Mastering the Disney World 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge: Tips and Itinerary

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What is the Disney World 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge?

The Disney World 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge is the ultimate adventure for Disney enthusiasts. This challenge involves visiting all four theme parks—Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom—in just one day. To conquer this challenge, you’ll need a well-thought-out strategy and a bit of Disney magic. Utilizing tools like Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes can help you minimize wait times and maximize your fun. Whether you’re a seasoned Disney fan or a first-time visitor, this challenge is a fantastic way to create unforgettable memories with family and friends while exploring the wonders of Disney World.

Planning and Preparation

Success in the 4 Park Challenge starts with planning and preparation. Begin by deciding the order in which you’ll visit the parks. Consider the location of each park and the transportation options available—Disney World offers a variety of efficient transportation methods, including boats, buses, and the monorail. It’s crucial to plan your day around park hours, aiming to arrive at each park during the least busy times. A well-structured plan will ensure you make the most of your day and enjoy every moment of this exciting challenge.

Challenge Rules

• Take a photo with the icon of each park (Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom, the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom, the Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios, and Spaceship Earth in EPCOT)
• Get a snack in each park
• Ride one attraction in each park
• Take a photo with a character in each park

My 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge Recap

Animal Kingdom

At 8:40 AM I drive under the Walt Disney World sign and am officially on Disney property! By 8:52 AM, I’m parked in Animal Kingdom and walked to the entrance. After snapping a photo in front of the Tree of Life, I hop in line for a photo with Russell and Doug from Up at 9:02 AM.

The standby line for Dinosaur is only 10 minutes, so I jump in line at 9:16 AM and by 9:36 AM, I’m grabbing a Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll from the Isle of Java. I’m back at my car by 10 AM and headed to theme park number two, Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Hollywood Studios

I arrive at Hollywood Studios at 10:13 AM and walk to the entrance. At this point, I’m already at 4,210 steps for the day! First stop: Trolley Car Cafe (aka Starbucks), where I spend 20 minutes in line for a Carrot Cake Whoopie Pie. Around 10:45 AM, I sit down to enjoy it.

Once I’m done, I head over to Star Wars Launch Bay and get in line at 10:56 AM for a photo with Chewbacca. I’m seriously thanking the Disney Gods for air conditioning—Trolley Car Café was packed and I definitely overheated while waiting for my order.

I check the app and see that Star Tours has a 10-minute wait time (spoiler alert: it was more like 20), so I decide to stick with the Star Wars theme and get in line at 11:29 AM. Once R2-D2 and C-3PO safely land us, I head over to Hollywood Boulevard and snap a selfie with the Tower of Terror.

By 12:10 PM, I’m done with all my tasks in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

I hop on the Skyliner and arrive at the back gate to EPCOT at 12:48 PM. Current step count: 8,201.

EPCOT

After scanning into the back gate, I notice Daisy doing meet-and-greets, so I hop in the (blessedly) short line at 12:52 PM. Character photo: check!

I head to Journey Into Imagination With Figment and finish the ride by 1:13 PM. I snap a selfie with Spaceship Earth, then make my way around World Showcase clockwise from Mexico. At 1:44 PM, I snag a dark chocolate salted caramel from Karamell-Küche in Germany.

The sky started to look like rain, so I checked the weather app—it was just a quick shower. I duck into the 2:00 PM American Adventure show and enjoy the air conditioning (and maybe a quick nap) while waiting it out.

By 2:50 PM, I’m back on the Skyliner to Hollywood Studios to retrieve my car and head to my fourth and final park of the day: Magic Kingdom. I reach my car at 3:19 PM with 15,035 steps logged.

Magic Kingdom

At 3:29 PM, I park in Scar, only to realize the tram doesn’t seem to be running. Yay, more steps! Ten minutes later I make it to security, then board the monorail at 3:44 PM. At 3:55 PM I scan into the park and head to Guest Services to grab my Celebration button, because completing the 4 Parks in 1 Day Challenge is definitely celebration-worthy! Walking down Main Street, I soak in the atmosphere and excitement of the park.

I mobile order corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner and snap my Cinderella Castle selfie while waiting for them. After inhaling my first non-sugary meal of the day, I swing by First Aid for a band-aid and then head to Dumbo for my final ride of the challenge.

My step count hits 18,241 when I board Dumbo at 4:48 PM. Finally, it’s time for the last piece of the challenge—my final character photo! I hop in line at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and by 5:13 PM, I’ve got a photo with both Goofy and Donald. Challenge complete!

But did I really go to Magic Kingdom if I didn’t get a Dole Whip? I head to Aloha Isle and grab a pineapple float before making my way back to the car. I exit Magic Kingdom at 5:53 PM and hop on the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center. When I arrive to the TTC at 6:05 PM, I’m thrilled to find the tram running again. I make it back to my car at 6:26 PM with a grand total of 21,142 steps.

Tips, Tricks, and Suggestions

Wear sunscreen and hat because you truly don’t realize how much sun you get at the theme parks.

Electrolytes are a lifesaver! I wouldn’t want to do this challenge in the heat of the summer because even on an (unseasonably hot) April day, I could definitely feel myself getting dehydrated. I always carry electrolytes to the theme parks and Liquid I.V. Passion Fruit is my favorite!

When choosing your snacks, go for ones that are more than just sugar! By the time I got to Magic Kingdom, I was in desperate need of some real food and I felt so much better after the corn dog nuggets! (Debatable if those are real food or not, but I think you know what I mean!)

I picked rides and character meet-and-greets based on low wait times, which meant that I was doing some things that I might not normally do (like Dumbo) and it was honestly so much fun!

Make sure you check park opening and closing times and plan your 4 parks 1 day challenge accordingly. Animal Kingdom is usually the earliest to close and it’s the least connected to the other theme parks, so it’s a good one to knock out first thing in the morning.

Consider using the individual lightning lane for popular attractions to bypass long wait times if you do the challenge during peak seasons.

Am I glad I did it? Yes! Would I do it again? Mmm…maybe!

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