Define "one day at a park"

[CACCCCC]

I've been reading many web sites and guide books that recommend at least one day to cover each park and maybe two for Epcot and MK. The hours change depending on what time of the year you go from closing late(12am maybe later?) to closing early (5pm). So how much time do you really need in this defined day?

 

[CastleCreations]

It all depends on how much you want to see and do. There are times, my children and I get to MK and only do Fantasyland and leave by 11 am. Other times we get to MK when they open and don't leave until they close, and do EVERYTHING. So it all depends on your expectations and interests. I would plan at least 2 days for MK, and one day for each of the other parks. Whatever you decide..have fun!

 

[pepe of ohio]

For us it's all relative to the season, crowd level and your touring style. We can do the MK, 1/2 morning and return for 1/2 evening and just about cover it, but we go value slack season but spend another day there as well. AK, which we do not care for is 1/2 day park and EPCOT takes a day and a half and DHS a full day. We take afternoon breaks, hop to a different park than what we do in the am and again, we're on property 1-12 nights, usually have AP's so jumping to the park with the latest closing is how we tour. We most always stay in the MK resorts, WL, and pop into the MK on a whim.

No commando style for us, when the crowds thicken or the heat builds, we leave, resort swim and relax and return when the sun goes down. Everyone has their own touring style, some stay in a park opening to close, long day, we enjoy our resort too, so allow for time to play, swim, walk and dine. It's also according to your family, how many small children and their stamina. After you're into a couple of days, the old legs protest and the feet get weary and pushing it from their will make for a miserable vacation, just go at your own speed, you'll never see everything anyway.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

After many trips at dfferent parts of the year, it seems that hte shorter the park day, the more we can get done. When wait times are under 15 minutes for everything, you don't need 14 hours to do what you do in 10 in January(other than MLK Day).

 

[bdcp]

What the guide books mean is opening to closing, as days that they are open longer, the crowds are higher, which means usually wait times are longer. A "day" is whatever that days' hours happen to be.

 

[Robo]

What the guide books mean is opening to closing, as days that they are open longer, the crowds are higher, which means usually wait times are longer. A "day" is whatever that days' hours happen to be.

I agree with this as the "number 1" definition.


Another definition is that YOUR "day at the park" is the duration of time that YOU spend there.

As in, "I spent our first day in WDW at MK."

In some cases those two definitions will be the same number of hours.
In other situations, you may not spend "open-to-close" at that park.

 

[srwarden1928]

For us "one day at a park" means rope drop until we have seen everything.

DS we were done by about 630 or 7 including dinner.
AK we were done by about 530 but ate dinner offsite.
MK we were done by about 8 including dinner.
EP we took 2 days--one day we were done by 3 and had to wait for dinner res.--other day we were almost done by dinner at 430 but actually finished at about 6.

 

[cindy_k]

And even if you go from Park Opening to Park Close... you will still not have seen EVERYTHING. You may have ridden every ride, but you will have missed something. It may be a few of the shows, one of the parades, some scenic spot or some of the character greetings.

Disney has some much going on in the parks that it is practically impossible to see it all.

But that what makes it great to go back and do it again... Then you can see some of the stuff you missed the last time.

So Enjoy your trip!
Don't Stress over missing stuff because unless you move to Disney World you are going to miss things.

 

[Sabor]

I view a Day regardless of the Hours and time of year to be 8 - 10 Hours in the Park.

Half Day is 4-5 hours in the Park.