Whether your local overnight staycation just isn’t doing it for you, or you’re enough of a Disney dork like I am to consider taking an overnight trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth, this post is for you! I’m a big fan of a quick, two-night trip when everything falls into place to make a short weekend trip to Walt Disney World doable, but earlier this year I went for an overnight and learned a lot…mostly that I would do it again!
To make an overnight trip not only enjoyable, but practical, there are several factors you need to consider. It’s going to be an expensive 48 hours no matter how you do it, but if it’s too much money for what you’re getting out of it, you may not see the trip as a success. You also may need to adjust how you tour the parks to make up for lost time and to not waste precious time with unnecessary waits, travel times, etc. Here’s what you need to know…
Flights: Find Deals & Early/Late Departure Times
The thing with an overnight trip is that you do not want it to cost what a normal vacation would cost. Given this, it’s helpful if you have some flexibility around your travel dates and can plan the trip around when flights are reasonably priced for trips with early departures from your local airport. Of course, this can be totally dependent on where you live. Unfortunately, if you don’t live close enough to the airport, or close enough to one where you could easily take a direct flight to Orlando, an overnight trip may not make the most sense for you.
For me, direct flights are a must for an overnight trip. Orlando is about a three-hour flight for me, and adding more travel time on top of that is really going to take away from my time in the parks and make justifying such a short trip difficult. I typically keep an eye out for flights that depart between 6 and 8 AM, and book when the price is right (or when I have enough points.)
This is a bonus/more of a splurge and not something I’d necessarily recommend every time, but if it’s doable with your budget, I also try to book seats toward the front of the plane. It’s not going to make or break the trip by any means, but time is money and I’d rather spend my time getting off the plane faster!
Of course, with a short trip you’ll want the flight home to depart late, too. Unfortunately this could mean an increased likelihood of delays as any earlier delays would bump your flight back, but I would still say this is worth it to make the most of your time at Disney.
How to Pack
I use this backpack (pictured above) for my overnight and even my weekend trips to Walt Disney World. You have to be able to pack light to get away with just using this, but if you’re able to do this I really think it’s the easiest way to go!
This backpack has plenty of room for 1-3 day’s worth of clothes, my laptop, a few ears and toiletries, and even an extra pair of shoes if you need it. The best part is that for most airlines it counts as a personal item, so you won’t need to fight (or pay) for overhead bin space or check a bag (and wait for it when you land in Orlando, because remember, time is money!)
I haven’t had any issues using this as a personal item, but as a disclaimer, definitely be sure to check with your airline on whether or not a bag this size will work. I’ve had it filled to the brim and it’s still fit under the seat in front of me on JetBlue and Delta for what that’s worth.
Ground Transportation from Orlando International Airport
If you’re looking for the most economic way to get to Walt Disney World from the Orlando International Airport, I can cover it in a different post, but for now, my go-to with an overnight trip is just to take an Uber or Lyft. You could take the Mears Connect bus, the Mears shuttle, a rental car, or even a Lynx bus, but Uber or Lyft are the quickest ways to get there.
Even if you could swing the cost of renting a car, you’d spend more time getting situated with the car at the airport then parking and navigating to the park entrances than if you just took an Uber from the airport (or your hotel once you’re on property).
As for where you’re Ubering– When I take an overnight trip, I take an Uber from the airport right to the first park I’m going to. You could go to your hotel first, but again, time is of the essence and I’d rather get right to the parks than spend any more time traveling for such a short trip.
Locker Rentals
Since I take an Uber right to the theme parks, and I’d have a backpack that is effectively functioning as a suitcase with me, the first thing I need to do when I arrive at the parks is rent a locker. You can rent a locker near the front of all four Disney theme parks, (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom). I guess you could use lockers at the water parks, too, but what are you doing going to the water parks on an overnight trip?! They’re typically located around the area where you would find Guest Relations, or stroller or wheelchair rentals.
If you’re unsure of which size locker you’ll need for your bag, ask the Cast Members there and they’ll be able to help. The small lockers actually hold quite a bit, so if your bag is on the small side they might work. I’ve included locker prices below (as of December 2024):
Small – $10
12″ x 10″ x 17″
Large – $12
15.5″ x 13″ x 17″
Jumbo – $15 (only available at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT)
17″ x 22″ x 26″
$15 per day
Locker rentals do not transfer if you park hop, so if you’re factoring in your budget here you’ll want to note that a small locker for the day could actually run you $20 if you visit two parks.
Stay on Property or Close by
I am 100% team stay on Disney property with very few exceptions, and for a really short trip, this is a no-brainer for me. I would rather stay at All-Star Sports Resort, than be further away from Walt Disney World and possibly have to spend more on rideshares or navigate a shuttle system while staying off property. Plus, for me, it’s all part of being in the Disney bubble and I don’t want to miss that.
If an on-property hotel stay is the one piece that doesn’t work with your budget, I totally get staying off-property to save some money. But if it’s doable, especially for such a short trip, any Disney hotel is the way to go in my opinion.
Adjust Your Expectations
I love a short Disney trip. I get to the parks often enough that it’s okay for me to go down for a day or two knowing I’m not going to do everything I would typically do during a full vacation. I’ve also only taken overnight and two-day trips by myself, and I’m sure that helps ensure the short amount of time in the parks is spent only doing the things I really want to experience.
I wouldn’t recommend bringing the whole family or any large group for such a short trip. This is best suited for a solo trip, or maybe as a couple or with one friend who you know won’t drive you crazy with only a day or two at Disney World.
If you don’t get to the parks often, or think you might leave disappointed if you only get through say 1/4 or 1/6 of your “must-do” list, an overnight trip may not be for you. (And that’s totally fine! If that’s the case, you’re better up saving up and planning further ahead for a longer trip that you’ll enjoy more.)
For me, budget is going to be the biggest factor when it come to an overnight trip. Having an Annual Pass already will help so you aren’t buying tickets on top of everything else. Even if you do need to purchase park tickets, though, in total you can do an overnight trip for a sort of reasonable price (sort of given that you could spend $1,000+ on a single concert ticket these days or an overnight mini-vacation, it’s all relative).
