You may have heard whispers about it when you've been standing in line for a Walt Disney World attraction, or seen a group of people in themed-shirts that had it listed as their goal, and if you've looking for a way to test your Disney endurance, I recommend trying the 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge!
The Rules for the 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge
Each park visit must include the following:
- Riding 3 attractions
- A picture taken by a Photopass photographer
- A snack or meal
Other Rules:
- You can only use Disney Transportation
- Can not use Multipass
- Can not use Premier Pass
& - Can not be part of a VIP Tour
*Any paid Individual Lightning Lanes are BONUS attractions and do not count towards the challenge
On Monday December 9th 2024, I tackled this challenge. I had consulted crowd calendars and all of them listed the day as a high crowd level (levels 7 or 8 out of 10 on different calendars). Knowing that it was going to be busy, only added to my motivation of finding out whether this goal was possible.
The day started with breakfast in my room at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and & Spa. I packed my park bag and headed out the door. I was on the bus at 7:03am headed to Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the challenge had officially begun.
Park #1: Disney's Animal Kingdom
– entered the park at 7:32am
As a guest staying at a WDW resort, I utilized Early Entry and was able to get into the park 30 minutes before it officially opened (the park opened at 8:00am that day, and WDW resort guests were allowed in at 7:30am).
I got in line for Flight of Passage at 7:38am; a Cast Member said the wait time would be 50 minutes, and I was done the ride by 8:43am. The benefit of Early Entry allowed me to get to one of the busiest attractions first thing in the morning, and by the time I exited the attraction, the wait time was listed as 110 minutes.
Ride #1: Avatar Flight of Passage
Ride #2: Kilimanjaro Safaris
This attraction is one of my favorites at Animal Kingdom and on my "not-to-be missed" list, yet it did end up costing me an extra 40 minutes due to giraffes and ostriches' blocking the roads and delaying the trucks.
When I exited the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest was closed, so I flipped my plan and went for a snack. By the time I was done eating the ice cream sandwich, Everest was back up and running, and the wait time was less than 10 minutes!
Snack: Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich
Ride #3: Expedition Everest
Photo: Across the Water from the Tree of Life
Park 1 Complete – exited the park at 11:09am
I must have had a bit of pixie dust sprinkled on me, because the bus to Disney's Hollywood Studios was already waiting at the bus stop, so I hoped on and away we went!
Park #2: Disney's Hollywood Studios
– entered the park at 11:36am
Ride #4: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Ride #5: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Unexpected Experience: Character Experience with Olaf
When walking past Celebrity Spotlight the wait time to meet Olaf was only 15 minutes so I jumped in line and spent a few moments with my favorite snowman.
Ride #6: Alien Swirling Saucers
Lunch: Totchos
Photo: On Hollywood Blvd
Park 2 Complete – exited the park at 2:57pm
Both Rock 'n" Roller Coaster and Alien Swirling Saucers had technical difficulties once I was in their lines, and the wait times for those rides ended up being longer than posted. As I waited in the lines, I was reminded that this is part of the challenge. You never know what's going to happen, so even when we plan, we have to adjust, replan, and continue on with the challenge.
I also took time to sit-down and enjoy my Totchos lunch. This mid-day break was a perfect moment to soak in the atmosphere of a Disney Park (something I LOVE doing), by listening to the music, and enjoying the moment. After all, this was a Monday afternoon, and I was in a park, eating Totchos and having a great day.
As I exited Hollywood Studios, I had transportation options for the Skyliner or a boat to Epcot. As I gazed towards the water, I saw that the boat was pulling into the dock and that made my decision for me. A relaxing boat ride to Epcot was how I choose to move from Park #2 to Park #3.
Park #3: Epcot
– entered the park at 3:24pm
Bonus: Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind (GOTG)
This was an individual Lightning Lane I had purchased that morning as a treat for myself. GOTG is my absolute favorite ride, and with this being the last day of my trip, I decided it was worth pausing the challenge so I could have one more chance to save the galaxy.
I got row #1, and the song was I Ran by Flock of Seagulls. I managed to save the galaxy, and then it was time to jump back into the 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge.
Ride #7: Living With the Land
Ride #8: Journey Into Imagination With Figment
Photo: In front of the Te Fiti topiary at Journey of Water - Inspired by Moana
Snack: Kālua Pork with Okinawa sweet potatoes and mango salad from the Mele Kalikimaka Festival of the Holidays Booth
Another Snack: Cinnamon-spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie from the Nochebuena Cocina Festival of the Holidays Booth
I encountered another delay when Spaceship Earth also went down for maintenance while I was in line, so new plan - head over to the seas and help to find Nemo.
Ride #9: The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Park #3 Complete – exited the park at 6:41pm
Taking the monorail from Epcot to the Transportation and Ticket Centre, I switched tracks and was headed to my fourth, final, and favorite park - Magic Kingdom!
Park #4: Magic Kingdom
– entered the park at 7:13pm
This park was by far the busiest out of the four theme parks! Main Street was packed with guests waiting for the fireworks and Cast Members were ushering us behind the Main Street shops in order to access other areas of the park. I was walking shoulder to shoulder with guests all the way until Tomorrowland before the crowd levels eased and I had room to stroll at my usual pace.
Ride #10: Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid
Ride #11: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Ride #12: Pirates of the Caribbean
Unexpected Experience: Caught a Few Minutes of the Happily Ever After Fireworks While in Adventureland
Snack: DOLE Whip Orange Cup
This is one of my favorite treats to get at Disney and after a long day, I had the biggest smile on my face when eating it.
As I devoured the Orange Cup, I headed to City Hall to get a celebration button. I only had one item left in the challenge and I wanted to button to be part of the photo.
Photo: In Front of Cinderella Castle with my 4 Parks 1 Day Celebration Button
Park #4 Complete – The final task of this challenge was completed at 8:55pm
Final Thoughts:
Would I do the challenge again? ABSOLUTELY!
This was a long day but also a really fun day.
Are there ways I could have made this day shorter? Yes. I could have chosen attractions with shorter wait times or shorter running times, and I could have cut down on the time between each activity. BUT these attractions are ones that I like, and being in the moment to enjoy the parks is one the things I LOVE doing at WDW. To me, the time I spent slowing down to have a relaxing lunch, enjoy an extra snack, looking in the shops and at the holiday decorations is part of what made this challenge so fun. If I had to cut out the relaxation time, or choose attractions based solely on their wait time, it would have been a shorter day, but I would have missed out on some of the magic.
The 4 Parks 1 Day Challenge added up to 31,479 steps, 12 rides, 5 snacks/meals, 4 parks, 3 modes of Disney Transportation, 2 unexpected experiences, and countless Magical Memories.
The wonder and enchantment of this challenge were unforgettable - I recommend you give it a try!
~Kelly