No matter how many days you visit Walt Disney World, you won’t feel like you have enough time. There is so much to see and do throughout the four Disney Parks that it is important to have a plan. Focus on your must-dos so you can have a clear plan.
We have a five-day touring plan to help you make your plan for Walt Disney World. In this we will outline how to navigate the four Disney Parks when you have a five-day Park ticket. You can navigate the four Disney Parks in many different ways, but we find this an excellent overall option.
Use this outline as you head to Walt Disney World for your vacation.
Getting Started:
As you are planning your vacation, there are some things you have to think about before arriving. First, make sure you learn about Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane. These are paid features that you can add to your Disney tickets.
By purchasing them, you can bypass some of the longest standby lines. We have a lot of tips and tricks on how to use these services on How to Disney.
Day One: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
It might surprise you that we don’t recommend heading to Magic Kingdom on your first day.
Since many people start vacations on weekends, Saturday through Monday are the busiest in the Disney Parks. Knowing this, we suggest heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This is our pick because Disney’s Animal Kingdom tends to have the lowest crowds overall.
Start your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by experiencing Pandora. Avatar: Flight of Passage is the most popular ride.
Guests take a breathtaking flight through the beautiful land of Pandora as they soar on the back of a banshee. After Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey is the other famous ride in Pandora. This ride isn’t as breathtaking, but if you have little ones, they will enjoy the slow-moving boat ride through the bioluminescent lights.
Make sure you take time to enjoy the unique ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and which is Kilimanjaro Safaris. Enjoy a safari ride throughout the savanna, where you can see giraffes, rhinos, lions, and much more.
The two other thrilling rides to experience in Disney’s Animal Kingdom are Dinosaur and Expedition Everest. These are intense rides, so make sure that you look into them before taking kids. It might not be the best option, even if they are tall enough.
Make sure that you take time to enjoy both of the shows. Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond and Broadway-like shows. Enjoy walking around the Tree of Life on the Discovery Trails and visiting the adorable gorillas and tigers on the Gorilla Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has fantastic food to choose from. For quick service, stop at Flame Tree Barbecue or Sat’uli Canteen. Both offer fresh flavors that you can enjoy. The top sit-down location is Tiffins, a signature dining location. We also would recommend Nomad Lounge. Fabulous atmosphere with comfortable seats and fantastic drinks.
Day Two: EPCOT
No matter what age group you are traveling with, there is much to see and do at EPCOT. There are so many amazing rides that have been added to this Park.
Start by determining if you will get a virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This drops at 7:00 am.
Other popular rides are Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Frozen Ever After. Determine which of these three are priority and head there first, or use Genie+ to book a Lightning Lane.
Other notable experiences at EPCOT that shouldn’t be missed are Soarin’, Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land. These are thrilling but fun and iconic. We also recommend scheduling some time in the afternoon to visit the aquarium. This is a fantastic way to escape the crowds and the heat.
If you have someone that loves meeting characters, EPCOT is a fantastic place to do so. Throughout the Park, Guests can find a variety of beloved characters. From seeing Alice and Mary Poppins in the UK Pavilion to seeing Mulan in China, Guests will love seeing so many favorite characters. Don’t forget to stop by and wave to Winnie to Pooh as he collects butterflies.
Take time to see if there will be a festival during your trip. These festivals bring additional food booths and entertainment to the Park. If this is the case, you will want to know what unique experiences are in the Park.
Don’t forget to spend time exploring the pavilions in the World Showcase. Each pavilion has fantastic stores, dining, and displays. Don’t skip out on these.
Right now, the evening show is Harmonious. Take time to enjoy this nighttime spectacular that lights up the night score.
For dining, if there is a festival, consider munching around the food booths. Also, try out the new Space 220, where you experience a meal out of this world. We also enjoy the new quick service location of Connections Eatery.
Day Three: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Get ready for all the thrills at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even though it is the smallest Disney Park, it has a LOT to experience. Plancxv on being here the majority of the day to get everything in.
The most popular experiences in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are found in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance continues to be one of the top ride experiences in all of Walt Disney World. Disney truly puts Guests right into the action. Slinky Dog Dash, a family-fun coaster, is the most popular ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Slinky Dog Dash would be your top pick for Genie+ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a top choice for rope dropping.
Down Sunset Boulevard, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror continue to be unique experiences that shouldn’t be skipped over. Also, make sure you visit Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This trackless ride is fun for the whole family to enjoy together.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios also has some great shows. Our favorite is For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along. We love the historical narrators that try to teach Guests about the lovely sisters of Arendelle.
For food, we would recommend trying out Ronto Roasters or ABC Commissary. The lounges throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios are also great places to relax and have a quick bite to eat.
Our favorite nighttime show happens to take place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic is a beautiful nighttime show that combines fireworks, projections, music, and characters to create a magical experience. Don’t miss this show!
Day Four: Magic Kingdom
It is finally time to head to Magic Kingdom! We often wait until later in our trip to head to Magic Kingdom, especially with kids. Since Magic Kingdom has the most rides, it is often hard for kids to enjoy the other three Parks if they have already enjoyed Magic Kingdom. By waiting, we notice that kids appreciate the other four Parks for all the magic they offer.
There are so many ways to experience Magic Kingdom. In our opinion, we like to take two days to visit Magic Kingdom. Doing this allows us to slow down and truly enjoy all the magic. If you have thrill seekers with you, make sure to start the day with the mountains. Try out Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain (note it will close soon). If Seven Dwarfs Mine Trail is important to you, going there first is a good idea, especially if you don’t purchase Individual Lightning Lane.
If you can, try to experience specific lands, such as Adventureland, before moving on. This keeps you from doing a lot of extra walking and allows you to immerse yourself in each land. Enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin, and Jungle Cruise.
There are also numerous cavalcades and the Festival of Fantasy Parade that allow Guests to see so many of their beloved Disney and Pixar characters.
As you get hungry during your Magic Kingdom day, we highly recommend focusing on quick service options. Columbia Harbour House, Casey’s, Friar’s Nook, and Cosmic Rays have various entrees for a good meal.
Magic Kingdom is truly magical in the evening. Take time to enjoy the beauty of the Park under the stars. Disney Enchantment is currently the nighttime show at Magic Kingdom. Enjoy fireworks, music, and projections that transform the castle.
Day Five: Flex Day
You can choose which Disney Park you want to revisit on your last day. We typically take two days to visit Magic Kingdom. With the most rides throughout the Park, we find that two days allow us to see so much and revisit some of our favorites.
Another option would be to put a rest day in the middle of your trip. After visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, don’t have a fifth ticket but enjoy a whole Resort day instead. This can be hard to figure out, but it is well worth it. Having time to enjoy the pool, sleep in, and walk around your Disney Resort makes for a magical and relaxing day.
Disney vacations are incredibly magical, no matter how you plan them out. We hope that this outline of how to make a five-day trip will help you navigate your plans. Heading down for fewer days? Check out our four-day Disney Park plan HERE.
