a day trip to disney

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How to Do Disney World in One Day – 1 Day Itinerary Tips

Suppose you find yourself in the Orlando area with only one day to visit Disney World. Can you maximize your time well and get your money’s worth?  Of course you can! Even one day at Walt Disney World is better than none, so in this article, I’m going to show you exactly how to do Disney World in one day.  I’ll also provide a helpful Disney World checklist PDF that you can download or print out that will help you maximize your one day at Disney!

How to Do Disney World in One Day – Park Reservations

Unfortunately, a completely spontaneous trip to Disney World isn’t really possible these days. So the first step of your “one day at Disney plan” is going to be making sure park reservations are available for one day you’ll visiting.  

To enter any of the Disney Parks, both a theme park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for all guests ages 3 and up.  You can check on the Disney World website to make sure reservations are available for the day you want to visit. 

Admission: One Park or Two?

The first decision you’ll have to make for your Disney day is what park you want to visit, and if you want to park hop to a second one.  A one-day admission ticket to any Disney World park is going to be more expensive than buying tickets for multiple days. There just isn’t any way to get around that. The price of that ticket can vary a little bit depending on the day and time of year.  

Just how much are Disney World tickets per person for a one day experience as an adult?  Well, here are average prices for a ticket in January (at the time of publication): Magic Kingdom – $154.00 Epcot – $139.00 Hollywood Studios – $149.00 Animal Kingdom – $134.00 If you’re going to drive yourself, there is also a $25 parking fee. If you want to attempt to visit two parks during your one Disney day, you can buy a Park Hopper option in addition to your regular admission ticket. This will add an average of $60-$70 to the price of each regular admission ticket. A Park Hopper allows you to visit a second park on the same day (subject to park capacity), anytime after 2:00 PM. When considering if you want to visit one park or two, you should also factor in that hopping to a second park will cost you a little bit of time to get there. Walt Disney World has many excellent free transportation options to help guests get around the parks. Depending on which parks you’re traveling between, you can choose to travel by bus, monorail, boat, or the new Skyliner option. 

While Disney’s free transportation options are fun and reliable, they might take up more time than you’d like. If you have your own car, it might be quicker to drive yourself to a second park. Another option is to take a taxi or ride-share service. While this option isn’t free, it can save you some valuable time.

Do You Need A Magic Band?

If you’ve been to Walt Disney World before, you probably have a Magic Band. In most cases, you can link your existing band to the My Disney Experience app . If you don’t have one, it really isn’t necessary to purchase one. You can use the Mobile Magic feature on the My Disney Experience app to gain park admission, check into Lightning Lanes , and utilize mobile food ordering. It might not be as convenient as having a Magic Band, but for just one day it’s probably a better choice. The basic Magic Bands are selling for $15 to $20. That’s not a huge expense by itself, but it’s an unnecessary expense for a one-day visit. For a family of four, that’s a savings of $60, minimum. A better use of your money would be to purchase Genie+ for everyone in your group, which will save you valuable time during your Disney day.

Which Park(s) To Visit?

If this is your first visit to Walt Disney World, I would recommend visiting Magic Kingdom . You’ll be able to see Cinderella’s Castle, maybe catch a parade, ride many of the most iconic rides, and see the incomparable fireworks . Be aware that Magic Kingdom is always going to have slightly higher crowds than the other parks. If this isn’t your first Disney trip, go ahead and prioritize your favorite park! It’s a good idea to check the website calendar to verify park hours on the day you plan to visit. Magic Kingdom is usually open the latest of any of the parks, with a closing time of 11 PM on most nights. 

If you’re thinking of park hopping during your Disney day, a good strategy to maximize your park time might be to visit another park early in the day, then hop to Magic Kingdom and stay until it closes.

My Disney Experience App and Genie+

When you only have one day at Disney, anything you can do to make the most of your time is invaluable. One of the best time management tools you’ll have available is the My Disney Experience App. The app is free to download to your smartphone. With it, you can gain park admission, check wait times on any ride or attraction you’re interested in, and take advantage of mobile food ordering. Download the app before your Disney day, and spend some time getting familiar with all its features. It’s pretty user-friendly, but you can find help online to learn more about it.

Let’s talk for a minute about Genie+ . Yes, this will be another added expense (the price varies a bit, but begins at about $15). But if avoiding long lines at Disney World and riding as many rides as possible is your priority, you’ll need this service (and, as a result, you’ll need to often utilize your smartphone at Disney ).  You can buy Genie+ through the My Disney Experience app the day of your visit. Be sure to purchase it for everyone in your group.

With Genie+, you can book “Lightning Lanes” which will let you avoid waiting in overly long standby lines for popular rides and attractions. It’s very similar to the old FastPass system.  You can make your first Lightning Lane selection at 7:00 AM on the day of your visit. After that, you can book another selection two hours after park opening, or two hours after you check in for your first Lightning Lane (whichever comes first). With a little planning, you can “stack” your Lightning Lane choices to get as many as possible throughout your day. Basically, prioritize the most popular Lightning Lane choices for early in the day, and pay attention to that two-hour rule for when you can book your next one! Set your phone to remind you when it’s time to book the next Lightning Lane if it helps. If you consistently book your choices as soon as you can, you can maximize the number of rides you can experience in one day.

With Genie+ you can also purchase “Individual Lightning Lanes” (ILLs) for some of the newer, most popular rides. Rise of The Resistance in Hollywood Studios and Guardians of the Galaxy-Cosmic Rewind in Epcot are two of the most popular ILLs at this time. The prices will vary, but seem to average around $15 per person.

Planning Ahead – The Night Before

Okay, you’ve bought your tickets (and perhaps park hoppers), chosen what park(s) you want to visit, and downloaded the app to your smartphone. What now? Now it’s time to plan your Disney Day Strategy! The night before, be sure to charge up your phones, and a portable phone charger to take with you. You’ll be using your phone to utilize the My Disney Experience app as well as take lots of photos. Make sure that the tickets for everyone in your group are linked on the app. Go ahead and pack your park bag ahead of time to save time in the morning. Here are some of the basics that you should have with you for a full Disney day:

• refillable water bottles
• non-perishable snacks (trail mix, crackers, protein bars, etc)
• portable charger for your phone(s)
• sunscreen (yes, even in Winter)
•  ibuprofen, or your painkiller of choice
• extra pair of socks (if your feet get wet or you start to get blisters, changing socks will help)
• any childcare items for babies/small children

Set your alarm for 6:30-6:45 AM so you can purchase Genie+ and make your first Lightning Lane selection. Lastly, take some time to look at the park map(s) online. You’ll want to plan your day so that you won’t waste time walking back and forth across the park needlessly.  Try to arrange your ride plans to do as much as possible in one area of the park, then move on to another area.

For example: Let’s say you’re going to Magic Kingdom. You make your first Lightning Lane selection for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at 10:00 AM. It’s located in the Fantasyland section, so take a look and see what other rides or attractions might be close by. If you get to the park before opening (and you should make that your goal!), you can possibly ride The Mad Tea Party and Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides (both of these are fun and usually have short wait times early in the day) before your scheduled Lightning Lane.  

The Voyage of the Little Mermaid is also in this section, and you can probably also ride it before moving on. Just remember to pick your next Lightning Lane as soon as you check in for your first one, then plan around that selection. Now you should get a good night’s sleep because you’ll need to start your one day at Walt Disney World bright and early!

Beginning Your Disney Day

One of the first things you’ll want to do is get on the My Disney Experience App and (1) purchase Genie+ for everyone in your party, and (2) select your first Lightning Lane at 7:00 AM. You should plan to arrive at the park approximately 30 to 45 minutes before the official opening. If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort you’ll be allowed in the park 30 minutes before opening anyway, but still plan to be there early. 

If you’re staying on Disney property, you have the option of taking Disney transportation to the park. Be aware though that the buses and monorail are very crowded in the early morning.  It might be a big timesaver to drive yourself or use a ride-share service. Also allow time to go through the security line before being admitted to the park. Disney World has this system streamlined so the line moves very quickly, but mornings are crowded so it could take a little while. Once you’re inside the park, grab a coffee and breakfast snack and start heading toward your first destination. Don’t rush so much that you don’t enjoy the magical scenery all around you!

Use Mobile Food Ordering To Save Time

Another time-saving strategy you should consider is mobile food ordering. This service is available through the My Disney Experience App for many of the quick-service food restaurants. There are many great table service restaurants in all the Disney Parks. Unless you have your heart set on eating at one of them, consider sticking to quick-service meals instead. The table service meals – especially character meals – will take up a larger part of your day. The options for quick-service meals are just as delicious and you’ll still have a variety of choices. When placing a mobile food order on the app, you can select a time window for when you want your food, place your order, then simply notify the restaurant when you’ve arrived so they prepare your meal fresh. Usually, you’ll have your food within minutes of letting them know you’ve arrived. You can still sit down and enjoy a nice meal during the day, but it won’t take up as much of your time as going to a table-service restaurant. 

Disney World Checklist PDF (1 Day Itinerary)

You can download the 1 Day Disney World Checklist in PDF format that I recently created to help you properly plan and enjoy your one day visit to Disney World.

One Day At Disney World – You Can Do It!

Those are our basic tips for how to do Disney World in one day. It will take some planning, but it’s absolutely possible to have a magical time with just one day to spend at Walt Disney World! Does it seem a little overwhelming? No problem! We’ve also created a basic checklist to help keep you on track for your Disney Day.

• If you enjoyed this article, please “like” our Countdown to Magic Facebook page !

Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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Disney World Cost Calculator

It’s no secret that one of the biggest considerations when planning your Disney World vacation is how much it will cost.  With so many things contributing to the price of the trip , it’s easy to get overwhelmed or forget to account for something.  With that in mind, we offer our Disney World Cost Calculator to help simplify the process for you.

Our Disney Cost Calculator automatically figures in the costs of items directly under Disney’s control, such as tickets and hotel rooms.  But there are some prices we’ll have to ask you directly for, such as what you expect to pay for flights, or how much you’ll be spending on lodging if you’re staying somewhere other than Disney’s hotels.

Our tool is a great way to get a general estimate on the cost of your Disney vacation.  But for the most accurate price based on your exact travel plans, you’ll want to get in touch with a travel agent who specializes in the Walt Disney World Resort, such as The Vacationeer .

Note: the calculator assumes everyone is staying in the same hotel room; if your group is large enough to need multiple rooms, you’ll want to separate the group and run the calculator once for each of the rooms.

Want to see your exact price?

Our calculator is a great first step towards figuring out how much your Disney World vacation will cost.  If you like the numbers you’ve seen so far, it’s time to take the next step in planning your trip by getting an exact quote.

Contact the Disney World experts at The Vacationeer .  Their team of 90+ Authorized Disney Vacation Planners can provide you with an exact price quote for your vacation and discuss payment plan options .

It won’t cost you anything extra to use their services, and there’s never any obligation to book.

What does the trip cost calculator’s estimate include?

Our Disney World Cost calculator factors in these items when providing you with an estimated Disney vacation cost:

Time of year

We factor seasonal pricing into your estimated costs, based on the general time of year you expect to travel to Disney World.  This primarily affects the cost of hotel rooms and Disney theme park tickets.

Theme park ticket prices

We calculate estimated prices of Walt Disney World theme park tickets, based on how many days you’ll go to the Disney World parks, whether you’re upgrading your tickets to include the Park Hopper option, how many Adult and Child theme park tickets are needed, and seasonal pricing for the general time of year you expect to travel to Disney.

Hotel costs

For Disney World Hotels , our calculator factors in an estimated cost based on the general time of year you expect to visit, how long you’re staying, and whether you’ll be staying in a Value, Moderate or Deluxe Resort, or in one of the Disney Deluxe Villas.

For offsite hotels (those not located on Disney World property), we ask you to directly enter the nightly cost of your hotel so we can include that amount in the estimated final total expenses.

Transportation to and from Disney World

For those traveling b y plane , we ask you to directly enter the cost of your flight to Orlando so we can include it in the final total.  We also factor in the estimated cost of ground transportation from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World based on your input.

For those who are traveling by car , we ask you to directly enter the driving distance between your home and Disney World.  That allows our calculator to factor in an estimated travel cost (based on average gas mileage and average fuel cost) when calculating your total vacation cost estimate.

Parking fees

If you indicate you’ll be driving, we’ll factor in the cost of Disney’s parking fees .

Disney Dining Plans are currently suspended ( returning 2024 ).  In the meantime, we ask you to tell us your general plans for Disney World dining (such as if you expect to have a table service meal on most days, or if you’ll bring your own food ); we use that information to factor an estimated cost of food and drink into your overall estimated trip price.

Possible discounts

For those who indicate they qualify for some of the most common Disney discounts, we factor those savings into the overall total estimated vacation costs.

What is not included in the Disney World cost calculation?

There are a few things that we don’t try to account for in our calculator when providing an estimated cost of your Disney World trip.  Some of these are simply impractical to provide in the calculator, and others are left out because they don’t apply to everyone (so be sure to budget for them separately if you plan to include them in your vacation).

Exact costs based on your exact dates of travel and room/ticket type

Our tool provides a range of estimated average costs based on some general information you provide.  For an exact quote, you’ll need to do some further research or contact a travel agent specializing in Disney.

• Hotel rates vary on a nightly basis. Different hotels within the same category of resort can have different prices for the same night.  Some rooms charge a premium based on view. Prices for the exact same room on the exact same night can vary depending on how soon or how late you book. With that in mind, our calculator factors in an estimated average cost, but cannot produce an exact cost.
• Theme park tickets are priced based on a demand calendar, so different days have different pricing. Also, each park is priced differently; February 13 at EPCOT is priced differently than February 13 at Magic Kingdom.  Our calculator uses an estimated average cost based on the time of year and price range among the parks, but does not produce an exact cost.

Multiple hotel rooms

Our Disney calculator presumes that everyone will be staying in a single hotel room.  If you have a larger travel party, this may not be possible.  While Disney World does have some Disney Deluxe Villa accommodations that hold a large number of people, most regular rooms hold 4-5 people.  If you need more than one hotel room, you should divide your party up and run the calculator once for each hotel room.

Discretionary Spending

There are plenty of options to spend “just a little more” inside a Disney World theme park or around the area.  Each individual item isn’t necessarily that expensive, but they can add up over the length of your vacation.  For example, Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane access allows you to avoid some of the lines for rides.  You might want souvenirs like a pair of Mickey Mouse ears or a Walt Disney World t-shirt.  Or perhaps you’ll play some mini golf while you’re here.  If you think you’ll purchase any of these, don’t forget to pad your budget accordingly.

Non-Disney experiences

Ticket purchases for days in non-Disney theme parks — such as Universal , SeaWorld, LegoLand, FunSpot, Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center, and other Orlando and Central Florida attractions — are not included.  If you plan to spend a day or more outside of the parks, factor those costs separately from the total we show you here.  Also, note that this calculator is optimized specifically for Disney World in Florida; it is not programmed for Disneyland in California, which has its own rates for hotels and tickets.

How can I calculate the exact price of my vacation?

If you want to go beyond the estimates we provide here and figure out the exact cost of a vacation, you have a few options:

Research each component of your Disney World Vacation separately

Our articles How to Plan a Disney Vacation and How Much Does it Cost to Go to Disney World cover information about each of the major price factors you’ll need to budget for.  Using those lists as a guide, you can then visit the Disney World website to get specific prices for tickets , hotels , dining , recreation, tours, and more all based on your exact travel plans.  Don’t forget to factor in crowd levels and make a note of when you’re able to begin actually making dining reservations .

Let a travel agent handle your Disney World Planning

If you’d rather not do all of the leg work yourself, you can always enlist the completely-free services of a travel agent who specializes in Disney .  We’ve extensively covered why you should use a Disney travel planner in the past, but as a quick reminder:

• Most agents don’t charge a planning fee for their services.
• The trip won’t cost more than if you’d booked on your own; you might even find it’s cheaper !
• They know all the tips and tricks, including any Disney discounts you might not be aware of.
• They’ll provide you with an exact price quote based on your travel preferences, with no obligation to book .
• Your travel agent will make all of your Disney reservations for you, so there’s no getting up early, waiting on hold for hours, or struggling with websites.
• A good Disney travel agent will monitor your reservations after they’ve been booked, and automatically apply new discounts as they become available.

We believe The Vacationeer is the best Disney travel agency .  Their team includes more than 90 travel agents who specialize in all things Disney — get in touch with them now for a free quote:

Does Disney World offer a payment plan?

It’s no secret that going to Disney World can come with a bit of a sticker shock.  When you combine the price of hotels, tickets, food, and everything else, it’s likely your trip will cost at least a few thousand dollars.

That’s a lot of money to come up with all at once.  Fortunately, Disney World offers very flexible payment arrangements for their vacation packages.

In most cases, all that’s required to make your Disney reservations is a small deposit of $200.

Once you’ve made your deposit, you can pay Disney on any schedule you like, as long as you’re paid in full by 30 days prior to your vacation.  There are no minimum payments, and there are no payment milestones that Disney requires to be met prior to the date that final payment is due.

Note that this payment plan is offered only for Disney World Hotels, and for any Disney theme park tickets that are bundled into your Disney hotel vacation package.  If you’re not staying on-site at Disney World, any tickets you purchase will have to be paid in full at the time of purchase.  Ticket costs also have to be paid in full if you’re buying them separately from your Disney hotel reservation.

It also goes without saying that the costs of anything you’re not buying from Disney itself cannot be bundled into a Disney payment plan.  Tickets for non-Disney theme parks, airline tickets, off-site hotels, ground transportation from the airport, and other third-party services would be subject to whatever payment options those providers offer.

You might be able to pay your off-site hotel over time, but it’s reasonable to expect to pay in full (or at least charge the full amount to your credit card) for plane tickets, ground transportation, and non-Disney theme park tickets.

How can I budget for my visit to Disney World?

The fact that Disney allows you to essentially make your own payment plan for your vacation is great, but it also means that a big part of your Disney World planning is figuring out how to budget for your vacation; Disney is not going to tell you that you must pay a certain amount each month.

Our Disney trip cost calculator will give you a range of what you can expect to spend to go to Disney World, but it’s up to you to break that down into a reasonable method to save up that amount.

The most simple way to decide how much to budget for your vacation is to take the estimated cost from our calculator and then divide it by the number of months between now and your vacation’s start date.  Or, you might determine how many times you’ll get a paycheck between now and then, and divide by that number instead.

