Maximizing a Day at Disney…without missing that mid-day pool break!
I love a relaxing vacation! But when I go to Disney, I feel the need to maximize my time to make the most of the cost. There’s just so much to do, and I want to do it all!
Follow along with me for a full day using early entry and Lightning Lanes to pack in the fun and still enjoy a midday resort pool break.
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Early Morning Strategy
I started my morning at 7:30 a.m. by heading to the monorail. Early entry was at 8:30 a.m., and I highly recommend arriving at least 45 minutes early. They let us onto Main Street at 8:00 a.m., which gave me time to snap a few photos. (Tip: Head all the way up to the castle for those crowd-free shots!)
Then I made my way to Peter Pan’s Flight, which was a walk-on. They actually let us on early at 8:20! After that, I headed to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. These are both tough Lightning Lane rides to snag, so I prioritized them during early entry, though I ended up riding Peter Pan again that night using Lightning Lane.
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Rope Drop & Flexibility
As early entry wrapped up, I queued for rope drop at 9:00 a.m. My plan was to head straight to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - apparently, everyone else had the same idea! Unfortunately, the ride had a delayed opening (it was delayed twice during my visit).
I decided not to wait and used a Lightning Lane for Haunted Mansion instead. When I circled back, Tiana’s was open with a short wait! I even managed to ride Haunted Mansion again as a walk-on.
Pro tip: Flexibility is key. Your rope drop plan might not work out, so always have a backup!
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Lightning Lane Tips
The key to maximizing Lightning Lane is booking those high-demand rides in advance:
• If you’re staying on-property, you can book 7 days before your trip.
• Off-property? You can book 3 days ahead.
I booked Tiana’s Bayou Adventure early, day-of availability wasn’t an option. I also booked Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean since they’re my personal favorites (and they stayed available throughout the day).
I highly recommend booking Pooh, Jungle Cruise, and Peter Pan as soon as possible. They fill up quickly!
Another tip: Arrive early in your Lightning Lane window. That lets you grab your next reservation as soon as possible.
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My Magic Kingdom Day: Start to Finish
Here’s everything I did during the day:
• 7:30 – Monorail to Magic Kingdom
• 8:20 – Peter Pan’s Flight
• 8:30 – The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• 9:15 – Haunted Mansion ️
• 9:40 – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• 10:15 – Pirates of the Caribbean ️
• 10:35 – Haunted Mansion
• Snack – Dole Whip at Sunshine Tree Terrace
• 11:20 – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ️
• 12:10 – Space Mountain ️
• 12:25 – Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid ️
• 12:35 – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Single Rider)
• Lunch – Columbia Harbour House
• 1:15 – Jungle Cruise ️
Midday pool break!
• 5:00 – Cocktails at Enchanted Rose
• 5:45 – Monorail to Magic Kingdom
• 6:00 – “it’s a small world” ️
• 6:25 – Dumbo the Flying Elephant ️
• 6:45 – Dinner at Tony’s Town Square
• 8:00 – TRON Lightcycle / Run (Single Rider)
• 8:20 – Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin ️
• 8:40 – Peter Pan’s Flight ️
• 9:15 – Haunted Mansion *
• 9:30 – Pirates of the Caribbean *
(*) These were experience redemptions. If a ride you booked goes down (mine was weather-related), keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app. You’ll receive a redemption that can be used on any ride in the same tier at any time!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, I did a LOT in just one day and still had time to relax! Thanks to Body Glide (yes, even on my toes!) and good sneakers, I didn’t get a single blister, though I did rack up over 23,000 steps!
