Disney World Itinerary (6 Days Planned By an Orlando Local)
With more than 50 rides, plenty of shows and experiences, endless food options, and too many photo ops to list out, a Walt Disney World vacation can be a beast to plan.
As a former Disney cast member turned travel writer, I’ve put together the perfect Disney World itinerary to take care of all the planning for you. This schedule hits all the best attractions and breaks down each of the Disney World park itineraries.
Table of Contents
Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions when you make a purchase or hotel reservation through one of our affiliate partners. Note that this site has no affiliation with The Walt Disney Company or its subsidiaries. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
6 Day Disney World Itinerary
Day 1 – Animal Kingdom
🦁 Also read my full Animal Kingdom Itinerary.
Spend your first day at Disney World at Animal Kingdom, my favorite theme park. The Walt Disney Company designed Animal Kingdom with several “hidden” trails that lead you past exotic animals. Wander through some of these trails as soon as you walk through the entrance gate.
Continue heading straight onto Discovery Island where you’ll see the park’s icon, the Tree of Life. The path to the left of the tree will bring you to Creature Comforts. Pick up some Starbucks coffee and a pastry to fuel up for the day. From here, you’ll work counter-clockwise around the park to efficiently see and do everything.
Make your way to Pandora – The World of Avatar to ride Flight of Passage, one of the best attractions at Disney World. Children will enjoy the Na’vi River Journey boat ride, but you can skip it if the wait is too long. Grab a quick lunch at Satu’li Canteen before continuing to Africa.
Take the boardwalk path along the water to avoid the crowds. You’ll run right into the Festival of the Lion King show. After you enjoy the show, walk through Africa to hop on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Continue the animal viewing on the Gorilla Falls Expedition Trail, where you can see hippos and gorillas. Adults in your party can grab yummy beverages at the Dawa Bar.
Make your way to Asia and walk through the Maharajah Jungle Trek. If you’re ready to cool off, ride Kali River Rapids and prepare to get soaked! Then, ride Expedition Everest, Animal Kingdom’s only rollercoaster.
Before heading to dinner, make a stop in Dinoland U.S.A. to ride DINOSAUR. Two of the best dinner options in Animal Kingdom are Flame Tree Barbecue, for a casual quick-service dinner, and Tiffins Restaurant, for a more up-scale table-service option.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom does not have a fireworks show due to the animals. Instead, enjoy the Tree of Life Awakenings, shows that are projected onto the iconic tree. Head back to your Disney hotel early to get a good night’s rest because you still have five more days of fun.
You can also check out my full post laying out the perfect Animal Kingdom itinerary.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Animal Kingdom Lodge ($$$, animals outside your window), Coronado Springs Resort ($$, newly renovated)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Tiffins Restaurant ($$$), Flame Tree Barbecue ($), Satu’li Canteen ($)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Dawa Bar ($), Nomad Lounge ($$)
Day 2 – Magic Kingdom
🏰 Also read my full Magic Kingdom Itinerary.
You can’t visit Walt Disney World without spending a day in the Magic Kingdom theme park, so get up bright and early. If you are staying at a Disney resort, you can enjoy Extra Magic Hours and enter 30 minutes before the park opening. Grab a quick breakfast at your hotel before heading to Magic Kingdom.
Arrive at park opening and have your camera ready when you enter the park because the view of Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A. is breathtaking. Take a left before you get to the castle to enter Adventureland. Ride the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean, two of Magic Kingdom’s most popular rides.
Then make your way over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain in Frontierland. Skip Tom Sawyer Island (unless you have kids that need to run off some energy). Enjoy a quick-service lunch at Pecos Bill Cafe or Columbia Harbour House.
When you finish eating, get ready for a spooky adventure in the Haunted Mansion. As you then enter Fantasyland, prepare yourself for all the rides! You won’t want to miss Peter Pan Flight, “it’s a small world”, Journey of the Little Mermaid, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Finish your day in Tomorrowland and ride Space Mountain, the PeopleMover, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Enjoy a special Magic Kingdom dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the castle or eat in the Beast’s castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant.
