How Many Days are Needed to Visit Walt Disney World?
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be an exciting yet overwhelming task, especially when determining how many days are necessary to fully experience four theme parks, numerous resorts and dining options. It's important to create an itinerary that not only covers all the desired attractions but also provides some downtime and relaxation (if possible!).
As a general premise, spending 5-7 days at Walt Disney World is recommended for first-time visitors. This allows one full day at each theme park, with some extra time to revisit favorites or explore Disney Springs, resorts, and special events.
But, if you don’t have 5-7 days, don’t get discouraged! Shorter trips can be just as fun to plan, just understand you will only be scratching the surface of all Walt Disney World has to offer.
The ideal trip for your family really depends on your goals for the vacation. The more attractions and dining you wish to experience, the longer you will need!
Entrance to Hollywood Studios celebrating Disney 100
Key Takeaways
If possible, aim for 5-7 days at Walt Disney World, especially if you want to experience each theme park
Longer trips can provide more relaxation and the opportunity to explore additional attractions and resorts
Add Park Hopper and/or Genie+ to maximize your time
To complete the attractions typically most desired at each theme park, plan the following:
Magic Kingdom: 2 days
Hollywood Studios: 2 days
Epcot: 1 day
Animal Kingdom: 1 day (most likely to be skipped in a time limited vacation, or half day if Park Hopper available).
How Many Days to Visit Walt Disney World?
Factors to Consider
When planning your trip to Walt Disney World, there are several factors to consider when deciding how many days to spend on your vacation. These factors include:
Your budget: Walt Disney World can be pricey, so consider how much you're willing to spend on tickets, accommodations, food, and other expenses.
Time constraints: Your available vacation days may affect the length of your trip.
Park interests: Determine which theme parks and attractions are most important to you, as this can influence how many days you will need.
Travel companions: Consider the preferences and needs of your travel group, as children or seniors may have different stamina levels and interests.
Recommended Trip Length
To make the most of your Walt Disney World vacation, it's generally recommended to book at least four days, allowing for a full day in each of the four theme parks. However, it’s important to note that even with four days, it’s unlikely you will experience everything you want or the parks have to offer.
Here are some suggestions based on the potential length of your stay:
Short Trips (1-3 days): If your time is limited, plan your days carefully and prioritize the parks and attractions that are most important to you and consider adding Park Hopper to your tickets. Park Hopper allows you to go to any of the four theme parks after 2pm.
Ideal Length (6-7 days): To fully experience all four theme parks and Disney Springs, a 6-7 day trip is ideal. This allows for a more relaxed pace and the opportunity to revisit your favorite attractions or catch anything you might have missed.
Keep in mind that ticket prices can decrease with longer stays, as multi-day ticket pricing is incentivized by Disney. Ultimately, your personal preferences and priorities will guide your decision on how many days to spend at Walt Disney World.
How many days should you spend at each theme park? Create an itinerary!
To determine how many days your family will need at each park and ultimately decide how long you need to visit Walt Disney World, create an itinerary! First, start by pulling up a map of each park, or a list of all of the attractions at each park. Have each person in your party identify the most important attractions you want to see. Once you have a list of the most important attractions, you (or your travel agent) can better understand how many days it will take at each park to accomplish your list!
Then consider whether you want to pay extra for Park Hopper to have the ability to visit multiple theme parks in one day or Genie+ to avoid longer lines. With a combination of Park Hopper, Genie+ and a waking up early to Rope Drop (arrive when the park opens) you can accomplish a lot in a single day!
A helpful rule of thumb is to spend at least four days visiting, allowing a full day for each park: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. However, you can adjust your schedule to accommodate your preferences.
For example, you might want to spend more time exploring Epcot with its various festivals and restaurants or make multiple visits to Magic Kingdom if you have young kids.
Here’s how we would handle each park:
Magic Kingdom
Entrance to Magic Kingdom for Disney 100
Magic Kingdom is the most iconic and popular park at Walt Disney World. It's filled with classic attractions, parades, fireworks, and character meet-and-greets. To really enjoy all of what Magic Kingdom has to offer, plan to spend at least two full days here. This will allow you to:
Experience most of the attractions
Ride your favorites (some multiple times)
Take breaks without missing out or feeling overwhlemed
Consider arriving for rope drop to gain early access and beat the crowds!
