First Trip to WDW!!!! Help!!!! How many days at each park?

[spacemouseneer]

Hello all,

I am a long time DL visitor and have a ton of experience there, but we are planning our first trip to WDW next May and WOW, it is a lot to learn. So, first things first. How many days should I schedule for each park? We like to take our time at DL. We have spent 5 days at both parks no problem. Have done up to 8, just to take our time and redo our favourite attractions. We will have 2 18 year olds, a 10 year old and a 5 year old. I was thinking 3 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, and 1 day each at HS and AK. What does everyone think? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Spacemouseneer

 

[gunderda]

I've only been to MK and Epcot (last week) but you could do multiple days at each of those. 3 days at MK and 2 at Epcot sound pretty good.
I would probably allow for some breaks inbetween though. We did a week long trip with a 10 and 6 year old and by day 3 they were pretty burnt out and that was only after 2 half days at Universal Studios. And then we spent 17 hours at MK and 9-10 at Epcot back to back... I'm really surprised we didnt have a lot of meltdowns lol

 

[amyjmcc90]

I think your plan sounds good. We typically do 2 days each at MK and Epcot, and 1 day each at HS and AK.

 

[DisneyFive]

I can only give you what our minimum would be for a first visit, anything more than that is gravy, and going to come down to personal preference. Everyone is going to chime in with their favorite and rank accordingly.

Minimum
2 full days at MK
1 full day at each of the other three parks

I will say this. Go for as long as you can manage. You WILL NOT have a problem filling up that time.

Dan

 

[AngiTN]

This is a pretty good guide for you (works in reverse) (post made by Hyrdoguy)

I would say 2 days at at DLR feels like about 4 days at WDW. Enough time to hit all the headliners and see a few shows, but not nearly enough time to take most everything in.

3 days at DLR feels like 5-6 days at WDW. Enough time to cover most of the parks and no need to feel extremely rushed. But you know you still missed a lot.

4 days at DLR feels like 7-8 days at WDW. Enough days for a very solid visit, time to stop and smell the roses, and enough time that when you leave you feel like you really experienced a lot without killing yourself.

5 days at DLR feels like 9-10 days at WDW. Enough days to feel like you really enjoyed the resort at a slow pace and did not miss anything you really cared about while also seeing a lot of things you usually would just skip.

I don't think 3 days is necessary at MK but 2 is for sure.
And yes, a break is just about as important as number of park days.
So if you can plan at least 7 full days (not counting travel days) so you can at least do 2 MK, 2 Epcot, 1 HS and 1 AK, plus a break from the parks somewhere in the middle.

 

[spacemouseneer]

Awesome. Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[maltdizzy]

While I would go nuts if there for longer than 6 days, I agree...5 days at DLR = 9-10 days at WDW.

Remember, there is a lot more than just the parks as well...two water parks...resort hotels you can spend a day at...evening events around the "world"...fishing...golf...

 

[MataHari22]

Hello all,

I am a long time DL visitor and have a ton of experience there, but we are planning our first trip to WDW next May and WOW, it is a lot to learn. So, first things first. How many days should I schedule for each park? We like to take our time at DL. We have spent 5 days at both parks no problem. Have done up to 8, just to take our time and redo our favourite attractions. We will have 2 18 year olds, a 10 year old and a 5 year old. I was thinking 3 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, and 1 day each at HS and AK. What does everyone think? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Spacemouseneer

Sounds perfect, to me. We are two grown adults, no children. That's basically what I have been doing and it's worked out very nicely. Have gotten to do most everything I've wanted to do in each park, and not feel super rushed. I do not go to the parks on arrival day, because we are too exhausted, and the day we depart, we leave extremely early, so we don't go that day either. We do:

MK:
1 full day
3/4 day
1 day of MNSSHP or MVMCP from 4pm-12am

Epcot:
1 full day
1/2-3/4 day

AK:
1 day

HS:
3/4 day

Since we go in October or this year, we are going in November, so it's a little slower, and the parks are not open as many hours as the busier times. Also this year, we will not have park hoppers for the first time.

