Taking your family to Disney World is an exciting must-do for most Americans. But it can also be a lot of work, activity, and crowds. As you plan your Disney vacation, finding the right itinerary of days at the parks is essential for a successful trip. How can you do this? Here are a few tips to find your perfect balance.
1. Consider Multiple Short Trips. If you have small children or your schedule is simply going to be too crammed to fully enjoy all the parks, consider planning more than one trip. Instead of one long, tiring week, try two different weekends. Close enough to drive? Do one park per month. Take advantage of discounts and off seasons to make this work.
2. Use a Day On/Day Off Method. No one says that you must do a Disney vacation consecutively. Instead, build in buffer time by taking a day off between each park day. This day can be used to relax at your resort, to visit a different Disney property, or to explore other attractions in the Orlando area. You and your kids will be ready for a new park assault after a break.
3. Break Up the Middle. Many families want to spend a solid week doing Disney, and this gives you a good opportunity to take a longer break during the middle. The advantage of this plan versus taking one day off is that it allows you to explore farther afield, even going to another part of the state on your days off.
4. Focus On New Activities. Have you visited any Disney parks before? Then think about how you might free up time by skipping some things you've already experienced. While there is always some variation between rides in different parks, classics like the Mad Tea Party or Pirates of the Caribbean may be skippable in lieu of unique attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage or Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.
5. Take Advantage of Off Hours. Think outside the box when it comes to park days. Instead of the traditional one-park-per-day method, start out in a park with early morning hours, take a break at your resort or do something different midday, and then go to a park with late hours. For instance, start out at 8 am with the animals of Animal Kingdom and then go to EPCOT for the fireworks and a late dinner.
Want more ideas for creating the right itinerary for your Disney World visit? Start by consulting with an experienced Disney vacation planner. With their help and your creative approach, you'll craft the perfect Disney vacation.