How many days do we need?

[Fionasmommy]

What's a good amount of time for a first WDW trip? We're planning 6 night/7 days right now - arriving in the afternoon and leaving in the afternoon, so it's more like 6 full days.

Is that enough time to really see things and enjoy ourselves?

 

[Lucy6]

It's just enough time to become addicted!!
We went for the first time last Feb for 8 nights, in 3 weeks we are returning and staying 7 nights. I felt last year like it was a good amount of time for us, we have 2 kids, then 9 and 5. Just make sure you do your research, these boards were invaluable to me. Have a great time!!

 

[fan of the TTA]

i'd do 8 or 9 days. that way some days for the parks, some days to chill and some days to rilive what you want to do again.

have a grate time

 

[lal32]

Our first trip (Oct '05) we did this very basic schedule :

Day 1 : Magic Kingdom
Day 2 : Epcot
Day 3 : Kennedy Space Center
Day 4 : MGM / Epcot
Day 5 : Animal Kingdom / Magic Kingdom
Day 6 : Universal Studios
Day 7 : Islands Of Adventure

The good news is we saw everything we wanted to see. The bad news (for our wallets) is we have proven to become addicted and this time want 10 days, but no Kennedy Space Center and only 1 big day at Universal & Islands Of Adventure. We want to do it slower and in more detail. However, for first timers (well, my wife was a first timer but my first time in 13 years) the above schedule was perfect.

 

[Karnak]

I'd say the number of days needed to see WDW in depth depends on the dates of your planned visit. For example, during the days of summer you would need more time to battle the crowds as well as the heat, perhaps requiring afternoon breaks at your resort or at a water park. I'd say an eight to ten night stay might be in order.

If you plan a trip, say during the first or second week of December, or other low crowd times, you could probably see most of WDW with a six-night visit, including some evening extra attractions such as a dinner theater, a luau, or the wonderful Cirque du Soleil at Disney Downtown.

Enjoy.

 

[The Sweetness]

I would budget 2 days for MK and EPCOT, and at least a day (maybe 1.5 for AK and MGM. Then a day extra if you want to go to DTD and a waterpark 1 day, or spend half a day by the pool

 

[noladave]

looks like you are going Mem Weekend, so that will be a REALLY CROWDED weekend.

I would suggest that you book as many days as you can afford. If you can, 7,8, or even 9 days would give you time to see everything you want, and plan around busy days at certain parks. Also the weather starts heating up at that time, and more days will allow you to take afternoon breaks, and still see everything you want. This will also give you a day to do DTD, or water parks, or Disney Quest.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think that's definitely enough time. I remember when I was only able to go on a 4 day trip. Now I have the luxury of pulling off a week and a half.

But yes, if you're going Memorial Day, you're going to be up to your knees in people.

 

[Fionasmommy]

looks like you are going Mem Weekend, so that will be a REALLY CROWDED weekend.

Thankfully, we arrive on Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day weekend. But if we do add days we could end up going earlier...

Well, I think we need to add days, the question now is where to stay! We can afford POP for 8 or 9, or book a mod and hope for a discount code.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Thankfully, we arrive on Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day weekend. But if we do add days we could end up going earlier...

Well, I think we need to add days, the question now is where to stay! We can afford POP for 8 or 9, or book a mod and hope for a discount code.

I'd buy an AP,book a Mod and wait for an AP code..They have been realeased for May for the last few years

 

[aviva5675]

Its enough if you really only want to stick to Disney. If you want to include Universal, Sea World or a day or two of down time/ alternate planning if it rains, then you should try and add a few days. We went in 02 for 10 days (8, counting travelling), and was able to do everything--all of WDW, 2 days Universal, a day doing Dolphin Cove at Sea World (awesome), and a day or so of nothing- shopping etc, when the weather was bad. This time were doing 6 days and sticking to WDW , with a day for DH golf and riding for DD (and me, sigh).