You might need to further adjust those smaller payments to account for bigger sums you might be able to apply towards your vacation (such as a tax refund or holiday bonus), or to make up for months when you might not be able to pay Disney as much as you’d like (perhaps due to seasonal employment changes).

Of course, breaking your vacation expenses down into smaller amounts is only part of the equation.  You also need to be able to actually come up with that money.  There are plenty of ways to find extra cash or adjust your vacation plans slightly so they’re more affordable.  Even making slight adjustments to your Disney World food costs or hotel plans can make a significant difference.  We offer 9 tips for cutting costs to get you started with saving on Disney.

Final Thoughts

Planning a visit to Disney requires budgeting for a number of factors.  Not only are there the obvious expenses like Disney park tickets, but there are also expenses that might not be so obvious, like parking fees and ground transportation.  Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save on your Disney World vacation . And with proper planning for each of these costs well in advance of your stay, you can make sure that your visit to Disney doesn’t become a financial burden.  That’s why we created this tool; we want to make sure everyone who wants to go to Disney knows how much it’ll cost and doesn’t wind up with any nasty financial surprises along the way!

Ready to book your Disney World trip?

We hope our Disney World Cost Calculator tool has helped provide you with an accurate baseline estimate on how much your Disney World vacation will cost.

To get an actual cost and to book your Disney World vacation, we recommend contacting the Disney travel experts at The Vacationeer .

There’s no charge for their Disney planning services, and there’s never any obligation to book.

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Disney Theme Parks

Enchantment Awaits at Walt Disney World Resort

Journey to all 4 parks during your disney vacation for endless fun.

Imagine a place like nowhere on earth, where moments and memories have no limit.

 Magic Kingdom Park Wander through 6 captivating lands, hop on iconic Disney attractions, meet beloved Characters and catch spectacular fireworks displays and animated parades.

 Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park Behold the magic of nature and delight in wild animal encounters, high-speed thrills, nightly entertainment and Pandora – The World of Avatar.

 Disney's Hollywood Studios Embrace the spirit of Tinseltown with a variety of attractions and entertainment inspired by movies, TV, music and theater—including Star Wars - and Toy Story -themed experiences.

 Epcot Ignite your imagination at a park brimming with innovation and global allures. Here, you can travel to outer space and stroll through 11 countries in a single day.

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Uncover excitement and leisure outside of the theme parks.

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Begin building your one-of-a-kind escape by choosing from over 25 Disney Resort hotels. Then, customize a package that lets you take advantage of all 4 theme parks, our 2 water parks and over 150 Walt Disney World Resort dining locations.

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Happiness Awaits at Disneyland Resort

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Celebrate your love for all things Disney at the original home for never-ending fascination and glee.

 Disney California Adventure Park Make yourself at home in a world where the stories of Disney, Pixar and Marvel come to life within 7 vibrant lands.

 Disneyland Park Feel a dreamy nostalgia at Walt Disney's original theme park, where you can float through 8 themed lands, meet Disney Princesses, encounter a variety of Star Wars experiences and take in mesmerizing entertainment.

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Unwind with family and friends in a lively promenade located in between the parks—admission is complimentary! Plus, enhance your trip by checking out nearby landmarks.

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1-Day Disneyland Itinerary

Our 1-day Disneyland itinerary offers a step-by-step plan to efficiently do shows, rides, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and everything new. We list restaurants at which we’d dine, things we’d do, entertainment we’d watch, and more. Essentially, our perfect day touring California’s castle park. (Updated January 11, 2024 .)

This single day Disneyland itinerary has been overhauled several times in the last year, taking into account the ever-evolving entertainment options, Early Entry, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, changing crowds, and more. Suffice to say, things continue to ‘evolve’ at Disneyland, both from a substantive and  strategy perspective.

We visit Disneyland regularly “for the sake of research,” monitoring wait times, testing plans, and fine-tuning our strategy. This Disneyland itinerary for 2024 takes into account everything we’ve learned, including when to do both Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance via standby, where to watch fireworks, rope drop priority, and how to hit the highlights…

To those points, there are a couple of other resources you should consult if you’re visiting Disneyland in 2024. To start with, review both the  full 2024 calendar of events at Disneyland  and the  entertainment schedule for 2024 . This itinerary incorporates all of the attraction highlights, but you really should read those for a comprehensive look at everything Disneyland is doing for seasonal celebrations, nighttime spectaculars, and other entertainment.

We’ll update this throughout the year as major changes occur (e.g. Fantasmic returning), but the broad strokes of the itinerary won’t change based on the fireworks show during your visit, for example. However, whether you should make an extra effort and take the time to secure a spot will differ for Mickey’s Mix Magic versus Wondrous Journeys, for example.

You also might want to consider paid FastPass–officially known as Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. For the ins and outs of that, see our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland & DCA .  While this itinerary will be helpful in beating the crowds, you really  want might to consider paid FastPass to reduce your wait times significantly. If so, you can consult our 1-Day Disneyland Itinerary w/ Genie+ Lightning Lanes .

Even with savvy strategy and Lightning Lanes, it’s difficult to do everything at Disneyland in a single day. This plan will help you experience as much as possible, but probably not everything. For our ride ratings and reviews of every attraction, read our comprehensive Best Disneyland Attractions & Ride Guide post. For comprehensive planning assistance covering everything from where to purchase discount tickets to dining and more, read our 2024 Disneyland Resort Vacation Planning Guide .

What we are providing is a rough blueprint of our favorite things to do in an ideal day at Disneyland and when you should do them for the ‘best experience.’ In so doing, we strive to balance a pleasant day in the park with efficiency, rather than just racing from attraction to attraction.

For added convenience, we also recommend staying at Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel for your visit. Staying at one of these hotels puts you in a good position to utilize Early Entry to do more. If these hotels are outside of your budget, check out our Disneyland Area Hotel Reviews & Rankings for more on the pros and cons of each hotel near Disneyland–many are actually closer to the parks than Disneyland Hotel!

Once you wake up from wherever it is that you are sleeping, here’s what to do…

Rope Drop Arrival – If you can, we recommend arriving at Disneyland’s security checkpoints about 45 minutes before official park opening time or earlier during peak seasons.

As covered in Disneyland Park Opening & Rope Drop Tips , Disneyland’s turnstiles typically open 30-45 minutes before park opening, at which time guests are allowed onto Main Street. We recommend heading immediately for the Central Plaza, in front of the Partners statue of Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse.

Early Morning Attractions: Fantasyland – We always feel a sense of accomplishment by starting the morning in Fantasyland, because there are so many short attractions here within close proximity to one another that can be done quickly. It’s also a good way to avoid this area in the middle of the day, when it’s chaotic.

We highly recommend starting with Peter Pan’s Flight. Next, do Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, followed by Alice in Wonderland. Our other recommendations here for the morning are Dumbo, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, and Storybook Land Canal Boats (in that order). You should be able to hit 75%+ of the attractions in Fantasyland in the first hour the park is open if you are efficient.

Rise & Shine  – Since Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened and switched to a standby line, we’ve observed an interesting dynamic emerge: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance isn’t as high of a priority for as many guests. To be sure, there’s still the rope drop rush to the Galaxy’s Edge headliner, but there’s now a slight lull most days after that initial rush.

As such, our recommendation is doing Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance about 1 hour after park opening. This could also change with crowd levels, but it’s something we’ve experienced fairly consistently since the reimagined Toontown debuted. Accordingly, it’s our advice for now to do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance early in the day–but not first thing. (It’s a different story if you’re eligible for Early Entry, in which case you can knock out most of Fantasyland and then be at the front of the pack in the rope drop rush to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.)

While you’re in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it might also make sense to do Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run if the wait time is manageable (30 minutes or less). You can also stop for a snack if you’d like a more leisurely morning–the Ronto Wraps are highly recommended.

Head West – At that point, exit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge directly into Frontierland, which should still be relatively quiet. If you took the correct path, you should be near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad–start by doing that. From there, it’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of dynamic.

If you’re near Big Thunder Mountain, you’re also fairly close to Main Street. If you love characters, now is a good time to head back that way to (potentially) spot some free-roaming characters around Sleeping Beauty Castle, as well as meet & greets for Mickey & Friends in Town Square at the very front of the park. (Strategy-wise, it’s better to meet Mickey and Friends later, when fewer new guests are entering the park. About 30 minutes after the daytime parade is ideal.)

Rumble in the Jungle  – At this point, you can go deeper and deeper into the jungle.

One option is to knock out Indiana Jones Adventure followed by Jungle Cruise. If crowd levels are moderate or below, both should still have short waits at this relatively early hour. If it’s a busier day and lines are already long, you may need to save them for later.

Morning Intermission: Matterhorn Macaroon – Once you have a good number of attractions knocked out, consider slowing down and having a snack break. A big part of our days in Disneyland involves eating!

Head down to Jolly Holiday Bakery at the edge of Main Street and get these delicious Disneyland originals. Consult our Top 10 Delicious Disneyland Desserts for other sweet treats to try.

Late Morning Attractions: The Disneyland Classics – This is a good time for lower profile rides that have posted wait times under 30 minutes. What you do really depends on where you are in the park…and posted wait times in the Disneyland app.

One thing we’d recommend doing is rounding out your morning with one of Disneyland’s flagship attractions located in New Orleans Square: Pirates of the Caribbean. After that, it’s time for the third big attraction in New Orleans Square: food!

Mealtime in New Orleans – Three of our absolute favorite Disneyland restaurants are in New Orleans Square. Our top recommendation is Blue Bayou , Disneyland’s most popular restaurant due to its location along the water in Pirates of the Caribbean . If it’s your first visit to Disneyland, Blue Bayou is a must-do rite of passage restaurant.

Another alternative is Cafe Orleans, which is a cheaper table service option. This offers good value for money, and nice open-air outdoor seating. It also features a few of the same iconic entrees (in particular, the Monte Cristo) that’s beloved at Blue Bayou.

The final option is the new Tiana’s Palace Restaurant. Mobile Order slots fill up fast for this spot, but we recommend doing walk-up dining instead–it’s a better experience. Tiana’s Palace is our new #1 counter service restaurant in Disneyland!

After you’re done eating (our while waiting on your table), take a few minutes to explore the nooks, crannies, and shops of New Orleans Square, one of Disney’s best theme park lands anywhere.

Afternoon Attractions: Relaxing Disney Originals – The middle of the afternoon is when Disneyland sees its longest lines, making this a great time to enjoy some of the gems of Disneyland that go unnoticed by most guests while waiting for the afternoon parade. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and the adjacent Disney Gallery, the Disneyland Railroad, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through, Mark Twain Riverboat, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room are all recommended.

Other options include Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Tom Sawyer Island, and Sailing Ship Columbia. You won’t have time to do all of these originals, so plan on picking an assortment that are most appealing to you.

Magic Happens Parade – Disneyland’s daytime parade is Magic Happens, which is performed once during the daytime and once in the early evening. (For now–this will likely change to two daytime performances once the sun starts setting later.)

The daytime one tends to be slightly less busy, but waiting in the sun can be brutal. Plus, it’s simply not as much fun without the floats and lights fully illuminated. As such, we recommend seeing the second parade, which is best viewed from the end of Main Street (closer to Sleeping Beauty Castle). Be sure to grab a spot at least 30 to 45 minutes in advance of the performance time. For lower crowds and less lead-time, catch it back by “it’s a small world.”

Homestyle Dinner – If you haven’t already eaten, you have a few options for dinner. The first is waiting until you visit Tomorrowland (the next stop). This is the worst possible option, and is to be avoided at all costs.

The second is heading back to Main Street early, and grabbing food at Plaza Inn (home of Disneyland’s glorious fried chicken and our recommended restaurant) or Jolly Holiday Bakery & Cafe. Nearby both are Refreshment Corner and Little Red Wagon, in case anyone in your party would prefer some form of corn or hot dogs.

You can even multi-task, getting on-the-go meals from Jolly Holiday, Refreshment Corner, or Little Red Wagon before you stake out Magic Happens parade spots. (Don’t try this with Plaza Inn–it’s not conducive to carry out.)

Twilight in Tomorrowland: Head to Tomorrowland and enjoy the early evening atmosphere.

While you’re in Tomorrowland, knock out the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. Not only will the waits be shorter, but the sun should be lower and make the waits more bearable. If the wait time isn’t too long for Space Mountain, you should also do this now.

Evening Alternative: Ride Rerides – Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Matterhorn are the four attractions that we recommend doing at night for a superior experience. We have a full list of the 10 Best Disneyland Attractions at Night , in case you have time for more than these–or want alternatives.

If you missed Adventureland earlier due to higher wait times or crowd levels, you might want to do Indiana Jones Adventure now. It really depends upon how late Disneyland is open when you visit and what you still need to get done. If you have plenty of time and not much left on your “list,” you can save Indiana Jones Adventure until the line dies down more. (It could be done after Batuu, potentially.)

Fireworks – Which fireworks show you see to conclude the night at Disneyland depends upon when you visit. For much of 2024, your options will be Mickey’s Mix Magic or Together Forever, the Pixar Fest nighttime spectacular. The former is only okay, whereas the latter is good. Wondrous Journeys will also return for a brief period around Spring Break (when the park will be busier), and it’s fantastic.

All of these nighttime spectaculars have two versions: “with projections” and “with fireworks.” Both versions have projections, so really it’s with or without pyro. As a good rule of thumb, the nighttime spectacular is presented “with fireworks” Friday through Sunday nights, and on weekday evenings that are busier (e.g. Presidents’ Day, Spring Break, Easter, etc). Check out the Disneyland Entertainment Schedule  or the Disneyland app for dates and showtimes.

Either way, watching from Main Street is the only spot to see the shows in their entirety, with all details and effects present. Honestly, if your party is more “ride people” you can skip Mickey’s Mix Magic or Together Forever. We recommend seeing Wondrous Journeys regardless, but the other two are nothing special.

If you do opt to watch, it’s much easier to snag a good spot (without camping out in advance) on “with projections” days, when you only need to arrive 15 minutes in advance. On “with fireworks” dates, arriving more like 30-45 minutes early is advisable, or even more if you want one of the absolute best spots. To that point, see our Disneyland Fireworks Viewing Guide for recommendations as to the best and worst spots for the show.

Late Train to Runnamuck Park  – While it might be tempting to run(away) to the newest headliner attraction at Disneyland to start your day, the better option is doing Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in the evening, after Toontown reopens following the fireworks.

Like most family-friendly attractions, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has shorter lines late at night. The other upside of waiting to do it is experiencing shorter lines in Fantasyland and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, earlier in the day–especially as those lands tend to be busier in the evening.

Blast Off to Batuu – If you don’t mind criss-crossing the park again, we recommend returning to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at night. The crowds get better and the land is simply better in the evening. The lighting adds a lot to the moody off-planet atmosphere, and makes the experience even more immersive.

While you’re in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, be do Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run if you didn’t earlier, visit Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, and simply wander around. Just keep in mind that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance usually stops running early–so if you missed it before, you’ll actually want to return earlier. Doing Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at around 7 to 8 pm is a good alternative to the first hour of the morning.

Speaking of alternatives, one middle-ground option to skipping the fireworks entirely is catching them from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The area around the Millennium Falcon offers a great view and will soon feature its own soundtrack. Once the show is over, race over to Rise of the Resistance for a ride on that. (You can’t do Toontown during the fireworks, so flip-flop these entries in this scenario.)

Park Closing Tranquility – If you still have time before Disneyland closes, use that to hit whichever attractions you missed, or perhaps return to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to finish up whatever you didn’t get to there before. Now is a good time for Space Mountain, which typically has one of the longest wait times in Disneyland. The standby line is also excruciatingly slow-moving due to the Lightning Lane.

Things like the Pixie Hollow water show, grabbing a seat under the popcorn lights on a Main Street porch, and wandering around in the neon of Tomorrowland can all be fun experiences. Also, keep in mind that the shops on Main Street are typically open an hour after park closing, making that the time to get your souvenir shopping done.

Nightcap: Trader Sam’s – End it all at the beginning, by the adults in your party heading to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland Hotel after Disneyland closes for drinks and uniquely Disney fun. Trader Sam’s is more fun than a barrel of drunken monkeys, and even if you’re not a drinker, the interactive and detailed Trader Sam’s is a great time .

Plus, it’s a great place to do so more eating…you know, if you weren’t already waddling from all the eating this itinerary calls for! The convenient location of both Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s are why we consider Disneyland Hotel an ideal location for a day at Disneyland.

If you’re able to do even 75% of the things on the Daily Trip Blueprint, you are pretty much assured of having an amazing day at Disneyland. That’s our DTB by DTB.com Guarantee! ( Please note that this guarantee has no cash value and is not offered to residents of any state except Wyoming. Also note that any day you are at Disneyland should be amazing, so if you don’t have a great time, it’s probably your own fault! ;))

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets . Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings . For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews . For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney . For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide . Finally, for guides  beyond Disney , check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!

Your Thoughts

What would you include in your ideal day at Disneyland? If you haven’t visited Disneyland yet, what do you plan on doing? Are the new attractions in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge among your must-dos? Think it’s worth the effort of scoring a boarding pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance? Do you agree or disagree with our step by step Disneyland itinerary? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Does Disneyland inflate wait times the same way that Disney World does? Are they most inflated at night, like WDW?

Toward the end of the night I think they do. At least rides that use lightning lanes such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder, and Splash Mountain. Since people are not cutting in front with LL, this reduces the stand-by (you’re also walking though lines quicker because of this which helps with perception). My Brother and I usually play a game of “over/under” the wait time and it’s almost always under during the night. Day-time waits and be 5-10 min off but it’s typically a solid indicator of the actual wait time.

Any chance of an update now that the “new ride smell” has worn off Railway?

I didn’t the Haunted Mansion in your recommendations. Did I miss t?

Haunted Mansion will be closed for, at minimum, several months due to the ride’s queue being reworked, among other projects in the area.

While it has not yet been officially confirmed, it has been widely speculated that the regular version of Haunted Mansion will not open at all in 2024, and that the Holiday overlay will simply return in August at the start of the resort’s Halloween celebration.

And now noticing that this comment is from March 2023. Oops.