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Your schedule is fine. It hits the minimum amount of time I would allocate to each of the 4 parks, and gives MK an extra day on top of that. Although personally, for 7 days I'd probably get Park Hoppers and then work in a bunch of half park days. For example, we like to go to Epcot pretty much every evening, which eliminates the need for any Epcot "days". Also, don't forget the 2 water parks, Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk area, the mini-golf places, and...well...I could go on. Point is, make time for not-park fun.

 

[JenB1104]

We recently went for a week and did 2.5 days in MK, 1 in HS, 3/4 day in AK, 1.5 days in Epcot. I wish we would have had more time in Epcot to tour countries but our focus was different with our 5 year old with us. We also took breaks each day so our time was more spread out. We still did not see and do everything in our plans - you just can't in one trip. Just another reason for a return trip!

 

[animalkingdom15]

I usually plan 1 day for each park and then use any extra days to do something that got missed or to mack up for a lost day if the planned day had horrible weather.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I suggest park hoppers for your trip. Because you have grown children, 3 days at MK might be too much. 2 days, and a return or two might work better. The thrill rides at WDW are spread out among all the parks. Your older kids may appreciate hopping, even though there's no esplanade to walk across.

 

[nat8199]

I agree with the PH recommendation. As much as I love AK with my little kids, I can see teens wanting to leave by the afternoon to go to another park, same with HS. With that said, a 5yo can easily spend 2 days at AK. Park hoppers would really let each of your group get the most out of the trip.

My ideal trip would be 3 MK, 1 Epcot (plus a few evenings), 2 AK, and 1 HS.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Hello all,

I am a long time DL visitor and have a ton of experience there, but we are planning our first trip to WDW next May and WOW, it is a lot to learn. So, first things first. How many days should I schedule for each park? We like to take our time at DL. We have spent 5 days at both parks no problem. Have done up to 8, just to take our time and redo our favourite attractions. We will have 2 18 year olds, a 10 year old and a 5 year old. I was thinking 3 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, and 1 day each at HS and AK. What does everyone think? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Spacemouseneer

I definitely like your plan of 3 days at MK & 2 days at EPCOT. I would even consider an extra half day at both - to revisit favorites at MK and to just walk through the countries again/window shop at EPCOT. I think your 1 day each at AK & DHS is a good starting point. Depending upon operating hours at DHS during your stay you might do an extra half day or few hours there if you want to take your time and see all the shows. Have a great trip!

 

[Rosebud123]

Your schedule sounds perfect, as long as you're going for 10 full days. I'd schedule a break day/DTD night along with at least one water park day.

I would not bother with park hopper. I know lots of people like them, but I'm a fan of the 3/4 day and night off, or RD - pool/nap break - back to same park. I don't get bored being in one park per day.

 

[Lavitz]

-1 Epcot
+1 MK or HS depending on which you end up liking more

I still think Epcot is over rated, especially if you have kids.

 

[ekendall2]

looks great to me. We usually do 2 1/2 at MK, 1 1/2 at Epcot, 1 AK and 1 HS, give or take a fireworks visit every now and then.

 

[PirateD]

That sounds right to me! We are planning pretty much the same thing for our trip with 3 days at MK, 1 full day and 2 half days at EP, 1 day at AK, and an EMH morning and night at DHS.

 

[baldy6060]

I like your plan. That's usually what we try to do although we always wish we had another day at EPCOT.

 

[Lesverts]

My advice:

No park-hopper

2 days at Magic Kingdom, divide the park in half and do each half one day
2 days at Epcot. Do the left side of the park and Canada to Japan on one day, then right side of the park and Mexico to USA. If you are like me you might get a little overwhelmed by Epcot the first day because of how big it is, how spread out it is and how the attractions are 'hidden' in big buildings. But doing two days allows for Soarin' and Test Track FP+. Do the movies at France, China and Canada. They are awesome. Seeing Mount St. Michel in panorama is almost as breathtaking as it is in person.
1 day at Animal Kingdom, start touring at the back and make your way to the exit.
1 day at Hollywood Studios, leave the Sunset Boulevard to later in the day and do the Beauty and the Beast Show. This is also a great day to have an in-park ADR at a table service because the QS is awful
1 day to go back to your favourite park. For me this would be to head to Hollywood Studios to just ride Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoast. I love DHS and I do not care one bit that the park needs some major California Adventure type love
1 day to explore DTD, the monorail resorts and/or the Broadwalk.