Make your own magic: Taking a walk around a Disney park

Note: This is another in a series on how to make your own magic. Find other ideas here.

We all know we can’t actually take a walk around a Disney park right now, but how about just going outside and walking as far as your favorite Disney path might take you?

We checked out the distances around the Disney Parks in order to give us some inspiration for our morning walks.

It’s amazing how short some of these walks are, considering we usually rack up 10 or 12 miles a day when we’re vacationing at Disney. But we’re not counting meandering through countless queues and gift shops along the way.

So, how much energy do you have today? And where will you walk?

Magic Kingdom: There is something about walking under the railroad bridge and entering the Magic Kingdom that makes me exhale. As the sign says, it’s where you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy. A walk around the Magic Kingdom — up Main Street USA and through each of the lands — is about 1.4 miles. (If you’re curious, the parade route is about half a mile — 2,588 feet. Maybe take a break for a half-mile walk at 3 o’clock this afternoon? )

Hollywood Studios: Though nothing will ever top the Magic Kingdom as my personal happy place, Hollywood Studios has become one of my new favorites — especially walking through Galaxy’s Edge. In total, a walk around Hollywood Studios is about 1.2 miles.

Epcot: A 1.2-mile walk will take you around the World Showcase Lagoon, from the Port of Entry, past Canada (we always go to the right!), over the bridge at the International Gateway and through the rest of the nations of Epcot. The entire walk from the entrance these days is 1.7 miles, taking into account the new detour around the construction zone where Innoventions used to be.

Disney Springs: We love to take the 1.8-mile lap around Disney Springs and Saratoga Springs. Our path usually starts at the Orange Parking Garage. We meander past all the shops and then extend the walk over to Saratoga Springs, strolling along the water before walking past the pool and cutting through the gift shop for the return trip to what used to the West Side.

From Hollywood Studios to Epcot: It’s 1.3 miles from Hollywood Studios to the International Gateway Entrance of Epcot. Leaving the Studios, you walk along the water and under Buena Vista Drive before taking the Boardwalk over to Epcot.

Animal Kingdom: You can get a nice 2.3-mile walk in at Animal Kingdom, if you take both of the wilderness trails — the Gorilla Falls Exploration trail in the Africa section and the Maharaj Jungle Trek in Asia. As you take your walk, see if you can remember all the animals you would see on both of the trails.

If California is more your speed, you’ll walk 1.8 miles to replicate a walk around Disneyland, or 1.5 miles for California Adventure.