Hi Heather! Welcome to planDisney!
Oh boy! It seems like you are planning the ultimate
Walt Disney World vacation! With six days to visit the theme parks, you'll have plenty of time to fit in all the experiences that await. Let's discuss some options you have when planning out the itinerary for your upcoming trip.
Heather, while there is certainly no right or wrong way to choose which days to visit specific parks, I can provide you with my recommendation for planning your days. Since you will be visiting for nine consecutive days and have a six-day park ticket, you'll have a few extra days to incorporate into your trip. I would advise against using a park ticket on your arrival and departure days, since you will not have enough time to utilize them to their fullest. This leaves you with seven days, which will provide a rest day somewhere in the middle to regroup and enjoy some activities outside of the theme parks.
I would start off my trip with a visit to the
Magic Kingdom. While this is the common answer for many, it is for good reason. There is something special about arriving at Main Street, U.S.A., and getting a glimpse of Cinderella Castle to begin your trip. With countless attractions at this park, you'll need two days to try and fit them all in. Plus, with the new nighttime parade that just debuted at the Magic Kingdom, there are plenty of entertainment options to check out.
Next, I would head to
EPCOT on my second park day. Hopefully, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will be returning next year just in time for your arrival. If so, you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy not only the festival, but everything else that EPCOT has to offer. I've found it successful in the past to prioritize the front of the park on my first visit, then focus on the World Showcase on the next visit back. This park is rather large, so it can be tough to fit it all into one day.
On my third park day, I would head to
Disney's Hollywood Studios. Since you have one day to fit it all in, you'll want to arrive early to maximize your park time. With two new shows debuting this year, there are a lot of attractions and entertainment to enjoy. I also highly recommend staying for Fantasmic!, which is a nighttime show held at Hollywood Studios.
A rest day would be a great choice for the following day. With a busy day at Hollywood Studios and potentially staying for the nighttime show, getting a chance to sleep in will be greatly needed.
The following day is the perfect opportunity to visit
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. This park typically opens earlier than the rest, so having an off day the day prior will help you get a head start at this park. If you do arrive early, I suggest heading straight to Pandora to ride Avatar Flight of Passage. If you are ahead of the pack, you can usually ride this attraction with a minimal wait.
Your final two park days will be your time to revisit EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom. I like beginning and ending my stay with trips to the Magic Kingdom, although you can choose whichever order you prefer. This method also gives you the chance to change your mind and choose to visit one of the other two parks for a second time. It's possible that you did everything you wanted to at EPCOT on your first day and prefer to head back to Hollywood Studios for a second time. The options are truly endless.
Heather, I hope this information helps you plan your stay! Have a magical trip!
Greg