Is one day per park enough?

[MinnieS11]

I actually have no choice but this option. I was just wondering is it doable to do most of the rides in one day? I worry with hours being cut so short. I look at wait times daily, and it seems if we get there super early and start left, that it would be a decent strategy...well, at least for MK. Going mid April after Easter.

 

[MomOTwins]

I actually have no choice but this option. I was just wondering is it doable to do most of the rides in one day? I worry with hours being cut so short. I look at wait times daily, and it seems if we get there super early and start left, that it would be a decent strategy...well, at least for MK. Going mid April after Easter.

In the past with fastpass we've always found 1 day per park to be enough and had no trouble riding pretty much everything. In 2020, with shorter hours and standby only, that was really not the case for MK and HS. It seems to be a lot better when hours are extended as they were around the holidays, but with MK at 9am to 6pm, and hour+ waits for popular attractions as it was last October, we really didn't get to do nearly as much. And if you are unlucky to be there on a day when rides have unexpected downtime due to rain or mechanical issues, that really makes it impossible.

If I only had four park days, I would probably choose one park to drop and do either MK or HS (depending on which you prefer) twice. For us, AK is what we would drop because with the shows closed there is just not as much to do there; for others I know people have been skipping Epcot lately due to all the construction and reduced WS entertainment. If you do decide to do all four parks, just be prepared that you'll probably have to miss out on some things.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

Can you do a hopper? When I was there in August we finished early in the 3 smaller parks, but MK was still a full day park. If you want to make sure you get everything in, get hoppers and do MK or anything you missed after the other 3 parks.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

I would say yes - do you really mean all? MK def has the largest number of attractions but I skip like Hall of Presidents and Tiki Room and Country Bears so I never find it difficult to do all the rides I want to do in 1 day, with re-rides on my favorites. Seconding springing for Hoppers if that's possible for you, that way if you find yourself unexpectedly done at a park earlier than anticipated you can maximize your day elsewhere.

 

[MiraclesTakeTime]

We usually do one day for each park except for MK. We always do two days at MK. One day is enough to ride everything during normal hours, but the kids just like to go more than once. However, I'm not sure how easily everything will fit in with the current hours.

 

[kwdw]

You can get a lot done in one day - open to close - but maybe not everything with the shorter hours. Just be prepared to be there before the park opens and to remember they typically still let you into a ride line a few minutes before closing. So - if that's all the time you have - you can get in pretty much everything with some prior knowledge and a plan.

 

[Lindersj]

Based on our trip the week before Christmas, yes. We rode everything we wanted to, sometimes twice, and typically were done in 5 hours. It made me realize how much time we usually spend on shows, fireworks, and sit-down indoor meals.

 

[MomOTwins]

Based on our trip the week before Christmas, yes. We rode everything we wanted to, sometimes twice, and typically were done in 5 hours. It made me realize how much time we usually spend on shows, fireworks, and sit-down indoor meals.

With extended hours and annual pass block outs that week, I don’t think it is reasonable to extrapolate to the OP’s trip in spring. Fall is a better comparison for what to expect in April.

 

[sethschroeder]

I actually have no choice but this option.

This is what I would do:

• Buy Park Hopper (you can wait until you get close to your trip or on your trip to add it if reports are saying its useful)

1. Magic Kingdom hop to Epcot to end day (hit low wait rides, end day on Soarin)
2. Hollywood Studios (skip TT/ROR if not enough time) hop to Epcot to end day (hit World Showcase working England to Norway, end day on Frozen)
3. Animal Kingdom hop to Hollywood Studios (if you didn't get to TT/ROR) otherwise hop to Epcot (hit low wait rides)
4. Magic Kingdom hop to Epcot to end day (low wait rides, end day on Test Track)

I would plan on paying for a Lyft/Uber to get from Park to Park. When leaving from Magic Kingdom I would walk to BLT to catch Lyft/Uber from there.

Epcot should be open latest every single day giving you extra time. I would leave for Epcot with about 3 hours left in day giving you about 2 to 2.5 hours at Epcot if you call your Uber/Lyft while walking out of the park.

