✨🏰 How We Planned Our Disney World Trip
Planning a trip to Disney World is such an exciting adventure that is similar to preparing for a marathon! It’s equal parts magical vacation, strategic mission, budgeting masterclass, and core-memory factory all rolled into one. If you’re a busy family trying to juggle school schedules, limited PTO, and a bank account that would also like to survive the trip, don’t panic. I’ve got you.
This guide walks you through everything we actually did: saving up (because Disney is not for the weak financially), booking the must-have reservations, mapping out each day without losing your mind, choosing where to eat, when to rest, and how to avoid total meltdown mode, for both kids and adults. We have been to Disney World 4 times as a family, and every tip here comes from real planning, real mistakes, real victories, and real moments. Basically: learn from us so you can have all the magic and way less chaos.
Start Planning 12–18 Months Ahead and Pay for It in Advance
The best Disney trips are the ones that include a plan! (A fun plan… not a military operation… but also a little bit of a military operation.)
Lock your dates in! The first thing to do is find the best dates that work with your busy life, school and sport schedules, work PTO, weather, crowds, and flight prices. All these factors shape your trip and your budget.
Research! Once your dates are set, everything suddenly feels doable. This is when the late-night “just one more Disney video” phase begins. You’ll start discovering that Disney World is WAY more than rides and hotels. We found things we didn’t even know were options, like driving amphibious cars on land AND water, guided fishing trips, special dining events, resort activities, and tons of hidden experiences that most people totally miss.
Quick season reality check! Spring is busy, but totally manageable if you plan. It can be way more expensive during Spring Break times. Summer is surface-of-the-sun hot (bring water, patience, and deodorant) Fall has Festivals, Halloween magic, great vibes, but can be hard to plan around school schedules. Winter is gorgeous… and also crowded because everyone had the same idea
Pick your dates first, and suddenly your trip starts to feel exciting instead of overwhelming.
💰✨ Pay for the Trip in Advance (The Sanity Strategy)
Disney World trips are expensive, but they don’t have to feel impossible. The biggest secret to affording Disney without stress is to plan early and pay over time. Instead of one giant, panic-inducing payment, we treated our trip like a monthly bill. By the time we left, most of it was already paid off, which meant zero vacation guilt. We ordered the snacks, bought the souvenirs, said yes to the fun stuff, and didn’t spend the whole trip silently calculating our credit card balance.
To make this easier, I created a free Disney Trip Savings Spreadsheet you can copy and customize for your own family. It tracks your payments and monthly savings goals all in one place for each part of your Disney Trip.
If you want to budget for Disney without the stress (and actually enjoy your trip), I created a simple savings spreadsheet you can use 👉 Disney Trip Savings Spreadsheet
When to book? Why not now? If you’re even thinking about a Disney trip next year, go ahead and start. Disney is one of those vacations where early planning = less stress, better options, and way fewer “welp, that sold out” moments. You can book hotel-only reservations up to 499 days in advance, vacations packages over a year in advance, and dining/experiences 60 days before your trip. Booking early also spreads the cost out into manageable monthly payments instead of one soul-crushing lump sum. By the time your trip arrives, most of it is already handled, and you can focus on the fun!
🎟️ Disney Extras: What’s Worth It (and What’s Not)
Disney offers a LOT of add-ons, upgrades, and “enhancements,” and they can add hundreds (or thousands) to your trip if you’re not careful. Some of these were absolutely worth it for our family… and some we happily skipped without feeling like we missed a thing.
📸 PhotoPass — ✅ WORTH IT
This was one of our favorite purchases of the entire trip. Not only do you get professional photos all around the parks, it also includes all your ride photos, which means you don’t have to decide whether to buy each one individually. As a mom, I’m usually the one behind the camera, so I’m missing from half of our family pictures. The PhotoPass lets me actually be in the memories instead of just documenting them. Disney photographers are stationed everywhere throughout all of the parks. You can go to your Disney World App and in the map find all the different photo pass opportunities. If you click on each icon on the map, it will tell you the photo opportunity being offered. Some photos even include “Magic Shots,” where Disney characters or effects are added later.
Pro tip: Buy PhotoPass when you book your trip, there’s usually a discount. Also, do the photos when you see them (we will do that later, usually means never.)
