning and then be shedding them later.  And then need them again as the sun goes down.   Lockers are available at all the parks to stow coats or snacks or whatever.  Sometimes this is a good alternative to dragging them around all day.   Which comes full circle to the stroller note.  It is very tempting to bring a big stroller and use it a shopping cart to carry coats, snacks and everything in between.  One word – Don’t.

Souvenirs. This varies widely based on your budget.  If you don’t plan on buying much, then you should be fine.  But – nothing makes a souvenir turn ugly faster than having to lug it around all day.  Most of the larger locations will ship the goodies right to your Disney hotel.  Another huge benefit to staying on the property.  Overall, the best plan is to have a pre-set limit for each kid based on cost, quantity, per day, per park – whatever you establish.  This avoids a lot of screaming in the stores.  And it makes the kids think about what they are getting, which makes the final buy a real treasure – not next month’s dust collector.  Beware of the pin stations!  They can cost you dearly if you are not prepared.

Photopass.  These happy Disney employees are everywhere and want to take plenty of pictures of you.  These are very expensive and most times not worth the money.  These photographers are not Ansel Adams.  ANY Disney employee (and most guests) will take your family portrait in front of the castle for free – using your camera or phone.  All you have to do is ask. If you really want to try Photopass, get a few shots taken and when you get home you can take screenshots of the pics and paste them into Word or Powerpoint.

Fastpass.  Use sparingly and wisely.  You are only allowed a certain number of Fastpasses each day.  It is based on the time that you are allowed to return for a ride.  The system remembers your tickets and the Fast passes you have been issued, so it will not issue out a new one until the time stated on your current Fast pass.  So be careful.  Many people think that Fastpasses are unlimited – not so. When you pick up maps at the entrance to each park, it will show the rides that use the Fastpass system if you don’t already know.

Parent swap.  Each of the major rides has a parent swap so that you only have to wait in line once.  Ask when you get to the front of the line.  Then, you swap and the other parent gets to go.  Everyone gets to ride and you minimize waiting time.   This was established to accommodate families with wide variances in child ages and preferences.

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If you have kids, the key to fun is keeping them happy since this reduces your stress levels.  Overall review:

1)      Have a plan

2)      Keep the food flowing

3)      Allow time to rest

4)      Make sure everyone gets to do their favorite activity

Good Luck!

Some family favorites:

Downtown Disney:

Earl of Sandwich.  This is a soup/sandwich/salad place that is the most affordable on the entire property.  If you are taking an afternoon to do some shopping, plan on a stop in here for a quick bite and you will not be disappointed.

Fresh A-Peel.  This just opened in Fall 2010 and is very good.  They have a salad section that is good.  Smoothies also available.

Rainforest Café.  Exciting themed restaurant – younger kids are sometimes bothered by thunderstorm effects inside.  We love it due to the wide variety of food choices.  The Portabella mushroom burger is fantastic.  There are also several good pasta dishes available.

T –Rex.  Similar to Rainforest, but with a dinosaur theme.  The food is very close as they are owned by the same parent company.

Fulton’s Crab House.  This is the large paddle boat at one end of the Marketplace.  Food is good, but pricey for a family stop.

On the West Side – Bongo’s Cuban Café has interesting food and a fun atmosphere.  Family friendly.

Hollywood Studios:

Backlot Express.  The vege sandwich is excellent.  Burgers and a good turkey sandwich also make this a good choice.  And there is seating both inside and outside.

There are also a few quick serve locations on Sunset Blvd – walking towards Tower of Terror.  Great salads and pizza.  Also, fresh fruit is available along here.

Pizza Planet.  Pizza is Ok (not great), but kids will like it if they are Toy Story fans.

Mama Melrose’s has great pasta dishes in a fun New York Italian atmosphere.

ABC Commissary.  A quick serve location with different tasty options.  The fried shrimp skewered on top of the burger is great.

Hollywood and Vine.  Great AYCE buffet and dinner packages can be set up with Fantasmic.  Good food selection for all family members.

Brown Derby.  The food and the atmosphere are both great, but very pricey for a family group.

Animal Kingdom:

Tusker House has a wide selection and there is also Pizzafari which is pretty good.

Flame Tree BBQ has been a bit of a let down over the past year or so.  Sandwiches have gotten smaller and ribs aren’t as good.  Tasty, but this is becoming a questionable value.

