Our Walt Disney World itineraries offer strategies for one or more days to visit Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. In addition, there are day trip plans to Universal Studios Florida, Disneyland, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong theme parks. These time-saving tips will help you avoid crowds, long waits and long lines. (Updated on June 25, 2023.)
Itineraries to Florida and California have all been revised as Walt Disney World and Disneyland resume normal operations. Where applicable, we've again updated our Summer 2023 itinerary to include new ride openings, Splash Mountain closures, entertainment changes and more.
These include Disney's 100th Anniversary Celebration, TRON Lightcycle Run, Happily Ever After, EPCOT Forever, Wondrous Journeys, World of Color – ONE and other entertainment. It also covers the depletion of pent-up demand at Walt Disney World and how audience trends there and at other parks around the world are changing...
We visit the park regularly to track wait time data, crowd patterns and other changes. Beyond that, we're constantly testing approaches and fine-tuning our strategy as volume has grown and shrunk over the past few months. These thoroughly revised itineraries are the result of this experience, wait time data and observations.
Other itinerary adjustments include attraction closures, recent restaurant additions, Genie+ and Lightning Pass changes, and various other factors. We typically update our Walt Disney World and Disneyland itineraries each season, or as needed when new attractions open. If the itinerary hasn't been updated in the last few months, it's because nothing has changed.
Our proprietary (not real) park strategy guide is unlike most theme park tours you'll find. We have a balanced approach, prioritize efficiency and avoid long waiting times at attractions ("I love standing in line!" ~No one ever said that, ever), while enjoying the atmosphere of Walt Disney World.
This provides a Disney itinerary that allows you to do a lot while enjoying the sights and services beyond the rides that the theme parks have to offer. We don't just think of the park as a collection of attractions that should be done on a checklist, so the plan balances "getting the job done" with "having a nice, relaxed day."
If this approach sounds appealing to you, check out our itineraries for Walt Disney World, Disney Parks and International Disney Parks…
walt disney world itinerary
With 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, dozens of resort hotels, and plenty of "other stuff" at Walt Disney World, our 1-day plan only scratched the surface. These are our current Walt Disney World Tour plans, all updated to account for the current Crowd Mode, Elf+ and Lightning Passages and more.
We recommend that those traveling to Walt Disney World before Fall 2023 use these when planning Epcot and Magic Kingdom. The plans for the two parks are likely to change sometime between August and November, especially Epcot (EPCOT), which is filling the giant earthen pit in front of the park and will unveil a new nighttime spectacle called Moana Water Journey", etc.
Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios routes have no such shelf life; the parks may be renewed again sometime this year, but nothing new will significantly change the parks' strategies until the end of 2023 or even 2024.
Still, Walt Disney World is feeling the impact of pent-up demand, the return of international travel, special events and longtime fans putting off visits. These trends are fully factored into trip planning, but you should still be aware of the park's realitiesfeel more crowdedmore than ever. Riding is still your best plan of attack, you just might get a little less rides per day.
Magic Kingdom 1 Day Itinerary–An aggressive itinerary at Walt Disney World's flagship park begins early in the morning with Fantasyland and Frontierlands. It also covers treats, shows and more. Usually it's hard to finish the Magic Kingdom in one day, but here it goesMuchclosure.
Futurama 1 Day Itinerary – Few Epcot rides can hit the “big three” (Frozen, Test Track and Soar the World) in one day, but this one does – and with an extremely short wait. You will also fully experience the futuristic world and be able to have fun in the world showcase.
Day trip to Hollywood Studios – Everything you could want at Disney's Hollywood Studios, including Mickey and Minnie's Getaway Railroad, Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, roller coasters and the park's many shows. This DHS tour program also includestoFor table service, this is one of the best themed restaurants at Walt Disney World!