🍽️ Disney Dining Plan — ✅ Worth It IF You Plan
Great for prepaying meals Only worth it if you plan strategically
👉 We break this down later (restaurants + credits)
⚡ Lightning Lane — 🤷♀️ Helpful but Not Required
Lightning Lane can save a lot of time, but it can also drain your wallet fast. If your kids hate waiting in line or you’re traveling during peak season, it can be worth budgeting for. If you’re going during a slower time and use early entry strategically, you may not need it every day.Hollywood Studios gives the biggest bang for your buck because so many rides have long waits. The good news: you do NOT need it for every park or every day. Disney now has three different Lightning Lane options, which makes it confusing even for experienced planners.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass lets you reserve return times for multiple rides throughout the day. You choose up to 3 experiences at first, then once you use one, you can book another, if that ride is still available for the day. Popular rides will usually book up for the entire day, so make sure you prioritize these first. The prices range from $25 to $40 per guest depending on the park and day you are going.
Magic Kingdom highlights:
Top-tier choices include rides like Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Other options include Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Small World, and many more family rides.
EPCOT highlights:
Top picks include Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, or Test Track.
Other choices include Soarin’, Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, and more.
Hollywood Studios highlights:
Top choices include Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon, and Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster.
Other options include Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, shows, and Star Tours.
Animal Kingdom highlights:
Includes Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, Na’vi River Journey, and shows.
Lightning Lane Single Pass is for the MOST popular rides that are NOT included in Multi Pass.
Examples include:
• TRON Lightcycle / Run (Magic Kingdom)
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT)
• Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
• Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
You pay per ride, per person.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass is the premium option that gives one-time Lightning Lane access to ALL available attractions in a park for one day, including the Single Pass rides. It is very convenient, but also very expensive and out of our budget. It will cost you around $119 to $449+ per person, per day!
🚗 Transportation — ❌ We Skipped Disney Transport
We used Uber instead:
✅ No waiting for buses
✅ Faster
✅ Easier with kids
🎢 Park Hopper — ❌ Not Worth It (for us)
Park Hopper sounds amazing in theory.
In reality, it’s exhausting and time-consuming , especially with kids.
Each park easily fills a full day. Between transportation time, walking, security checks, and crowds, park hopping can eat up hours you could spend actually enjoying the park.
If you’re staying 4+ days, one park per day is WAY less stressful.
💦 Water Parks — ❌ Skipped
Disney’s water parks look fun, but we didn’t feel like they added enough to justify another ticket. Between park days, travel days, and rest days, we already had plenty to do. Plus, the resort pools (especially at Art of Animation) were a huge hit with the kids. If your family LOVES water parks, go for it, but we didn’t feel like we missed anything.
⌚ MagicBands — 🤷♀️ Optional
MagicBands are fun but pricey (about $40–$50 each). Your phone can do everything the MagicBands can do. Also… kids lose things. Our son is always moving, climbing, running, exploring, that band would’ve disappeared by lunchtime. We stuck with phones and had zero issues.
💧 Free Hack: Bring Water Bottles
Not an add-on, but one of the biggest budget hacks. Florida heat is intense, and bottled water in the parks is expensive. Disney has refill stations everywhere, and you can ask for free ice water at quick-service restaurants. Make sure you bring your insulated bottles and refill whenever you pass a station.
✈️ Travel Day Strategy
We also choose to stay close to the airport for our first night instead of heading straight to Disney. We stayed at Staybridge Suites Orlando Airport South by IHG, which worked perfectly for travel day. It’s very close to the airport, affordable, and the rooms are huge. Ours had a full kitchenette, a large living room area, and plenty of space for everyone to relax after a long flight. It honestly felt more like a small apartment than a hotel room. Disney resorts are expensive, and if you arrive late, you’re basically paying premium prices just to sleep for a few hours. Staying near the airport lets you rest without wasting one of your Disney nights.
This hotel is also the perfect place to have groceries delivered before you start your Disney adventure. Grocery delivery to Disney resorts often comes with extra fees, and there aren’t convenient stores nearby. Ordering to the airport hotel is usually cheaper and much easier. We always pack an extra large foldable bag to move everything to Disney the next day. Things we typically order:
- Water bottles
- Snacks for the parks
- Breakfast items (bars, pastries, cereal)
- Alcohol for relaxing at the hotel
Having these on hand saves a surprising amount of money throughout the trip.
🏨 Choosing the Right Disney Hotel
We stayed at:
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
👉 BEST choice for families on a budget
It’s considered one of Disney’s “value” resorts, but it does NOT feel cheap. The theming is incredible, the rooms are spacious, and there are three pools. Between the pools, playgrounds, and themed courtyards, there’s plenty to do even on non-park days (which you will desperately need). It feels more like a mini theme park than a hotel. The resort is designed around beloved Disney and Pixar movies, with areas themed to Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. The courtyards are so detailed that just walking around the hotel feels like an attraction on its own.
