Disney Mileage (How Much Will You Walk at Disney?)
Previously, I posted a blog about a Disney foot care kit. Those who've been to Walt Disney World probably understand why taking care of those puppies is important. But for those who haven't, or those who want a reminder, this post is about how much walking one can actually do at Walt Disney World.
Last time I visited Walt Disney World, I was also curious about how much walking goes into a Disney vacation. Enter the Fitbit! Below is a rundown of how much walking I actually did on my most recent 12 (!) day vacation to Walt Disney World, as well as a summary of what I did each day. As you'll see, the mileage varies between about 5 and 10 miles. I was traveling with my mother (in her sixties), my daughter (tween), and my husband (40-something). For the first part of the vacation, it was just my mother and I. Then daughter and husband joined us and it was all four of us. Then my mother left, and it was just me, daughter, and husband, so that's how I divided the report.
Part One: Disney Commando (My Mother and I)
Day 1 - Arrival
Between three airports, a walk from the Polynesian to the TTC, a quick walk in Animal Kingdom to Pandora, exploring the savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge before dinner at Sanaa, and a walk to the beach of the Polynesian where we were staying for fireworks, we managed to log....
16,636 steps or 6.83 miles
Day 2 - Hitting it hard
Having rested, and being super exited to be at Disney, we hit it hard today, starting with Every Person Comes Out Tired (or, EPCOT for the general public) at opening. To get there from the Polynesian, we always walked to the TTC. We spent mos to of our time in FutureWorld with a lovely detour to France for pastries. Weather was gorgeous and we weren't getting sore yet (ha!). Walked back from the TTC upon return.
In the afternoon, we chose to walk from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian for tea. Then we took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, walked a bit around Fantasyland and Liberty Square, and wrapped with fireworks. Back at resort, walked to beach to enjoy electrical water pageant.
Doesn't seem like much but we logged:
24,055 steps or 9.88 miles
I blame it on EPCOT.
Day 3 - The Kingdoms
Got to Magic Kingdom at 8:30 for rope drop, explored mostly new Fanstasyland and Tomorrowland. We criss-crossed a bit based on crowds and ADRs for lunch between the two and in between shopped on Main Street, heading back to the top of Main Street for Sorcerer's Cards and then playing Sorcerers a bit all over Fantasyland.
Back to resort, and then to Animal Kingdom where we enjoyed Pandora, Africa, and Asia, before returning to Pandora. I'm sure we must have walked my favorite path behind the Tree of Life as well. I don't believe I can enter Animal Kingdom without doing that.
22,833 steps or 9.38 miles
Day 4 - Soreness Enters Our Lives
After the last couple days, we were feeling it. We arrived at Animal Kingdom early and back to Pandora, of course. Then we strolled Tree of Life Gardens and Maharajah Jungle Trek. For some reason, we then decided to do the entire loop, and continued to Dinoland before returning to Africa for our safari and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. So, we did all three animal paths, if you are counting. Lunch was at Tiffins, and then we limped out.
Went to EPCOT in the evening and did the entire World Showcase loop. World Showcase is the entire reason EPCOT has its nickname, you know. Stayed until closing, monorail back.
23,576 steps or 9.68 miles
Day 5 - When you don't do much except walk all the way around Port Orleans
We took a bus to another resort, Port Orleans Riverside, and walked around. As you know from the name of this site, Port Orleans is close to my heart, so we had to visit. We walked all the way from the lobby of Riverside to the lobby of French Quarter along the river. Then, boated to Disney Springs and walked a little bit around there but pretty much stayed in the World of Disney area. Decided to dip into Magic Kingdom for lunch (straight to Liberty Square and back out again). Spent most of the afternoon waiting and drinking around the resort waiting for my husband and daughter to arrive.
After they arrived, hurried into Magic Kingdom and enjoyed Fantasyland and AdventureLand before returning to the hub for fireworks. Honestly, this was a perfect Disney day.
20,458 steps or 8.4 miles
Part 2: Settling Into the Groove (the entire family)
Day 6 - Every Person Comes Out Tired
After an early breakfast at the resort, we took the bus to Animal Kingdom and did a little Wilderness Explorers in the Discovery Island area, then Pandora, Africa, and then back to entrance of Dinoland for some wonderful Flame Tree BBQ.
For the evening, we went to EPCOT and made it most of the way around World Showcase (started in Canada, then went the other way to Japan, via Mexico). Got a last minute FP+ for Soarin', so we trucked it back from Japan (via boat to Canada) to ride that, then returned to the World Showcase plaza for Illuminations.
Like I said. EPCOT will do you in every time.
23,202 steps or 9.54 miles
Day 7 - Gluttons for Punishment
Some of us were starting to drag and we got a very late start on this day. While the family slept, though, I made my way to the lobby via the beach, and back to our longhouse with breakfast for all. When people finally did drag themselves out of bed, we went back to EPCOT because we are gluttons for punishment. Started again in FutureWorld, and then back to World Showcase. Painted a bit near Canada, then backtracked again to Norway for Frozen, Italy for lunch, and made it this time to Morocco before giving up and boating back.
In the evening, we visited Animal Kingdom again for a visit to Pandora, walked the path to Africa, then cut over to Dinoland for Rivers of Light.
