How much time do you spend at each park?

[RSoxFan]

We do
2 Days at MK
2 Days at Epcot (1 day Future World, 1 Day World Showcase)
2 Days at MGM (One day Fantasmic, 1 Day not)
1/2 Day AK
1 Day Downtown Disney to shop
1 Day Waterpark

 

[JRawkSteady]

I usually do about:

2 1/2 days MK
2 1/2 days Epcot
1 Day AK (sometimes 1 1/2)
1 1/2 Days MGM

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I said 1/2 day for each since we only ever go for 2 day. It really depends on how long you are staying for. MK, MGM, AK, and EPCOT all deserve more than that (at least a day) and over a day in different increments respecively (in my opinion-listed fav to least fav). I would skip out on the water parks but that's just me.

 

[MelanieC]

This trip we did the following:

5 days at MK
2 days at AK
3 days at MGM
3 days at EPCOT
2 days at Beach (did Hot Air Balloon trip one of these days)


Next year we are planning

4 days at MK
2 days at AK
2 days at MGM
4 days at EPCOT
2 days at Beach
1 day La Nouba/DTD

 

[Albertan mom]

This trip we did the following:

5 days at MK
2 days at AK
3 days at MGM
3 days at EPCOT
2 days at Beach (did Hot Air Balloon trip one of these days)

Next year we are planning

4 days at MK
2 days at AK
2 days at MGM
4 days at EPCOT
2 days at Beach
1 day La Nouba/DTD

OH, I wish we had that much time!!
We are there for 9 days.

Here is our plan so far:
Day 1-MGM
Day 2-MK
Day 3-Parasailing, steam train tour, mini speed boating, then ?? in the afternoon

Day 4-Shuttle launch (DD and I doing Epcot Aqua Seas tour, pool etc...)
Day 5-Epcot
Day 6-Blizzard Beach

Day 7-AK
Day 8-Typhoon Lagoon (and Cirque)
Day 9-?? Looks like we will need to use this day for MK and Epcot, according to the poll results!

 

[Karnak]

Actually, it gets a little more complicated than just how many days per park, when you factor in Extra Magic Hours (one hour in the AM & three in the PM after normal park closing, for folks staying on site).

But I agree with the general consensus that one could well use two days each for Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, one day for the Studios, and one shorter day for the Animal Kingdom. But the Animal Kingdom is adding attractions, including the new coaster and a soon to be running Nemo Musical show, making for more time needed to see that park as well.

I do not agree with the concept of taking a break in the afternoons in any case, because one has to use so much time traveling from the park to one's resort and back again to a park in the evening.

But, however you do it ... Enjoy!

 

[Albertan mom]

I realize in my poll it should say "More THAN one day" (not then) ooops!!!
It won't let me edit the poll though!

thanks for all your votes, very interesting to see what you all think is the best way to spend your time at the Dis!

 

[MickeysBestPal]

I want 3 full days at Disneyworld.

 

[GarrettJD]

On our first trip three years ago, we only spent 5 days at the parks. It sorta broke down like this--

MK- 1 1/2 days
Epcot- 1 1/2 days
MGM- 1 day
AK- 1/2 day

I can't believe we spent so little time in the parks!

Our recent trip, last month, was a 10 day trip, and we were in the parks every day, all day, save for an afternoon break every day, and half days on our first and last day, so it came out to 9 "actual" days, which broke down like this-
MK- 3 days (3 mornings, 3 evenings)
EP- 3 days (2 mornings, 4 evenings)
MGM- 1 1/2 days (2 mornings, 1 evening, plus an extra visit after our AK early evening to see Fantasmic)
AK- 1 1/2 days (2 mornings, 1 early evening)

 

[GoofyBaby]

How much time do you think would be good to spend at each park?
Especially for a first-timer?
thanks!

What about Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon?
1/2 day? Full day, open to close?
thanks!

Edited to add-my kids are 8 (boy) and 11 (girl) if that makes any difference!

