Thrill-first shape: rope-drop Mysterious Island or Lost River Delta, then American Waterfront / Tower of Terror, then harbor dining. Slot Fantasy Springs with Priority Pass, DPA, or a late return when waits ease.
Family shape: start with gentler ports (Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast) before peaks, plan an early sit-down or snack, and keep Fantasy Springs or Soaring as one paid or Priority Pass target rather than chasing every headliner.
Fantasy Springs–heavy shape: treat the land as a half-day block. Protect morning capacity or paid access for your top story attraction, then recover in Mediterranean Harbor.
Every itinerary should leave a weather or wait pivot (see the rainy-day guide) and link back to attraction and restaurant entity pages when you lock specific stops.