Grab your favorite Magic Kingdom treat, like DOLE Whip or a candy apple, before you find a spot in front of the castle for the nighttime shows. Beacon of Magic is a projection show on the castle. The fireworks are best viewed a third of the way from the castle to the park entrance.
Be sure to also bookmark my full post laying out the perfect Magic Kingdom itinerary.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Grand Floridian Resort ($$$, luxury and convenience), Polynesian Village Resort ($$$, Magic Kingdom fireworks views), Contemporary Resort ($$$, a Disney classic)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Skipper Canteen ($$), Be Our Guest Restaurant ($$$$), Cinderella’s Royal Table ($$$$), Columbia Harbour House ($)
- 📚 Related Reading: Learn about the Best Time to Go to Disney World. Visiting during the low season means fewer crowds and shorter wait times.
Day 3 – Hotel and Disney Springs
After two full days at theme parks, sleep in and enjoy a slow morning at your hotel. Eat breakfast, walk around the property, and enjoy that Florida sunshine by the pool. I always recommend a relaxing day in the middle of your Walt Disney World trip to offset the fast-paced days at the parks.
Around lunchtime, head over to explore the fun things to do at Disney Springs. This is a shopping and entertainment area located at the Walt Disney World Resort. Enjoy lunch and a show at my favorite restaurant, Raglan Road Irish Pub.
Catch a movie at the AMC theater and then ride the Aerophile. This hot air balloon will take you 400 feet in the air for 360 degrees views of the Disney property.
Right on time for happy hour, create your own bar crawl by stopping at Dockside Margaritas, Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar, the Hole in the Wall Bar, and more. Before heading back to your hotel, have dinner at one of the many table service restaurants. Morimoto Asia and The BOATHOUSE both serve mouthwatering food.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Saratoga Springs Resort ($$, two fantastic pools), Old Key West Resort ($$$, pure relaxation), Port Orleans Resort ($$, Southern charm)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: The BOATHOUSE ($$), Morimoto Asia ($$), Raglan Road Irish Pub ($$), Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ ($$)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Dockside Margaritas ($), Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar ($), Hole in the Wall Bar ($)
- 📚 Related Reading: Disney Springs is free to visit, but it’s just one of many Free Things to Do in Orlando.
Day 4 – Epcot
🌎 Also read my Epcot itinerary.
Don’t worry about eating a big breakfast when you visit Epcot. There are more than 30 dining and snack options available throughout the theme park. Plan to eat fun and international cuisine throughout the day.
After you pass under Spaceship Earth (fondly known as the Epcot ball), head left into World Discovery (previously Future World). You’ll want to go to Test Track as early as possible to avoid a long wait. After you ride Test Track, hop on Mission: SPACE for a journey into outer space.
Before you head out into the World Showcase, walk over to World Nature. Here you can ride Soarin’ Around the World and visit the SeaBase aquarium. One unique attraction is Living with the Land where you can enjoy a slow boat ride through sustainable greenhouses.
Spend the rest of your day wandering through the different countries of the World Showcase. In the great debate of which direction you should start, I am team Canada over Mexico (most people choose to head into Mexico first). Take your time exploring each country. They all have restaurants, bars, snack stands, and specialty shops for you to visit.
Some of my favorite stops around the World Showcase are the Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom, La Crêperie de Paris in France, the stores in Japan, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Italy, the Werther’s Original Karamell-Kuche store in Germany, and Kringla Bakeri in Norway.
The center of the lagoon is home to Harmonious, Epcot’s nighttime light, and fireworks show. Make dining reservations at La Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico for 30-60 minutes before the show. When you check in, ask to be seated by the windows to enjoy one of the coolest dining experiences of a Disney trip.
