Hey everybody, there’s a new itinerary out for arrivals 8/31 through 10/26/2019. You can find it here.

By the co-author of The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2019, the best-reviewed Disney World guidebook series ever.

Available on Amazon here.





(Other Itineraries)

By Dave Shute

OVERVIEW: WALT DISNEY WORLD ITINERARIES

If you can’t do the recommended December weeks at Walt Disney World:

  • For Disney World itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see lower on this page
  • To design your own Disney World itinerary, see this

WALT DISNEY WORLD ITINERARIES BY ARRIVAL WEEK

This page provides below links to Walt Disney World itineraries by arrival week. Each itinerary includes links to daily guidance and a to-do list.

Itineraries are revised as Disney releases its calendar—which it usually does daily, providing it for about the next 6 months.

DISNEY WORLD ITINERARIES BY ARRIVAL DATE

Note: for the dates that follow, on June 24 I published a revised itinerary that 1. reflects the partial opening of Galaxy’s Edge, and 2. reflects (through November 2) the revised Extra Magic Hours program that will come with Galaxy’s Edge. I kept dining constant so that no ADR changes are needed

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253 comments

1 Cathy Johnson { 02.17.18 at 10:43 am }

Good Morning,
This is our families very first trip to Disney World. Our daughter, her husband and their 3 children (ages 9-girl, 6-boy & 1) will be joining my husband & I. The dates are Oct. 6-12 2018. I know this is a busier time, but we are locked into this time due to Fall Break. We have not made our hotel reservation but will do so next week. Because of my husbands work we are eligible to stay at Shades of Green. What do you know about the property? Is it conveniently located? Because of having a 1-year old I feel that we will need to go back to our room midday for him to nap. Also, we do get the perk of the magic your way ticket but are not eligible for the meal plan. 🙁 We would like to participate in several character meals. Would any of the itineraries that you have listed work for our family? Thank you in advance for your time.
Blessings,
Cathy

2 Dave { 02.18.18 at 10:09 am }

Hi Cathy, there’s a review of Shades of Green here. Note that you may also be eligible for the Disney Armed Forces Salute (many who are eligible for Shades are eligible for it, but not all.) If eligible, you can get great prices on tickets, and also (separately) on Disney-owned resort rooms.

One of the drawbacks of Shades of Green is so-so transportation. So yes, while you will be able to get back and forth for naps, the buses–especially for Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom–are less frequent than those serving the Disney-owned resorts.

The itineraries on this site don’t shorten well. However, you can find one and two day touring plans for the parks in my book.

3 bernadine ruell { 04.04.18 at 4:33 pm }

Our family of five{myself, husband, son, and two grandsons aged 10 and 8} will be arriving late on July 6th. We will be leaving for home on the 14th in the afternoon. We would like to spend time at Disney World, Sea World ,LEGOLAND or Universal Studios. Is it possible to do, using your itinerary for the week of july 7.

4 Dave { 04.05.18 at 7:54 am }

Hi Bernadine, the itineraries on this site neither shorten well nor do they apply to different arrival and departure dates. Start here to pick how many days you want to spend in the Disney parks. Then, in my book you can find one and two day itineraries for the Disney parks.

5 Sara Cowling { 04.05.18 at 5:31 pm }

I’m planning a trip September 12-19. Your itineraries start on Sunday. Should I just start midweek following your plan?

6 Dave { 04.06.18 at 10:11 am }

Sara, my itineraries are based on predicted specific park conditions, and also a specific order of seeing the parks the first time (basically EPcot first and MK last). They also assume kids 8 or older. As a result, they don’t adapt well to different dates or different ages (you didn’t mention kids, so I’m just noting that). You would be better of picking your park days (I can help with that, just let me know) and then using the one and two day per-park itineraries in my book.

7 Peter { 04.06.18 at 3:05 pm }

Hello, I’m trying to work up an itinerary for 11/13-11/19/18. I expect the crowds to be heavier at towards the end of my trip. I’ll be traveling with my wife and 6 year old daughter. Can you help to suggest which days to do which parks?

8 Dave { 04.08.18 at 8:54 am }

Hi Peter, I will be able to, but only after Disney’s calendar for then comes out. Sp ping me back in ~6 weeks, OK?

9 Gina C { 04.09.18 at 10:55 am }

Hi. Unfortunately, we have to be there during a heavy crowd time (Oct. 6-13). When will those itineraries be out?

10 Dave { 04.09.18 at 11:21 am }

Hi Gina, a week from tomorrow!

