Visiting the Disney Parks

This article provides several helpful hints for visiting the Disney parks.

Note:
This article was written before Covid-restrictions, so some of these hints may not apply during 2020 and 2021. For example, park hopping is not permitted in September 2020, unless you pay for a VIP Tour.

Definitely get the Disney My Experience application for your phone so you can monitor lines while in the parks. It can really help you figure out what rides to go to, and what other parks to visit if the park you are in gets too crowded. Remember that Magic Kingdom can fill up during busy times of the year, so having another park to go to can be critical.

We often visit multiple parks in one day, using EPCOT as a place to have dinner and enjoy their fireworks at night. By going to EPCOT at the end of the day, it also gives the kids some time at another park early (before the crowds), and then we can enjoy different countries in EPCOT at night. Going through all the countries at once can be a long time for the kids without “a ride”, so by doing some each night, we get to see more and keep smiling.

Magic Kingdom and Epcot

If you want to visit both of these parks in one day, you can park your car near the monorail station at Epcot, and then take the monorail over to Magic Kingdom (you need to change monorails at the Transportation Station). Then, when Magic Kingdom fills up, you can take monorails back to Epcot and enjoy things there, including dinner in the country of your choice and the fireworks show.

Hollywood Studios and Epcot

If you want to visit both of these parks in one day, you may want to drive to Hollywood Studios to get there early, and then drive to another park later. If you want, you can park your car at Epcot, and walk through Epcot to the International Gateway (exit before bridge between England and France). Then, take the boat or skyliner to Hollywood Studios. When you are done, you can take the boat or skyliner back to Epcot and enjoy things there, including dinner in the country of your choice and fireworks show.

Animal Kingdom

You need to drive to this park. If the parking lot isn’t packed (it rarely is), it isn’t far to walk from your car to the front entrance (if you don’t want to wait for the tram).

Dining with Characters

Dining with the characters is a great way to combine eating with a great chance to get up close photos with the characters. Select a meal with the characters you want to have photos with (ask which characters will be there). Breakfasts can be a less expensive meal and a good way to start the day. There are many character dining options…here are just a few we can think of that we’ve enjoyed:

• Chef Mickey – Contemporary Hotel.
• Beach Party – Cape May Room at Beach/Yacht Club Hotel.
• Princesses – in EPCOT near Norway.
• Mary Poppins – in Grand Floridian Hotel.
• Crystal Palace – Winnie Pooh and friends in Magic Kingdom.
• Cinderella’s Castle – Longer sit-down meal is served up in Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom.

Developing a Game Plan – Hints for Each Park

• Game Plan: Magic Kingdom
• Game Plan: EPCOT
• Game Plan: Disney Hollywood Studios
• Game Plan: Animal Kingdom

Note:
This article was initially published in 2011, and updated in 2014 and 2020.