One of the most common questions about Disney World is how long you need to see everything. The answer: weeks, maybe even months.
The first thing anyone planning a vacation to Walt Disney World needs to realize is that you won’t be able to see everything in one trip. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier your planning will be.
Because the resort is so vast in scope, with four major theme parks, two water parks, a huge shopping district, night time entertainment, restaurants galore … you just can’t see and do everything in one shot. And you shouldn’t try to tackle the trip that way, or you’ll end up needing a vacation after your vacation.
You will of course want to see and do a lot – that’s the type of vacation Disney World is. But if all your trip ends up being is a march from one attraction to the next to the next… you probably won’t come away from Disney World with a positive feeling.
So how long should you go for? It really depends on your budget, available time, and interest level.
While there isn’t a really a minimum amount of time that you have to stay, I always suggest at least four full days for the ability to visit each of the major theme parks and hit most of the major attractions. Shorter than four days, and you’ll either have to skip one or more of the parks, or miss a lot of the attractions at each of the parks.
A weeklong vacation (seven full days) will give you the opportunity to visit each of the theme parks, a water park, and have some time to revisit attractions and have some built in “relax” time – or spend a day or two at Orlando’s other attractions.
If you can stay longer than a week, then that’s great too! This will give you the ability to really explore the parks, take a whole day off to just relax, visit Orlando area attractions, etc.
Disney insiders and travel planners debate how long each of the theme parks will take you to get through. The time you spend in any place will largely depend on what captures your interest, and your specific family or group dynamic. A new couple with a young child may spend a lot of time in Magic Kingdom; a family with teens might spend more time hitting all of the thrill rides; two adults on a romantic getaway may spend a lot of time strolling the World Showcase in Epcot.
In my opinion, to be able to hit the most popular attractions at each of the park you’ll need at least a full day at Magic Kingdom, about a day to a day and a half at Epcot, and more than half a day each at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. These are only recommendations for hitting the majority of the popular attractions at each park, so keep that in mind when you are planning out your trip.
Of course, the time of the year you go will also impact how much you are able to see and do. If you visit during Christmas week, Easter break, or through the busier summer months, you’re going to spend more time moving through crowds and standing in lines. Head to the World right after the winter holidays, in late Spring, or most of the Fall season, and you’ll likely be able to fit in a lot more, as these are the less busy seasons.
However long you decide to spend in the World, remember to take breaks to relax, whether it’s a day off from the parks, afternoon retreats at the resort swimming pool, or even just sitting down at several points and people watching to let your legs rest. Slowing down a little will also let you take in more of the details, which can be just as satisfying (if not more so) than hustling to get in one more ride.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Why You Need a Plan
Walt Disney World is a vast resort, complete with four major theme parks, two water parks, a huge shopping and entertainment district, dozens of restaurants, well over a dozen hotels, several golf courses, two miniature golf courses – and more. And that’s all just on site – not including all of the rest of the attractions, parks, restaurants, malls, etc. off site in the Orlando area.
People often ask why they need a plan when visiting WDW. I always like to compare it to the Big Apple. The total land area Walt Disney World sits on is comparable to that of Manhattan. And while it isn’t all developed like the big city is, it’s a good comparison of the complexity and size. You wouldn’t take a vacation to New York City without at least a general idea of where and what attractions you want to visit. And you’re going to want to have at least some restaurants picked out for meals.
Walt Disney World is like a vacation to a big city in the sense that you need to have a plan – at least a rough one. Unlike a trip to the beach – where you might plop yourself on the sand, eat at the hotel’s restaurant, and just let time pass you by – a trip to WDW (for most) is meant to be a “see and do” style of vacation. You want to go see the various shows, experience the attractions, and do something interactive.
So, could you book your hotel, buy your tickets and go? Of course you can. A lot of people go this route, with little or no planning. Will you enjoy yourself? All things considered, you should have at least a decent time. It is Walt Disney World after all.
But having a plan will make your vacation even better. You’ll stay better organized – which will help you see and do more with your time. And if you decide on a more detailed touring plan, you can even avoid the argument of “What do we do next?” after every attraction. I’ve seen it happen – a family will spend five minutes arguing which direction to go or what to do next when exiting a ride or show. Wouldn’t you rather spend that time experiencing what Disney has to offer?
While I believe the more detailed the plan, the better (which I’ll be showing you in this blog), not everyone likes a rigid, step-by-step plan. Too strict a plan could be just as bad no plan at all. So don’t become overwhelmed if you think my style of planning is too much. For some, it is.
