So, I’m in my 4pm doldrums at my desk and my brain needed a break . . . so I started planning our day of doing 4 parks in 1 day this October. It’s just my wife and I, staying at BCV. It’s a Monday, with all regular hours and no special events scheduled (we’re between two MNSSHP dates).
The twist I’m thinking about is doing all 4 parks, focusing on what might remain from their original opening date. (Looking at Hollywood Studios, I expanded it to opening YEAR for that park).
Looking for help with ideas or overlooked gems in each park. Hoping to do an attraction, a show, and grab a snack or treat in each park. We want to also meander and take in the atmosphere at each park, so planning on 2-3 hours in each. Here are my initial thoughts:
Start at AK - early entry, but only to stroll around - Safari, Bird Show (revised over the years, but there)
Then HS - soak in Hollywood Blvd before Star Tours and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular - any other ideas here? So little remains from 1989.
EPCOT is next - Spaceship Earth (again, revised but some elements remain), Impressions de France and . . . ?
MK to cap off the evening - Haunted Mansion or Small World, Enchanted Tiki Room, and gotta do the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse!
I appreciate any tips, secrets or food/snack ideas you might have! I feel like this is do-able since we won’t need LL and are flexible enough to Lyft if things aren’t working out (particularly a regular Lyft to GF or Contemporary to stroll over to MK ).
It’s interesting to think about how much of the parks is new! Without looking it up, I think you’re pretty close to capturing everything. I’m wondering about the following:
AK: Was the FotLK show (or a version of it) around at park launch?
HS: I have it on good authority Batuu was founded a long time ago What about The original Little Mermaid show?
EP: When was the original Figment ride launched? Gran Fiesta Tour (without Donald)? LWTL? The Seas (without Nemo )?
MK: Carousel of Progress? Autopia? PeopleMover? I know PotC was added shortly after opening, but maybe it’s worth fudging the rules for LOL.
You’re probably right about FotLK . . but it was in Camp Minnie-Mickeys. Still the same show, though, I think!
LOL on Batuu . . . I was lucky to go to MGM in late May 1989 and I’m pretty sure it was just the Great Movie Ride, the full Backlot Tour, and Indiana Jones. I’ll have to look it up, but I thought Mermaid came later.
Figment was too late for October 1982, and I think the Living Seas also took a year or more to open. Living With the Land, though . . . pretty close to Listen to the Land (I’ll just need to find a Jungle Cruise captain to narrate for us!)
You’re probably right about the Speedway and the PeopleMover (how could I forget our FAVORITE ride, the PeopleMover?!?) I thought CoP was still in Disneyland when MK opened, but I’m not sure.
If you stretch “show” to live performance, you could see Mariachi Cobre in the Mexican pavillion, the Voices of Liberty (they may have had a different name then, tho?) in the American Pavillion, Matsuriza in Japan or the Lion Dance team in China.
I’d check all show opening times again as part of the planning process - not just Impressions, but also the AK shows can have limited times. I’ve often wanted to see Feathered Friends at AK but ended up missing it because the park opens early (EE is often 7.30) but the first show of the day is not until 11 or so and by then I’m ready to hop. FotLK usually starts a little earlier.
Good thoughts . . . thanks for including your timeline!
For that day, we’ll only do “Weenie Hut Junior” rides, so it probably won’t go to Midnight since we’re not doing coasters or headliners.
Did you do more food than lunch at MK? We’ll have F&W going on, so that’ll be a good way to load up as we walk from the International Gateway to the Monorail Station at the front of Epcot.
Good call . . . I’m not sure if we want to take the entire morning at AK. I suppose I could get away with calling Together Zoogether a show and enjoy the original animal impressions in the Tree of Life!
I ate QS lunch at Sleepy Hollow and a couple food items in WS later at EP. You have to be mindful of food queues. I used mobile order.
I was on a “mission” to do a personal 4-park challenge! Food wan’t my priority.
(I was stacking LLs for Epcot and DHS while I was at MK during the morning!) I managed to do a lot at MK because it was a party day. MK was pretty empty that day.
If you just want to stroll through WS and eat from a half dozen booths or so that would be fun as well!
What about The original Little Mermaid show?
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