 

[noladave]

From touringplans.com, here is the estimated crowd level:

Friday, May 26, 2006 8 Star Wars Weekend @ MGM
Saturday, May 27, 2006 8 Star Wars Weekend @ MGM
Sunday, May 28, 2006 7 Star Wars Weekend @ MGM
Monday, May 29, 2006 7 Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 7
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 7
Thursday, June 01, 2006 7 Gay Days @ AK
Friday, June 02, 2006 7 Star Wars Weekend @ MGM / Gay Days @ DS
Saturday, June 03, 2006 9 Star Wars Weekend @ MGM / Gay Days @ MK
Sunday, June 04, 2006 8 Star Wars Weekend @ MGM / Gay Days @ EP
Monday, June 05, 2006 8
Tuesday, June 06, 2006 7
Wednesday, June 07, 2006 8
Thursday, June 08, 2006 8

 

[Taratink]

It depends on who you travel with. This is our third trip in 3 years and we still have not seen it all. My kids are 4 and 6 now so we might be able to do more this trip. Do not attempt to so everything or you will get burnt out. There is just so many great things to do. We like to go for 7 days because we get homesick if we stay any longer. You can do a lot in 7 days if you hop around and stay at the parks late. Have a great trip!
Tara

 

[maritimetraveler]

I'm reading all these busy iteneraries and can't believe my eyes... We are leaving for our first trip March 25th. Kids are 14 and 10. This is what they (the kids) have decided for an itenerary:
Day 1 - Arrival day, pool day
Day 2- MK
Day 3 - Free day (tickets to Braves game at 7pm)
Day 4- MGM
Day 5 - SeaWorld
Day 6- Free Day
Day 7- Typhoon Lagoon
Day 8 -Departure day

I'm really surprized at the "free time" they want ~~ Is this normal? Since this is "their" trip we thought we'd be running around like crazy~

 

[remfam5]

Well, we were first-timers as of Oct.2005!
Do you have kids? We have DW, DH, DD 9, DS 6. And we are all the way from Oregon. (I am so jealous of the east-coasters who can go often!!)
Anyway, with flying that far, we sorta lost 1 & 1/2 days flying. We did:

AK - 1 day
MGM - 1 day
MK - 2 days
EPCOT - 2 days
Typhoon Lagoon - 1 day

And with that schedule--we really should have stayed 2 more full days! To go back and more slowly enjoy some favs and maybe DTD or Universal.

So in my opinion-- If you can ... stay (at the very least) 8 days!
We also stayed at PO Riverside and will definitely be staying there again for our "NOW ADDICTED" trip in Oct. 2007!

And like the others said, use these boards!! They are so helpful!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

The first time we went was for 4 days/3 nights. It was exhausting but so much fun! Now we go about 7 or 8 days. It's nice to hit each park once and then have a few days to go back and do whatever you want at each of the parks. I think for your first time you picked a great amount of time to go! Have fun!

 

[Iggipolka]

The wife and I (two adults, no kids) are going for 9.5 days and I think we have a crazy schedule planned!

Day One - Arrive at 7am and plan to chill at CSR most of the day.

Day Two - AK - Backstage Safari Tour 8:15 - 11:30. Hang out at AK rest of day. Boma for dinner at 6pm

Day three - Epcot 8:30 Segway tour (woo!) Hang out at Epcot during the day. We have preferred viewing for Illuminations that night

Day four - MK - Aloha Breakfast at the Poly at 9:30. Wishes Preferred Viewing that night

Day Five - Rest day! Woo! Maybe go to Disney Quest. We have tickets for Cirque that night

Day 6 - Epcot - 9:30 Dolphins in Depth tour, Coral Reef for lunch. Hoop-de-doo at 7:15pm

Day 7 - Somewhat of a rest day. We have Parasailing at 10:45 and then I'd like to rent water mice or something. Victoria and Alberts at 6:15

Day 8 - MGM have Fantasmic Dinner package that night

Day 9 - We leave around 4pm, so we'll probably go to MK in the morning.


We can sleep at home right?