This is what my best friend and I are planning on doing next May:

MK - 3 days (my absolute favorite park!)
Epcot - 3 days
MGM - 1 day
Animal Kingdom - 1 day
Typhoon Lagoon - 1 day
Blizzard Beach - 1 day
Downtown Disney/Boardwalk - 1 day
Fantasia Gardens/Winter Summerland/Outlet shopping - 1 day
Other things in the world OR more park repeats - 4 days

We don't park hop, we open and close each park on the day we go! Yes, it's tiring, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[GoofyBaby]

Forgot to mention that it's just my best friend and me! No kids. . .so my info probably won't be of much help. . .sorry about that! I can be a goober sometimes. . .hehehe!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

In a perfect world I'd spend a couple days in each park, but finances and vacation time limit though. So here is what I reccommend as a minimum touring plan:

Day 1:
-Take the early flight out, arrive at WDW midday
-Check in around 1pm or 2pm, then go to Epcot WS for the rest of the evening (~6 hours)

Day 2:
-Spend the day at Epcot (~12 hours)

Day 3:
-Spend the day at MGM (~12 hours)

Day 4:
-Visit a water park in the morning (10a-2p) and Downtown Disney in the evening

Day 5:
-Spend the day at Animal Kingdom (~9 hours)

Day 6:
-Spend the day at Magic Kindgom (~12 hours)

Day 7
-Spend the morning at Magic Kingdom (~6 hours)
-Take the late flight home

So that's amounts to:
MK: 1.5 days
Epcot: 1.5 days
MGM: 1 day
AK: 1 day

 

[Albertan mom]

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[Albertan mom]

Bump!

 

[joshsmom]

We generally spend a couple of days at each park with the exception of Animal Kingdom. It's not that we don't LIKE Animal Kingdom--we do. But we can usually see/do what we want in one day. If we have extra time, we run back for part of another day and do stuff again--but not usually.

 

[eliza61]

How much time do you think would be good to spend at each park?
Especially for a first-timer?
thanks!

What about Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon?
1/2 day? Full day, open to close?
thanks!

Edited to add-my kids are 8 (boy) and 11 (girl) if that makes any difference!

I answered more than 1 day for most parks but this is total park time. My kids are 12 & 14 and they love the water parks. Since we go in August (arriving in 3 days ) we generally will do a park for 1/2 day go to the water parks (or vice-versa) and then have dinner and maybe go to another park for a couple of hours at night to catch a fireworks show. The parks are still open late. We also generally stay for 10-11 days which means we can hit each park more than once.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I usually break up MK into three 1/2 days. Two mornings and one afternoon to close.

For Epcot, I usually break it up into two 1/2 days...one at Future World and one 1/2 day at World Showcase. -- It's great to do World Showcase in the morning (when they open at 11am) - most people are still in Future World, so if you go to World Showcase early the crowds are pretty low.

Then I usually do a day at MGM and a day at AK. - I don't really think ANY of the parks are 1/2 day parks....especially for a 1st timer. Some people say MGM and AK are 1/2 day parks, but I really think that's for people who have done them before. For your 1st time, I think you should plan a full day at both of them. - If you wind up not using the whole day, then you have extra pool time or extra time at another park, but to be safe I'd plan at least one day at Epcot, MGM and AK and two at MK.

 

[Collette]

Here is our plan so far:
Day 1-MGM
Day 2-MK
Day 3-Parasailing, steam train tour, mini speed boating, then ?? in the afternoon

Day 4-Shuttle launch (DD and I doing Epcot Aqua Seas tour, pool etc...)
Day 5-Epcot
Day 6-Blizzard Beach

Day 7-AK
Day 8-Typhoon Lagoon (and Cirque)
Day 9-?? Looks like we will need to use this day for MK and Epcot, according to the poll results!

I voted for 1/2 day each at MGM and AK and more than one day each at MK and Epcot which might not be good advice for the first trip. We can do MGM and AK in a half day because we know our favorites and are in and out of there. On your first trip to those parks, you will probably want to try out more attractions. So one day is better.

We like to park hop. Sometimes we are in three parks in one day. But it all depends on how you like to tour. So while we might spend two days at Epcot, it could be in four half days. We usually don't do all Future World and all World Showcase at a time. I can't be in Epcot and not at least spend a little time in each.

You have a wise itinerary that breaks up park days with other activities. We also like to go to Downtown Disney in the evenings. It's great to have that last day open. Everyone can choose their favorites and return to that park.

You have one very magical trip planned!!!! Look forward to hearing all about it.

 

[Albertan mom]

We have been to Disneyland 2x in the past 2 years. From what I have been reading, alot of the rides at DL and MK are the same. So we can skip some of the littler kids rides too, like Dumbo, Pooh, Snow Whites, Carousel etc...

And we won't need to stand in lines to meet characters, so that saves lots of time!

So I hope that 1.5-2 days will be enough for MK!

 

[Albertan mom]

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