WDW first timers -- how many days?

[GoofyDan]

Hi all,
I've been lurking on the forums for some time now and want to thank the community for all the great info here. My bride and I are planning our first trip to WDW later this fall, and we can't decide on how long we want to stay.

We spent about two full days at DL last summer and that was just about right for us -- we left feeling like we'd done everything we wanted and didn't miss anything.

As it stands now, we're thinking our first trip should be just over a week, but we're looking for any input or advice you can give. We want to spend a full day each at MK, EC, AK and the water parks (4 days) and a half day at MGM, then we want to spend at least a couple of days going back to visit the favorites we discover along the way. Then, we'd like to spend a day doing Kennedy Space Center and the beach.

That's about seven days, not counting travel time. What does everybody think? Is that enough time? Too much? We want to see most everything, but don't want to be going so much that we'll need a vacation from the vacation when we get home. We could probably stretch to a maximum of two weeks, but we're afraid that much beyond 8 or 10 days might be a little too much magic.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[LuLaSue]

IMHO I think you should take 2 days for Epcot.

 

[coltow]

I had friends go as first timers and told them to plan on:
MK at least 2 full days
EP 2 full days
AK 1 full day
MGM 1 full day
Water park 1 day, split it with and easy evening, maybe DTD

That adds up to at least 7 full days, not including travel days.

 

[lpet11984]

I'd say 7-8 days....my first trip to WDW we had 6 days, not including travel days, and I would've liked to have at least a few more to go to water parks and experience more of the resort itself. Definitely 2 days each for MK and Epcot.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

I had friends go as first timers and told them to plan on:
MK at least 2 full days
EP 2 full days
AK 1 full day
MGM 1 full day
Water park 1 day, split it with and easy evening, maybe DTD

That adds up to at least 7 full days, not including travel days.

I like your schedule. I just read in the Unofficial Guide that a family from Maryland suggests doing one park in the early AM for 2 hours, going back to the hotel, and doing the other park a couple of hours before closing. This would be a VERY relaxing day with plenty of time to do DTD.

 

[KaliSplash]

Well, if you really want to see everything, you'd need at least two weeks. But I suspect you probably aren't terribly eager to ride Dumbo and Aladdin's Magic Carpets AND Triceritops Spin, for example.

Two days for the Magic Kingdom, two days for Epcot, one day for Disney Hollywood Studios and one day for Animal Kingdom. Do you want to see both water parks? What about Downtown Disney, DisneyQuest, and Cirque? Do you play golf? (there are five courses) Miniature golf? ( there are four courses) Want to go boating? Horseback riding, tennis? etc.

It seems to me you need AT LEAST 7 days to hit the four parks and at least one water park. This does not count travel days or heading to Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach (which I highly recommend !)

Even for adults, I recommend taking a break in the early afternoon and returning to the park in late afternoon. This burning of the candle at both ends can't be done effectively for more than about 3 days before you half to take a morning off.

You're going to have a great time!

 

[gtull1]

In all honestly, I would cut way back if I were you, or add a week on your vacation to do it all. You will be worn down badly trying to squeeze everything in on your first trip in a week!! I would rather see you have a relaxation day between each park. Just a suggestion. Have fun!!!

:ROFLOL:

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome aboard :wave:

As a first time visitor you should be looking at 5 - 6 days for the Disney Parks (2 days at MK and EP and a day each at AK and DHS). Add onto that DownTown Disney, a water park and your trip to the Space Coast then you have to be looking at nearer a 10 day trip

 

[figment3258]

We have never done more than 9 days and for us it was a good fit. We did just about everything and we took our time. We were able to walk to epcot and Hollywood studios which helped For us we don't rush we have two kids and rushing would be a day full of melt downs I would say at least 2 days for magic kingdom, 2 days for epcot( enjoy the countries they are so beautiful) 1 day at Hollywood studios maybe 1 and a half if you plan on doing all the shows and at least 1 day at animal kingdom. Hope this helps.

