How to Create a Disney World Itinerary for 2026
Planning our first big Disney World vacation taught me the importance of a well-structured Disney World itinerary and minimizing stress. As a travel agent, I help families design the perfect Disney World trip plan. I have also created a shareable Disney World itinerary spreadsheet to make planning easier for everyone.
Free Disney World Vacation Quote!
Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be overwhelming, but our recommended Disney-approved travel agency, ET Family Travel, makes it easy. Their expert agents specialize in Disney World vacation planning, ensuring every client enjoys a stress-free, magical experience.
With complimentary concierge services at Disney World, you can enjoy expert guidance at no extra cost. Jessica Lieb, a certified Disney travel agent, will handle all your dining reservations, itinerary planning, and more. Say goodbye to late-night reservation booking and enjoy your trip—let a professional take care of the details, completely free!
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Perfect Disney World Itinerary
Book Your Disney World Trip
Before creating your Disney World itinerary, make sure your flights, hotel, and park tickets are booked. A Disney-approved travel agent can simplify this process at no cost, helping you get the best deals, reserve the perfect room, and manage all the details of your Disney World vacation.
Add Your Travel Your Plans to Your Disney World Itinerary
Start your spreadsheet by entering your flights, car rentals, hotel check-in times, and park tickets/reservations. This ensures you don’t accidentally schedule activities that conflict with your travel plans or risk delays.
Pro Planning Tip: We recommend using Jessica Lieb with ET Family Travel to book your Disney vacation!
Include Updated Disney World Park Hours
Regularly check the official Disney World website to update park hours in your itinerary. Don’t forget to note early entry, extended evening hours, or special events, as these may affect your daily plan.
Schedule Special Events and Evening Shows
Add any after-hours events or special experiences, like fireworks, parades, or shows, to your Disney World itinerary. Planning these in advance ensures you won’t miss the iconic Disney entertainment experiences.
Add Disney Dining Reservations
Include all Disney dining reservations in your itinerary along with exact times. Plan your day around these reservations to maximize efficiency. Even if you haven’t booked restaurants yet, add quick-service options and meal ideas to avoid wasting time deciding where to eat.
Include Other Disney Reservations
If you have booked experiences like Savi’s Workshop or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, add them to your itinerary before scheduling rides and attractions. This keeps your plan realistic and stress-free.
Prioritize Disney World Rides and Shows
You can’t see everything on a Disney World vacation, so rank attractions by priority. Our family selected Top 3 must-do rides per park and scheduled those first, then added secondary rides and shows. Prioritizing helps you make the most of your time.
Use Color Coding for Your Disney World Itinerary
Color-coding your spreadsheet makes it easier to read at a glance. For example:
- Red for special activities or events
Adjust colors and labels to fit your family’s needs. The goal is to stay organized and stress-free while planning your Disney World vacation. - Purple for table-service dining reservations
- Green for quick-service meals
Share Your Disney World Itinerary
If you’re traveling with family or friends, share your itinerary spreadsheet in advance. This keeps everyone on the same page and ensures a smoother, more enjoyable Disney World trip.
How to Use this Spreadsheet
If you have a Gmail account: click File > Make a Copy.
If you don’t have a Gmail account, click File > Download as > Microsoft Excel.
*To use this Spreadsheet, if you have a Gmail account, click File > Make a Copy.
*If you don’t have a Gmail account, click File > Download as > Microsoft Excel.
Our Disney World Itinerary
We spent hours researching and creating our Disney World itinerary, but did everything go according to plan? Mostly, yes!
One of the keys to a successful Disney World vacation is flexibility. Even the best-planned days can change due to weather, tired kids, ride closures, or unexpected fun opportunities. Planning ahead with an itinerary allows you to adapt while still enjoying every moment.
To make our planning even more helpful, we recorded our entire trip on camera. Check out our family of 6 Disney World adventure on YouTube to see how we experienced the parks and followed (or adjusted) our itinerary.
Pro Planning Tip: We recommend using Jessica Lieb with ET Family Travel to book your Disney vacation!
Day 1: Arrival and Relaxation at Disney World
Our Disney World adventure began with a flight from Raleigh, NC, to Orlando with my four boys and our parents. For the boys, it was their first time flying, and their excitement rivaled even the start of our Disney World vacation!
After arriving in Orlando, we took Disney’s Magical Express (RIP) to our hotel, Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Staying on-site at a Disney hotel made our trip more convenient and helped us start our Disney World itinerary stress-free.
Once we settled into our hotel, we visited Disney Springs for lunch and a little exploration. Next, we checked out Stormalong Bay, the incredible pool at Disney’s Beach Club Resort—definitely one of the best Disney Resort pools. To keep our room stocked with snacks and drinks, we placed an Instacart order for delivery. This small planning tip can save time and make your Disney World vacation easier.