But with WDW, you absolutely need at least a basic plan. The time you spend will be rewarded – by saving money, having more time to experience everything, and being less stressful – all with the goal of having an even more magical vacation.
People often ask why they need a plan when visiting WDW. I always like to compare it to the Big Apple. The total land area Walt Disney World sits on is comparable to that of Manhattan. And while it isn’t all developed like the big city is, it’s a good comparison of the complexity and size. You wouldn’t take a vacation to New York City without at least a general idea of where and what attractions you want to visit. And you’re going to want to have at least some restaurants picked out for meals.
Walt Disney World is like a vacation to a big city in the sense that you need to have a plan – at least a rough one. Unlike a trip to the beach – where you might plop yourself on the sand, eat at the hotel’s restaurant, and just let time pass you by – a trip to WDW (for most) is meant to be a “see and do” style of vacation. You want to go see the various shows, experience the attractions, and do something interactive.
So, could you book your hotel, buy your tickets and go? Of course you can. A lot of people go this route, with little or no planning. Will you enjoy yourself? All things considered, you should have at least a decent time. It is Walt Disney World after all.
But having a plan will make your vacation even better. You’ll stay better organized – which will help you see and do more with your time. And if you decide on a more detailed touring plan, you can even avoid the argument of “What do we do next?” after every attraction. I’ve seen it happen – a family will spend five minutes arguing which direction to go or what to do next when exiting a ride or show. Wouldn’t you rather spend that time experiencing what Disney has to offer?
While I believe the more detailed the plan, the better (which I’ll be showing you in this blog), not everyone likes a rigid, step-by-step plan. Too strict a plan could be just as bad no plan at all. So don’t become overwhelmed if you think my style of planning is too much. For some, it is.
But with WDW, you absolutely need at least a basic plan. The time you spend will be rewarded – by saving money, having more time to experience everything, and being less stressful – all with the goal of having an even more magical vacation.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Why I'm Nuts About Disney (World)
Why am I writing this blog, all about the planning of my next trip to Walt Disney World? Glad you asked!
In late 2006, my parents decided to take is on what would likely be our last big "family" vacation together. I was already in my mid-twenties, my one younger brother was about to graduate high school, and my other younger bro was just starting high school. So it was likely the last time just the five of us would be able to travel together for a week long vacation without some major scheduling magic, or bringing along signifigant others and the like.
We kicked around ideas of where we wanted to go, keeping in mind the basic logistics of time and money restraints. A number of places came up in coversation, but we decided on Disney since it's a great family destination for any age, and combined a lot of the different interests we all have into one location.
My parents had taken me and my younger brother when I was around ten, back in the early 1990s. But my youngest brother wasn't around at that point, and neither me nor my younger brother remember much of the trip. While I have always loved amusement parks, truth be told, I was never a big Disney fan - I never much got into the movies, characters, etc, and never really put much thought into going back to Disney World. But that was about to change.
Naturally, once we decided where we wanted to go, and had a rough idea of when (May 2007), next came the decision on who would be responsible for putting it all together. Since I had previously worked as a travel agent (although I sold cruises, not Disney vacations) and enjoyed planning things like this, I got the job.
Well, I'm the type of person who likes to know as much as I can about a subject, and when planning a trip, have all the details worked out before ever setting foot in the destination. And since I wanted my whole family to be pleased, I wanted to make sure we had a plan that included everyone's needs. Including the need to have a plan so we didn't exit ever attraction and have a five minute argument about "where do we go next?" (I've come to realize most families who don't have a plan end up doing this at least a few times a day in Disney.)
In the several months between making the decision to go to Disney World and actually going on the trip, I read several books, countless websites and message boards, and spent hours upon hours hammering out every little detail - including booking everything, making dining reservations, coming up with detailed touring plans, etc. And I loved it. Finally getting to actually go on the trip was of course the best part - but I learned that for me, planning the vacation was part of the whole experience.
So that's where it all started for me, about three years ago. And I'm still learning all kinds of new information, as things in Disney World are almost constantly changing. I decided to share a little of my craziness (the good kind) with the online community in hopes of helping others make their vacation that much more special.
Hope you'll take the time to follow along!
In late 2006, my parents decided to take is on what would likely be our last big "family" vacation together. I was already in my mid-twenties, my one younger brother was about to graduate high school, and my other younger bro was just starting high school. So it was likely the last time just the five of us would be able to travel together for a week long vacation without some major scheduling magic, or bringing along signifigant others and the like.