Be sure to check out my full post laying out the perfect Epcot itinerary.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Boardwalk Inn ($$$, central location), Yacht & Beach Club ($$$, best pool on property), Swan and Dolphin Hotel ($$, fantastic amenities)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Coral Reef Restaurant ($$), La Crêperie de Paris ($$), Le Cellier Steakhouse ($$$), Biergarten Restaurant ($$$)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: La Cava del Tequila ($), Rose & Crown Pub ($), Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar ($)
Day 5 – Hollywood Studios
🎬 Also check out my Hollywood Studios itinerary
I find that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has some of the longest wait times at Disney World. The attractions are either must-do thrill rides or ones you won’t mind missing, meaning the wait times for the good attractions are almost always long (especially in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). Disney World offers a paid option for shorter wait times called Lightning Lane (previously FastPass). If you are going to spend the extra money to cut down your wait times, this is the park to do it.
If you arrive first thing in the morning, you’ll see that a majority of guests head to the back of the park to visit Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. I recommend you turn right onto Sunset Boulevard instead. Ride the classics, Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, before the lines get too long.
Watch the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular before getting lunch. Since there’s still a lot to see at Hollywood Studios, get a quick-service meal at ABC Commissary. Hollywood Studios has a few different quick-service and table-service dining options, but I like ABC Commissary for the location and menu.
In the early afternoon, head into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Both attractions, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run, are fantastic. To complete this intergalactic visit grab some blue milk or a drink from Oga’s Cantina.
Whether you’re visiting Disney World with kids or as a kid at heart, Toy Story Land is a can’t-miss experience. Slinky Dog Dash, a recent addition to the theme park, is a thrilling roller coaster that is exciting enough for adults but still tame enough for children. Toy Story Land is also home to Toy Story Mania, an arcade shooting ride.
Enjoy a special dining experience at The Hollywood Brown Derby or laugh as “Ma” yells at you to get your elbows off the table at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe. Following dinner, ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Be sure to also bookmark my full post laying out the perfect Hollywood Studios itinerary.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Riviera Resort ($$$, brand-new opulence), Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser ($$$$$, immersive experience), Art of Animation Resort ($$, classic movie themes)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: ABC Commissary ($), 50’s Prime Time Cafe ($$), The Hollywood Brown Derby ($$$), Woody’s Lunch Box ($)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: BaseLine Tap House ($), Oga’s Cantina ($$)
- 👉 Special Note: Hollywood Studios’ nighttime show, Fantasmic, is currently not operating (as of February 2022).
Day 6 – Blizzard Beach
Walt Disney World itineraries would not be complete without a day at one of the water parks. I prefer Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon, but each water park is phenomenal.
When you enter the water park, you should first find some good seats. There are lockers available for your valuables, but you’ll want to set up everything else at a “home base”. Seating around the wave pool fills up quickly. Ask a cast member to direct you to one of the many beach areas throughout the park.
After a Disney vacation of waiting in lines and dealing with crowds, use this day to relax. Some of my favorite rides here are Summit Plummet, Teamboat Springs, the Chairlift, the lazy river, and the wave pool.
Grab lunch at Lottawatta Lodge and bring your food back to your chairs for the beach day experience. When you need an afternoon treat, you must get some of the mini donuts.
The park hours usually end near sunset, so soak in the remaining sunshine and reminisce on your epic Disney vacation.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: All-Star Resort ($, affordable and convenient), Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek ($$, great location)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Lottawatta Lodge ($), Mini Donuts by Joffrey’s Coffee ($), Warming Hut ($)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Polar Pub ($)
- 📚 Related Reading: If you’re interested in a day away from Disney, you can read up on the Best Things to Do in Orlando and Epic Day Trips from Orlando.
How to Get Around Walt Disney World
Buses
Disney has buses that run between the resorts, theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. The buses do not run between resorts though. Depending on the time of day and which resort you are staying at, bus travel can be a quick or slow option.