“it’s difficult to do everything at Disneyland in a single day”

I apologize if this is too far off topic, but I’d go so far to say that Disneyland is a two-day park most of the year. If you only have one day, this is an excellent way to spend it, but I can’t imagine doing *everything* one might want to do in a single day. While not linked above, Tom has a two-day plan for Disneyland if you have the time and money to spend it.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at day and night is a must-do for me, and highly recommended for anyone reading this who hasn’t experienced both.

I don’t know if it was just weird luck but MMRR had a ton of downtime when we were there last week. Nearly every day, it opened momentarily and then shut down almost immediately for about an hour (and had periodic closures throughout the day as well.) Yes on rope dropping Fantasyland but I’d recommend being willing to run away from Fantasyland as soon as you see MMRR is up and running. We caught it on the app as soon as it reopened one day last week and ran when we saw it said “25 minutes.” At least in the mornings, 25 minutes meant “complete walk-on.” By the time we’d finished, the queue was stretching outside of the building.

This may change as the new shine wears off but week of 2/27 we had great success riding Runaway Railway during the first parade. Walk on waits so we looped around and rode it twice.

Interesting Read! Still hesitzting if we shoukd buy 2 Days or 1 day ticket.. our girls are 2 and 4 years old,meaning that a LOT of the attractions don’t apply to them,so I feel like most probably 1 day should be enough,or..? Also in doubt if we should visit disney adventure park as well,or just stick to dianeyland (it’s all about princesses and the castle for our girls anyways) Any who could comment on this,your advice would be appreciated! ✌️

Is this perhaps available in a more outline form, check, check, check list? I feel like I could print that, along with the map and have a solid plan for breaking up the day. Thanks so much for these awesome 1 day tips!

Would love to see you update this to remove the Rise virtual queue info and place that ride in its rightful place (end of night I assume, although it frequently closes before the park does).

It’s just the one brief mention after your morning snack recs.

Thanks for catching that–don’t know how I missed it when updating!

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We saved every receipt — here's how much it actually costs to go to Disney World

Ever go on vacation and save every single receipt to see what it really costs? Much like I don't get on a scale as soon as I return from a trip, I don't typically total every snack, tip and dollar I spend while away from home. A little ignorance is sometimes bliss.

However, keeping track of everything you spend at the parks — right down to an impromptu Mickey ice cream bar to beat the Florida heat — can help you figure out exactly how much it costs to go on a family vacation to Disney World so you can better prepare for future trips.

Having that intel is especially important to those with limited budgets, as everyone knows a trip to Disney World is not an inexpensive family vacation.

With so many expenses to factor in these days, is it still possible for hard-working, middle-class families to afford a Disney World vacation if they make some strategic choices to rein in their out-of-pocket costs? On my most recent trip to Disney World, I put on my adulting ears and saved every single receipt to find out just how much a trip to Disney World costs for a family of four in 2023.

How much it costs to go to Disney World

Before covering each expense from my trip, it's important to know a few key details.

For this trip, I considered costs for my family of four: two adults, a teenager and a child.

While our transportation to Orlando was not factored in since that expense can vary significantly depending on whether you drive or fly (and if the latter, where you fly from), I did include other aspects of our visit, including three nights in hotels, two days spent in the parks and one day spent by our resort pool.

We neither purposefully went a strict budget route nor had a blowout Disney trip. Rather than choose the cheapest option for everything involved, we treated ourselves to a few pricier options without spending well beyond our means. Doing so made it possible for us to still have a nice but budget-conscious family trip.

Related: Tips for visiting Disney World: 18 ways to save money and have more fun

Theme park tickets

The main reason why a trip to Disney World is never going to be inexpensive for a family is because theme park tickets are pricey all on their own. Even if you never ate out at Disney and used points for your hotel stay, you are still looking at spending hundreds of dollars a day for a family to get in the gates.

Currently, one-day theme park tickets to Disney World start at $109 before taxes are factored in ... and that price only applies to Disney's Animal Kingdom. If you want to go to Magic Kingdom, it'll cost you more. That's especially true if you wish to visit on a day when kids are out of school since the ticket price is tied to expected demand.

Knowing how expensive theme park tickets can get for multiple people, we opted for two-day tickets that granted us entry to Disney's Hollywood Studios on one day and Magic Kingdom on the other day. Excluding taxes, the total came out to $282.55 per person for everyone 10 and up and $273.10 for the 8-year-old. Once taxes were added in, we collectively spent $1,193.60 for our two days of Disney World tickets for four people.

Total for tickets: $1,193.60

Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets

Hotel accommodations

Our first night was spent at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort . To pay for the night, we used a combination of a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificate from having a Marriott credit card and 7,000 Marriott Bonvoy points since the one-night stay was priced at 42,000 points.

Despite using points to cover the cost of our room, we still needed to pay a resort fee plus a parking fee. As a result, I knew I'd be on the hook for at least $100 for the night.

Since I was aware of some out-of-pocket expenses that would come with our stay, I decided to use an Amex Offer that awarded me $100 back on $300 in Marriott charges. We needed to eat and grab a few accessories like MagicBand chargers anyway, so by tacking on a nice dinner at the property's new Rosa Mexicano restaurant and visiting the on-site gift shop, we were able to cross that $300 threshold.

With our $100 statement credit from the Amex Offer applied, we ended up spending $210.85 on our first night of lodging.

For the second and third nights of our trip, we moved to a two-bedroom villa at Disney's Riviera Resort . Unable to justify the splurge on our own, we decided to share it with another family of four.

Noticing the out-of-pocket cost was higher for traditional bookings, we opted to rent Disney Vacation Club points to reserve our villa. By renting from a friend, which came with a slight discount, we collectively paid $19 per point for 118 points (or $2,242 for the two-night stay). My family's half worked out to $1,121 for two nights (or $560.50 per night), a reasonable weekend rate for a suite at a top-tier Deluxe Disney resort.

Total for hotels: $1,331.85 (plus a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificate and 7,000 Marriott Bonvoy points)

Related: Rent DVC points via TPG's partner, David's Vacation Club Rentals

Ground transportation

When it comes to getting a car and getting on the road quickly in Orlando, Hertz has never let me down, so I tend to use the company when I visit Disney World. This trip was no exception.

Our car rental (which was for one day longer than this three-day trip since I used it for work after our vacation) came to $202. The cheapest type of car available was a manager's choice electric vehicle, so despite preferring a standard vehicle due to the lack of chargers in Orlando, we received an electric model to save ourselves about $100.

There were two (slow) charging stations at Disney's Riviera Resort, and I luckily snagged one of those on our last day to charge the car back up for $5.41 via the ChargePoint app. Since Disney resort guests do not have to pay parking fees at Disney-owned hotels and theme parks, we did not incur any additional out-of-pocket expenses.

Total for ground transportation: $207.41

Related: From 'fart mode' to battery woes: 5 things I learned from my 1st Tesla rental

Meals and snacks

Like room rates, meal prices at Disney World can fluctuate significantly, making it possible to spend a lot, a little or somewhere in between. We ultimately landed somewhere in the middle, opting for a few pricier sit-down meals, several cheaper meals and some strategic packing of snacks and drinks we got at grocery store prices.

The majority of our restaurant expenses came from two meals: a $195 lunch at Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which was super filling and a lot of fun, and a $151.52 character breakfast at Topolino's Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera at Disney's Riviera Resort.

While our entire family joined for lunch at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, character breakfasts can get quite expensive, so we split up when it came time to eat at Topolino's Terrace. Only myself and the younger kids in our larger party — aka those who would really value meeting various Disney characters — took part in this fantastic experience, as it costs $45 per adult and $29 per child 9 and under.

The rest of the meals we enjoyed were all quick-service options. Generally, these can be ordered in Disney's mobile app and average no more than $10 to $12 per person per meal.

We'd often share meals, lean heavily into the kids section of the menu and leave no chicken finger behind when paying theme park prices to eat. That resulted in us spending $506.69 for meals for four people on all three days of our visit, excluding dinner at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort on our first night since it's factored into our lodging expenses.

When our budget needed some relief, we supplemented with Uncrustables and grab-and-go snack and breakfast items we ordered via Vacation Grocery Delivery , a local grocery delivery service that caters to theme park visitors. The total for our groceries came out to $91.09.

Total for meals and snacks: $597.78

Related: The best restaurants at Disney World

Skip-the-line passes

Another area where you can see the price for your trip to Disney World jump is on extras like skip-the-line passes.

Long gone are Disney World's free FastPasses. Instead, visitors can now purchase Genie+ and Lightning Lanes to bypass long wait times for rides.

The prices for these passes vary by park and by date, so it's hard to know exactly how much it will cost for this service until your trip begins. However, it's not uncommon to see prices for Genie+ hover between $15 and $35 per person per day.

During our trip, Genie+ cost $23 per person (plus tax) for our Magic Kingdom day and $21 per person (plus tax) for our day at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Had we been visiting Epcot or Disney's Animal Kingdom instead of Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios, we would've spent a few dollars less since our chosen parks are the two most expensive options for Genie+.

On top of what you may choose to spend on Genie+, which comes with access to shorter lines for many rides in the park, you may also wish to buy individual Lightning Lanes for a few popular rides that aren't covered by Genie+. Know, though, that if you purchase all the individual rides plus Genie+ for every member of your family every day of your visit, it will add several hundred dollars to your trip. Doing so does mean you'll spend more of your time on rides than in lines, so ultimately, the decision depends on what you value more: time or money.

For our trip, we opted to skip some individual Lightning Lanes for rides we've experienced several times before, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which would cost $20 per person. However, on our Magic Kingdom day, we purchased individual Lighting Lanes for Tron Lightcycle / Run for the three in the family who wanted to ride it ($63.90) and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for the two kids ($21.30).

Like with character meals, being judicious with which family members truly want to experience the individual Lightning Lane rides can shave some costs off your trip. On the flip side, if one person is going to get Genie+, everyone in the group really needs to get it to enjoy the day together. We saved hours per day in line by purchasing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, so to me, the added cost was money well spent.

Total for skip-the-line passes: $276.92

Related: Is Disney's paid FastPass, Genie+, worth it? Here's how it saved me nearly 3 hours in line

Miscellaneous expenses

While my family has gotten pretty disciplined about reining in ancillary Disney costs since we are there a few times a year, there will always be extra expenses that sneak onto a trip to Disney World.

Whether you spot a must-have souvenir, need a replacement MagicBand or, in our case, race to buy a fan after mistakenly leaving battery-operated ones in the room on an extremely hot evening, you'll want to have a little wiggle room in your budget to cover these unexpected extras. Ultimately, our trip total included an additional $37 for tips outside of meals and $18.38 for a hand-held fan .

Total for miscellaneous expenses: $55.38

Related: How much is too much — has theme park pricing gone too far?

What it really costs to go to Disney World

For four people (two adults, one teenager and one kid) spending three nights and three days at Disney World — with one of those being a non-park day — the total cost came to $3,662.94. That breaks down to $915.74 per person for the trip, which is the equivalent of spending $305.25 per person per day.

Based on our example, the majority of Disney World trip expenses are divvied up as follows:

• 36% lodging
• 33% tickets
• 7.5% skip-the-line passes
• 6% ground transportation
• 1.5% miscellaneous expenses

While we kept our daily expenses a bit over $1,000 for the family, it's easy to exceed this amount as a family of four visiting Disney World, even if you're keeping an eye on your spending, so be sure to use as many money-saving tips applicable to your trip as possible to bring your costs down.

With some careful planning, it is possible to have a budget-friendly trip to Disney .

For additional tips about how to trim Disney World expenses, read these stories:

• How to save money at Disney so you don't go 'bibbidi-bobbidi-broke'
• Can you really save hundreds of dollars at Disney World by renting DVC points? We tested it to find out
• Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
• I go to Disney 15 times a year — here's why the Disney Visa is in my wallet

Accommodations

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The Best Disney World Itinerary for a 5-Day Trip

A vacation to Walt Disney World takes a lot of planning, organization, and patience! Don’t fret. We’re here to help!

Several years ago, we created in-depth itineraries for all four Disney World theme parks . But since then, a lot of things have changed since the parks reopened .  So, now, we’re going to dive into a 5-day Disney World plan to help prioritize your must-do attractions, your core memory opportunities, and some pretty epic meals.

There’s a lot to cover at each of the four Disney World parks.  But we’re going to go through each park to give you an idea of the best restaurants, attractions, and events that you might consider checking out.  While you may not get to  everything  on each itinerary, it will definitely help get your plans in motion!

There are some decisions you’ll need to make before you skip down Main Street, U.S.A., like whether or not you plan to use Disney’s Genie+ planning tool or are willing to purchase Individual Lightning Lanes for those high-demand attractions. Your budget and your priorities will be the ultimate deciding factor in whether or not this tool will work for you. The two parks we think you can get the most value out of the Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane options are in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, which are both heavy hitters in terms of attractions.

Though, you can still get a lot accomplished without it, if your goal is complete as much as each park has to offer, you’ll want to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours  if you can.

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter  to get the free list of Rides to Prioritize with Genie+! Click here to get started!

If you’re traveling with little ones who might not meet some of the height requirements for some attractions, you’ll also want to take advantage of Disney’s Rider Swap , so no one has to miss out on their favorite attractions while someone stays behind with the tyke or folks who just might not some of those thrilling rides.

You’ll also want to preplan any table service meals you plan to enjoy during your Disney World vacation. Advanced  Dining Reservations for Disney World table service restaurants open up 60 days prior to your vacation, and the most popular dining locations books up quickly!! 

So, that means not only do you want to figure out which spot you want to eat as early as you can, but you may also want to set an alarm on your calendar to book those reservations as early as 6AM (EST) on that 60-day mark!

Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom is where you’ll find classic Disney attractions, iconic snacks, and loads of Disney characters.

For many guests, this is the most magical theme park at Disney World! This park has the  most attractions, so if you only have one day to spend here, it might be worthwhile to splurge on getting Genie+ to make the most of your time here. And you’ll also want to make sure you get here as early as you can!

Here are some of our favorite must-do’s at Magic Kingdom.

Attractions

Now, we’re not going to list every, single attraction in Magic Kingdom, though we certainly love them all for different reasons. Here’s a quick overview of the ones we think you should prioritize, and of course, your mileage may vary based on your family’s interests and potential restrictions .

The most popular are the more “thrilling” rides:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• TRON: Lightcyle Run (opening in 2023)

Once you’ve mastered those big hitters, then you’ll want to fit in some of those classic Disney rides:

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Haunted Mansion
• Jungle Cruise
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• “it’s a small world”
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Mad Tea Party

If you’re going to opt into the Genie+, then these attractions are the ones you’ll want to plan for.

Once you’ve marked all of these iconic rides off your list, there are other “filler” attractions that you can work into your day. In our opinion, the PeopleMover is a MUST.

• Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Astro Orbiter
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover

If it’s a hot day, you may especially want to plan for a show or two, so you can get some much-needed air conditioning and time off your feet. We highly recommend Mickey’s Philharmagic and Carousel of Progress!

• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Hall of Presidents
• Mickey’s Philharmagic
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Carousel of Progress
• Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor

The Best and WORST Rides in Magic Kingdom

And while you’re in this magical kingdom, you may want to make time to meet some of your favorite Disney pals!

• Meet Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto
• Meet Belle at Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Meet Merida at Fairytale Garden
• Meet an assortment of Princesses (usually Rapunzel , Elena of Avalor, Cinderella , and Tiana ) at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Mickey & Minnie at Town Square Theater

You can sometimes find other characters roaming the park, like spotting Peter Pan near his attraction, Pooh & Tigger near The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Aladdin & Jasmine in Adventureland, so keep your eyes out or check My Disney Experience App for who you might see!

If you don’t want to wait in line, you can always wave at characters as they pass by in cavalcades or the Festival of Fantasy Parade .

Now that we’ve addressed all of the attractions you need to prioritize and some of the characters you might want to see and where to find them let’s talk about FOOD!

PHOTOS & VIDEOS: The Festival of Fantasy Parade is BACK in Disney World!

Dining & snacks.

Magic Kingdom is home to some of the most popular restaurants, too. If you’re dying to eat  inside a castle, then you’ll want to make sure you earmark your 60-day window to book reservations at either Be Our Guest (dining in the Beast’s Castle) or Cinderella’s Royal Table (inside THE Cinderella Castle)! Just be aware that in addition to being super popular, they are also pretty pricey and can eat up some serious park time, so plan wisely!

Some other table service restaurants we enjoy (dare we say even more!) are Skipper Canteen for something more unique or Liberty Tree Tavern , if you’re craving some homestyle cookin’.

If you don’t want to spend your precious park hours sitting at a table service and are looking more for a meal on the go, there are some great quick service options that keep us coming back time after time! We love having a cinnamon roll for breakfast at Gaston’s Tavern , corn dog nuggets over at Casey’s Corner , or the scrumptious Nutella Fruit Waffle from Sleepy Hollow Refreshments.

But some other quality eats can be found at Columbia Harbour House , if your looking for a nice salad or some fish and chips options. Pecos Bill always delivers if you want something to fill that Tex-Mex craving, Cosmic Ray’s has those theme staples of burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets.

The Best And Worst Restaurants in Magic Kingdom

Nighttime shows.

Can you imagine any other way to end the day in Magic Kingdom than with an epic firework show? Disney Enchantment is currently dazzling the Magic Kingdom sky, but we recently learned that a reimagined Happily Ever After will soon be returning!

If you’re a firework fan and want the best view of the show, you’ll want to stake out a spot on Main Street, U.S.A., at least 30 minutes before the show starts. If you enjoy fireworks, but not crowds, then you might want to squeak around to the back of Cinderella Castle for the show. You’ll miss out on the projections, but have A LOT more elbow room to enjoy the show in the sky.

VIDEO: Watch the DEBUT of Disney Enchantment Fireworks in Magic Kingdom

Phew! Having fun has never been so exhausting, right? That wraps up our perfect day in Magic Kingdom, and now time to prepare for our next perfect day in EPCOT!

EPCOT is home to  Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ,  Frozen Ever After , and the newest attraction to open in Disney World, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind .

It also has World Showcase, the best place at Walt Disney World for food and drinks. This park is HUGE, and though the acronym actually stands for E xperimental P rototype  C ommunity o f T omorrow, it’s more casually thought of as E very P erson C omes O ut T ired. So let us help you tackle this huge park!

There is a lot to see and do in EPCOT, but not a ton of attractions. So though you can definitely use Genie+ here to skip some of those longer lines at the most popular attractions, you probably don’t need it to check off everything on your list.