 

[GoofyDan]

Thanks, all, for the great advice. I think we've settled on 10 days total, two of which will be travel days. I'm hoping we can get an early flight and do something the first evening after we rest a bit. We'll decide how much time to spend where later on, but we'll definitely plan for two days at Epcot based on the feedback. Ten days was what we had planned for originally, but the more I thought about it, the more I was afraid that was going to be too much time. I figure if we get sick of Disney (unlikely), we can spend more time at the beach and if we don't have enough, I get a fresh crop of vacation days in January and we can go back!

I keep telling my friends how much we *loved* DL and what a great time we had there. Those who have never been look at me kinda strange since it's just the two of us and no kids, but of all the places we've vacationed, DL is very high on the list -- and like I say, we only spent on full day and two half-days there. My wife teared up when we had to leave and if I weren't so dang manly, I probably would have too! (To continue my ramble -- I was planning on us going back to Hawaii this year, until my bride tells me that while she loves Hawaii, she had such a great time at DL that she would rather go to WDW instead.)

KaliSplash: But I suspect you probably aren't terribly eager to ride Dumbo...
Funny you should say that ... my wife demanded we ride Dumbo every time we set foot in DL last year! That will certainly be on the list, but probably not Carpets or Triceratops.

KaliSplash: Even for adults, I recommend taking a break in the early afternoon and returning to the park in late afternoon.
Yeah, we did that at DL -- long morning at the park, back to the hotel for a nap and/or foot soak in the hot tub for a couple of hours, then back in the early evening to close the place down. I'm sure you could go non-stop all day, but I can imagine the exhaustion (and grumpiness) that would set in as a result. We're going to have *fun* not fights!

Thanks again, everybody. If we get to Florida when I think we will, we've only got 129 days to go!

 

[coltow]

I like your schedule. I just read in the Unofficial Guide that a family from Maryland suggests doing one park in the early AM for 2 hours, going back to the hotel, and doing the other park a couple of hours before closing. This would be a VERY relaxing day with plenty of time to do DTD.

Yes but this depends on the time of year. 2 hours in the AM and a couple of hours in the evening is really not posssible when the parks aren't open as late.

For summer months we plan to be a parks at opening, break around noon and head back to parks around 4pm. We then have hit major attractions in the AM when not as crowded and not as hot. We will hit the pool and relax (if not nap) in the room for a little bit and get fully refreshed. We can also hit major attractions in the evening expecially if we utilize fas pass.

 

[GenerationX]

Here's a sample itinerary for you. I think 10 days is about right.

Day 1: MK
Day 2: BB (am), Ep (pm)
Day 3: AK

Day 4: Rest, do stuff around the hotel

Day 5: TL (am), DS (pm)
Day 6: Ep
Day 7: Space Center

Day 8: Rest, do stuff around the hotel

Day 9: MK
Day 10: AK, Ep, or DS

 

[WDWRLD]

I average about 10 days. One park in the morning and one at night with a break back at the room in the afternoon. One morning at DTD and one at either TL or BB. That way we have 2 or 3 mornings and nights in each park.

 

[Mikester71]

Our first family trip to WDW back in March of 2005, we went for 7 days and I know they flew by quickly. So when we went back again in March of 2007, we went for 10 days and I found that to be perfect. That way if it happens to rain for a whole day or something or something comes up that throws your scheduled plans awry, you can always push them back a day or two as need be.

 

[1DisneyDad]

To see everything I think you need 2 days at AK.

 

[JennyTablina]

My family, when doing Orlando, we refuse to go for any less than a 10 day stay, 14 at best.

DL and WDW are slightly different beasts. DL doesnt really take that much to traverse but WDW is practically designed so you'll spend about 2 weeks there at least. Specially if your a first timer, the parks are packed with a fair bit.

BTW trust me, if you liked DL at all, you might find you'll be sad to leave WDW as well. If you guys really are into Disney and the theme park experience it'll eat up a lot of your time.

That said in case your feelin Disneyed out theres always Seaworld and Universal. Which stand as pretty good theme parks in their own right. I would also suggest a day or so's break between parks to shop or do something if you need a break from walking about parks. Downtown Disneys a pretty good place to take a break too