b. How Long to Stay
How Long to Stay Other Trip Lengths Itinerary Design Goals
Designing Your Own Itinerary Shorter Itineraries
HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Plan to spend 9 days in Orlando, arriving late morning or early afternoon on a Saturday and departing in the late afternoon or evening of the following Sunday.
This amount of time balances the time needed to fully appreciate the 4 theme parks (6ish days) with time for breaks from the parks, while fitting into a typical “week off from work.”
If you can’t stay this long, see Other Trip Lengths.
This schedule gives you 7 full days and two partial days in Orlando. The basic itinerary (see this for details) has you spending part or all of 7 days in the parks, with one full day off, two additional mornings off, and one additional afternoon break.
For those with difficult budget or transportation challenges, the time in Orlando can be shortened to 8, 7, or even 6 days: a late-morning arrival day, a late afternoon departure day, and 4 to 6 full days–but only at the cost of making what is already a steady pace a hectic one.
See Other Trip Lengths for details on shorter Disney World trips.
MORE ON HOW LONG TO STAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For advice on how long to stay, see this
- For other trip lengths, particularly for the basic December itinerary, see this
- For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
- For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
- For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
- To design your own itinerary, see this
- For rides that might be skipped, see this
- For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this
16 comments
Hi I just discovered your site. My husband & I are 63 & 70 years old & are planning to take our one grandson to disney & hopefully to Universal Studios. My concern is that we are not going to be able to take the long lines in the heat. We are a bit limited on our spending, to say the least, yet Cameron is our only grandson who has not been to disney, yet promised many times, so we are going to try to take him. He is 9 years old and very active, my husband is having mobility issues, can’t stand for very long plus his breathing is labored. I have a tendency to overheat quickly. We already have a place to stay in Orlando at our timeshare. Can you give me any tips on where to buy my tickets and do they have a special for people to go to the front of the line. Also we are going to have to pack lunches and eat out in the car. Any and all help you may be able to supply me would be great! My daughter just returned from disney and told me to buy my tickets at the state line when we come in as they are only $50.00 per ticket. Do you know anything about that, or would I be subjected to a timeshare sales pitch? Oh yes we are going this month to arrive on the last Saturday in July and check out on the following Saturday. Thanks in advance for any insight you may be able to help me with. I only wish I had found this page before today. Blessings to you!
Megan Riffey
Hi Megan!
What a sweet thing you are doing for Cameron!
I’ll answer your specific questions, but here’s my advice: reschedule your trip and save a little more for it.
The heat humidity and crowds in your period are nearly as bad as they get. Aim for late October or early-mid November instead. For specific weeks see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/11/20/2011-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
I also strongly suggest that you save enuf to rent at least one scooter, and that you also stay in a WDW resort–because of its compactness, among the least expensive resorts I’d give the nod to All-Star Music– http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/07/27/review-disneys-all-star-music-resort/
Staying in a WDW resort means you can use the Disney buses to get the scooter around–they are designed for this.
To answer your specific questions–you can get what is called a Guest Assistance Card at guest relations at any of the theme parks (ask the ticket takers at your first park where guest relations is.) This will help with some lines, heat, etc, but won’t solve the problem of miles of walking to get from ride to ride–hence my thought on the scooter.
For more on Guest Assistance Cards and other ways WDW can help, see PassPorter’s Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line: Easy Access Vacations for Travelers with Extra Challenges
Regarding ticket prices, as far as I am concerned there’s no free lunch. $50 tickets will either be fraudulent or require sitting thru a timeshare presentation and blowing half a day–which may be worth it given your budget. For more on ticket prices see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/06/12/disney-world-2011-2012-admission-ticket-prices/
On going back to your car for lunch–if you do end up sticking with your dates, here’s a better answer–get to the parks before they open, spend the morning, take the middle of the day off and have lunch back at your timeshare, then come back to the parks in the cooler and less crowded evenings. Even people without the issues you note find the crowds and heat of summer afternoons hard to take.
If you do keep your dates, let me know, and I’ll give you some thoughts on best and worst parks by day so that you can avoid the worst of the crowds…
I’m sorry to be so negative on your dates, but I can’t emphasize enough how much less miserable you will be in the cooler and less crowded times of the year (ps just take Cameron out of school.)
Thank you for your quick reply. Unfortunately another time is totally out of the question. I wish it wasn’t. Do you think Cam would enjoy Universal Studios just as much? We want to take him there to. How many days should we plan on staying at each place? Our son and family will be going to disney 2 or 3 weeks after us. Should we buy our tickets together to save money? Again I thank you for your kind help, how nice of you!