11 Peter { 05.07.18 at 4:41 pm }

Hi Dave,

My 180 point is fast approaching. I just want to follow up with you for advise on my trip for 11/13-11/19. I’m trying to figure out the best days to do which parks so I can then book some dining on the corresponding days I’ll be in each park.

Thanks.

12 Dave { 05.08.18 at 8:42 am }

Hi Peter, the calendar continues to be not helpful. Today it is out only through 11/4. I’d be glad to guess if you’d like me to…

13 Bill Warren { 06.11.18 at 3:38 pm }

We are going for the first time in a long time. Feb. 3–10th, 2019.
What is your opinion as to what rides might be closed that week.
Thanks
Bill Warren

14 Dave { 06.12.18 at 9:11 am }

Bill, the three rides that are almost always closed are Splash Mountain, the Liberty Belle riverboat, and Kali River. However, the closure periods vary, and it’s not uncommon for them to have re-opened by the dates you have targeted. The schedule comes out as late as 6 weeks before, so no more specifics now. In 2018 during your period Pirates of the Caribbean and The American Adventure were also closed–I don;t expect those two to be closed again this year, but something (or something) else may.

15 Priscila { 08.15.18 at 8:40 am }

Hi Dave me and my family are going Oct 31st thru Nov 3rd we are going to Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party will we get to see any Christmas decorations before we leave?

16 Dave { 08.16.18 at 6:45 am }

Priscila you may see a few on the 2nd or 3rd, especially at Magic Kingdom.

17 Hillary { 08.25.18 at 5:28 pm }

Hi Dave!
When should I check back for the updated itineraries for the Spring? Specifically, the week of 4/27/19. Thanks!

18 Dave { 08.27.18 at 7:37 am }

Hillary, about 6 months before the date, so late October–because that’s when Disney releases its calendar.

19 Hillary { 08.25.18 at 7:38 pm }

Hi Dave!
After looking around more on your site I’m wondering if I can use your Seven Night Variant for lower crowds itinerary (Sunday arrival) for my family’s trip 4/28/19-5/4/19. Our last day would still be a full day at Disney. Would it work to somehow combine the 2 days at AK into one day? This trip will be my kids’ first trip to WDW, but not their only. We have 3 boys ages 10, 7, and 5. We’re not purchasing a dining plan, so I’m thinking we’d only do one character meal. Thanks again!

20 Dave { 08.27.18 at 7:39 am }

Hillary, no, for two reasons–one is as noted before: without the operating calendar in hand, it’s just a guess. The second is that I have to update the seven night itineraries, as I have let them get out of date.

21 Hillary { 08.27.18 at 9:13 am }

Gotcha! Thanks for the response, Dave.

22 Christina { 01.15.19 at 12:17 pm }

Family of 4 (2 boys ages 12 & 16). First and only trip to wdw. We are planning on getting 5 day military salutes tickets. We have shades of green reservations for 4/11/19 – 4/19/19. Oldest son will be with his HS band until Saturday 13th. They will see Epcot, and AK and half day at MK(the band will march at MK on Friday the 12th and we want to see it). I know it’s going to be crazy busy with spring break, but it may be our only chance. What itinerary would you suggest? Should we do Epcot and AK that first Thursday and Saturday and pick 2 other days the next week to see MK and HS? Do you think the hopper plus option would be good to fill the other days? (We are thinking of doing Universal as well). (We are also not fans of big roller coasters. Any changes to the itinerary besides skipping the rides we don’t like?). Thanks for your help!
P.S. been reading your book. SO helpful!

23 Dave { 01.17.19 at 1:33 pm }

Hi Christina none of the itineraries on this site will work for such a short trip.

Adapt the one day touring plans in the book for HS, AK and Epcot, and the two day itinerary in the book for MK.

Change the times, though, if needed for what will likely be earlier openings and additional morning EMH (do EMH at MK Friday morning if it is added to the schedule.)

Your Epcot, AK and first MK days are ok. DO HS on Sunday with the morning EMH, and MK any day after except Wednesday.

24 Julia { 04.02.19 at 8:11 pm }

Do you know when you’ll have Sept 28 2019 itinerary posted?

25 Dave { 04.03.19 at 6:43 am }

Julie, around April 10. But of you can’t wait, I’ve been tracking the stuff here for about a year and found it generally sound

26 Jennifer Zellinger { 06.01.19 at 9:52 am }

How will early December look? We are going Dec 4-11 and it’s our second time at Disney.

27 Dave { 06.02.19 at 8:06 am }

Jennifer, see this.

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