We let our son pick which section we stayed in, and of course he chose Cars, because what 6-year-old wouldn’t want to wake up next to Lightning McQueen? We try to include him in the planning as much as possible, which makes the trip way more exciting for him… and cuts down on the “I didn’t want to do this” complaints later.
We stayed in a family suite, which is ideal for bigger families. The rooms are large, with separate sleeping areas, two bathrooms, and plenty of space so everyone isn’t on top of each other. There’s also a small kitchenette, which is surprisingly clutch at Disney. It’s perfect for storing leftovers, quick breakfasts, late-night snacks, and all the drinks you inevitably buy from the grocery store to avoid paying $5 for a single water. After long park days, when everyone is tired, overstimulated, and slightly sticky, having space to spread out instead of collapsing into one tiny room made a HUGE difference.
🚠 HUGE Perk: Skyliner
- Direct access to EPCOT & Hollywood Studios
- Fast, easy, and FUN
👉 And the best part:
You don’t have to fold your stroller 👏
Why we loved Art of Animation
• Budget-friendly compared to other Disney resorts
• Family suites that comfortably fit larger groups
• Incredible Disney and Pixar theming everywhere
• Three themed pools (including the largest pool at Disney World)
• Fun courtyards and playground areas (the Lion King play area was our favorite)
• The Skyliner!
😴 Build Rest Days Into Your Trip
I hear from so many families that their Disney trip was exhausting and overwhelming, that is why I think rest days are a must!
After spending our first night at the hotel near the airport, we headed to Disney around 10 AM. This gave us time to sleep in, eat the free hotel breakfast, get ready for the pool at the Disney Resort, and travel without rushing. Our Uber drive was about 45 minutes to get to the Art of Animation.
Official Disney check-in times are:
• 3:00 PM — Standard Disney Resort hotels
• 4:00 PM — Disney Deluxe Villas
Rooms are often ready earlier, but not always, so it is important that you are prepared to wait until 3:00pm. The best news is that you don’t have to lug your luggage around with you once you get to the resort. Disney will hold your luggage and deliver it to your room when your room becomes available. We pack a separate pool bag so we can drop our bags with Bell Services and head straight to the pool to start our Disney vacation off right, with some sunlight and a Pina Colada! We also will order lunch from the Landscape of Flavors food court (right next to the pool) and request that it be packed “to-go” to easily carry. I usually go and order all the food for the group, while my husband will stay with the kids while they swim. Then we get to enjoy our lunch right next to the pool.
Around 3:00 PM, I will head back to the room to start unpacking for the family, while they finish swimming at the pool or playing at one of the many playgrounds. I like to head back before everyone else, so I can unpack in peace! Since we are staying at the Art of Animation for a week, I like to unpack everything to make it easier to get ready and find all our daily essentials. The Art of Animation suites have a small kitchenette area where I can put all our snacks and breakfast items. Organization is key when having a stress-free vacation. After our room is unpacked and ready to go, my family joined me and we got ready to head to dinner. We purchased the Disney Dining Plan (more on that later) and used our first night for a special dinner at one of the best resort restaurants: ’Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort. After dinner, we headed back early. The next day was Magic Kingdom, which is the longest and most intense park day. We wanted to make sure we were well rested and ready to tackle the day.
Magic Kingdom can feel like completing a marathon, especially if you stay for the fireworks. We always plan a recovery day afterward. This usually consists of sleeping in, pool time, relaxing, a nap or two, and Disney Springs in the evening for dinner. But this is also where flexibility comes in!
We ended up feeling better than expected and booked a guided catch-and-release bass fishing excursion, which turned into an incredible experience. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife around Disney and we learned so much. We caught so many bass on just a 2 hour trip. If you are going with kiddos younger than 10, I would recommend 2 hours rather than the 4 hours. Also take into account how hot it will be that day. Going early is better because the fish are more likely to bite and the heat is not overwhelming if you are going in the summer. The boat has a cooler filled with ice, so don’t forget to bring drinks for the kids and a few adult beverages to enjoy. Snacks are a must as well! Disney offers so many unique activities that you may discover things you didn’t even know existed. This is your reminder: it’s okay to go off your plan.
We visited Hollywood Studios one day and EPCOT the next. After a full day at EPCOT, especially if you’re drinking around the world, a rest day is absolutely necessary. Day 7 became another recharge day for us. We slept in, then headed to Disney Springs for lunch at Morimoto Asia, walked around, shopped, and explored. That’s when we discovered the amphibious car rides, vehicles that drive on land and then splash into the water. Totally unexpected and very cool. Our little guy got to ride shotgun while we drove a car through the lake of Disney Springs. Our captain knew everything Disney Springs history and we learned about past and present restaurants and attractions, while also finding a few hidden Mickeys on our ride. Afterward, we returned to the hotel for pool time so the kids could play while the adults relaxed. We grabbed a quick-service dinner at the resort and had another early night.