In the morning, the coffee shop in Africa has excellent BIG cinnamon rolls.

There is also a Rainforest Café at the entrance. They have the same menu as the location at Downtown Disney.

Magic Kingdom:

Cosmic Ray’s.  In Tomorrowland.  This is one of the best family one-stop places in the park.  Burgers, chicken, salads, wraps all under one roof.  Fixins bar has mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, etc.

Casey’s.  This is a favorite for grabbing a hot dog and cheese fries.  Very popular with families.

Nice Lunch/Dinner: Tony’s Town Square.  This is right when you come in the entrance.  If you think you might want to eat here, get to the park early and go here first.  Check out the menu to see if you would like it and then ask for a preferred seating reservation.  These reservations will go fast!  Many people do not know this and just show up at lunch time and are out of luck.  Also open for dinner. You can make a reservation in the morning for anytime during that day.

The Plaza.  This is a bit of a secret as it is tucked away at the end of Main Street and most people walk right by.  It is a small place, but that makes it an excellent intimate place for a family birthday.  Just tell your waitress, and the ENTIRE restaurant sings Happy Birthday, guaranteeing maximum embarrassment for the recipient of a special cupcake dessert.  The food is very good.

Pecos Bill Café.  This is near Splash Mountain and never disappoints.  Burgers and salads that will satisfy and there is a great fixins bar.

MK Buffets.  The only caution on these is that with younger kids they can be pricey and the value may not be there for finicky eaters.  They can also chew up a lot of time.  This is a family decision if you want to take MK time to eat or if you would rather be hitting the rides and activities.

There are also lots of snack places around which may fill you up!  More than any other park.  Turkey legs, ice cream, funnel cakes, etc……

EPCOT:

Sunshine Season Food Fair – Land Pavilion.  Downstairs offers a good mix of items (with great desserts) that will most likely appeal to all family members.

Electric Umbrella – Near Innoventions.  Another spot that is loved by families due to the kid friendly menu.

Liberty Inn – American Pavilion.  This is a standard since it has, once again, good old American food.  Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Lotus Blossom Café – China Pavilion.  A basic Chinese menu that most people will be familiar with.

Tangierine Café – Morocco Pavilion.  A great spot for a gyro, wrap or platter of lamb or chicken.

Yakitori house – Japan.  This spot has great Beef Teriyaki and several other delicious Japanese items.  How good is it?  It is always packed with Asian tourists.

Best family full service restaurants –

Germany – Biergarten.  The food is great and the entertainment is fun for all.  One of the best family dinners and shows in the parks.

Canada – Le Cellier.   The steaks are fantastic and it is a family friendly atmosphere.  It can also be nice just for couples.

Garden Grill – The Land.  This rotating restaurant has all the basic family requirements.  Disney characters, lots of American style food and a constantly changing venue to keep everyone’s attention.

Coral Reef – the Living Seas.  The food and the view are not to be missed.   However, some of the younger pallets may not fully appreciate the menu.  Be sure you have seafood lovers (not fish stick lovers) if you are going to do this with the whole family.

Nice dinners outside of the parks:

Boma – Flavors of Africa. Located downstairs in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  This is the main hotel of the Animal Kingdom and does not require park admission.    Note: They are usually booked weeks out.

Sneaky trick – Arrive before 4:30PM at the podium upstairs as you come into the main lobby.  If there is nobody there, go to the main desk and ask when they start taking walk in seating.   This is on a first-come, first-served basis and sometimes a line forms.  But the dining room opens at 4:30 and most days they let early walk-ins go in without a reservation.  Podium phone number – (407)938-4722.  If there is no answer, it will switch you to the WDW dining reservations line.  But if you get someone at the podium, they can confirm if they can work you in.  Several meat dishes, but also a lot of fresh unique salads and soups.  The Carrot Ginger Soup is the best!  All the kid staples (Mac ‘n cheese, chicken fingers, fries), a plethora of interesting flavors for parents and plenty of fun desserts for all.  Hey – it’s all you can eat!

Chef Mickey’s – Contemporary Resort This is on the 2^nd level of the Contemporary and is one of the most family friendly AYCE dinner buffets.  The characters keep things jumping and there is no shortage of food.  It can also be fun after dinner to hit the shops on this level and also go out on the observation deck.  Late night fireworks over the Magic Kingdom are fantastic from here.  It is an entirely different perspective than down on Main Street with the masses.