Megan, as a travel agent I strongly suggest not purchasing tickets at a booth. The state of Florida is getting rid of many of them because they are fake tickets or ones that are being resold. In the case of resold tickets you could find out that they aren’t valid once you arrive.
As far as the heat and crowds it’s going to be high due to last minute vacations before school starts back. The heat is very hard to deal with if you can’t tolerate the heat. I have some medical problems myself and can’t tolerate the heat so in the summer I spend most of my time indoors. I typically go Oct – March to avoid the extreme heat. Also the prices are much lower then.
As Dave mentioned the Guest Assistance Card and getting a scotter. He’s definitely right about getting both of those as there is so much walking and both of those will make it easier as far as mobility and the heat.
Both the All-Star Resorts and Pop Century are great when looking to save money. I do recommend getting a Preferred room at them so you are close to the main building where the buses pick you up. At the All-Stars the walk from the back of the resort to the front can be a long one.
Enjoy planning your trip!
Hi Megan. I’ll get back to you with more detail later–but to respond to your specific questions, I’d skip Universal. It caters to older children and young adults, and I don’t see it as worth the $300 or so more it will cost for the three of you…that’s better spent on renting scooters at the parks…ther’s no group discount on tickets and you can’t use each others…more later
Thanks Kristen! great point on the preferred rooms–I forgot about that…
Hello! One quick note about the Guest Assistance Card. It is a common misconception that this is a “front of the line” pass. It is not. If your problem is mobility and you are renting a scooter you will not need a GAC because you will be directed to the handicapped entrances for various attractions. If your problem is heat intolerance the GAC will only help you use an alternate entrance if the main entrance is outdoors.
I have visited WDW several times with my son who has special needs and if you cannot change your travel to a cooler time of year, then I heartily second the advice above. Plan for slow touring with a break mid-day so you can rest and your grandson can swim. We have vacationed with a family member who is in her 70s and she was shocked at the amount of walking involved with touring these very large and spread-out theme parks. Good Luck to you!
If you haven’t been to DW before, the parking lot seems miles away from the entrances. You would waste alot of energy going to get lunch in the car when you could carry in some snacks and buy a sandwich or two from quicky vendors. Not to mention some of the fun is buying a snack or two. You could eat a Pinnochio’s near Dumbo’s ride and it isn’t very expensive either. One thing I remember the first time is how tired my legs were – so save your energy to enjoy the day.
Also, if you use the fast passes that will eliminate long standing. OR if you stand in line for Peter Pan’s flight (which is always long) you can then so sit in Mickey’s Phiharmonic and rest your legs. There are other key places in the park if you need to rest you can such as Tom Sawyers Island, Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress. Not the most exiting rides in the park but a great way to take a break after standing in a Space Mountain ride. Another tip, if you are willing to let your grandson ride by himself on the coasters then he can get right on – my husband and rode separate and saved hours of standing in line. If you plan ahead what you want to do, then you can alternate sitting/standing times.
Also we have done the DW resort stay and another time did the time share stay. The Disney hotels aren’t very nice and your time share is probably much nicer. We’ve stayed at 2 mid-range resorts and were not impressed at all plus they are expensive.
Finally we went to Universal and they have two sides which cost separate. We just went to one side and it was okay but was no where near as magical as Disney World. I would just stick with Magic Kingdom for now, I’m sure you grandson will love it.
Thanks Kathy and Erica!
Hi Megan!
The general theme of the comments and the conversations I’ve elicited in other forums is to change your date, to change to a Disney resort and rent a scooter, and/or to add another adult or grandkid to the mix, older than Cameron, both to help you out and to provide an escort for Cam when you two are worn out.
I understand that you probably can’t or won’t. So here’s my best shot on that assumption.
You should bring with you at minimum a folding wheelchair. While you can rent these (and scooters) in the parks, the parks run out, and renting at the parks creates another line for you to wait in.
Note the comment about the Guest Assistance Cards—they are helpful, but don’t necessarily send you to the head of the line.
Park in the disabled lot you’ll find at each park (ask a cast member for directions; if you don’t have a blue handicapped placard, point to the wheelchair and explain your issues and most cast members will let you access the lot.)
To beat the crowds and heat, start your days early—plan to be at the turnstiles 30mins before they open—which means being at the parking lot 45 mins before except for the Magic Kingdom, where you should be at the parking lot 60 mins before.
Cherish days with steady rain in the forecasts—these will dampen the fair-weather crowds in the parks.
To further reduce waiting, use FASTPASSES —they come with your tickets for free
Focus on mornings and evenings—aim to be out of the parks by noon or so. Your ticket lets you return to the same park in the same day/evening for free (keep your parking receipt too and you won’t have to pay again for parking.) Do the more popular rides in the morning and the lower-wait ones in the evenings.
