My girlfriend and I plan on going to disneyworld next winter after she graduates, and while we are AP's at disneyland, neither of us have ever been to disneyworld. We are trying to figure out how long of a trip we will need to really get to see everything. We tend to move pretty quickly and would like to see as much as we can while we are there. Any ideas on how long we should book for? Thanks :cool:

We are trying to figure out how long of a trip we will need to really get to see everything.
A very very long trip if you want to see everything.

WDW is very large, and if you include the recreation, tours, restaurants, resorts, as well as the 4 main parks, 2 water parks, and Downtown Disney, it will take you a very long time to see everything.

If you can do 10 days, that's a pretty nice first trip. However, that can be tough on the budget and vacation time from work. If you can swing 1 week, that gives you a fairly decent overview of everything, with some time to go into detail in some areas.

I would figure on two days for Epcot and at least one day for each of the other three major parks. Take a little time to visit one (or both) water parks, stop in at some of the Deluxe Resorts at least to look at the theming, and do DTD at night.

One word of warning, you will need a map for MK. Every time I go to DL I get lost. I know that Splash is supposed to be right next to BTMRR. Actually Splash, Space and Pirates are different than at DL. We have Mickey's Toontown Fair and lots iof open space, but are missing some of the DL attractions, and others are in different parks.

For a first trip I'd recommend a week plus. Fly in on a Sunday, arriving early to mid-afternoon. Get checked in and then head to a park, perhaps Epcot, for a little bit of touring, dinner and then the nightly fireworks show IllumiNations. Then leave the next Sunday, booking your flight mid-afternoon. This'll give you one more morning at the park of your choice before having to head for the airport. And between the two travel days you'll have six full days, a terrific way to visit the World for the first time!

A very very long trip if you want to see everything.

WDW is very large, and if you include the recreation, tours, restaurants, resorts, as well as the 4 main parks, 2 water parks, and Downtown Disney, it will take you a very long time to see everything.

If you can do 10 days, that's a pretty nice first trip. However, that can be tough on the budget and vacation time from work. If you can swing 1 week, that gives you a fairly decent overview of everything, with some time to go into detail in some areas.
Well, let me update my question a little bit then. How many days would it take to get a good feel for the parks? I don't really see us going on any tours or anything like that, also, we will be there in january, so the water parks won't be a priority, although, if we have time, its a possibility.

I think a week is a reasonable first visit - though I'd do Dan's schedule, but change it to Saturday/Saturday for 2 reasons: You don't have to wait around another day before you start your vacation - plus then you'd get some 'recoup time' from the travel on Sunday before having to go to work on Monday.

Both points conceded, Cathy.

I wanted to chime in to recommend going during the off season. The smaller crowds will allow you to experience more of WDW no matter how long your visit might be. Given that you're looking at next winter, you'll definitely want to avoid the weeks around Christmas and New Years, but I understand that January tends to have smaller crowds. The first couple of weeks of December would be a good time as well, but I'm guessing that maybe your girlfriend will have yet to graduate by then.

Also, given that you're DL veterans, poke around for threads comparing the WDW attractions to DL. I would skip the ones that are generally considered to be better at DL.

I think we plan on going between january 10th and 25th or so. I see that those are the least expensive days on disneyworlds calendar for prices at the resorts, so that probably means that the crowds are small at that time.

Just watch out for MLK weekend (not sure when it is next year).

Eric-where are you coming from? If you're AP holders from DL, I assume somewhere in the LA area-but maybe I'm wrong. I ask because of flight/travel time. We left early in the morning-local time; but didn't arrive in MCO late afternoon local time-nonstop flight. By the time we arrived at the resort and dealt with checkin, it was about 4:30. I didn't want to "waste" an entire days' admission on what was less than half a day. But YMMV.

We did 8 full park days(but we also visited Disney Quest, and both water parks). What we all throughly enjoyed was visiting DTD on our first day/night-shopping, soaking up the atmosphere, unpacking and discovering our resort. Then we hit the ground running,ready for our first day. 7 park days allowed us to see all the "biggies"(by whatever definition it is to you), explore some of the other resorts, and revisit favorite attractions. I still feel like I only touched the surface of WS at Epcot...but that's 'cause I coulda spent days(literally) there.

Get maps-and be prepared for distances. This DL vet was really disoriented in the MK...I musta walked by Small World 2 or 3 times-'cause I was looking for the DL facade.

Also, given that you're DL veterans, poke around for threads comparing the WDW attractions to DL. I would skip the ones that are generally considered to be better at DL.

I've seen others give this advice. And while it's probably a good idea on a very short visit, it the OP does indeed dedicate a week to this trip, there will be plenty of time to see all of the duplicates like Pirates and the Haunted Mansion. I've always thought that even though some attractions like Pirates are better in DL, there is still value to the Florida version, not the least of which is the incredibly detailed queue. So I say unless you're really pressed for time, check out all the attractions, dupes or not.

Our favorite is 10 days. We go from a Friday to a Sunday, thus getting a bigger bang for our vacation days (2 weekends, 6 days off work).

Oh how I wish I could go for 2 full weeks, but I don't see that happening anytime before we retire.....(or the kids are gone!!:p)

As many on here know, I am a planning FREAK and I really research days/times/parks to get the most out of my touring time. I see just about everything, or at least have the time and opportunity to see just about everything.

We go at a "slower" time too, but be careful: The parks aren't open as late, thus necessitating getting your bottoms up and out of bed if you want to maximize your park time. Just use the early closings to go to Epcot a lot (we spent a lot of our evenings there), DTD, or going to bed early.