Example based on this week:
Get in to each park 30-45 mins early each day likely

1. MK 8:15am to 5pm / Epcot 5:45pm to 8pm
2. HS 8:15 am to 5pm / Epcot 5:30pm to 8pm
3. AK 7:15am to 5pm / HS 5:45 to 7PM
4. MK 8:15am to 5pm / Epcot 5:45pm to 8pm

 

[MinnieS11]

Yes, park hopping is looking like a pretty ok option. Thanks y’all.

 

[GeneralTso]

We rarely park home at WDW. There's just so much to see and do at each park.
We've done it, it's been fine but not a necessity.
Different story at Disneyland/California Adventure. We park hop all the time there. It's awesome.

 

[bakerworld]

AK and Epcot can be done in one day. MK would be impossible because it's just too big and HS could only be done if you can get in a BG.

 

[KGolf31]

Because I'm analytical (and I've done this in the past with such decisions). I'd create a preliminary wish list of rides you want to ride. Then a list of rides you'd like to ride, and lastly others that are "good to go on if we have time, but if we miss I won't be disappointed".

I'd periodically check MDE to see estimated wait times/check with the Recently back thread and see how things are trending. Then allocate your time slots to those rides and kind of roughly map out an ideal day. You should quickly see if things are/aren't feasible.

 

[MinnieS11]

I’m totally fine with missing some rides, but it’s my coworker I’m worried about. It’s her first time ever and I don’t want her to pay all this money and miss the “must do’s”

 

[Davey Jones II]

I would allocate two days for the MK, especially if you're going with kids. The Kingdom is the park with the most rides and attractions.

 

[sethschroeder]

Because I'm analytical (and I've done this in the past with such decisions). I'd create a preliminary wish list of rides you want to ride. Then a list of rides you'd like to ride, and lastly others that are "good to go on if we have time, but if we miss I won't be disappointed".

I'd periodically check MDE to see estimated wait times/check with the Recently back thread and see how things are trending. Then allocate your time slots to those rides and kind of roughly map out an ideal day. You should quickly see if things are/aren't feasible.

Or get Touringplans and its calculates based on expected crowds for that date and historical trends. Yes things are different but still a good way to get an idea.

Plus no need to sort through all the thread for 2nd hand information of "what I remember" which may be inaccurate since the Touringplan app actively can track wait times for people reporting any given day.

Its $15/yr and realistically a solid investment in your trip.

 

[MinnieS11]

I would allocate two days for the MK, especially if you're going with kids. The Kingdom is the park with the most rides and attractions.

No kids. Two grown women. I was actually thinking of doing two days for HS so I can make sure I get a BP. If I get one , then I would switch the second HS day to the park I’m missing.

 

[chris benton]

I actually have no choice but this option. I was just wondering is it doable to do most of the rides in one day? I worry with hours being cut so short. I look at wait times daily, and it seems if we get there super early and start left, that it would be a decent strategy...well, at least for MK. Going mid April after Easter.

Most of the rides? NO. Well, yes at Epcot.
Still, with only rides, you'll be missing out on a lot.
Suggestion: Prioritize what attractions are important to your group, and plan a realistic attack of how to do them while waiting in line with some of the other 250 million 160k people that visit Disneyworld every day. My favorite resource for building a plan of attack is touringplans.com.

In the end, do what's best for your group. You are the ones paying for this vacation. If you have fun just winging it, and trying every ride you can fit in, that's what's best for you.

Easter is on a Sunday this year - hopefully all of the schools will be back in session the Monday after. That would work in your favor to keep crowds low.

ETA: @Davey Jones II corrected my 250 million people statement. Avg daily for Wallyworld outside of pandemic is more like 160k-ish.

 

[monkeydawn]

Easter is on a Sunday this year

Easter is on a Sunday most years.

 

[teawar]

I have an AP and just came back from WDW the second weekend of Jan 2021. I stayed on property with a friend that only had a 3 day non hopper pass. We rope dropped HS, MK, and Epcot (Festival of the Arts opening weekend). We basically rope dropped each park and did everything except for the spinning rides. Just go in with a plan to maximize the start of the day and you will be fine. The crowds seemed heavier at Thanksgiving than Christmas for us.