After a relaxing afternoon at the pool, we freshened up and enjoyed dinner at the Boardwalk Pizza Window. We kept the evening short, since travel had worn us out, and we wanted to be well-rested for the first day of our Disney World itinerary at the parks.
Day 2: Magic Kingdom & Evening Fireworks
Our first park day at Magic Kingdom began with excitement from the kids. We grabbed a quick breakfast at Beach Club Marketplace before taking the bus to the park. During breakfast, a few kids opted out of roller coasters, so we adjusted our plan to skip Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, showing the importance of flexibility in a Disney World itinerary.
Arriving before rope drop, we enjoyed photos on Main Street, U.S.A. My parents joined us for the morning, so we focused on attractions the whole family could enjoy. We waited near Adventureland for rope drop and headed straight to the classic Jungle Cruise.
After Jungle Cruise, the kids rode the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean. Feeling a bit hungry, we grabbed waffles at Sleepy Hollow before experiencing the spooky fun of Haunted Mansion.
In front of Haunted Mansion, we witnessed a sweet engagement moment! Some of our kids found the ride a little spooky, so we balanced thrills with classic Disney rides like It’s a Small World and Peter Pan’s Flight.
My parents had Cinderella’s Royal Table lunch reservations, a special spot they had visited 50 years ago while dating. Before heading to their reservation, we enjoyed Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a fun indoor show perfect for all ages.
To keep the day moving, we opted for a quick-service lunch at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, allowing more time for rides and attractions on our Magic Kingdom itinerary.
After lunch, my parents returned to the hotel to rest, and we focused on rides. The kids loved driving on the Tomorrowland Speedway, spinning on the Mad Tea Party, and soaring on Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Even the little ones braved their first roller coaster, The Barnstormer, and had a blast!
During the hottest part of the afternoon, we took a break in Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, enjoying some indoor air conditioning. On the way to Tomorrowland, we watched a princess cavalcade in front of Cinderella Castle, a magical moment for the kids.
We hopped on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) PeopleMover, a relaxing ride for tired feet, followed by a fun mission to defeat Zurg on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Feeling hot and hungry, we grabbed a snack at Sunshine Tree Terrace and spotted Chip and Dale along the way. Although the Citrus Swirl wasn’t available, the frozen treats were still a refreshing delight.
We did some light Magic Kingdom shopping before finding a spot to watch Happily Ever After fireworks. After the show, we enjoyed one last spin on the Tomorrowland Speedway, avoiding the crowds during park exit.
Finally, we left Magic Kingdom and returned to our Disney resort, rested, and got ready for the next day of adventures in our Disney World itinerary.
Day 3: EPCOT Adventures and the Food & Wine Festival
On the second park day of our Disney World itinerary, we headed to EPCOT. Since EPCOT opens later than other parks, we enjoyed a relaxing morning after our late night at Magic Kingdom. We grabbed breakfast at Beach Club Marketplace and walked to the International Gateway Entrance, thanks to our convenient Disney resort location. My parents joined us again, so we focused on low-key attractions the whole family could enjoy.
Our EPCOT day started with Soarin’ Around the World, followed by Living with the Land. We then visited The Seas with Nemo & Friends and explored the amazing aquariums, which are always a hit with kids.
The kids were initially nervous about Spaceship Earth, but we reassured them it was gentle and slow—it turned out to be a favorite. Afterward, we took photos at the front of the park and met Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a must-do for any EPCOT day in a Disney World itinerary.
We decided to skip Test Track and Mission: Space, and headed to Mexico Pavilion for lunch at La Cantina de San Angel and a ride on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. The scorching weather prompted my parents to return to the hotel pool for some relaxation.
Next, we explored the Norway Pavilion and rode Frozen Ever After, wishing for cooler weather. It was still too hot, so we returned to the hotel. On the way back, we stopped at the Japan Pavilion for shopping at Mitsukoshi, a great spot for unique souvenirs.
After a brief rest, we returned to EPCOT with my parents to explore the Food & Wine Festival booths. We sampled the filet from Canada, visited Journey Into Imagination with Figment, spotted Winnie the Pooh, and enjoyed a second ride on Soarin’ Around the World.
The kids sampled mac and cheese from Mac & Eats, followed by donuts from the Donut Box. While my parents dined at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, we continued exploring World Showcase, discovering new tastes and sights.
We continued tasting treats from festival booths, enjoyed some beers, and found the perfect spot to watch EPCOT Forever, the nighttime fireworks spectacular. After the show, we took a short walk back to our Disney resort and called it a night, ready for the next day of adventures.
