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Mom And Daughter; Magic Kingdom; Cinderella's Castle; AA; Mickey Balloon
  • On Jul 10, 2011
    Cynthia from IN Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    How many days do I need to book? It is our first trip, with a 11 and 9yo. Will be driving (about 16h). How can we get the most of our vacation without being exhausted and spending more than we need to?

    Hi Cynthia,

    For a first vacation to Walt Disney World, I highly recommend at least a six night stay.  You'll want to arrive as early as possible on day one so that you can rest poolside or in your resort room and recover from your lengthy drive.  Get a good night's sleep before hitting the parks at opening time on day two.  Spend days two and three in the Disney theme parks of your choice.  Choose which park to visit based on the availability of Extra Magic Hours.  This is a lovely perk that affords Disney resort guests additional time in the parks. 

    I would start day four by sleeping in.  Then I'd take the family over to explore Downtown Disney for the day.  Your kids are at a great age to enjoy DisneyQuest and the extensive shopping options there.  Alternately, if they love to swim, you could check out one of the amazing Disney Water Parks instead.

    For days five and six, I'd head to the remaining two Disney theme parks.  Then you will have had at least preliminary exposure to all four parks.  There's so much to explore and your kids are at the perfect age to appreciate all that Walt Disney World has to offer.  I bet on day seven, as you are packing your car to head home, you'll already be planning your next magical Disney vacation.

    Have a blast, and don't hesitate to let us know if you have additional questions!

    Jill

    PS.  If you haven't purchased your theme park admission tickets yet, you could save some money by purchasing Magic Your Way tickets without the park hopper option.  First time guests will certainly find plenty to explore in each theme park without hopping between them on the same day.

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Meet the Panelist: Jill, New Jersey

Lesson plans, college plans, vacation plans...as a teacher, college counselor, and incurable Disney fan I find myself constantly planning.  I love to share advice with friends who have yet to experience all that Walt Disney World has to offer! Learn More About Jill

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