Whether you’re vacationing in Central Florida, visiting for a work conference, or just traveling through the area, you might be wondering, “Can you do Disney World in one day?” And, we won’t make you wait long for the answer because YES! It’s entirely possible to have a great time at Disney World in just 24 hours!

With some careful planning and strategic decision-making, you can make the most of just one day at Disney World. However, there’s one important caveat to remember…you won’t be able to do it all. With four theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, and more, it’s nearly impossible to do absolutely everything in Walt Disney World even if you have a 5-day vacation planned!

Luckily, you don’t have to do it all to have a great visit to Disney World! So, don’t worry about doing all the planning yourself, we’re here to help you plan everything you can do in one day at Disney World.

Is One Day at Disney World Enough?

If you are planning to visit Disney World, but you only have one day to spare, you might be wondering if it’s worth it. The answer is…it depends. What do you want to accomplish? Do you know what are your priorities? What parks do you want to visit? Are you willing to pay a little extra to skip the lines at popular attractions to get more done?

One day at Disney World is enough to experience some of the best attractions, shows, and rides, but it’s not enough to see everything. You will have to prioritize and plan your day carefully to make the most of your time.

Here are some things to consider when deciding if one day at Disney World is enough for you:

What are your priorities?

If you have specific attractions or shows that you absolutely must see, then one day might not be enough. However, if you are flexible and open to experiencing a variety of things, then one day can be a great way to get a taste of what Disney World has to offer.

Which park do you want to visit?

Disney World has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Each park has its own unique attractions and experiences. If you only have one day, it’s best to focus on one park and make the most of your time there. Though, we’ll touch on how you can experience more than one park in a day in a bit.

Are you willing to pay extra to skip long lines?

Disney World offers several options to skip the lines at popular attractions throughout all four parks including Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Passes. These services can save you a lot of time and allow you to experience more attractions in one day. However, they do come at an extra cost. So, you will need to decide if they are worth it for you.

Ultimately, if you’re deciding how long your Disney trip should be, we don’t recommend one day. But, if you only have a limited time, there are ways to make the most out of it. Don’t be deterred!

Planning The Ultimate Day at Disney World

So, you only have one day to spend at Disney World. It’s important to plan your visit carefully to make the most of your time! Here are some tips to help you plan the ultimate day at Disney World:

Choosing the Right Time

Choosing the right time to visit Disney World is key to making the most of your day. Consider visiting during the off-season (late-August, September, January, and February) to avoid the crowds and long lines. Also, avoid visiting on weekends, holidays, or during peak season if you can. These times tend to be the busiest.

Booking Tickets and Accommodations

To make the most of your one day at Disney World, it’s important to book your tickets and accommodation in advance. Disney World tickets are currently date-based. This means that you’ll need to purchase a ticket for the exact date you plan to be there and select the park you plan to visit. Note that park hopper tickets are a great option if you’d like to visit more than one park in one day. Though, they are expensive. And, consider staying at a Disney World Resort hotel to save time and avoid transportation hassles.

Choosing Your Parks

With four theme parks and only one day, you’ll want to be sure that you’re choosing the park (or parks) that you have the most interest in. Magic Kingdom is best suited for those who want to experience original Disney attractions and ride a lot of rides. EPCOT is best for those who are foodies. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is great for Star Wars fans and those who like thrill rides. And, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is best for anyone hoping for a more relaxed day. Be sure to check the park hours and schedules in advance to plan your itinerary accordingly.

Getting Around Disney World

If you’re planning to visit more than one park, you’ll need to know how you’re going to get around. Disney’s transportation system is free to all guests. It can take you between the parks by bus, monorail, boat, or Disney Skyliner depending on where you’re traveling. You can also drive your own vehicle or use a ride-share service if you prefer.

So, what exactly can you do in one day at Disney World? Here’s an overview of each park and tips for maximizing your day!

One Day at Magic Kingdom

If you only have one day to spend at Magic Kingdom, it can be challenging to experience everything the park has to offer but it is possible!

Magic Kingdom has more attractions than any other park. So, you’ll likely be spending a lot of your day in line. Consider purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, a new paid-for service that allows you to skip the lines at select attractions throughout the parks. This way you can ride some of the biggest attractions like Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with little to no wait. Plus, you’ll even be able to ride all the classic attractions like “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, and Peter Pan’s Flight.

For food, we suggest that you skip the table service restaurants to save time and stop by any of the quick service or snack locations throughout the park. Use Disney’s mobile ordering system through the My Disney Experience app for an even faster check-out time!

And, don’t forget about all of the entertainment! Magic Kingdom has several character cavalcades as well as the Festival of Fantasy parade. These can be a great way to spot characters if you don’t want to wait in line to meet them. Plus, there’s even a show on the Cinderella Castle stage that takes place multiple times a day. You can check the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date information about what time you can catch these offerings.

To round out your day in Magic Kingdom be sure to stay late for fireworks! The show is a mix of fireworks and projections on Cinderella Castle. Plus, there are even additional projections all up and down Main Street, U.S.A. You can check the My Disney Experience app for the fireworks showtimes, but they typically start between 8PM-9:30PM.

CLICK HERE for the Ultimate Magic Kingdom One Day Itinerary!

One Day at EPCOT

EPCOT is currently broken up into four different neighborhoods: World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase. Each one offers its own unique attractions, shows, and dining offerings and you don’t want to skip any part!