For any dining reservations you may want to make or more detailed menu questions –  (407) WDW-DINE

It is strongly recommended to stay on the property.  Bus transportation to and from the parks is free.  At some of the resorts, boat or monorail transport is also free to the parks.

The All-Star resorts are very economical and family oriented.  Food courts offer a variety of options, including vegetarian.  All Star Movies, All Star Sports, All Star Music and Pop Century are all laid out basically the same, with the various themes applied to the rooms, pools, decorations and eating areas.  Depending on your family’s interests, these specially themed resorts can be a lot of fun.  Be sure to check out the hotel specials – this can save a lot of money.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/

Also, it is suggested to call in to make reservations – (407)W-DISNEY.  Many times there are specials going on that you may not see online.

Since the All Star resorts can sometimes be noisy, a moderate resort is also a good option and Port Orleans is a very nice family spot at a good price.  You can also take a boat from there to Downtown Disney which can be fun.  The Wilderness Lodge is a family favorite and is right next door to the Magic Kingdom.  It has very nice restaurants and there is a boat you can catch behind the resort that takes you right to the MK entrance.  If you are looking to go top of the line – the Grand Floridian is the place to be.  The décor, the rooms, the food, the beach and pool area, etc., are all fantastic.

Keep in mind – One of the key benefits for Disney hotel guests are the Extra Magic Hours at the parks.  This provides extended parks operating times for those with Disney hotel IDs.

If you decide to stay off property, you will spend a fair amount of time going back and forth to the parks.  As you will see further down, we do not recommend staying ALL DAY in the parks.  This is where the excess transport time can roll up, wasting your valuable travel dollar.  And you will also pay $14 each day to park.  This is the first variable to address in the plan.  If you are going to see other attractions in the area, off property may be acceptable and the time factor may balance out.  If you are going for the full Disney experience, stay in a Disney resort.  Your family will be glad you did.

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This sample agenda is intended to cover all the parks – one full day in each.  Use it as a strawman/skeleton/road map to help you develop your own plan.  After reading this entire document, you should have sufficient information to plan full, satisfying days very effectively.

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DAY 1:  HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Get there for opening.

Head back to the Pixar area and get a Fast Pass or get in line for Toy Story Mania.  If the line is not bad – maybe do both.  Fast Passes will be gone for this by midday.  Now relax.  You are set with the most popular attraction in the park.

Get a fresh time sheet (at any gift shop checkout counter) to confirm the daily show times.  Based on your preference list, check out the ones you must see and plan them out around meal times and rest times.  This is arguably the toughest park to recommend to someone.  This is because likes/dislikes here are so personal.  Some visitors love Beauty & the Beast, others could pass. Some people do not bother with the Indiana Jones Stunt show, others wouldn’t miss it.   Stop and review the showtimes, allowing for time before and after for queuing up and bathroom breaks.  Do not be surprised if you have to criss-cross the park to see all the shows on your list.  Sometimes that is required in order to do it all.

Make sure to do the Backlot tour relatively early in the day. You do not want to get pressed for time and miss the last tram.  This is in the back of the park and can be done in sync with Lights, Motors, Action – the car stunt show.  Once the daylight is gone, so are these attractions for that day.

Circle back around to the hat and take in The Great Movie Ride if interested.  Be aware that the movies in here are very old.  Kids might have only seen them on AMC.  It’s a neat ride, but limited appeal for the younger crowd that may have never seen the movies.

The Animation building is a flexible stop and can be done as quickly as desired.  There are character photo ops and other exhibits to see along the way.  A great family activity is at the drawing room where you learn to draw a Disney character.  Everyone draws their own under the direction of an instructor.  Sign them, date them and they become free keepsakes of your visit.  TIP:  Be sure to ask for rubber bands at the gift shop so you can roll them up for safe transport home without bending.

Each group has to determine the best way to handle the timing of Tower of Terror and Rockin’Roller coaster.  Some families may pass, others may split up to cover these.  The most important thing is to know beforehand so you don’t spend time on Sunset Blvd. debating what to do.  Fast Passes are available for both.

All other rides/shows are at your preference, but play the daylight correctly and you will

make good use of the time.

DAY 2:  MAGIC KINGDOM

Get there for opening.

