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Walt Disney World

September 21–28, 2026 · 11 Guests · 6 Adults, 5 Kids

🏨 Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort

👧 Kids' Heights — Ride Eligibility

🧒Bryce38"

🧒Oakley38"

🧒Blakely42"

🧒Lincoln44.5"

🧒Rosalie48"

Mon21Sep

Arrival — Typhoon Lagoon

💧 Typhoon Lagoon✈️ Arrival

🚌 Disney bus from Contemporary

Early AM flight = full day! Check in, drop bags, suit up and head to the water park. Easy resort dinner after to rest up for tomorrow.

💧 Getting There + Park Tips▼

Transport: Disney bus from Contemporary — runs directly to Typhoon Lagoon, ~20 min. No monorail access to water parks.

Typhoon Lagoon highlights: Wave pool, lazy river, Ketchakiddee Creek kids' area (perfect for Bryce & Oakley at 38"). Pack water shoes, sunscreen, and ponchos.

Tue22Sep

Pool Morning + Halloween Party Night

😴 Rest AM🎃 Party 4pm–midnight

🚝 Monorail to Magic Kingdom

Pool all morning → MK at 4pm on party ticket. No park ticket needed today. Kids arrive completely fresh for a long magical night.

🚝 Getting There▼

Monorail from Contemporary → Magic Kingdom — the station is inside the hotel, steps from your room. Literally walk downstairs and board. 5 min ride, no bus needed. Best hotel access to MK in all of Disney.

🎃 Party Priorities▼

Boo-to-You Parade (8:15pm)
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks
Trick-or-treat trails throughout park
Character meet & greets in costume

🎢 Best Rides (Short Lines at Party)▼

Haunted Mansion · Dumbo at night · It's a Small World · Peter Pan · Winnie the Pooh

Best Value NightTuesdays = cheapest tier + fewest crowds in Sept

Wed23Sep

EPCOT — Food & Wine Festival

🌍 EPCOT

🚝 Monorail → TTC → EPCOT monorail

Best crowd day for EPCOT. Food & Wine Festival booths all around World Showcase — great for adults while kids hit the rides.

🚝 Getting There▼

Monorail from Contemporary → Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) → switch to EPCOT monorail line. Takes about 20–25 min total. Alternatively, take the Disney bus from Contemporary directly to EPCOT (~20 min, no transfer needed — often easier with a big group).

🎢 Must-Do Rides▼

Frozen Ever After ⚡ LL first thing
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure ⚡ LL priority
Journey of Water (Moana) · Seas with Nemo & Friends
Living with the Land · Test Track 3.0

👸 Characters & Dining▼

Anna & Elsa meet & greet · Akershus Royal Banquet Hall — best princess character dining at EPCOT. Book July 22.

Optimal DayWednesday = best crowd day for EPCOT all week

Thu24Sep

Topolino's Breakfast → Hollywood Studios

🎬 Hollywood Studios

🚡 Skyliner: Contemporary area → Riviera → HS

Breakfast at Riviera Resort rooftop, then Skyliner directly to Hollywood Studios — the most seamless park connection on property. Thursday is one of the best crowd days for HS.

🚡 Getting There — Skyliner Route▼

Contemporary → bus or walk to Skyliner station → Riviera Resort (Topolino's breakfast) → board Skyliner → Hollywood Studios station. The Skyliner gondola connects Riviera directly to HS — about 10 min ride, no transfers. Scenic and the kids will love it. Note: Contemporary doesn't have its own Skyliner stop — take the Disney bus or rideshare to the Riviera to start.

🍳 Topolino's Terrace Breakfast▼

Mickey, Minnie, Donald & Daisy dressed as French artists. Rooftop views, upscale plated breakfast — rated #1 character meal at WDW. Book July 24 at 6am ET — fills in minutes.

🎢 Must-Do▼

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway ⚡ LL first
Slinky Dog Dash (38" — all 5 kids ✅)
Rise of the Resistance (40" — all 5 kids ✅) Individual LL
Toy Story Mania · Disney Junior Play & Dance
Frozen Sing-Along · Beauty & the Beast Live · Villains Unfairly Ever After

🍽️ Dining▼

Woody's Lunch Box (lunch) · Hollywood & Vine Minnie's Seasonal Dine — Halloween theme (book July 24)

Optimal DayThursday = one of the best crowd days for Hollywood Studios

Fri25Sep

Animal Kingdom

🦁 Animal Kingdom

🚌 Disney bus from Contemporary

Arrive at rope drop — 8am. Plan to wrap up or be indoors by 2–3pm. Afternoon storms hit daily in September. AK is the most forgiving park even on busier days.

🚌 Getting There▼

Disney bus from Contemporary → Animal Kingdom. Direct route, ~25–30 min. No monorail or Skyliner access to AK — bus is the only Disney transport option. Buses start running about 45 min before park open.