Disney World’s newest attraction opened here in Spring 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a groovy indoor coaster with an even groovier soundtrack. It’s currently using the Viritual Queue or Boarding Pass system , so you won’t be able to just hop in line here, you’ll have to study up and have quick fingers on your phone to secure a spot in the Virtual Queue at either 7AM or 1PM. Your other option is to come out of pocket and pay for an Individual Lightning Lane .

The most popular rides you should prioritize are:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Frozen Ever After

After you’ve completed these must-dos, there are some other classic EPCOT attractions you should make time for:

• Living with the Land
• Spaceship Earth
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Mission: Space
• Journey into Imagination with Figment

If you need an escape from the heat or maybe a spot to sit down and enjoy a show, resting your weary tootsies, there are some beautiful shows that capture the education, culture, and creativity EPCOT was built on:

• Awesome Planet
• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
• American Adventure
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
• Impressions de France

Each show tends to run about 20 minutes long, so you won’t have time to do them all in one day plus all of the rides and pavilions you’ll want to be sure to check out. But these are nice and entertaining respites from the walking and the heat and might help give you some time for digesting in between snacks around World Showcase.

There are also plenty of other interactive experiences you can experience throughout EPCOT, so keep your eyes open and scroll through the My Disney Experience App in case something appeals to you and your family. And there’s more coming soon, like Journey of Water and the Play! Pavilion which should be opening soon!

And, of course, you’ll also find various entertain around World Showcase like the Mariachi Cobre in the Mexico Pavilion and Sergi in the Italy Pavilion. These entertainers don’t just add some zip to their pavilions but are amazingly talented and worth stopping to appreciate.

AllEars TV: The BEST and WORST Rides in Disney World’s EPCOT

Though full of culture, EPCOT also has some character, too. And Characters! Here’s where you can spot some of your favorite Disney Pals.

• EPCOT Entrance: Goofy and Pluto rotate shifts in Future World
• Imagination Pavilion: Joy from  Inside Out  and Vanellope von Schweets from  Wreck It Ralph
• Morocco Pavilion: Princess Jasmine from Aladdin
• Norway Pavilion in Royal Sommerhus : Anna & Elsa from  Frozen
• United Kingdom Pavilion: Alice and Mary Poppins
• France Pavilion: Belle and Princess Aurora
• Mexico Pavilion: Donald all decked out in his Mexican attire
• World Showcase Gazebo: Minnie Mouse
• China Pavilion: Mulan
• Germany Pavilion: Snow White

If you’d rather avoid standing in line to meet characters,  you can always book a Character Meal.   Garden Grill has Mickey , Pluto , Chip , and Dale in their farmer’s outfits greeting their guests. And Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is host to a number of rotating Disney princesses where you can usually find Ariel , Snow White , Aurora , Belle , and Jasmine .

You might find some characters wandering the grassy knoll outside the Imagination Pavilion, near the International Gateway in between the UK Pavilion and France, or on the outskirts of the American Adventure Pavilion. So keep your eyes open!

PHOTOS: The HIDDEN Disney Characters You Can Find Around EPCOT!

What Attractions are to Magic Kingdom, Food is to EPCOT. With 11 countries represented around World Showcase and different Festivals available almost year-round with a multitude of food booths, you’ll never leave EPCOT hungry (or you’re doing it wrong!).

Since EPCOT is host to some of the most popular dining experiences, this is another situation where you’ll want to mark your 60-day calendar to book those reservations. For those must-do table service meals, we recommend Le Cellier (if you want a really good steak or gourmet poutine), Space 220 (for an immersive and truly unique experience eating in space), Via Napoli (for authentic pizza and Italian cuisine), Biergarten (for an all-you-care-to-enjoy Oktoberfest celebration), and we’ll always sing the praises of Garden Grill for its food and its character interactions!

If you want something a bit quicker, Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the American Pavilion delivers some tasty BBQ; Les Halles in France is a great spot for a sandwich, quiche, or pastry; Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the UK offers classic fish n’ chips; and Connections Cafe & Eatery has a great selection of a very broad menu!

If you do visit EPCOT during one of its four festivals, explore the menus to find some tapas-size snacks. You can make a meal out of just snacking around the world. And EPCOT is home to some of our favorite snacks as well, like the School Bread at Kringla Bakeri Og in Norway or the caramel popcorn from Karamell Kuche in Germany.

What to Eat on a $50 Budget at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Night time show.

Now that you squeezed in all of those must-do attractions, enjoyed some classic shows, and filled your tummies with international delicacies, what better way to end the night than with a celebration of cultures, music, and fireworks!

And it’s not just fireworks. This show includes pyrotechnics, lasers, LED screens, lights, and moving fountains. It’s all choreographed to classic Disney songs sung and accompanied by artists from more than a dozen different countries and cultures from around the world.

The show is put on in the center of World Showcase Lagoon, so there is plenty of spots to get a view, just make sure you don’t get stuck behind a tree!

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Latest attractions — check! Amazing culinary crawl around World Showcase — check! High-fived some favorite Disney pals — check! That wraps up our perfect day in EPCOT, and now time to prepare for our next perfect day in Hollywood Studios!

Hollywood Studios

This Park — which is an ode to Hollywood that, in recent years, seems to be all about immersing guests in the movies they love — offers a slew of attractions and experiences for everyone in the family. To paraphrase Michael Eisner, welcome to the Hollywood that never was and always will be, as the idealized version of Hollywood in the 30s and 40s.

This park contains some of Disney World’s best rides, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ,  Tower of Terror , and  Slinky Dog Dash , and is the other park that we’d recommend you consider getting Genie+ for. We’ve listed some of the must-do experiences you’ll want to prioritize for your day in this park.

Hollywood Studios is packing some thrills, well, Disney-style thrills, so if you’re traveling with a family, you’ll want to review those height requirements and Rider Switch options .

The big hitters in this park are:

• Rise of the Resistance
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Once you’ve secured your plan for fitting these into your day, there are some solid other attractions you’ll want to add in:

• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
• Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Toy Story Mania
• Alien Swirling Saucers

And since this is Hollywood and all about “on with the show,” then, of course, there are some amazing shows to consider:

• MuppetVision 3D
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
• Frozen Sing Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Mickey Vacation Shorts
• Beauty & the Beast Live On Stage

Once again, these shows can run from 20 to 40 minutes, so they offer a nice break from the heat and hustle of park touring, but also take up a huge chunk of time. Our universal recommendation is MuppetVision 3D . Even though the 3D effects are a bit dated, the Muppets are classic, and we never pass an opportunity to visit!

Ranking the Rides of Disney’s Hollywood Studios

While visiting Hollywood, it just makes sense to run into some celebrities!

• Red Carpet Dreams : Meet Mickey & Minnie
• Celebrity Spotlight : Meet Olaf from  Frozen
• Star Wars: Launch Bay : Meet BB-8 , Darth Vader , and Chewbacca
• Toy Story Land : Meet Bo Peep , Jessie , Woody, and Buzz Lightyear
• Disney Junior Dance Party! : Meet Doc McStuffins , Vampira , and Fancy Nancy
• Walt Disney Presents : Meet Mike & Sully from  Monster’s Inc

And though you won’t necessarily get time for a photo and autograph, you can several Star Wars characters in Galaxy’s Edge, like Kylo Ren , Rey , Stormtroopers , and Chewbacca . You may also spot some classic Disney characters like Pluto , Goofy , or Chip and Dale around Echo Lake.

Hollywood and Vine offers a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with character meetings, if you prefer to dine with celebrities. Breakfast hosts characters from Disney Junior , so perfect for pre-schoolers and the little tykes. While lunch and dinner switch up for Minnie and friends in their seasonal outfits.

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Hollywood Studios may currently hold the title on Disney thrill rides, but it is not known for providing thrilling food. There are some noteworthy snacks that we keep coming back to, and some fun restaurants where we honestly enjoy the experience more than the food.

If you’re looking for a sit-down, full-service meal, we like Hollywood Brown Derby the best. It’s a bit pricey, and a bit hoity-toity, but always delivers a top-notch meal. For those fun dining experiences and pretty good food, there’s 50’s Prime Time Cafe , where you dine on down-home cookin’ with your “relatives;” Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater , where you eat classic diner food in a stylized drive-in theater show quirky film clips; and Oga’s Cantina  over in Galaxy’s Edge where the vibe and drinks are out of the world, but the food is… not recommended.

For quick bites, the selection here is pretty standard, nothing super noteworthy. ABC Commissary has had some fun dishes, with the addition of their Shrimp Tacos. The Ronto Wrap in Galaxy’s Edge is really good (we like the breakfast version, too!) If you like hot dogs, Fairfax Fare has you covered. And the charcuterie option at BaseLine Taphouse is a solid choice. And for snacks, we gravitate toward the Carrot Cake Cookie at Trolley Car Cafe , Wookiee Cookie at Backlot Express , and Lunchbox Tarts over at Woody’s Lunchbox .

You can find some good food here, but it doesn’t really compare with the selection available at EPCOT or Disney Springs.

Eat Here, Not There in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Nighttime show.

Hollywood Studios knows how to put on a show. One of the best ways to finish a day at “The Studios” is with Fantasmic!

This epic nighttime spectacular returned after a long hiatus with some new music and new scenes to overwhelming fanfare! If you love Disney characters, water projections, laser shows, and good triumphing over evil, then this is the show for you!

Be aware that you won’t be the only one seeking a prime seat for this show. You and your forty-thousand closest friends (ok, maybe not that many, but a lot of folks) will be filing into the Amphitheater for the show. We recommend sitting a little further back to avoid the spray and mist from the water projections and for a full view.

Here’s What CHANGED at Fantasmic! in Disney World

All the thrills, celebrities, shows, and epic snacks (not to mention probably saving the galaxy from the First Order a time or two), means you’ve had a COMPLETE day at Hollywood Studios. That wraps up our perfect day in Hollywood Studios, and now time to prepare for our next perfect day in Animal Kingdom!

Animal Kingdom

Are you ready for a wild time? Ok, how about a wildly relaxing time?

Animal Kingdom isn’t overflowing with rides, but there’s plenty to see and do.  Similar to EPCOT, if you keep your eyes open and let yourself wander, you never know what hidden treasure you might stumble across.

The main attractions here are… well, the animals (hence the name, we suppose), but there are some you’ll want to hit up bright and early to avoid some long lines.

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na’vi River Journey

Some other attractions might sporadically have long lines, but usually, they’re pretty moderate:

• Expedition Everest
• Triceratops Spin
• Kali River Rapids

On hot days, the line for Kali River Rapids might back up, as folks look for that refreshing splash of attraction water to cool them down.  Expedition Everest can also get a little busy sometimes, but this attraction has a Singler Rider line , which can sometimes be faster! And as we mentioned, there aren’t a lot of rides here, but there’s still plenty to do.

Take time to explore the Discovery Island Trails , Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails , or Maharajah Jungle Trek to see all of the unique animals, creative theming, and storytelling and chat with a Cast Member in the area to learn about these amazing animals.

Then finally, the shows!! Animal Kingdom shows rival those over at Hollywood Studios (and we might even like Festival of the Lion King better than anything because — TUMBLE MONKEYS!)! Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!  are both Broadway-style musicals with beautiful costumes, impressive puppetry skills, and fun, toe-tapping tunes.

The two other shows in Animal Kingdom, It’s Tough to be a Bug and Up! A Great Bird Adventure immerses guests in the worlds of these fascinating and talented animals. If you have a fear of bugs or birds, you may want to avoid these shows, because you may find yourself getting a little more familiar with these creatures that you’re comfortable with.

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We all know that the animals are the big stars of the show here, and though you can’t hug a tiger here, you can still spot your favorite Mouse for a hug, high-five, or quick howdy.

• Adventurers Outpost : Mickey and Minnie in their safari outfits.
• Donald’s Dino-Bash : Donald , Daisy , Goofy , Chip, and Dale make regular appearances
• Discovery Island : Kevin, that precocious bird from Up, wanders around regularly.

You’ll also be able to wave at characters as they cruise around the Animal Kingdom waterways on  flotillas . We’ve classic and unique characters on these festive barges like: Mickey , Minnie , Chip and Dale , Pocahontas and Meeko , Russell  and Dug , and Baloo and King Louie .

Though not a traditional meet-and-greet, it’s fun to see some Disney friends sometimes when you least expect it!

Kevin from Up! Spotted in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom rivals Hollywood Studios when it comes to amazing show quality, and it might do the same to EPCOT in terms of food!

Yep, we said it.

Animal Kingdom has some of the best snacks and dining experiences at the Disney Parks! And it hits the mark on everything. We got restaurants we love, quick service we love, and snacks galore! So, here’s your warning not to read this hungry. Go get a snack and come back… we’ll wait.

Yak & Yeti offers a huge menu of Asian-fusion inspired dishes. If you’re looking for something a bit unique, you can find it here, but for those pickier eaters, there are also some more familiar eats. Tusker House is the character meal with Donald and the gang greeting diners in their safari outfits. As a buffet, this is also a good spot for picky eaters to wander through and get those familiar foods, while also having the opportunity to try some African-inspired dishes. Tusker House (as a character meal) is super popular, so make sure you secure that dining reservation right at that 60 day mark.

Tiffins is a swanky option with some higher prices and honestly feels like you’re eating  inside an art gallery. One of the coziest spots in Animal Kingdom is the neighboring lounge for Tiffins, Nomads Lounge . This spot gets hoppin’, so if you wanna try some unique cocktails, some light (yet classy) eats, and beautiful scenery, you’ll want to look into joining the Walk Up Waitlist here.

For quick service, picky eaters can find their bliss at Restaurantosaurus (for burgers, sandwiches, and fries) and Flame Tree BBQ has some tasty smoke BBQ that you can literally smell all around Discovery Island. Or if you’re looking for something a bit more unique, Satu’li Canteen (for those delicious cheeseburger pods and protein bowls!) or Yak & Yeti Local Local Foods Cafe has some familiar Asian-inspired meals (like fried rice and sweet & sour shrimp).

And so many snacks!! Eight Spoons Cafe has baked mac and cheese we can’t get enough of! Isle of Java has a Tiger Tail pastry for sweet tooth cravings, Mr. Kamal’s has some seasoned fries that are shareable (but you won’t wanna share), Pongu Pongu has a Pongu Lumpia sweet pineapple cheesecake style eggroll that is different but delicious. Or for other pineappley cravings, Tamu Tamu is the spot for those Dole Whip lovers.

Are you hungry, yet? See? We told you, Animal Kingdom packs in the flavor!

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Because of the animals at Animal Kingdom, you won’t find any fireworks here. Fire, explosions, loud noises, bright light flashes and wild animals just don’t mix.

But we do recommend staying after sunset to watch the Beacon of Light projection show on the Tree of Life. The park icon lights up, and a projection show tells the story of some animal friends as they come to live from the tree and interact together. It’s a peaceful, magical show that is the perfect way to wind down after your day exploring nature and appreciating all of these amazing creatures.

AllEars TV: The Secret to Having the Best Day in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

You’ve ventured to Mo’ara Valley in Pandora, and SIVAKO’d on the back of a banshee, escaped the Yeti guardian of Everest, and saw some amazing animals on the safari and trails, so you’ve had a COMPLETE day at Animal Kingdom. That wraps up our perfect day in Animal Kingdom, and now time to prepare for our next perfect day in Disney Springs & the Resorts!

Disney Springs

Sometimes considered a fifth park for all it has to offer, Disney Springs won’t require any Genie+ access, though you may still want to have your phone handy for Mobile Order at some of the dining locations.

But just because you won’t find classic dark rides or thrilling coasters, doesn’t mean that there aren’t some fun attractions here. let’s take a look at how you can spend some of your day at Disney Springs!

There are actually a few “rides” in Disney Springs, but you will have to pay to ride these options:

• Amphicars at The BOATHOUSE

If you looking to cruise the Sassagoula waterway in a unique way, head over to The BOATHOUSE and snag a ticket to ride in one of the zippy Amphicars. Or if floating through the air is more your style, the Aerophile balloon will lift you up 300 feet in the air for sweeping views of the Disney World property.

If you prefer to keep your feet on solid ground, Disney Springs has some great shows for you, as well.

• Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life
• AMC Dine-In Theater

If you don’t want to set aside several hours for these shows, you can also catch live music all throughout Disney Springs in the evenings. Or, if you’re up for a bit of friendly competition, check out Splitsville , which not only has an extensive menu but is also a bowling alley!

And there is no limit to the shopping and dining opportunities in Disney Springs with some one-of-a-kind shops and the world’s largest Disney Store!

There’s no shortage of restaurants at Disney Springs! The only limit is the size of your stomach (and the depth of your wallet). Some of our favorite restaurants are in Disney Springs, and you should definitely check out if one (or more) of these fit into your vacation plans!

• Homecomin’ by Chef Art Smith
• Raglan Road
• The BOATHOUSE
• Wine Bar George
• Morimoto Asia

Some of these spots offer amazing weekend brunch menus as well, so you can be flexible with your plans.

But there’s so much to see and do, maybe you just want a quick but quality meal? Well, buckle up because Disney Springs brings their A-Game with quick service options like:

• Earl of Sandwich
• Chicken Guy!
• D-Luxe Burger
• Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza

To satisfy your sweet tooth, Disney Springs has everything from over-the-top donuts, to cookies so good they require a virtual queue, and Dole Whip flights.

• Swirls on the Water
• Gideon’s Bakehouse
• Everglazed Donuts
• Salt & Straw
• Amorette’s Patisserie

If you crave it, Disney Springs has it!

Every Restaurant In Disney Springs And Who Should Go There

Disney resorts.

If you’re spending the money to stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, you may as well make some time to enjoy some of the amenities that you’re paying for, right?

Some come with an extra charge (like spa treatments or horseback riding), but other things you can do for free! Let’s see what some of the resorts have to offer!

Each Disney Resort Hotel has a different theme and story, and some of those amenities are uniquely themed to fit into those environments. All the resorts have pools , gift shops , fun-themed lobbies , dining areas , movies under the stars , and expansive (and immaculate) grounds and jogging trails. Depending on your resort level, you could also have access to fitness centers , lounges or bars , coffee shops , meeting areas , outdoor firepits , and live entertainment .

Visit Fort Wilderness for archery lessons, horseback riding trails, and carriage rides at Tri-Circle D Ranch. Visit Saratoga Springs or the Grand Floridian for spa treatments and  massages.