We always save Animal Kingdom for our final park day. This park opens early (Disney resort guests can enter around 7:30 AM) and closes earlier than the others, typically around 6 PM. This make it perfect before having to fly home the next morning. You still get the full park experience, while getting back to the hotel early enough to pack and get ready for your flight the next morning.
Rest days are essential to a Disney trip. Disney is an exciting trip that includes a lot of walking, heat (in the summer), crowds, and making the most memories possible. Scheduling intentional downtime keeps the trip enjoyable for both kids and adults and leaves room for spontaneous experiences you didn’t plan for. Sometimes the most memorable moments happen when you slow down.
🍽️ Dining Strategy (60-Day Rule)
If you’re doing dining plans… Planning is EVERYTHING
If you strategize, you can eat incredibly well and feel like everything is prepaid (which is amazing on vacation). We spent a lot of time researching menus, prices, and credit costs so we could get the most value possible. Yes, I made lists. Yes, I compared lunch vs. dinner pricing.Yes, I have zero regrets.
How the Disney Dining Plan Works?
Each person (ages 3 and older) gets 1 Quick-Service meal, 1 Table-Service meal, 1 Snack or soft drink per night of your stay and a refillable resort cup for each person.
Credits don’t have to be used daily, they roll over and can be used anytime during your stay. Whatever you don’t use expires at checkout.
Drinks are included with meals, including one alcoholic beverage per table service meal for adults, which is where you can really maximize value!
Planning Reservations BEFORE the 60-Day Window. We always pick restaurants before the 60 day reservation window opens.
Reservations open:
🕕 60 days before at 6:00 AM ET
👉 MUST be ready
On reservation day, I set an alarm, wake up early, log in, and book everything right at 6:00 AM ET. If you’re staying at a Disney resort, you can book dining for your entire stay (up to 10 days) at once, which gives you a huge advantage. Book the most popular restaurants first, especially those toward the end of your trip, since availability is usually better. You can often adjust reservation times later if plans change, but it’s much harder to find popular restaurants last minute. Most reservations can be cancelled up to 2 hours before your scheduled time without penalty, but if you don’t cancel Disney usually charges $10 per person. Signature restaurants may have stricter policies, so always check your confirmation email.
Our Dining Plan Strategy. Skip the character dining. Character meals are fun, but many of them cost two table-service credits per person. For us, that just wasn’t worth it. We preferred using one credit at higher-quality restaurants instead of burning two on one meal. This is completely up to you and what fits your family, but something to know before you commit. We also look for places where lunch costs fewer credits than dinner. Example: Morimoto Asia dinner is 2 credits and lunch is only 1 credit.
Snack Credit Strategy. Many people waste their snack credits because they have the just use them don’t lose them mentality. You don’t have to use one every day, so we saved many of ours for EPCOT. We also used them for Venti Starbucks drinks in the parks to wake us up in the morning and get us going. Other favorites included Dole Whip, churros, pretzels, and specialty treats. Because we ordered groceries, we didn’t rely on snack credits for basic snacks. This allowed us to use credits on fun or expensive items instead.
Breakfast Strategy. We didn’t use dining credits on breakfast. Most mornings we ate quick items from our grocery delivery (breakfast bars and pastries), which was faster, cheaper, and better for early park mornings. This also gave us time to hop on rides that get busier in the afternoon.
🍴Where We Ate During Our Trip
Arrival Day (Resort Day)
Lunch —Landscape of Flavors to go for poolside meal at Art of Animation (1 quick service credit)
Dinner — ’Ohana at Polynesian Village Resort (1 table credit)
Magic Kingdom Day
Coffee — Main Street Bakery Starbucks (1 snack credit)
Lunch — Casey’s Corner (1 quick service credit)
Dinner — The Crystal Palace: character dinings (1 table credit)
Rest Day / Disney Springs Night
Lunch — Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation (1 quick service credit)
Dinner — T-REX Café at Disney Springs (1 table credit)
Hollywood Studios Day
Coffee — Trolley Car Café Starbucks (1 snack credit)
Lunch — ABC Commissary(1 quick service credit)
Dinner — Roundup Rodeo BBQ (1 table credit)
Late Night Treat — Oga’s Cantina (Paid out of pocket for drinks and snacks)
EPCOT Day
Coffee — Connections Café Starbucks (1 snack credit)
Lunch — Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France(1 quick service credit)
Dinner — Teppan Edo in Japan (1 table credit, very worth it)
We also used many snack credits here while trying foods around the World Showcase.