Note as per one of the comments you can bring your lunch in—you can’t roll in with a cooler but if you have it discretely in a backpack security will check it and pass you through. Bring also frozen bottles of water…
On the following days avoid the following parks (because they have extra magic hours (EMH) which you aren’t eligible for since you aren’t staying at a WDW resort. These EMHs draw extra crowds to the periods when you can attend—which is why you avoid them.)
Saturday the 30th: Avoid Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sunday the 31st: Avoid the Magic Kingdom
Monday the 1st: Avoid the Animal Kingdom and the Hollywood Studios
Tuesday the 2nd: Avoid the Magic Kingdom and Epcot
Wednesday the 3rd: Avoid the Animal Kingdom
Thursday the 4th: Avoid the Magic Kingdom
Friday the 5th: Avoid the Magic Kingdom and Epcot
Saturday the 6th: Avoid the Hollywood Studios
Given all these “avoid” dates, here’s a thought on which parks which days:
Saturday: take it off unless you arrive early; if you arrive early, make it to the Magic Kingdom for the 3p parade, the evening parade and fireworks, while (per one of the comments) hitting some lower-crowd, sit-down, air conditioned rides in between (Hall of the Presidents and Carousel of Progress). FASTPASS Mickey’s Philharmagic.
Sunday: Animal Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If the Studios, return late for the second showing of Fantasmic
Monday: Magic Kingdom. Return late for the evening parade and fireworks if you missed them on Saturday
Tuesday—whichever of Animal Kingdom or Studios you missed Sunday (if the Studios, see the note above about Fantasmic.)
Weds: Magic Kingdom
Thurs: Epcot (avoid the World Showcase during the day—too much walking and heat for too little payoff for Cameron). Return late for Illuminations–there are special disabled viewing areas, ask a cast member for directions.
Friday: off
Saturday: return to your favorite park among Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, and the Animal Kingdom (avoid the Studios this day)
Let me know if I can help any more!!
Dave
Hi Dave,
I love all the addivce you have given. I am planning on taking my 5 year old daughter to WDW next year. My question to you is when should we go? We will have a small buget, and we want to stay on the resort this time. I went with my husband 3 years ago in October and it was nice but still pretty hot. What would you sugest?
Hi Melissa!
See this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
If you need more, see the links that begin on this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/05/08/more-on-when-to-go-to-walt-disney-world/
Hi Dave,
Great site you’ve got going here. Just had a few questions. I am planning on visiting Orlando with my girlfriend mid January 2012. We are lucky that we can spend up to 10 or 11 days in Orlando to check out all the Disney theme parks and Universal Studio theme parks. Wanted a suggestion which theme parks to visit first, what park hopper tickets to get and if it is worth it to stay in a Disney resort hotel or to stay outside the Disney resort and save some cash.
Since Orlando is filled with theme parks, is it wise to rent a car if staying out side the Disney resorts or just depend on shuttle and public transport? I would think parking would be a nightmare and would be pay parking.
Doing some research I see that some theme parks would require to visit twice to see everything, I am not keen on this and would like to see one theme park per day, maybe alternate between a Disney theme park and a Universal theme park. What would you suggest.
Looking forward to your suggestions and looking forward to seeing Orlando
Hi Aaron. Regarding whihc to see first, Disney is more crowded Sat-Mon, which means Universal is less crowded then. So I’d frame the basics around that, and then avoid whichever Disney park has morning extra magic hours. The Magic Kingdom needs two days, and Epcot may. You don’t need park hoppers for Disney–with the time you have there’s no need to hop.
You won’t have any luck with public transport, and shuttles can be expensive and inconveninet. I think you are best off staying off site and renting a car.
I’m planning a trip to WDW May 20, 2012 – May 27, 2012 for a family of six ages 8, 11, 14, 38, 38, 70. We are following your advice and staying at the All Star Music resort & following your Autumn Spring Winter Itenerary. Do I need park hopper passes? Anything new I need to know? This is our first trip to WDW or any major theme Park.
Hi Chinero! If you follow one of this site’s itineraries–ie a modified version of this one, which is for a Saturday arrival http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/itineraries-for-the-rest-of-the-year/v2-of-2009-autumn-winter-spring-itinerary/ then you can also use its to-do list–see http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/to-do-list/to-do-lists-for-alternative-itineraries/to-do-list-v2-of-2009-autumn-winter-spring-itinerary/
This itin has you hopping one night. If you modify it so you don’t need ot hop, then you can skip the park hopper ticket add-on.
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