How many days do you need?
- 5–7 days is the sweet spot. Most families need four park days, a rest day, and two travel days.
- One park per day. Plan a full day for each — Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
- Build in a rest day. The resort pool, Disney Springs, or a water park keeps energy up for the rest of the trip.
- Consider a bonus day. A fifth park day lets you revisit a favorite or park hop at a relaxed pace.
- Longer trips cost less per day. Disney ticket prices drop per day the more days you add.
Most families need five to seven days for a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation. That gives you four park days — one for each theme park — plus a rest day and travel days on each end. A shorter trip works, and a longer trip lets you revisit a favorite park or add a water park day.
Four parks, four days
Walt Disney World Resort has four theme parks. Each one takes a full day to explore at a relaxed pace:
- Magic Kingdom® Park. The classic Disney park with more rides than any other. With Tomorrowland®, Fantasyland®, and Cinderella Castle, some families spend two days here.
- EPCOT®. Top rides: Spaceship Earth, Test Track®, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. World Showcase spans 11 country pavilions with food, drinks, and culture.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. Home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge® and Toy Story Land. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ draws big crowds, so arrive early for shorter waits.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. This park centers on nature and wildlife. Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris®, Avatar Flight of Passage, and Expedition Everest®. Morning is best for the safari.
Most people plan one full day at each park. That adds up to four park days — the core of any Walt Disney World Resort trip.
Can you see all four parks in fewer than four days?
Why rest days matter
A rest day makes every other day better. It’s a chance to recharge so your family gets the most out of every park day.
Disney park days are active — you’ll walk 20,000 to 30,000 steps in a single day. A rest day in the middle of your trip gives everyone fresh energy for the parks ahead.
Good rest day options at Walt Disney World Resort:
- Resort pool time. Every Disney Resort hotelhas a themed pool with slides and splash areas. Kids often say the pool day was their favorite.
- Disney Springs®. Free to visit. It has shops, restaurants, a bowling alley, and lots to see for kids. You don’t need a park ticket.
- Water parks. Two options: Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Both have slides and lazy rivers. Disney rotates closures, so check the schedule before your trip.
- Mini golf. Disney’s Fantasia Gardens and Disney’s Winter Summerland are fun, low-key outings.
- Character dining. Book a character breakfast at a resort restaurant. You’ll can meet Mickey, Minnie, and more friends without entering a park.
Schedule the rest day after your second or third park day. That’s when a recharge helps the most.
The bonus park day
Four park days cover all four parks. But a fifth park day opens up options:
- Revisit your favorite park. Most families want to go back to Magic Kingdom Park or EPCOT for rides they missed or want to repeat.
- Take your time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Love Star Wars or Toy Story? A second day means more time in your favorite lands.
- Park hop without pressure. Use the Park Hopper Option to start at one park in the morning and finish at another in the evening. The Disney Skyliner connects EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in about 15 minutes.
A five-park-day trip (with one rest day and travel days) means seven days total. That’s the sweet spot for most families.
What’s new in 2026
Changes across the four parks affect how you plan your days in 2026.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the most new experiences. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run adds a Mandalorian and Grogu mission on May 22. The Muppets take over Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster in summer. A new area called The Walt Disney Studios opens with a hands-on animation experience. Star Wars fans, Muppet fans, and animation fans all have a reason to spend two days here.
Magic Kingdom Park welcomes back Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in spring. The coaster has new Rainbow Caverns scenes with updated lighting and effects. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin returns with new ride vehicles and real-time scoring. Both rides make a full Magic Kingdom day even fuller.
EPCOT debuts Soarin’ Across America by Memorial Day. This new film takes you across the United States for the country’s 250th anniversary. Frozen Ever After now has updated Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff figures.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is in a transition year. DINOSAUR and DinoLand U.S.A.® closed in February. A new Tropical Americas land opens in their place in 2027. Bluey and Bingo arrive in summer for meet-and-greets. With fewer rides open, Disney’s Animal Kingdom takes less than a full day in 2026. That frees up time for a second day at another park.
Sample trip lengths
| Trip length | Park days | Rest days | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 nights / 5 days | 3 | 0 | Budget trips, repeat visitors who know their favorites |
| 5 nights / 6 days | 4 | 1 | First-timers who want one day per park plus recovery |
| 6 nights / 7 days | 5 | 1 | The sweet spot — all four parks, a bonus day, and a rest day |
| 7 nights / 8 days | 5 | 2 | Families with young kids or anyone who wants a slower pace |
| 9+ nights | 5–6 | 2–3 | Longer stays that include water park days and Disney Springs |
Once you know how many days you need, the crowd calendar can help you choose the best dates.
Do ticket prices go down per day if you book more days?
How to decide your Disney World trip length
How many days do you need at Disney World? It depends on your group, your pace, and whether you’ve visited before.
First-timers
Book at least five nights (six days). That gives you four park days plus a rest day. You’ll see all four theme parks without feeling rushed. If your budget allows, add a sixth park day. Visit Magic Kingdom Park twice — it has the most to do.
Families with young kids
Add an extra rest day. Toddlers and preschoolers do best with built-in downtime. Two rest days mixed in keep everyone happier. Try pool mornings and short park afternoons for a relaxed pace. Check height requirements before your trip so you know which rides your little ones can enjoy.
Repeat visitors
You might spend less time at a park you’ve explored before and more time at your favorites. Four to five nights works well. Use the Park Hopper Option to mix and match parks throughout the day.
Large groups and multigenerational trips
Book longer. Different family members want different things. A seven- or eight-night trip gives grandparents rest days. Parents and kids can still enjoy the parks at their own pace. A Good Story Vacations travel advisor can help you build a plan that fits the whole group.
What about travel days?
Save your arrival and departure days for settling in and wrapping up.
- Arrival day. Check in, settle into your room, and pick up MagicBand+ wristbands. Explore your resort. If you haven’t already, set up My Disney Experience so everything is ready for your first park day. If you arrive early, head to Disney Springs for dinner.
- Departure day. Pack up and check out. A late flight lets you squeeze in a few morning hours at a park with Early Theme Park Entry. Keep it relaxed — no need to pack in a full park day.
Your trip length equals park days plus rest days plus two travel days. A four-park-day trip with one rest day needs seven days total.
Tips to get more out of fewer days
Every trip can feel like the right length with a little planning:
- Use Early Theme Park Entry. All Walt Disney World Resort guests enter the parks 30 minutes early every day. Ride the big rides first before crowds build.
- Buy Lightning Lane. Lightning Lane Multi Pass lets you skip standby lines at select rides. Lightning Lane Single Pass covers the highest-demand rides. Both save time.
- Start early, take a midday break. Hit the park at rope drop. Return to your resort for pool time during the warmest hours. Go back for evening rides and fireworks.
- Eat at off-peak times. Lunch at 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM means shorter waits at restaurants and more time on rides.
- Add Enchanting Extras on longer trips. With five or more park days, you have room for premium add-ons like behind-the-scenes tours, dessert parties, or lightsaber-building workshops without cutting into ride time.
