THE ULTIMATE DISNEY PARKS GUIDE

DISNEY PARKS
AROUND THE WORLD

12 parks • 6 destinations • One guide designed for Disney history, storytelling, architecture and Imagineering.

BEST TIME Late April–May or SeptemberIDEAL 2 daysSTAY Grand Californian

Walt Disney’s original park—and still one of the most layered, charming and emotionally resonant Disney experiences anywhere.

TOP 10

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean
  2. Indiana Jones Adventure
  3. Haunted Mansion
  4. Space Mountain
  5. Rise of the Resistance
  6. Big Thunder Mountain
  7. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
  8. Peter Pan’s Flight
  9. it’s a small world
  10. Mickey’s Runaway Railroad

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Indiana Jones → Pirates of the Caribbean → Haunted Mansion → Tiana’s Bayou Adventure → Big Thunder Mountain

Midday: Fantasyland → Matterhorn → Toontown → Ride the Disneyland Railroad back to park entrance. Relax at hotel.

Evening: Dinner at Blue Bayou → Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge → Jungle Cruise → Adventureland Treehouse → Enchanted Tiki Room → Fantasmic! and fireworks → Space Mountain → Tomorrowland

BEST TIME Late April–May or SeptemberIDEAL 1 daySTAY Grand Californian

A park transformed by Cars Land and Buena Vista Street, strong food and a spectacular nighttime atmosphere.

TOP 10

  1. Radiator Springs Racers
  2. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
  3. Soarin’
  4. Grizzly River Run
  5. Incredicoaster
  6. Midway Mania
  7. Animation Academy
  8. Pixar Pal-A-Round
  9. World of Color
  10. Web Slingers

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Radiator Springs Racers → Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! → Web Slingers → Animation Academy

Midday: Soarin’ → Grizzly River Run. Go relax at the hotel.

Evening: Return before sunset for Cars Land’s neon lighting → Incredicoaster → Pixar Pier → Dinner at Lamplight Lounge and World of Color.

BEST TIME Late Jan–Feb or NovemberIDEAL 2 daysSTAY Grand Floridian

The grand-scale castle park: classic attractions, resort-wide nostalgia and the most complete traditional Disney day in Florida.

TOP 10

  1. Haunted Mansion
  2. TRON Lightcycle / Run
  3. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
  4. Pirates of the Caribbean
  5. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  6. Big Thunder Mountain
  7. Jungle Cruise
  8. PeopleMover
  9. Carousel of Progress
  10. Nighttime spectacular

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Seven Dwarfs → Haunted Mansion → Big Thunder → Tiana → Pirates → Jungle Cruise.

Midday: Skipper Canteen; then Carousel of Progress, PeopleMover and TRON. Rest at the Grand Floridian around 3:00.

Evening: Return around 6:30 for dinner, the nighttime spectacular and a final low-crowd hour.

BEST TIME Festival-dependent; Nov–FebIDEAL 2 daysSTAY Beach Club

Part thrill park, part world’s fair and best enjoyed without trying to turn World Showcase into a race.

TOP 10

  1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
  2. Spaceship Earth
  3. World Showcase
  4. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  5. Living with the Land
  6. Test Track
  7. Soarin’
  8. Journey Into Imagination
  9. Festival food and entertainment
  10. International Gateway at night

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Cosmic Rewind → Spaceship Earth → Test Track → Living with the Land.

Midday: Begin World Showcase with one serious meal and plenty of unstructured exploration.

Evening: Take a Beach Club break through International Gateway, then return for dinner and the lagoon spectacular.

BEST TIME November–FebruaryIDEAL 1 daySTAY Beach Club

A demanding attraction day anchored by Galaxy’s Edge, Tower of Terror and Disney’s strongest modern spectacular ride.

TOP 10

  1. Rise of the Resistance
  2. Tower of Terror
  3. Galaxy’s Edge after dark
  4. Fantasmic!
  5. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  6. Slinky Dog Dash
  7. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  8. Toy Story Mania!
  9. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
  10. Hollywood Brown Derby

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Rise → Smugglers Run → Slinky Dog → Toy Story Mania.

Midday: Tower of Terror and Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, then lunch at Hollywood Brown Derby and a hotel break.

Evening: Galaxy’s Edge after dark and Fantasmic!

