Designing Your Own Walt Disney World Itinerary

29 comments

1 Dave { 09.30.09 at 3:59 am }

Thanks to HaleyB for suggesting I post a blank excel version of the itinerary spreadsheet for those who wish to use it!

Access it by clicking the link near the end of this page, just above the page 1/page 2 navigation box.

2 Jennifer { 04.18.12 at 7:58 pm }

Hi! My husband and I are taking our first trip to Disneyworld in a little over a week. We will arrive in Disneyworld on Friday, April 27th in the afternoon and depart on Friday, May 4th early in the morning. We purchased a 7 day park hopper ticket and will be going to Islands of Adventure one of the days (however we may not stay there until evening). Do you have any suggestions for us as far as an itinerary that will maximize our chances to see and do the most? From my research, the week we will be there shouldn’t be too crowded, but I would love to know what parks would be the least busy on the specific days we will be there. Also, if you know the best day of the week to visit Islands of Adventure that would be excellent. Any and all advice would be great! Thanks!

3 Dave { 04.19.12 at 8:24 am }

Hi Jennifer!

For Islands of Adventure, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/07/31/the-best-and-worst-days-of-the-week-to-see-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/

Here’s my thoughts on parks to avoid during your week (which should be terrific by the way):
4/27: Avoid HS
4/28: Avoid Epcot
4/29: Avoid MK
4/30: Avoid HS and AK
5/1: Avoid Epcot
5/2: Avoid AK
5/3: Avoid MK

Hope this helps and have a great trip!

4 Marge Rudisill { 04.23.12 at 10:33 am }

Hi! I am working on a plan to take our son to Disney for the first time. He turns 6 next March 29th-Easter weekend! Was looking at arriving April 4th for four nights. I know this is shorter than you recommend- just trying to avoid missing too many school days. He also loves Legos and I believe there is a Legoland or similar nearby? Can you recommend an itinerary for this short of a trip-could plan to arrive Weds, and do 5 nights- just worried about those Easter/spring break crowds. Thanks!!!
Marge

5 Dave { 04.23.12 at 11:28 am }

Marge, crowds will be massive until April 7…I can’t recommend that week at all, and there’s no way to solve it via an itinerary. At that age, I’d for sure take him out of school! But at that age, 2 days at the Magic Kingdom (3 if you stick to these dates) and one at Legoland is also plenty…the other parks can wait until he is older…

6 Heidi { 05.01.12 at 11:57 am }

Hello,
We are planning on visiting DisneyWorld in June 2013. Unfortunately, we are only able to stay for 5 days. Do you have any suggestions for a possible itinerary? We are hoping to arrive by noon on 6/10 and depart around 4pm on 6/14. Also, please provide dining suggestions as we will be doing the dining plan (1 quick, 1 table and 1 snack). Our children will be 7 and 9 and would absolutely LOVE a character dining experience at least once. Thank you very much for your time and suggestions.

Heidi

7 Dave { 05.01.12 at 2:09 pm }

Hi Heidi! For dining suggestions, see the material that starts here: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/

For your itinerary, given the ages of your kids, I’d do two days at the Magic Kingdom, one day each at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and skip Epcot. Try to take at least one day completely off.

Get back to me when your dates are set and I’ll try to help with which parks which days…

8 Diane { 05.01.12 at 8:36 pm }

Dave,

This website is the best! We are going to Disney 11/21 – 11/26 arriving @ noon on the 21st. How should we plan since we are arriving in midweek? Won’t Saturday and Sunday be less crowded? Not crazy about Epcot. This is our second trip with the grandchildren (ages 6 – 15). First was a couple of years ago. MK is their favorite. We are staying at Polynesian. Thanks for your help.

9 Dave { 05.02.12 at 6:38 am }

Hi Diane, the 25th and 26th will be much less crowded, the 24th will be better than the days earlier, and the days before then a zoo. Suggest you do MK the 25th and 26th, and go to the other parks–skipping Epcot–on the mornings they have extra magic hours, heading back to your hotel when they get unmanageable, and taking the evenings off except for evening visits to HS and Epcot for Fantasmic and Illuminations…

10 Sara { 05.05.12 at 10:57 am }

Hi wow what a site. I have zero experience with WDW. We are coming up May 17-20. My son is 5. Can you help me create an itinerary? We are staying on Disney property. Thanks! I’ve already learned so much. I’m so glad I’m not going to roam around looking for things to do like I thought! Please email also.

11 Dave { 05.05.12 at 12:46 pm }

Hi Sara! Glad to help. Take a lok at this and you’ll note that there’s not much outside the Magic Kingdom for a kid that age: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/

Assuming you can come back on a later trip when he’s older your best bet is a few mornings at MK, and at least an evening there for the parade and fireworks, with the rest of your time napping and swimming.

If this works for you, then the best days at MK over your dates are the 18th and 19th. The 17th and 20th are fine for the evening shows, but will be busier than the 18th and 19th…if you want to see other parks, the 17th any park but MK is fine, and the same is true the 20th

Hope this helps and have a great trip!

12 Brandie { 05.07.12 at 8:36 pm }

Wonderful, insightful help! Our family will be visiting Disney May 20, 21, & 22 and Universal May 23 and May 24th. Any suggestions for us to get the most out of our trip? We are a family of six; the kids are 17, 15, 13 and 12.

