How Long Should we Stay at Disney World?

Disney World vacations should never feel rushed. But how long do you really need?

A Disney World trip that lasts 4 or 5 days allows you to spend one full day at each theme park. But to get the full Disney experience without feeling rushed, the ideal amount of time is 6 to 7 days.

Let’s explore this in greater detail.

How Long is the Average Disney World Vacation?

Disney World isn’t one of those destinations where you can just go for the day. To say that there’s a lot to see and do is a major understatement.

The most common length of a Disney trip is 4 or 5 days. This allows you to spend one full day at each of the four Disney World theme parks.

Planning a 4 – 5 day Disney trip will work well for most people. You’ll be able to visit all four Disney World theme parks and possibly spend another day either at a water park or return to your favorite park.

You’ll also have the option of skipping the Disney parks one day and heading over to Universal Orlando or going on a day trip. The Everglades, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center, and Clearwater Beach are all within a short drive.

My Suggestions for a 4 or 5 Day Disney World Trip

1 day (or 2 days) at Magic Kingdom
1 day (or 2 days) at Epcot
1 day (or a half-day) at Animal Kingdom
1 day (or a half-day) at Hollywood Studio
1 day (or no days) at either one of Disney’s water parks
1 day (or no days) Exploring WDW, recreational activities, relaxing by the pool, or heading over to Universal Orlando Resort for the day

Make Magic Kingdom and Epcot the Top Priorities

You can mix and match depending on what sounds good to you. The main takeaway here is that Magic Kingdom and Epcot are both worthy of at least one full day. Animal Kingdom is definitely one of my favorite parks – and Hollywood Studios has some great new areas like Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – but I still think Magic Kingdom and Epcot should be everyone’s top priorities.

A trip of this length will leave you with a really good idea of what Disney World is all about. That said, you may feel as if you’ve tried to pack too much into a short trip.

You won’t be able to go on all the rides or see all the different areas of Disney World in only 4 or 5 days. And if you pay for add-ons like the Park Hopper or the Water Park option. then your family may get tired of running around from park to park.

For short trips like this, be sure to make good touring plans and reserve your FASTPASS+ selections and Advanced Dining Reservations as early as you can. This is especially important because the best options get booked quickly!

Need some help? Why not let the Disney travel specialists at The Vacationeer assist you with your planning and booking? It doesn’t cost you anything and they can get you the best deals – and make all of your Disney hotel and theme park arrangements – for you. It’s really a no-brainer!

What is the Ideal Length of a Disney World Trip?

Sometimes 4 to 5 days at Disney World just isn’t enough.

The ideal length of stay for a Disney World vacation is 6-7 days. This amount of time gives you a balance between going to all the theme parks, exploring other areas of the resort, and having time to relax.

Yes, a weeklong vacation more expensive than a 4-5 day trip and it may mean more time away from work or school. However, you won’t feel as rushed and it’ll give you time to do something else.

One option is to spend a full day at each theme park, and then return to your favorite theme park on the fifth day (Magic Kingdom is the top choice). If that doesn’t appeal to you, then may you’d like to just lounge by the pool, do a monorail tour of some of the other hotels, or rent a car and go on a day trip. Maybe you’ll want to head over to Universal Orlando and check out Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s other rides. It’s a great park!

If your trip is during the warm weather months, then consider adding the water park option. Spend a relaxing and refreshing day at either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon between your hectic theme park days. Disney’s water parks are a great option for those of you traveling with kids or as part of a multi-generational family trip. Everyone loves water parks!

A 6 or 7-day trip gives you time to take advantage of Disney’s golf and mini-golf courses, or time to rent a boat or a bike

My Suggestions for a 6 or 7 Day Disney World Trip

1 or 2 days at Magic Kingdom
1 or 2 days at Epcot
1 day at Animal Kingdom
1 day at Hollywood Studio
1 day at either one of Disney’s water parks
1 day of exploring WDW, recreational activities, relaxing by the pool or going to Universal Orlando Resort for 1 or 2 days

A week’s vacation at Disney World just gives you more time to customize your trip and to kick back, relax (if you want to), and recharge your batteries for the next day. Need some help planning and booking your trip? Contact The Vacationeer today!

Can you go to Disney World for just 1, 2, or 3 Days?

A 1 to 3 day trip to Disney World is far from ideal, but doable if you’re unable to stay longer.

If you live close by, then sure, a quick day trip to Magic Kingdom makes perfect sense.

People choose short Disney trips for other reasons, too. Perhaps you just want to add a couple of days at Disney onto some other Florida vacation you have planned, or maybe you’re in the area for a convention or to visit family. Maybe you’re doing a combined Disney/Univeral trip and don’t have time to see all Disney’s parks. Those make sense.

If you are flying all the way to Florida just for Disney World, then you really need to stay for at least 4 or 5 days to make it worth your while.

If you choose to go for 1 to 3 days, you must realize that you won’t be able to see everything. You could buy Park Hopper tickets and cruise in and out of all four theme parks but you’ll pay more for this luxury lose valuable time traveling between the parks. Plus, you’ll be exhausted by the middle of the day.

My Suggestions for a 1, 2, or 3 Day Disney World Trip

1 day at Magic Kingdom
1 day (or a half-day) at Epcot
1 day (or a half-day) at Animal Kingdom
1 day (or a half-day) at Hollywood Studio

Short trips require good touring plans and sensible Lightning Lane decisions in order to maximize your limited time at Disney World. They are doable, but they’re far from ideal.

You definitely need at least 1 full day at Magic Kingdom, and then the rest of your time is up for debate.

Do I need a full day at Animal Kingdom?

To get the full experience, you really need to spend one full day at Animal Kingdom. It can be done in half of a day, but you’ll feel rushed and won’t see and experience everything.