All right, you’re packed, ready and have done all of your research – time to have a blast and squeeze in all those parks, rides and activities that are so cool! Ok, now take a deep breath. Will you truly enjoy everything you’re doing if you’re too tired to stand up? I think not! One of the most important parts of doing Disney World on a budget is budgeting your time and energy. This can widely vary for everyone, so I’m going to go through some general timetables that can make your experience much more enjoyable. First of all, make sure to read through the previous Transport and Lodgings & Lodgings in my Disney World on a Budget collection. Second, here is a list of the essentials needed for travelling to Disney World. If you pack these and nothing else, you will be good for a week-long trip. Make sure to multiply it by the number of people in your party. Warning – it’s probably not what you would guess!
- Sunscreen. Try to choose a mineral based reef-safe composition. These hold up longer in the Orlando sun and humdity than chemical based. Reapply after pools, waterparks, and every 4 hours or so – 2 hours for chemical compositions. (Chemical based are sold in all Trading Posts)
- A sun hat. Goofy though it may sound, that wide brimed sun hat will literally save your neck. If you don’t have one, Disney Springs will have quite a few places to buy them. Not in the mood for the cowboy or fedora styles? Try a surf shop! They will have a wider selection of beach hats. I got mine at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop in the Disney Springs Market Place.
- Outfits for 4-5 days. Choose breathable materials, and if you are travelling from a cooler climate, bring an additional pair of shorts to put on as soon as you arrive in Orlando. Your body won’t have adjusted to the heat and humidty yet. Don’t forget a swim suit! Most Disney Resorts have laundry services available – if you don’t feel like packing an entire week’s worth of clothing or put on too much sunscreen, don’t worry about it!
- Toothbrush, toothpaste (these may be available upon request at most Disney Resorts) and deodorant. Unless you wear makeup on a daily basis, this is all you will need. Everything else is provided at your resort. If you want to challenge yourself, go makeup-free for the length of your Disney trip…the sun does wonders for your skin!
- Snacks. I pack a couple protein bars in the bottom of my backpack just in case. If you’re more sensitive to food and prefer to have your own, bring a small cooler bag. The largest size that Disney allows into the theme parks is the size of a small lunch bag.
- Your phone. The My Disney Experience app will be your friend! It acts as your room key (though you can always ask for a physical one at the front desk), gives you the ability to place moblie orders at restaurants, view park and restaurant hours, menus and so forth. If you’re a park fanatic, another great app is Disney’s Magic Guide. This will list wait times on all of the rides in each park, as well as park hours, restaurant locations within parks and resorts and has a map of each theme park as well as Disney Springs.
These 10 items will fit quite neatly into a carry-on sized suitcase, eliminating the need to check luggage (if flying) or hauling around an overstuffed suitcase that weighs more than your dog. Excellent – now we know the essentials to pack! Let’s move on to scheduling all of those fun, exciting Disney World activities.
Here is a sample of how I would schedule 7 days at Disney World. More details to come.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | |
| Early morning 6 – 8 AM | Travelling | Breakfast! 7 or 8 AM (before kiddos are up!) | Breakfast! 7 or 8 AM | Sleep in |
| Mid-morning 9 – 11 AM | Travelling | Animal Kingdom | Hollywood Studios | Later breakfast (9 or 10 AM) |
| Early afternoon 12 – 2 PM | Arrive in Orlando – Arrive at your resort (most resort check-ins are at 3 PM) – Have some lunch | – Have a quick lunch at one of the counter service restaurants – Ride the Na’vi River Journey | – Lunch – See the Star Wars exhibit – Ride Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad | Blizzard Beach (12 – 5 PM) – Float down Cross Country River – Cruise down Runoff Rapids – Ride Teamboat Springs |
| Late afternoon 3 – 5 PM | – Check in to your Resort – Unpack a bit – Check your Disney apps and get to know your resort | Back to your resort… – More sunscreen! – Chill out for about 30 minutes – Take another 10 minutes to plan the evening | Back to your resort… – Break out that swimsuit and cool off at the pool – Visit the Trading Post – Grab a snack | Blizzard Beach (12 – 5 PM) Disney Springs (5 – 8 PM) |
| Early evening 6 – 8 PM | – Have a light dinner – Take a walk – Catch a Movie Under the Stars | – Have some dinner at your resort – Take a short walk – Relax and hang out | Back to Hollywood Studios… – Finish up some rides – Get some dinner | Disney Springs – Grab a late lunch/early dinner – More sunscreen! – Shop around and grab a Dole Whip! |
| Late evening 9 – 11 PM | – Watch some fireworks – Wind down | – Wind down & early bedtime | – Watch Wonderful World of Animation (9 PM) – Head back and chill out for 30 minutes before bed | Back to your resort… – Catch a Movie Under the Stars – Hang out |
| Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
| Early morning 6 – 8 AM | Breakfast! (7 or 8 AM) | Breakfast! (7 or 8 AM) | Breakfast! (7 or 8 AM) |
| Mid-morning 9 – 11 AM | Take a walk | Magic Kingdom | Resort Check-out (11 AM) – Disney’s Magical Express |
| Early afternoon 12 – 2 PM | Epcot – Spaceship Earth – Grab a snack – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – Living with the Land | – Fantasy Land – Adventure Land – Get a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle | Travelling |
| Late afternoon 3 – 5 PM | Back to your resort | – Frontier Land – Tomorrow Land | Travelling |
| Early evening 6 – 8 PM | Epcot – Get some dinner at Rose & Crowne Dining Room – Explore World Showcase | – Liberty Square – Main St. USA – Have some dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern | Travelling |
| Late evening 9 – 11 PM | – Watch the Epcot fireworks – Head back to your resort – Wind down for 30 mins | – Main St. USA – Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks – Head back and wind down for 30 mins | The end! |
There are a couple rules for pacing those crazy days:
- No more than 2 parks per day
- At least 1 midday break around 2 or 3 PM
- Always take 15-30 mins after breakfast before going to any parks or attractions
- Always take 30 minutes – 1 hour in the evenings after returning from parks to wind down before going to bed. Disney is a large mental and adrenaline load and your brain time to process and digest the day.
- Never skip a meal unless you’ve had a late breakfast.
- Drink enough water. Either bring a water bottle or stop by the counter of any quick service restaurant and they will give you a free cup of water. 3 hours is the max to go without water at Disney.
This is why I love staying at the Disney Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. They are centrally located and it’s easy to go back for a break before hitting another park or event. If you’re looking for non park activities, take a look through the World Beyond the Parks and Disney Springs from my Disney in Two Days series.
There are many more events, attractions and things to do at Disney World. I’ve learned through experience that trying to do them all at once is impossible for any human. Remember, your brain needs to recharge just like your smartphone, car or any other device. Always give yourself a break when you need one. Even if that means skipping the parks for a minute and walking around your resort, the Boardwalk hanging out at the pool or sitting in your room for an hour or two.
Join me next time for more tips and tricks that will help you create a Disney World experience of fun and magical times! As always, check disneyworld.disney.go for current info!