When it comes to tackling popular rides at EPCOT, there are a few different strategies you can use. One option is to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which allows you to skip the standby lines at popular attractions like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Test Track, and Soarin’. However, if you’re interested in riding the newest attraction at EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, you’ll either need to pay a separate fee for Lightning Lane Single Pass access or try your luck with the Virtual Queue using the My Disney Experience app.

If you’d prefer not to pay to skip the lines, you should still have enough time to ride every major attraction in EPCOT in one day. We recommend arriving at the park right when it opens. This way you can hop in line at the most popular attractions right away and avoid waiting too long.

Of course, eating and drinking is the highlight at EPCOT with several seasonal food festivals running in the park throughout the year. These food festivals draw a lot of crowds though, so lines can be long. If you’d prefer to skip the lines and mobile order, you can do so at Connections Eatery, Karamell Küche, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, Sommerfest, and Yorkshire County Fish Shop.

However, don’t let the long lines deter you from enjoying the festivals! Festival food booths are stationed throughout World Showcase and you can usually find some limited-time entertainment as well. And, while you explore the offerings, be sure to stop into the different country pavilions to see the shops and shows inside!

To wrap up your day, be sure to stay for the EPCOT fireworks show. A new show, Luminous: The Symphony of Us debuted in 2023. It combines fireworks, fountains, music, and lights to create a show that will top off your memorable day in the park.

CLICK HERE for the Ultimate EPCOT One Day Itinerary!

One Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is known for its immersive Star Wars land, Toy Story land, thrilling rides, and unique shows. But, with such major attractions, the wait times can be long. And, it takes some detailed planning to be sure you see all the shows you want to see!

Before you arrive at the park, it’s a good idea to have a rough plan of what you want to do and when. Check the park hours and show schedules so you can make the most of your time. The most popular attractions in Hollywood Studios include Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Choose which rides are your priorities and arrive at the park early so that you don’t run out of time. Of course, you can also consider purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass to skip the lines at these rides.

And, while the rides and shows are the main draw at this park, there are plenty of quick dining options that offer mobile ordering. This includes Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, ABC Commissary, and Woody’s Lunch Box. Oga’s Cantina is also a popular lounge inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, dining reservations are required for a chance to grab a drink or snack here.

For evening entertainment, be sure to check out Fantasmic! This nighttime spectacular is a fan-favorite Disney performance that features fireworks, water projections, and live performers. It’s a great way to end your day at the park and takes place twice every night.

CLICK HERE for the Ultimate Hollywood Studios One Day Itinerary!

One Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is generally considered the easiest park to do in one day (or even less). So, if you want to walk away from a park feeling like you truly did it all, this is the one to choose!

Animal Kingdom has some of the best rides in all of Disney World. And, with some careful planning, you have a great chance of riding them all in one day. Some of the must-ride attractions include Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and DINOSAUR. While you can skip the lines at these attractions by purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Passes, you’ll likely have time to wait in the standby line for each unless you’re visiting during a particularly busy season.

One of the most unique things about Animal Kingdom, however, is the trails and animal exhibits. After you’re done riding all of the big attractions (or between a few, if you need a breather), take some time to walk around and see all of the animals that call Animal Kingdom home. Or, stop by Rafiki’s Planet Watch for a chance to see Disney Cast Members operating on wildlife in their vet clinic.

You’ll likely also get to see some of your favorite Disney characters sailing around the waterways as you make your way through the park. This makes it easy to get in some character sightings. And, be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for performance times at The Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!

Of course, you’ll need to grab something to eat so consider mobile ordering from places like Flame Tree Barbecue, Satu’li Canteen, Restaurantosaurus, Harambe Market, and Pizzafari to save time.

CLICK HERE for the Ultimate Animal Kingdom One Day Itinerary!

Park Hopping at Disney World

Hoping to see more than just one park in one day at Disney World? It’s certainly possible, all you need is a Park Hopper ticket! These tickets are a bit more expensive, costing between $169 to $229 per person depending on the day. But, it gives you the ability to visit any combination of the four theme parks – even all four in one day!

As of January 9th, 2024, all-day park hopping is back! So, you can scan into one park and then head to your second. Or third…or fourth park at any time during the day with a park hopper ticket.

While park hopping is a great way to see even more in Disney World, it is important to keep in mind that you will lose some park time to travel time. Generally, it takes about 20-45 minutes to travel between parks using Disney transportation. And, you’ll need to plan ahead to know what transportation options are available.

Can You Visit All Four Parks In One Day?

If you’re really trying to maximize your day at Disney World, you might be wondering if it’s possible to visit all four parks in just one day. While it’s certainly a challenge, it is possible if you plan carefully and are willing to make some sacrifices.

First, you’ll need to purchase a Park Hopper ticket, which allows you to visit multiple parks in one day. You’ll also want to arrive at the parks as early as possible to start your day. Decide which rides and attractions are must-sees for you, and prioritize those. You won’t be able to do everything in every park!

Also, consider purchasing the park hopper version of Lightning Lane Multi Pass so that you don’t have to worry about long wait times and can guarantee that you’ll ride at least one attraction in each park. And, pack snacks and plan your transportation routes wisely. Of course, you may have to make some sacrifices. But, if you’re up for the challenge, it can be a fun and rewarding experience to visit all four parks in one day.

So, are you ready to have the best day in Disney World? Don’t forget to plan ahead and, most importantly, have fun! You don’t have to do it all to have a memorable visit to the most magical place on earth!

Comments

What park are you choosing if you only have one day at Disney World? Let us know why in the comments!