24-Hour Day 2015 Tips

[Al_Pal]

I haven't done the event in the past (so perhaps don't take my advice too seriously), but from what I have gathered here and on youtube is that you don't want to miss the first hour or two of the park opening. With the opening show, the sunrise (a rarity at Disney parks), access to unique merchandise and snacks and really short lines for most rides (popular attractions will probably build lines quickly), and what seems like a really special "vibe", it seems like your 6:15 adr would hamper some/most/all of those things. Sorry, not trying to sound dramatic, because I am sure simply being there, plus a CP breakfast (my fav! I'll be there at 7:40am) would be great too.

I would make a decision though about the things that are most important to you and what your goals for the day are. CP breakfast? Short ride lines? 24 hr special events? Looking at CP right now, they don't seem to have later availability; however, if you are okay with leaving the event (aka if 24 hours straight in the park is not a goal), Whispering Canyon (a personal breakfast fav behind CP and Boma) has tons of availability for breakfast and is only a pleasant boat ride away. You could also look at the Poly or GF for breakfast options at around 9:30-10:30 when the park will start getting a little more crowded and you will have already taken in the morning festivities.

Also I not an expert on tickets, someone else would have to help you there. However, IF you can't make FPs for the day, those early morning hours would be prime time for rides; with 7DMT having long lines immediately and probably being ~40-60 minutes at its slowest during the event, I would make the morning rush with everyone else and tackle that, maybe pay attention to wait times and hit up another big attraction (or two) and add a few short wait ones, head out for a late breakfast outside the park, come back and enjoy less popular rides during the day and finally hitting up the popular rides again in the early morning.

This is not to say you couldn't keep the ADR at CP and still have fun though! Just depends on your goals for the day...

Our goal is to stay in Magic Kingdom for all 24 hours! (we will see how well that goes). I talked to a CM earlier today and she said that even if I am not let in before 6, just show them my dinning reservation and they will let me in right at 6 so I can get back to CP. I am going to try and look for a later ADR but if I don't get one I am just going to see where the day takes me. I have accepted that most of the day will be standing, waiting in lines (which lines at disney are still better than lots of space anywhere else) so I figure if I approach it with a hakuna matata approach I will enjoy it so much more instead of trying to stress myself out getting rides in before the crowds build. Thank you so much for all your advice!! (We almost booked the polynesian for breakfast but I am pitching a fit about staying in the park for 24 hours....My inner princess is already coming out)

 

[StLDisFan]

I was about to dump a 130 lunch bog ADR for the 24 hour day if you'd like to try to coordinate.

Thanks for the offer! But I think I will pass. Looking to shoot the MISICI! parade at 1:30. Maybe someone else out there would like it??

 

[Al_Pal]

If there is another time for CP, I would change the ADR. While there will be a bunch of people there for the opening show, it will be less crowded at 6;15 than say 8:15 or 9:15. I would use that time to grab a couple of rides and enjoy the park while it is not too crowded. I would guess they would not let you in earlier than 6.

Are you local or driving/flying in? When do you get in? I would try to get the tickets swapped before friday morning, from my understanding, you need to go to guest relations and have the tickets changed to a new ticket, which may mean you would not make your ADR. So the sooner you can get the ticket changed, the sooner you can try to book FP+ ( I mentioned earlier, I like the idea of getting the earliest fastpasses available and then when they are done, go to the kiosk and keep grabbing one more throughout the day) and will make the morning easier, less stressful, more enjoyable.

We are flying in from Atlanta on Wednesday and are staying with my grandparents who live in the area until we check in the hotel on friday. I think we might end up trying to stay on property thursday night as well so we can get it all sorted out before friday....Thanks for that advice and I'm going to try your method for fast passes as soon as I can book them!

 

[StLDisFan]

Our goal is to stay in Magic Kingdom for all 24 hours! (we will see how well that goes). I talked to a CM earlier today and she said that even if I am not let in before 6, just show them my dinning reservation and they will let me in right at 6 so I can get back to CP. I am going to try and look for a later ADR but if I don't get one I am just going to see where the day takes me. I have accepted that most of the day will be standing, waiting in lines (which lines at disney are still better than lots of space anywhere else) so I figure if I approach it with a hakuna matata approach I will enjoy it so much more instead of trying to stress myself out getting rides in before the crowds build. Thank you so much for all your advice!! (We almost booked the polynesian for breakfast but I am pitching a fit about staying in the park for 24 hours....My inner princess is already coming out)

Best of luck with your goals, I have quite the laundry-list itinerary myself, so I totally understand! I know it doesn't really even come close in comparison but you could snack your way through breakfast: cinnamon roll at Gaston's, fruit from a cart, waffles from Sleepy Hollow and a pastry/coffee from Starbucks. Or there is the nutritious Dole Whip Float...

I think ALL of us need to approach it with a Hakuna Matata mentality Maybe our example is one that other guests will follow and that way we will all have a better time.... maybe... haha

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Anyone want a 130 lunch ADR for bog for the 24 hour day?

 

[guenzo1]

Anyone want a 130 lunch ADR for bog for the 24 hour day?

I would. How many in the group is the ADR for? I have a party of 4.

 

[mauzey014]

I would be interested in bog if guenzo1 is not - we have been trying for ages.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I would. How many in the group is the ADR for? I have a party of 4.