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Are you looking for a Character Meal for the whole family? A fancy dinner for a date night? Some good ol’ down-home cookin’? An international culinary experience? The best burger you’ve ever eaten? Or do you just want to make a meal out of Instagram-worthy cupcakes?

The Disney Resorts have some of the best dining experiences (yeah, we just said that about Disney Springs… and EPCOT… and Animal Kingdom… and we mean it every time)!

For those magical Character Meals, you can always count on Chef Mickey’s (at the Contemporary Resort), Cape May Cafe (at the Beach Club), and Story Book Dining at Artist Point (at Wilderness Lodge). For incredible steaks, check out Yachtsman Steakhouse (at the Yacht Club), Steakhouse 71 (at the Contemporary), Toledo (at Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs), and Jiko (at Animal Kingdom Lodge).

If you have some big eaters and need an all-you-care-to-enjoy experience, check out Trails End (at Fort Wilderness),  Whispering Canyon (at Wilderness Lodge), Boma (at Animal Kingdom Lodge), and ‘Ohana (at the Polynesian). For a romantic date night, look into Topolino’s Terrace (at the Riviera), Citrico’s (at the Grand Floridian), California Grill (at the Contemporary), and Ale & Compass (at Yacht Club).

For more casual quick service options, some of our go-to’s are:

• Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge
• BoardWalk Deli   at the BoardWalk Inn
• Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary
• Primo Piatto at the Riviera
• Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian
• Capt Cook’s at the Polynesian
• Sassagoula Floatworks at Port Orleans French Quarter
• Geyser Point   at Wilderness Lodge
• Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge

So whether you’re staying at one of these resorts, or just passing through, don’t pass up the opportunity to grab an epic meal at one of these locations!

FULL LIST of Character Dining Restaurants that Are Back to “Normal” in Disney World

PHEW! That’s four perfect park days, plus a bonus day at the Disney Resorts and Disney Springs. So, the hard part is over (the planning part), now comes the fun part — to do it!

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What do your perfect 5 days in Disney look like? Let us know if the comments below!

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2 Replies to “The Best Disney World Itinerary for a 5-Day Trip”

Are the monkeys back at Festival of Lion King? This article and the picture seem to indicate they do, but I thought it was still the shortened version without the best parts?

Hi Lynn! You’ll be happy to know the tumble monkeys are back!

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The best 8-day Disney World itinerary for families

By: Author Heather Thomas

Published: January 25, 2018 Updated: February 4, 2024

It’s all of my favorite things for most families at Disney World, all gathered in a big Disney World itinerary , including where to stay, what to eat and how to tour.

Let’s get started…

In this article

Before you leave on your trip

Write a letter to any character (pick 1 that appears in the parks to be safe) and they’ll send you an autographed postcard in return.

Write as many times as you like, such as once for each child, or to each of your favorite characters. Not everybody receives a response, but many people do, so it doesn’t hurt to try.

Send your letter to the this address:

Walt Disney World Communications P.O. Box 10040 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

Where to stay

There are so many great resorts to choose from. Here are my recommendations in each category.

Value Resorts – Art of Animation or Pop Century

The Art of Animation Resort is the newest value resort and people often pick their section based on which character they like the most.

That makes sense (the rooms/sections are fabulously themed), but be sure to request a specific building so you don’t end up spending half of your vacation walking to get food or to the bus stop .

For a Cars suite, request building 1 with a room near Animation Hall.

For a Lion King suite, request building 10 with a room near Animation Hall.

The Nemo buildings cost a bit extra and either building will work (buildings 4 and 5), but request a room closest to Animation Hall.

Another great Value Resort is Pop Century . I highly recommend paying for an upgraded Preferred Room so you’re closer to the main building.

The rooms are not themed around a character, but the ability to guarantee a good location with a Preferred Room makes it a good option.

Moderate Resort – Port Orleans Riverside

Moderate Resorts are the least appealing to kids since there really isn’t a hook to draw them in.

All of them are perfectly fine, just not quite as “fun” as some of the Values and Deluxes.

I really like Port Orleans Riverside as long as you pay to upgrade to a Preferred Room to reduce loooooong walks.

This resort has both a food court and on-site restaurant, there are carriage rides, and you can take a boat to Disney Springs.

Deluxe Resort – Contemporary Resort or The Polynesian

There are several good options in the Deluxe category.

I’d suggest The Contemporary Resort as one good choice. Not only does it have the monorail going through the building (so cool!) but Chef Mickey’s is located there, you can walk to Magic Kingdom, the Pirate and Pals Fireworks Voyage departs right from the hotel, and you can view Magic Kingdom fireworks and The Electrical Water Pageant right from the resort.

You also have easy access to the other monorail resorts (and you’re a boat ride away from The Wilderness Lodge) which have great restaurants that many families love.

Another attractive option is The Polynesian Resort which is located on the Magic Kingdom monorail, and you can opt to walk to the Epcot monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center as well.

You can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom, enjoy a great pool and restaurants, and view The Electrical Water Pageant and Magic Kingdom fireworks from the hotel.

The itinerary below is just an example. You’ll need to rearrange your days according to the best parks on your days . Many of the things mentioned below are quite popular and should be booked 180 days in advance.

Day 1 – Arrival Day

Yea! After months of counting down the days, your trip is finally here.

Arrive at your resort, get settled and explore your hotel. Head to Chef Mickey’s for dinner to kick off your trip with classic characters and lots of napkin-twirling fun. (This reservation should be made 6 months in advance.)

Take a spin on the monorail and then head back to your resort to get ready for your first day in the parks.

Day 2 – first Magic Kingdom day

Head to Magic Kingdom bright and early for an 8:00 breakfast at Crystal Palace . Arriving before the park opens means a chance to get a great pic with the castle in the background without all of the crowds to clutter your photo. It also means that you won’t miss out on prime touring time (which is between park opening time and lunch).

Another favorite pre-park opening breakfast is at Be Our Guest which is a Quick Service but requires reservations. It’s less expensive and much faster than Table Service options, allowing you to spend less to get into the park early and finish up before the park opens so you can immediately begin touring. Get more info on Be Our Guest reservations .

After breakfast, head to Fantasyland right when the park opens. Have FastPass+ reservations made in advance for Big Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

Be sure to hit these rides:

• Winnie the Pooh
• Journey of the Little Mermaid
• It’s a Small World
• Haunted Mansion
• Big Thunder Mountain with FP+
• Splash Mountain
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Jungle Cruise with FP+
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin

For lunch, you might want a Quick Service lunch after having a big breakfast. Pecos Bills and Columbia Harbour House are good choices that are nearby.

Other good options after lunch:

• Use FP+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Carousel of Progress
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Afternoon parade

In the evening stay for fireworks. There’s a special Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party that allows you unlimited desserts (as long as they last) and prime viewing for fireworks.

The dessert party can be booked just like dining reservations. It is popular so you’ll want to try to do that 180 days in advance.

After fireworks, you may want to consider an Uber or Minnie Van if you aren’t staying at a Magic Kingdom-area resort. Lines can be long and it could take over an hour to get back to your resort.

If you use Uber, the best way to do that is to walk to The Contemporary and get picked up there. If you take a Minnie Van, they can pick you up right in the Magic Kingdom bus stop area.

Visit the Magic Kingdom touring plans to view all of the options for touring Magic Kingdom, including 1 and 2 day options and plans for families with little ones.

Day 3 – Epcot

Arrive at Epcot by 8:15 or 8:30 or so for a 9:00 open time (they usually open up a little early).

Have FastPass+ reservations ahead of time for Frozen Ever After, Turtle Talk with Crush, and Spaceship Earth.

Head to these rides:

• Soarin’
• Living with the Land
• The Seas Pavilion, including Turtle Talk with Crush (use FP+ if needed)
• Mission: Space
• Spaceship Earth with FP+
• Test Track in single rider line (must be at least 7 years old to ride without a parent)
• Frozen Ever After with FP+

One good lunch option is Garden Grill which happens to be my favorite character meal in all of Disney World. The food is delicious and the character interactions are the best I’ve experienced.

After lunch, walk toward the World Showcase to start exploring. Download the Play Disney Parks app or stop by a kiosk to sign up for Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure .

Explore the World Showcase, following the instructions given to you for your adventure. Each country’s tasks can last around 30 minutes so it’s a great way to keep kids busy while exploring the shops and buildings.

As you explore the World Showcase, be sure to do these things:

• Ride Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros in Mexico
• Stop and watch some of the entertainment. Check WDWent.com before your trip and/or use the Times Guide to plan out what you’d like to see.

Around dinnertime, snack your away through the World Showcase or sit down at 1 of the many restaurants to eat. Teppan Edo, Biergarten, and Restaurant Marrakesh are family-friendly restaurants to consider in the World Showcase.

Exit Epcot through the International Gateway (located near the U.K. section), and head to the Boardwalk area to meet your boat at The Beach Club marina to take you on an Illuminations cruise .

These cruises depart 30 minutes before Illuminations is scheduled and take you on a short boat ride and end with a great view of Illuminations as you’re parked under the bridge that connects France and the U.K. sections of the World Showcase. Unlike the cruises near Magic Kingdom, this one actually gives you a prime viewing spot.

These reservations need to be made 6 months in advance.

If you feel up to it, explore the Boardwalk area and then consider getting a taxi or Uber or Minnie Van to get back to your hotel to avoid a really long commute by bus.

Visit the Epcot touring plan page to view all of the Epcot touring plans, including a version for families with little ones.

Day 4 – Hollywood Studios

Arrive at Hollywood Studios by 8:15-8:30 or so.

Make FastPass+ reservations ahead of time for Slinky Dog Dash, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster , and Star Tours.

Do things in this order:

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Tower of Terror
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (use FP+ if necessary)
• Star Tours (use FP+ if necessary)
• Slinky Dog Dash (use FP+)

Options for the rest of the day:

• Star Wars Launch Bay
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• MuppetVision 3D

For your meals, check out these 2 great restaurant options that many families love…

Hollywood and Vine is a buffet restaurant which includes Disney Junior characters for breakfast and Minnie Mouse and pals for lunch and dinner . There are a lot of American dishes and a kids section of the buffet with typical kid-friendly foods.

Another fun restaurant is the Sci-Fi Diner which has guests sitting in “cars” facing a screen. This restaurant is known for their milkshakes.

End your Hollywood Studios day by viewing Fantasmic! and Star Wars fireworks. It’s a great show, but some dark imagery could scare younger children.

Visit the Hollywood Studios touring plan page to view all of the Hollywood Studios touring plans, including a version for families with little ones.

Day 5 – A day outside of the theme parks

Sleep in and then head to Disney Springs to explore lots of activities that kids love.

Day 6 – Animal Kingdom

Arrive at Animal Kingdom by 8:15 or so and then follow this touring plan which includes these things before lunch:

• Na’vi River Journey
• Primeval Whirl (48″ height minimum will exclude many kids)
• DINOSAUR (terrifying for many young kids…and me)
• Triceratop Spin
• Expedition Everest (use FP+ or single rider line to reduce wait times)
• Kali River Rapids

Head to Tusker House for Donald’s Dining Safari Lunch with Donald and Daisy Duck in their safari gear. The menu includes lots of roasted meats, stews and great desserts.

After lunch, head to Kilimanjaro Safaris to use your FastPass+, see Festival of the Lion King , ride Flight of Passage with a FastPass+.

Take a bus from Animal Kingdom to Ft. Wilderness for the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue dinner show which has times at 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

This family-style meal has food that everybody can enjoy and the corny, silly entertainment appeals to all ages. Make these reservations 180 days in advance.

It’s usually difficult to travel between resorts but transportation is provided after the show to get you back to your resort.

If you do an early Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue time, you can head back to Animal Kingdom in the evening to enjoy the park at night, including seeing Rivers of Light and seeing Pandora in the dark which is a totally different experience.

Visit the Animal Kingdom touring plan page to view all of the Animal Kingdom touring plans, including a plan for families with little ones.

Day 7 – Magic Kingdom

Start your second Magic Kingdom day by repeating favorites from your first day and riding Tomorrowland Speedway.

After that…

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (repeatedly, if you like)
• Space Mountain (using FP+)
• See Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

In the evening, leave Magic Kingdom for a fun dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe at The Wilderness Lodge which is just a short boat ride away from Magic Kingdom. This restaurant is super silly. Be sure to ask for extra ketchup, napkins or straws and see what happens.

After dinner, head to The Contemporary for the Pirate and Pals fireworks cruise which departs from The Contemporary. You normally have to be there about 2 hours before fireworks are scheduled so an early dinner reservation would be best so that you can get to the cruise on time and have a bit of an appetite for the snacks provided.

Day 8 – Depart

On your departure day, get your bags packed and head out for 1 last fun event before going home.

Head out for breakfast at ‘Ohana (located at The Polynesian) or Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare.

At ‘Ohana , you’ll see Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and other friends, dressed up in their Hawaiian attire. The breakfast is all-you-can-eat American breakfast plus extra things like Hawaiian pork sausages, Island-style potatoes and Hawaiian breads. Kids are often included in various activities that take place while you eat.

Although 1900 Park Fare is known for their great Cinderella meals, breakfast here includes more general characters like Mary Poppins, Alice & the Mad Hatter, Pooh and others. The breakfast buffet includes custom-made omelets and carved ham along with light and fluffy mini pancakes or Mickey-shaped waffles.

If you’re getting back to the airport using Magical Express , it’ll pick you up 3 hours before your flight so be sure to allow time for that.

Head home with lots of great new family memories made, knowing you’ve experienced the best-of-the-best at Disney World.

Monday 19th of March 2018

I would argue AGAINST an 8 AM crystal palace breakfast. You have to rush and eat and meet all the characters in 47 minutes to go out there and be ready to join the masses for first dibs at Minetrain. Now that the park opens early to ANYONE, makes no sense to me to rush an expensive experience. Just do a lunch.

Saturday 17th of October 2015

This is to help people get an idea of expenses when considering WDW.

We are 2 adults with a 13 year old going to WDW April 9-15 2016. Arriving early on the 9th & leaving late on the 15th. 6 nights standard room at Art of Animation for around $1000. Nemo Pool & Food Court are great here. Regular Dining Plan for 3 (includes 1 Table Service daily) around $1100. 7 day Tixx with Hoppers around $1200. Memory Maker pic package $169. In Sept ’15 we booked the above components for just under $3,600.

Last year’s trip we bought 3 RT Airfares from the NYC area for $600. Hoping to repeat. Renting a car is worth the freedom and extra time it affords us, usually $300. Now we’re at $4500. Add $500+ for souvenirs, tips for TS meals, etc… ALL costs = $5,000, not to exceed $5,300.

You can do this a little cheaper during “value” seasons. But the trade-offs are shorter park hours, closures/refurbishments, less daylight & iffy weather among others. 2015 had many unexpected record crowds during value seasons. Since we’re spending for a premium vacation, why not pay a small percentage more to enjoy WDW at it’s best?

Plus, we arrive during Epcot Flower Festival, very exciting. Those world “tastings” only count as snack credits on the Dining Plan. Woo Hoo! 180+ADR allowed us to get every exact TS reservation we wanted. Except HS Fantasmic dinner, which WDW hasn’t confirmed for March or April ’16 yet?

Tuesday 13th of October 2015

I have been planning an 8-10 trip for my family of 3. I was worried about my touring plan until I read this and it was almost IDENTICAL to what I have already planned!

Saturday 29th of August 2015

We are planning a family vacation for 8/27/16 - 9/4/16. Do you think are chance of getting the meal plan are high and do you have an estimate of when it will be released? Thank you!!!

Friday 24th of July 2015

Hello! I am excited to find your fabulous site, as we will go to WDW for our first trip ever in October 2015! We just made the decision, so I am already feeling a little stressed that we'll miss some opportunities that should have been booked months ago. QUESTIONS: (1) Should I use an authorized WDW travel agent, due to the time factor? (2) Does your agenda above still apply to 2015 - asking since I've read there are changes with the inclusion of the Magic Band and fast passes. It does seem you've included those things but I want to make sure (my head is swimming with info overload already!). Many thanks from a gal in Dallas, TX!

Vanessa Williams

Monday 10th of August 2015

If you are staying on property - def book through a Disney travel agent. Their service is free and they will get you the best deals and can aid in all of your reservations. I think this is a solid plan and still applies to 2015 with very minor adjustments. You will have a wonderful time! Have fun!

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2024 Ultimate Packing List for Disney World (Complete Packing List)

Spread The Word

Ever felt that pre-vacation stress? You know, when you’re trying to fit everything into your suitcase and praying it doesn’t explode?

I’ve been there.

But get this:

You can eliminate that stress when you’re embarking on the most magical journey of all, a Disney vacation.

How, you ask?

With the Ultimate Disney Packing List.

This list is your golden ticket to breeze through your packing process, maximizing fun and minimizing hassle.

Isn’t packing for the whole family a nightmarish chore?

How will you remember all the essential items? And what if you forget something critical at home?

Relax. We’ve got you covered.

Questions like:

• What do you need to take to the Disney World theme parks?
• How can you make your trip to Central Florida more convenient?
• Are there any under-the-radar hacks, and what can you learn from them?

And many more will be answered right here.

So, if you’re ready for a magical vacation that starts right at your home, and not just when you reach the Walt Disney World Resort, stick around. We’re diving into the adventure of packing like never before.

Before diving in, join our new private Facebook group, the Disney Park Advisor Community, to get insider advice on what you need for your trip. Click here to join now !

All Aboard the Essentials Express: Packing Must-Haves for Disney

Your heart is pounding, your mind is whirling, and your palms might even be a little sweaty. Why? Because you’re embarking on an epic Disney journey, that’s why! But before we dive headfirst into the world of magical castles and enchanting characters, we need to take a pit stop at the station of practicality: your Disney Packing List.

First up, we have the heart of any vacation wardrobe: clothing items .

• Comfortable walking shoes: Now, these aren’t just any shoes. These are your longest lasting, most comfortable, most enduring running shoes responsible for carrying you from Adventureland to Tomorrowland, ready to take on countless miles (and miles and miles) of Disney magic.
• Lightweight clothing: Picture yourself under the golden Orlando sun, surrounded by the buzzing excitement of Disney. Breathable clothes will be your best ally, keeping you cool and comfy.
• Sweatshirt or light jacket: The Florida days may be warm, but the nights can hold a touch of chill. A layer for the evenings ensures you’re toasty during that late-night fireworks display.
• Cargo shorts: Not just a fashion statement, but also a lifesaver with pockets aplenty. Ideal for stashing away those Mickey ears or an autograph book.
• Swimsuit: Whether you’re making a splash at Blizzard Beach or lounging by the resort pool, a swimsuit is a must-have for those water-filled adventures.