Animal Kingdom 1 Day Itinerary - This is our most counterintuitive itinerary after the reopening. While Animal Kingdom is a full-time park, it requires a different approach than other parks. This itinerary allows you to get in and out of Pandora - The World of Avatar efficiently and avoid the frequent two-hour wait times at the airstrip. It also allows plenty of time to explore, observe animals and eat.
Walt Disney World 3 Day Itinerary- We are big fans of Walt Disney World's "Whirlwind Long Weekend". Of course, you have to compromise with this compression method since there are 4 parks. Here are a few different options and how to get as much of them as possible into a few days, including the best options for park jumping, early access, rappelling, late nights and more.
Magic Kingdom 2 Day Itinerary – If you want to spend 5 days in Walt Disney World, our preferred method is a full day in all parks, plus 2 days in the Magic Kingdom. The pace here is a bit more relaxed, allowing more time for snacks, admiring the beautiful details and dining at some of the best restaurants in the park.
Future World Half Day Itinerary- We definitely don't recommend just spending half a day at EPCOT, but if you do, here's how to hit the headlines and soak up the atmosphere with limited time.
Hollywood Studios Half Day Itinerary- Although very busy at noon, Disney's Hollywood Studios is usually quieter in the evening, so there is plenty to do when you arrive in the afternoon.
Animal Kingdom arrives in the afternoon- Unfortunately, this is still a half-day park for most visitors, and this is exacerbated by the lack of spectacular views at night. The end result is that Animal Kingdom really ends at three or four in the afternoon. Those primarily interested in the rides can visit the entire park in a few hours with this program.
Genie+ Lightning Lane WDW Itinerary
Magic Kingdom + Elves + Lightning Passage-dagstur– The Magic Kingdom is the most useful park for Genie+ and we highly recommend using it here. This walks you through a trial day of booking Lightning Lane with Genie+, providing insight into top priorities and more.
Disney's Hollywood Studios + Elf + Lightning Passage Day Trip – After Magic Kingdom, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the park that makes the most sense to purchase paid Genie+ service. Given the number of headliners, you can easily save four hours queuing just by booking rides like Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Future World 1-Day Itinerary (with Genie+ and Lightning Pass)– Unlike the first two parks, Genie+ is much less useful at Epcot. We only recommend this experience in high season or when planning a visit to the park.
Animal Kingdom+Elves+Lynpassagen day trip- The stories between Animal Kingdom and Epcot are similar and it's easy to switch between the two, starting the day in DAK and ending in Epcot!
Disneyland Resort Itinerary
we recommend twofullDisneyland days, especially after the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and the debut of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad. In addition, Disneyland has a wide variety of nightly entertainment and it can be difficult to see them all in one night when they are all shown.
Plus, spending a full day or longer at Disney California Adventure is ideal for seeing and exploring the more relaxed park without feeling rushed. There is so much entertainment besides the sights that it is difficult to see and see them all in one day.
Disneyland Day Trip Plan - Offering the most aggressive one-day itinerary with the most attractions for a Disney theme park, this Disneyland itinerary starts with Fantasyland, includes strategies from Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and lots of goodies and soaks up the "antique charm" wah Disney's original Magic Kingdom . "
Disney California Adventure Park-dagstursplan – If you want to experience Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, or other DCA thrill rides without the long lines, our Disney California Adventure itinerary is for you. We also have tips for experiencing a "hero meeting" at Avengers Park, getting a boarding pass for a Cobweb Slinger, and more.
Disneyland 2 Day Itinerary – A Disneyland itinerary with respite. This itinerary covers all the same things as our one-day itineraries, while also including sights and activities that you'll have to skip in a day because you're short on time.
Genie+ Lightning Lane DLR Itinerary
Disneyland 1-Day Itinerary (Elf+ and Lightning Pass)– Disneyland is West Coast Park, Genie+ is easier to use, it is recommended to use it here. This walks you through a trial day of booking Lightning Lane with Genie+, providing insight into top priorities and more.