Have a great trip!

we just got back from our first trip to WDW and it is a very different experience to a holiday at disneyland. we went for ten days and while that was long enough to experience the parks (we didn't do everything but we were satisfied that we had enough of a park experience) BUT it was not long enough to experience 'the world' as such; we really wanted another couple of days without park passes to just relax at the wilderness lodge (where we stayed), and to visit DTD (we went for a couple of hours and lunch, which was not long enough), and to check out the other resorts. we didn't go to the water parks (it was, as it turned out, warm enough to do so, but we didn't include it in our plans or tickets, so just made do with the hotel pool). if we ever get back there, we would still go for 10 days, but only have park passes for 7 days, to give us time to just relax. when you are used to DLR its hard to imagine what you could possibly do at WDW for ten days - but boy it went fast!!!

OK, I have a whopper for you. In the summer of 2010, my mom and I are taking my cousins to WDW for a high school graduation gift. We are DL locals, so we can do both parks, swim and DTD with get this 10 kids in about 5 days. But WDW is much larger and I have not been there since I was 10 ( 26 now) and non of the kids have ever been. How long should we plan on staying if we want to do almost everyting? Our group would consist of myself, mom, aunt, and kids(17,14,13,11,11,8,7,7,5,4 at the time of the trip). We have a pretty decent budget and plan on staying at Animal Kindom Lodge.

How long should we plan on staying if we want to do almost everyting? Our group would consist of myself, mom, aunt, and kids(17,14,13,11,11,8,7,7,5,4 at the time of the trip). We have a pretty decent budget and plan on staying at Animal Kindom Lodge. [/SIZE]

not less than ten days; a fortnight would be even better because with a group this size and these ages, you will want lots of time to relax. is the AK the best fit with these ages? I am guessing that you are going to be spending a lot of time at the MK and AK couldn't be further away. Have you thought about the Wilderness Lodge, which is the same price bracket as AKL,? MUCH more convenient for MK - a quick boat trip and you are right at the gates. and perhaps the villas would be an even better fit so you can have access to kitchen and your own laundry?

not less than ten days; a fortnight would be even better because with a group this size and these ages, you will want lots of time to relax. is the AK the best fit with these ages? I am guessing that you are going to be spending a lot of time at the MK and AK couldn't be further away. Have you thought about the Wilderness Lodge, which is the same price bracket as AKL,? MUCH more convenient for MK - a quick boat trip and you are right at the gates. and perhaps the villas would be an even better fit so you can have access to kitchen and your own laundry?


well we did a poll with the kids and AKL is the one that they all said. Its all about the animals and the sunrise safari:). I know that we will most likely be booking 3 rooms to accomodate the large group. Also what I forgot to mention earlier, does anyone have any advice on flying with a large group of kids and how to keep them entertained on the flight, most of them have never been on a plane?

well we did a poll with the kids and AKL is the one that they all said. Its all about the animals and the sunrise safari:). I know that we will most likely be booking 3 rooms to accomodate the large group. Also what I forgot to mention earlier, does anyone have any advice on flying with a large group of kids and how to keep them entertained on the flight, most of them have never been on a plane?

Gameboys. Don't leave home without the Gameboys! BTW--the kids will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE AKL! Are you staying in a villa or concierge level room? I thought the Sunrise Safari was only for those guests? I could be wrong...I often am!

Wow-2010-I'm looking at Fall '09 and thought THAT was far away! Have you thought about the Villas? More room to spread out, kitchen, laundry. I'm sure the AKL Villas will be done by then. What about car rental? Except for AK,(natch) the Lodge is pretty far away from everything.

If the Sunrise Safari is a deal breaker, check to see if it can be booked as a Grand Gathering-which your group qualifies for...thought that might be a possibility. And plan to break up into smaller groups to suit everyone's interest and energy levels. What about an Illuminations cruise? That'd be pretty cool. But, yeah, with a group that size-10 days.

Plane-oldest teen son insisted on bringing his computer...which he looked at for probably an hour tops on the whole trip. Gameboys and Ipods got alot more use and while disappointing if lost or stolen, not the heartbreak that would come from losing a laptop. Mad libs, books, coloring books-I searched out the dollar store and $1 aisle at Target when mine were younger-wrap them up and let each open one an hour(or whatever time frame works for you)...snacks-lots of snacks. There's nothing worse than hungry, tired upset kiddos. LisaP has lots of ideas for flying with kiddos-check the parenting in the Parks section.

Like the OP, my family will be doing it's first Family trip to WDW in June. We did have DL AP's last year and the kids (will be 6 and 9) have been to DL numerous times, but we know WDW is sooooo different. We decided to go with 12 nights for our trip. Coming from CA and the flight times mentioned above, we arrive at MCO at 4:30 pm and plan on checking in and just visiting DTD the first night we arrive which is a Sunday. We are getting the 10 day park hopper and more tickets and already have one full day (the Saturday in the middle) planned as a resort/no parks/restful day. We are thinking of doing parks for 2 days, then water park day, then 2 more days of parks, then rest day, then 2 more days of parks, the other waterpark day, and 2 1/2 more days of parks. We then have the flexibility of adding an evening park trip after a water park day, or if we decide to break plans, go to a park on our rest day. We fly home at 4:00 the following Friday and are hoping that will be enough time to really see all WDW has to offer (not expecting to do any tours, boat rentals or mini-golf) that we are really in to. We really want it to be a more relaxing trip, although I am not one to waste time so we will pay close attention to EMH and use those wisely, and have only booked a couple ADR's as we don't want to be tied into a reservation time that may impact some other aspect of our trip, and we are perfectly happy with counter service meals for the most part. We have grocery delivery set up with Garden Grocer for breakfast items and plan to use the refilleable mugs as much as possible. Anything else I am forgetting or and more advice I should plan for? Thanks!