Disney Springs Day
Lunch — Morimoto Asia (1 table credit at lunch)
Dinner — Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation (1 quick service credit)
Animal Kingdom Day
Coffee — Creature Comforts Starbucks (1 snack credit)
Lunch — Tusker House: character dinings (1 table credit)
Dinner — Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation (1 quick service credit)
The Disney Dining Plan can be a great value, but only if you plan ahead and use your credits strategically. For us, it simplified budgeting, reduced daily spending stress, and allowed us to enjoy meals without constantly thinking about cost.
🎢 Magic Kingdom = Marathon Day
Magic Kingdom is the most magical park, but also the most exhausting. It has the most rides, the biggest crowds, and is the longest day. If you only have one day at Magic Kingdom, having a plan makes a HUGE difference.
Park Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Early Entry (Disney Resort Guests): 8:30 AM
Mornings at Magic Kingdom. We grabbed coffee and a quick breakfast from Main Street Bakery (Starbucks) and headed straight into Tomorrowland for Early Entry. Make sure you don’t linger on Main Street for too long. Photos can wait, but short ride lines can’t. We start with the biggest rides first while crowds are the lowest.
Lines are unavoidable at Magic Kingdom, so this is where parent survival mode kicks in. Bring small snacks, refillable water bottles, and something to keep kids entertained while waiting. We like to play I Spy and Play Disney Parks on their app. Make sure you have your portable charger with you.
Here is our full itinerary for Magic Kingdom:
Tomorrowland (8:30 AM – 11:00 AM)
• TRON Lightcycle Run is motorcycle-style rollercoaster experience.
• Space Mountain is a roller coaster ride in the darkness of space.
• Tomorrowland Speedway is a fun car ride that kids can drive, while adults sit passenger.
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is an interactive shooting game where you get to compete to get the most points.
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is a live comedy show that is interactive with the audience.
• Carousel of Progress is a slow rotating (AC) show that shows the evolution of technology.
Lunch — Casey’s Corner (11:30 AM)
• The perfect quick-service lunch right on Main Street. Fast, filling, and easy before moving to the next land. Make sure you order on the mobile app. We always pre-order our food when we are waiting in line.
• Try to eat early or late to avoid peak lunch crowds.
Adventureland (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM)
This area gets busy later, so midday is a good time to visit.
• Pirates of the Caribbean is the classic boat ride through what is was like to live as a pirate.
• Jungle Cruise is a boat ride across Asia, Africa and South America with a live skipper and corny jokes.
• Swiss Family Treehouse is a walk-through attraction with a lot of stairs, so be prepared.
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin is a spinning ride that is similar to riding the Dumbo ride, except on a magic carpet.
Frontierland (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
This area is quick to navigate but packed with some of the park’s best thrill rides.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a fast and coaster on a runaway mine train.
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is Disney’s newest log ride that is themed to The Princess and the Frog.
Liberty Square (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Great time for indoor attractions when heat and crowds peak.
• Haunted Mansion is a slow doom buggy ride through a haunted mansion (that is Nightmare Before Christmas themed during Christmas time).
• Hall of Presidents is a theater that feature animatronic US president. This is not the most exciting, but a good place to get some AC and a break.
Fantasyland (5:00 PM – Close)
Fantasyland is packed with classic rides and stays busy all day, so we saved it for later.
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a family roller coaster though the diamond mines of Snow White.
• Peter Pan’s Flight is a slow flying ride over Neverland in a pirate ship.
• Enchanted Tales with Belle is a interactive show.
• Barnstormer is a rollercoaster for the little ones.
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic is another AC break that is a musical journey staring Donald Duck.
• It’s a Small World is a slow boat ride through different cultures around the world.
• Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is a slow ride in clamshell vehicles that retells the story of Ariel.
• Mad Tea Party is a spinning teacup ride.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a slow ride through Hundred-Acre Wood.
Dinner — The Crystal Palace (5:50 PM)
A perfect sit-down break inside the park. Air conditioning + rest + food = lifesaver on long days. After we ate and rested, we went back to exploring the rides in Fantasyland.
Fireworks — 9:00 PM
Absolutely worth staying for at least once. We choose to watch the fireworks closer to the entrance of the park, so it is easier to leave and less crowded. Some people choose to wait for hours to get close to the front of the Castle. If seeing the projections on the castle is a must for you then I recommend getting a snack, because you will be waiting for a while and expect crowds when leaving. We rather beat the crowd out of the park and not have to wait for hours to catch a bus back to the resort. The fireworks are still amazing, even if you are not too close.
