Help! I have only one day to visit all four parks.

MA Screamin'

MA Screamin'

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone! My family and I are visiting from Boston on August 10th, and since we can only go for a single day, we figured we'd take on the challenge of trying to hit all four parks (and maybe Blizzard Beach) all on that one day. I was hoping that you guys could help me come up with a rough plan for my family and I for our trip.

Let me start by giving some more details. My two younger brothers (both twelve and love thrill rides) and my dad (in his fifties and can handle some thrill rides, but nothing that could induce dizziness for medical reasons) will be traveling with me. We are staying about 2 hours off-site, so despite the EMH on Magic Kingdom from 12 AM to 2 AM on that day, we can't really be staying that late, but can get there bright and early at 8 AM. None of us are too picky with food, but for my little brothers, it'd be nice to have the traditional food options (burgers, chicken, mac 'n cheese) not too far out of reach. With that, my dad and I are always down for trying new things, so it'd be nice to grab some Mexican or Chinese in EPCOT for lunch or dinner.

In terms of transportation, if driving could be kept to a minimal, that'd be great. We do have a car, but it'd be great if we could park at the TTC and then go from there. Any other method is fine by us.

Here's a wishlist that I put together for what I'd like to ride and see during the day. I am totally flexible, and get that the list may be too long considering the short amount of time:

Magic Kingdom

Space Mountain
Stitch
Monsters' Inc.
Seven Dwarfs'
Little Mermaid
Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan
Small World
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise

EPCOT

Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Soarin'
Mission Space
Journey Into Imagination
Nemo
Frozen
Three Caballeros

Hollywood Studios

Great Movie Ride
Tower of Terror
Rockin' Roller Coaster
Star Tours
Toy Story Mania!
MuppetVision 3-D

Animal Kingdom

Bugs' Life
DINOSAUR
Kali River Rapids
Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris

For Blizzard Beach, my only priority is to have it as a way to cool off in the middle of the day. I don't mind spending only an hour of two there.

Like I said, that's a lot to do in one day, so if some things should be cut, that's fine by me.

The only thing is that I'd like to end the day with some sort of nighttime show. I'm leaning towards Wishes with Magic, Memories, and You, but again, I'm flexible.

That's pretty much it. I appreciate the help, so thank you so much!
 
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D

DisneyJoe

Well-Known Member
To start, one of the planning sites lists August 10 as an overall 9 out of 10, with the lowest for Epcot and AK at a 7. This means that for most popular rides, you are looking at 60-120 minute wait times.

If you haven't already, figure out your 3 FastPass+ for that day, that will help.

I'd forget about a water park.

I may focus on MK and Epcot and getting as much done there, as you can park at the TTC and go to MK and then easily get to Epcot.

The heat and the long lines are going to put a major hitch in your plans.
 
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DisneyFans4Life

DisneyFans4Life

Well-Known Member
I hate to be a downer...but I think you're biting off more than you can chew and will end up not enjoying yourself. Granted that HS is really a half day park...you'd still have to do the wait times for the majority of your rides and by the time you get off the bus, through security and into the parks, it's going to be time to turn around and leave.

My wife and I did all 4 parks in one day one time and vowed never to do it again. It's not fun and you feel rushed the entire time. I mean...the attractions you've listed that you want to do are pretty much either all the attractions at the park or at least all of the big attractions that are going to have the longest lines.

My suggestion would be to pick the two parks you guys want to visit and spend your time there enjoying them. You could easily park at the TTC, do your stuff at MK, hop a monorail to Epcot...spend the rest of the day there and then hop a monorail back to TTC at the end of the night for your car.

Just my $0.02...good luck with whatever you guys decide!
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Going in August, hopping to each park, and Blizzard Beach, adding in meals, and with only one day ... even though you will be planning on EMH, I cant see how you will accomplish even half of your lists. You have some major attractions listed so even with FP its pretty unrealistic. Youd be better off targeting only a few of the most desired ones. And I'd advise with one day, youd be better off just doing MK and try getting all those done. But if you want to bounce around...the best nighttime display IMHO would be Illuminations at EP.
 