Onto toiletries .

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss: It’s hard to smile with Mickey in the picture if you’ve got lunch stuck in your teeth. Dental essentials ensure your grin stays as dazzling as Cinderella’s castle.
• Razor, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash: After a day of thrill rides and character meet-ups, you’ll want to refresh and reset. These toiletries will have you feeling like you’ve just stepped out of a fairy tale spa.
• Deodorant: A full day at the Happiest Place on Earth can work up a sweat. Stay fresh and confident while you’re maneuvering through the Magic Kingdom.
• Sunscreen: Shield yourself from those powerful rays with a strong SPF. Remember, a happy vacationer is a sun-safe vacationer.

Can’t forget our important documents .

• ID: From hotel check-ins to adult beverages in Epcot, proving you’re you is essential.
• Credit card: For those irresistible Disney merch moments, you’ll want this handy. Who can resist a plushie Stitch, anyway?
• Insurance cards: While we hope your trip is as smooth as a Peter Pan flight, it’s crucial to be prepared for life’s little hiccups.
• Disney passes/tickets: Your passport to a world of enchantment. Guard these with your life (or at least with a sturdy lanyard).

Finally, we’re onto food .

• Water bottles: Hydration is the name of the game. Between hearty laughs and exciting attractions, keeping your thirst at bay is paramount.
• Snacks: Picture this: You’re halfway through the queue for Space Mountain when your stomach starts to rumble. A handy snack will keep those hunger pangs at bay until your next Dole Whip .
• Gum: Disney doesn’t sell it, so if you like a minty-fresh mouth, pack your own. Plus, it helps with those ear-popping plane rides.

Fashioning the Magic: Your Ultimate Disney Outfit Guide

Are you feeling a tingle of anticipation yet? It’s that ‘just-stepped-into-the-Magic-Kingdom’ feeling mixed with the thrill of being on the verge of crafting the perfect Disney wardrobe. So let’s not hold the suspense any longer. Fasten your seatbelts as we dive into the fantastical realm of Disney outfits, where comfort meets style.

Let’s start with the question on everyone’s lips: “Should I wear jeans to Disney?”

• Jeans: Now, jeans are a trusty classic, always ready to deliver on the style and comfort front (I love my 501s). However, they may not be your best pick for Disney. Florida weather tends to lean towards the “I’m in a raging sauna” kind of hot, which jeans may make unbearable. Instead, consider opting for something lighter and more breathable.

Now onto the unsung hero of vacation wardrobes: shorts .

• Shorts: Ah, the relief of a cool breeze on a hot day, thanks to your faithful shorts. They’re versatile, comfortable, and perfect for those high-thrill rides (no fabric sticking to your legs here!). And remember, cargo shorts offer a stylish and practical solution to carry around your Disney essentials.

Diving into the subject of Disney dress code , let’s demystify a few things.

• Dress code: While Disney encourages dressing up to add to the magical atmosphere, remember, this isn’t the Oscars. Dress for comfort, and you’re already winning. However, there are a few rules to keep in mind: no masks for adults (you’re not fooling anyone, Mr. Undercover-Buzz-Lightyear), and keep your attire family-friendly. Leave the risky humor t-shirts at home, folks!

Transitioning now to a favorite topic for many: Disneybounding .

• Disneybounding: This is the art of dressing in an outfit inspired by a Disney character without wearing a full costume (trust me, you don’t want to be mistaken for a cast member). Think green top and purple shorts for an Ariel look, or a red polka dot dress for a Minnie Mouse vibe. It’s a fun way to immerse yourself in the Disney experience and get some epic photos.

Lastly, let’s talk about the one item that can make or break your Disney adventure: footwear .

• Footwear: Remember, Disney isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Your shoes need to carry you from the first magical moment right up to the closing fireworks. Choose footwear that’s comfortable, sturdy, and ready to tackle anything from wandering through Animal Kingdom to braving the Tower of Terror.

Pack Like a Pro: Your Guide to Navigating Disney’s Bag Policy

So, you’ve mastered the art of crafting the perfect Disney wardrobe. But now you’re facing the daunting task of deciding what bag to bring to Disney . It’s like standing in front of the mirror, ready to take on the day, and then realizing you’ve got to pick the perfect accessory. Well, don’t worry, we’re about to untangle this puzzle together.

First and foremost, let’s address the elephant in the room: the dreaded “bag into Disney” policy.

• Bag Policy: Good news – Disney doesn’t require you to adopt the minimalist lifestyle. You CAN bring bags into the parks. But there are a few rules (yes, even in the happiest place on earth). The size limit is 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high (think: slightly larger than your average backpack, but smaller than a Yeti). No suitcases, coolers or backpacks with wheels – remember, you’re not moving in!

Next up, let’s address the age-old debate: “purse or backpack to Disney?”

• Purse vs. Backpack: Think about your planned activities. If you’ll be jumping on and off rides, a backpack might be your best friend. And if you’re the designated family pack mule (we’ve all been there), a backpack will save your shoulders from the ‘one-sided-bag-drag’ blues. On the other hand, if your day is more about Disneybound photos and less about Space Mountain, a cute Disney-themed purse could be your perfect accessory.

Maybe you’re considering the “clear bags” option.

• Clear Bags: If speed is your priority, a clear bag can be a smart choice. Security can breeze through these babies faster than Aladdin on his magic carpet! Just be mindful that everyone can see what’s in your bag. (Keep those embarrassing items hidden away, folks!)

Now let’s chat about the versatility of the “small backpack to Disney.”

• Small Backpack: You might be tempted to bring your biggest hiking backpack, but remember, you’re not embarking on a wilderness expedition. A small backpack offers enough space for your essentials without weighing you down.

Finally, let’s talk about what to pack in your bag .

• Water: Staying hydrated is crucial, especially in the Florida heat.
• Snacks: Bring your favorite nibbles for when hunger strikes in between meal times. Just be sure they’re non-perishable.
• Sunscreen: The sun in Disney can be intense. Don’t let sunburn ruin your magical day.
• Sunglasses: Protect your eyes and enjoy the view without squinting.
• Ponchos/Raincoats: Florida weather can be unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden showers.
• Wallet: Containing your ID, credit/debit cards, and cash.
• Park Tickets/Passes: If you have physical tickets that aren’t on your phone you’ll want to make sure they’re stashed securely in your park bag.
• Mobile Phone: You’ll want to capture those memories, check the park app, or contact family members if you get separated.
• Portable Charger: Don’t let your phone die in the middle of a fun-filled day.
• Hand Sanitizer: Keeping those hands clean is always a good idea.
• First Aid Supplies: Basic supplies like band-aids, pain relievers, and any necessary personal medication.
• Autograph Book and Pen: In case you bump into your favorite characters.
• Spare Change of Clothes: Especially for kids, or if you plan to go on water rides.
• Wet Wipes: Useful for quick clean-ups and refreshing during the day.
• Baby Supplies: If you’re traveling with a baby, remember diapers, wipes, baby food, etc.
• Park Map/Guide: Even in the digital age, these can be handy.
• Reusable Shopping Bag: For any Disney merchandise you pick up during the day.
• Travel-Size Tissues: Always handy for any little spills or sniffles.
• Hats: Extra sun protection and, well, it’s Disney – perhaps those Mickey ears are in order!
• Glow Sticks or Light-Up Toys: Fun for night parades and shows, and often cheaper to bring than buy in the park.

To Bring or Not to Bring: Navigating the Dos and Don’ts of Disney Packing

Sure, Disney is all about magic, but there’s a science behind what you can and can’t bring in. Yep, even the Happiest Place on Earth has rules. Don’t worry, though, we’ll break it down for you, item by item. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Permitted Items: The Magic Kit

Here’s your quick and easy checklist of items you’re allowed to bring to Disney:

• Food and Drink: Thinking about bringing snacks into Disney World? Well, good news, you can! But there are some rules. Your picnic can’t require heating or refrigeration, and glass containers aren’t allowed (except for baby food). So, pack those sandwiches, but leave the gourmet cheese platter at home.
• Strollers: If you’re traveling with young children, you’re in luck. Strollers are a go, as long as they’re not larger than 31″ (79cm) in width and 52″ (132cm) in length. Yep, even Disney strollers have to fit through the castle door.
• Wheelchairs and Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs): Absolutely allowed, because Disney magic is for everyone. You can bring your own, or rent them at the park.
• Service Animals: Disney welcomes those furry friends that help guests with disabilities. Just be aware, they must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times.
• Cameras, Mobile Phones, and Portable Chargers: In the digital age, how else are you going to capture and share your magical memories? Just remember, selfie sticks extend beyond the realms of Disney’s allowance (more on that later).
• Collapsible Tripods and Monopods: They’re okay to bring, as long as they fit in a standard backpack and aren’t extended when you move through the park.

Prohibited Items: Leave the Magic Wand at Home

Now, onto what you can’t bring into Disney:

• Selfie Sticks: They may be fantastic for capturing your best angles, but in Disney, they’re a no-go. Seems they’re not fans of things extending into people’s magical experiences (and possibly their faces).
• Alcoholic Beverages: Disney provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy adult beverages within the park. So, leave your flask at home, folks.
• Weapons of Any Kind: This one’s a no-brainer. The only dueling happening in Disney should be with lightsabers and under supervision.
• Folding Chairs: You’ll find plenty of places to sit and rest within the parks. After all, you’re there to enjoy the attractions, not a parking lot tailgate.
• Drones: Even if you’ve got the latest whizzy drone with an Apple Air Tag, it’ll have to sit this trip out. Unless you’re Tinker Bell, flying objects are a no-go.
• Large Tripods and Monopods: We mentioned that small, collapsible ones are okay. But anything bigger that doesn’t fit in a standard backpack? Leave it with the giants in the fairy tales.
• Glass Containers (except baby food): Glass slippers might be iconic in Cinderella’s story, but glass containers aren’t allowed in Disney (except for baby food jars).

Quenching Queries: Your Guide to Hydration and Refreshments at Disney

Understanding what beverages you can bring, where you can refill your water bottles, and the cost of drinks within the park is essential when planning your packing list for Disney. This knowledge can directly impact what you decide to pack in terms of hydration supplies and cash or cards for purchasing refreshments. Ultimately, it’s all part of ensuring you’re well-prepared for your day in the park.

Earlier we mentioned the importance of packing a water bottle for your Disney adventure. But there’s more to know about staying hydrated and enjoying drinks at Disney. From the ins and outs of water refill stations to how much that Coke will cost you, let’s cover it all. Ready to quench your curiosity? Let’s delve deeper.

Refill Water Bottles at Disney World: The Lowdown

You’ve decided to bring a reusable water bottle to Disney. Great move! But where can you refill it? Here’s where:

• Water Fountains: These are conveniently located all over the parks. They’re free, they’re clean, and they’re more than happy to help you stay hydrated.
• Quick-Service Restaurants: Every quick-service restaurant in Disney will gladly fill up your bottle with refreshing iced water, free of charge. It’s a win for your budget and your hydration levels.
• Baby Care Centers: If you’re traveling with little ones, these facilities provide filtered water, perfect for filling up bottles or sippy cups.

Pricing for Drinks at Disney: A Quick Overview

Disney might be a magical place, but the prices for drinks remind us that we’re still firmly in reality. Here’s what to expect:

• Coca-Cola Products: A standard 20-ounce bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, or Sprite will cost around $4.50. Not the cheapest, but you’re paying for the convenience and familiar taste.
• Water Bottles: If you need to buy water, Disney’s own 20-ounce Dasani water bottles also come in at about $4.50. It might seem pricey, but it’s a small price to pay for staying hydrated if you’ve forgotten your refillable bottle.
• Coffee, Tea, and Other Beverages: Prices for these drinks can vary based on where you buy them, but you’ll likely pay somewhere between $3.00 – $5.00.
• Alcoholic Beverages: Remember, you can’t bring your own alcohol into Disney. As for buying inside the park, beers start around $7.00 and cocktails usually range from $10.00 – $15.00.

Staying hydrated at Disney is crucial, but with a little planning (and a handy refillable water bottle), you can manage it without draining your wallet. And remember, every dollar saved on drinks is a dollar you can spend on that must-have Disney souvenir.

Timing Is Everything: When to Start Packing and Crafting Your Disney Day Plan

So, you’ve started preparing for your trip to Disney World. Exciting, isn’t it? But hold on, we’re not on Space Mountain yet! Let’s go over when to start packing and how to plan your day at Disney to avoid any Goofy-sized mishaps (because while we love Goofy, we don’t want our trip to be, well… goofy).

When Should You Start Packing for Disney?

The clock is ticking, and with every passing second, Disney’s castle gets a little closer. The question now is, “When should I start packing for Disney?” To make sure you’re ready for every scenario (yes, even impromptu rain showers), here’s what you need to do:

• Two Weeks Out: Start with a checklist of everything you need – from the essentials we’ve already discussed (clothing, toiletries, food) to the specifics we’ll get into later. This gives you ample time to buy anything missing from your luggage.
• One Week Out: This is when you start the actual packing. Begin with the items you won’t need in the immediate future. Think extra underwear and Disney-themed shirts.
• A Day or Two Before: Pack the items you use regularly but can’t live without for a few days. Remember those toiletries?

Time to Leave for Disney World: Scheduling the D-Day

You’ve got your luggage ready, and now you’re wondering, “What time should I leave for Disney World?” As the sun creeps over the horizon, you should be ready to hit the road (or the skies) and embark on your magical adventure.

• Start Early: The early bird gets the best spot for the parade. Get to the park as soon as it opens. The queues are shorter, the weather cooler, and the photos better with fewer photobombers.
• Plan Breaks: Factor in breaks throughout the day. Disney is a marathon, not a sprint. Hydrate and refuel regularly, so you don’t end up zonked out by the time the fireworks start.
• End With a Bang: Try to stay till the end if you can. The nighttime shows are not to be missed. Plus, the parks are less crowded, and the queues shorter.

Mastering the Magic: Your Time-Saving Guide to Disney

So you’ve got your Disney packing list sorted (high five!). Now you’re probably wondering: “How on Earth do I see and do everything at Disney in one day?” Well, strap on your Mickey ears, because we’re about to dive into how to maximize your time at the Happiest Place on Earth.

• Get to Know the Land: Knowing your Disney geography is a time-saver like no other. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the park’s layout before you visit. This way, you’ll know exactly where you’re heading when you step through those magical gates.
• Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize: It’s impossible to cover every nook and cranny of Disney World in one day. So, make a list of your must-visit attractions. Prioritize based on what you and your family want to see most (Elsa from Frozen, anyone?).
• Use FastPasses Wisely: Disney’s FastPass system can be a real game-changer. It helps you to bypass long lines and save precious time. So make sure to snag these for your top attractions early on.
• Beat the Rush: Aim to be at the parks as early as possible. Lines are shorter in the morning (less time waiting = more time enjoying).
• Plan Your Meals: During our earliest visits, we didn’t plan my meals and ended up wasting a lot of time trying to find somewhere to eat, not to mention the time spent waiting in line. So, pack some snacks and plan your meal times.
• Take Breaks: This might sound counterintuitive, but taking breaks actually helps. It refreshes you and keeps the energy levels high for the whole day.

Remember, trying to finish Disney World in one day is a tough mission, but with smart planning, it’s entirely achievable.

The Last Minute Marvels: Overlooked Items for Your Disney Packing List

You’ve probably packed the obvious: the sunscreen, the map, and the indomitable will to conquer every ride. But it’s always the little things that make a trip from good to fantastic, right? Buckle up, as we’re about to unravel a list of overlooked items that can drastically level up your Disney experience.

Chargers and Portable Power Banks: Ever had your phone die right as you were taking the perfect photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle? Save yourself the anguish. Pack extra chargers and power banks.

Credit Card and Traveler’s Cheques or Cash: While Mickey and his pals accept cards, having some hard cash on hand for the odd cash-only spots is a smart move. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on a tasty treat from a pop-up stand, would you?

Chargers and Portable Power Banks: The heart-wrenching moment when your phone dies right as you’re capturing the perfect castle selfie is avoidable. Pack extra chargers and power banks to keep your devices juiced up all day long.

Credit Card and Cash: Despite being the happiest place on Earth, not all corners of Disney accept cards. Some cash on hand for the occasional cash-only vendor will ensure you don’t miss out on any magical opportunities.

Apple Air Tags: An AirTag on your stroller or backpack might sound over-the-top, but in the sea of Disney crowds, you’ll thank your forward-thinking self for this tracking hero.

Sewing Kit: A popped button or a torn seam doesn’t have to disrupt your day. With a small sewing kit on hand, you can quickly mend and move on.

Sound Machine: Disney’s excitement can follow you back to your hotel room, making it tough to wind down. A sound machine can provide soothing sounds to help you get a good night’s rest for another exciting day ahead.

Pen Flashlights: Need to navigate through your backpack in a dark theater or find a lost item under your seat? These compact, handy lights can save the day.

Reusable Straws: Many locations at Disney are switching to paper straws. Bring reusable ones if you prefer something more durable for your beverages.

Waterproof Case: Florida weather is unpredictable. A waterproof case can protect your phone and other valuables from sudden downpours or wet rides.

Pack Less, Play More: Your Ultimate Disney Packing List Hack

Looking at your overflowing suitcase and thinking, “This isn’t going to work.”? Buckle up, because we’re about to shift gears. You’re not just prepping for a vacation, you’re gearing up for a Disney world vacation. The stakes are high, the magic is real, and your packing game needs to be at its absolute best.

Ready for the plot twist? Make Amazon your secret weapon. Yes, that’s right. You don’t need to stuff every nook and cranny of your suitcase. Here’s what you can order for local delivery or sent directly to your Disney resort:

• Bottled water: Hydration is key for a fun-filled park day. Why waste space when you can have a pack waiting for you upon arrival?
• Snacks: Packing your own snacks? Great idea. Getting them delivered to your resort? Even better. More Ziploc bags for you, less suitcase space wasted.
• Baby wipes: The unsung hero of any trip, especially when young kids are involved. Order a pack. Your future self will thank you.
• Funky fanny pack: It’s not just a bag, it’s a fashion statement. Have it sent directly to your room.