Monorails
The monorails are iconic at Walt Disney World and everyone should take a ride at least once. There are three routes:
- The Transportation and Ticket Center (aka Magic Kingdom parking) to the Magic Kingdom
- A loop with stops at the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, and Magic Kingdom
- The Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot
Boats
The main boat transportation at Disney World is the ferry between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom. There are also transportation boats that connect some of the resorts with theme parks or Disney Springs.
Skyliner
The Skyliner is a gondola ride and it is the newest transportation option at Walt Disney World. Riding the Skyliner allows you to move between Epcot, Disney’s Boardwalk, Hollywood Studios, Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century Resort, and Art of Animation Resort.
👉 Read Next: What to Pack for a Disney Vacation
Disney World Itinerary Planning Tips
You can also see my full list of 49 Disney World tips.
Tip #1 – Skip the Park Hopper
The Park Hopper add-on for your theme park admission is an unnecessary cost if you are spending at least 4 days at Walt Disney World. There is no need for park-hopping between two parks (or more). You’ll use your time more efficiently if you stay at one park per day.
If your visit is shorter than 4 days and you must visit two Disney parks in one day, I recommend combining a morning at Animal Kingdom and an afternoon at Hollywood Studios.
Tip #2 – Use Free Transportation
The biggest perk of staying at one of the Disney resorts is access to free transportation. Disney utilizes buses, monorails, boats, and gondolas to connect all the Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, the water parks, and the resorts.
📚 Related Reading: How to Visit Orlando on a Budget
Tip #3 – Plan Ahead
It can be overwhelming to plan a trip to Walt Disney World because there are endless options for hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Trust me that it is worth it to spend a little time planning your Disney World itinerary ahead of time!
By planning in advance, you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest without worrying about making a ton of decisions every day. You can use the My Disney Experience app to keep track of all your plans.
If you’re on a budget, be sure to read my Disney World budgeting guide.
Tip #4 – Don’t Overcommit on Your Itinerary
It is tempting to try to fit every restaurant, attraction, and show into your itinerary. Unless you have an unlimited budget and time, this is unrealistic. Prioritize your favorite activities and anything else will just be a bonus. You won’t be able to truly enjoy your visit if you are rushing and worrying.
👉 Read Next: Where to Stay in Orlando (By a Local)
Disney Itinerary Planning FAQ
How many days do you need at Walt Disney World?
A 6-day Disney World itinerary gives you plenty of time to visit the four main parks and everything else Disney World has to offer, like the water parks, Disney Springs, and the miniature golf courses.
What order should you visit Disney World parks?
On your first day at Disney World, head to Animal Kingdom for a slow-paced day after traveling to Orlando. After a restful night, spend the entire day at Magic Kingdom to hit all the classics. On day three, head to Epcot for an international adventure and all the food you could want. Finish up your visit at Hollywood Studios, where you can enter the worlds of your favorite movies.
Is 4 days enough for Disney World?
A 4-day Disney World itinerary is enough time to visit the parks. If you want to also visit the water parks or spend a day at your hotel, you will want to extend the length of your vacation.
🏰 Read Next: 3 Day Itinerary for Disneyland
***
This 6 day Walt Disney World itinerary takes you to all the Disney parks and hits the best attractions.
If you use this itinerary on your visit to the Disney resort, let me know in the comments what your favorite was!
Oh, and before you go, be sure to bookmark all my free Orlando travel guides for more local advice!