Day 4: Rest Day at the Pool – Relaxing Disney World Itinerary
I highly recommend including a rest day in your Disney World itinerary. Taking a break from the parks gave us time to explore our Disney resort, catch up on laundry, and simply relax.
We began the day with breakfast at Cape May Café, conveniently located inside our resort. While I took care of laundry, the rest of the family enjoyed the Stormalong Bay pool, which lived up to its reputation as one of the best Disney Resort pools. Most of the morning and afternoon were spent relaxing poolside.
For lunch, we kept it simple with a quick meal at our Disney resort, giving us more time to enjoy the pool and amenities.
After a refreshing shower, we headed to Disney Springs for shopping and Gideon’s Bakehouse cookies before our late dinner reservation at ‘Ohana. Exploring Disney Springs is a perfect activity for a relaxing day in your Disney World itinerary.
Our ‘Ohana dinner reservation ran late, so we took an Uber back to the hotel, as Disney transportation had stopped for the evening. This was quicker and more convenient, allowing us to end our rest day comfortably.
Day 5: Hollywood Studios – Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land Adventures
The most anticipated day of our trip was Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Our family is huge Star Wars fans, so we were thrilled to explore this immersive land. This day was the first for Standby access to Rise of the Resistance, so we were a bit anxious about wait times, given how popular the attraction is.
After a quick in-room breakfast, we walked from Disney’s Beach Club Resort to Hollywood Studios in about 10 minutes. Once inside, we joined the massive line for Rise of the Resistance. When the park officially opened, the line began moving, and we waited only 60 minutes, despite the posted wait time of 180 minutes.
After riding Rise of the Resistance, we explored Galaxy’s Edge, but it was extremely crowded, so we made our way to Toy Story Land. We rode Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Midway Mania, then grabbed Lunchbox Tarts from Woody’s Lunchbox for a quick snack to refuel.
We returned to Galaxy’s Edge for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, where we hilariously “crashed” the Falcon—definitely a highlight of our Hollywood Studios day.
For lunch, we stopped at Backlot Express, then watched An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie before riding Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Later, my parents joined us for the day, and we met up at Hollywood Brown Derby for a leisurely meal together.
After lunch, we experienced Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, followed by A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, perfect for keeping the younger kids entertained.
The kids were thrilled to show Grandma and Grandpa Galaxy’s Edge, exploring the shops and attractions. We enjoyed dinner at Docking Bay 7, one of the land’s signature dining spots.
Later, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run had a short wait, so we rode it again—crashing the Falcon for a second hilarious round!
Surprisingly, Rise of the Resistance also had a manageable wait, so we rode it twice in one day. We even sampled the famous Blue and Green Milk, though neither was a hit with our family.
We closed out our Hollywood Studios day by watching the Wonderful World of Animation nighttime show, a perfect way to end an action-packed day.
Day 6: Animal Kingdom Adventures
Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens and closes earlier than other parks. After our action-packed day at Hollywood Studios, we didn’t spend as much time here as planned, but we still accomplished all the attractions on our Animal Kingdom itinerary.
After a quick in-room breakfast, we took Disney transportation to Animal Kingdom. Our first stop was Kilimanjaro Safaris, where the wait time was minimal, and we saw a variety of animals roaming freely—including lions roaring in the distance.
After the safari, we enjoyed cinnamon rolls and pastries from Tamu Tamu Refreshments. We then explored the Maharajah Jungle Trek, spotting majestic tigers and Komodo dragons along the way.
Next, we admired the iconic Tree of Life and watched It’s Tough to Be a Bug, an entertaining and family-friendly show inside the park.
We then headed to Dinoland, U.S.A., riding TriceraTop Spin and Dinosaur, while the kids explored The Boneyard playground. Our dinosaur-loving child couldn’t have been happier.
Next, we enjoyed the Festival of the Lion King show before lunch at Tusker House Restaurant. Hands down, this was our favorite meal of the trip, even topping ‘Ohana for flavor and atmosphere.
After lunch, my parents returned to the resort, and we explored Pandora – The World of Avatar. We rode Avatar Flight of Passage, which nearly everyone loved, followed by Na’vi River Journey—even getting a short break in the air-conditioned boat. We also sampled the Night Blossom beverage from Pongu Pongu, with mixed reviews from our group.
Although we had planned to stay until park closing and eat at Satu’li Canteen, fatigue set in. We did a little souvenir shopping, then took the bus to Disney’s Riviera Resort, opting to ride the Skyliner back to Beach Club Resort for a quicker trip.
At the Riviera, we enjoyed a casual dinner at Primo Piatto and explored the resort briefly. We then rode the Skyliner to EPCOT’s International Gateway and walked back to Disney’s Beach Club Resort, ending another full day of our Disney World itinerary.
