4/17/23

One Day at Disney

April 17, 2023

Our wacky community is not a reflection of the average vacationing family. I realize that is like telling you that water is wet, but I feel like some groundwork needs to be laid for today’s blog. A normal family going to Walt Disney World plans at least three days on property but that’s shooting low. Even most people or families that are frequent flyers to Disney World still schedule multiple days in the bubble. That’s completely reasonable as WDW is huge. Some of our friends from across the pond plan ten days or more dedicated solely to visiting the Mouse. While I envy this type of lengthy holiday, this is not the type of vacation we domestic Disnerds usually take. If I were to describe my ideal year of visiting the Vacation Capital of the World, it would look like this: one full-week vacation and three long weekends. My budget, family obligations, PTO, and prior commitments don’t normally allow for this, but that’s why it’s called “ideal.”

However, for the sake of this blog, we are going to assume a totally foreign proposition for most of us.

*cue Eminem's Lose Yourself intro* Yo, if you've got one shot. One opportunity to seize one complete day at WDW. Would you capture it? Would you milk it for all it's worth?

You have one day in the bubble. What are you going to do? Where are you going to eat? Which park(s) are you going to tour? Do you use Genie+? What do you prioritize? Why do you skip Hollywood Studios?

Well I am here to regale you with my 1-day WDW touring plan. 

Plant my keister on a bench outside of Boardwalk Inn and stare out over Crescent Lake for 12 hours.

That’s it. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to smash that "like" button and subscr-

Okay, while I could definitely camp out at Crescent Lake for a whole day and call it a successful Disney Day, I will try to be a bit more creative. But first, let’s set some parameters. I’m arriving on property at 7 AM and I have until Midnight to accomplish my day. I’ll be touring solo. There are a few places I will be assuming some reasonable amounts of “pixie dust”, but for the most part I will be expecting normal crowds, wait times, etc. I also will have an unlimited LYFT balance. With one day in the bubble, ain’t nobody got time for Disney busses. J

7 AM – Breakfast at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Pre-park opening is the only time I would consider a table service meal on a 1-day touring plan. Full service meals eat up 45 minutes to an hour, and that’s too much time to lose once the parks open. That cinnamon-roll bread pudding with the pecan praline vanilla sauce… I’m openly weeping right now as I remember it. Additionally, any time you can sneak in a visit to Animal Kingdom Lodge, you are winning.

8 AM – Animal Kingdom – I will most likely have purchased Genie+ for this day, and I will definitely purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Flight of Passage. Depending on my scheduled time for jockeying a banshee, I would try to sneak into the single rider line for Everest and perhaps hit up the safari if I could score a decent lightning lane for it. Nomad Lounge at 11 AM for a Tempting Tigress. 12 PM for lunch at Satu’li Canteen. Out the door by 1 PM.

1:30 PM – Boardwalk Resort – I’ll be grabbing a LYFT to the Boardwalk and a quick tour around Crescent Lake. Perhaps I’ll have a cocktail in Abracadabar, perhaps not. I’m going to sit outside Thimbles and Threads and listen to that magnificent big band and jazz loop wafting from the shops and galleries and people-watch for 30 or 45 minutes.

2:30 PM – EPCOT – I’ll meander in through the International Gateway (the only civilized way to enter that park) and head toward World Nature and the Land Pavilion. I’ll ride Living with the Land and perhaps Soarin’ if the line isn’t too long. I’ll head over to pay homage and thank the Phoenicians, and then make for World Showcase to do one quick lap

5:00 PM – Polynesian Resort – I’m now hopping on the monorail to the Polynesian Village Resort and heading down to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (relying on a little Pixie Dust to get in without waiting on a list). I’m enjoying a beverage while soaking in that incredible atmosphere – and the best background music loop on property! Only time for one beverage though as the day is getting away from me.

6:00 PM – Geyser Point – Time for bison burger! I’m catching the monorail over to Magic Kingdom and then hopping a boat to Wilderness Lodge. I’m finding a seat near Bay Lake and enjoying my burger and a Huckleberry Punch.

7:30 PM – Magic Kingdom – I’m hopping the boat back to Magic Kingdom. A ride on Pirates of the Caribbean is my must-do. If I have time before the nighttime spectacular, I may try to hit up Big Thunder Mountain or the Tiki Room. By 8:30 I should be finding a decent spot for Happily Ever After on the hub grass (once again, relying on some Pixie Dust to get a nice location this late). After watching the show (and probably leaking a little when Tink flies), I am heading over to Tomorrowland. That land has such an electric evening vibe. A ride on the People Mover followed by some Emporium shopping will round out my park time and probably let crowds clear out enough after HEA to exit without much hassle.

10:30 PM – Disney Springs – For years, my zeal for the Springs has been tepid at best. I have labeled it a bougie strip mall with great dining. The makeover starting in 2015 and running through 2019, while beautifying the area, was in many ways disappointing to me. Many of the boutique style stores were removed and replaced with high-end shopping experiences like Kate Spade New York, Anthropologie, Coach, Tommy Bahama, Vera Bradley, and more. World of Disney even received the Old Navy makeover. However, I have softened my stance on DS in the last year. There is an energy, especially at night, at Disney Springs that is hard to deny. My favorite spot is outdoor stage at Raglan Road Irish Pub.  If there is any entertainment happening on my selected day, that is how I’m finishing off my day.

How did I do? Did I leverage my time efficiently? Everyone has vastly different ideas about what makes an ideal WDW day, but my day is the superior day... you know, just in case you ever have to supply the definitive answer.