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dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Not gonna happen. Trying to do Frozen and 7DMT alone will easily potentially take up 3-4 hours (you can only FP+ one, and most likely it's going to be neither 2 weeks out). Blizzard Beach won't be included in your park hopper ticket (unless I missed some major ticketing change). If you are going to drop the cash to get a water park ticket for 1 hour, just go whole hog and buy yourself a VIP tour for the day. Otherwise pick 3-4 things at each park, and then try to get those FP+ immediately for the first park. Run through a fountain mid day (each park should still have some sort of splash area I believe) or do Kali River Rapids and then voila! you are cool.

The more I read your post the more I wonder if we have a bridge dweller situation here. Things like 1 hr at water park, staying 2 hours offsite but trying to use EMH etc are red flags.
 
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Nemo14

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
We did 4 parks in one day once - never again, and that was in February without the summer heat, humidity, and crowds. Frankly, doing 2 parks would be more than enough to wear you out, let alone adding in meals and a water park. As far as EMH is concerned, you wouldn't qualify for that anyway since you state that you're staying off-property. I really think you need to rethink your plans.
 
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Disvillain63

Disvillain63

Well-Known Member
Agree with the majority...you're not staying on-site...so you won't have the advantage of EMH...you're planning on August 10th...heat, humidity, and the wind-up of Hurricane season, and the last rush of the summer vacation group...your wants are mighty lengthy and planning FPs without the 60 day window...Frozen, and others will be limited.

We are here at the moment. We've witnessed 12 year olds and adults having meltdowns...they're not just for toddlers. Stand-by liNES with 55+ minute waits, so many of your choices will take an hour or more.
 
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M

Mickey5150

Well-Known Member
Doing Epcot and HS in a day is very doable and taking the boat in between them is a good way to relax for a bit. Even adding in the MK and taking the monorail you should be able to do a few things there, but AK is far enough away from the other 3 that it would really eat a big chunk of time. The other issue is security lines nowadays, figure at least 15 minutes a piece to be safe and that's an hour if you try all 4 parks. Your MK plan will take you at least 7 hours if you are lucky so if I were you I'd do what I do and that is to pick 3 fastpasses at night and then hit the closest park to that one in the morning. If you want thrills then the best fastpasses are at MK since there are no limits to which 3 you can choose. Hope you have fun, and whatever you choose, good luck.
 
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epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Yeah, it kinda saddens me when I read something like this. Seems like a simply awful way to spend a day at WDW, regardless of your energy level or attention span. There is so very much to see and enjoy that rushing from one thing to another in an attempt to do as much as possible seems like a poor idea. Why not enjoy one park and have a quality day?
And, as others have said, that schedule is not gonna happen in early August anyway. Good luck to OP whatever you decide, but I hope you decide to scale back this plan a lot.
Thirty one attractions, a water park, dining, bathroom breaks and transportation in the course of one day? Uh, no.
 
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epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Disvillain63 said:
Agree with the majority...you're not staying on-site...so you won't have the advantage of EMH...you're planning on August 10th...heat, humidity, and the wind-up of Hurricane season, and the last rush of the summer vacation group...your wants are mighty lengthy and planning FPs without the 60 day window...Frozen, and others will be limited.

We are here at the moment. We've witnessed 12 year olds and adults having meltdowns...they're not just for toddlers. Stand-by liNES with 55+ minute waits, so many of your choices will take an hour or more.
Click to expand...
That list would not be possible with little to no waits. It takes time to actually get from park to park then from attraction to attraction, then you have to factor in the actual time at or on the attraction.
 
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Lucky

Lucky

Well-Known Member
MA Screamin' said:
Hi everyone! My family and I are visiting from Boston on August 10th, and since we can only go for a single day, we figured we'd take on the challenge of trying to hit all four parks (and maybe Blizzard Beach) all on that one day. I was hoping that you guys could help me come up with a rough plan for my family and I for our trip.