A few things that make this day much easier: arrive early, wear very comfortable broken-in shoes, use mobile ordering for food, stay hydrated, and take indoor breaks when needed. This will likely be your highest step-count day of the entire trip.
🎬 Hollywood Studios = Thrill + Star Wars
Hollywood Studios feels completely different from Magic Kingdom. There are fewer rides overall, but many of them are some of the most popular in all of Disney World, so wait times can get long fast. Make sure to take advantage of early entry time and enter the park an 8:30 AM. We always grab our coffee from the Starbucks at Trolley Car Café before heading straight toward Sunset Boulevard. Starting with the big thrill rides early helped us avoid some of the longest lines of the day.
Park Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Early Entry (Disney Resort Guests): 8:30 AM
Here is our full itinerary for Hollywood Studios:
Sunset Blvd. (9:00 – 10:00 AM)
Starting with Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster early saved us from extremely long waits later. This line will get longer and longer throughout the day.
• Tower of Terror is a drop tower in a haunted hotel.
• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is an indoor launch coaster that flips upside down that is currently closed and being re-themed to the Muppets.
Echo Lake (10:30 – 12:00 PM)
One thing many people don’t realize is the value of a live shows. The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular isn’t just entertainment, but a built in break where you can sit in the shade. After the nonstop walking, this is a must do. If you see a show time that fits your schedule, take it.
• Star Tours is a motion simulator Star Wars Ride.
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is a live action stunt show.
Lunch — ABC Commissary (12:00 PM)
Eating slightly before peak lunch crowds again. Make sure to mobile order through the Disney app while waiting in line for a ride and walk straight to pickup when your time opens.
Hollywood Blvd. (12:00 – 2:00 PM)
After lunch we head straight for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This is usually a longer wait, but most of it is inside in the AC.
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a trackless train ride in the Chinese Theater that takes a journey with Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy.
Optional nearby breaks:
• Walt Disney Presents is a quiet museum attraction with benches and AC.
• Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is a live show where everyone gets to sing-along.
Toy Story Land (2:00 – 6:00 PM)
This area is one of favorites, but has very little shade, so plan accordingly. Cooling towels, hats, fans, and lots of water are essential here, especially with kids. Be prepared for the line at Slinky Dog Dash, it is usually long and all outside.
• Slinky Dog Dash is a rollercoaster that you only need to be 38in to enjoy.
• Toy Story Mania is a 3D shooting game ride where you compete for points.
• Alien Swirling Saucers
Dinner — Roundup Rodeo BBQ (4:55 PM)
This was one of my favorite Disney restaurants we have been to. The theming makes you feel like you’re inside Andy’s toy box and the kids get to pick a stick pony to ride to the table. This is an all your can eat restaurants, so bring your appetite, but don’t eat too much because there is still more park to cover.
Galaxy’s Edge (6:00 – 9:00 PM)
As it cooled off, we moved into Galaxy’s Edge (Star Wars land), which feels even more immersive at night. Rise of the Resistance is one of Disney’s most impressive rides but also one of the most time-consuming. Expect waits unless you have DAS or Lightning Lane.
• Rise of the Resistance
• Millennium Falcon – Smuggler’s Run
Oga’s Cantina (7:50 PM)
We stopped at Oga’s Cantina for drinks and a quick snack. It’s a fun experience but small and crowded, so it works best as a short visit rather than a long rest break. Many groups stand at high tables, which can be tricky with younger kids.
Show: Fantasmic! (9:30 PM)
We ended the night with Fantasmic!, one of the most spectacular nighttime shows at Disney World. It combines fireworks, water effects, music, and characters in a huge outdoor theater. If your family still has energy, it’s absolutely worth it. If not, leaving slightly early is a perfectly valid survival strategy, especially if you want to avoid massive exit crowds.
Hollywood Studios can feel intense and by the end of the day you’ll either feel like action heroes! Either way, it’s a day your family won’t forget.
🌍 EPCOT = Food + Explore
EPCOT is our favorite park. It’s less about rushing from ride to ride and waiting in long lines and more about exploring different countries. It is essential to have comfortable shoes and a flexible plan in this park. Take advantage of Early Entry (8:30 AM for Disney Resort guests) to knock out the big rides first. We always grab our coffee and quick breakfast from the Starbucks at Connections Café before heading straight to World Discovery.
