Disney - how many days at each park?

[Slinky Dog]

Hi, I'm a first timer looking for some advice please with planning out our days when we go to Disney next July. We're 2 adults, 2 kids (5 & 9), on a 14 night stay. (onsite)

Initially I was going to go with a straightforward 2 days at each park itinerary but I know that's not really the done thing. At the moment I'm thinking at least 3 days at MK.

Is there a park in which one day would be enough? I'm also thinking spend one day at each water park, then choose one to go back to, so that'll be 2 days at one water park and 1 day at the other. Then after the water parks go somewhere for dinner whether that be a park or DS. Also use some FP's or see shows.

Any advice or recommendations will be really appreciated.

[kerrie1781]

This is quite hard as it’s personal preference. I personally think Epcot could be spread out over 2 days, the world showcase is amazing and there are missions for the kids to do so they don’t get bored! I would plan the first 8 days or so in what parks you want to do, then leave the last 6 days to go back to what you want to do (using DIBB busy day guide). If you are onsite then you could plan a couple of extra evenings in as you could revisit parks for fantasmic, Illuminations etc... There may also be rides that you want to do again etc.
For me MK - 3 visits, Epcot - 2 visits, HS - 2 visits and Animal Kingdom - 1 visit. Again, personal preference. X

[figment]

My kids are the same age as yours. We plan to do two days in each park with one a morning and afternoon and the second an afternoon and evening. Then any remaining days to just go to whatever we have missed.

We’ve been a number of times and I would say that easily Magic Kingdom is the place you are likely to spend the most time and could justify 3 days. Hollywood Studios is probably 1 day if you do a long day and organise your fast passes. Really though, it depends when you are going as to how busy it is and therefore how much you can expect to do in a day.

I don’t think you can really do everything in a single holiday though. You’d be racing around if you were and missing all the things that make Disney special. It’s not just the rides, nowhere in the UK is anything like it so it’s hard to explain but just being there is part of the experience. For example, sitting in France watching a mime show eating a pastry; enjoying the marching band parades that you didn’t even know were happening; watching the kids run wild through the water fountains by Imagination. These things can’t be planned for but are often the best parts.

My advice, plan the basics like what day you’ll go where, book the 3 fast passes for the things you can’t miss then go with the flow for everything else. It is a holiday after all!

[Disneynb]

We tend to spend the first two days in MK and then the others one day, then return to the ones we really enjoyed- we did a full day and evening last time at MK on our first day and my son fell asleep and missed the fireworks so I think we will be playing it by ear next year and not book any meals for the first day, so they can enjoy it- although they will be 5 yrs older, I think the first day is quite long as we always wake up really early!😃

[VS075]

It's very much a personal choice, but our next trip is:-

MK: 2.5
AK: 2
HS: 2
EP: 1
TL: 1

We also have a spare day where we may do AK again as this is our favourite Disney park. We are also doing the Universal parks numerous times.

[Slinky Dog]

Thanks guys. We do have a checklist of the things we want to do at each park so I think that will be good to look at while there to see what we have and haven’t done yet. I suppose this could determine where we go to and how often as well.

But yes I’m not planning anything late (like shows) for the first few nights as I know we will be knackered!

[orlandonewbie]

We’re doing
MK 2
AK 2
Epcot 1 1/2
HS 1
TL 1
Then a day at Discovery cove and a day at Seaworld.
We have one day free to choose near the end.
Is one day enough for Seaworld? I haven’t been since I was little, a lot of years ago.

[justmagical]

For our trip I’ve planned:

MK - 3 morning, 2 evening
AK - 2 morning, 2 evening
HS - 2 morning, 2 evening
EP - 1 morning, 1 evening
TL - 1 morning to 3ish
BB - 1 morning to 3ish

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Slinky Dog

Initially I was going to go with a straightforward 2 days at each park itinerary but I know that's not really the done thing.

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There's not really a "done thing". Everyone does things differently.

Originally Posted by Slinky Dog

Is there a park in which one day would be enough?

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It depends on what you want to do and what you consider "enough". You can spend one day at any park and do enough at that park to consider it done. In the past, for example, we've sometimes spent just 1 day at MK each time we visited Florida and I felt this was enough. Equally, you can spend several days at a park and still not do everything. I've had 8 holidays to Florida and probably spent 40+ days at the 4 main Disney parks and still not done all the rides and attractions.

However, as a general rule of thumb, I usually suggest 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at AK, 1 day at HS.

[pad406]

There really is no set pattern. We spend a lot of time at Epcot, many others don't. We also park hop a lot, so get 2 parks in 1 day.

I know it can be difficult with making ADRs and FP+, but try and leave the 2nd half of the holiday more flexible. Make the ADRs and FP+ for the evening so that you can go to another park in the morning, particularly if EMH is on as you can get a lot done then. I think 1/2 day is enough in the water parks, so use the afternoons to revisit other parks.

5&9 year olds will need some time out chilling too, so allow for that.