Day 7: Hollywood Studios – Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop
To experience all things Star Wars, we planned two days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Our final park day fell on Saturday, and we had pre-planned reservations for rides, shows, and activities in Galaxy’s Edge. Meanwhile, my parents enjoyed a relaxing day at EPCOT and by the pool at our resort.
After breakfast at our Disney resort, we took the boat to Hollywood Studios. With most attractions requiring reservations, we began the day with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a must-do ride for the whole family.
Next, we revisited Toy Story Land for Toy Story Mania, before heading back to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for more adventures.
Back in Galaxy’s Edge, we rode Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run again—crashing the Falcon once more! We also did some shopping in Galaxy’s Edge and grabbed kettle corn from Kat Saka’s Kettle for a tasty snack.
As Galaxy’s Edge became crowded, we decided to enjoy some shows. We finally caught Muppet*Vision 3D, which had broken during our first Hollywood Studios visit. Afterward, we watched Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, a fun show for the kids.
For lunch, we stopped at ABC Commissary, then rode Star Tours – The Adventures Continue again. We watched the Hollywood Studios parade, waved at our favorite characters, and made our way to our Oga’s Cantina reservation.
We returned briefly to Toy Story Land for Alien Swirling Saucers, followed by another spin on Star Tours—making the most of our last day in Hollywood Studios.
Next, we visited Droid Depot to build custom droids. While Joe and Jude created elaborate lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop, I took the younger kids to craft playable lightsabers at Tatooine Traders, keeping everyone entertained.
For dinner, we returned to Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy’s Edge. We rode Smugglers Run once more, took some fun photos with our lightsabers outside the Millennium Falcon, and ended our Hollywood Studios adventure with Rise of the Resistance one final time.
Day 8: Heading Home – Final Day at Disney World
On our final day at Disney World, we booked a later flight out of Orlando to enjoy a bit more Disney magic. After checking out of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, the front desk kindly held our bags until the Magical Express picked us up for the airport.
We enjoyed the last of our breakfast snacks we had stocked in our hotel room. The kids had fun receiving captain hats from Captain Neil, who was greeting guests in the hotel lobby—a perfect little memory to start our day.
Before leaving, the boys wanted to visit the hotel arcade, where we spent some fun time playing games together.
For our final Disney meal, we visited Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, arriving at the earliest reservation of the day. We were lucky to be the “family of the day.” The kids tried to finish the famous Kitchen Sink dessert, though it was a monumental challenge—and we fell far short!
After lunch, we said goodbye to Disney’s Beach Club Resort and boarded the Magical Express (well, the last-time version!) back to the airport, marking the end of an unforgettable Disney World vacation.
Everything about our trip was magical. There were a few moments of exhaustion and meltdowns from tired kids, but overall, we had a wonderful time. Our plan ensured we accomplished everything we wanted but with the flexibility to change our plans as needed.
Budgeting & Packing List: What to Bring & How to Save Money
Budgeting Tips:
- Park Tickets: Book in advance to lock in the best price; consider multi-day passes for savings.
- Accommodations: Stay at a Disney Resort for convenience or off-site hotels for lower rates. Compare nightly costs and amenities.
- Food & Drinks: Bring refillable water bottles and snacks to save money inside the parks.
- Souvenirs: Set a budget per child to avoid overspending.
- Comfortable shoes and breathable clothing
- Ponchos/rain jackets for sudden Florida showers
- Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses
- Portable phone chargers
- Reusable water bottles and snacks
- Autograph books, lanyards, or Disney MagicBands
Extra Tips to Save:
- Use Disney gift cards to prepay expenses.
- Consider free activities like Disney resort pools or Disney Springs entertainment.
- Download the My Disney Experience app for real-time wait times and dining options.
FAQ Section
Q: What if we only have 3 days at Disney World?
- Focus on one park per day, prioritize your must-do attractions, and use Lightning Lanes to save time.
Q: Can we switch parks during our trip?
- Yes! Park hopping is with a valid ticket, but plan travel time between parks.
Q: Are Lightning Lanes worth it?
- For families wanting to experience multiple headliner rides per day, Lightning Lanes can save hours. Prioritize popular rides first.
Q: Any tips for traveling with toddlers or grandparents?
- Schedule mid-day breaks, use rider swap, and bring snacks/water for everyone.
Free Disney World Planning Spreadsheet
DOWNLOAD DISNEY WORLD PLANNING SPREADSHEET
Book Your Disney Vacation
Ready to book your Disney World vacation? We recommend using Jessica Lieb with ET Family Vacations to find you the best deal on your Disney vacation. Jessica can save you money on your trip. Plus, her services are 100% FREE FOR YOU!
You must be logged in to post a comment.