19.989 steps or 8.21 miles
Day 8 - A More Relaxed Disney Day
There was more sleeping in today on behalf of some members of our party (not me), so again, I went to get breakfast. Went to Disney Hollywood Studios this time. Half of this park was closed for the Toy Story Land and Star Wars Expansions, so it was a welcome morning in a compact park. We did traverse about every piece of that park that was open, though.
Did Magic Kingdom in the afternoon - mostly Main Street and Fanstasyland, though. Had to appease a little girl (oh, excuse me, tween) who desired to go on Small World.
We were pretty tired out and parks were really crowded (I think it was a 7 or 8 on this day according to Touring Plans), so we left before dinner and did not return, opting to hang out at the resort.
12,696 steps or 5.21 miles
Day 9 - The Joy of Compact Parks
Went to Magic Kingdom at opening. We went pretty much all over the park from Tomorrowland, through Fantasyland, and all the way back to Splash and Big Thunder mountains in Frontierland, then back through Adventureland. The only part we didn't touch (and usually don't) is Mickey's Big Top Toon Town Circuslandia Commercial Kid Screaming Land (I don't even try to keep up with the name changes - I do not like this land).
My mother had to catch a flight back. After she left, husband, daughter, and I amused ourselves at Disney Springs. We walked around pretty much the entire thing from Planet Hollywood to Earl of Sandwich and back.
14,771 steps or 6.07 miles
Part Three - Relaxed Vacationers (with husband and tween)
Day 10 - Three Parks in One Day
Went to EPCOT in the morning - didn't even touch World Showcase. Just both sides of FutureWorld. Took monorails to get to Magic Kingdom by lunch for an ADR at Be Our Guest, and we did a little Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom as well in Adventureland.
For the evening, we went to Disney Hollywood Studios and again covered pretty much every inch of the park that was open.
17,158 steps or 7.05 miles
Day 11 - A One Park Day
Took monorail to the Contemporary for Chef Mickeys. Did a little exploring there before taking the bus to Animal Kingdom. Had to do Pandora again, of course. Then Africa, as was natural (I really love that path between Pandora and Africa, and just always automatically took it). Did a lot of Wilderness Explorers in Gorilla Falls, and then had to go out to Rafiki's Planet Watch to meet Rafiki, of course, then after departing the train back in Africa, walked all the way to Asia, and then back to Pandora (daughter had to have a Banshee).
Because we spent most of the day at Animal Kingdom, we hung out at the resort for the evening. Packing, sadly.
17,364 steps or 7.13 miles
Day 12 - A Half Day
Got up really early so we could check our luggage with bell services before arriving at Magic Kingdom for opening. WE had a lovely Magic Kingdom morning in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland before we had to leave around noon.
But wait, there's more - airport adventures when flight was cancelled running all over Orlando International Airport trying to find a new flight, and then find our luggage once resigned to the fact that we'd be in Orlando one more night.
Still, significantly lower activity day.
12,654 steps or 5.2 miles
Your mileage may vary.
There are a few things that contributed to how much we walked.
For example, we may have walked MORE than you would because...
1. The weather was AMAZING. It was early February and in the mid-seventies most days. We only had rain during the day one evening. It was a joy to be walking outside.
2. Big parks. My family likes Animal Kingdom and EPCOT best, and those are also currently the largest parks. As you can see from our touring, we were often in at least one of those parks in a day.
3. Low crowds. At the beginning of our trip, crowds were lower, so we were able to get around more.
4. Vacation style. My mother and I are very Disney Commando. We attack the parks like a Special Ops team, arriving early and devouring attractions as much as possible. We always have a plan and we stick to it. Consequently, we logged more steps early in the trip.
5. Park hopping. I have a theory that park hopping adds to your steps. If you think about the distance to transportation, then from transportation to the park entrance, then usually through a corridor of sorts inside the park before you are really near attractions, that's quite a bit of walking. I think we'd do less walking if we committed to one park a day and stayed in it, but I don't think we'll ever do that. I just don't enjoy the parks that much in the most hot and crowded part of the day.
But we also may have walked LESS than you because...
1. I know my way around. I know shortcuts and I don't spend my time lost or backtracking in the parks. This reduces steps.
2. We stayed at a monorail loop resort, and that simply means fewer steps to the transportation and fewer steps to the entrance upon arrival at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.
3. Higher crowds. Late in our vacation, we were approaching President's Day weekend, which is a peak crowd period at Walt Disney World. When crowds are high, you don't really want to go much anywhere and you spend more time standing around in lines.
4. Vacation style again. My husband and daughter are more relaxed vacationers. They prefer not to have a plan. You'll see we steadily began to do less and log fewer steps. This is not altogether a bad thing. One of my tips for staying sane at Disney is to try not to pressure yourself that you must do all the things. Just do what you like and have fun. It's your vacation. That means you might have to adapt to the style of those traveling with you so that everyone stays happy.
5. Fitness level. Honestly, we are not very fit people. I can endure a long walk for sure, but I do tend to get plantar fasciitis. That in addition to being a bit overweight means that honestly I can't hold up quite as long as I would have liked. I definitely felt that I desired to do more but my body was just not having it and needed a rest.
In general, count on about 10 miles a day, give or take a bit, at Disney. This was just my experience to serve as an example of how much you might walk. I hope it also illustrates the importance of preparing and planning for foot comfort. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