🎢 Must-Do▼

Kilimanjaro Safaris ⚡ LL recommended — goes fast
Festival of the Lion King ⭐ Don't miss — check show times
Na'vi River Journey (no height min — all 5 kids ✅)
TriceraTop Spin · Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
Flight of Passage 44" — Lincoln & Rosalie only, Individual LL

🍽️ Dining▼

Satu'li Canteen (best overall in AK) · Flame Tree BBQ (quick service with great outdoor seating)

Flexible ParkAK is forgiving any day — rope drop beats the crowds

Sat26Sep

Chef Mickey's → Magic Kingdom Full Ride Day

🏰 Magic Kingdom

🚝 Monorail — steps from your room

No MNSSHP tonight — park open late, zero time pressure. Start with Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary lobby then monorail straight to rope drop.

🚝 Getting There▼

Chef Mickey's is inside the Contemporary hotel — walk downstairs, eat breakfast, then walk to the monorail station and ride 5 min to MK. Best possible park morning logistics on property.

🎢 Must-Do Rides▼

Peter Pan's Flight ⚡ LL · Jungle Cruise ⚡ LL
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ⚡ (44" — Lincoln & Rosalie only)
TRON Lightcycle Run Individual LL (48" — Rosalie only)
Buzz Lightyear · Winnie the Pooh · Dumbo · Haunted Mansion
It's a Small World · PeopleMover · Pirates of the Caribbean
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade (new night parade!)

🍽️ Dining▼

Be Our Guest · Pecos Bill (quick) · Dole Whip at Aloha Isle — mandatory · Liberty Tree Tavern for a sit-down lunch

ModerateRope drop critical on Saturday — crowds build by 10am

Sun27Sep

Magic Kingdom — Princess Day

🏰 Magic Kingdom👸 Princess Day

🚝 Monorail — steps from your room

MNSSHP tonight closes MK at 6pm — but BBB + Royal Table fill most of the day anyway. Park closure actually works perfectly with this schedule.

🚝 Getting There▼

Monorail from Contemporary → MK in 5 min. Same as yesterday — walk downstairs and board. Non-party guests must exit by ~6pm; your day wraps naturally around that with the princess schedule.

🌅 Rope Drop Rides▼

Peter Pan's Flight ⚡ · Winnie the Pooh · Dumbo · Under the Sea – Little Mermaid · It's a Small World · Princess Fairytale Hall

💄 Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique — 10–11am▼

Rested kids + makeover lasts all day + ideal castle photo lighting. Bring dresses from home to save vs. in-park prices. Book July 27 at 6am ET.

📸 Best Photo Spots▼

Cinderella Castle hub · Castle walls · Fantasyland carousel · Behind the castle

🍽️ Cinderella's Royal Table — 1–3pm▼

Avoids hottest part of day · AC break · princess interactions · post-makeover magic. Day wraps naturally before 6pm party closure. Book July 27 at 6am — fills in minutes.

Works Great6pm closure fits perfectly — BBB + Royal Table fill the day

Mon28Sep

Check-Out & Departure

✈️ Departure

🚌 Disney Magical Express or rideshare to MCO

Breakfast at resort, checkout by 11am. Late flight? Monorail to MK for a quick farewell loop — you're 5 min away.

✈️ Getting to the Airport▼

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) from Contemporary to MCO is ~30–40 min and easiest for a group of 11 with luggage — likely needs 2–3 vehicles. Disney's Sunshine Flyer is the official airport shuttle (book in advance). Budget 2+ hours before your flight for the journey + security.

📅 Key Booking Dates

🚨 RIGHT NOW — Don't Wait

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets for Sep 22. 6 adults ($169) + 5 kids ages 3–9 ($159) = ~$1,811 incl. tax. September dates historically sell out by early August.

⚡ July 22 — 60 Days Before EPCOT (Sep 22)

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (princess dining) · Garden Grill as backup

⚡ July 24 — 60 Days Before Hollywood Studios (Sep 24)

Topolino's Terrace breakfast — set a 6am ET alarm, fills in minutes · Hollywood & Vine Minnie's Seasonal Dine · Tusker House as Topolino's backup

⚡ July 26 — 60 Days Before MK Full Day (Sep 26)

Chef Mickey's breakfast (Contemporary lobby) · Crystal Palace as backup · Be Our Guest for dinner

⚡ July 27 — 60 Days Before Princess Day (Sep 27)

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (10–11am slot) + Cinderella's Royal Table (1–3pm slot) — both open at 6am ET and fill within minutes. This is your most critical booking morning.

✅ Each Park Morning — 7am Sharp

Lightning Lane Multi Pass opens at 7am for Disney resort guests. Grab top picks immediately. Individual LL (TRON, Rise of the Resistance, Flight of Passage) also opens at 7am — book those first.

🍽️ Character Dining Options

Chef Mickey's

Disney's Contemporary Resort · Breakfast & Dinner

✅ On Your Plan▼

🏰 MK Resort Area🍳 BreakfastBuffet

Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto — the full Fab Five.
Why it's great: Steps from your room. Monorail to MK immediately after. Classic buffet, great for picky eaters.

