How Many Days Should I Spend at Disney World?
When it comes to planning a visit to Walt Disney World, it can be hard to figure out just how much time is needed to explore all that this fantastic Resort has to offer. That’s why the most common question I get asked by first time Disney planners is “How many days should I spend at Disney?” Though the long and short of it is that you can visit Disney for any length of time and have a wonderfully magical experience, there are some handy guidelines I use when advising clients that may be of help!
Start With 5 Days/6 Nights at Disney World:
If you are looking to get the most out of your time at Disney, I typically advise that you start with a minimum of 5 full days at Walt Disney World (not counting check-in and check-out days). This is the perfect starting point as it provides you with a full day at each of Walt Disney World’s theme parks as well as a day to enjoy everything your resort has to offer. This is what a typical itinerary might look like:
- Day 1: Check-In
- Day 2: Magic Kingdom
- Day 3: Epcot
- Day 4: Spend time at the resort/Disney Springs
- Day 5 Animal Kingdom
- Day 6: Hollywood Studios
- Day 7: Return Home
Under this plan, you would have a 6-night stay at Walt Disney World, a day at each of Disney’s incredible theme parks and a day to explore outside of the theme parks. I find that with most first time visitors this is a great way to feel like you’ve experienced at a relatively relaxed pace many of the amazing things Disney has to offer.
See and Do It All With 9 Nights and 8 Full Days at Disney
If this is you’re once in a lifetime trip to Walt Disney World and you really want to make sure you have time to explore each of the theme parks, water parks and more, than adding a few extra days is a perfect way. Though there’s so much to experience at each of Disney’s theme parks, two of the parks (Magic Kingdom and Epcot) are a bit larger and take a bit more time to explore than the others. By taking your time and experiencing them over two days, you can get a real flavor for both without wearing yourself out! Here’s an example of what this plan would look like!
- Day 1: Check In
- Day 2: Magic Kingdom
- Day 3: Epcot
- Day 4: Hollywood Studios
- Day 5: Hang out at the Resort/Disney Springs
- Day 6: Animal Kingdom
- Day 7: Blizzard Beach/Typhoon Lagoon
- Day 8: Epcot
- Day 9: Magic Kingdom
- Day 10: Check-Out
Planning Tip: If going with this option, on the days you are visiting Magic Kingdom or Epcot, split the parks in half to avoid zigzagging through the parks. One our first day at Magic Kingdom, my family typically tackles Adventureland, Frontierland and Liberty Square. On day two you’ll find us at Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. For Epcot, try spending one day checking out all Future World has to offer and the next visit enjoying the incredible sights, sounds, and cultures found at the World Showcase!
I Can Only Make It Over a Long Weekend. Will That Work?
Absolutely! As I mentioned above, you could spend just one day at Disney and still have the time of your life. For many of us, scheduling a visit around work/school commitments is essential which often means not getting very much time away. However, you’ll be surprised at how much Disney World fun you can squeeze into a long weekend! Check out my suggestions on how this might be done!
- Day 1: Check In
- Day 2: Magic Kingdom
- Day 3: Epcot
- Day 4: Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom (or a 1/2 day spent at each with Disney’s Park Hopper Ticket Option)
- Day 5: Check Out
This plan is ideal for a Thursday- Monday stay. You can shorten by 1 day if you’re looking to go on Friday- Monday! It still provides visitors with a nice taster of what the parks have to offer and maybe a nice opportunity to try out Disney’s Park Hopper passes. The Park Hopper add on allows you to visit more than one theme park each day. Because of the sheer size of Magic Kingdom and Epcot, I devoted one full day to each but this could easily be adjusted depending on the needs of your family!
I’m Visiting the Parks With Small Children and Won’t Be Riding Everything. How Much Time Do I Need?
This is a great question as traveling with tiny tots does mean that you’ll be planning out your days a bit differently! Chances are you’ll be skipping the thrill rides, your days at the parks will be shorter and you need to schedule in time for that much-needed afternoon siesta! For that reason, I usually recommend 4 Full Days at the parks and 5-nights! Take a look.
- Day 1: Check-In
- Day 2: Magic Kingdom
- Day 3: 1/2 day Epcot (or 2nd day Magic Kingdom)
- Day 4: Animal Kingdom
- Day 5: Hollywood Studios
- Day 6: Check-Out
Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (especially with the opening of the new Toy Story Land) are packed with toddler and preschool-aged fun and attractions like The Seas With Nemo and Friends and Frozen Ever After at Epcot should not be missed! However, I’ve also had many clients with small children skip Epcot and add in an extra day at Magic Kingdom since the park offers so many toddler-friendly experiences.
For a closer look at visiting the theme parks with toddlers check out this article.
Could I Cut My Stay In Half If I Park Hopped Each Day?
Yes! Absolutely Disney’s Park Hopper does give you the ability to visit more than one theme park each day. However, it isn’t an option I always recommend for first-time visitors. Each of Disney’s theme parks has so much to see, that the best way to experience them is by spending at least one full day at each. First-time visitors to Walt Disney World Resort tend to underestimate just how big the parks are and how big Disney World as a whole is. Park Hopping gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility but you also have to factor in transportation time and walking distances from transportation links into the heart of the theme parks. It’s a brilliant option for some but not always perfect for families looking for a more relaxed pace. For more info on Park Hopper check out this article.
MickeyBlog readers should note that articles like this are always subjective. You should always go with the options that you think would work best for your family and your schedule!
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