Hello Katie. I enjoyed reading your post. We’re going to DisneyWorld on July 4th week for the first time. We’re from the Pacific NorthWest, so my kids cannot handle the heat very well. However, it’s DisneyWorld, so they cannot resist. How would you arrange the days at the parks in order, so we can enjoy the most of it without suffering too much? I understand it’s going to be so crowded because it’s July 4th. I’m thinking of Day 1: Hollywood Studio, Day 2: Magic Kingdom, Day 3: rest, Day 4: Animal Kingdom, Day 5: EPCOT, Day 6: check out and go home. Our Day 2 will fall on July 4th, I’m sure it’s gonna be really crowded at MK, should we avoid MK and switch it with EPCOT? please let me know your thoughts. Thank you 🙂
Hi Chau! July 4th is a fun time to visit Disney World, but you’re right that it will be busy. On July 4th, Magic Kingdom will be the busiest park, followed by Epcot. I would recommend heading to Animal Kingdom or taking a rest day at your hotel.
Another tip for managing the heat: Wake up as early as possible and get to the theme parks at opening. If you are staying at one of the Disney resort hotels, head back there for lunch, a nap, or pool time before returning to the same theme park around 4 or 5. You will still have plenty of time at the park. and avoid the hottest part of the day.
Have a great vacation!
I’m planning a 7 day trip to Disney for my family for 2023. We have kids aged 12 and 9. Your tips were very helpful! I think we will likely skip Epcot and spend 2 days at one of the parks (either Hollywood or Magic Kingdom). Do you have a recommendation to spend 2 days at either of those parks?
On a random note, I went to University with one of the guys to the left in the picture; his name is Jeremy 🙂
Hi Liza! What a small world! Jeremy is my husband and he’s living down here in Orlando now. For children ages 9 and 12, Hollywood Studios is great if they love Star Wars and thrill rides. However, Magic Kingdom has so many rides that it can be hard to fit them all into one day. A second day there means you can take the days at a slower pace. You really can’t go wrong either way!
Such a small world! You can tell Jeremy I said hi, from an old Guelph Gryphon’s roommate.
Do you think it’s possible to rope drop the theme parks, stay until about 1:00pm and leave to take rest back at the hotel resort for 2-3 hours and return 5-6pm and still be able to do most of the rides and catch the shows?
Thanks,
Liza
He says hello back! 🙂
The day you described is what I recommend to everyone! It is so nice to take a break in the middle of the day and relax/cool off. You will be able to get quite a lot done in your time at the theme park but how many attractions you can visit is going to depend on the time of year. During the summer and winter holidays, the wait times are long for almost all of the attractions. I recommend prioritizing your favorite rides and shows in the morning and then seeing what else you can get to in the afternoon. Right after rope drop and just before closing are the best times to fit in as many rides as possible.
Hi Katie, Ty for all the tips going to study them to plan my trip. Traveling are my
2 Adult children, hubby and I. I’m planning on visiting arriving late on October Tue 10/18/22 to Mon10/24. I was thinking of doing Epcot and Magic kingdom during weekdays and saving Hollywood studios and Animal kingdom for Saturday and Sunday and maybe relaxing on Friday. I thought these would be least busy on the weekdays/weekend. What do u think? Since we are all adults would you do things differently than above itinerary? All recommendation welcomed. Ty Lorena
Hi Lorena,
October is a great time to visit Disney World. Epcot and Magic Kingdom are usually busier parks, so I think it is a good plan to visit those on weekdays. Wait times can get pretty long at Hollywood Studios on the popular attractions, so you might want to visit on Friday. Since some attractions are geared towards younger children, your group of adults may prefer to prioritize the thrill rides. Make sure you explore the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!
Have a great trip!
This is really useful, thank you. Any tips for adding Universal into the mix at all? I’m visiting in April for 2 weeks with 3 children, a real mix of ages. Thank you 😊
Hi Vicky! Two weeks will be plenty of time to visit Disney World and Universal Orlando. If you don’t have accommodations booked yet, I would recommend staying one week at a Disney resort hotel and the other week near Universal or International Drive. While the two resorts are fairly close to each other, you can end up spending a lot of time in traffic and money on parking by driving between the two. By splitting up your trip, it’s like getting two vacations in one!
Enjoy your time in Orlando!