Disney California Wonderland + Elf + Lightning Passage-dagstur – Genie+ is not strictly necessary at DCA due to fewer high profile attractions and a more laid back vibe. Instead, we recommend this tour if you can't make the park time, want to repeat a favorite ride, or plan to park between DCA and Disneyland. Then it can come in handy!
Universal Studios Orlando Itinerary
Universal Studios Florida Day Trip Itinerary– Orlando's "other" Studios theme park, Universal Studios Florida has a lot to love, from the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley to those based on The Simpsons, Transformers, Men in Black, E.T., Despicable Me rides and more. The park offers some fantastic slides and other exciting rides as well as top class entertainment.
Universal Studios Islands of Adventure-dagstur– At Universal Orlando's second gate, you'll find some of Florida's best and most popular theme parks, including Spider-Man's Amazing Adventures, Hulk Coaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Haribo Specials and Forbidden Journey and Hagrid's Fantastic Creatures motorcycle adventure.
Itinerary for a day trip to Universal Park– The most popular tour program so you can see the highlights of both parks. What if you arenoIf you qualify for a fast pass and early park entry, you have absolutely no chance of getting everything done. On most days, you'll be lucky to do half of what Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure have to offer. We strongly recommend that you do soAt least2 days.
Outside WDW Park
- Walt Disney World's new air transport system offers some good opportunities to ride in the gondolas, along the way with delicious dining and a hotel party. This is a half or full day tour, depending on how long you stay at each stop.
Christmas self-guided day trip – The very first itinerary we put out was a "Christmas Self-Guided Getaway" as a way to explore Walt Disney World's many beautiful resorts this Christmas. This completely free plan covers the top Disney vacation attractions, including the towering trees at Wilderness Lodge, the beautiful Gingerbread House of the Great Floridian, and more!
Walt Disney World "Beyond the Park" 1-Day Itinerary - Have a free day but don't want to spend it at the pool or just shopping at Disney Springs? This itinerary takes you to other lesser-known places in Walt Disney World that are as interesting as they are fun.noThere is an entry fee.
International Disneyland
In this case, "international parks" refers to the two parks at Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Paris, as well as Hong Kong Disneyland. Much like Disneyland,none of themTokyo Disneyland or DisneySea can be fully experienced in one day. However, we know how much time most people devote to these parks during their trip to Japan, so here are our plans for these parks:
Tokyo Disneyland Day Trip Plan – Another challenging castle park with plenty of attractions and live entertainment. Still, a Tokyo Disneyland itinerary allows you to visit as much as possible with efficient tour booking.
Tokyo DisneySea Day Trip Plan – Our favorite theme parks in the world. Tokyo DisneySea's itinerary is a tightrope walk that allows you to efficiently complete popular rides while enjoying the beautifully designed park like a fine wine.
Disneyland Paris Day Trip Plan – We take the same "wine" approach here because Disneyland Paris is the most luxurious and best designed castle park in the world. This itinerary strikes the perfect balance.
Disney Studios Day Tour Itinerary- Honestly, WDSP is far from the Castle Park next door and is a utilitarian park. This itinerary gets you in and out as quickly as possible, so you can finish the rides and shows here and then return to Disneyland Paris in no time.
Hong Kong Disneyland One Day Tour Itinerary- this heretheHong Kong Disneyland, a quaint, uncrowded Disney park, is the only castle park that doesn't require an effective attack plan. Still, queuing is never fun, so the Hong Kong Disneyland itinerary covers the order of the popular rides here.
This covers our Disneyland itinerary! If there are other plans you'd like to check out, or if you have any questions about current Disneyland plans, let us know in the comments!
Planning to visit one of Disney's theme parks? look at oursDisneyland Vacation Planning GuideEverything you need to start planning your trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Aulani, Hawaii.
your thoughts
What would your ideal day at Disneyland include? If you haven't been, what do you want to do? Is there anything you would like to add to our program? Do you have questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback - even if you disagree with us - is fun for us and helpful for other readers, so please share your thoughts in the comments below!