When planning your trip to Walt Disney World, there are so many questions to ask to ensure your family has the best experience possible. One of the most difficult ones that change everything from your time off work to your overall budget is how long you should plan to spend at Walt Disney World. Today, we are going to break that question down into pieces so that you can work out exactly what will best suit your family.
Before we start, let’s just put out there that no singular period of time is required for Walt Disney World. However, there are a few things to consider to help discover the best plan for your and your traveling family. Here are a few approaches you can take to planning your time:
A Taste of Disney – 1 – 2 Days
If you are passing through a nearby area and would like to add a taste of Disney to your trip, a day or two is absolutely enough time to enjoy some of the magic. I don’t recommend trying to see everything in that time; by cutting down your park time to half a day here or there, you will miss the beautiful details that make Disney so enjoyable. Try spending one day in Magic Kingdom and the other in the park that best suits your family. You can find a One-Day Guide to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT here.
Visiting the Major Parks – 1 Per Day Over Four Days
Are you looking for a little bit of everything? Allowing four full days to explore the major parks one at a time is the best way to enjoy the best of each one. You still won’t have time to experience everything that the parks have to over, but that is often the beauty of Disney, always having something that draws you back. Be sure to allow four full days for this, not including any travel days.
Extended Trip with Parks and Non-Theme Park Recreation
More time in the resort will allow you to see more of the surrounding areas, like Disney Springs, the Resorts, and fit in some recreational activities. Keep your four park days or expand to add in a return visit to your favorite one as well. You can add a resort day and even another to explore the region. A week is a significant amount of time to enjoy Disney and also spend some time unwinding on your vacation; Disney is fun but can be hectic!
Extended Trip – Covering All Your Disney Bases
If this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney, ten days will be a fantastic way to tick off everything on your to-do list. Two days in each of the parks will leave you with the Disney glow, allowing plenty of time to spend some afternoons enjoying activities like miniature golf and not feeling rushed. This way, you can take time out of your days to enjoy character meet & greets or table service meals, things that you skip on a shorter trip to pack in as much action as possible.
Additional Considerations:
If you are visiting in the warmer months, you might like to visit the Disney Water Parks or spend more time in the surrounding area. Disney provides a wonderful central location to do a few day trips further afield and still have a base where you can return to the magic of Disney in the evenings.
When it comes to your budget, consider if you would prefer to spend less time at Disney utilizing more expensive resorts and options or if you can expand your visit by taking advantage of more cost-effective accommodations.
Don’t plan on doing too much on the day you arrive or the day you leave. Your travel days are best left clear if possible in case last-minute hassles arrive. Late flights, road delays, and so many other things can prevent your arrival day plans from going ahead. When leaving the resort, packing to go home can be stressful, and I find it to be most helpful to enjoy a leisurely morning before heading off.
Those are just a few of the basic options available to help you choose the right timeframe for your Walt Disney World Vacation. If you are a Disney Pro, be sure to share your favorite itinerary down below and help our first-time planners!
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