Park Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Early Entry (Disney Resort Guests): 8:30 AM
Here is our full itinerary for EPCOT:
World Discovery (8:30 – 9:30 AM)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the top priority and one of our all-time favorite Disney rides! If Test Track is open, ride that early too, followed by Mission: Space. Knocking these out first frees up the rest of the day for food, drinks, and wandering without worrying about long lines later.
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an indoor roller coaster with rotating cars.
• Test Track is an outdoor race track where you get to create your own car.
• Mission: Space is a space ship simulator. Choose Green for a gentler experience or Orange for the intense version.
Optional nearby rides if crowds are low:
• Spaceship Earth is the EPCOT ball ride and a great early “sit-down” attraction that takes you through different innovation that made today’s technology possible.
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment is a silly ride with the small purple dragon, Figment.
World Showcase (Late Morning → Evening)
This is the main event. The key is pacing: share food, drink water between stops, and don’t try to conquer everything at once unless you want to tap out halfway. Sharing is caring and key to trying each snack.
We always want to make sure we include our son in the fun and the EPCOT Passport Activity is a must. You can purchase the official EPCOT World Showcase Passport kit for about $16.99 at many merchandise locations throughout the park, but you don’t need one to complete the activites and collect stickers. Kids visit Kidcot Fun Stops in each county to collect stamps, drawings, and messages from Cast Members from that country, who often share fun cultural facts. It keeps children engaged while adults snack and sip and turns the day into a fun world tour instead of “just walking.” Once your child has collected all 11 stickers, there will get an “Honorary Ambassador” badge.
This is our guide on how we made it around the world in this exact order:
Canada
A great place to start with something light.
• Moosehead Lager or Blanche de Chambly
• Maple Popcorn from the entrance stand
United Kingdom
A jolly good stop for fish, chips, and a quick beer.
• Snakebite (cider + lager blend) or a Guinness at Rose & Crown Pub
• Split Fish & Chips from Yorkshire County Fish Shop (this is a large portion, so share!)
France
This stop also includes a ride and lunch. Depending on if we are already feeling a little full will determine if we hit the ride before or after lunch. We decided to do it after lunch to let our food digest before moving on to the next country. This line could be long, so make sure you bring a beer with you!
• Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc
• Lunch (the sandwiches are AMAZING) and Raspberry Macaron or Crème Brûlée from Les Halles
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a trackless ride where you follow Remy as a fellow mouse through all his adventures as a chef.
Morocco
A savory reset after sweets.
• Casa Beer
• Chicken Kebab or Hummus with Pita Chips
American Adventure
This stop is filling, familiar, and guaranteed to satisfy the picky eater in your group.
• Samuel Adams Seasonal Brew or Tennessee Lemonade
• BBQ Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese from Regal Eagle Smokehouse (Sharing is caring).
Italy
Carbs = energy for more walking.
• Moretti or Italian Sangria
• Pizza Slice and Cannoli from Via Napoli Window (The pizza slices are huge, so you might want to share)
Germany
This stop goes from “just one bite” to Oktoberfest fast.
• Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen
• Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur shot at Weinkeller (I don’t like taking shots, but this one is the exception. This is a must try).
• Werther’s Caramel Popcorn or Butter Bar (The Butter Bar was our favorite sweet snack)
Japan — Dinner @ Teppan Edo (5:00 PM)
A perfect sit-down break in the middle of your world tour. The hibachi show is entertaining and the food is the best food you will eat. You can also order sushi and sashimi here, which is a must in Japan. Make sure to get an expensive cocktail here and save the beer for later. If you are using you dining credit, try the expensive fancy drink, but always make sure to ask if it is included. After dinner, on your way to the Kidcot Fun Stop grab a Asahi or Sapporo.
China
Quick, tasty, and easy to share without slowing down your day.
• Tsingtao or Canto Loopy Cocktail
• Pork Egg Rolls or Chicken Pot Stickers
Norway
Dessert heaven and another ride. The Frozen Ever After ride is similar to the Pirate boat ride, but all Frozen. We chose to take a break from eating, grab some frozen viking coffee to wake us up and wait in line.
• Frozen Viking Coffee (coffee + Baileys + Kamora)
• Kornøl Farmhouse Ale and Juniper Pilsner (Beers)
• School Bread (custard-filled sweet bun)
• Frozen Ever After is a boat ride through Arendelle with backwards drop.
Mexico
Usually the liveliest pavilion by evening and the best way to end our World Tour. Inside the pyramid you can find a boat ride and a Tequila bar. The kids can eat chips and salsa, while you sample different tequilas and margaritas.