~$52 adult / $33 child · Group of 11: ~$480+ before tax · Book July 26

📅 Paired with: Sat Sep 26 MK full ride day — walk downstairs, eat, monorail to rope drop.

Topolino's Terrace — Breakfast à la Art

Disney's Riviera Resort · Breakfast only

✅ On Your Plan▼

🚡 Skyliner to HS🍳 Breakfast onlyPlated

Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald & Daisy as French artists — unique costumes only here.
Why it's special: Rooftop views, upscale plated food, rated #1 character meal at WDW. Skyliner to HS after is seamless.

~$54 adult / $33 child · Group of 11: ~$489+ before tax · Book July 24 at 6am

📅 Paired with: Thu Sep 24 Hollywood Studios — Skyliner from Riviera → HS in ~10 min.

Cinderella's Royal Table

Inside Cinderella Castle · Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

✅ On Your Plan▼

🏰 Inside the Castle👸 Princess DiningPrix Fixe

Characters: Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Snow White, Jasmine (may vary).
Why it's special: Only restaurant inside the castle. Post-makeover magic — kids dine as princesses in their castle.

~$45–65+ per person · One of the most expensive meals on property · Book July 27 at 6am

📅 Paired with: Sun Sep 27 Princess Day — book 1–3pm after Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

EPCOT Norway Pavilion · Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

✅ On Your Plan▼

🌍 EPCOT👸 Princess DiningBuffet + Plated

Characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Ariel — best princess variety in one meal.
Why it's great: More affordable than Royal Table, bigger princess lineup. Norwegian castle setting.

~$55 adult / $33 child · Book July 22

📅 Paired with: Wed Sep 23 EPCOT day — right in the Norway Pavilion.

Hollywood & Vine — Minnie's Seasonal Dine

Hollywood Studios · Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

💛 Consider▼

🎬 Hollywood StudiosBuffetHalloween theme Sept

Characters: Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Pluto in Halloween costumes in September.
Worth it? Fun seasonal theming, solid buffet. Good for HS day — adds character interaction to an otherwise character-light park.

~$49 adult / $33 child · Book July 24

📅 Pairs with: Thu Sep 24 Hollywood Studios day.

Tusker House — Donald's Dining Safari

Animal Kingdom · Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

💛 Backup▼

🦁 Animal KingdomBuffetSafari theme

Characters: Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Mickey in safari outfits.
Worth it? Only use if Topolino's is unavailable — same AK day, no extra travel. Topolino's is far superior.

~$52 adult / $33 child · Book July 24

📅 Backup for: Fri Sep 25 AK day if Topolino's is unavailable.

The Crystal Palace

Magic Kingdom · Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

⬜ Backup Only▼

🏰 Magic KingdomBuffet

Characters: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet — great for the youngest kids.
Worth it? Only if Chef Mickey's is unavailable for Sat MK day.

~$52 adult / $33 child · Book July 26

📅 Backup for: Sat Sep 26 if Chef Mickey's is full.

⚡ Lightning Lane Guide

🌍 EPCOT — Wed Sep 23

MUSTFrozen Ever After— grab at 7am sharp

MUSTRemy's Ratatouille Adventure— second priority

GETGuardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind— Individual LL or virtual queue

SKIPSeas with Nemo · Living with the Land · Journey of Water

🎬 Hollywood Studios — Thu Sep 24

MUSTMickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway— grab at 7am

MUSTRise of the Resistance— 40" (all 5 kids ✅), Individual LL

GETSlinky Dog Dash— 38" (all 5 kids ✅)

SKIPToy Story Mania · Frozen Sing-Along · Beauty & Beast show

🦁 Animal Kingdom — Fri Sep 25

MUSTKilimanjaro Safaris— lines build fast after 9am

GETFlight of Passage— 44" (Lincoln & Rosalie only), Individual LL

GETNa'vi River Journey— all 5 kids eligible ✅

SKIPTriceraTop Spin · Gorilla Falls · shows— walk-on or low wait

🏰 Magic Kingdom — Sat Sep 26 + Sun Sep 27

MUSTPeter Pan's Flight— always 60+ min without LL

MUSTSeven Dwarfs Mine Train— 44" (Lincoln & Rosalie only)

GETJungle Cruise— solid time saver

GETTRON Lightcycle Run— 48" (Rosalie only), Individual LL

SKIPIt's a Small World · Carousel · Little Mermaid · Philharmagic

⚡ LL Pro Tip: Lightning Lane Multi Pass opens at 7am for Disney resort guests — Bay Lake Tower qualifies. Book your first ride immediately at 7am, then stack new ones as the day goes. Individual Lightning Lane (TRON, Rise of the Resistance, Flight of Passage) also opens at 7am and sells out within minutes — prioritize those before LLMP picks.

Magic Kingdom

EPCOT

Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

Water Park

MNSSHP

Princess Day