Welcome to planDisney, Shane! You and your daughter arrive at the
Most Magical Place on Earth in a few days, so I bet you're in countdown mode. My niece always waits until she's at the airport to tell her kids they're going on a Disney vacation. I could never keep that news a secret; I want to shout it from the rooftops! Speaking of sharing, let's look at ways to maximize the magic when visiting the theme parks this week.
My first suggestion is to look over the calendar for each day's
theme park hours. I like to toggle to see the five-day view of all four parks at a glance. For example, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park closes around 6:00 PM daily, so you might consider saving this park for a future trip. Or, if you go, prioritize a couple of attractions. I'd choose
Kilimanjaro Safaris and
Festival of the Lion King for a wild afternoon.
If you arrive around 3:00 PM, you'll have six or seven hours at the other theme parks. That's plenty of time to soak up some fun. The
My Disney Experience mobile app is a handy tool to help you use your time efficiently. Tap the "Rides, Shows & Lightning Lane Entry" tile to see current wait times and help plan your strategy. You can also save time using the app to place
mobile food orders. Try the
Plant-based Totchos at Woody's Lunch Box at Disney's Hollywood Studios; you'll thank me!
My family prioritizes one or two activities, so anything else we accomplish beyond that is gravy. If your must-dos are Space Mountain and Happily Ever After at
Magic Kingdom Park, I bet you'll still have time to experience "it's a small world" and Mickey's PhilharMagic. Finally, if you see an attraction or show with little to no wait, do it! You never know what future favorite you'll find.
Sometimes, tossing the must-do list aside and being in the moment leads to the most magical memories. If you ever want to "Come back, Shane,"
planDisney will be waiting!
Magic awaits,
Elaine