Walt Disney World is over 40 square miles and filled with tons of things to do! It would be so easy to spend several weeks or even longer there and still have something new to do every day! But the cost of staying that long is prohibitively expensive for most people. So how do you choose how long to spend at Disney World, balancing all of the things you want to do and your wallet?
First, let's explore some of the factors that go into deciding the length of your trip:
Availability of your time
Time needed at home to relax before/after your trip
Budget
Time of year of your visit
Age and stamina of your group
Frequency of your travel to Disney World
Distance from which you've traveled
Number and range of "must-do" activities
Interest in other Disney activities
Interest in non-Disney activities
Interest in/need for downtime or relaxation
Availability of Your Time
This is a major factor in deciding how long to stay in Disney. How many days off do you have? Are they paid or unpaid? If you have kids, will you be traveling during a school break? How long are their breaks? If not during a school break, how long can you take them out of school for? How long are you willing to take them out? If you have flexible jobs and school aged kids (or if you work in schools, like me!), you could have a whole summer to work with!
Time Needed at Home to Relax Before or After Your Trip
When I was younger, I liked to travel until the last possible second, coming home late on a Sunday before heading into work Monday morning. As I have gotten older, I have come to place more value on having time to do my laundry or prepare lunches for the week after a vacation. A Disney World vacation requires so much walking, too; consider whether you'll need a day to recover.
Budget
This is one of the biggest factors most people consider when planning their Disney trips. Disney vacations are not cheap. However, it may surprise you to find that at a certain point, when you're adding extra park days to your ticket, the price difference is almost negligible.
When considering how many days your budget allows, you need to consider your values. Ask yourself and your travel party some would-you-rather questions: would you rather stay in a deluxe resort for five days or a value resort for seven? Would you rather dine at table service restaurants every night or get an extra park day? These answers can help you figure out the length of your trip.
If you are looking at going to the parks for 13-14 days (and you're not from the UK), you might save some money by getting an annual pass as opposed to a regular park ticket.
Time of Year of Your Visit
Some times of the year are going to be more crowded at Disney World. Historically, the week between Christmas and New Year's, several weeks in March and April (spring break), and several other holidays have drawn especially high crowds to Disney World. Higher crowds mean longer wait times to do the things you want, which in turn means you'll get to do fewer things in a day.
Additionally, certain events may make you want to add days to your trip. My grandmother is a huge Bruce Springsteen fan; if the Boss is playing at Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, you better believe she's adding days to her trip to go see him. Likewise, if you really want to try an After Hours event and there's one on the day you're thinking of leaving, it might be worth it to you to add an extra day to go to that event.
Finally, weather can have a huge impact on your trip. If you have to be back by a certain date, you may want to shorten your trip to add a buffer day in the event that weather stops you from getting home.
Learn more about the best dates to visit Disney World in 2025 here!
Age and Stamina of Your Group
This is another point that has really gotten more important for me consider when I'm planning my family's trips, especially as my family dynamics continue to change. Your party may need to wake up slowly; maybe you have teens who are night owls or little ones who are used to a very particular schedule. Maybe your group has people with injuries or other limitations that need accommodating. Consider these needs as you plan.
Frequency of Your Travel to Disney World
You will want to plan your trip differently if it is a once-in-a-lifetime trip versus if you go every year. Frequent visitors may not need as many days in Disney; if you miss something this time around, you'll probably get to do it the next time. However, if Disney World is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or something you may do again but not soon, you might want to spend extra time there so as to not miss anything.
Distance from Which You've Traveled
Florida residents, especially those in and around Orlando, probably don't need to plan a long trip to Disney World. In fact, plenty of locals will come to Disney for just an afternoon or for dinner. But if you're coming from a greater distance, you may want to spend more time in Disney World in order to maximize your travel and avoid spending just as much time on traveling as you do in the parks.
Number and Range of "Must-Do" Activities
I always recommend that Disney vacationers plan a list of the activities they're most interested in. You may find that while you want to focus on seeing shows and dark rides, your partner wants to ride all the thrill rides. Or maybe you have a toddler and a teenager and have to accommodate both sets of preferences. Consider this as you're planning how much time you'll need in the parks.
Interest in Other Disney Activities
Disney World, as the name implies, is a little world of its own. Outside of the parks, there are more than 25 hotels to explore, along with activities such as golfing, fishing, spas, shopping, water parks, mini golf, horseback riding, behind the scenes tours and more. Consider whether your group would like to engage in any of these activities, as most will keep you out of a park for a significant amount of time.
Interest in Non-Disney Activities
Central Florida is a hub for vacationers, with literally thousands of things to do. You might want to go to some of the other nearby parks and resorts (Universal Orlando Resort, Legoland, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, etc.); go to a beach; explore I-Drive; visit the Kennedy Space Center; or more!
Interest In/Need For Downtime or Relaxation
If your family likes to take a break from the parks, whether that's sleeping in, spending time at the pool, visiting Disney Springs, hotel hopping, etc., make sure to factor that into your plans!
Deciding What's Right For You
In all, there are a ton of factors that go into deciding how long a Disney vacation you should take. There is no right answer - you have to decide based on what works best for you and your family at that moment. Some experts will recommend 5- or 7-day Disney trips, but that might not be the right trip for you.
Still can't decide how long a trip to take? Or maybe you have decided and you're ready to book? I can help! Send me an email at s.mattoon@keytotheworldtravel.com or click the button below to get your free, no-obligation quote!
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