Planning a vacation to Walt Disney World with your girlfriends is a vastly different process from planning a family vacation! You eliminate the need to accommodate small children, sure, but add in multiple opinions, budgets, likes, and dislikes. Having planned both types of vacation, there are a few must-dos and a few things to skip for a girls’ trip. So, I’m giving you the inside scoop on how to make the most out of your Disney World girls trip itinerary!

When To Start Planning Your Disney World Girls Trip

As a mom of two little boys, I know firsthand that when planning a Disney vacation, you tend to focus on the wants and needs of those in your travel party instead of your own. Good news – a girls’ trip is all about you!

However, there are a few things you’ll need to be on the same page about with your group. How long will you go? Where should you stay? Are you all on the same budget? Getting a group of adults to step away from their life responsibilities, whether that be caring for kids, work, or life in general, can take some time to coordinate.

Bottom line: PLAN EARLY.

By setting everyone’s expectations early and making sure you’re on the same page about budget, time frame, and travel preferences, you’ll all have plenty of time to prepare. Though a spur-of-the-moment girls’ trip might seem fun and exciting, it’s not usually feasible. Invite everyone over for a girls’ night, grab the wine, and talk about what is most important to your group. Don’t skip this brainstorming session, you’ll save a lot of stress!

How Long Should Your Disney World Girls’ Trip Be?

Typically, a girls’ trip is viewed as a brief escape from everyday life. I’d consider a Disney trip no different! However, you want to ensure that you get your money’s worth.

I recommend a trip of around 3 nights and 4 days. Anything less than 3 nights can feel rushed, especially if you have to travel from a far distance. If traveling from somewhere near Orlando, you might be able to get by with 2 nights, but why limit the fun?

With three nights, that leaves room for at least two park days, one relaxation day, and some flexibility with travel times.

Of course, the more the better, but this will give plenty of time for play and relaxation. Remember, there will be no worrying about kids’ nap time, eating schedules, or meltdowns!

Choosing a Hotel For Your Girls’ Trip

There are over 25 different Disney World Resort options, and within those resorts, there are multiple different room types and sizes. Depending on how many friends are coming on the big girls’ trip, booking anything from just a standard 2 queen bed room to a 3-bedroom grand villa is an option.

Disney currently offers three resort categories: Value (the cheapest), Moderate (the middle ground), and Deluxe (most expensive). All resorts within any of these categories will come with the basic Disney World amenities, plus perks like:

• Complimentary transportation
• Early Entry to the four Disney theme parks
• Resort activities
• Complimentary resort and theme park parking
• Early access to booking Lightning Lane passes
• And, more!

However, the more expensive the category, the bigger the room size in most cases. More “adult-friendly” resorts will be in the moderate and deluxe categories, though I’ve had great adult-only experiences at value resorts, as well! One thing to keep in mind is that moderate and deluxe resorts have two sinks in the bathroom area, which may be an important factor with four girls getting ready in the morning.

Another thing you’ll want to consider is the location of your hotel. If you plan to visit Magic Kingdom, staying in the Magic Kingdom resort area might be beneficial. However, if you love the convenience of the Disney Skyliner, staying in the EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios resort area may be the better way to go.

If I were planning a trip with my girlfriends, I would recommend these resorts:

• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Budgeting for a Disney World Girls Trip

We’ll break down a rough budget based on my recommended 3-night, 4-day Disney World girls’ trip itinerary. Now, this budget only pertains to things that are set in stone and must be booked in advance. That includes the tickets, the room, and dining. This does not include personal preferences, such as shopping and extras, as these will vary between individuals.

Park Tickets

The first thing your group will have to decide is whether you’ll be purchasing standard one-day, one-park base tickets or upgrading to park hopper tickets.

Park hopper tickets allow you to visit all four theme parks in one day and give you more flexibility in your itinerary. However, personally, I think park hopper tickets are often not worth the added expense and are ultimately too time-consuming for a short trip. So, for this example, we’ll stick with a 2-day, 1-park base ticket.

Disney operates with dynamic pricing for their theme park tickets, meaning the busier the season, the more expensive the tickets will be. You can expect tickets to be at their peak around the holidays. Single park tickets average around $150 per day, so we’ll use that math for this purpose. Just know that your park tickets may be much cheaper or much more expensive than this, depending on when you travel.

Ticket Budget: $350 per person

Hotel Stay

Your room accommodations will have the most significant impact on the group budget. If you plan to all share a room at a value resort, the room will average around $200 per night, in total. Pricing will go up from there, with a one-bedroom suite averaging around $800 per night, depending on the resort.

For the sake of a median, I’ve priced out three nights at a moderate resort. A step up from value, but still two beds with room for four people. A moderate resort averages around $400 per night. Split between four people for three nights, that’s roughly $300 per person for the whole trip.

