When planning your Disney World vacation, one of the first big decisions you need to make is how many days you are going to spend in the parks. There are so many ways to “do” Disney World, so here are some questions to help you decide how many days you should spend in the parks on your next trip.
Is this your first visit?
If you are visiting Walt Disney World for the very first time, or the first time in a long while, I would highly recommend planning on having one full day in each park. Each of the four theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot, has a distinct personality and fun, new experiences for your family to enjoy. From experiencing classic attractions at Magic Kingdom, to learning about new cultures in Epcot’s World Showcase, to experiencing a safari in Animal Kingdom and the magic of Disney movies and animation brought to life at Hollywood Studios, they all have something you do not want to miss. All four parks also have activities geared towards all ages.
Disney World will also sometimes offer special four-day tickets such as the currently offered 4 Park Magic Select Ticket, but please note that these come with additional restrictions. For example, this ticket offer allows you to visit each of the four theme parks once, one park admission per day. You will not be allowed to repeat a park, nor to leave for a midday break and return to the same park later the same day. Pricing for this special ticket varies based on visit dates.
How much stamina does your travel party have?
Are you traveling with a group of high-energy people who will be able to trek through the parks from rope drop to park close? If so, you will be able to get through many attractions on a full day. If you know that your group will want to head back to the resort in the early afternoon and enjoy a rest or a dip in the pool, you may want to consider adding a day or two to your park tickets to make sure you can enjoy things at a more leisurely pace.
Do you want to park hop?
Adding the Park Hopper option to your ticket will allow you to visit different parks on the same day. For an additional $55 per ticket, this can be a great way to allow yourselves to revisit some favorite attractions or to head to a different park to check out a must-eat restaurant. It’s important to note that traveling from one park to another may take longer than you are expecting, so keep that in mind when you are working out your itinerary. If you are a high-energy group that likes long days in the parks, adding the hopper could be a way to eliminate one day from your park ticket and still allow you to cover most of the activities on your list.
What is on your travel party’s must-do list?
Be sure to talk to everyone in your group about what they are most excited to see and do. If you are traveling with little ones, you may decide to spend two or more full days at Magic Kingdom so that they can go on their newfound favorite attractions more than once. Traveling with thrill seekers? Make sure to include Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on your park to-do list so that you can experience the thrilling Expedition Everest, Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
How does a real Walt Disney World Addict approach her trip?
My ideal Disney World trip for my family is seven nights, seven days in the parks. We tend to get up early, hit the park for rope drop and then head back to our resort to relax in the afternoon. We always get the Park Hopper ticket option so that we can head to a different park in the evening if we are feeling energetic. If you are looking for a fun way to spend an evening, be sure to head to Epcot’s World Showcase. The food, drinks and music make for my favorite way to spend a night!
An additional note on Disney World ticket pricing – as you add more days to your park ticket, the cost per day goes down significantly. For example, a two-day ticket starts at $101 per day, but a 7-day ticket starts at $59 per day, based on dates of visit. The 7-day ticket costs more in total, but the per day visit cost is significantly less.
Regardless of how many days you decide to spend in the parks, your Disney World vacation is sure to be magical, and you can always make adjustments to your number of park days for your next visit.
Ready to start planning your next Walt Disney World vacation? As an agent with Chip & Co’s official travel partner, Key to the World Travel, I would love to help with your first, or next, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line or Disneyland vacation! Email me at missy.graner@keytotheworldtravel.com or simply fill out the quote request below. And be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started Now for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
- Food Allergies and Dietary Restrictions at Walt Disney World - June 15, 2019
- Best Attractions at Animal Kingdom with Little to No Wait - June 9, 2019
- Best Attractions at Magic Kingdom with Little to No Wait - June 2, 2019
Comments are closed.