BEST TIME November–MarchIDEAL 1 daySTAY Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s richest exercise in placemaking—best approached as a living environment, not a checklist.

TOP 10

  1. Flight of Passage
  2. Kilimanjaro Safaris
  3. Expedition Everest
  4. Festival of the Lion King
  5. Na’vi River Journey
  6. Maharajah Jungle Trek
  7. Gorilla Falls
  8. Nomad Lounge
  9. Tree of Life trails
  10. Pandora after dark

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Flight of Passage → Na’vi River Journey → Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Midday: Tiffins, Festival of the Lion King, Maharajah Jungle Trek and Expedition Everest.

Evening: Pause at Nomad Lounge and stay for Pandora after dark when hours permit.

BEST TIME May, early June or SeptemberIDEAL 2 daysSTAY Disneyland Hotel

Possibly the most beautiful traditional castle park Disney has ever built.

TOP 10

  1. Big Thunder Mountain
  2. Phantom Manor
  3. Pirates of the Caribbean
  4. Sleeping Beauty Castle
  5. The Dragon beneath the castle
  6. Adventure Isle
  7. Hyperspace Mountain
  8. Alice’s Curious Labyrinth
  9. Main Street arcades
  10. Castle nighttime spectacular

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Big Thunder → Phantom Manor → Pirates → Adventure Isle.

Midday: Castle and Dragon, lunch at Walt’s, Fantasyland, Alice’s Labyrinth and Hyperspace Mountain.

Evening: Disneyland Hotel break, dinner at La Table de Lumière and the castle spectacular.

BEST TIME May, early June or SeptemberIDEAL 1 daySTAY Disneyland Hotel / Art of Marvel

A radically transformed second gate built around World of Frozen, Adventure Bay and several excellent thrill attractions.

TOP 10

  1. World of Frozen
  2. Frozen Ever After
  3. Disney Cascade of Lights
  4. Tower of Terror
  5. Ratatouille
  6. Crush’s Coaster
  7. Avengers Assemble: Flight Force
  8. Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
  9. Mickey and the Magician
  10. Adventure Bay at night

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Crush’s Coaster → Ratatouille → Tower of Terror → Avengers Campus.

Midday: Bistrot Chez Rémy, Mickey and the Magician, then explore World of Frozen slowly.

Evening: Drinks at Regal View overlooking Adventure Bay, dinner and Disney Cascade of Lights.

BEST TIME Mid-May or November weekdaysIDEAL 2 daysSTAY Tokyo Disneyland Hotel

A beloved castle park where extraordinary operations, entertainment and guest culture are part of the attraction.

TOP 10

  1. Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast
  2. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
  3. Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!
  4. The Happy Ride with Baymax
  5. Splash Mountain
  6. Haunted Mansion
  7. Big Thunder Mountain
  8. Electrical Parade Dreamlights
  9. Mickey’s Magical Music World
  10. Watch Cast Members and guests

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Use Happy Entry. Beauty and the Beast → Baymax → Monsters Inc. → Pooh.

Midday: Mickey’s Magical Music World, lunch, Haunted Mansion, Splash and Big Thunder.

Evening: Hotel break, return around 6:00 and finish with Electrical Parade Dreamlights.

BEST TIME Mid-May or November weekdaysIDEAL 2 daysSTAY MiraCosta / Grand Chateau

My choice for the best Disney theme park in the world.

TOP 10

  1. Journey to the Center of the Earth
  2. Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey
  3. Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage
  4. Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure
  5. Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival
  6. Soaring: Fantastic Flight
  7. Tower of Terror
  8. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
  9. Mediterranean Harbor at night
  10. Simply explore the park

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Frozen Journey → Rapunzel → Peter Pan → Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Midday: Sindbad and a two-hour lunch at Magellan’s; then Fortress Explorations and 20,000 Leagues.

Evening: MiraCosta break, dinner, then walk the entire park and ride Journey again after dark.

BEST TIME November–JanuaryIDEAL 1–2 daysSTAY Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

The world’s most underrated Disney park, with two truly elite original attractions.

TOP 10

  1. Mystic Manor
  2. Big Grizzly Mountain
  3. World of Frozen
  4. Frozen Ever After
  5. Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs
  6. Momentous
  7. Iron Man Experience
  8. Ant-Man and The Wasp
  9. Jungle River Cruise
  10. Festival of the Lion King

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: World of Frozen → Frozen Ever After → Sliding Sleighs.

