How do you do a 4 park challenge?
The 4 Park Challenge is something that Disney Guests have invented and passed down through the years. In truth, you can do it any way you want to, but today I will be talking about the unofficial official way to do it! Simply put, a 4 Park Challenge is visiting all 4 Walt Disney World parks in the same day! You may have heard in the news about a man who travelled the globe and did all of the Disney Parks worldwide in a 24 hour period. While I'm certain that was an adventure, it was also pretty pricey and he definitely didn't have long in each park! Now that Disney has announced that Park Hopping will be allowed all day starting January 9, 2024 for dated park hopper tickets, this will be more possible than ever! Get ready to hop, hop, and hop again!
While there are no official rules, the intent is that you will ride at least one ride and eat or drink at least one item in each park. Of course, if you find this too easy you can amend the goals to add other things like maybe the ride needs to be the newest one in each park? Let's try that for our scenario below!
What do I need?
The first tool you need to purchase is a park hopper ticket. Why? Because that's the only ticket that will get you in all 4 parks in one day!
Next, especially if you plan to ride the newest ride in each park, you will want to purchase Genie+ and utilize individual lightning lanes as well as virtual queues as much as possible!
Finally, you're going to need a plan for the order of the parks. Keep in mind when each park opens and closes. If you leave Animal Kingdom for last, you might not make it there because it is the earliest park to close! If you start at Epcot or Hollywood Studios, you might be wasting precious morning hours.
What about transportation?
I almost always use Disney transportation! However, it can sometimes be a slow way to get somewhere, especially if there isn't a direct method to travel! Keeping the following in mind, you should be able to map out your best plan!
The Magic Kingdom and Epcot are connected by the Monorail. The Monorail is often faster than the bus!
Epcot and Hollywood Studios are connected by the Skyliner. Keep in mind that you ride it from the front of Hollywood Studios, but it takes you to the back of Epcot, near France. Of course, if you start at Epcot, you will get on near France and get off at the front of Hollywood Studios.
Animal Kingdom is only accessible by bus, if you plan to use Disney transportation. You can access a bus from there to any of the other parks.
So, what do I recommend?
Magic Kingdom
Currently, with Tron recently opening at the Magic Kingdom, I would start there. Why? Because you can possibly use the virtual queue at 7am to get your place in line. If for some reason that doesn't happen, you might be able to purchase an individual lightning lane for it. Then, you can go eat some breakfast and enjoy some other rides or shopping before you hop! Of course, now that you can hope right away , you could eat your breakfast at your next stop. Alternately, you could start with the park that you would like to spend the most time enjoying!
Epcot
Next, head to the Monorail that you will take to Epcot. Once you arrive, scan in at Epcot then check your My Disney Experience App for Lightning lane and Virtual Queue availability for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. If either of those is available, take it! This will be a big time saver! Don't forget to enjoy something to eat or drink after you ride! Perhaps it's even time for lunch? I recommend either a quick service restaurant or a food cart in the World Pavilion. A sit down meal might be tempting, but you're on a tight schedule and those tend to eat time in the parks! Once, you've eaten something, head to France to exit the park and take the Skyliner over to Hollywood Studios!
Hollywood Studios 
Once you've scanned in at Hollywood Studios, check your app to see how long the wait is for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. You might be lucky enough not to need to pay for a lightning lane or Genie+ if the line is 30 minutes or less! Perhaps you would rather experience one of the thrill rides? You can do that in addition to or instead of Runaway Railway, but if you want to keep going with riding the newest ride, that's Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theatre. After you ride, it's time for a snack! What's available? Galaxies Edge has specially themed Star Wars eats and drinks. Alternately, there are coffees, popcorn, ice cream, pretzels, and on and on! Once you're done, hurry to the bus depot and catch a bus to Animal Kingdom! Yes, I did say to be sure to know when it will close before you get started! If it closes at 5 or 6pm you might want to start with this park or put it somewhere else in the line-up, but that can cause other problems as well if you want to ride the newest rides.
Animal Kingdom
Finally made it to Animal Kingdom, your final park to visit! Head straight to Pandora, where you will find both of the Avatar rides! They opened at the same time, so you can choose! Avatar Flight of Passage is a simulated ride on a Banshee. Na'vi River Journey is a scenic and peaceful boat ride through Pandora. At this point, it is possible that the length of the line will decide for you, but keep in mind that as long as you are in line before the attraction closes you will get to ride, unless of course it breaks down. Also, you might want to grab something to eat or drink while you wait, just in case everything is closed when you are done riding!
What if I want to ride other rides?
That's fine! This is an unofficial challenge! If you want to do the parks in a different order or ride different rides, that's what you should do! It's your vacation! Have fun! Oh, and Congratulations! You just completed the 4 Park Challenge! Now, it's time for that sit down dinner you were thinking about as you scurried through the parks!
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