13 Kelly { 05.08.12 at 2:42 am }

We are planning a 10 day stay at a resort near Disney May 11-May21st. It will be our first time. We are a family of 5 . The kids are 21, 9 and 11. I need help knowing how many days to purchase park passes and advice on how to enjoy the resort activities as well. There are so many parks! We love the shows, fireworks and entertainment most. I’m afraid of planning a day at a park and not enjoying it and missing a great show or firework display at another park. Can you help? The resort people recommended doing Disney every other day. What would you recommend??

14 Dave { 05.08.12 at 7:10 am }

Hi Brandie! I don’t know if your park plans are flexible, but if they are, I’d reverse and do Universal the 20th and 21st and Disney the rest of the week. For why, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/07/31/the-best-and-worst-days-of-the-week-to-see-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/

Which WDW parks top visit partly depends on how much your kids like thrill rides vs charming ones that some sullen adolescents think of as “for babies.” But if you are spending two days at Universal, they are probably thrill ride fans, so I’d spend one day each at MK, AK and HS…

Let me know if you can swap your dates or not, and after I’ll suggest which park which day…

15 Dave { 05.08.12 at 7:20 am }

Hi Kelly! No worries. The nightly shows–Illuminations at Epcot, Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Wishes and the Evening Parade at the Magic Kingdom are on every night during your dates, so you can’t go wrong on that front!

Given the ages of your kids, you want 6+ park days–2 at MK, 1.5 at Epcot, and 1 each at HS and AK. Take at least 2 full days off. Reserve your last morning to return to a favorite park. Note that extra days cost hardly anything after the first three days–around $8 per person per day-0-and you can add them to your ticket when you decide you need them so long as its not after your last day of paid-for use…

See this for a model which doesn’t exactly fit your dates but shows how to shape a trip: 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/

16 Brandie { 05.08.12 at 3:39 pm }

Thank you Dave. We’ll do Universal first Anu suggestions for WDW?

17 Dave { 05.08.12 at 4:27 pm }

Great Brandie!

For WDW: May 22 HS, May 23 MK and May 24 AK

18 Brandie { 05.08.12 at 9:24 pm }

Thank you so much for your help and your website…..both have been priceless!

19 Dave { 05.09.12 at 6:30 am }

Brandie, you are welcome! Have a great trip and let me know how it went…

20 Kelly { 05.09.12 at 8:25 pm }

Dave, thank you! Your site and timely answers are so helpful! I just order a 7 day pass. We are so excited. I’m glad I found your site. I was originally going to buy 4 days. But based on your advise, opted for more. This may be our only time in a long while getting to the real Disney World. We live near Disneyland, CA…but I’m sure this will be a lot different. Thanks again for the time to answer our questions!

21 Dave { 05.10.12 at 7:40 am }

Thanks, Kelly! Have a great trip and let me know how it goes!

22 Bill { 05.12.12 at 1:31 pm }

We are planning a visit to WDW/orlando from 5/29-6/2. Our issue is with ticket prices, and how to get the most bang for our buck. We are a family of seven, the kids are 14, 13, 10, 5 and 4. Any advice on how to do this with a $1500 budget for tickets?

23 Dave { 05.12.12 at 1:55 pm }

Bill, you won’t find much in the way of deals on tickets, and your budget looks a little low to me…check here: http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwticketprices.html

24 Grandma { 05.16.12 at 2:53 pm }

Love your site – found when I panicked and googled disney first trip. Pop Pop and I are taking our 5 yr grand daughter and 7 yr grand son to Disney on June 3 arriving around 4:30 pm and leaving (boo-hoo) June 7 at 5 pm. Staying at Yacht club because it has a neat pool. How can I make this a great memory without cramming too much in? Appreciate all the tips!

25 Dave { 05.17.12 at 9:09 am }

Hi Grandma, and what fun! Given the ages of the kids, and the length of your trip, focus on the Magic Kingdom.

Think of spending two mornings, one mid-afternoon (for the afternoon parade) and one evening (for the evening parade and fireworks) at MK.

There’s little at Epcot for kids that age, but it’s so convenient that you kinda have to check it out, especially the Seas pavilion, and in it, Turtle Talk with Crush. They likely will also enjoy the evening fireworks show Illuminations.

See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/ and also some of the example days in this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/06/summer-itinerary-for-walt-disney-world-v2/

26 Grandma { 05.17.12 at 9:50 am }

Much appreciated! I will let you know how the trip turns out. I think Turtle Talk looks right up our alley.

27 Dave { 05.17.12 at 10:40 am }

Turtle Talk is drop dead cute. Hints: make sure the kids have distinctive hats on–bold solid color baseballs caps or such–and sit up in the special kid area at the very front…have a great trip, and let me know how it goes!

28 MJ { 05.17.12 at 3:19 pm }

My husband and I are going to Disney (first and likely only time) Thursday May 31-June 3rd. Sunday we have all day (flight doesn’t leave until 8pm) . We do not have any children and have already been to Universal so that’s not high on our list. If you had only four adult things to do there, what would they be? If you had to recommend one upscale non chain restuarant for us to try, which would you choose?

29 Dave { 05.17.12 at 4:29 pm }

Hi MJ–I’m not sure what you mean by “four adult things…” see this and let me know if I am missing the point: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/

Re dining, the best restaurants book up months in advance…see this for Zagat–the three Disney one son the list have their address beginning “Disney” http://www.zagat.com/lists/best-food-tops-orlando-restaurants and also see the adult side of this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-dining/

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