How many days are you actually in the parks?

[Kallison]

We go to the Parks every day of our trip, that is the reason we are there. If you are asking how many days would it take to see the parks without being a maniac, I would say:
2 days MK
2 days Epcot
2 days MGM
1 day AK

 

[goofy4tink]

tonysgal34.....go out and get yourself one of the many guide books. Sit down with your family and decide in advance what are the 'must do' attractions for each of you. There is so much to see and do that you will drive yourself crazy trying to fit it all in. I've been all of two times now and still haven't seen it all! If you can narrow down the things you all really want to do, then you will enjoy your stay much more. You are going at a great time. Yes, the parks close a little earlier. Mk closes around 6ish, Epcot WS at 9ish, MGM at 9ish, and AK 5-6ish. But, it's cooler, with fewer people. I would say at this time of year, you could do MK for 2 days, Epcot 1 day, MGM 1 day and AK 1/2 day. I would do AK in the morning and then go to MGM or Epcot even, or a water-park in the afternoon. I would also suggest that you do a 5 day hopper plus pass for each of you. It is about $60 more than the 4 day hopper. It gives you one more park day and 2 water-park visits. Have fun planning. And relax. THis is supposed to be fun!!!

 

[Alice28]

We will be there 8 full days (I am not counting our two travel days) and we plan on going to the main parks on 6 of those days. Game plan is:
*Thursday- arrive; dinner at Chef Mickey's
*Friday- MK, dinner at Wilderness Lodge
*Saturday- Epcot, Rose and Crown for dinner
*Sunday- AK, Fantasia Gardens in evening after Shula's
*Monday- Rest- DS5 to Pirate Cruise, DD in the morning and early afternoon, check out some resorts (Boardwalk? Yacht and Beach Club? in the evening)
*Tuesday- MGM (EE day)
*Wednesday- Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, Ohana for dinner
*Thursday- MK (DH and my Dad go to Steam Train tour in early AM), EE day for rest of us
*Friday- ?? in AM, Epcot in PM
*Saturday- Depart around 1:30

I think since the crowds have been low, we will have the opportunity to see everything we want to see and then some. When we went before it was for 4 full days and two half days, and we went to a park every day. We were pretty tired by the end, and AK wasn't even open yet. I'm glad we built in some break days. Plus we will be traveling with our two boys, 5 and 1 1/2 and they can only go-go-go for so long without their head spinning.

 

[Alice28]

We will be there 8 full days (I am not counting our two travel days) and we plan on going to the main parks on 6 of those days. Game plan is:
*Thursday- arrive; dinner at Chef Mickey's
*Friday- MK, dinner at Wilderness Lodge
*Saturday- Epcot, Rose and Crown for dinner
*Sunday- AK, Fantasia Gardens in evening after Shula's
*Monday- Rest- DS5 to Pirate Cruise, DD in the morning and early afternoon, check out some resorts (Boardwalk? Yacht and Beach Club? in the evening)
*Tuesday- MGM (EE day)
*Wednesday- Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, Ohana for dinner
*Thursday- MK (DH and my Dad go to Steam Train tour in early AM), EE day for rest of us
*Friday- ?? in AM, Epcot in PM
*Saturday- Depart around 1:30

I think since the crowds have been low, we will have the opportunity to see everything we want to see and then some. When we went before it was for 4 full days and two half days, and we went to a park every day. We were pretty tired by the end, and AK wasn't even open yet. I'm glad we built in some break days. Plus we will be traveling with our two boys, 5 and 1 1/2 and they can only go-go-go for so long without their head spinning.

 

[twinmomto3boys]

We try to go for 7 days. We spend every one of those days in a park.

 

[raidermatt]

Our last trip had 13 full days, and we spent 9 in the 4 theme parks.

Our upcoming trip has 11 full days, and it looks like 7 or 8 will be in the parks.

 

[donna in Oz]

tonysgal34,

You'll only have time to hit the "high spots" with a four-day hopper, but that's still better than staying home !!


Since this is your first visit, I think I'd try to pick those attractions which interest your family the most, and like others said, just resign yourself to the fact that you won't be able to see it all. But with a little bit of good planning, you can certainly cover the things you REALLY want to see/do !!

I'd plan one day for Magic Kingdom, one day for EPCOT, and one for MGM. On the 4th day, I'd hit the Animal Kingdom early, and then head back to the parks where you feel you missed something, or perhaps to catch a parade you hadn't yet seen.

Ideally, you'd need at least two days for MK and for EPCOT, but any visit to Disney is better than no visit at all!! And if you're trying to plan budget-wise, most public libraries have copies of guidebooks you can use to get an idea of what you really want to see. Just that much more $$$ you can take to WDW with you!!

For us, it's usually a 7-day hopper as a minimum . . . . . .

 

[raidermatt]

What if we can only go for one week and will only be able to afford to do this once...

The others who have posted are right...you're just not going to be able to see everything in 4 days. But the best thing to do is understand that and plan to make sure you get the "must-do's" done, and above all, relax. When you're time is limited, its better to make sure you enjoy that time.

 

[eeyore0062]

Usually, if we are there for 7 days, we are in the parks for at least 6 of them, at least for part of the day.

 

[Meagansmom]

We usually go for 12 days.

6 in Disney parks
2 for the water parks and visiting other resorts
2 or 3 at US/IOA
2 for whatever - usually every other visit 1 for SeaWorld

We try to get as much as we can done but also we do not push it!!!

 

[PlutoPal]

All of the days we are there we spend at least a couple hours in a park. Gotta have my Parks.

 

[natcam1996]

The posts about how much time in eack park above are correct and planning is the key. If you want to do as much as possible, expect to be very tired each day. But as one poster said, if you have the right attitude it will be a blast no matter how much you see. We try to spend part of every day in one of the parks especially since my daughter (almost 7) and I are the park freaks and don't mind hitting a couple in a day. I think we prefer getting in early, taking a break and then going back at night. My wife will sometimes skip the late sessions to relax. I think as my daughter get's older we will be less manic about it especially since we belong to DVC and BCV is our home resort. It seems like less of a compulsion to be in the parks all the time when you expect to be going back regularly. And since BVC is close to both EPCOT and MGM we can be there in minutes so it's a lot easier.

 

[Pirate Mickey]

We usually go for 7-9 days. We will plan a full day away from the parks. Other than that we are in the parks for at least part of every day.