Room Budget: $300 per person

Dining

Just like room accommodations, dining preferences will have the second-largest impact on your budget. Quick service dining, which is Disney’s fast food option, will be significantly cheaper than table service dining, which is Disney’s sit-down restaurants.

There are so many unique dining options at Walt Disney World, and many adult-oriented restaurants that you may not consider eating at with children, so this is the time to really take advantage of them! My personal recommendation is a quick service breakfast, a quick service lunch, and a table service dinner. For foodie groups, this could transform into a quick service breakfast with table service for lunch and dinner, so you’ll need to establish priorities within your group.

A quick service meal typically costs around $15 per person, while a table service meal can range from $30 to $65+ per person. Non-alcoholic drinks cost around $6, and alcoholic beverages run anywhere from $10-$20+, depending on what you order and from where. With that in mind, you can expect to pay around $120 per day based on this dining itinerary. Keep in mind that staying at a Disney World Resort hotel does qualify you for the Disney Dining Plan add-on, which can be a great way to budget for food in advance if you don’t mind sticking to what’s included in the dining plan you choose.

Dining Budget: $475 per person

Total Disney World Girls Trip Budget

Overall, you should plan to spend somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500 per person for a Disney World girls trip, with the exact total varying based on personal preference.

How To Book Your Disney World Girls’ Trip

Now that you’ve got the major points planned out, it’s time to execute! Choosing one person to handle the mass booking will keep things organized. Here are the most important things to secure ahead of time.

Park Tickets & Accommodations

Disney World now offers date-based tickets, which means that you book your ticket for the specific date and theme park, and it makes your theme park reservation for you. No need to go back in and make your reservations after purchasing your tickets!

When booking a Walt Disney World vacation package, you’ll book park tickets and your resort at the same time. This makes it easy to combine all of the big girls’ trip expenses into a single lump sum for tickets and your hotel stay. Booking a vacation package requires a $200 deposit, with the rest of the balance due thirty days before check-in. This gives you and the girls enough time to budget and plan, and everyone can either pay the person who did the mass booking or pay their portion online themselves!

Dining Reservations

60 days prior to check-in day, you can start booking dining reservations! With a Disney vacation package booked, you’ll be able to reserve dining for the entire length of your trip, giving you a bit of an edge on those really hard-to-get reservations.

If dining is important to your Disney World girls’ trip itinerary and you have multiple restaurants on your “must-do” list, be sure to plan ahead. Popular restaurants book up fast, and reservations typically open up at 6 AM Eastern time 60 days out, so be sure to set an alarm!

If your ideal bookings aren’t available, don’t worry. Many reservations open up last minute as people’s plans change, so there may still be hope. Stay vigilant, and check the My Disney Experience app daily!

Some dining reservations I would recommend are:

• Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera Breakfast
• Tusker House
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Trattoria Al Forno
• Wine Bar George
• Summer House on the Lake
• Via Napoli
• The Boathouse
• California Grill
• Flying Fish
• Citrocos
• Narcoossee’s
• Jiko – The Cooking Place

Optional Add-Ons

Though park tickets, room reservations, and dining are the top three most important things to check off the list when planning your Disney World girls’ trip itinerary, there are a few more things that need to be booked in advance if they are on your list.

Here are some optional add-ons you may want to consider adding to your girls’ trip that need to be booked before you arrive in Disney World:

• Disney’s Lightning Lane Services (Multi Pass, Single Pass, and Premier Pass)
• Grand Floridian Spa treatments
• Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Fireworks Dessert/Dining Packages
• Behind-the-scenes tours

Sample Disney World Girls Trip Itinerary

This customizable sample Disney World girls trip itinerary is a great place to start when planning a 3-night, 4-day vacation. Keep in mind that this itinerary can easily change and be adjusted to the needs and time frame of your trip. After all, everyone is different!

Day 1 – Arrival Day

Arriving as early as possible allows you to make the most out of your vacation. Plus, even though check-in isn’t technically until 4PM, if your hotel room is not ready when you arrive, you can still start using the resort amenities.

Use day one as your relaxation day. Plan to sit by the pool, explore your resort, and embrace the Florida sunshine! All resorts have either a close-by quick service option or a poolside eatery, which I suggest grabbing for lunch.

Once the room is ready, it’s time to prepare for the night! If there is a signature dining restaurant on your “must-do” list, try to book this for night one. Just keep in mind that it should be at a Disney World Resort hotel or Disney Springs, so you don’t need to buy a park ticket. My recommendation would be to get a reservation at Flying Fish on Disney’s Boardwalk. Then, you can head to the Abracadabra bar for after-dinner drinks, and follow it up with a visit to Atlantic Dance Hall (21+) if dancing is your thing!