Epcot
Epcot is a mix of futuristic attractions, world culture experiences, and festivals. The park is large and involves a lot of walking. While there are new headliner attractions (Guardians of the Galaxy, Frozen Ever After and Ratatouille), there are a also a number of older attractions, food and drink experiences.
It’s unlikely with a family you will be able to accomplish everything in just a one day, but we’ve found families can feel satisfied with one day at Epcot.
If you have kids that enjoy character experiences, more time at Epcot is a must. Epcot is full of character meet and greets, particularly princesses (many of which you cannot meet at other parks)!
Remember to check if Epcot has any special events, concerts or festivals during your visit, as they can enhance your experience, or impact the crowds and wait times!
Hollywood Studios
At Hollywood Studios, you'll step into the world of movies, television, and animation. With attractions themed around popular franchises like Star Wars and Toy Story, this park appeals to fans of all ages. We recommend spending two days at Hollywood Studios to:
Experience must-see attractions like Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, and Hollywood Tower of Terror
Enjoy live shows and stage performances
Interact with your favorite characters
Visit themed lands such as Toy Story Land and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom blends together wildlife encounters, breathtaking shows, and rides into one unique park. To fully appreciate everything this park offers, plan for one day at Animal Kingdom. Many families chose to spend a half day at Animal Kingdom and are often satisfied by prioritizing 2-3 attractions or shows. During your visit, make sure to:
Set aside time for attractions like the Safari, Avatar Flight of Passage or Expedition Everest
Catch live shows like Festival of the Lion King
Participate in wildlife trails and animal encounters
Entrance to Animal Kingdom celebrating Disney 100
Tips for Maximizing Your Disney World Experience
A Disney World vacation is an amazing experience for both children and adults alike. To make the most of your time at the parks, there are some useful tips and strategies to consider:
Purchase your tickets online in advance. This will save you precious time at the park entrance.
Link your resort reservation and tickets to the My Disney Experience App and familiarize yourself with the App.
Remember to consider Disney's Genie+ service when creating your budget and vacation plan. Genie+ is a convenient addition to your trip, saving time and helping you get on more attractions throughout the day.
Use the My Disney Experience App to your advantage by mobile ordering meals, drinks and snacks, checking wait times, and navigating the parks efficiently.
Make all of your dining reservations in advance to avoid searching for reservations or quick service meals that fit everyone’s needs.
Planning Around Crowds and Wait Times
The time of year you plan to visit Walt Disney World can have a significant impact on how much you can accomplish during your vacation. If you visit during peak season, a special event or Holiday, you will need more vacation days in the parks (or expect you won’t be able to accomplish all you want).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recommended length of stay for Walt Disney World?
The ideal length of stay for visiting Walt Disney World is 5-7 days. This allows you to fully experience all four theme parks, the two water parks, and Disney Springs. However, the duration of your visit depends on your personal preferences and priorities.
Can you see all the parks in just a few days?
While it can be challenging, it is possible to see all four main theme parks in a few days by planning carefully and prioritizing your must-see attractions. Be prepared for a fast-paced visit and to visit all 4 parks in less than 4 days, you will need a Park Hopper added to your ticket. For a more relaxed experience, we recommend a longer stay.
Which Disney World parks are must-sees?
All four Disney World theme parks - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom - offer unique attractions and experiences that are worth seeing. Many families with time or budget limitations do not visit Animal Kingdom.
The must-see parks depend on your interests and preferences, so research each park to determine which ones best align with your priorities and plan your visit accordingly.
How much time should you spend in each Disney World park?
The recommended time to spend in each park varies depending on your interests:
Magic Kingdom: 2 days
Epcot: 1- 2 days
Hollywood Studios: 2 days
Animal Kingdom: half to 1 day
These times can be adjusted based on the attractions you prioritize and how much time you want to spend exploring other experiences at Disney World.
What are some suggested itineraries for different trip durations?
For a 2-day trip: prioritize Magic Kingdom and one other park based on your interests.
For a 3-day trip: visit Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios
For a 4-day trip: spend one day at each of the four main theme parks.
For a longer trip (5-7 days): allocate additional time to revisit your favorite parks, explore the water parks, or enjoy Disney Springs.
Remember that these are just suggested itineraries and can be customized to fit your preferences and priorities.
