[DianneMKMO]

I am still trying to plan for a vacation next year to WDW. When our family went many moons ago, we had booked for 7 nights and ended up paying to have our airline tickets changed to the next day because our WorldHopper passes were good until midnight and we still wanted to spend more time in the parks! (Checked out of our WDW resort and rented a cheap room in an Orlando hotel, it was so worth it.) But even with the extra day, we didn't even get to go to a waterpark!

Want to do everything this time, even do it twice for the really fun stuff. So how many days do all you swell folks suggest for a family who wants to do it all but only gets the chance once in a very, very blue moon? Animal Kingdom was only under construction when we were last there, now I have to figure that into an schedule. How long should we spend there (Animal Kingdom)?

Also, the last time we went we had a preschooler with us. That was the main reason we stayed at the Poly, we had very quick access to our room when it was naptime or just needed time to unwind. That preschooler is now a teen (bet you can figure out how long it had been since I have hugged Mickey). This time will taking our teenager and our preschooler. I want to plan to have the time to do all the parks without totally exhausting or stressing out my little one. Anyone with a good idea of how many days to book for our family? I wish to stay at the Poly again, but I have looked into rental home prices in the area and I am quite impressed, so suggestions as to how long to stay, as well as where to stay would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all!

[DisneyAnne]

Welcome to DC DianneMKMO! Hopefully, you will get some good answers here... Never seems to be a group short on words ;)

Someone here just returned from 2 weeks at WDW... I don't think any of us can ever get enough of it so our answers might be a little biased. Anyway, I was going to initially say 10 days. I can never get away for that period of a time, but that would be a dream frame of time for me.

I really wanted to answer your questions about AK...There are many mixed feelings on this park, but I, for one, love it and think people sell it short sometimes. There is alot to do here...no there are not as many attractions in compaison to some of the other parks, but there is enough to keep you busy for an entire day. The park is also very laid back. It is a great down kind of day between the other hectic parks. Also, it closes around 5 each day so that offers you an opportunity to go rest or have a nice dinner before heading to another park for fireworks or whatever. :D

I hope my little bit helps...I know others will help you out with their opinions as well. Glad to have you on board!

[MickeyMac]

... short on words... (chuckle!)

We've stayed for nine and ten days usually, and still are left with a feeling it could be longer. I would love to stay for two weeks some time. I think you can tuck a taste of everything in 10 days, but I like to have a couple of extra 'unplanned' days to do spur of the moment stuff, like outlet shopping, or going to a special dinner and hanging out at the pool, etc.

Are you guys going to Universal at all? Sea World?

[mickaholic4077]

If you can afford it,I'd say plan for 2 weeks!!!

[preidel24]

I'd have to agree with DisneyAnne 10 days would be perfect. We will be there a total of 11 days this trip. Only eight of them at disney. This is our third trip in three years and there are still things I have not tried. I figure our trip this way two days for MK, MGM and Epcot, one for AK, and one for the water park equals = 8 days.

Welcome and I'm sure you will recieve a lot of really good answers to your question. No matter how many days I can go a disney vacation is a perfect vacation!!

Paula

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by mickaholic4077
If you can afford it,I'd say plan for 2 weeks!!!

I totally agree .. we are planning a 3 week stay next year and even that doesnt seem long enough IMHO. I know that we have stayed a day or two over 2 weeks in the past and it gave us time to really relax between parks and enjoy the resort fully. We have friends that come from England every year and always stay 3 weeks and they enjoy it so much more because they take the parks and all at leisure.

[LRTJS]

Welcome to DC! I have been many times but have never had the luxury of staying more than 6 nights. You can see everything if you plan carefully. We are the type family who can go and go. Now that your little one is older you might can do that to. We spend a whole day at each park..early to late! Also, a day at a water park. Don't forget Downtown Disney too! But, if you can it would be better on everyones disposition to take it a little slower and stay 7 to 10 days. I know you are excited to be going back!
Oh yes...Animal Kingdom should be enjoyed very leisurely or you will miss so many things!

[ilvminnie]

Our last 2 trips were 11 & 12 days respectively...still could have stayed longer, although we did get to do all of the parks including both water parks & DisneyQuest. I'd definitely suggest 2 weeks or longer if you can swing it & would like to build in some "down time." Especially since there will be soooo many things that will be different from your last trip. Have a blast planning, & let us know what you decide. BTW, personally, I prefer staying on-site. Have you checked into the villas? They're at Wilderness Lodge, Old Key West, Beach Club & Boardwalk (did I miss any, guys?). You can get a 1 or 2 bedroom with a fully stocked kitchen & still be right in the middle of WDW. Just a thought....:) :)

[ilvminnie]

Oooops, forgot...Welcome to the family Dianne!:love:

[tinkerbell]

I guess its the excitment .. only 11 days to go ..only 1 friday left before we go, and its all I can think about ...
sorry Dianne, Welcome to DisneyCentral .. as posted above everyone here will be so very happy to help you plan and will be waiting to read your trip report when you return :)

[DianneMKMO]

We do also want to go back to Universal but probably the older park only. My mother and oldest son went to the new Universal park two years ago and both said it really was not what they were expecting.

All the great info you all have passed along has managed to generate more questions. When I talked to a travel agent about a ten night vacation to WDW, he suggested that it would be cheaper to purchase annual passes for our family. Is this so? Because I was thinking that if it were, our family could book a resort room at WDW for maybe seven nights and while there do MK, AK, and Epcot. Then I was thinking we could move offsite for a few nights and do MGM, the water parks, and Universal.

Twelve days in Orlando is beginning to sound ideal, affordable though? I haven't been able to pry the cost (or even a "close to" figure) out of the travel agent. He just keeps throwing different options my way. I don't think the prices are available for next July yet and he doesn't want to get it wrong.

Any suggestions on how to "stay in the Magic" without committing myself to eight day work weeks for the next year would be greatly appreciated (as long as they don't involve guns, banks, gas stations, or little old ladies;)

Thanks to all!
Dianne

BTW, this board is wonderful! Thank you for all the vacation planning info you provide.

[MickeyMac]

Getting an Annual Pass will help - your break even cost on tickets to pass is about 8 days, plus, you get room discounts as well.

We pack food, snacks, etc, to cut down on costs.

You might also consider a villa if you are staying that amount of time.

Also, I know a great Disney Certified travel agent who is very responsive, if you want someone who's knowledgeable and not afraid to be honest. :D

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by MickeyMac


Also, I know a great Disney Certified travel agent who is very responsive, if you want someone who's knowledgeable and not afraid to be honest. :D

I know that agent too :) he is handling our trip this year and add patient to knowledgeable and not afriad to be honest! !!!

[MrDisneyfan1]

We are doing two weeks this year, put it this way, two days would be lovely, 2 or 3 weeks would be fine. Enjoy what you see, and save what you missed for the "next" trip. Don't sulk over what you did'nt see.

Def..get an annual pass, and book directly...there is so much to save, and for us, booking, planning, changing, re-booking and so on...is so much part of the fun. We are our own travel agents when we do Disney! AND WE DO DISNEY:dazed
Den

[phayes93]

Someone very wise once said: "There is not such thing as too long a stay at WDW - only too short."