by Wishes Diva
So you have one day to visit Disney? You may be wondering: “Where do I even start?!” or “How do I choose?” Well have no fear, because this article is for you. There are many different things to consider when planning for a single day visit to the parks. Below you will find 5 categories to consider to help you narrow down your options.
–Thrill Rides- Do you visit Disney for the sole purpose of going on fast rides to feel the wind in your hair? Lucky for you, Disney has several to choose from. Magic Kingdom has the mountains: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. At this park you will also find the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to get your adrenaline going! In Epcot you’ve got Mission: SPACE and Test Track. In Hollywood Studios you can get your heart rate up by riding Rock’n’Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror and Star Tours. In Animal Kingdom you will find Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids and the Primeval Whirl. Disney Diva Tip- if you are a rollercoaster person, I suggest Magic Kingdom. If you enjoy the theming and storyline behind rides then I suggest Hollywood Studios!
Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios
–Characters- So many people visit the parks to see their favorite characters! Each park has something special to offer for character meet and greets, but often there are multiple places to see your favorites! Be sure to get a times guide (you can find general ones online, or grab it when you enter the park) to see what times yor favorite characters are meeting. You can also check the My Disney Experience app, but in my opinion it is not always as reliable as the times guide. Disney Diva Tip: for meeting characters, try to time it so you meet them at the beginning or the very end of their set. It makes for the best interactions.
Wishes Diva and her husband met Russell and Dug at Animal Kingdom
–Shows- When you are at Walt Disney World, you are surrounded by some of the world’s most talented performers! Each park has a unique set of shows prepared to entertain every guest. Magic Kingdom is set up with many different kinds of short, live shows throughout the park at different times of the day. This includes groups such as the Main Street Philharmonic and the Dapper Dans. There are also shows at the castle such as Dream Along with Mickey. The shows at Hollywood Studios can be put in one of two categories: on stage or in the streets. Studios has many wonderful on stage shows including Beauty and the Beast, Disney Junior, and the Frozen sing-a-long. There are also two stunt shows on stage here: Indiana Jones and Lights! Motors! Action!. For the “in the streets” shows, Hollywood Studios brings back the glamour of old Hollywood with the Citizens of Hollywood. Epcot’s shows are mostly scattered throughout the World Showcase. Many countries have their own live shows, including the UK, China, and Italy to name a few. Each show has something special to share about the culture of the country. Animal Kingdom has my two favorite stage shows: Finding Nemo and the Festival of the Lion King. Also, similar to Epcot, Animal Kingdom has performers that represent their countries, and in this case continents as well in live performances. Here, Africa and Asia are respresented with performances such as drummers, a street band, and a sitar/tabla duo. Disney Diva Tip- take a look at all of the shows and pick out the movies featured or acts that you are most interested in and hit up that park. If it were me, I would do Animal Kingdom in the morning and then head to Epcot’s World Showcase to see the live shows in the afternoon.
Finding Nemo show at Animal Kingdom
Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom
–Parades/Evening Entertainment- Walt Disney World has the most magical parades and fireworks show at all 4 of their Florida parks. For catching all the parades and fireworks, your My Disney Experience app will come in handy! Be sure to double check parade times for when you will be there. During different seasons, the parade times fluctuate based on attendance. Magic Kingdom has multiple parades with some bigger than others. For me, the must-see parade is the Festival of Fantasy Parade. In the morning and early afternoon Magic Kingdom also has the Move it! Shake it! Dance & Play it! parade and then the Main Street Electrical Light Parade in the evening. Magic Kingdom then ends every night with their Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show. At Hollywood Studios you can catch Fantasmic! as well as the new Frozen Fireworks Spectacular! Epcot has their show, IllumiNations: Relfections of Earth that takes place on and around the World Showcase lagoon. This show is my favorite nighttime show. The music is very special and it is such an all around unique experience. Animal Kingdom had an afternoon parade at one point, but it has recently been phased out. There are new evening shows in the works for Animal Kingdom, including a new show “Rivers of Light” set to take place at the Tree of Life and coming in March 2016. Disney Diva Tip- search for videos and pictures of each parade and fireworks show to get an idea of which one appeals to you best. My highlights are the Festival of Fantasy parade and IllumiNations, but you can also never go wrong with Wishes!
Mickey and Minnie float during Festival of Fantasy in Magic Kingdom
Tangled float during Festival of Fantasy in Magic Kingdom
View of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at EPCOT
–Nostalgia- If you are like me, then you grew up on Disney. Movies, stuffed animals, bedspreads and all. Often times when I visit the parks I like to take a step back to just take it all in. It can be hard to slow down while you are at the parks- so much to see and do!- but I think taking the time to slow down makes a huge difference. My favorite places to do this can all be found in Magic Kingdom. To me, Main Street is the ultimate place to sit and reminisce while taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Disney. My other favorite place to visit and people watch is between New Fantasyland and Liberty Square, near Rapunzel Tower. The theming in this courtyard is so on point that I can sit for hours and people watch. Disney Diva Tip- if the nostalgia factor is the main reason you are visiting, then it shouldn’t even be a question that a Magic Kingdom is the park for you.
Planning for Disney can be chaotic and overwhelming. Especially if you are trying to make the best out of a short trip! Keep in mind that flexibility is key. Schedules are constantly changing at the parks based on the time of year that you are visiting. Check the times guides and the My Disney Experience app often to stay on top of changes. But most of all, do what you can to make your trip a magical one!