It's for 4

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I would be interested in bog if guenzo1 is not - we have been trying for ages.

I'll let you know if they pass. Don't forget to check around the 24 hour cancelation mark.

 

[jgasko]

Good luck. This is our second of hopefully many 24 hour events and one of the things I try to focus on is things that are not able to be done on a normal day in the park. Last year we took a 40ish minute break to change and get out of the park while it was the most crowded. But we did all 4 parks, and made it until 6am saturday. This year. I really want to see more things, last year we bounced all over the park sort of trying to kill time / not fall asleep (space mountain to splash mountain to thunder mountain, restart the loop at space mountain, for 4 or 5 hours) and we missed some things. I think being a bit flexible makes the day more fun and it sounds like you are ready for a good trip.

I saw rain in the forecast between 3pm and 8pm, not sure what I think about that, that is when it was most crowded last year so that may scare some people off and keep the crowds low, I may also head back to the beach club for a dip in the pool or maybe hit up trader sam's at the poly.

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Thanks for the offer! But I think I will pass. Looking to shoot the MISICI! parade at 1:30. Maybe someone else out there would like it??

Just a heads-up, there is no MiSiCi at 1:30. Just 9:30 and 5:40. You might have just meant something different, and if so I apologize. Just didn't want your whole day's plan to be thrown off! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/magic-kingdom/2015-05-22/#timeofday=allday

 

[StLDisFan]

Just a heads-up, there is no MiSiCi at 1:30. Just 9:30 and 5:40. You might have just meant something different, and if so I apologize. Just didn't want your whole day's plan to be thrown off! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/magic-kingdom/2015-05-22/#timeofday=allday

In the words of Homer Simpson.... "D'OH!" Good to know though, thanks for the heads up! I think I was looking at the times guide from last year and put that into my plans a while back before hearing anything official for this year. I guess I will need to update the itinerary now... haha

And MISICI isn't really important on my itinerary, just something thrown in to fill in the gaps. I am not a big fan of the parade, but I'm desperately lacking photos of it and wanted to snag some. Thanks again for the update!

 

[sbrngritton]

My dd is 9 too. She is a night owl so I'm more worried about the early morning. We had basically the same time plan as you but now she's interested in the Disney stars so I just can't decide. I know that we need the mid day nap to make it over night and that skipping the sun in the afternoon would only help. But we are celebrating for her birthday and the 24hr day is our only park day before my hubby and son show up so she's calling the shots.

I am wondering if the Disney Channel stars are going to blow my plan too! DD doesn't know we are going yet. I will tell her right before our friend takes us to the airport so I will talk to her then and have to adjust if she really wants.. She is pretty into those shows but 3 o'clock is exactly when I do not want to be anywhere near the park. I haven't been able to figure how that can work in because I know we for sure want to be in the park as late as possible.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I would be interested in bog if guenzo1 is not - we have been trying for ages.

Hey, I was looking for other reservations this morning and tried BOG, I got an early breakfast ADR for BOG and I picked it up on the off chance you might want it. Let me know.

 

[CookieGVB]

I leave in a couple of days and feel like I'm forgetting something. I hate that feeling!

 

[StLDisFan]

I leave in a couple of days and feel like I'm forgetting something. I hate that feeling!

I always feel like that before trips; it's really annoying! I just tell myself though that if it didn't come mind before I left, then it wasn't important enough to have with me (except my phone charger... I seem to forget that one).

If it makes you feel any better though you are miles ahead of me as I have done zero prepping, apart from a Star Wars movie marathon and buying my Christopher Robin outfit for the event.... Cue the Home Alone music all this week; it's going to get crazy!

 

[sbrngritton]

Add me in the I'm not ready and I am forgetting something boat! DD doesn't know until Tuesday before we go to the airport and she is home all weekend so I just trying to make lists but I am so used to packing all my Disney needs for days before we leave. I do keep a bag of "supplies" at the ready (glow sticks, window decorations, crystal light packets, ponchos, etc) but I cannot drag out the suit case until tomorrow when she is with her Dad. Also I have Disney jammies for her but haven't found mine. Not to be dramatic but if I don't run across modest little tank top and short Mickey or Minnie PJs for myself everything is ruined and I have failed I did slyly decide to "tidy up" her dresser yesterday though so now I have taken inventory of exactly what to pack is it Tuesday yet???

 

[WEDWDW]

I am wondering if the Disney Channel stars are going to blow my plan too! DD doesn't know we are going yet. I will tell her right before our friend takes us to the airport so I will talk to her then and have to adjust if she really wants.. She is pretty into those shows but 3 o'clock is exactly when I do not want to be anywhere near the park. I haven't been able to figure how that can work in because I know we for sure want to be in the park as late as possible.

The DC Stars will also be appearing at times at DC Club Chill in Tomorrowland from 4PM-11PM if you don't make the parade.

Also,keep your eyes open out in the Park-they will be out riding rides and having fun like everybody else.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I feel pretty ready to roll out on Wednesday night. Got most of my suitcase packed today, everyone is bought that needs to be bought.

 

[ladydots]

I am so excited about this event! It's my first time going to Magic Kingdom alone. I'm dressing as Donald and possibly bounding as Tiana during the day. I do have a question, would it be ok to wear pjs during the overnight hours? I plan on staying the entire 24 hours, so I hope to remain as comfortable and as sane as possible