The ultimate three days at Walt Disney World® in Orlando

02.10.2024 - 19:17 / lonelyplanet.com / Mickey Mouse

Oct 2, 2024 • 11 min read

On the monorail after dinner with Mickey Mouse, my four-year-old son and a little girl were bonding. She didn’t speak English, and he didn’t speak Portuguese, but they were having the most amazing time. And here’s the thing: nearly everyone at Walt Disney World® in Orlando is having the most amazing time. It's hot, the lines are long, bodies are abundant and still, smiles, properly formed queues and manners abound. 

Disney World is a world unto itself. There is a culture (everyone is welcome), mythology (Mickey is a god and pixie dust makes everything better), fashion (wear your fave Disney brand loud and proud and don’t forget your mouse ears) and social norms (stand in line, have fun, be kind), and once you enter under that arched sign, you’re part of it too. The cast members call little humans "your highness" or "captain" or whatever suits their clothing or costume. Everyone is helpful and ready to answer your questions. And the guests rise to the occasion, taking on the ethos because they want to. It feels good to believe in magic for as long as you can, because at the end of the day, everyone speaks Disney.

But as I quickly learned, even magical days can be busy and overwhelming. So I'm sharing my notes and tips with you so you can plan your ultimate Disney World trip.

When to arrive: I would suggest visiting on weekdays if you can swing it. We arrived on a Wednesday morning and it was perfect.

How to get from the airport: Once you are in the Disney complex, you do not need a car, so book a shuttle with Mears Connect. It has a huge presence at the Orlando airport, making the transfer extremely easy.

Getting around town: Use the buses between the parks and the resorts. But there is also the monorail, friendship boats and sky gondola to help you get you around.

Where to stay: We loved Animal Kingdom Lodge, but if you’re looking for a more affordable stay check out Art of Animation. 

What to pack: Pack your Disney-themed t-shirt. I love dressing the part. We packed two each for our three days. Also, pack an extra pair of comfortable shoes. You are on your feet all day, and switching it up the next day is nice. Rain ponchos are also useful. Some people wore them on the water rides, but rain is a thing in Florida so they come in handy. Finally, I regret not packing more. I packed just enough for three days, which was fine, but we got so sweaty. I would have loved to return to the hotel and change at some point. Our clothes were gross.

What I learned: Make friends with the Disney app. This itinerary is very tight and might be better over at least four days. Also, my little one wasn't super into this trip. He did it all. He was a trooper and we had fun, but he has no connection to