When planning our winter 2018 Walt Disney World vacation we decided to set a goal for ourselves on the last day of the year--December 31, 2018. The goal, visit all four parks in one day!
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| That's us at Magic Kingdom prior to opening for Extra Magic Hours at 7:00 am. |
We set the rules for ourselves:
- A park icon photo at each park.
- Use only Disney transportation system.(Could we use all forms in one day?)
- Ride at least one ride at each park with a ride photo.
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| We stopped for some photos on Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom |
Our plans started to come together and involved some strategy. Magic Kingdom has a tendency to close early to new guests on this very busy day. We wanted to start our day there. We also had to think through Fastpass selection and decided to make a Fastpass for Disney's Hollywood Studios which we would visit later in the day. And, for fun, we added some Advanced Dining Reservations.
Magic Kingdom changed their operating hours and added morning Extra Magic Hours opening at 7:00 am, which helped our plans immensely! We were set!
We were up and at the bus stop at our Disney resort by 6:00 am and on the bus to the Magic Kingdom shortly after. Security was operating smoothly and we were in front of the Magic Kingdom by 6:30 am, waiting for the park to open, which it did at 6:45 am. This gave us time for photos and a bathroom stop prior to attractions opening at 7:00 am.
Buzz Lightyear was our first stop, followed by Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Carousel of Progress was open and we enjoyed being the only guests in our theater! Carousel of Progress is an attraction at Magic Kingdom that Walt Disney personally touched.
As we made our way out of Tomorrowland, we stopped at the famous purple wall for photos. The goal was to be through the hub and in line for Adventureland to open at 8:00, so we could be some of the first guests on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Our strategy worked, for the most part. While we were some of the first guests in the queue, there was a delay in the attraction opening.
The trick was that we needed to check in for our flights at 8:20 am. I told the husband that it would happen right in the middle of our ride. Nope, the time hit 8:20 just as we were exiting and riding the conveyor belt up to the exit and store. I stepped aside checked in for our flights on my phone at the top of the hill! Done!
We leisurely made our way back to the front of the park, enjoying the Main Street Singers show and all the guests making their way into the park.
Our next stop of the Grand Floridian and we enjoyed the boat launch to get to our destination. Our tummies were rumbly and it was time for some breakfast at 1900 Park Fair.
1900 Park Fair provides a great character breakfast and buffet. Guest get to meet Piglet in the exit area of the restaurant for a total of 5 characters in all!
When our appetites were satisfied, we explored the lobby of the Grand Floridian. Each holiday season they construct a life-sized Gingerbread house. There is even a store inside.
A Photopass photographer was available to take our photos with the Christmas tree in the lobby as well as with the Gingerbread house.
At the Grand Floridian, we hopped on the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center and switched to the EPCOT monorail.
We we were on the monorail we could see the traffic trying to enter the Magic Kingdom backed up for blocks. I got an alert on my phone at 11:35 am that Magic Kingdom was closed to new guests.
Test Track was our destination. We stood in the Single Rider line with the times showing 45 to 60 minutes. Brent noticed that there were no cars roaring overhead. Then the announcements began. The attraction was experiencing difficulties and would take over an hour to be repaired and that we should exit the queue. We watched everyone begin to walk away from the attraction. We stayed put. Soon, we were at the front of the Single Rider line. A Cast Member inquired as to our plan, then graciously added Fastpasses, available for any attraction other than FROZEN or Illuminations, to our accounts.
With a bonus Fastpass in hand, we went to meet the Wreck-It Ralph characters. The line was about 45 minutes so we divided and conquered, with me being in line and the guys heading off for Starbucks. Worked like a charm!
We were hoping that Test Track would be back online by the time we were done with characters, but no such luck. We headed to Soarin'. No ride photo. We had broken one of our own rules for the day. As always, the ride was fantastic!
We made our way through Future World, getting our park icon photo taken, and headed to International Gateway in EPCOT for the next two parks on our four parks, one day adventure.
To this point, things that were making our day easier:
- We were traveling without bags so we could enter parks using the "No Bags" line.
- The husband had camera, phone, wallet, portable charger w/cord in his pockets.
- Annual Passes that allows for park hopping.
- Beautiful weather! We didn't need coats, ponchos, etc.
Want to read more about our four parks, one day adventure?
Click here to read Part 2.
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