Our 2026 Walt Disney World Vacation – Part 1: 17 Attractions in One Day

Our long-awaited 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap is finally here! In Part 1, we cover our arrival day, our first impressions of the Finding Nemo Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and a chaotic dinner that wasn’t exactly the magical start we had envisioned.

The next morning, we rope drop Magic Kingdom and put a popular Disney planning theory to the test: Is Magic Kingdom really less crowded on a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party day? We share our actual wait times, how we used Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and our thoughts on the reopened Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and updated Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Despite a torrential downpour, we make it through most of Magic Kingdom before park hopping to Hollywood Studios for more attractions, character dining at Hollywood & Vine, and Fantasmic! By the end of the day, we had completed 17 rides and shows—but the weather had already set something in motion that would affect the rest of our trip.

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Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable.00:00 Welcome to the Disney Hour Express00:55 Our 2026 Walt Disney World trip report begins03:02 Why we visited during the final week of August06:00 Arriving at Art of Animation Resort10:58 Our honest family-suite review and chaotic first dinner21:54 Magic Kingdom rope drop without Abbie26:42 Early Entry strategy, Mine Train and Peter Pan35:18 Testing Magic Kingdom crowds on a party day36:43 Jungle Cruise, Pirates and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure43:09 Big Thunder Mountain and Lightning Lane timing49:04 Fantasyland attractions and a break at Gaston’s Tavern58:10 A major storm hits Tomorrowland01:01:04 Space Mountain, TRON and racing through the rain01:06:33 Lunch and park hopping to Hollywood Studios01:09:10 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania01:12:23 Exploring an unusually empty Galaxy’s Edge01:16:32 Fantasmic Dining Package and Hollywood & Vine01:24:14 Rise of the Resistance and The Little Mermaid01:29:12 Ending the night with Fantasmic!01:32:55 How we completed 17 attractions and shows