Let me start by giving some more details. My two younger brothers (both twelve and love thrill rides) and my dad (in his fifties and can handle some thrill rides, but nothing that could induce dizziness for medical reasons) will be traveling with me. We are staying about 2 hours off-site, so despite the EMH on Magic Kingdom from 12 AM to 2 AM on that day, we can't really be staying that late, but can get there bright and early at 8 AM. None of us are too picky with food, but for my little brothers, it'd be nice to have the traditional food options (burgers, chicken, mac 'n cheese) not too far out of reach. With that, my dad and I are always down for trying new things, so it'd be nice to grab some Mexican or Chinese in EPCOT for lunch or dinner.

In terms of transportation, if driving could be kept to a minimal, that'd be great. We do have a car, but it'd be great if we could park at the TTC and then go from there. Any other method is fine by us.

Here's a wishlist that I put together for what I'd like to ride and see during the day. I am totally flexible, and get that the list may be too long considering the short amount of time:

Magic Kingdom

Space Mountain
Stitch
Monsters' Inc.
Seven Dwarfs'
Little Mermaid
Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan
Small World
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise

EPCOT

Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Soarin'
Mission Space
Journey Into Imagination
Nemo
Frozen
Three Caballeros

Hollywood Studios

Great Movie Ride
Tower of Terror
Rockin' Roller Coaster
Star Tours
Toy Story Mania!
MuppetVision 3-D

Animal Kingdom

Bugs' Life
DINOSAUR
Kali River Rapids
Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris

For Blizzard Beach, my only priority is to have it as a way to cool off in the middle of the day. I don't mind spending only an hour of two there.

Like I said, that's a lot to do in one day, so if some things should be cut, that's fine by me.

The only thing is that I'd like to end the day with some sort of nighttime show. I'm leaning towards Wishes with Magic, Memories, and You, but again, I'm flexible.

That's pretty much it. I appreciate the help, so thank you so much!
Click to expand...
I'd suggest cutting a few things. Or violating the laws of physics. One or the other.
 
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"El Gran Magnifico"

"El Gran Magnifico"

We are The Knights who say Nuuk
Premium Member
Pick 1 park for Rope Drop and try and knock out 3 or 4 rides quickly. You may be able to squeeze in another ride or 2 with an acceptable wait time.

Grab a donut or a muffin along the way.

Use your FP for Park 2 for the middle of the day and knock out 3 rides in about two and a half hours.

Grab a Mickey pretzel while exiting.

Use the app to pick an additional FP while on your way to Park 3 in the late afternoon hours and hit that and immediately select another FP while waiting in line for another ride.

Grab some popcorn and head to the first aid station for some oxygen. While inhaling the oxygen, select FP for park 4.

Hit Park 4 and use the aforementioned FP and then try for another FP and hit 3 or 4 rides right at closing.

Return to the first aid station and request transport to the nearest medical facility. Grab a Mickey Frozen Ice Cream while waiting for said transport. Use FP to bypass the ER wait time.

It can be done. 18 rides, 4 parks, a water park, and breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to boot.

Edited to say: While on your way to the ER have the Paramedics stop at Typhoon Lagoon and lift you over the fence. Dip your toe in the water and then return to your transport and continue on to the medical facility.
 
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trr1

trr1

Well-Known Member
scorp16 said:
Pick 1 park for Rope Drop and try and knock out 3 or 4 rides quickly. You may be able to squeeze in another ride or 2 with an acceptable wait time.

Grab a donut or a muffin along the way.

Use your FP for Park 2 for the middle of the day and knock out 3 rides in about two and a half hours.

Grab a Mickey pretzel while exiting.

Use the app to pick an additional FP while on your way to Park 3 in the late afternoon hours and hit that and immediately select another FP while waiting in line for another ride.

Grab some popcorn and head to the first aid station for some oxygen. While inhaling the oxygen, select FP for park 4.

Hit Park 4 and use the aforementioned FP and then try for another FP and hit 3 or 4 rides right at closing.

Return to the first aid station and request transport to the nearest medical facility. Grab a Mickey Frozen Ice Cream while waiting for said transport. Use FP to bypass the ER wait time.

It can be done. 18 rides, 4 parks with breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to boot.
Click to expand...
you forgot the water park
 
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