How many days do I need for a Walt Disney World vacation?

Plan a trip to Walt Disney World using the FREE printable checklist below which includes every ride in all 4 Disney parks. Then create a game plan using the tips in this article for a magical vacation. My website is full of helpful information to make the most out of your Walt Disney World vacation.

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How many days do I need at Walt Disney World?

The most frequently asked question about Walt Disney World is how many days do I need? This really depends on your budget, number of days you plan to be in Orlando and if you want to take rest days. Plan on at least one day at each park if possible. There are 4 Disney parks to visit and I wouldn’t skip any of them. If you have to combine you can do that, but each park offers unique rides, food and entertainment. You can’t park hop to another park until after 2 p.m. so keep that in mind. If you only have a few days and have to skip a park I will discuss that further down in the article.

Here are my recommendations when it comes to planning each day. Make a list of the top 5 attractions in each park that you don’t want to miss. Use the Walt Disney World checklist I created below at the end of this article to help you choose. When you arrive at the park do the rides on your list and then take a break. Grab a snack and get out your list. Now make a new plan for the rest of your day. You just never know how much you can get done and this way you for sure accomplish the must do things at the beginning of the day. There’s so much to see and do. You can’t do it all. If you go in with a plan of just 5 things to do then if you do more you’ll exceed your expectations rather than plan so much and be disappointed if you don’t get it all done.

Standing and waiting for rope drop at the Magic Kingdom.

Just like planning a trip to Disneyland the BEST and most important tip is arrive early and rope drop as seen in the photo above. Attractions start running when the park opens, but you can get into the park before the official start time and be ready to go. Read more rope drop tips and info here. And I always recommend staying at a Disney property which gets you Early Entry into each park everyday. Book a discounted Disney property to have this extra 30 minutes ahead of other guests.

Recommended number of days at Walt Disney World

Plan to spend at least 5 days at Walt Disney World minimum if you can! Unlike Disneyland the parks are spread out. There is no wrong way to do Walt Disney World. There is no certain order to visit each park. I recommend you have two park days then have a rest day. On your rest day you can relax at your resort, check out other resorts, swim or go to Disney Springs. Then finish your last 2 days with the other two parks.

Here’s another 5 day option. We were there 5 days. We did one day in each park, but had the option to go hop to another park in the evening for shows. Then on our 5th day we went back to Magic Kingdom and repeated many rides. I felt like 5 days was a good amount but we didn’t see everything. I would have loved more time to explore other resorts and their restaurants guess we just have to plan more trips!

What if I have to skip a park? Which one do I skip?

Both questions I get asked a lot too. This really depends on your group dynamic and interests. I would print the FREE Walt Disney World checklist at the bottom of this post. Go through the list and decide which rides you want to do in each park. If there are only 2 or 3 rides in a certain park you want to do, then that would be the park you could eliminate. Keep in mind that there are more than just rides in the parks as well. For instance Epcot has the World Showcase which is a place to explore and learn about different cultures and countries in the world. Not to mention all the food options in each country. Then over in Animal Kingdom there are many animal exhibits and places to explore. Each park offers other entertainment and shows as well. So this decision really depends on your interests and ages of the people in your group. Also ask your travel agent who is knowledgeable about each park. Just another reason I highly recommend using Get Away Today because they have experts who travel to WDW frequently. Complimentary concierge service is included at Get Away Today when you book a vacation package. The service includes making dining reservations, planning assistance and price monitoring. If a special or lower price comes out they automatically apply a refund! Book online or call 855-GET-AWAY and be sure to tell them Disneyland Tour Guide sent you for the best deals!

Help with my trip to Walt Disney World

There is so much to plan for on a trip to Walt Disney World, hotel, dining, transportation, getting the best deal etc. The longer you have to plan a trip to Walt Disney World the better. See here why I always use Get Away Today to help me plan my trip. Using a Disney approved agent costs nothing extra and takes the headache out of planning. You can’t beat their complimentary concierge services. And they have a layaway plan available just ask your agent.

What rides are in each Disney park?

Here is a checklist that you can print to help you prepare for your trip. The list includes every ride at all of the 4 Disney parks at Walt Disney World. It also includes which rides have Disney Genie+, Individual Lightning Land and Single Rider lines. As you can see Magic Kingdom has the most rides. Hollywood Studios now has more attractions available than before. With the addition of Galaxy’s Edge there are 2 more rides, plus the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride. Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom have about the same amount of attractions and fewer than the other parks mentioned. So you should look at the list or rides in each park and decide which ones you want to make sure you don’t miss. I hope this list helps you plan the best trip to Walt Disney World.

CLICK HERE to print the Walt Disney World checklist.