Mission Possible: Disney in One Short Day

"What's the Sitch?"

     We need to take our first family vacation to Walt Disney World in under a day

Background:
Several days after the pixie dust settles a Disney Parks survey appears in the junk filter. After the obligatory evaluation questions, I peruse the options and rapidly select seven and eight night itineraries leaving from my home state of Texas. Months later, Disney Cruise Line reveals Western Caribbean Galveston itineraries. I feel like Belle, yearning for the adventures yet to come!
The fireworks at the end of that magical day?
A little pixie dust as our itinerary transformed into a Bahamian cruise, complete with a single day in Port Canaveral including Walt Disney World Park Hopper Tickets and Disney Cruise Line Bus transfers. But just like Cinderella with her pumpkin carriage, I need to respect that this trip to WDW had a strict curfew; if I return to port after the clock struck midnight, the Magic would be quite literally gone.

"So not the drama."

One day to cover all the magic in the Walt Disney World? It's not a remote possibility to try to cover all 47 square miles in one rope drop to fireworks day. It's difficult to do a single park justice in that timeframe. Two options emerged. Either pick one park and tour at a leisurely pace or park hop and only aim for highlights. After careful consideration of my crew's preferences and a quick measure of the kids' heights I set out to chart our course.

6:55 AM

Boarded our bus in Port Canaveral. We booked the 7:15 tickets to the Magic Kingdom, debarked earlier as instructed and rode away on the Disney Cruise Line bus at 6:58. Arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 8:15 with plenty of time to use the washrooms, pick up "My First Visit Pins" and wait for rope drop.

8:50 AM

They opened Main Street U.S.A. a bit early, park opening scheduled for 9:00 am. We marched steadily up Main Street toward Cinderella Castle, then stopped at the second rope near the Merida Meet and Greet area. Checked our map, waved as Alice of Wonderland fame ran past and enjoyed our second rope drop.



Cinderella Castle!

9:00 AM

Winnie the Pooh would be a late opening ride, unfazed, we continued on to a trip highlight, our visit to Enchanted Tales with Belle.
The fifteen minute wait passed quickly, due in no small part to the amazingly detailed queue area.
After a quick restroom stop, we hopped on queue for Peter Pan's Flight. We enjoyed walking on to it's a small world (which, Kylee still sings, six months later and declares her favorite attraction.) The Haunted Mansion rounded out our brief Magic Kingdom sampling.
Four attractions down and we headed back up to the Chapeau for some very important shopping, then bid the Magic Kingdom a very sincere "See Ya Real Soon!"

10:45 AM

Monorail ride from Magic Kingdom to TTC.


Kylee's First Mouse Ears!

Bus from TTC to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

11:15 AM

Entered DHS after quite a line. Headed for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue to pick up FastPasses and enjoy the AT-AT and speeder bike.

Artoo Detoo Mickey Ears? So perfect for Chris.

Watch the still hilarious MuppetVision 3D. Check in at Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre for our ADR, Enjoyed vegan and gluten free burgers, fries and milkshakes! Slide into Star Tours in time for our FastPasses. Chris becomes endlessly impressed that Kylee is the rebel spy and he never knew it. Hop on The Great Movie Ride on our way out of the park. First time Chris asked about if he could check into the Oceaneers Lab. Yes with all the splendor and wonder and fun, he wanted to hang out at the Lab and Club.
Seven attractions, but countless memories into the day, we board the FriendShip to Epcot.

2:15 PM

Pick up a stroller for Kylee's tired legs at the International Gateway then meander over to our last "must do" for the day. Chris and Ben venture onto Mission SPACE: Orange while Kylee and I checked for FastPass availability on Test Track (super late times only) then found a shady spot for a snack and a drink.

"What do you think of being too short for rides?"

We all followed that up with the irreplaceable Ellen's Energy Adventure. (Bill Nye still rocks!) Catching up with Spaceship Earth on the way to Nemo and Friends, we rounded out our relatively line free day with a dinner at Sunshine Seasons.

5:00 PM

I am, as of this point, the only one who wants to stay for fireworks under their own power, though Chris would make a go of it if Kylee shared her stroller. We opt to leave rather than melt down.
The kids can pick ANY one last ride on property.
They unanimously vote for the monorail. So we ride the Epcot loop and then from Epcot to TTC then back to the Magic Kingdom.

Yes. I'm leaving and still smiling!

We catch the bus back to port.

I'm not naming names...but some of us definitely slept.

Some of us may have slept for the entire ride.

Three parks, ten or eleven attractions, a couple monorails, three buses, a Friendship, two tired kids and one ADR later...

And still smiling!

Once we boarded the ship, did the exhausted kids want to hit the hay?
Nope.
The Oceaneers Club awaited, because that's how my kids roll.

Would I do it again the same way next time?

I really don't know. The kids each saw their top two "must do's," as well as a few classics and they loved it. And everyone left smiling.
If I were to do it alone, I'd prefer to start the day in Magic Kingdom, head to Future World in Epcot around lunch and stay there for Illuminations and the evening...or head back to Magic Kingdom to catch Wishes. Or stay firmly planted in one of those two parks and enjoy as much as possible.

Did we hit all or even most of my favorites?

Not even close with the most glaringly egregious omissions being Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean, sorry Adventureland! Enchanted Tales with Belle definitely qualifies as a favorite from here on out. Given the height of our kids on this trip, many of the mountains required one or both to child sway. I'm not going to do that on a single day trip.

Addendum: 
Do I recommend only one day to tour all of Walt Disney World?

NO!!!
I recommend five day and preferably a full week for a first trip to Walt Disney World. I find it is best served to visit with a well thought out touring plan with plenty of time for midafternoon relaxation at the resorts.
I only toured this way due to our port time constraints. I do, however, recommend gauging your group for when it's time to head back for the day. Very few people (read older teenagers and complete Disney nuts like myself) sustain the energy and enthusiasm to run from rope drop to fireworks without a healthy sized midday break. Water, snacks and restroom stops generously applied bought us a lot of time, as did adding a stroller for our four year old daughter.

Have you ever done Disney in one short day?
What would be your plan if you did?