WALT DISNEY WORLD IN JUST 3 DAYS

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WALT DISNEY WORLD IN JUST 3 DAYS

Author: Cara Goldsbury

So your headed to Walt Disney World, but you only have time for
a long weekend. Although it’s certainly not the ideal way to see
“The Happiest Place on Earth”, it definitely can be done,
especially if you’re willing to hit the parks early, stay late,
and be content with only catching the highlights. Even though
you’ll only be touring for 3 days, buy a 4-day Hopper Pass
(unused days never expire) in order to visit two parks on the
last day. Stay on Disney property for easy access and
pre-arrange priority seating, Disney’s answer to dining
reservations, weeks before your trip by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
Most importantly, bring along a great pair of walking shoes and
lots of energy. Hang on for a whirlwind of a tour.

Friday at The Magic Kingdom

1. Arrive one hour prior to opening which allows enough time to
park, shuttle to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and
cruise over the Seven Seas Lagoon by monorail or ferry to the
park’s entrance. 2. Grab a quick breakfast at the Main Street
Bakery. They usually begin serving their mouthwatering pastries
around thirty minutes before official park opening time. 3. Head
straight to Splash Mountain in Frontierland, then take in Big
Thunder Mountain next door. 4. Cut back through the hub to
Tomorrowland, pick up a Fastpass (Disney’s nifty, free,
timesaving device allowing you to return at a given time with
little or no wait in line) for Space Mountain (if necessary).
During your wait see ride Buzz Lightyear. 5. If anyone in your
party is interested in the Fantasyland attractions (as I usually
am) go there now. It will probably be necessary to pick up a
Fastpass for either Peter Pan’s Flight or Winnie the Pooh, so
check it out first. Ride Peter Pan’s Flight and The Many
Adventure of Winnie the Pooh and be sure to see Mickey’s
Philharmagic. 6. After Fantasyland have a fast food lunch at the
Pecos Bill Cafe. 7. Pick up a Fastpass at The Haunted Mansion in
Liberty Square before settling down for the afternoon Share a
Dream Come True Parade at 3 PM. 8. After the parade, head to The
Haunted Mansion and then to the Pirates of the Caribbean in
Adventureland. 9. Make a priority seating reservation for
Cinderella’s Royal Table or Tony’s Town Square Restaurant for
dinner and enjoy the park until the evening’s festivities begin.
10. See the SpectroMagic parade and the don’t-you-dare-miss
Wishes fireworks.

Saturday at Epcot

1. Have breakfast at your hotel and be at the park one half-hour
before opening time. 2. Head to Mission Space and Test Track
first and then move over to the west side of Future World to see
Honey I Shrunk the Audience at the Imagination pavilion. 3. Hop
next door to The Land where you’ll want to ride the Living With
The Land attraction. 4. Ride Spaceship Earth. 5. Move on to the
Universe of Energy. 6. Head to World Showcase and pick up a late
lunch at one of the many international fast food spots. 7. Work
your way around World Showcase for the remainder of the
afternoon, making time between stops for shopping and a few
highlights including Maelstrom in Norway, the Reflections of
China film, The American Adventure show, and Impressions de
France. 8. Make priority seating at one of the World Showcase
restaurants for 7 PM. My favorites are Mexico’s San Angel Inn,
France’s Bistro de Paris, and Morocco’s Restaurant Marrakesh.
Search for a nice viewing spot around the lagoon for the 9PM
Illuminations spectacular about thirty minutes prior to
showtime.

Sunday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios

1. Have breakfast at your hotel, head to the Animal Kingdom, and
be at the park gates one half-hour before opening. Use the time
before rope drop to walk the paths of the Oasis. 2. At rope drop
head straight to Kilimanjaro Safaris and then walk the Pangani
Forest Exploration Trail. 3. Backtrack to Discovery Island to
take in It’s Tough to Be a Bug then head to Asia and walk the
Maharaja Jungle Trek. 4. Work in the Festival of the Lion King
at Camp Minnie-Mickey sometime during the day. If you have young
children, stop for a visit at the Character Greeting Trails. 5.
Pick up a fast food lunch. My favorite is the Tusker House in
Africa. 6. Then it’s time for Dinoland. Pick up a Fastpass (if
necessary) to Dinosaur. During the wait take in Primeval Whirl
at Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama. 7. It will now be late
mid-afternoon and time to head to Disney-MGM Studios. Thrill
junkies should immediately head down Sunset Boulevard to the
Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. 8. If touring
with young children or if thrill rides aren’t your cup of tea,
skip the scary rides and see the The Voyage of the Little
Mermaid then the Great Movie Ride. Afterwards take The Magic of
Disney Animation tour. 9. Ride Star Tours and if there is time
see Muppetvision 3-D. 10. Make the latest priority seating
possible for a late dinner at the Hollywood Brown Derby for
dinner. Head back to your hotel and collapse.

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney
World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer
available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com,
Amazon.com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at
www.luxurydisneyguide.com. mailto:info@luxurydisneyguide.com

About the author:
Cara Goldsbury is the author of "The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney
World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer".
A former travel agent and agency owner, she has traveled
extensively throughout the world.

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