In my personal experience, this strategy is a game-changer. And let me tell you , it’s a time and space saver.

Now, let’s move to the Magic Bands . I get it, you love them. You want different colors for every mood. But guess what? You can order them directly to your hotel too! Lighter suitcase, happier you.

Don’t fight the weather, embrace it. If the forecast suggests rainy days, don’t rush to pack your rain jacket. Order one online, get it sent to your resort. It’s like magic… minus the pixie dust.

First Aid is a must. Yes, Disney parks have first aid stations, but a small personal kit never hurts. A few band-aids, some lip balm for the harsh Florida sun, and voila!

Now, let’s talk swimwear . Perhaps you fancy a day at Disney’s water parks. Don’t jam an extra suit “just in case”. Pack the essentials, buy the rest on-site. Trust me, the Disney gift shops won’t disappoint.

If you’re traveling with young kids, the baby carrier is your best friend. But they’re bulky, and heavy. So why not rent one from the resort or nearby service instead? It’s easy, convenient, and most importantly, light.

Remember, your Disney World trip doesn’t have to start with packing stress . Be smart, plan ahead, and save space where you can.

Join the Disney Park Advisor Community group to connect with other Disney fans and get tips and advice and share your own Disney experiences. Simply click the link below to request membership and become a part of our community.

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How To Visit Disney World In 2 Days

Posted on Published: 05/07/2024

Although I am a Disney fan and have visited the parks many times over the past few years, I still find visiting to be a bit overwhelming. With four theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, and countless hotels, there’s so much to see and do.

Even with a longer vacation, it can be challenging to plan a trip that includes all of your must-dos. If you only have two days to visit, it will be even more difficult. But, even if you only have two days to visit Walt Disney World, you’ll need to be more thoughtful in your planning.

This post offers our best tips for how to visit Walt Disney World in two days.

Disclosure: I’ve been on some complimentary and discounted trips to Walt Disney World, but have also paid my own way. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.

When booking your Walt Disney World vacation, consider purchasing through our affiliate Get Away Today . They offer great prices on tickets and can book many hotels.

Set Your Expectations

If you want to visit Disney World over two days, it’s important to set your expectations properly. There is no way that you can see and do everything. These are large, busy parks, with many rides, shows, shops, and restaurants.

Understand that while you won’t be able to see everything that the parks offer, you can still have a great time over these two days. You aren’t meant to see everything at Disney in one visit, regardless of how long you have.

Get the Right Tickets

When you purchase Walt Disney World tickets , you’ll see that there are a variety of options to choose from. In addition to the number of days, you’ll also be able to choose to add on the park hopper option and the two water parks.

For your two-day visit, you’ll need to decide if you want to see all four theme parks, or would prefer to prioritize two parks. Before making this decision, you can look at the attractions offered at each park and decide which ones are best for your vacation. While my family loves EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (if we have to choose two parks), you may prefer to visit the Magic Kingdom if you are first-time guests or you have little children.

If you do want to visit all four theme parks over the two days, you will need to be very thoughtful in your visit. You’ll also need to get a park hopper ticket. That’s the only way that you’ll be able to visit more than one park per day. The park hopper is added to every day of your multi-day ticket.

Know that you won’t be able to see everything in the parks, and set expectations with your family. Young kids may be confused about why they must leave a park (especially the Magic Kingdom) if they haven’t seen everything.

Plan Two Full Days

For this short trip, it’s a good idea to plan for two long days. While you will be tired, it’s the best option for seeing and doing as much as possible.

We recommend starting at rope drop which is the Disney way of saying right at the park opening. The rope that the cast members hold blocking the entrance is past security, the turnstiles, and the park entrance, so you want to arrive before the posted opening time in the early morning.

It’s also a good idea to check the park calendar. Sometimes there are special events, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party, which can cause the park to close earlier. Guests need a separate ticket to these events.

Consider Genie+, Individual Lightning Lane, and Virtual Queues

Genie+ is an add-on that can be purchased separately. While it’s completely optional, Genie+ can be a great way to save time, because you’ll be given a time window to return to an attraction and go through the lightning lane.

At Walt Disney World, Genie+ can be added at midnight on the day of your visit. Pricing varies based on demand, and Genie+ can and does sell out. Once you have Genie+ on your ticket, you can reserve your first lightning lane at 7 am.

Lightning lanes are available at popular attractions at each park. However, the most popular attractions utilize the individual lightning lane system, which is separate from Genie+. The individual lightning lane is a separate cost and is available to purchase individually.

Currently, the individual lightning lane is available for several attractions. These include:

• TRON (the Magic Kingdom)
• Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train (the Magic Kingdom)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
• Avatar: Flight of Passage (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)

You may also want to take advantage of the free Disney Genie system. The Disney Genie (without the +) is a free system that can also be helpful when trying to maximize your time. With the Disney Genie, you’ll input all of your preferred experiences and the system will help determine the best times to visit those experiences.

The virtual queue system is another free way to maximize your time. This is currently available for two attractions, TRON and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

With Virtual Queue, you’ll go online at a specific time and request a virtual queue position. Then, you can return to the attraction when your boarding group is called. While you aren’t guaranteed short wait times, you likely won’t see long lines.

Currently, virtual queues open at 7 am and again at 1 pm. You must be in the park where the ride is located to access the 1 pm virtual queue. You can’t choose your return window, you’ll just be assigned a boarding group number.

Regardless of which of these options you choose, it’s important to make a plan. Look at the lists of attractions, and talk with your family in advance to determine what you’ll want to do for your two-day trip to Walt Disney World.

Utilize Mobile Ordering and Quick Service Dining

Walt Disney World offers so many great restaurants, including some fantastic character dining experiences. However, for a two-day trip, you may consider skipping these.

Of course, if your child has a favorite character, or if you want to experience one of these restaurants, then you absolutely should do that. However, you can save time and money by choosing instead to eat at quick-service restaurants.

The Walt Disney World My Disney Experience app offers mobile ordering, which you should use. With mobile ordering, you will skip the ordering queue and instead order and pay on the app. You’ll get a return time, and can just go to the mobile order area and pick up your food.

Must-Visit Rides

Everyone’s list of must-visit rides and attractions is going to vary, but we have some of the most popular rides (and our favorite attractions):

The Magic Kingdom

• it’s a small world
• Space Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• The Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Frozen Ever After
• Test Track (temporarily closing in summer 2024)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Soarin’
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• The Rock N Roller Coaster (currently closed for refurbishment)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Expedition Everest
• Flight of Passage
• Kali River Rapids

Stay Nearby

For your two-day Walt Disney World experience, it can be beneficial to stay on the property. Not only will you be nearby, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of early entry.

Guests of on-property hotels (as well as a few other, nearby hotels ), can enter the parks 30 minutes before other guests. This can give you a big advantage in riding a few attractions before the lines get longer.

Have you visited Walt Disney World over two days?

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18 Best Disney World Hotels for an Extra-magical Vacation

Wondering where to stay at Disney World? From iconic Disney hotels to luxurious off-property resorts, these are the best hotels near Disney World.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

When Disney World first opened 50 years ago, the resort had just one theme park and two hotels. Today, the massive resort complex is home to more than 20 themed Walt Disney World hotels and four of the world's most popular theme parks. As Travel + Leisure 's on-staff theme park expert and a frequent Disney World visitor, I've stayed at over 10 Disney resorts and visited countless others spanning every budget, style, and location to determine the top picks for every traveler. With that in mind, planning a Disney World vacation might seem overwhelming, but don't worry — we've rounded up 18 of the best hotels near Disney World to help you get started.

First, you'll need to decide if you want to stay at an official Disney World hotel or a nearby property. "Staying at a Disney resort is literally staying in the magic," says Sue Pisaturo, president and founder of Small World Vacations. There are lots of perks to staying on property; as Pisaturo explains, "You'll be treated to unparalleled, legendary Disney service, convenient transportation to the theme parks, extra time in the parks, an array of shopping and dining options including select character meals, themed pools for an easy afternoon break, and fun recreational activities. "

Before you book a room, there are a few things you should know about Disney World hotels. Disney categorizes their on-site hotels and resorts as Deluxe, Deluxe Villas, Moderate, Value, and Campgrounds. All Disney resorts offer benefits including complimentary transportation to the theme parks , early park entry, and, of course, Disney-level theming and service, as Pisaturo mentioned. Deluxe properties tend to be the most expensive, the closest to the theme parks (although this isn't always the case), and the most luxurious. Guests staying at a resort in the Deluxe category can enjoy extended nighttime hours in the theme parks, too. There are also area hotels that are not owned by Disney, like the Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria, that offer some of the same perks found at Disney hotels.

From safari-inspired luxury hotels to guest-favorite properties celebrating 50 years of magical memories, here are 18 of the best Disney World hotels.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Start each day by greeting giraffes, zebras, and other animals when you stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge . With an African safari feel, this resort offers an experience unlike anything found elsewhere in the United States. The Deluxe resort is located near Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, but it feels like it's part of the park thanks to the animal programs and savanna-view rooms. Other on-site amenities include themed pools and unique dining experiences showcasing African flavors. I've stayed at this hotel several times in the past three years alone, and it is consistently great — the magic of waking up to the sight of a giraffe outside your window truly never gets old.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

One of two Disney World hotels dating back to the theme park resort's opening 50 years ago, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is a guest favorite, loved for its Polynesian-inspired design and proximity to Magic Kingdom Park. The Polynesian Village Resort has great dining options: Trader Sam's Grog Grotto (a personal favorite) serves up tiki drinks with a touch of Disney magic, Dole Whips are available at Pineapple Lanai, and guests rave about the breakfast and dinner at 'Ohana. Visiting the theme parks is easy thanks to the Deluxe hotel's monorail stop, and you can even spot the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach. Recent additions include overwater bungalows and "Moana"-themed guest rooms.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

With decor inspired by the country's majestic national park lodges, Disney's Wilderness Lodge offers rustic luxury with comfortable rooms and lots of character. The Deluxe resort provides boat transportation to Magic Kingdom (and bus transportation to other parks), as well as several eateries with crowd-pleasing American menus. Themed pools and outdoor areas that draw inspiration from U.S. national parks give this Disney World hotel a unique atmosphere you won't find elsewhere.

Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Nautical and sophisticated, Disney's Yacht Club Resort offers easy access to both Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios — both a short walk, boat ride, or Skyliner trip away. This Deluxe resort has one of the best pools at Disney World: Stormalong Bay is a three-acre themed pool area with a lazy river, waterslide, and more. Like its name implies, the resort has an old-school New England yacht club theme that is elegant without feeling stuffy, and it has great views of the charming BoardWalk Inn across the lake. I've stayed here once, and it's at the top of my list for my next Disney World trip thanks to its upscale theming and prime location.

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney's Contemporary Resort opened over 50 years ago, and guests still love its iconic A-frame main tower. The modern Deluxe resort has a fantastic location — the monorail runs right through the middle of the hotel, and you can walk to Magic Kingdom Park — and plenty of great amenities, including fun pools and fantastic views. California Grill is a guest-favorite restaurant, and Chef Mickey's offers a character breakfast that's the perfect start to a Disney-filled day. The resort got some updates just in time for Disney World's 50th anniversary , including a new dining venue, Steakhouse 71, and reimagined guest rooms with a theme inspired by "The Incredibles." Over the past 20 years, I've stayed here over five times, most recently in April 2023, so this resort has tons of happy memories for me. I stayed in a club-level room during my recent trip, which provided access to the lounge where guests can enjoy free snacks (we had sushi, charcuterie, and more!) and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts

Like a few other properties on this list, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts aren't Disney-owned properties, but their close proximity to the parks and on-site Disney resort benefits make them worth checking out. Plus, Marriott Bonvoy members will be happy to know that they can earn (or use) points here because these are Marriott-managed hotels. Guests can enjoy perks like early entry and extended hours at Disney parks and complimentary transportation (you can even walk to Hollywood Studios or Epcot from these hotels). These hotels offer a range of suites and guest rooms, plus, the new Walt Disney World Swan Reserve offers an even more upscale vibe and fresh design.

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure

Checking into Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa feels like stepping into a seaside Victorian resort (with a sprinkle of Disney flair, of course). "If you're looking for the most elegant, top-of-the-line hotel - Disney's Grand Floridian, a Deluxe resort, is the jewel in the crown," says Pisaturo. This lovely Deluxe resort is just one stop away from Magic Kingdom Park on the monorail, and you can see the nighttime fireworks or the Electrical Water Pageant for a magical end to a day at the theme parks. From the resort, you can walk (or take the monorail) to the Magic Kingdom, hop on the monorail to Epcot, or grab the buses to the other Disney parks. There are several dining options, including a "Beauty and the Beast"-themed lounge, Enchanted Rose, plus pools, a spa, and more. Fine dining restaurant Victoria & Albert's reopened in 2022, and upscale American eatery Narcoossee's just reopened this spring.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

Tucked away in a picturesque residential setting, yet just a short drive from the Disney World theme parks, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort offers five-star luxury with upscale accommodations, an outstanding food and beverage program, and incredible amenities. The AAA Five Diamond resort has a beautifully landscaped family pool complex with waterslides and a lazy river, plus an adults-only pool oasis (a rarity at Disney World). From the calming spa to the Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando to the Michelin-starred rooftop Capa steakhouse and lounge, adults will love the luxe amenities. Plus, the Kids for All Seasons program offers supervised children's activities, so parents can enjoy some much-needed alone time. And there's plenty on property for Disney fans, too, including a character breakfast, rooms with views of the theme parks and nightly fireworks, and perks like early entry to the Disney parks. I personally loved the luxe amenities and relaxed ambiance at this resort when I stayed there in September 2021 — read my review of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando to learn more about this standout property.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Since its refurbishment and the addition of the Gran Destino Tower, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort has become one of the top choices in the Moderate resort category. Located near Disney's Animal Kingdom, this Spanish-, Mexican-, and American Southwest-inspired hotel has one of the best pools on property, with a 50-foot pyramid centerpiece and a 123-foot waterslide (the resort also has the largest hot tub at Walt Disney World, plus three other pools spread across its sprawling grounds). We recommend staying in the Gran Destino Tower for easy access to the restaurants and resort transportation — with nearly 2,000 rooms spread out in many buildings across the resort, some are a bit of a walk from the main tower. I've stayed at Coronado Springs a couple of times, and I think it offers very solid value for the price. I really enjoyed rooftop restaurant Toledo — Tapas, Steak, & Seafood and Dahlia Lounge, which offer upscale Spanish flavors with a great view.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Located in the Bonnet Creek area near the Disney theme parks and Disney Springs, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando offers a luxe stay with perks like transportation to the parks, early theme park entry, and rooms with theme park views. The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, award-winning Bull & Bear restaurant, Waldorf Astoria Spa, and beautiful pools are among the amenities that make this a top choice for a hotel near Disney World.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

With hotel areas themed to "Finding Nemo," "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," and "Cars," Disney's Art of Animation Resort is ideal for families with young kids (and nostalgic adult guests). This Value resort offers great bang for your buck — guests can take advantage of bus and Skyliner transportation to the theme parks, plus several pools. Family suites themed to the above Disney and Pixar animated movies can sleep up to six guests, so the whole family can spread out and relax after days of riding Space Mountain and waving to Mickey Mouse.

Disney's Riviera Resort

One of Disney's newest hotels, Disney's Riviera Resort transports guests to the European coast with Mediterranean decor and dining influences inspired by Walt Disney's travels. This Deluxe Villa property is located in the Epcot resort area, connected to both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot via the Skyliner. Topolino's Terrace is a standout dining option, offering a delightful character breakfast featuring Mickey and friends (and French and Italian flavors) in a beautiful rooftop setting.

Disney's Beach Club Resort

Garth Vaughan/Disney World

Located right next to Yacht Club, Disney's Beach Club Resort is another great Deluxe option. And it's Pisaturo's personal favorite: "It's a beautifully themed resort with an amazing pool with a sand beach, pirate ship slide, and a lazy river. You can walk or take a boat to Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Boardwalk. It offers a variety of dining choices including a character breakfast with Minnie Mouse. There are regular rooms, villas, and club-level access. It just feels like home."

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa

Jeff Herron/Courtesy of Marriott International

Located near the Waldorf Astoria in the Bonnet Creek area, the JW Marriott offers tons of family-focused perks, including family loft suites, the Hidden Garden Kids Club, and more. A rooftop terrace features views of Disney's nightly fireworks, and the spa offers relaxing treatments — much needed after a few long days in the parks.

Disney's BoardWalk Inn

Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Located just a short walk from Epcot, Disney's BoardWalk Inn looks like a turn-of-the-century Northeastern boardwalk complete with string lights, candy-striped awnings, and a vintage feel. Luna Park Pool is a favorite with a 200-foot-long water slide, plus a whirlpool spa and kiddie pool. The Deluxe hotel also has several restaurants and bars to choose from, including magician-themed AbracadaBar and dueling piano bar, Jellyrolls. The resort offers easy access to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios via boat, Skyliner, and walking paths, plus bus transportation to the other parks.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

If you're looking for a moderately priced Disney resort that's big on amenities, you may want to check out Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort . The sprawling property has sections themed to Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad, and Aruba, each with its own pool and lakefront beach area. The Moderate resort's main Fuentes del Morro pool is themed after a Spanish fort and has water slides, cannons, and a shipwreck play area. This resort is also on the Skyliner route, so guests have easy access to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot (and free bus transportation to the other parks).

Disney's Pop Century Resort

As one of the best Value resorts at Disney World, Disney's Pop Century Resort offers kitschy-cute theming, modern rooms, and convenient access to the parks. The resort is located on the Skyliner route, making it easy to get to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot, and it offers bus transportation, too. Although dining options are limited to a food court and pool bar, there are several pools to splash around in between park visits. I picked Pop Century for a Disney girls trip a couple of years ago, and we enjoyed the clean, recently refreshed rooms, affordable price, and nostalgic vibe.

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter

Disney's Port Orleans Resort is split into two Louisiana-themed sections: the New Orleans-inspired French Quarter and Bayou-themed Riverside. Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter wins for us with its Mardi Gras vibe, Mickey-shaped beignets, and festive Double Doubloon pool. Transportation options from this Moderate resort include a water taxi to Disney Springs and buses to the theme parks.

