How Many Days Do You Need at Disney?

 If you’re planning your first Disney vacation, you may not understand just how HUGE Walt Disney World is.

With four theme parks—all of which exceed the size and scope of your local six flags— plus 40 square miles of accommodations, utilities, and activities, Disney World is the size of San Francisco!

A lot of first-time visitors ask me how long they should stay in order to see everything, but the short answer is: you can’t. I’m an annual pass holder and visit 2-3 times a year, but I haven’t even come close to doing everything!

So… how long should you plan on going?

For A First-Time Visitor

5-6 Park Days

If you’re a first-time visitor, you should plan on at least 5 park days, not including arrival and departure. Ideally, your trip will span 6 or 7 nights, giving you ample time to explore the parks but also take advantage of the amenities at your resort and enjoy a relaxed, exploratory pace.

But whether this is your first Disney visit or your fourth, don’t forget the power of an afternoon nap! love the afternoon nap! Whether or not you’re a napper (and believe me—I’m definitely not), I love splitting up my day with a break at the hotel. While my husband naps, I take a refreshing shower and charge my phone—and myself.

Your first trip to Disney can be extremely overwhelming, so it’s important to have a plan, set priorities, and not expect to do everything. The more time you have, the easier it is to balance everything you want to see with the downtime you need. Plus, building in a little extra time gives you room to explore the other activities Disney has to offer!

For Families With Babies And Toddlers

6- 7 Park Days

I’d recommend taking an afternoon break no matter who you’re traveling with, but if you have a little one, taking time away from the parks and keeping your routine consistent is even more important. Those kids you see having a meltdown outside of Mad Tea Party or screaming at the entrance to Slinky Dog Dash? Their parents didn’t respect the routine. It is so easy for littles to become over-stimulated, so always take breaks and stay tuned in to your toddler’s mood—your family (and your ears) will be thankful for it.

With 6-7 park days, you can spend shorter spurts of time in the parks. When we brought Annabelle when she was 11 months old, we would spend 2-4 hours in the parks, rest for a few, and then head back for dinner.

But don’t confuse park days with park time—you can visit every day if you want to, but don’t try to stay in the parks from open to close—I promise you will thank me.

More Days = Less Park Time Per Day = Longer Naps = Fewer Meltdowns

To Get Your Disney Fix

I love Disney Math. It’s the only time where adding a day to your trip can sometimes mean spending LESS! I make quick little trips throughout the year to try the latest attraction or just get my Disney fix. I always start with flights, figuring out which airline/schedule combo would be the most cost-effective. Usually, staying over a Saturday night drops the cost of your flight significantly. I find Tuesdays and Sundays to be the cheapest days to fly, and I usually try to fly in (and out) on those days.

For a short trip, I like to stay 3 nights if I can, letting me visit each of the four parks without wasting time on traveling from park to park throughout the day. I like to keep these trips ultra-focused, often skipping many of my favorites. If you have less than 4 full days in the park, you will definitely want to consider a ticket with Park Hopper benefits. A Park Hopper ticket allows you to visit more than one park per day, but at the cost of a slight upcharge, so it may be less expensive to add an additional night to your stay rather than paying to park-hop.

Of course, not everyone can spend an entire week at Disney, so I’ve put together a few options based on the length of your stay:

One Day

This is certainly not ideal for a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth, but if you’re driving through Orlando or have an extra day after a work event, you have a perfect excuse to get a little snippet of what Walt Disney World has to offer.

If it is your first visit, pick one park and check out the highlights: give yourself a good taste of what Disney has to offer. Don’t try to do everything. Prioritize what attractions are important to you, and don’t forget to enjoy the shows and atmosphere!

If you’re a returning visitor, attempt the 4-Parks-One-Day Challenge: try to visit 1-2 attractions in each park—it’s a lot harder than it sounds!

2-3 Days

This is what I find most first-time visitors allot for their trip, and, if possible, I would HIGHLY recommend trying to get to at LEAST the 4-park day mark.

If you have two days, I’d spend one in the iconic Magic Kingdom and another in whatever park interests you the most.

If you have three days, I would definitely consider adding a Park Hopper Option to your ticket so you can visit all four parks!

4 Days

This one is easy: there are four parks and you have a four-day ticket. Visit one park per day.

I like to spend a full rope-drop-to-fireworks day in the Magic Kingdom, enjoy early mornings in the Animal Kingdom, and a late-start at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, giving my family and I plenty of time to rest and decompress without worrying about the logistics of park-hopping.

If you can’t get enough of a particular park, you can usually add a 5th day to your ticket for only a few dollars. Depending on your arrival or departure time, you may get a chance to visit your favorite park for a few extra hours!

5-7 Days

5-7 days is the optimal time frame for a Disney trip. Personally, I always recommend two days in the Magic Kingdom and one day in each of the other parks. You can add a half-day or two at your favorite park with dinner in Disney Springs or spend a lazy morning at the pool, leaving you plenty of room for relaxation without sacrificing park time.

8+ Days

If you can swing it, eight or more days gives you SO much more flexibility with your time. You could visit each of the parks more than once, spend plenty of time by the pool, head to the water park, check out a tour or special event, enjoy Sunday Brunch, get a massage, go to trivia or paint night at your resort—the possibilities are endless.

Of course, every family is different—a Disney trip is incredibly personal, and your family’s interests may dictate a completely different approach. I’d love to help you find the perfect park plan for your family. Schedule a complimentary planning session using the button below—you deserve a break from the busy.

Who is Christina?

Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists.  After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!

She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, and Europe and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.