4 days in Orlando

Day by day

1. Day 1: Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

   Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios, then Epic Universe in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Magic Kingdom

      Allow Full day (expensive). Arrive before the official opening time; the first hour and the afternoon parade are the quietest moments for the most popular rides.

   2. Late morning

      EPCOT

      Seasonal festivals for food, flowers, the arts and the holidays run for much of the year.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dole Whip

      Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

   4. Afternoon

      Disney's Hollywood Studios

      Allow Full day (expensive). Head to Galaxy's Edge or Toy Story Land at opening, as queues there build quickly.

   5. Evening

      Epic Universe

      Go to the land you care about most at opening; queues elsewhere are usually shorter later in the day.

2. Day 2: Disney's Animal Kingdom and Universal Studios Florida

   Disney's Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, then ICON Park and The Wheel in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Disney's Animal Kingdom

      The Tree of Life, carved with hundreds of animals, is the park's centrepiece.

   2. Late morning

      Universal Studios Florida

      Allow Full day (expensive). Arrive before opening and head straight to Diagon Alley, where queues build fastest.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Butterbeer

      Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and Epic Universe's Ministry of Magic land at Universal.

   4. Afternoon

      Universal Islands of Adventure

      It is the more thrill-heavy of Universal's two original parks.

   5. Evening

      ICON Park and The Wheel

      Ride after dark for views across the lit-up resort area.

3. Day 3: SeaWorld Orlando and Disney Springs

   SeaWorld Orlando, Disney Springs and Lake Eola Park, then Universal CityWalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      SeaWorld Orlando

      Allow Full day (expensive). Check the day's show and feeding schedule on arrival and plan coaster rides around them.

   2. Late morning

      Disney Springs

      Disney Springs is a free-entry outdoor district of shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment beside Lake Buena Vista, with the huge World of Disney store and a tethered helium balloon ride that rises high above the lake.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smoked turkey leg

      Snack carts in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland, EPCOT and other parks.

   4. Afternoon

      Lake Eola Park

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Come at dusk, when the fountain lights up, and hire a swan boat for a slow lap of the lake.

   5. Evening

      Universal CityWalk

      Bars, live music and clubs outside the Universal parks, open later than the parks themselves.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

   About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Car or organised tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

      About 1 hour by car (Car or organised tour); about 80 km.

   2. Day

      Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

      On Merritt Island, the visitor complex displays the Space Shuttle Atlantis and a Saturn V moon rocket, runs bus tours towards the launch areas and hosts astronaut talks. Launches from Cape Canaveral are frequent; check the schedule, as some can be watched from the complex or nearby beaches.

   3. Evening

      Back in Orlando

      Dinner: try Mickey ice cream bar.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Universal Studios Florida and Epic Universe before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Walt Disney World Resort keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Lake Buena Vista ($$) suits families and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 52–71 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.3 hours in December to 13.9 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Orlando
• 2 days in Orlando
• 3 days in Orlando
• 5 days in Orlando
• 7 days in Orlando

Questions travellers ask