You’ve read all of the guidebooks, watched all of the videos, checked all of the expert sites (including DFB, of course) and yet you might still be wondering just how many days you’ll need to spend in Disney World to see and do everything you want.

We totally get it — we’re in the parks every single day and sometimes it feels like we could live at Disney World and still not have time to see and do every little thing. But luckily, our years of Disney World experience have given us the tools to help you answer this very question. We’ve put together a few different options depending on what type of Disney World vacation you want to experience — let’s dive in!

Whether you might be planning a quick weekend trip to Disney World or you want to take your time, we can help you determine exactly what might work for you, and how long you should plan to be in the most magical place on earth.

The Long Weekend (2-3 days)

A quick weekend trip can be perfect for locals, Annual Passholders, and guests who travel to Disney World frequently (think a few times per year or more!). Seasoned pros often know the lay of the land, and don’t have to spend as much time trying to figure out which attractions to ride or where to stop for lunch.

If you travel to Disney World frequently, you probably already know which parks you like and want to visit, which eliminates the need for planning time in all four parks if you don’t have the opportunity this trip.

Not only that, but if you know you’re heading back to Disney World in the near future, you can split your plans up in between trips!

Value resorts are perfect for long weekend trips to Disney World if you’re not planning on spending too much time in the room, as they do tend to be smaller. We love the family suites at Art of Animation, and Pop Century is another value resort along the Skyliner that makes for easy transportation, as well!

We’re not the only ones who love Disney’s value resorts, either.

Click here to see how fans ranked Disney World value resorts!

Disney Park Marathon (4-6 days)

If the main purpose of your trip is to visit all four Disney World parks, a good starting place is to plan for one park per day. People sometimes argue that certain parks are “half-day” parks, but to really experience the magic of each park, we recommend spending one full day per park. This gives you time to explore and really take it all in!

When planning a Disney World trip with kiddos, it’s a good idea to budget at least one rest day in there somewhere. You may be thinking, “What?! Waste our precious time by not being in a park?!” Well, YES! Full park days can be exhausting — even for adults — and you’re going to be tired. Carving out some time to spend at your hotel pool or even shopping and dining in Disney Springs can be the difference between a good Disney trip and a GREAT Disney trip.

Even for adults, four parks in four days is a bit of a stretch — but if you know what you’re getting yourself into it can be done. While value resorts are a great option, budgeting for a moderate resort like Coronado Springs or Port Orleans can give your rest day an upgraded feel!

You will find Disney World’s mid-priced resorts generally have more luxurious pools for lounging — often with transportive theming. There are also more choices for dining at the moderate resorts. Just imagine, poolside with a drink in your hand and not a care in the world.

Check out our 50 all-time BEST Disney dining tips here.

Take It All In (7-10 days)

If you want to see all the parks have to offer and still have plenty of time to relax, a week or so might be the perfect amount of time. You’ll have the ability to spend one full day in each park — and maybe even a second if you discover a favorite!

You can even stagger pool days in between your park trips to really rest and recover before another full day of attractions and excitement. Plus, having more time to explore the property means discovering exciting new restaurants at other resorts you might not have had the chance to otherwise. Not to mention all the different recreational activities that are offered at each resort — the possibilities are endless.

If a little R&R is what you’re after on your Disney World vacation, we love the pools at Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, and Yacht and Beach Club!

Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club even has a lazy river!

These are the BEST Disney World pools, according to our readers.

The Ultimate Disney World Vacation (10+ days)

To truly have a non-rushed experience and be able to take your time, 10 days to two weeks is ideal. This way, you’ll have time to see and do everything on your list without feeling like you’ve packed too much into your trip.

Want to go back for that souvenir you saw at Disney Springs the other day? No problem, because you have the time! With 10 plus days in Disney World, you can visit each park twice if you want, plus Typhoon Lagoon, Disney Springs, multiple incredible resort restaurants, and so much more. 

For the most comfortable extended stay in Disney World, a deluxe resort or DVC resort will probably be your best bet if you’ve got the dough! Deluxe resorts offer the most benefits and amenities (including additional hours in the parks both early morning AND late night!) and feature incredible theming — not to mention the luxurious, upscale hotel vibes.

Trust us, we wish Disney World offered long-term rentals, too.

Here’s how guests ranked Disney’s deluxe resort hotels!

Things to Consider

Keep in mind that there are many factors that can affect your Disney vacation, so it’s important to figure out your priorities ahead of your trip. Attractions? Character meet and greets? Dining experiences?

How far you have to travel to Disney World can be a huge factor, and international guests often stay for longer periods of time because they have traveled further to get to Florida, and because residents of many countries traditionally take longer vacations than many Americans. Whether or not you’re bringing kiddos along can affect how many rest days you might want and if you’re going to have a jam-packed trip or go with the flow. Be flexible!

Remember that no matter how many days you’re planning in the parks, you’ll need to book park pass reservations for each park day — you can park hop after 2PM as long as you’ve scanned into the first park at which you’ve booked a reservation. Pro tip: Buses start running park to park around 1:30PM so you can often hop a little early!

Your perfect Disney World vacation is waiting for you — whether it’s two days long or 10 days long! No matter the amount of time you plan on spending in Disney World, it’s important to have a plan so you can best maximize your time. And don’t forget, things can go wrong even in Disney World, so be flexible and try to have a magical time!

If you can use some help planning your next Disney World trip, our friends over at Small World Vacations can help you figure out how many days you need and will fit into your budget. For the latest Disney news, be sure to stay tuned to DFB!

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