This is the toughest park to cover in a day due the size of the park, the number of attractions and the crowds.  It is always the most crowded park at the holidays, being shut down many times due to being at max capacity.  What is the key?  Having a plan, visiting what each person has picked as a favorite and taking everything else in as a bonus.  A little bit of scurrying about for the first few hours can save a lot more hours of line time later.  You will notice this as the day progresses.  In season, off season, it always works the same way.

Go directly to Space Mountain and get a Fast Pass.  Then get all the way over to Frontierland and get in line for Big Thunder Mountain.  After getting off there, make a call about who is going on Splash Mountain.  You are now finished here.

Back to Tomorrowland.  If you are doing the Speedway, do it now.  The lines will only grow during the day.  Your Fast Pass for Space Mountain should be up just about now.  After that, either get in line for Buzz Lightyear (across from Space Mountain) or get a Fast Pass.  Choices can be made here – everything is very close.  Stitch’s Great Escape or the Monster’s Laugh room.

Over to Adventureland.  Pirates of the Caribbean.  No Fast Passes, so you want to play this line as needed.  If it looks excessive you may want to come back.  Next stop – Jungle Cruise.

Cross over into Frontierland and then into Liberty Square.  At your fingertips are the Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents and the Liberty Square Riverboat ride.  There are also a few eating places to choose from.

These are the most popular family attractions.   There are plenty of others that may be on your list, but the goal is to minimize your wait time at the marquis attractions.  In between this craziness described above, find time for snacks or lunch.  Remember, do not eat when the rest of the world is eating.

If it is now getting to be about 2 PM, it is time to get out of the park.  Attendance is peaking and so are the lines.  Head back down Mainstreet and grab the bus back to your resort.  Take a nap, change clothes, maybe even have a shower.  RELAX.  Even if you aren’t overly tired lay down and get the kids to crash.  Try to plan on catching the bus /boat back to the park for arrival about 4:30.

NOTE:   A variable here can be the afternoon parade.  If everyone has to see it, stay a little longer, but enjoy a rest on the curb on Main Street. You will need to do this to ensure a seat and also to allow for a quick exit after the parade.  The hotel break concept remains the same, just shifted a little.

As you should have had a snack at the hotel, you will not be hungry right when you return – perfect.  Everyone else is now trying to find something to eat.  You will see screaming kids, sleeping kids, kids flopped over shoulders, etc., while parents struggle to find a place to grab a bite and camp out for a while.  Your team is rested and refreshed!  Hit a few other attractions of your choice at this time.  Lines will be a bit shorter.  Big Thunder Mountain is one ride that is completely different at night.  This is a great choice to hit again and can be done live or by getting a Fast Pass if they are still available.

If it is now after 6-7PM, you may want to start looking for a dinner spot.  If you made reservations, go to it.  If not, things are now slowing a little at the quick service spots.

Catch rides/activities that you have not yet done – which should be few.  Make sure to be aware of the evening parade and fireworks times.  Another great viewing spot for the parade is in front of the Hall of Presidents. Most times in the summer they leave the doors open and it can be like watching the parade in the air conditioning!  So pick a spot and have a seat.  Enjoy the parade!  Many people like this more than the daytime parade(s).

Make sure you are on Main Street – somewhere near Casey’s about 30 minutes before the fireworks.  This gives a great view of the fireworks over the castle and allows for incredible photo ops all through the show.

What happens after this depends on the time of year and the mood of the family.  At the holidays, the parks stay open as late as 3AM.  Other times, things will close after the fireworks.  However, by now, you should have hit all the big attractions and, hopefully, any others on your lists.  Enjoy a last run through the shops on Main Street.  You may also want to grab a snack at the bakery.

Congrats! You did it!  Now hurry up and get to bed.  You have another big day ahead of you tomorrow.

DAY 3: ANIMAL KINGDOM

Get there for opening.

Walk very fast to the back of the park to get a Fast Pass for the Kilimanjaro Safari ride.  Pick up a time sheet on the way to get the times for all the shows that day.  Plan out the show times against your must see list.  Kilimanjaro will be one of the first things to close down for the day, so don’t get bumped out due to daylight.

If Everest is on your must do list, go there now.  The lines will only get longer.  You cannot get another Fast Pass at this point, so the line is your only option.

Just as with HS, hitting the show times can cause some backtracking on the walking, but use that to see more of the park.  On the way to a show, you may see something you will want to come back to later.