Alternatively, Disney Springs is a great option on Day 1. Dine at Wine Bar George or The Boathouse, sample some wine flights or cocktails, and shop till you drop! For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss Gideon’s Bakehouse.

Day 2 – Magic Kingdom

The big day has arrived! Embrace your girls’ trip at Disney World with matching t-shirts and Mickey ears, and head to Magic Kingdom. I always suggest doing Magic Kingdom first because it will be your longest day with the least flexibility. Arrive for Early Theme Park Entry if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel and tackle Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight first (if these rides are on your must-do list).

If you are purchasing any of Disney’s Lightning Lane services for your trip, your Magic Kingdom itinerary will depend on the available ride times you find in the My Disney Experience app. I suggest trying to stay within the same area when booking your Lightning Lane return times, but that isn’t always possible.

For those who are not purchasing Lightning Lane passes, bounce around to whatever has the shortest wait times near you. You’ll save a lot of time and energy completing one section of the park at a time versus bouncing back and forth.

For lunch, I recommend Pinocchio Village Haus or Columbia Harbor House if you’re in the Fantasyland area. Or, in Frontierland, head to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe. If a table service lunch is in your plans, head to Skipper’s Canteen in Adventureland.

And, don’t miss the 3PM Festival of Fantasy Parade! Watch the parade right on Main Street, U.S.A., and then head to the Monorail for a mid-day break. To give your legs a rest (and take advantage of some A/C), take a trip on the resort monorail to explore the resorts, browse the gift shops, and grab some dinner.

For the final part of the day, head back into Magic Kingdom. Do any of the rides that you have yet to do and then get ready to watch the nighttime fireworks spectacular, Happily Ever After! In addition to the fireworks, there are also projections on Cinderella Castle, so be sure to claim a spot early if the full experience is important to you.

Day 3 – EPCOT or Hollywood Studios

Unlike your day at Magic Kingdom, day 3 of your Disney World girls’ trip itinerary will have some flexibility. Depending on your group, either head to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios (choose which one fits the interests of your group the best!). And, after a long Magic Kingdom day, feel free to sleep in a little on day 3. You are on vacation, after all! Enjoy breakfast at your resort, then head to the parks.

Option 1: EPCOT

If you’re going to EPCOT, there are a few things to keep in mind. The big focus of EPCOT is World Showcase, which doesn’t open till 11AM. The three major attractions at EPCOT are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. If any of these interests you, pick one to do first.

Then, once World Showcase opens, take your time exploring! For lunch, snack, and sip your way around the world. Some of my favorites are the beef empanadas and cucumber margarita in Mexico, sushi and sake in Japan, bakery items and wine in France, or fish and chips and a pint from the United Kingdom. Additionally, cultural representatives work in each country to interact with guests, and there are plenty of shopping options as well.

Then, depending on your pace and preference, either head back to your resort to get ready for dinner or enjoy a table service dinner in EPCOT. Inside EPCOT, Via Napoli, La Hacienda de San Angel, Shiki-Sai, and Le Cellier Steakhouse are all good options. For a more relaxing evening, head back to the resort to recharge and head for dinner and drinks somewhere else within Walt Disney World. Sanaa, The Edison, Trattoria al Forno, or Citrocos are just a few of the good options available for table service dining.

Option 2: Hollywood Studios

Like EPCOT, Hollywood Studios offers a slower pace than Magic Kingdom, although you may still want to attend Early Theme Park Entry here if rides are a priority.

Head to Slinky Dog Dash or Rise of the Resistance first, then pick and choose what you ride next based on wait times and proximity. Hollywood Studios is a much smaller park than Magic Kingdom, meaning that there are fewer rides and less walking. Don’t miss the famous Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster down Sunset Blvd. For shows, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage is a fantastic adaptation of the famous tale as old as time.

For lunch, head to Woody’s Lunch Box, ABC Commissary, or Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo for a quick lunch option. If there are Star Wars fans in your group, or anyone would just loves a good cocktail, make reservations at Oga’s Cantina.

Like EPCOT, you have two options for your full-day itinerary here. If rope drop to park close is your thing, head to Hollywood Brown Derby or Roundup Rodeo BBQ for dinner, then get a seat for Disney’s Fantasmic, Hollywood Studios’ nighttime show. If you’d rather spend your last day relaxing, leave Hollywood Studios midday, relax by the resort pool, head to dinner, then head back to Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic.

Day 4 – Departure Day

On your final day, I recommend planning to leave Disney World in the afternoon if your travel plans can accommodate this. This gives you the chance to book an early morning massage at Disney’s Grand Floridian or grab brunch at your hotel or Disney Springs.

If flying home, just be sure to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours early. The Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest in the world, and TSA lines can be longer than you expect.

Comments

What is your go-to Disney World girls trip itinerary? Let us know in the comments what you would add to your next vacation!