Related Articles

I go to Disney World at least once a month. Tourists keep missing out on these 5 underrated things.

• I go to Disney World at least once a month, and I've found underrated things most tourists miss. 
• On days when I'm not going to the theme parks , I love playing mini golf with family and friends.
• Wine-tasting classes are great for adults looking for something unique to do at Disney Springs .

I've been going to Disney World for over 30 years, and as an adult, I visit at least once a month.

The company is putting $60 billion into its global theme parks and cruise lines — including significant additions and renovations across the Disney World parks — so there's more to do every visit.

But with all the expansion, most tourists probably miss the underrated activities I've discovered across the property.

Here are some of my favorites.

Playing pickleball is a great way to start the day.

Most people look forward to character breakfasts or getting on their first rides in the morning, but I love hitting the pickleball courts .

There are courts at the Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge , Boardwalk Inn, Fort Wilderness Resort, Old Key West Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, Yacht Club Resort, and Beach Club Resort.

Hotel guests can check out equipment for free, so I never have to bring paddles or balls in my suitcase.

Another sporty activity I love is playing mini golf at one of the four Disney courses.

Mini golf is a classic vacation activity in my family, and the four courses at Disney World are filled with whimsical touches.

Two courses, Fantasia Gardens and Fantasia Fairways, are located near Disney's Swan and Dolphin hotels . The former is full of larger-than-life decor with fun twists and turns, and Fairways is set up more like a real golf course.

The other mini-golf complex, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, is next to Blizzard Beach Water Park . One side is Christmas-themed, and the other is Santa's summer break.

I prefer Winter Summerland because of its nostalgic, kitschy vibes.

Wine-tasting classes can be fun and educational for adults.

My favorite restaurant at Disney World is Wine Bar George at Disney Springs. A few days a month, owner and master sommelier George Miliotes holds a 90-minute blind wine tasting.

Throughout the class, participants learn how to taste wine like a sommelier, and Miliotes has been able to answer just about any wine question I've ever had.

On a recent tasting, I blindly compared a $15 bottle of Argentine white wine to a $300 bottle of French white wine — I liked the cheaper one better.

A day of pampering at the spa is a great mid-trip break.

Until a few years ago, I never realized Disney had full-service spas on its property. Trust me when I say taking a break in the middle of a theme-park vacation is usually greatly needed.

I've been to the Grand Floridian Spa for a leg massage after a long weekend of organized races around the parks via runDisney.

I loved choosing a rock from the indoor crystal garden to inspire the music, lighting, and scents of my treatment room.

Spending the day at the spa inside the Four Seasons Resort Orlando is also a treat.

During my visit to the Disney-affiliated hotel, I had access to an indoor and outdoor relaxation area, a steam room, and a solarium before and after my treatment.

I love going behind the scenes of an iconic Epcot attraction.

One of my favorite Epcot attractions is Living With the Land. The quiet boat ride takes guests through various nature scenes before sailing through working greenhouses.

The ride itself is fun, but I also love taking the Behind the Seeds walking tour.

The one-hour tour isn't included in theme-park admission , but it takes people through the ins and outs of the greenhouses. I've caught an up-close look at the massive fruits and veggies and peered into the fish farm from the edge of the tanks.

You can reserve a spot on the tour online, but I've never had any problems booking it at the park. There's a small booth in the Land Pavilion near the attraction's exit.

• Main content

12 Tips For A Sensory-Friendly Trip To Disney From A Parent

O ur family has a motto we swiped from a favorite "Doctor Who" episode: Together, or not at all. Like the Marines, we leave no one behind. And yet, as a 100% neurodivergent family with a twice-exceptional autistic son, we have far too often found our family feeling shut out of spaces and experiences open to neurotypical individuals due to sensory issues.

But one place that never left us feeling neurospicy FOMO was my mom's favorite vacation destination: Walt Disney World in Florida. It was a spot our family had been visiting every few years for Christmas since I was a kid in the '80s, and we loved the chance to share the Disney magic with our newest generation of Disneyphiles. Even in the early days when trips to the grocery store could be a sensory minefield with my three then-young kids, Disney's attention to detail and overall guest experience made our Christmas and Halloween trips a breeze. And there's just no way to fully convey how heart-filling it is to see every member of our family vibrate with Disney magic.

Every princess, prince, and squire deserves to have their Disney dreams come true, no matter what their sensory or cognitive needs are. Just like everything else in life, a little extra planning and care goes a long way in making sure everyone has a magical Disney vacay . If someone in your Dis party is neurospicy, here's everything you need to know for a sensory-friendly Disney vacation.

Read more: The 100 Most Popular American Tourist Destinations

Read Disney's Cognitive Disabilities Resource Guide

The Walt Disney World Resort has developed a guide specifically designed to help guests with cognitive disabilities, including autism, maximize the comfort and quality of their Disney experience. The colorful, easy-to-use 38-page cognitive guide comes in a PDF you can check out on your home computer before you travel and download to your phone so that it can easily be accessed while you're visiting the parks. Even though the Florida Disney park is its guide's focus, much of the information it conveys could be easily applied to a trip to some of Disney's other destinations.

The guide includes a list of frequently asked questions that cover things like choosing the best time to travel with sensory issues on deck and how to access resources like companion (family) bathrooms and wheelchair or stroller rental. It also covers how to use the Rider Switch, which allows parties of three or more to swap places in line if one member can't ride. The guide even offers information on how to arrange meals for individuals with special dietary needs while you're at the parks, something Disney does exceptionally well.

In the guide's "What to Expect" section, you'll find story pictures to help prepare for the adventure awaiting you or create a visual schedule. There's also a list of suggestions to help your family prepare for the trip and a list of things you might consider packing to support your loved one -- items like sensory toys, headphones, and an identification bracelet or nametag.

Choose Your Travel Dates Carefully

For neurospicy folks, crowds can be overwhelming -- and not much will suck the fun out of a vacay faster than oppressive summer heat. Some folks can tolerate a little chaos up to a point when all of the sights, sounds, and smells get to be too much. When our son was younger, this meant he would be having an amazing time until all of that sensory input caught up with him, causing what's known as a "meltdown" or a quieter but equally painful "shutdown." So anything we can do to help minimize crowd density can dramatically alter our Disney trip.

I learned the value of carefully choosing our Disney travel dates as a kid while watching my mom painstakingly map out our travel dates based on historical crowd density and temperature from her vacation bible, Birnbaum's Official Walt Disney World Guide Book. This usually meant traveling right before the Christmas crowd picks up. Not only was the weather much more tolerable, but there were many times when we sped through attraction lines. After sweating in hour-long lines in the summer sun, visiting Disney during the park's calmer, cooler spells was a revelation.

Even better, slower days can sometimes amount to savings on your resort package. And while cast members are usually pretty great about giving guests the royal treatment, it's just common sense that having less on their plates will mean they're more available to help make your trip magical. Here's WDW Prep School's cheat sheet for more info.

Pre-Register For DAS

Waiting in long lines can be unpleasant for even the most neurotypical folks. But for individuals with sensory sensitivities, long Disney waits can be extremely difficult and increase the chance that they'll have an adverse reaction. Autistic and ADHD Disney dreamer and neurodiversity advocate Millie of Cherry Mint Rose explained the impact this can have on neurospicy folks. For these individuals, Millie emphasized that "Difficulty with waiting in lines ... to me is one of the biggest barriers of visiting a theme park."

Every individual with unique sensory needs is different, and Disney understands that there's no one-size-fits-all fix for a perfectly magical trip. One of the ways Disney stands out from other theme parks is its Disability Access Service (DAS) program, which helps guests who require disability support manage those line waits. And you don't have to wait until arriving at the park and then waste precious Disney time at Guest Relations hashing it out. DAS isn't a line jump but rather a virtual queue that allows guests to return at a designated time, giving the option to wait without standing crammed between strangers for an hour. And you can even book or change times in the My Disney Experience app.

To sign up, guests can pre-register via video call within 30 days in advance of their trip (with a minimum of two days in advance of your trip). The individual requiring DAS accommodations will need to be present during the chat, but you won't be required to provide documentation.

Plan To Spend Some Time At Your Home Base Getting Adjusted

For individuals with unique sensory needs, transitions can be difficult. My teenage son no longer requires a visual schedule for big changes. But having a breakdown of what to expect and plenty of time to mentally and physically prepare, and process transitions, can completely change the value of his experiences. And honestly, who wouldn't benefit from more time and space between shifts in their schedule -- particularly when traveling?

Taylor Heaton of Mom on the Spectrum understands the importance of taking space for transitions better than most, as a late-diagnosed autistic adult and mother of two young autistic children. In her post-vacation Disney guide, Taylor emphasized the importance of setting up a home base at your resort first before doing anything else on your trip. While it's easy to get caught up in the vacation excitement, taking some time out to adjust can help get your trip started on the right foot and create a safer climate for your overall experience. "Spend a little bit of down time there and get acclimated to your surroundings," Heaton suggested.

It's also a good time to make sure they know where to find everything they need and can identify the room number. She continued, "Let them experience all the new things, and help them talk through what they might be seeing and feeling for the first time now that you've arrived." And don't forget to power up with snacks and hydration before setting out on the next phase of your adventure.

Prioritize Snacks And Hydration

Keeping everyone in your party energized with healthy fuel and proper hydration will go a long way in terms of vacation stamina and comfort. Even if you're pretty good about pacing yourselves, a Disney vacation can be something of a marathon. Hungry bellies can bring down the vibe and lead to some serious discomfort. While it's true that Disney fast food is some of the best you'll ever have the pleasure of trying, there's only so much greasy junk food and carbs a person can take before feeling bogged down. Some folks with special sensory needs are also prone to GI issues and abdominal pain, both of which can tank your fun. And some neurospicy guests would simply prefer to eat what they're already familiar with, which can make grabbing food on the go something of a hassle.

The good news is that Disney understands not everyone can live on Dole Whips and candied bacon for days at a time. That's why the parks allow guests to bring in their own food and drinks "provided they are not in glass containers, do not require heating, reheating, processing or refrigeration and do not have pungent odors" (via Disneyland's FAQ ). The parks even feature designated areas for guests to sit down and chill out while they enjoy said snacks. Take advantage of this by filling up your bag with healthy snacks and stashing a couple of well-insulated thermoses to use at the parks' water refill stations.

Watch YouTube Videos Of Disney Experiences Beforehand

Knowing exactly what to expect ahead of a Disney vacation can go a long way in reassuring folks when they're feeling uncertain about being exposed to a steady stream of new things while they're far away from familiar surroundings. And stepping onto a ride where who knows what could be lurking around the next corner could be absolutely frightening to some sensitive individuals regardless of age or cognitive ability.

The beauty of living in the digital age is that we have a way to virtually ride everything Disney has to offer right from our living rooms anytime we want. Before we took our kids to Walt Disney World, I made sure everyone knew exactly what to expect on the rides we'd find there by sharing POV ride videos. They'll get to hear ride sounds and see how long each ride lasts. TPMvids is a fantastic source for high-quality POV Disney park ride videos.

Not only did watching videos give my kids a preview of what we would experience on those rides, but it also helped us to determine if an attraction wasn't a good fit for our child's sensory needs. The last thing I'd want to do is persuade my children to ride something they're not comfortable with and then watch them suffer through a bad time. It's also a great way to get them excited about the trip. And the best part? You can relive your vacation anytime once it's over!

Consider Getting A Wheelchair At DAS

Even if you or your sensitive party member does not typically use a wheelchair or stroller, it might be worthwhile to pick one up while you're at Disney. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average American logs fewer than 4,000 steps in a given day. When Disney experts Ears of Experience checked their steps on a couple of Disney trips, they packed in a whopping 19,361 steps one day during a trip to Disneyland — that's nearly 9.5 miles! And on their visit to Walt Disney World in Florida, they managed to get in more than 20,000 steps, or 10 miles. If a member of your party has sensory issues, that's just one more thing to add to their discomfort.

When Asa Maass of Fathering Autism noticed his autistic daughter Abigail was having a rough time at Disney, a wheelchair turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. "We stopped in guest services and got a wheelchair 'cause Abigail was wanting to sit down on the ground everywhere," Maass explained. While she wasn't initially interested in it, the chair turned out to be a welcome change later on in the day. For families with children who are young enough to ride in a stroller, getting it tagged as a wheelchair through Guest Services will allow you take it into more locations at the park.

Talk About What To Expect Throughout Your Trip

While you're at your hotel or resort, don't underestimate the value of talking about what to expect as you transition throughout the day. Aside from what you'll experience inside of attractions, Disney parks offer a range of experiences, and understanding what is coming up next can mean the difference between a good experience and a bad one. Taylor Heaton of Mom on the Spectrum walked her family through what to expect every step of the way. She explained, "Once we got to the resort, there's that travel channel that just plays 24/7." Watching these videos about the parks during their hotel downtime helped Heaton's kids to know what types of things they'd be seeing as they transitioned from one location to another between their hotel and the parks. 

Heaton also broke down what they'd be doing for the day every morning so that the kids were ready for their next big adventure at every juncture. "We're going to get dressed. We're going to brush our teeth. We're going to put sunscreen on outside. We're going to sit in the stroller and push it over to the bus stop," she expanded. This is also a good time to break out any visual schedule or schedules you might have prepared ahead of time. And don't forget to keep checking in throughout the day.

Research Your Dining Options Beforehand

Even if you've got plenty of snacks in your bag, you'll almost invariably need to eat park food at some point during your Disney vacation. And with sensitivity issues in the mix, it's a good idea to lay out the options ahead of time so that there are no unwanted surprises that could put a wrench in your plans.

One of the great things about dining at Disney is that it's so easy to look up what's available ahead of time. And unlike some other, less magical theme parks, Disney has a wide range of culinary options available to choose from -- many of which are recipes unique to an individual kiosk or park. You can even arrange your food ahead of time by scheduling Disney dining in advance. But the reality is that our stomachs don't always cooperate with schedules, particularly if there's someone in your party with special sensory or cognitive needs. When you're feeling particularly hangry after park-hopping all day, waiting to eat at a pre-scheduled time isn't always the best idea.

A better option when this happens is to hop on the My Disney Experience app and order your food from one of the park's quick dining options. You can even use the app to arrange for special dietary needs, including allergy-safe and gluten-free options.

Bring Tablets, Screens, And Portable Chargers

Whether you're an adult with special sensory needs or you've got kids in your party, sometimes having a screen in front of you can be absolutely transformative when everything starts to be too much. I never make assumptions about anyone -- child or adult -- who is staring at their phone or tablet screen, since screen time can be a tremendously beneficial tool for individuals with sensory processing disorders, anxiety, and a whole host of other neurodiversity issues. Having a way to mentally step out of a situation when things get to be overwhelming can quite literally make it possible for some folks to stay in spaces they otherwise might not be able to, providing calming relief and a source of support. That is also why it is so important to make sure you've got yours if you need them.

Even if you don't end up using them because you're so busy getting your magic on, having that tablet available just in case you need it can be reassuring. Phones or other electronic devices can also help you navigate the park, check ride times, and make any necessary online arrangements through the My Disney Experience app. Just don't forget to bring an extra power bank and a cable or two so that you don't get stuck at 2%.

Look For The Blue Umbrellas

Guest Experience kiosks can be found throughout the parks and are typically identifiable by blue umbrellas and cast members' blue shirts. These fine folks can help you out with all sorts of information, including general park info, assistance navigating the My Disney Experience app, wait times, and lost and found items. They can also help you out with recommendations.

Knowing who to contact when you need help at Walt Disney World can take a lot of the stress off your shoulders. And it's a good idea to make sure everyone in your party knows where to go for help if they get lost or need something. This is especially true for the younger members of your group or anyone who needs extra assistance. That way, if you end up getting separated, they'll know who to look for. Show everyone in your party what the blue umbrellas and shirts look like and make sure they understand this is where they need to go if they get lost or separated. It's also a good idea to go over what Disney cast members' name badges look like since many cast members will be dressed in uniforms unique to a specific location.

Take Breaks

By far, one of the most useful things our family found for getting through a day at Disney was a secret spot for a sensory detox. Before we traveled to Disney World with three young children in tow, I naively had it in my head that if our autistic son became overwhelmed, we could just skip back to our resort for a couple of hours and decompress. Even though I'd been to Disney World many times in the past, I hadn't really figured in the reality of waiting for buses to transport us back to the hotel and all of the many disruptions and transitions that would involve. In reality, this just wasn't a realistic or reasonable option for us.

But I had read that the Magic Kingdom's Baby Care Center was not just for babies, so when our little guy started seriously stimming, we headed there. Inside was a nearly empty space with low tables for the kids and dimmed lighting, a welcome respite from the blazing sun outside. And there, in the middle of a chaotic day with my three kids on the verge of a full-scale meltdown, we watched "Wall-E" in its entirety.

By the time it was over, everyone was rested, refueled, and ready to get back out there -- a Disney miracle. A complete guide to sensory break zones can be found in the Walt Disney World cognitive guide book. If you're traveling to another Disney park, a cast member can recommend calm spots.

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Hi there, is it possible to add park hopper for only 1 day of our trip. Our schedule doesn’t allow for park hopping 3 out of the 4 days but would like to have the option on 1 of the days if possible. Thank you in advance! ”

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Kahrissa has been incredibly helpful and found us a cruise that fit all our criteria.

We recently booked a trip with Brianna Besso and had a WONDERFUL experience! I was a little hesitant to go with Best Day Ever because I didn't know anything about them other than the good reviews and I found them through a google search, but from the moment I filled out the online questionnaire I was impressed - I got a text from her almost immediately. I wanted to book a trip to Disney World in less than 60 days with a smaller budget which I wasn't even sure was possible, and within a very short amount of time she sent me a variety of options and clearly budgeted out each one. She helped me every step of the way and took the time to quickly and precisely answer each of my questions (and I had a LOT). We were able to stay at a wonderful resort, do everything we wanted to do and more on our budget, and we had the best time. Her exemplary service never stopped. Even when we were at the park and I had a question about where to get a specific pretzel we had heard about, she responded in less than 30 seconds with the exact restaurant. To say we were impressed is a huge understatement. I can't say enough great things about working with Brianna. I will be referring all of my friends and family to her and can't wait to book with her again in the future.

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