Depending on your Fast Pass timing, you may want to combine items that are fairly close.  Get a FP at Dinosaur and then hit the Nemo show.  The Nemo show does have a line, so plan on showing up at least 30 minutes before the time you are attending. Almost all seats are good and the performers do come out in the audience, but being able to get closer to center is always better.

Leave the walking tours (Asia, Africa) for a flexible time as they are at your own pace and there is no set time.  These can be worked around Fast Pass times.

The lines for It’s Tough to be a Bug are usually short (not like Kilimanjaro or Everest) so that can be done at almost any time during the day.

Character meet and greets and the Lion King show are a good combo due to proximity.  Creative use of parents – one in line for the show and one in line for Mickey pics – can work very well here.

Be flexible with the food stops.  Due to the limited full service restaurants in this park and the limited park hours, it can be best to do quick service lunch and then plan on an out-of-park dinner later.  There are obviously costs savings here also.

AK closes earlier than any other park, so this is the only park where it may be better to tough it out with no afternoon break time and just go back to the hotel when everyone is tired for the day.

OPTIONAL:  If you get park hopper tickets and have the stamina, this may be an opportunity to revisit missed attractions at the MK at night after AK is closed.  Or any other park, since there is no additional charge.

DAY 4:  EPCOT

Getting here right at opening is not required, but it should still be fairly close.

Your first task is to get to the Land Pavilion and bolt downstairs.  Make the call on Soarin’. Either get a Fast Pass or just get in line.  If you get a Fast Pass, immediately go across to Test Track and get in line.  Read the bottom of your Soarin’ Fast Pass. You will not be able to get a Test Track Fast pass now.  Yes, this is a lot of running around, but you will have now seen the two most popular attractions in the park.  Fastpasses for both are normally gone by early afternoon and the lines can go to 90-120 minutes later in the day.

Note: Don’t leave Future World items to do on the way out at night.  Even though they are indoors, most of these pavilions close early.

Go over and get in line for Spaceship Earth.  Backtracking to this may seem odd, but you have saved 1-2 hours with the previous Fast Pass strategy.

Hit the Pin Station, grab a coffee, go through Innoventions and do some of the interactive items.

Do the Living Seas.  This can be done one of two ways.  Go through the line, which is usually not bad as this is also a continuous ride through the aquariums.  Or – go in the exit (to the left of the entrance) and walk around at your leisure.  You still get to see just as many fish – just without the Finding Nemo section.  Dolphin show times and feeding times are posted and you can watch best on the upper level.  The manatees can be viewed on both levels.

Decide how you would like to handle the Land, the Imagination Ride and the Energy Ride based on your preferences and timing.  Much of this will depend on what you want to do for lunch.  If you are planning on lunch in World Showcase and it is now after 11AM, you should start to head over there.  Eat before everyone else eats.  If you are planning to do a quick lunch in Future World, judge by the lines you are no doubt already seeing.

After lunch is much more open.  You will have already seen all the hottest areas with the longest lines.  Spend the afternoon cruising World Showcase, seeing as much of the countries as you like.  Get a passport for the kids and have them stop at each country to do the activities.  This makes the area much more interesting for them.

At this point, it is time for an afternoon break.  It is suggested to go back to the hotel about 2, take a quick nap and possibly change clothes depending on the projected evening weather.  Arrive back at the park (yes, your parking ticket is still valid) by 4:30 with fresh faces. Dinner may be your next best event at this time.  If you have Preferred Seating at any of the restaurants, make sure you have allowed enough time to return to the park AND walk to the appropriate pavilion.

Walk World Showcase and enjoy the shops and entertainment.  You can also catch anything you may have missed in Future World on the way in.  Be mindful of the wind direction by 8PM.  Illuminations is at 9PM.  You want to make sure you are upwind of the fireworks in the lagoon or you will be eating smoke and ash during the show.  Good viewing spots can be found at just about any place around the lagoon.

Congratulations – Your family has done it all in 4 days!

I-4 East 2 miles to exit 75A; 13 miles from Orlando International Airport

Park Hours

Universal Studios® and Islands of Adventure are open 365 days a year. Operating hours normally begin at 9am and closing times vary. Universal CityWalk® operating hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., 365 days a year.

Parking

- Cars, Vans, & Motorcycles: $11.00
- RVs & Trailers: $12.00
- Preferred Parking: Available for automobiles for just a few extra dollars.
- Free Parking: Available after 6:00pm in the Universal Orlando® parking garages, except on designated special event nights, and excluding Valet Parking.