Midday: Big Grizzly → Mystic Manor twice → Explorer’s Club lunch → Lion King and Marvel.

Evening: Hotel break, Big Grizzly and Mystic Manor after dark, then Momentous.

BEST TIME April–May or Oct–NovIDEAL 2 daysSTAY Shanghai Disneyland Hotel

A castle park where Imagineering reinvented several classics instead of reproducing them.

TOP 10

  1. Pirates: Battle for the Sunken Treasure
  2. Zootopia: Hot Pursuit
  3. TRON Lightcycle Power Run
  4. Zootopia land
  5. Soaring Over the Horizon
  6. Roaring Rapids
  7. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  8. Enchanted Storybook Castle
  9. Voyage to the Crystal Grotto
  10. Nighttime castle spectacular

THE PERFECT DAY

Opening: Priority entrance → Zootopia and Hot Pursuit → TRON → Pirates twice.

Midday: Roaring Rapids or Soaring, leisurely lunch, castle exploration and Seven Dwarfs.

Evening: Hotel break, Treasure Cove and Zootopia after dark, Pirates a third time, then the castle spectacular.

MARC’S WORLDWIDE RANKING

THE 12 PARKS

  1. Tokyo DisneySea
  2. Disneyland Park — Anaheim
  3. Disneyland Park — Paris
  4. Tokyo Disneyland
  5. Shanghai Disneyland
  6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  1. EPCOT
  2. Magic Kingdom
  3. Hong Kong Disneyland
  4. Disney California Adventure
  5. Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  6. Disney Adventure World

THE ULTIMATE DISNEY JOURNEY

AROUND THE
WORLD

29 NIGHTS • 30 DAYS

ANAHEIM › ORLANDO › PARIS › HONG KONG › SHANGHAI › TOKYO

A once-in-a-lifetime eastbound journey through all 12 Disney parks—paced for great hotels, meaningful rest, memorable meals and time to actually study the Imagineering.

HIGHLIGHTS• All 12 Disney parks• 22 full or partial park days• Two true recovery days• Nine exceptional Disney hotels• Business Class overnight flights• An Imagineering study moment in every destination

THE RESERVATIONS THAT SHAPE THE TRIP

HOTEL BLUEPRINT

ANAHEIMGrand Californian
Club / Premium View
ORLANDOGrand Floridian
Theme Park View • Club Level
ORLANDOBeach Club
Club Level
PARISDisneyland Hotel
Castle Club
HONG KONGHong Kong Disneyland Hotel
Kingdom Club
SHANGHAIShanghai Disneyland Hotel
Premium / Club
TOKYOFantasy Springs Grand Chateau
Grand Terrace Room
TOKYOHotel MiraCosta
Porto Paradiso Harbor View
TOKYOTokyo Disneyland Hotel
Concierge / Park View

DISNEYLAND

ANAHEIM

Highlights
• Experience sensorio lights
• PAINT as many colors as possible amongst the lights

Accommodations
Hyatt Place or Hampton Inn - Paso Robles
$400/night

Itinerary

1:00PM - 4:00pm
PRIVATE BUS from LA to Paso Robles (215 miles/4 hours)

4:00pm - 5:00PM
hotel Check-In and Chill Time

5:00pm - 5:15pm
Bus to Sensorio

5:30PM - 6:30PM
DINNER @ Sensorio

6:30pm - 9:30pm
Lights at Sensorio
Sketch/draw/paint landscape as day turns to night

10:00pm - 10:15pm
Drive back to hotel

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

ANAHEIM

Highlights
• Draw, sketch and paint some of Herbie’s favorite locations along the California Coast

Accommodations
Hyatt Monterey
$340/night

Itinerary

8:30AM - 9:30Am
Breakfast at Hotel

9:30AM - 11:30Am
Drive from Paso Robles to Carmel (120 Miles/2 hours)

11:30Am - 12:30PM
Lunch somewhere cool in Carmel

12:30PM - 4:00PM
Explore Carmel. visit a local art gallery and artist’s studio. (MARC WILL GO CHECK-IN TO HOTEL ROOMS)

4:30pm - 5:00pm
DRIVE TO GRANITE COVE

5:00pm - 6:30pm
FREE TIME TO CREATE OR JUST SOAK IT ALL IN

6:30pm - 9:00pm
WELCOME DINNER AT SUNSET AND STORIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY

9:00pm - 9:30pm
Drive from GRANITE COVE to Hotel

MAGIC KINGDOM

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Highlights
• Create art from the Golden Gate Bridge
• Be inspired by the Walt Disney Family Museum
• Paint a portrait of Walt Disney at the museum

Accommodations
Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf or Hotel Kabuki

Itinerary

8:00AM - 9:00Am
Breakfast at Hotel

9:00AM - 9:30Am
Drive to Golden Gate Bridge

9:30Am - 11:30AM
walk across Golden Gate Bridge and draw/paint from bridge

11:30Am - 12:00pm
Bus to Walt Disney Family Museum

12:00PM - 2:00PM
Lunch at Walt Disney Family Museum. Presentation by Michelle Lund

2:00pm - 4:00pm
Tour museum on own

4:00pm - 6:30pm
Paint a portrait of walt Disney at the museum

6:30pm - 7:00pm
Bus to Tony’s Pizza

7:00pm - 8:30pm
Dinner at Tony’s Pizza

8:30pm - 9:00pm
Take Cable Car to Union Square for ice cream

9:30pm - 10:15pm
ice cream somewhere cool near union square

10:15pm - 10:45pm
Take Cable Car to Hotel

EPCOT

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Highlights
• Sketch on Lombard Street
• San Francisco Art Institute Tour
• Create art in Prison at Alcatraz
• Sketch in ChinaTown

Accommodations
Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf or Hotel Kabuki

Itinerary

8:00AM - 9:00Am
Breakfast at Hotel

9:00AM - 9:15Am
walk to Lombard Street

9:15Am - 10:15AM
walk up/down and sketch something at each curve

10:30Am - 11:30Am
Tour of San Francisco Art Institute

11:30AM - 11:45AM
WALK TO PIER 39

11:45Am - 1:00pm
LUNCH on own

1:00pm - 2:00pm
CHILL AT HOTEL

2:00pm - 2:15pm
MEET IN HOTEL LOBBY

2:15pm - 2:30pm
WALK TO PIER 33

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Take FERRY TO ALCATRAZ

3:00pm - 6:00pm
tour Alcatraz. draw/paint in the prison…what are you feeling? what was going on in the prisoners’ Minds? What does that look like?

6:00pm - 6:30PM
Take FERRY TO pier 33

6:30pm - 7:00pm
Take streetcar F to Chinatown

7:00pm - 10:00pm
dinner, Explore and sketch chinatown

10:00pm - 10:00pm
cable car back to hotel

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Highlights
• MEDITATE AND Create art in Muir Woods
• Be inspired, Get creative and connect with animators at Pixar Studios
• Tour UC-Berkeley

Accommodations
Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf or Hotel Kabuki

Itinerary

7:00AM - 8:00Am
Breakfast at Hotel

8:00AM - 8:45Am
Bus to Muir Woods

8:45Am - 11:15AM
Explore Muir Woods…write what you feel in the woods, then paint it. paint nature.

11:30Am - 12:15PM
Bus to pixar campus

12:30pM - 2:00PM
Lunch with Pixar animators

2:00Pm - 3:30pm
tour Pixar Campus

3:30pm - 4:30pm
small breakout sessions with pixar people

4:30pm - 6:00pm
Partner with a pixar animator and draw/paint/sketch something interesting on campus

6:00pm - 6:15pm
Bus to CAL Berkeley

6:15pm - 7:00pm
Walking tour of Cal Berkeley

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Dinner near Cal Berkeley with Pixar people

9:00pm - 9:30PM
Bus to Hotel

ANIMAL KINGDOM

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Highlights
• Paint the Painted Ladies

Accommodations
HOME SWEET HOME

Itinerary

8:00AM - 9:00Am
Breakfast at Hotel

9:00AM - 9:15Am
Bus to Alamo Square

9:15Am - 12:00PM
Paint the Painted Ladies

12:00Pm - 12:45PM
Bus to SFO AIrport

12:45PM - 1:15PM
Check in to flight and get through security

1:15Pm - 2:15pm
Lunch at Airport

3:15pm - 4:45pm
Delta Flight 1139 - SFO>LAX
Create one piece of art that highlight your favorite moments of the trip