Welcome to planDisney, Ria!
Oh, my goodness, your visit to Walt Disney World is coming up quickly--so exciting!
I love your idea of maximizing your enjoyment of the parks. There is so much to see and do, so the key to that maximized joy is definitely having a good plan.
When we tour the parks, we book
Lightning Lane Passes. Time saved from standing in a lengthy line for a fantastic ride means more time for others. Make a list of the first 3
Multi Pass experiences you'd like as well as any
Lightning Lane Single Passes on your must-do list so you know exactly which to pick when your booking window opens.
If your visit includes a stay at a
Disney Resort Hotel, you can get a head start on that fun by utilizing
Early Theme Park Entry. Check the
Hours & Events Calendar and plan to be at the front of the line (so arrive even earlier) when that Early Entry opens. Here's where that careful planning helps pack your day with more fun. If a few rides on your must-do list are top tier (you can only select one from that group when choosing your first 3 LL), select one via LL and head directly to another as soon as you enter the park during Early Entry. The line will likely be far shorter than later in the day when regular guests have entered.
When we visit Disney's Hollywood Studios, I pick Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run from that top tier group, then add Toy Story Mania! (it books so quickly!) and the earliest time for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror from the second group. At Early Open, we go directly to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. I aim for a Tower of Terror window right around regular park opening hours so when we exit Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, ToT is right next door.
As soon as you have done that first LL, use the
My Disney Experience app to pick another. If you have a WiFi connection while waiting, you might be able to snag that next pass after you've tapped into this attraction but before you've actually boarded. Woo hoo!
If your LL windows don't line up how you'd like, check back throughout the day for new availability. As other guests adjust their own plans, time slots that are a better fit may open up. My goal is to have the one hour windows overlap with each other slightly, as long as the location of each is not too far from each other. Arrive at the beginning of the window, tap in, then select another. Plan so that when you exit this one, your next window is already open, maximizing the fun indeed.
We always add the
Park Hopper Option to our park tickets, too. This allows guests to hop between parks each day so if you missed some fun--or loved something so much you'd like to do it again--you can!
Of course, leave time for a fantastic meal at some point throughout each day. In warmer months, I make a reservation for a late lunch or very early dinner. This gets us out of the heat and off our feet for an hour or so when the temperature will be at its highest. Relax, rehydrate, reminisce over your day so far and plan for the next.
Ria, as you plan to pack in the fun on your vacation, be sure to send additional questions our way. We love to help!
Andrea H