• La Cava Avenger (secret menu tequila drink)
• Margarita Flight (great for sharing)
• Elote or Tacos from Choza de Margarita
• Gran Fiesta Tour Boat Ride (AC break inside the pyramid)
World Nature (After Completing the World Tour)
Once you’ve made it around the world, these rides are perfect for cooling off and resting your feet.
• Soarin’ is a flight simulator that takes you over global landmarks.
• Living with the Land is a slow boat ride through greenhouses.
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment (if not done earlier)
• Spaceship Earth (if not done earlier)
Fireworks (9:00 PM)
We ended the night watching fireworks from the exit near the Skyliner. t’s not the best view, but it’s a smart strategy if you want to beat the massive crowds. EPCOT typically closes immediately after the fireworks, which means thousands of people head for transportation at the same time. The Skyliner line in particular gets extremely long. To avoid that, be near the Skyliner entrance about 15–20 minutes before the fireworks start. You’ll still see the show, but you’ll also be able to slip out quickly and head back to your resort while everyone else is just starting to move.
EPCOT is less about conquering rides and more about enjoying the journey. This is a great place to use those left over snack credits whenever possible. Be sure to share food, drink plenty of water, let kids collect passport stamps, and take your time.
🐾 Animal Kingdom = The Perfect Last Day Park
Animal Kingdom opens early and closes early too. This park runs on anima time, which means the earlier you arrive, the better. Make sure you pack your fans and water for this park because it is more spread out, hotter, and more physical with lots of walking.
Park Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Early Entry: 7:30 AM for Disney Resort guests
Like always, we grabbed coffee at Creature Comforts Starbucks right inside the park, then immediately headed for the safari. This is one of the most important Animal Kingdom tips: go to Kilimanjaro Safaris early. Morning is when the animals are most active, the temperatures are cooler, and the experience feels more like a real safari.
Animal Kingdom also has its own version of the EPCOT passport called the Wilderness Explorers program. Kids pick up a free booklet and complete nature-themed challenges throughout the park to earn badges. This was our son’s highlight of the day. Activities range from animal observation to learning wilderness skills, and there are over 25 badges to collect. It turns the day into a scavenger hunt and keeps kids engaged between rides. When they complete all the activities, they earn the right to shout the official Wilderness Explorer call: “Caw! Caw! Roar!” This is at your own pace and keeps the day exciting as you navigate the park.
Africa— Safari Tour (8:00 – 8:30 AM)
• Kilimanjaro Safaris — be on one of the first safaris to see the most animals!
Pandora — The World of Avatar (8:30 – 10:00 AM)
Head here immediately after the safari or even first if Flight of Passage is your top priority. This area gets extremely crowded later in the day.
• Flight of Passage — the most immersive rides at Animal Kingdom where you get to ride a mountain banshee through the world of Avatar.
• Na’vi River Journey — slower and calm boat ride through Pandora.
Africa (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
This area combines rides, shows, and great food.
• Festival of the Lion King — a must-see show (a great break from the heat)
• Kilimanjaro Safaris — if you didn’t ride it earlier dor ride it for the second time! Every safari is different.
• Explore trails to earn explorer stickers: Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail (Africa – gorillas, hippos) and Discovery Island Trails (base of the Tree of Life – lemurs, flamingos)
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch — train ride and petting zoo.
• Lunch at Tusker House (12:20 PM) — a great buffet with lots of options and characters!
Asia (2:00 – 4:00 PM)
This is usually the hottest part of the day, so water rides and indoor shows help a lot.
• Kali River Rapids (great for cooling off) is a fun water ride break.
• Expedition Everest is a runaway train roller coaster that will take your through the 199-foot mountain trying to escape a Yeti.
• Explore trails to earn explorer stickers: Maharajah Jungle Trek (Asia – tigers, birds),
• Feathered Friends in Flight is an entertaining bird show and another chance to sit down.
Dinoland U.S.A. (4:00 – 6:00 PM)
A fun area for kids to burn off remaining energy.
• DINOSAUR is an intense and bumpy ride that may be scary for younger kids.
• TriceraTop Spin is a simple spinning ride for younger kids.
• Boneyard Playground is a giant dig-and-climb area where kids can run around.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue show is a musical.
• New show: Zootopia: Better Zoogether! (it wasn’t open when we visited).
Dinner & End of Day
Because Animal Kingdom closes earlier than other parks, we usually grab dinner back at the hotel. This gives us time to get back before the crowds.
By the end of the day, kids will be proud of their Wilderness Explorer badges and it’s the perfect calm-but-exciting way to wrap up a Disney trip.
You don’t need to do everything. You just need to do the right things for your family. And those are the moments you’ll remember forever.