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Planning Disney World: How Long?

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, an important factor is figuring out how many days to allot. As mentioned earlier, Disney World is a very different beast from Disneyland, so some of the strategies in planning a Disneyland trip may not apply here.

Disney World consists of four parks. Unlike Disneyland in CA, most parks (with the exception of Epcot) can be covered in one day. Plus, there are two parks at Universal Studios, and I recommend a day for each one. I would also highly recommend setting aside at least one or two days where you take a break from the parks. Theme parks move at a fast pace, and each one is an all-day commitment. It helps to have a day or two where you can slow down the pace. Do some laundry. Shop at International Drive. Check out downtown Orlando. Don’t forget to stop by Downtown Disney. It’s like a mini vacation from your vacation. It’ll help you avoid burning out.

So far, it covers eight days. There are other theme parks, such as Sea World or Busch Gardens. Or you may end up wanting to visit Epcot or Animal Kingdom a second time. Don’t forget to set aside time for your flights to and from Orlando.

Suppose you only have a few days to spend in Orlando. Many of my friends who’ve gone recently told me they only had one or two days and wanted to know which parks to prioritize. It really depends on what you’re looking for.

I would recommend Magic Kingdom if:

- You’re a beginner to Disney parks

- You’re interested in the classic rides such as Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean

- You want a picture with the iconic Cinderella Castle

I would recommend Hollywood Studios if:

- You prefer shows over rides

- You’re looking for thrill rides geared more towards grownups (but don’t worry…there’s also plenty for kids)

I would recommend Animal Kingdom if:

- You have an interest in animals and/or conservation

- You’re a fan of Avatar

I would recommend Epcot if:

- You’d love to travel around the world, experiencing a variety of cultures and foods

- You’re interested in science and technology throughout history

I would recommend Universal Studios if:

- You’re a fan of Simpsons, Transformers, Spongebob, Shrek, or Minions

- You’re a fan of Harry Potter

I would recommend Universal Studios: Islands of Adventures if:

- You’re looking for something similar to Universal in Hollywood but on a grander scale

- You’re looking for something very different from Universal Hollywood

- You’re a fan of Harry Potter

Another question that comes up is whether to purchase single park vs. park hopper tickets. For Disneyland CA, I find great value in the park hopper. But for Disney World FL, the distance among the four parks makes a huge difference. You lose a lot of valuable time hopping from one park to the next, even with the monorail. Depending where your hotel is, you may lose even more time with transportation between the hotel and the Disney property. Park hours also vary. Some parks close earlier than others, and weekdays will close earlier than weekends/peak seasons. I personally find the single park option to be sufficient.

On the other hand, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures are next to each other. Overall, it makes sense to use the single park option here too. The main advantage to getting a park hopper is if you’re a Harry Potter fan. Each park contains a Harry Potter land, and they’re connected by the Hogwarts Express. In order to ride it, you’ll need the park hopper option.

Planning for a Disney World trip is very different from Disneyland. As you decide on trip length and park ticket options, it’s important to weigh what’s important to you in terms of time, money, and objectives. Next, we’ll take an overview look of each park.

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Disney World: From Land to World

Over the past year, a lot of people I know either have traveled to Disney World or are planning to go. For those of you who live on the East Coast, this may not seem like a big deal. For those of us from Hawaii, it’s about a five or six hour plane ride to get to California, which is roughly the same amount of time it would take to fly from California to Florida. To hear this many people traveling to Disney World in such a short time span is pretty surprising.

I traveled to Disney World for the first time in September 2014. I was a veteran of Disneyland, a walking park map. Going to Disney World was a bucket list item, so it was fitting that I did it shortly after turning the big 3-0. I did a lot of research leading up to the trip, including the rides that wouldn’t be found in Disneyland.

When I first entered the Disney property, it struck me how huge it was. It goes without saying that Disney World is much larger than Disneyland, but it’s not until you’re there when you see how much so. Disneyland consists of two theme parks next to each other, a Downtown Disney district, and a few hotels. Disney World consists of four parks, two water parks, a Downtown Disney that’s probably about three times the size of California’s, its own highways, gas stations, camp sites, and a much larger variety of hotels. At 43 square miles, the Disney property is about the size of San Francisco or twice the size of Manhattan. For those of us who live in Hawaii, Honolulu (which is everything from Moanalua to Hawaii Kai) is 60.5 square miles of land (68.4 if you count the water). Imagine Disney owning 2/3 of that.

This allows the four parks to be spread out from each other. From my observation, it’s about 10-15 minute drive from one park to the next—still within Disney property. In Disneyland, everything on property is within walking distance of each other. In Disney World, you’ll definitely need a car, shuttle, or monorail. A ferry is required in addition to access Magic Kingdom. Even Downtown Disney is isolated. This ensures that each park is enclosed. When you’re in Epcot, you’re experiencing only Epcot. You won’t see or hear the fireworks happening at Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom. When you’re at Animal Kingdom, there’s no outside force distracting you from experiencing it the way it was intended.

Because of that, we decided not to pay extra for parkhopper tickets. It made more sense to stay at a single park through the entire day and leave only when closing. We had gotten a deal where we bought four days and got two days free. We spent one day at each of the four parks, then decided which ones were worth repeating. The first bonus day was spent at Epcot. That was definitely worth it. The second was spent at Magic Kingdom. That…wasn’t as worthwhile. There was nothing wrong with Magic Kingdom. When you’re so accustomed to Disneyland, the novelty of Disney World is experiencing new attractions. Magic Kingdom is just like Disneyland—with fewer attractions. By late afternoon, we decided to call it a day.

Over the course of this series, I’ll go into more details of each park, sharing more tips and advice. I’ll share my experiences, what worked and what didn’t. Most of the advice I shared earlier about navigating Disneyland applies here with a few exceptions here and there. If you’re planning to travel to Orlando, there’s a lot to experience that won’t be found in California. This not only applies to Disney, but also to other parks like Universal Studios. With some preparation, your trip to Orlando can be truly magical.

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