Hi Cheri,
Welcome to planDisney! I am so happy to hEAR that you are going with your grandson to visit the Walt Disney World Resort! On our first trip taking our girls, they were also 5-years old, and my parents joined us for the fun. It was such an amazing, unforgettable trip.
You're in luck,
Private VIP Tours are available. Just review the details including the minimum number of hours required. In years past, my family has loved doing special experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We enjoyed
Caring for Giants and
Up Close with Rhinos. Close by at Sanaa, we also did
Dine with an Animal Specialist.
Given your trip dates, I am hopeful that one or more of these experiences might return by then. Keep an eye on the
theme park experience updates and the
Disney Parks Blog for additional information. We also always check the
Enchanting Extras Collection to see what magic we can add to our visit.
When we traveled with our girls at that age, I was determined to not bring a stroller. So, we planned our days to include breaks and we always went back to the resort hotel for a nap/rest in the afternoons. Everybody needed a break, not just the girls. Even with those breaks, by the mid-point of our trip, the girls were tired. After that first visit with them, I started planning at least a half-day break in the middle of each trip. Now, we will take at least one day to sleep late, do breakfast at the resort hotel, relax at the pool, and do lunch at the resort hotel.
I do have one final suggestion - plan your advanced dining reservations carefully! We used those as breaks for everyone. Having a set time to dine in air-conditioned bliss is always lovely. If your grandson is into dinosaurs, be sure to try
T-REX ™ at Disney Springs. A few of our other favorite restaurants include breakfast at
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera and any meal period at
Tusker House Restaurant.
Cheri, I am sure you will find a few experiences your grandson will enjoy. Your awesome planning is duly noted. I believe you are in the running for Grandmother of the Year!
Magic and memories,
Donyell