Hello Katie
I am first time visitor to your site, looks great and valuable information, I will explore and do my planning to visit Disney.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Lalith
That’s great advice. My family of four will begin our Magication at Animal Kingdom Lodge in late March for 4 nights, 5 nights at Beach Club, and 5 nights at Polynesian. Then we will spend 3 nights at Universal Studios. I must be crazy but I know we will make it work and take in as much experience as possible with several down days.
Wow! That seems like a fantastic itinerary. I am a little jealous! You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the theme parks and Orlando.
Hi, how & where, do & can I buy the park tickets for the full 5 days visit Disney world? I’m going to in January. Thank you so much.
Hi! You can purchase tickets directly through the Walt Disney World website or you can work with an authorized Disney vacation planner (travel agent).
We are going to DisneyWorld in 2024 for our 50th anniversary with our 3 adult children and their families which include 3 grandchildren. I am undecided whether to go in late September, early October or early April. I want to go with a low risk of bad weather so the grandchildren can enjoy the pool, and plans are to stay at a DisneyWorld resort. Of course, the cost is a factor as well. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi there! For the weather, early April will be warm but comfortable. There may be some afternoon rain storms, but those pass through pretty quickly. Late September and early October are usually pretty hot and there is a small risk of hurricanes. September/October typically has more affordable prices since early April is still considered Spring Break season down here. Late April/early May would be a good time for pricing and weather.
Hi,
We plan to visit Orlando in the 1st week of May, me, my wife and 2 kids (11yrs and 8 yrs). we plan to stay in Orlando for 4-5 days and would like to visit Disney and Universal during our stay. Pls give your recommendations. Thank you
Hi Gautam! Early May is a great time to visit Orlando because it is between spring break and the summer holiday. I recommend finding a hotel between Disney and Universal that offers a complimentary shuttle. In 4-5 days, you won’t be able to hit all the theme parks. Depending on your interests, 2-3 days at Disney and 1-2 days at Universal (visiting one park each day) will allow you to do as much as possible without overtiring your family. Enjoy your vacation!
Hello, We will be spending Thanksgiving Week at Disney. Our flight arrives at MCO at 7:45 am. I was not going to go to a park that day but it’s the last day of the Epcot Food and Wine festival the day we arrive. So this is my plan:
Arrival: Epcot (food and wine)
Day 2: MK
Day 3: Hollywood Studios
Day 4: Pool/Disney Springs and maybe Mickey’s Christmas Party if that happens this day.
Day 5: Animal Kingdom
Day 6: (Thanksgiving) Hollywood Studios or No park day? (looking for advice here on the holdiday). This will be our last night at Disney though so should we be in the parks the last night?
Day 7: Magic Kingdom…leave for airport at 6:30pm for late flight home.
My kids are 9, 15 and 17. Staying at Beach Club. I got park hopper mostly because my teens may want to do their own thing. This is the first trip I’ve planned for our family. Thank you for any advice!!! Greatly appreciated
Hi Anne! I think you have a great itinerary planned. Thanksgiving week isn’t as busy as Christmas, but you should still expect decent crowds. Thursday (Thanksgiving) through Sunday should be the busiest since locals are also off school/work. For Thanksgiving day, I would say head to Hollywood Studios early and then play it by ear. If the crowds get too heavy, you could head to Disney Springs, walk over to Fantasia Gardens, or spend the rest of the day at the hotel and the Boardwalk. (Also, you get cool mom points for thinking of the teens! My friends and I loved having the freedom to explore the parks when we were their age.)
Hi Katie! Your insight is incredible. It’s been years since I’ve been to Disney (like over 20!), and we are taking our kids, ages 8 and 4, in August. We arrive super early on a Sunday (before 10am), and leave on Friday. Originally, I thought to taking it easy on Sunday and skipping Epcot in favor of doing 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, and 1 day at Hollywood Studios. But now, I wonder if I should forgo Hollywood Studios instead of Epcot given my kids’ ages. Thoughts?