We kicked around ideas of where we wanted to go, keeping in mind the basic logistics of time and money restraints. A number of places came up in coversation, but we decided on Disney since it's a great family destination for any age, and combined a lot of the different interests we all have into one location.
My parents had taken me and my younger brother when I was around ten, back in the early 1990s. But my youngest brother wasn't around at that point, and neither me nor my younger brother remember much of the trip. While I have always loved amusement parks, truth be told, I was never a big Disney fan - I never much got into the movies, characters, etc, and never really put much thought into going back to Disney World. But that was about to change.
Naturally, once we decided where we wanted to go, and had a rough idea of when (May 2007), next came the decision on who would be responsible for putting it all together. Since I had previously worked as a travel agent (although I sold cruises, not Disney vacations) and enjoyed planning things like this, I got the job.
Well, I'm the type of person who likes to know as much as I can about a subject, and when planning a trip, have all the details worked out before ever setting foot in the destination. And since I wanted my whole family to be pleased, I wanted to make sure we had a plan that included everyone's needs. Including the need to have a plan so we didn't exit ever attraction and have a five minute argument about "where do we go next?" (I've come to realize most families who don't have a plan end up doing this at least a few times a day in Disney.)
In the several months between making the decision to go to Disney World and actually going on the trip, I read several books, countless websites and message boards, and spent hours upon hours hammering out every little detail - including booking everything, making dining reservations, coming up with detailed touring plans, etc. And I loved it. Finally getting to actually go on the trip was of course the best part - but I learned that for me, planning the vacation was part of the whole experience.
So that's where it all started for me, about three years ago. And I'm still learning all kinds of new information, as things in Disney World are almost constantly changing. I decided to share a little of my craziness (the good kind) with the online community in hopes of helping others make their vacation that much more special.
Hope you'll take the time to follow along!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
More About This Blog
September 2010 may seem like a long way out. For me, it certainly does at this point - but it will be here faster than any of us think. Time has a way of doing that.
But since it is nearly a year away, blog posts will likely be a little sporadic for the first few months, as there is a lot of details that can't be planned this far out. My hope it to post at least once a week throughout the whole process, with more posts at certain points, and likely daily posts in the last few weeks before the trip.
Oh, bother. The wait is the hardest part.
But since it is nearly a year away, blog posts will likely be a little sporadic for the first few months, as there is a lot of details that can't be planned this far out. My hope it to post at least once a week throughout the whole process, with more posts at certain points, and likely daily posts in the last few weeks before the trip.
Oh, bother. The wait is the hardest part.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Walt Disney World or Bust!
Hello all!
Just a preliminary post to let you know I'm in the beginning stages of planning our next Walt Disney World vacation, tentatively scheduled for September of 2010. All of the details are very vague right now, but over the next 11 months or so, I'll chronicle my planning details on this blog as I go along.
My goal is to help others with their Walt Disney World vacation planning, by showing my (sometimes very detailed) process. For me, part of the fun of a Disney trip is the planning. I've done a lot of research for our past trips in 2007 and 2008 - a lot more hours on line and in books than most people would spend. I've also worked as a travel agent, and currently co-own a tourism related business. I still read several Disney websites and message boards a day, so I'm always keeping myself in the loop on what's new in the World.
So, follow along as I put together as close to a perfect trip as possible. I'll be blogging about it all, from airline reservations to where we're going to eat... to all kinds of little details and ideas.
If at any time you have question or suggestion, please feel free to leave a comment, or email me directly.
- Bill
Just a preliminary post to let you know I'm in the beginning stages of planning our next Walt Disney World vacation, tentatively scheduled for September of 2010. All of the details are very vague right now, but over the next 11 months or so, I'll chronicle my planning details on this blog as I go along.
My goal is to help others with their Walt Disney World vacation planning, by showing my (sometimes very detailed) process. For me, part of the fun of a Disney trip is the planning. I've done a lot of research for our past trips in 2007 and 2008 - a lot more hours on line and in books than most people would spend. I've also worked as a travel agent, and currently co-own a tourism related business. I still read several Disney websites and message boards a day, so I'm always keeping myself in the loop on what's new in the World.
So, follow along as I put together as close to a perfect trip as possible. I'll be blogging about it all, from airline reservations to where we're going to eat... to all kinds of little details and ideas.
If at any time you have question or suggestion, please feel free to leave a comment, or email me directly.
- Bill
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